Multivariate regression models for predicting sediment yield of the northern watersheds in the Great Khorasan province

Sediment load-discharge data of hydrometric stations in the north of Great Khorasan province were studied. Twenty nine stations were selected and the mean annual sediment yield was computed using sediment rating curves. The total annual sediment yield for these catchments (61.5 to 16800 km2) varied between 4.8 to 19500 M ton/year and the specific sediment yield varied between 62 to about 4000 ton/year/km2. Due to large variations in the total and specific sediment yield, 29 selected catchments were divided in two groups: 17 large catchments (area>500 km2) and 12 smaller ones (area)