Application and adaptation of sediment fingerprinting approach in Asian countries: a review

Abstract

Asia is the continent with highest sediment supply in the world, which results in adverse impact to the ecosystem. Amongst the regions in this continent, Southeast Asia has recorded as one of the highest sediment yield regions due to human activities on land uses. Considering to this sedimentation issues, sediment source fingerprinting approach has created an interest among the researchers in tracing and estimating the sediment source contribution to the environment, as it needed in soil conservation planning and watershed management. This review identifies the percentage of sediment fingerprinting approaches that have applied in this continent as based on regions. Besides, it also discusses on the common tracers that regularly used in Asian countries in distinguishing the source of sediments. Moreover, it also highlights the problems faced and conditions that requisite in applying this method in tropical Asian countries