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. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 49236120). Pmject codmg: SCIEL 21198103.     

A model for simulating the response of runoff from the mountainous watersheds of inland river basins in the arid area of northwest China to climatic changes

The subaerial tidal sand area in the northern Jiangsu Province (Subei), stretching from Dongtai towards east with a fan shape, is an early developing stage of radial sand ridges distributed in the South Yellow Sea. Since 5000–6000 a BP, after the Holocene transgression maximum in the northern Jiangsu Province, subaqueous tidal sand bodies were exposed and changed into land gradually. The environmental magnetism analysis shows that subaerial tidal sand strata are formed by the convergent-divergent paleo-tidal current field. The sediment source of tidal sand strata came early from the Changjiang River and late from the Yellow River. Sea floor erosion by tidal currents also served as an important sand source. Drilling cores and ground-penetrating profile show that there exists no probability of sand supplying directly by a large river through the apical area of tidal sand ridges either on land or in the sea. Fluvial deposits supplied the tidal sand bodies by alongshore transportation, which corresponds to the conclusions obtained by the analyses of provenance and paleocurrent field. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 43236120 and 49676288).     

Hydromechanics for the formation and development of radial sandbanks (I)

Based upon the long-term observation of field data, a two-dimensional numerical model is applied to simulating the tidal flow covering from the neap tide to spring tide in the radial sandbank area in the southern Yellow Sea. From the development of tidal current ridges under the hydrodynamic action, multi-purpose analysis and study are carried out, which include the propagation process of tidal wave, the distributions of tidal wave energy rate and tidal range, the tidal ellipses and traces. It is shown that the tidal current is the major dynamic factor for the formation and development of the radial sandbanks, and the differences of tidal wave energy rate and current strength determine the distinct plane shapes of ridges and troughs in this region.     

A model for grain-size sorting over tidal sand ridges

A model was developed and analyzed to quantify the effect of graded sediment on the formation of tidal sand ridges. Field data reveal coarse (fine) sediment at the crests (in the troughs), but often phase shifts between the mean grain-size distribution and the bottom topography occur. Following earlier work, this study is based on a linear stability analysis of a basic state with respect to small bottom perturbations. The basic state describes an alongshore tidal current on a coastal shelf. Sediment is transported as bed load and dynamic hiding effects are accounted for. A one-layer model for the bed evolution is used and two grain size classes (fine and coarse sand) are considered. Results indicate an increase in growth and migration rates of tidal sand ridges for a bimodal mixture, whilst the wavelength of the ridges remains unchanged. A symmetrical externally forced tidal current results in a grain-size distribution which is in phase with the ridges. Incorporation of an additional external M₄ tidal constituent or a steady current results in a phase shift between the grain-size distribution and ridge topography. These results show a general agreement with observations. The physical mechanism responsible for the observed grain-size distribution over the ridges is also discussed.Responsible Editor: Jens Kappenberg     

Sediment dynamics in an offshore tidal channel in the southern Yellow Sea

The geomorphology of the southern Yellow Sea（SYS） is characterized by offshore radial sand ridges（RSR）.An offshore tidal channel（KSY Channel） is located perpendicular to the coast,comprised of a main and a tributary channel separated by a submarine sand ridge（KSY Sand Ridge） extending seaward.In order to investigate the interactions among water flow,sediment transport,and topography,current velocity and suspended sediment concentration（SSC） were observed at 11 anchor stations along KSY Channel in RSR during a spring tide cycle.High resolution bottom topography was also surveyed.Residual currents and tidally averaged suspended sediment fluxes were calculated and analyzed by using the decomposition method.Results suggested that the water currents became stronger landward but with asymmetrical current speed and temporal duration of flood and ebb tides.Residual currents showed landward water transport in the nearshore channel and a clockwise circulation around the KSY Sand Ridge.Tidally-averaged SSC also increased landward along the channel.The main mechanisms controlling SSC variations were resuspension and horizontal advection,with spatial and temporal variations in the channel,which also contributed to sediment redistribution between channels and sand ridges.Residual flow transport and the tidal pumping effect dominated the suspended sediment flux in the KSY Channel.The KSY Sand Ridge had a potential southward migration due to the interaction between water flow,sediment transport,and topography.     

SEDIMENT CARRYING CAPACITY OF SEA CURRENT AND THE TRAINING OF THE YELLOW RIVER MOUTH

1INTRODUCTIONTheYellowRivercarries1.6billiontonsofsedanmentload,rankedthefirstintheworld.Sedimentationinthelowerreachesresultedinfrequentlyshiftoftherivercourses.ThroughoutthehistoryofChina,theYellowRiverhasbeenassociatedwithfloodsandfamine,earningtherivername"China'ssorrow"(Hu,l996).Instabilityoftheriverchannel,especiallythedeltachannel,restraintstheeconomicdevelopmentofthearea.TheDongyingmunicipalgovernment,theShenliOilCorporationandtheYellowRiverMouthManagementBureauofYRCC(Yel…     

Anatomy of a shoreface sand ridge revisited using foraminifera: False Cape Shoals, Virginia/North Carolina inner shelf

Certain details regarding the origin and evolution of shelf sand ridges remain elusive. Knowledge of their internal stratigraphy and microfossil distribution is necessary to define the origin and to determine the processes that modify sand ridges. Fourteen vibracores from False Cape Shoal A, a well-developed shoreface-attached sand ridge on the Virginia/North Carolina inner continental shelf, were examined to document the internal stratigraphy and benthic foraminiferal assemblages, as well as to reconstruct the depositional environments recorded in down-core sediments. Seven sedimentary and foraminiferal facies correspond to the following stratigraphic units: fossiliferous silt, barren sand, clay to sandy clay, laminated and bioturbated sand, poorly sorted massive sand, fine clean sand, and poorly sorted clay to gravel. The units represent a Pleistocene estuary and shoreface, a Holocene estuary, ebb tidal delta, modern shelf, modern shoreface, and swale fill, respectively. The succession of depositional environments reflects a Pleistocene sea-level highstand and subsequent regression followed by the Holocene transgression in which barrier island/spit systems formed along the Virginia/North Carolina inner shelf 5.2 ka and migrated landward and an ebb tidal delta that was deposited, reworked, and covered by shelf sand.     

Growth of large-scale bed forms due to storm-driven and tidal currents: a model approach

An idealized morphodynamic model is used to gain further understanding about the formation and characteristics of shoreface-connected sand ridges and tidal sand banks on the continental shelf. The model consists of the 2D shallow water equations, supplemented with a sediment transport formulation and describes the initial feedback between currents and small amplitude bed forms. The behaviour of bed forms during both storm and fair weather conditions is analyzed. This is relevant in case of coastal seas characterized by tidal motion, where the latter causes continuous transport of sediment as bed load.The new aspects of this work are the incorporation of both steady and tidal currents (represented by an M₂ and M₄ component) in the external forcing, in combination with dominant suspended sediment transport during storms. The results indicate that the dynamics during storms and fair weather strongly differ, causing different types of bed forms to develop. Shoreface-connected sand ridges mainly form during storm conditions, whereas if fair weather conditions prevail the more offshore located tidal sand banks develop. Including the M₄ tide changes the properties of the bed forms, such as growth rates and migration speeds, due to tidal asymmetry. Finally a probabilistic formulation of the storm and fair weather realization of the model is used to find conditions for which both types of large-scale bed forms occur simultaneously. These conditions turn out to be a low storm fraction and the presence strong tidal currents in combination with strong steady currents during storms.     

地震速度资料在北黄海盆地中的应用

概述了北黄海盆地的区域地质背景和速度分析的原理,通过对北黄海盆地速度谱的解释和计算,得到了层速度、平均速度、砂岩百分含量等信息,利用这些速度资料识别多次波、辨别坳陷区和隆起区,进行时深转换、构造分析以及岩性分析,为北黄海盆地地震资料解释、沉积相分析以及资源量计算提供可靠的依据。     

南海北部东沙海域巨型水下沙丘的分布及特征

本文基于多波束测深和高分辨率多道反射地震数据研究了东沙海域深水巨型水下沙丘的特征.巨型水下沙丘发育在230~830 m水深的上陆坡范围内,呈斑块状分布.NW-SE向的近海底流体运动不仅冲蚀地层,形成了三条与水下沙丘间隔分布的冲蚀带,为水下沙丘提供了沉积物来源,同时也为水下沙丘的形成提供了动力源.研究区水下沙丘波长（L）范围55~510 m,波高（h）范围1.5~20 m,二者呈指数关系分布.沙丘的波长随水深增大而增大,波高则在500~700 m水深范围内最大.水下沙丘NE-SW向展布的脊线和几何参数关系是与现今水动力条件相平衡的结果.

     

洪泽湖和淮河入洪泽湖河口的形成与演化

根据历史文献资料和前人研究成果,对洪泽湖和淮河入洪泽湖河口及三角洲的形成与演化进行了探讨。结果表明,洪泽湖是明,清两代治黄,保运工程的产物和组成部分,现代洪泽湖主要形成于１７世纪的靳治水时期,其形成后百余年中湖水位变化总趋势是不断上升,同时具有大幅度的年内年龄变化。     

Modeling studies of tidal dynamics and the associated responses to coastline changes in the Bohai Sea,China

Over the past 30 years, reclamation projects and related changes have impacted the hydrodynamics and sediment transport in the Bohai Sea. Three-dimensional tidal current models of the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea were constructed using the MIKE 3 model. We used a refined grid to simulate and analyze the effects of changes in coastline, depth, topography, reclamation, the Yellow River estuary, and coastal erosion on tidal systems, tide levels, tidal currents, residual currents, and tidal fluxes. The simulation results show that the relative change in the amplitude of the half-day tide is greater than that of the full-day tide. The changes in the tidal amplitudes of M₂, S₂, K₁, and O₁ caused by coastline changes accounted for 27.76–99.07% of the overall change in amplitude from 1987 to 2016, and water depth changes accounted for 0.93–72.24% of the overall change. The dominant factor driving coastline changes is reclamation, accounting for 99.55–99.91% of the amplitude changes in tidal waves, followed by coastal erosion, accounting for 0.05–0.40% of the tidal wave amplitude changes. The contribution of changes in the Yellow River estuary to tidal wave amplitude changes is small, accounting for 0.01–0.12% of the amplitude change factor. The change in the highest tide level (HTL) is mainly related to the amplitude change, and the correlation with the phase change is small. The dominant factor responsible for the change in the HTL is the tide amplitude change in M2, followed by S2, whereas the influence of the K1 and O1 tides on the change in the HTL is small. Reclamation resulted in a decrease in the vertical average maximum flow velocity (V_VAM) in the Bohai Sea. Shallower water depths have led to an increase in the V_VAM; deeper water depths have led to a decrease in the maximum flow velocity. The absolute value of the maximum flow velocity gradually decreases from the surface to the bottom, but the relative change value is basically constant. The changes in the tidal dynamics of the Bohai Sea are proportional to the degree of change in the coastline. The maximum and minimum changes in the tidal flux appear in Laizhou Bay (P-LZB) and Liaodong Bay (P-LDB), respectively. The changes in the tidal flux are related to the change in the area of the bay. Due to the reduced tidal flux, the water exchange capacity of the Bohai Sea has decreased, impacting the ecological environment of the Bohai Sea. Strictly controlling the scale of reclamation are important measures for reducing the decline in the water exchange capacity of the Bohai Sea and the deterioration of its ecological environment.     

Internal architecture and mobility of tidal sand ridges in the East China Sea

On the basis of bathymetric and seismic data and data from piston cores collected by the Chinese–French marine geology and geophysics investigation of 1996, we discuss the internal architecture and mobility of tidal sand ridges in the East China Sea (ECS). We characterized the sand ridges on the middle to outer shelf of the ECS as tide-dominated sand ridges with southwest dipping beds, indicating that the regional net sediment transport is toward the southwest. As the sand ridges gradually migrate toward the southwest, new sand ridges are continually replacing old ones, and several generations of sand ridges have developed in the study area.     

Sediment characteristics and internal architecture of offshore sand ridges on a tideless continental shelf (western Mediterranean)

An integrated approach combining swath bathymetry, an extensive dataset of vibrocores and high-resolution seismic reflection data was used to assess the origin and evolution of offshore sand ridges on a tideless continental shelf (Gulf of Valencia, western Mediterranean). The sand ridges are located in the mid-outer shelf at 55–85 m water depth, obliquely oriented to the shoreline. They are 1.5 to 7 m high, with a wavelength between 600 and 1,100 m and a mean height-to-wavelength ratio of 0.004. The sand ridges are composed of well-sorted medium sand and are partially covered by a mud layer, evidencing a moribund stage. They overlie an erosion surface that locally crops out at the seafloor and is interpreted as the Holocene wave-ravinement surface. In the sediment cores, this surface corresponds to an erosional lag composed of coarse sand and gravel with pebbles. Small topographic irregularities on this surface are interpreted as shoreline-associated features that may act as the precursor for ridge development. Their preservation within the sand ridges could be related to the hardness of these features. Internally, the sand ridges display high-angle dipping reflections, indicating ridge migration towards the southeast in the direction of the present-day sediment transport direction. The presence of interbedded mud layers, associated with these reflections, indicates intermittent episodes of mud deposition when active. The internal architecture of some small ridges also provides new insights into their transition from an active to moribund state, as evidenced by a change in the geometry of the internal units from progradational to aggradational, finally being overlain by onlapping finer deposits over the flanks and in the troughs. The Gulf of Valencia sand ridge field constitutes a valuable potential sand resource of 22 million m³ of well-sorted medium and coarse sand with limited mud content, which must be preserved as a strategic sand reservoir. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

黄海的地壳速度结构与中朝-扬子块体拼合边界

利用中国、韩国和ISC台站的地震走时数据反演了黄海地区的地壳P波速度结构,对比重力异常和断裂体系、Pn波速度及其各向异性,分析了不同地球物理异常的相互关系以及黄海东部和西部的结构差异,为厘定黄海东部断裂暨中朝—扬子块体的拼合边界提供了新的信息.反演结果表明,北黄海和南黄海西部具有沉积盆地的地壳结构特征,P波速度明显偏低且深度较大,说明盆地内部沉积层较厚、沉降幅度较大,以北黄海、南黄海海州湾和苏北—南黄盆地最为突出.南黄海中部、胶东半岛、辽东半岛和朝鲜半岛显示出构造隆起区的地壳速度特征,其中南黄海中部的高速异常具有北东方向的伸展痕迹,与胶东地区的区域构造走向趋于一致,但是与朝鲜半岛的高速异常并不相连,其间存在明显的分界.据此推测南黄海与朝鲜半岛之间可能存在一个近南北方向的深断裂——黄海东部断裂,至于该断裂是否可以作为中朝—扬子块体在海区的拼合边界,尚需获取黄海东部及朝鲜半岛更详细的相关资料提供依据.     

Modeling the effect of artificial flow and sediment flux on the environment and plankton of an estuary

Estuarine environments are influenced by both river flows and oceanic tidal movement of water, sediment, and nutrients, often forming ecosystems that are rich in resources and biodiversity. The Yellow River once carried the world’s largest sediment load, but artificial structures have transformed its hydrodynamic processes. An annual Water-Sediment Regulation Scheme(WSRS) was introduced to flush accumulated sediment from the Xiaolangdi Reservoir, which provides flood control and water storage.Ho...     

Progressive change of tidal wave characteristics from the eastern Yellow Sea to the Asan Bay,a strongly convergent bay in the west coast of Korea

Although there have been studies on the tide in convergent bay (or estuary), the tide change in terms of phase speed, amplitude, and phase difference between elevation and tidal current from a coastal ocean to a convergent bay has not been clearly shown so far. This study systematically examines the change of tidal wave characteristics from the eastern Yellow Sea to the Asan Bay, a strongly convergent bay on the west coast of Korea, using observations and an analytical model. As the tidal wave propagates from the eastern Yellow Sea into the Asan Bay, the phase speed, amplitude, and phase difference between elevation and tidal current increase along the channel. Such a phenomenon represents a unique example of tide change from a coastal ocean to a convergent bay, indicating dominance of convergence over friction in the Asan Bay. Both analytically computed tidal amplitude and travelling time compare well with observations. In the Asan Bay, the influence of the reflected wave is only felt in the upper one fifth of the bay and is almost unperceivable in the rest of the bay. The analytical analyses presented in this paper are particularly useful for understanding the relative importance of channel convergence, bottom friction, and reflected wave on the tidal characteristics change along the channel and the proposed method could be applicable to other estuaries.     

DYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF SEA CURRENTS AND SEDIMENT DISPERSION IN THE YELLOW RIVER ESTUARY

ＤＹＮＡＭＩＣＣＨＡＲＡＣＴＥＲＩＳＴＩＣＳＯＦＳＥＡＣＵＲＲＥＮＴＳＡＮＤＳＥＤＩＭＥＮＴＤＩＳＰＥＲＳＩＯＮＩＮＴＨＥＹＥＬＬＯＷＲＩＶＥＲＥＳＴＵＡＲＹＨＵＣｈｕｎｈｏｎｇ１,ＪＩＺｕｗｅｎ２ａｎｄＷＡＮＧＴａｏ３ＡＢＳＴＲＡＣＴＤｙｎａｍｉｃ...     

End member inversion of surface sediment grain size in the South Yellow Sea and its implications for dynamic sedimentary environments

Four end members were inverted from surface sediment grain size data from the South Yellow Sea by using the end member (EM) model. The sediment provenance and hydrodynamic meanings of each EM were discussed based on the frequency and spatial distributions of the EMs. EM1 and EM2 reflect the dynamic transport and sorting processes of the terrigenous sediment, and EM3 and EM4 reflect the modification of relic sand. The ocean front mainly affected transport of relatively coarse terrigenous sediment in the South Yellow Sea, and the fine terrigenous sediments were generally unaffected by the ocean front. Fine sediment could pass through the ocean front and deposit in the central South Yellow Sea under weak tidal condition to form most part of the Central Yellow Sea Mud (CYSM). The CYSM extended toward northwest and southwest. The sediment in the north part of the CYSM mainly consisted of sediment from the Yellow River (Huanghe) in the northwest, and the sediment in the southwest part of CYSM mainly consisted of Subei coastal sediments from both the Yangtze River (Changjiang) and the Yellow River. Compared to the traditional method of sediment grain size analysis, the EM model can determine the EMs and provide better explanations of the sediment provenance and dynamic regional sedimentary environment in the study area.     

Geospatial-temporal analysis of land-use changes in the Yellow River Delta during the last 40 years

Research on land use/land cover changes (LUCC)has been the core project of the Global EnvironmentalChanges since the 1990s[1—6]. Scientists at home andabroad have been laying emphasis on integrationstudies on land-use change by “space and process”features[7—10] as researches on LUCC are in a greatdeal. It is of paramount important for us to studyLUCC at various spatial-temporal scales and build aquantitative assessment of land-use conversion by in-tegrated spatial-temporal features. …