SUSPENDED SEDIMENT TRANSPORT PATTERNS IN THE ZHEJIANG INNER CONTINENTAL SHELF IN SUMMER

Based on the grain-size data of surface sediments collected from the inner shelf off Zhejiang in June, 2013, Gao-Collins grain size trend analysis was adopted to study grain size characteristics and net sediment transport patterns of the study region. The region is dominated by clay silt in a zonal pattern parallel to the coastline in spatial distribution. Finer sediments are better sorted with positive skewness, while the coarser sediments are poorly sorted with negative skewness. Surface sediments are mostly transported from northeast towards southwest, and towards the sea in the southeast part. Sediments near the Sanmen Bay mouth and the Jiaojiang River estuary move towards the sea. The trend of sediment transport is closely related to the river sediment supply, tidal current and circulation pattern, and geomorphology of the study area. The successful application of present research proves that grain size trend analysis is effective for large areas of continental shelves.