Water sample processing and analysis
Individual water samples from each sampled storm event were selected to represent the full extent of the storm hydrograph and analysed for suspended sediment concentration. Water samples were refrigerated at 5°C following collection until analysis. Suspended sediment content was assessed by filtering a sub-sample of water of known volume through Whatman GF/C filter paper (Whatman, Buckinghamshire, UK) with a particle retention size of 1.2 µm, drying at 105°C and weighing to assess the mass gained {UK Standing Committee of Analysts, 1980 #597}. Load estimation of suspended sediment was calculated by multiplying discharge volume (L) by the concentration of suspended sediment (mg L-1) for each sample point. Total loads were calculated using trapezoidal integration of the timeseries curve.