Skip to main content
Log in

Distributions of surficial sediments and its response to dynamic actions in the Xiamen Bay sea area, China

  • Published:
Acta Oceanologica Sinica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Sediment distribution is important for morphodynamic evolution and shoreline changes in coastal zones and estuaries. In the study, the data of 230 surface sediment samples collected from the Xiamen Bay sea area in September 2008 are used to investigate the spatial distribution and sediment transport pathway. The grain size distribution of surficial sediments in the Xiamen Bay area is shown distinctly in this study. In addition, the Grain Size Transport Analysis model is used for conveying trend analysis of the sediment in this area, particularly for determining the sediment movement trend. The results indicate that eight sediment types are present for samples, with clayey silt comprising the highest percentage in the study area at 65.22%. Moreover, in the different subareas, the characteristics of grain size parameters are obviously different owing to different sediment sources and hydrodynamic conditions. Furthermore, runoff, tides, and waves are the main forces dominating sediment dynamics on the seabed and tidal flats, and the sediment movement trend is closely related to hydrodynamic conditions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bianchi T S, Allison M A. 2009. Large-river delta-front estuaries as natural “recorders” of global environmental change. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 106(20): 8085–8092

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cai Aizhi, Cai Yue'e, Zhu Xiaoning, et al. 1991. Diffusion and modern sedimentation of seaward transporting discharges in the Estuary of Jiulongjiang River, Fujian Province. Marine Geology & Quaternary Geology (in Chinese), 11(1): 57–67

    Google Scholar 

  • Cai Feng, Huang Minfen, Su Xianze, et al. 1999. Characteristics of silt movement and sedimentary dynamic mechanism in Jiulongjiang Estuary. Journal of Oceanography in Taiwan Strait (in Chinese), 18(4): 418–424

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen Yimei, Xu Sudong, Lin Qiang. 2012. Quantitative application study on remote sensing of suspended sediment. China Ocean Engineering, 26(3): 483–494

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng Peng, Gao Shu, Bokuniewicz H. 2004. Net sediment transport patterns over the Bohai Strait based on grain size trend analysis. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 60(2): 203–212

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • China's State Oceanic Administration (CSOA). 1992. GB/T 13909199. Specification for oceanographic survey-Marine geology and geophysics investigation (in Chinese). Beijing: China Standard Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Dai Zhijun, Du Jinzhou, Zhang Xiaoling, et al. 2011. Variation of riverine material loads and environmental consequences on the Changjiang (Yangtze) estuary in recent decades (1955–2008). Environmental Science & Technology, 45(1): 223–227

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dai Zhijun, Liu J T, Wei Wen, et al. 2014. Detection of the Three Gorges Dam influence on the Changjiang (Yangtze River) submerged delta. Scientific Reports, 4: 6600

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duman M, Avci M, Duman S, et al. 2004. Surficial sediment distribution and net sediment transport pattern in Izmir Bay, western Turkey. Continental Shelf Research, 24(9): 965–981

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Folk R L, Andrews P B, Lewis D W. 1970. Detrital sedimentary rock classification and nomenclature for use in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics, 13(4): 937–968

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gao Shu, Collins M. 1991. A critique of the “McLaren Method” for defining sediment transport paths. Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, 61(1): 143–146

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gao Shu, Collins M. 1992. Net sediment transport patterns inferred from grain-size trends, based upon definition of “transport vectors”. Sedimentary Geology, 81(1–2): 47–60

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gao Shu, Collins M B. 1994. Analysis of grain size trends, for defining sediment transport pathways in marine environments. Journal of Coastal Research, 10(1): 70–78

    Google Scholar 

  • Le Roux J P, O'Brien R D, Rios F, et al. 2002. Analysis of sediment transport paths using grain-size parameters. Computers & Geosciences, 28(5): 717–721

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liao Shuimu, Zhou Dingcheng, Yang Baohua. 1987. Distributional Characteristics of marine bottom sedimentary types in Xiamen Harbour. Journal of Oceanography in Taiwan Strait (in Chinese), 6(2): 158–166

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu Weikun, Tang Zongfu, Liu Qiangchi. 1984. Submarine geomorphology of the Xiamen harbour and its scouring-silting change. Journal of Oceanography in Taiwan Strait (in Chinese), 3(2): 179–188

    Google Scholar 

  • Luo Zhibin, Pan Weiran, Li Li, et al. 2012. The study on three-dimensional numerical model and fronts of the Jiulong Estuary and the Xiamen Bay. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 31(4): 55–64

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ma Fei, Wang Yaping, Li Yan, et al. 2010. The application of geostatistics in grain size trend analysis:a case study of eastern Beibu Gulf. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 20(1): 77–90

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McManus J. 1988. Grain size determination and interpretation. In: Tucker M, ed. Techniques in Sedimentology. Oxford: Blackwell, 63–85

    Google Scholar 

  • Poizot E, Mear Y, Thomas M, et al. 2006. The application of geostatistics in defining the characteristic distance for grain size trend analysis. Computers & Geosciences, 32(3): 360–370

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ren Renxizi, Chen Shenliang, Dong Ping, et al. 2012. Spatial and temporal variations in grain size of surface sediments in the littoral area of Yellow River Delta. Journal of Coastal Research, 28(1A): 44–53

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Aijun, Chen Jian. 2006. Grain size characteristics and sedimentary dynamic significance of surface sediments in intertidal flat of Wuguan, Xiamen. Journal of Tropical Oceanography (in Chinese), 25(6): 28–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Yan Hong, Dai Zhijun, Li Jiufa, et al. 2011. Distributions of sediments of the tidal flats in response to dynamic actions, Yangtze (Changjiang) Estuary. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 21(4): 719–732

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang Shilun. 1999. Sedimentation on a growing intertidal island in the Yangtze River Mouth. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 49(3): 401–410

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang Shilun, Li H, Ysebaert T, et al. 2008. Spatial and temporal variations in sediment grain size in tidal wetlands, Yangtze Delta: On the role of physical and biotic controls. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 77(4): 657–671

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zeng Gang. 1987. Characteristics of the distribution of the currents in the Xiamen harbour. Journal of Oceanography in Taiwan Strait (in Chinese), 6(1): 1–5

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Xiaoling, Dai Zhijun, Chu Ao, et al. 2014. Impacts of relative sea level rise on the shoreface deposition, Shuidong Bay, South China. Environmental Earth Sciences, 71(8): 3503–3515

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zheng Yingqing, Wu Qishu, Lin Xiaoru, et al. 2006. Statistically analyse on the typhoons landed on Fujian in the last 106 years. Journal of Oceanography in Taiwan Strait (in Chinese), 25(4): 541–547

    Google Scholar 

  • Zuo Shuhua, Yang Hua, Zhao Hongbo, et al. 2014. Suspended sediment concentration distribution of Xiamen sea areas in China based on remote sensing analysis. Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Geo-Informatics in Resource Management & Sustainable Ecosystem. Berlin Heidelberg: Springer, 482: 308–315

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shuhua Zuo.

Additional information

Foundation item: The Open Research Fund of State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research under contract No. SKLEC-KF201508; the Western Traffic Construction Technology Projects of the Ministry of Transport of China under contract No. 2007-353-X02-160; the National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract No. 41306033.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zuo, S., Han, Z., Huang, Y. et al. Distributions of surficial sediments and its response to dynamic actions in the Xiamen Bay sea area, China. Acta Oceanol. Sin. 35, 9–18 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13131-016-0840-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13131-016-0840-y

Keywords

Navigation