Utilizing sediment grain size characteristics to assess the effectiveness of clay–sand barriers in reducing aeolian erosion in Minqin desert area,China

The clay–sand barriers in Minqin desert area,China,represent a pioneering windbreak and sand fixation project with a venerable history of 60 a.However,studies on evaluating the long-term effectiveness of clay–sand barriers against aeolian erosion,particularly from the perspective of surface sediment grain size,are limited and thus insufficient to ascertain the protective impact of these barriers on regional aeolian activities.This study focused on the surface sediments(topsoil of 0–3 cm depth)of clay–sand barriers in Minqin desert area to explain their erosion resistance from the perspective of surface sediment grain size.In March 2023,six clay–sand barrier sampling plots with clay–sand barriers of different deployment durations(1,5,10,20,40,and 60 a)were selected as experimental plots,and one control sampling plot was set in an adjacent mobile sandy area without sand barriers.Surface sediment samples were collected from the topsoil of each sampling plot in the study area in April 2023 and sediment grain size characteristics were analyzed.Results indicated a predominance of fine and medium sands in the surface sediments of the study area.The deployment of clay–sand barriers cultivated a fine quality in grain size composition of the regional surface sediments,increasing the average contents of very fine sand,silt,and clay by 30.82%,417.38%,and 381.52%,respectively.This trend became markedly pronounced a decade after the deployment of clay–sand barriers.The effectiveness of clay–sand barriers in erosion resistance was manifested through reduced wind velocity,the interception of sand flow,and the promotion of fine surface sediment particles.Coarser particles such as medium,coarse,and very coarse sands predominantly accumulated on the external side of the barriers,while finer particles such as fine and very fine sands concentrated in the upwind(northwest)region of the barriers.By contrast,the contents of finest particles such as silt and clay were higher in the downwind(southeast)region of the sampling plots.For the study area,the deployment of clay–sand barriers remains one of the most cost-effective engineering solutions for aeolian erosion control,with sediment grain size parameters serving as quantitative indicators for the assessment of these barriers in combating desertification.The results of this study provide a theoretical foundation for the construction of windbreak and sand fixation systems and the optimization of artificial sand control projects in arid desert areas.

Partitioning of grain-size components of estuarine sediments and implications for sediment transport in southwestern Laizhou Bay, China

Sediment transport in estuarine systems has been of increasing interest for scientists during the past few decades. However, the mechanisms for sediment redistribution remain unclear. We characterized in detail sediment transport in the Xiaoqing River estuary using the mathematical Weibull function to partition grain-size components of surface sediments in the southwestern Laizhou Bay, Northeast China. Four partitioned components: finer than 4,4.6-12.5, 23.4-63.3, and 67.1-132.6 μm were interpreted in terms of hydrodynamic conditions. During sediment transport, silt grains were suspended and moved seaward from three depositional centers, whereas fine-grained sands moved generally landward. Overall, sediments are transported clockwise in a generally NNE direction near shore and then turn eastward offshore. The mathematical partitioning method showed a great potential for future estuarine environmental studies.

Effect of suspended sediment grain size on channel sedimentation in the lower Yellow River and some implications

Based on the data of suspended sediment transport and channel sedimentation in various grain size fractions in the period of 1962―1985, the relationship between channel sedimentation in the lower Yellow River and sediment input has been plotted with respect to each grain size fraction. Several fill-scour thresholds in sediment input have been identified from these graphs. It was found that the fill-scour threshold in sediment input decreases with the increase in fraction grain size. The correlation coefficient between channel sedimentation and sediment input becomes larger with the increasing fraction grain size, indicating that channel sedimentation depends more on coarser grain size fractions than on smaller ones. The fraction channel sedimentation induced by unit change of fraction sediment input increases with grain size. Of the input of sediment larger than 0.025 mm, 43.73% was deposited on the channel, and for inputs of sediments larger than 0.05 mm and larger than 0.10 mm, 76.61% and 97.68% were deposited on the channel, respectively. Thus, for reduction of each ton of sediment larger than 0.10 mm from the drainage basin, the resultant reduction in channel sedimentation in the lower Yellow River would be 1.275 times that for the sediment larger than 0.10 mm, and 2.234 times that for the sediment larger than 0.025 mm. Therefore, if the erosion and sediment control measures are enforced in the areas where >0.05 or >0.10 mm sediment is produced, then the best beneficial will be achieved in reducing sedimentation in the lower Yellow River.

Relationship model of sediment grain size and Tibetan Plateau uplift in middle-west parts of Qilian Mountain

By observing, measuring the fluvial sediment grain size of mid-western segment of the Qilianshan Range and studying the correlation between the grain size and uplift of the plateau, we model the correlation. These models are applied to the Laojunmiao section and the process curve of the uplift of the northern Tibetan Plateau against age from 8.35 Ma is illustrated here. The process curve shows that the northern Tibetan Plateau surface has uplifted from the mean altitude of 900-3700 m since 8.35 MaBP. From 8.35 to 3.1 MaBP, the Tibetan Plateau uplifted slowly, uplifted amplitude is small, the total range is 420 m. From 3.1 MaBP up to now, the Tibetan Plateau uplifted tempestuously, showing that the uplift accelerated obviously later. It uplifted totally 2400 m. About 0.9 Ma ago, the northern Tibetan Plateau surface had uplifted to over 3000 m a.s.l., showing that the Tibetan Plateau surface had reached the cryosphere; and the mountain peaks had uplifted to more than 4000 m altitude, suggesting that there was a glacier developed on the mountains.

Environmental records of lacustrine sediments in different time scales:Sediment grain size as an example

Sediment grain size is a conventional proxy of climatic changes. Larger sediment grain size is often interpreted to indicate dry climate during lower lake level while smaller sedi- ment grain size implies wet climate during higher lake level. Through detailed study on sediment grain sizes in Lake Erhai and Lake Chenghai, this paper reveals the different indication signifi- cances of sediment grain sizes in different time scales, different resolution investigations. For long time-scale and low resolution (102a or 103a) studies, larger sediment grain size indicates lower lake level, smaller lake area and drier climate while smaller sediment grain size indicates higher lake level, larger lake area and wetter climate. For short time-scale and high resolution (a or 10a) studies, larger sediment grain size reflects more rainfall and wetter climate while smaller sediment grain size reflects less rainfall and drier climate. Environmental information revealed by lacustrine sediment records is often different in different time scales because of the variance of sedimentation resolution, sampling resolution and dating precision. Therefore, paleoclimate im- plications of environmental proxies in long time-scale and low resolution investigations could not be mechanically applied to short time-scale and high resolution studies. Only after synthetically analyzing the influence manner and extent of all factors on the sediment records in different time scales, can credible conclusions be obtained.

Forms of phosphorus and silicon in the natural grain size surface sediments of the southern Bohai Sea

The forms of phosphorus and silicon in the natural grain sizes surface sediments of the southern Bohai Sea were studied. In sediments, the organic matter bound form of phosphorus was the main form of transferable phosphorus and ranged from 0.37 μmol/g to 1.57 μmol/g, accounting for 10.7% of the total phosphorus, others were the carbonate bound form, iron manganese oxide bound form and ion exchange able form; the transferable form of phosphorus accounted for 19.2% of the total phosphorus. Silicon’s carbonate bound form was predominant over others among its transferable forms, and content ranged from 1.55 μmol/g to 8.94 μmol/g, accounting for 0.05% of the total silicon; the total amount of transferable silicon forms accounted for only 0.12% of the total silicon. Therefore, 19.2% of the total phosphorus and 0.12% of the total silicon contained in the surface sediments of the southern Bohai Sea could participate in the biogeochemical cycling.

The reverse sediment transport trend between abandoned Huanghe River(Yellow River) Delta and radial sand ridges along Jiangsu coastline of China——an evidence from grain size analysis

To reveal the sediment transporting mechanism between the abandoned Huanghe River （Yellow River） Delta and radial sand ridges, “End Member” Model and grain size trend analysis have been employed to separate the “dynamic populations” in the surficial sediment particle spectra and to determine the possible sediment transporting pathway. The results reveal four “dynamic subpopulations”（EM1 to EM4） and two reverse sediment transporting directions： a northward transport tend from the radial sand ridges to mud patch, and a southward transport trend in deep water area outside the mud patch. Combined with the published hydrodynamic information, the transporting mechanism of dynamic populations has been discussed, and the main conclusion is that the transporting of finer subpopulations EM1 and EM2 is controlled by the “anticlockwise residual current circulation” forming during tidal cycle, which favor a northward transporting trend and the forming of mud patch on the north of radial sand ridges, while the transporting of coarser EM3 is mainly controlled by wind driven drift in winter, which favors a southward transporting direction.

Sediment transport in the Luanhe River delta:grain size trend analysis

Sediment grain size in the deltaic environment of the Luanhe River(LR),Liaoning,China,contains sediment transport pathway information useful in elucidating the shoreline change and fluvialmarine interaction.In this study,we utilized numerical partitioning of the sedimentary components and geostatistical grain size trend analysis(GSTA)to define the sediment transport pattern in the Luanhe River delta(LRD)and interpolated the sediment transport pattern using content changes of end numbers(EM).EM1(the mean grain size 7.12Ф,fine silt),EM2(2.37Ф,fine sand),and EM3(1.27Ф,medium sand)components were identified by the numerical partitioning by GSTA.Kriging interpolation method was used to interpolate the parameters of the grain size for the regular grid,and the interpolation radius was 0.015 decimal degree.We chose 0.09 decimal degree as the characteristic distance for GSTA in the semivariogram model using the geostatistical method.The FB(-)case(finer,better sorted and more negatively skewed)was adopted in GSTA for its satisfaction in the Global Moran’s I test.The result of the GSTA shows that the sediments in the south barriers(SBs)were transported to the southwest of the study area.The sediments in the north,in the SE direction of sediment transport trend from the river mouth,indicated that the sediments in the north of the study area were transported from the LR to the northern beaches,and to the south and east of the study area.The sediment transport trend that simplified by GSTA as the FB(-)case was approved by the content changes of sedimentary components(i.e.EM1,EM2,and EM3).In addition,the turbulent jet diffusion pattern indicated that the coarse sediments(EM3)were delivered by LR during the flood season,and the EM2 and EM1 were from wave and tide,respectively.

Trend analysis of sediment grain size and sedimentary process in the central South Yellow Sea

With the method of trend analysis of sediment grain size, the sediment transport trend of the fine-grained sediments area in the central South Yellow Sea was studied. The results demonstrated that there is a sedimentation center around the point of 123.4° E, 35.1°N, and the sediments outside the center are transported to it. The patterns of sediment transportation and deposition in the Yellow Sea should be controlled by cyclonic circulation (including the Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass) and cold water gyre. The study also showed that the method of trend analysis of sediment grain size has prospective utilization in the fine-grained sediment deposited area on large-scale continental shelf.

The Effect of Grain Size on the Viscosity and Yield Stress of Fine-Grained Sediments

In debris flow modelling,the viscosity and yield stress of fine-grained sediments should be determined in order to better characterize sediment flow.In particular,it is important to understand the effect of grain size on the rheology of fine-grained sediments associated with yielding.When looking at the relationship between shear stress and shear rate before yielding,a high-viscosity zone(called pseudoNewtonian viscosity) towards the apparent yield stress exists.After yielding,plastic viscosity(called Bingham viscosity) governs the flow.To examine the effect of grain size on the rheological characteristics of fine-grained sediments,clay-rich materials(from the Adriatic Sea,Italy; Cambridge Fjord,Canada; and the Mediterranean Sea,Spain),silt-rich debris flow materials(from La Valette,France) and silt-rich materials(iron tailings from Canada) were compared.Rheological characteristics were examined using a modified Bingham model.The materials examined,including the Canadian inorganic and sensitive clays,exhibit typical shear thinning behavior and strong thixotropy.In the relationships between the liquidity index and rheological values(viscosity and apparent yield stress),the effect of grain size on viscosity and yield stress is significant at a given liquidity index.The viscosity and yield stress of debris flow materials are higher than those of low-activity clays at the same liquid state.However the viscosity and yield stress of the tailings,which are mainly composed of silt-sized particles,are slightly lower than those of low-activity clays.

Grain-size distribution characteristics of red sandy sediments in Dongjiang River valley,southern Nanling Mountains,during the MIS2 stage

Layer LJ3 of Linjiang stratigraphic section in Dongjiang River valley in the south of the Nanling Mountains is a set of red sandy sediments.Measured by thermoluminescence(TL) dating,it was found to be formed in MIS2-9,500 ± 800 yr to 19,600 ± 1,800 yr B.P.After analy-sis of the grain sizes of the 16 samples(LJ3-100 to LJ3-85) in this layer,it was discovered that(1) The contents of each grain group in dif-ferent samples are similar.(2) The values of Md,Mz,,Sk,and Kg vary from LJ3-100 to LJ3-85 in a narrow range.(3) The segments of each sample in the accumulative curves extend parallel with similar slopes.All the three aspects reveal the Aeolian characteristics of Layer LJ3.Therefore,it is thought that Layer LJ3 consists of red sandy sediments formed in MIS2 in the south of Nanling Mountain,which reflects the arid climate at that time.

Grain-size distribution patterns of suspended sediment in response to hydrodynamics on the Dafeng intertidal flat, Jiangsu, China

Patterns of grain-size distributions of suspended sediment in relation to resuspension, settling, and tidal processes are investigated, based on in situ measurements over the Dafeng intertidal flat, on the Jiangsu coast, in the summer of 2002 and 2003. The suspended sediment here is dominated by fine and very fine silt, with a mean grain-size of 7 - 13 μm. The patterns of the grainsize distributions of suspended sediment during a tidal cycle are characterized by two types： one stable type representing insignificant spatial and temperal variations; and the other bimedal type with significant variations. The main factors influencing the grainsize distributions include resnspension, settling, suspended sediment imported into intertidal flats during the flood phase, and the grain-size distribution of seabed sediment. Resuspension increases the coarse particle content, enhances the mean grain-size of suspended sediment, and results in grain-size distributions for the suspended sediment similar to those of seabed sediment; the settling process has opposite effects on the suspended sediment. When resuspension occurs, the gain-size distributions of suspended sediment in the lower part of water column respond significantly to the current velocity. Where the influence of resuspension and settling processes is weak, the grain-size distributions of suspended sediment appear to be stable and almost identical for the various parts of intertidal flats during different measurement periods. Such distributions are referred to the background grain-size distribution, for which the mean grain-size over the Dafeng intertidal flat is around 7 μm.

Distributional characteristics of grain sizes of surface sediments in the Zhujiang River Estuary

Distributions of the parameters of sedimentary grain sizes and their correlations were studied to trace the sources of silts and their movement trends in the Zhujiang River Estuary based on the analyses of grain sizes from more than 1080 sedimentary samples. The distributions of the median diameter, public value, quartile deviation, and skewness of sediments were complex in the Zhuiiang River Estuary mainly because of the impact of the matter source regions, distances from the source regions, and hydrodynamic conditions, such as waves, tidal currents, and coastal currents. Analyses of the parameters of the grain sizes for the various types of sediments showed that the distributions of the surface sediments in the Zhujiang River Estuary were controlled by many factors. Their matter sources were mainly the sediments discharged from the runoffs and ebb tidal currents, and from the open sea. The sediments mainly moved by suspension movement. The silts formed a large area of sediments with suspended fine silts in the Zhujiang River Estuary by internal adjustment transportation in the area, and moved toward the western coast of the Zhujiang River Estuary under the effect of Coriolis forces and coastal currents.

The application of geostatistics in grain size trend analysis： A case study of eastern Beibu Gulf

There are 71 surface sediment samples collected from the eastern Beibu Gulf. The moment parameters （i.e. mean size, sorting and skewness） were obtained after applying grain size analysis. The geostatistical analysis was then applied to study the spatial autocorrelation for these parameters; while range, a parameter in the semivariogram that meters the scale of spatial autocorrelation, was estimated. The results indicated that the range for sorting coefficient was physically meaningful. The trend vectors calculated from grain size trend analysis model were consistent with the annual ocean circulation patterns and sediment transport rates according to previous studies. Therefore the range derived from the semivariogram of mean size can be used as the characteristic distance in the grain size trend analysis, which may remove the bias caused by the traditional way of basing on experiences or testing methods to get the characteristic distance. Hence the results from geostatistical analysis can also offer useful information for the determination of sediment sampling density in the future field work.

Improvement and Application of Grain Size Distribution Characteristics Calculation of Bed Material

Grain size distribution of bed material is an important characteristic for studying evolution of natural river channel by means of experimental ways and numerical modeling of flow and sediment process.In this study,the fractal characteristic of sediment particle has been defined by means of fractal theory based on ana- lyzing the property of grain size distribution of bed material in the river channel.Furthennore,the fractal prop- erty of sediment particle has been applied to judge the process of armorin...

Grain Size Analysis of a Growing Sand Bar at Sonadia Island, Bangladesh

Sonadia is one of the most important islands of Bangladesh. South-eastern shore of the island, which is a growing sand bar, has to encounter continuous and rapid morphological changes. So study of the sediment characteristics of this Sand Bar is very important. In the present study, grain size analysis of this Sand Bar has been done on the basis of laboratory analysis. Sediment samples were collected from 9 (Nine) stations and texture analysis of sediment was completed following a standard procedure of sieve analysis of sand samples. The average value of median (MD), mean (M), standard deviation (s), skewness (SK) and kurtosis (K) of sediment of the Sand Bar of Sonadia Island was 1.93, 1.87, 0.44, 0.11 and 1.88 respectively. Highest median, mean, standard deviation, skewness and kurtosis of Sand Bar of Sonadia Island was 2.98 (Station 2, Lower Shore), 2.68 (Station 1, Lower Shore), 0.83 (Station 1, Middle Shore and Station 2, Lower Shore), 0.65 (Station 2, Lower Shore) and 3.59 (Station 1, Lower Shore) respectively. Lowest median, mean, standard deviation, skewness and kurtosis of Sand Bar of Sonadia Island was 1.42 (Station 9, Middle Shore), 1.45 (Station 9, Middle Shore), 0.30 (Station 5, Lower Shore and Station 8, Lower Shore), 0.04 (Station 5, Upper Shore) and 0.94 (Station 6, Upper Shore) respectively.

泥沙性质对高速水流消失空化数的影响

消失空化数是表征高速水流空化状态的重要判别数,水流含泥沙后对消失空化数的影响引起了研究者的关注。利用自主研发的小型循环式水洞试验装置,对不同含泥沙条件下与清水介质下的水洞喉部(即空化区)消失空化数进行了试验研究。通过配制不同泥沙质量浓度、泥沙粒径、泥沙颗粒级配和泥沙矿物成分等挟沙水流,调节分流阀门降低水流流速,由动态压力数据采集系统(YE6263)实时测量空化区压强,直到压强由负压变为正压的临界压强(相应的消失空化数压强)。研究结果表明:在不同泥沙质量浓度的条件下,循环式水洞喉部的消失空化数随泥沙质量浓度的增加先增大后减小,与清水对比,表现出先促进后抑制空化的发生;在不同泥沙粒径的条件下,喉部消失空化数随粒径的增大而增大,说明泥沙粒径的增大促进了空化的提前发生;在不同泥沙级配的条件下,喉部消失空化数随小于某一粒径泥沙质量分数的增大而增大,表现出随着小于某一粒径泥沙质量分数的增大越容易发生空化;在不同泥沙矿物成分条件下,喉部消失空化数随矿物成分摩氏(Mohs)硬度的增大而增大,说明矿物成分硬度越大越促进空化的发生。

云南永胜古滑坡堰塞湖沉积物粒度多重分形特征及其指标适用研究

本文以云南永胜县下院滑坡堰塞湖沉积物为研究对象,依据粒度测试结果采用传统粒度指标与分形理论相结合的方式对其沉积环境进行系统化研究,探讨各传统指标在堰塞湖沉积解析中的适用性,探索多重分形理论在沉积学中的应用价值。研究结果表明:①堰塞湖沉积物粒度统计参数明显不同于其他环境下的沉积物,具有河湖相沉积独特的分布曲线形式、分选状态和分形特征。优势粒级在分形计算中起主导地位,全局分形维数与分选系数有着良好的对应关系。不同的分形维数对应着不同的堰塞湖沉积条件,分形维数在堰塞湖粒度解析中有着很好的运用前景;②多重分形结果显示2种不同时期的堰塞湖沉积物均以高聚集度组分为主体,表明粒径分布集中,反映出堰塞湖沉积过程中水动力的稳定性,沉积来源的唯一性,进一步证明了该堰塞湖曾长期存在。细粒组沉积粒径分布范围较窄,分布相对集中,优势粒组多但单个含量低,尾端含量低,内部分异较大;粗粒组分布呈局部集中整体分散的趋势,高聚集度粒组数量少但含量高,低聚集度粒组数量多但单个含量低,呈现中间高,四周低的特点。③多重分形分析表明Δα、Δf在沉积物粒度分析中能够解析粒组内部分布特征,具有传统指标不可替代的作用,D_(0)和D_(1)两者结合可作为沉积环境解析的替代指标,与其他q阶多重分形联合可进一步作为堰塞湖解析指标,而D_(1)/D_(0)和D2则存在一定局限。

西藏定结地区不同类型沙丘表层沉积物粒度特征及其环境意义

为了探讨粒度特征所指示的环境意义,对西藏定结地区现代沙丘进行采样,分析不同类型沙丘表层沉积物的粒度特征。结果表明:(1)流动沙丘和爬坡沙丘粒度组成相似,灌丛沙堆与二者粒度组成差异较大。流动沙丘和爬坡沙丘表层沉积物主要以细砂和中砂为主,而灌丛沙堆表层沉积物以极细砂、细砂和粉砂为主。(2)不同类型沙丘粒度参数呈现不同变化趋势,流动沙丘和爬坡沙丘表层沉积物分选较好,近对称,中等尖锐,灌丛沙堆表层沉积物分选中等,正偏,很尖锐。(3)流动沙丘和爬坡沙丘频率分布曲线呈近似对称的单峰分布,灌丛沙堆频率分布曲线呈双峰分布;不同类型沙丘表层沉积物概率累积曲线差异较为明显。(4)不同类型沙丘表层沉积物沉积环境主要以风成沉积为主,少数为河流沉积。(5)不同类型沙丘表层沉积物粒度特征对比可知,粒度特征的差异主要是沙源、植被覆盖度和风况共同作用的结果。