Rate of sedimentation in the Yamuna river around Delhi using the226Ra?210Pb method

For six sediment cores collected from Yamuna river (tributary of Ganges) around Delhi, rate of sedimentation was determined by the²²⁶Ra–²¹⁰Pb method. While an average rate of 42 mm/y is obtained, there are variations core to core. A clear-cut downstream increase in the rate, from 5 mm/y when the river enters Delhi, to 80 mm/y when it leaves Delhi, indicates solid waste contribution from the urban areas. The sediment flux of 4000 mg/cm²/y is not balanced by the calculated rate of erosion (40 tonnes/km²/y) in the river. Thus, much of the sediment flux is of local origin.