A study of impact of the reclamation and artificial island projects on tidal currents and sediment concentration in radial sand ridge field of the South Yellow Sea

The two-dimensional hydrodynamic model, MIKE21, is applied to simulate the tidal currents and sediment concentration in the radial sand ridges of the South Yellow Sea. Results are in accordance with in situ observations. Then the variations of tidal currents and suspended sediment concentration caused by reclamation and artificial islands projects are simulated. The results show that the impacts are limited around the project areas. After the projects, the fan-shaped, Jianggang centered tidal current pattern would be replaced by a pattern which is formed by two tidal paths. One locates at the Xiyang channel in north-south direction, and the other locates at the Huangshayang channel in east-west direction. The reclamation of Tiaozini separates the waters into south portion and north portion. The changes of sediment concentrations coincide with those of currents. Both the sediment concentrations and tidal currents increase at the northwest of Dongsha and the south of Gaoni, while both decrease at the north and south of Tiaozini, and the east and southwest of Dongsha.

Sedimentary Environment Analysis of Ancient Sand Ridges from Zk23 Hole in the East China Sea

Abstract： Based on the analysis of core samples from the hole of Zk23 in the East China Sea Continental Shelf and by means of sedimentary stratigraphy, biostratigraphy and chronostratigraphy, the authors consider that the fine-sand deposition in borehole was part of buried ancient estuary sand ridges of the Yangtze River. The deposition history of study area around the hole before and after the glacial period as well as postglacial period is made clear after our research： （1） the estuarine sublayer -undersea delta facies strata was deposited under the fast sea level rise about 15 kaB.P; （2） sand ridges mostly consisting of fine-sand, were formed when the sea level was the fluctuant range of 60 - 80 m of isoba during the deglacial period around 15 - 12 kaB.P; （3） first silty clay and clay silt strata above the sand ridges were deposited during the period when the sea level rose fast from 12 to 7 kaB.P, and then it keeps stable to the present.

Wave Characteristics at the South Part of the Radial Sand Ridges of the Southern Yellow Sea

Based on one-year wave field data measured at the south part of the radial sand ridges of the Southern Yellow Sea, the wave statistical characteristics, wave spectrum and wave group properties are analyzed. The results show that the significant wave height （H1/3） varies from 0.15 to 2.22 m with the average of 0.59 m and the mean wave period （Tmean） varies from 2.06 to 6.82 s with the average of 3.71 s. The percentage of single peak in the wave spectra is 88.6 during the measurement period, in which 36.3% of the waves are pure wind waves and the rest are young swells. The percentage with the significant wave height larger than 1 m is 12.4. The dominant wave directions in the study area are WNW, W, ESE, E and NW. The relationships among the characteristic wave heights, the characteristic wave periods, and the wave spectral parameters are identified. It is found that the tentative spectral model is suitable for the quantitative description of the wave spectrum in the study area, while the run lengths of the wave group estimated from the measured data are generally larger than those in other sea areas.

Heterogeneous tide-surge interaction during co-occurrence of tropical and extratropical cyclones in the radial sand ridges of the southern Yellow Sea

The Radial Sand Ridges(RSRs)area in the southern Yellow Sea are subject to tropical and extratropical cyclone activities frequently,in which the special geometry feature and moving stationary tidal system result in complex storm-induced hydrodynamic processes,especially the tide-surge interactions.We studied a rare weather event influenced simultaneously by an extratropical cyclone EX1410 and Typhoon Vongfong as an example to investigate the characteristics of storm surges,wave-surge,and tide-surge interaction in the RSRs area,and applied a high-resolution integrally-coupled ADCIRC+SWAN model,in which the meteorological forcing inputs are simulated by the WRF-ARW model.The model is validated by records from 4 tide gauges and 2 wave buoys along the Yellow Sea coast.Results show that the tide-surge interactions are of considerable regional heterogeneousness.The surge curves at Lüsi(in south RSRs)and Jianggang(in middle RSRs)have abrupt falls near the time of low tide,where the peak occurrence time of interaction residuals tend to shift towards the mid-ebb period.Significant increase of bed shear stress in shallow waters was proved the dominant factor to affect the tide-surge interaction in broad tidal flats of the RSRs area.Differently,the interaction pattern in the Xiyang Trough(in north RSRs),showed a unique rising in mid-flood period due to the phase advances of real surge waves in relatively deep waters.Therefore,we suggested to the local flood risk management that the tide-surge interaction tends to alleviate the flooding risk in the RSRs area around the time of high tide,but aggravate the risk on the rising tide in the Xiyang Trough and on the falling tide in large-scale tidal flats of the southem RSRs area.

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.

Field Measurements of Influence of Sand Transport Rate on Structure of Wind-sand Flow over Coastal Transverse Ridge

The structure of wind-sand flow under different total sand transport rates was measured with field vertical anemometer and sand trap on the crest of typical coastal transverse ridge in Changli Gold Coast of Hebei Province, which is one of the most typical coastal aeolian distribution regions in China and famous for the tall and typical coastal transverse ridges. The measurement results show that, on the conditions of approximate wind velocities and same surface materials and environments, some changes happen to the structure of wind-sand flow with the increase of total sand transport rate on the crest of coastal transverse ridge. First, the sand transport rates of layers at different heights in the wind-sand flow increase, with the maximum increase at the height layer of 4-8cm. Second, the ratios of sand trans-port rates of layers at different heights to total sand transport rate decrease at the low height layer (0-4cm), but increase at the high height layer (4-60cm). Third, the distribution of the sand transport rate in the wind-sand flow can be expressed by an exponential function at the height layer of 0-40cm, but it changes from power function model to ex-ponential function model in the whole height layer (0-60cm) and changes into polynomial function model at the height layer of 40-60cm with the increase of total sand transport rate. Those changes have a close relationship with the limit of sand grain size of wind flow transporting and composition of sand grain size in the wind-sand flow.

Mathematical model of wave transformation over radial sand ridge field on continental shelf of South Yellow Sea

According to a deformed mild-slope equation derived by Guang-wen Hong and an enhanced numerical method, a wave refraction-diffraction nonlinear mathematical model that takes tidal level change and the high-order bathymetry factor into account has been developed. The deformed mild-slope equation is used to eliminate the restriction of wave length on calculation steps. Using the hard disk to record data during the calculation process, the enhanced numerical method can save computer memory space to a certain extent, so that a large-scale sea area can be calculated with high-resolution grids. This model was applied to wave field integral calculation over a radial sand ridge field in the South Yellow Sea. The results demonstrate some features of the wave field： （1） the wave-height contour lines are arc-shaped near the shore; （2） waves break many times when they propagate toward the shore; （3） wave field characteristics on the northern and southern sides of Huangshayang are different; and （4） the characteristics of wave distribution match the terrain features. The application of this model in the region of the radial sand ridge field suggests that it is a feasible way to analyze wave refraction-diffraction effects under natural sea conditions.

The evolution characteristics of main waterways and their control mechanism in the radial sand ridges of the southern Yellow Sea

The comparison of the underwater topographic data in recent four decades shows that main waterways of the radial sand ridges area in the southern Yellow Sea tend to gradually migrate southward（scour depth and southward extension of the main channels in Xiyang, southward approach of Lanshayang Waterway and Xiaomiaohong Waterway on South Flank）. Although there are various hypotheses about the cause and mechanism of the overall southward migration of the radial sand ridges, no universal and reliable understanding has been obtained so far. The mechanism of this process becomes a challenging problem which serves a key issue in the morphodynamics of the radial sand ridges and the harbor construction in this area. On the basis of the shoreline positions and underwater terrains at different development stages of the Huanghe Delta coast in northern Jiangsu Province, China since the northward return of the Huanghe River and flowed into the Bohai Sea,combined with the tidal wave numerical simulation study, the characteristics and hydrodynamic changes of the tidal wave system in the southern Yellow Sea at different evolution stages are investigated. It is shown that due to the shoreline retreat and the erosion of underwater delta, tidal current velocity is enhanced, and the enhanced area gradually migrates southward. It is revealed that this southward migration of a large-scale regional hydrodynamic axis is possibly a dominant mechanism leading to the overall southward migration of the radial sand ridges.

MONITORING THE DIFFUSION OF SUSPENDED SEDIMENTS AND STABILITY OF TIDAL RADIAL SAND RIDGES AREA USING MULTI-SATELLITE REMOTE SENSING DATA

Nine Landsat TM tapes and images and MSS images, 10 NOAA tapes and images and 1 SAR image from 1973 to 1997 were used to analyze the diffusion of suspended sediments and the change of tidal radial sand ridges in the northern part of the Changjiang River delta, the South Yellow Sea. The results showed that the diffusion of suspended sediments was controlled by the tide, net current, and submarine topography in this area. The distribution of suspended sediments had close relationship with the submarine topography. The old Huanghe River delta and the Changjiang River comprise the main sediment supply for the formation of radial sand ridges, whose evolution can be divided into three stages since the Huanghe River changed its course and flowed northward into the Bohai Sea.

Using Geochemistry of Rare Earth Elements to Indicate Sediment Provenance of Sand Ridges in Southwestern Yellow Sea

The Jianggang Harbour-centered radial sand ridge(RSR) is the largest sand body in the Yellow Sea. Its formation and evolution are of interest for scientists of various fields; however, the sediment provenance is uncertain. In this study, rare earth element(REE) geochemical compositions of the RSR sediments together with their potential sources are investigated to identify the provenance of the RSR sediments. The typical parameters((La/Yb)_N,(La/Sm)_N and(Gd/Yb)_N) as well as the upper continental crust-normalized patterns of REEs can only be associated with source rocks, and thus can be used as effective tracers for the origin and sources of sediments. However, the REE contents of sediments are affected by many factors, such as particle sorting and chemical weathering. Onshore RSR sediments are different in REE geochemical composition from offshore RSR sediments to some extent, suggesting that not all of the offshore RSR sediments have the same sources as the onshore RSR sediments. Meanwhile, the sediments adjacent to the northeast of Cheju Island and at Lian Island near the Lianyun Harbour were not the source of the RSR sediments due to their distinctive REE patterns, dEu,(La/Yb)_N,(Gd/Yb)_N and(La/Sm)_N. The Korean river sediments could be dispersed to the Jiangsu Coast slightly impacting the fine fractions of the RSR sediments, particularly the offshore RSR sediments. Additionally, geochemical comparisons show that the modern Yellow River was responsible for the onshore RSR sediments, whereas the sediment loads from the Yangtze River could serve as a major contributor to the RSR, particularly the offshore RSR. In addition, the offshore RSR could also be partly fed by an unknown source due to some high values of(La/Yb)_N,(La/Sm)_N and La contents differing from those of the Chinese and Korean river sediments.

Sediment mathematical model for sand ridges and sand waves

A new theoretical model is formulated to describe internal movement mechanisms of the sand ridges and sand waves based on the momentum equation of a solid-liquid two-phase flow under a shear flow. Coupling this equation with two-dimensional shallow water equations and wave reflection-diffraction equation of mild slope, a two-dimensional coupling model is established and a validation is carried out by observed hydrogeology, tides,waves and sediment. The numerical results are compared with available observations. Satisfactory agreements are achieved. This coupling model is then applied to the Dongfang 1-1 Gas Field area to quantitatively predict the movement and evolution of submarine sand ridges and sand waves. As a result, it is found that the sand ridges and sand waves movement distance increases year by year, but the development trend is stable.

A DEM Inversion Method for Inter-Tidal Zone Based on MODIS Dataset:A Case Study in the Dongsha Sandbank of Jiangsu Radial Tidal Sand-Ridges,China

Surthce elevation is tile basic data for geo-science. It is difficult to retrieve tidal-flats＇ elevation from a single Re- mote Sensing （RS） image because of the complicated sediment dynanical environment and huge spatial difference in tidal-flats＇ moisture content. A Digital Elevation Model （DEM） construction method for inconstant inter-tidal zone based on high tempo-resolution MODIS data set in a short period is proposed in a ease study on the Dongsha Sandbank of the Jiangsu Radial Tidal Sand-ridges. In the present study, a batch-preprocessing method based on image partition to handle massive MODIS IB images is developed and applied to 8163 scenes of MODIS images. The dataset of short-period and muhi-temporal MODIS images for inter-tidal flats＇ DEM inversion is selected and the usability of MODIS dataset is analyzed. Shorelines of the Dongsha Sandbank are extracted by use of batch supervised classification. In accord with tidal- 0 level forecasted by the Chenjiawu Tidal Gauge Station at the overpass moment of each RS image, DEMs of inter-tidal flats in January and sutmner（Jul, Aug and Sept）, 2003 are built under ArcG1S9.2. Studies show that： （1） The dataset of short-duration and muhi-phase MODIS images can be used to retrieve the historical DEM of tidal-flats at changeful tidal flats. （2） Aualysis on usability of MODIS images from Aqua and Terra indicates that there are more usable and higbquality MODIS images in spring, autumn and winter, but less in summer. Therefore, the period for building inter-tidal fiats＇ DEM is suggested to be one month in spring, autumn and winter and three months in summer.

The study on the bottom friction and the breaking coefficient for typhoon waves in radial sand ridges—the Lanshayang Channel as an example

Owing to the interactions among the complex terrain, bottom materials, and the complicate hydrodynam-ics, typhoon waves show special characteristics as big waves appeared at the high water level （HWL） and small waves emerged at low and middle water levels （LWL and MWL） in radial sand ridges （RSR）. It is as-sumed that the mud damping, sandy bed friction and wave breaking effects have a great influence on the typhoon wave propagation in this area. Under the low wave energy, a mud layer will form and transport into the shallow area, thus the mud damping effects dominate at the LWL and the MWL. And high Collins coef-ficient （c around 1） can be applied to computing the damping effects at the LWL and the MWL. But under the high wave energy, the bottom sediment will be stirred and suspended, and then the damping effects disappear at the HWL. Thus the varying Collins coefficient with the water level method （VCWL） is imple-mented into the SWAN to model the typhoon wave process in the Lanshayang Channel （LSYC） of the RSR, the observed wave data under “Winnie” （“9711”） typhoon was used as validation. The results show that the typhoon wave in the RSR area is able to be simulated by the VCWL method concisely, and a constant wave breaking coefficient （γ） equaling 0.78 is better for the RSR where wide tidal flats and gentle bed slopes exist.

Modern changes of tidal troughs among the radial sand ridges in northern Jiangsu coastal zone

Using satellite images taken on different dates,GIS analysis of aerial photos,bathymetric maps and other field survey data,tidal troughs and major sand ridges in the northern Jiangsu coastal area were contrasted.The results show that there have been three types of movement or migration of tidal trough in this area:(1) Periodic and restricted,this type of trough usually developed along the beaches with immobile gully head as a result of the artificial dams and the swing range increased from gully head to the low reaches,so they have been obviously impacted by human activity and have longer swing periods;(2) Periodic and actively,this kind of trough,which swung with a fast rate and moved periodically on sand ridges,were mainly controlled by the swings of the host tidal troughs and hydrodynamic forces upon tidal sand ridge and influenced slightly by human constructions;(3) Steadily and slowly,they are the main tidal troughs with large scale and a steady orientation in this area and have slow lateral movement.The differences in migration mode of tidal trough shift result in different rates of migration and impact upon tidal sand ridges.Lateral accumulation on current tidal trough and deposition on abandoned tidal troughs are the two types of sedimentation of the tidal sand ridges formation.The whole radial sand ridge was generally prone to division and retreat although sand ridges fluctuated by the analysis of changes in talwegs of tidal troughs and shorelines of sand ridges.

江苏沿海沙脊群表层沉积物Pb同位素特征及对物源的指示

为进一步查明江苏沿海沙脊群沉积物的来源,分析了该区域沉积物酸不溶组分Pb同位素特征。结果表明,远岸沙脊群陆向区域沉积物Pb同位素比值与近岸沙脊群相似,暗示其在潮波作用下有向岸运移的趋势。铅钕同位素分析揭示长江及周边河流沉积物在长江冲淡水和东海沿岸流作用下输移至远岸沙脊群海向区域。在苏北沿岸流作用下,老黄河三角洲沉积物输入对近岸沙脊群及远岸沙脊群陆向区域有影响;相反,诸如现代黄河口、济州岛和韩国河流等地沉积物输入对江苏沿海沙脊群的影响较弱。

Tidal current-induced formation——storm-induced change——tidal current-induced recovery——Interpretation of depositional dynamics of formation and evolution of radial sand ridges on the Yellow Sea seafloor

The results of simulated tidal current field, wave field and storm-induced current field are employed to interpret the depositional dynamic mechanism of formation and evolution of the radial sand ridges on the Yellow Sea seafloor. The anticlockwise rotary tidal wave to the south of Shandong Peninsula meets the following progressive tidal wave from the South Yellow Sea, forming a radial current field outside Jianggang. This current field provides a necessary dynamic condition for the formation and existence of the radial sand ridges on the Yellow Sea seafloor. The results of simulated 'old current field (holocene)' show that there existed a convergent-divergent tidal zone just outside the palaeo-Yangtze River estuary where a palaeo-underwater accumulation was developed. The calculated results from wave models indicate that the wave impact on the topography, under the condition of high water level and strong winds, is significant. The storm current induced by typhoons landing in the Yangtze River estuary and turning away to the sea can have an obvious influence, too, on the sand ridges. The depositional dynamic mechanism of formation andevolution of the radial sand ridges on the Yellow Sea seafloor is ' tidal current-induced formation-storm-inducedchange-tidal current-induced recovery' .

Distribution,formation and evolution of sand ridges on the East China Sea shelf

Based on the integrated results of multiple data types including MBES (Multi-Beam Echo Sounding) and historical topography maps,the LSR (Linear Sand Ridges) on the ECS (East China Sea) shelf are identified,divided into subareas,and classified.The distribution of sand ridge crests is also established.The strikes of the LSR on the ECS shelf fall in a normal distribution with the center point being 155° azimuth with additional peak points at 125°,130°,140°,and 180° azimuth.The distribution of the ECS shelf sand ridges is congested in the central area,sparse in the south and north ends,divergent and bifurcated in the eastern area,and densely convergent in the western area.The LSR are divided into seven subzones according to the strikes and distribution of the sand ridges;estuary mouth ridges and open shelf sand ridges are identified and marked out.The high amplitude change of sea level resulting from the glacial-interglacial cycle is the main cause of the vast development of sand ridges on the ECS shelf.Abundant sediments on the shelf carried by the PYR (Paleo-Yangtze River) are the material source for the LSR formation,and the negative seafloor topography influences the strikes of LSR.Based on the effects of LSR distribution,change of sea level,and the simulation of ancient tidal currents,the evolution of the LSR on the ECS shelf is divided into four main stages:Stage Ⅰ before 14.5 ka BP,Stage Ⅱ between 12 and 14 ka BP,Stage Ⅲ from 1.5 to 9.5 ka BP,and Stage Ⅳ after 9 ka BP.

Evolution of radiative sand ridge field of the South Yellow Sea and its sedimentary characteristics

A sand ridge field of 22 470 km2 consists of fine sands and silts originally from the old Changjiang River sediment during the late Pleistocene period. Late Holocene sand stratum with its well-preserved larmnary bedding of more clay particles reflects the influence from the Yellow River. There are three genetic types of morphology of sand ridge field as follows: (i) reformed alluvial sandy bodies and old river valleys, located in the central and southern parts, formed from the end of Pleistocene to the present. (ii) Radiative current ridges and patrimonal valley type, located in the northeastern part, formed during the early or middle Holocene time. (iii) Eroded-depositional sandy bodies in the north and outer parts, and erosional trough in the north formed since the middle Holocene transgression.The sand ridge field has a periodic nature of developing processes: the period of sediment accumulation by rivers during cold epoch with low sea level and the period of erosional formation by tidal currents during warm epoch of transgression. The river-sea interactive process in the area is closely related to the climate change; the rising and falling of the sea level is the detonating agent of the coast zone land-sea dynamic interactive processes. They can be summarized as “transgression-dynamic-sedimentation” processes.

Detrital Zircon Geochronology of the Radial Sand Ridge System of Jiangsu Coast, East China: Implication for Sediment Provenance

The radial sand ridge system （RSRS） located at Jiangsu coast of China attracts much attention on its origin and mechanic of formation for its special structure and potential land resource. Due to complicated hydrodynamic condition, the Jiangsu RSRS is a hot debated on its potential sources, Yangtze River or Yellow River？ We collected ten sand samples from surface sediments along the west coast of Bohai Sea and Yellow Sea from the modern Yellow River estuary to Yangtze River estuary in summer, 2013. The samples are analyzed by method of detrital zircon age for source identification of the RSRS sediments. The U-Pb age spectra of detrital zircon grains of the samples show a wide range from Cenozoic to Late Archean with several age peaks. Comparing the age spectra between the Yangtze River and the Yellow River, the detrital zircons have younger age （〈100 Ma） group in the Yangtze River. These age distribution of the Jiangsu coastal RSRS sediments are similar to that of the Yangtze River, but different from the Yellow River. The samples located adjacent to the old Yellow River Delta show more wide-range age distribution, implying a compounded origination from the both rivers. Based on these findings it is proposed that, contrary to common opinion, the main sediment source of the Jiangsu RSRS is the Yangtze River, rather than the Yellow River. By implication, there should be evidence of hydrodynamic mechanics of oceanic currents and tidal motion. This aspect awaits confirmation in future research.

黄河和长江碎屑物质扩散研究——来自江苏沙脊物源示踪的约束

研究源-汇系统对于理解岩石风化、河流输砂、泥砂沉积以及陆地和海洋沉积过程具有重要意义。我国江苏省东海岸具有丰富的沉积物供应,在某些沿海地段形成了一系列沙脊,是进行沉积物源-汇过程研究的理想沉积记录之一。但目前对其物源区来自哪里还未达成共识。我们利用已发表的碎屑锆石U-Pb年龄和钾长石Pb同位素数据,结合江苏沙脊及其周缘区域的数据结果,详细厘定江苏沙脊的物源区,并运用蒙特卡罗反演模型定量评估江苏沙脊潜在物源区对其物质贡献率。结果表明江苏沙脊北部的碎屑物质主要受大别山(45%)和鲁中山区(24%)的共同影响;黄河(29%)、古黄河(27%)和长江(25%)的碎屑物质对江苏沙脊中部的物质组成起重要影响。江苏沙脊南部的物源主要来自长江(68%)。江苏沙脊的出现得益于黄河和长江这样的大陆尺度的大河搬运了丰富的碎屑物质到下游,南黄海西海岸的平坦地貌有利于保存这些碎屑物质,末次冰期后东亚陆架海动力过程(潮汐、海浪和沿岸流等)持续对其改造,这体现了河流-海洋在塑造河口-海岸地貌中的交互作用。