GRAIN SIZE TRENDS AND NET TRANSPORT PATTERNS OF SURFACE SEDIMENTS IN THE EAST CHINA SEA INNER CONTINENTAL SHELF

Based on the grain-size analysis of surface sediments collected from the East China Sea inner shelf, Geo-Collins grain size trend analysis was carried out to delineate net sediment transport patterns of the study area. The results indicate that surface sediments from the study area can be divided into two categories:fine particles (<5 Φ particle) and coarse particles (>5 Φ particle). Grain size parameters have distinct patterns in spatial distributions in the East China Sea inner shelf.Sediments with fine grain size, well-sorted and low skewed, are distributed in most of the study area, whereas sediments with coarse grain size, poorly sorted and highly positively skewed, are distributed in some estuary and island areas, such as the Minjiang River mouth, the Oujiang River mouth and the Mazu Island. Surface sediments are mostly transported from northeast towards southwest, while the boundary of the area has given rise to offset to both left and right sides. Sediments near the Minjiang River mouth radiate towards the sea. The net transport patterns of surface sediments in the study area are controlled by many factors, especially the currents and morphology.