A Review of Suspended Sediment Hysteresis

Abstract

The study of sediment-riverflow interactions during discrete hydrological events is vital for enhancing our understanding of the hydrological cycle. Hysteresis analysis, relying on high-resolution, continuous monitoring of suspended sediment concentration (SSC) and discharge (Q) data, is an effective tool for investigating complex hydrological events. It captures differing sediment dynamic at the same discharge level, which results from the asynchrony between the hydrograph and sediment graph during different phases of the event. However, there has been no comprehensive review systematically addressing the utility and significance of hysteresis analysis in soil and water management. This review synthesizes findings from over 500 global studies, providing a detailed examination of current research. We trace the development and application of hysteresis analysis in hydrology, illustrating its role in classifying and characterizing events, as well as uncovering sediment sources and transport mechanisms. Furthermore, hysteresis analysis has proven effective in identifying critical hydrological events, offering valuable insights for targeted watershed management. Our spatiotemporal analysis of global hysteresis research shows that over 70% of studies are located in semi-arid and Mediterranean climate zones, with an increasing focus on alpine and tropical regions due to climate change. This review also highlights critical limitations, including the scarcity of high-resolution data, inconsistent use of quantitative indices, and limited integration of hysteresis patterns into predictive hydrological approaches. Future research should focus on developing region-specific hydrological models that incorporate hysteresis dynamics, along with standardizing methodologies to apply hysteresis analysis across diverse climatic and geomorphic settings.