Scale as a factor in designing sampling programs for determination of annual trace element fluxes

Concentration data of suspended sediment-associated trace elements are a requisite for estimation of annual chemical fluxes. Fluvial suspended sediment and associated trace elements display marked shortterm spatial and temporal variability, suggesting that determination of annual fluxes requires high frequency depth and width integrated sampling and subsequent chemical analyses. When time scales are shifted from hours or days to a year, short-term variability is less important. A 2 year study on the Arkansas River indicates that it may be possible, after detailed site characterization of mean/median sediment chemical data, to estimate annual fluxes of trace elements solely through monitoring of discharge and suspended sediment concentration.