4.1 Suspended sediment concentrations and sediment rating curves
During the study period from August 2013 to July 2017 (Figure 3), the maximum discharge was 36.1 m3/s recorded on 1 August 2014, while the minimum discharge was 2.1 m3/s on 10 Jan 2017. The highest SSC (547.73 mg/L) was recorded on 1 August 2016, and the lowest SSC (0.2 mg/L) was recorded on 24 January 2017. Discharge-weighted mean SSC across the entire study period was 129.4 mg/L. Based on the hydrograph, the rising limb was between February and July and the falling limb continues from August to January in the next year. The discharge and suspended sediment data were characterized by distinct seasonal variations (Figure 3). February accounts for the lowest monthly average discharge of 3.89 m3/s and January accounts for the lowest monthly average SSC of 17.7 mg/L. Discharge begins to increase in March and reaches the peak in July, with the average discharge in July of 31.85 m3/s and the highest average SSC of 261.8 mg/L.