TSS is closely linked to land erosion and to erosion of river channels. In most rivers TSS is primarily composed of small mineral particles. TSS is often referred to as 'turbidity' and is frequently poorly measured. TSS-levels and fluctuations influence aquatic life, from phytoplankton to fish.
Sediment yield is a key indicator of land erosion.
The large sediment loads to oceans in Southeast Asia are two thirds of the world's total sediment transport to oceans. This arises from the combination of active tectonics, heavy rainfall, substantial local relief with steep slopes, and erodible soils including the loess belt of northern China. Because total suspended solids concentration is partly a function of discharge, TSS load increases as discharge increases. The Huang He in China is an example of this relationship. This can lead to major errors in calculating sediment transport.