南沙群岛“危险地带”腹地珊瑚礁的地貌与现代沉积特征

南沙群岛中央水道及南华水道两侧的珊瑚礁,大部分为环礁,分属开放型、半开放型、准封闭型、封闭型和台礁化型,反映了环礁向灰砂岛演变的不同阶段。每个环礁,从礁前斜坡向礁坪至潟湖,可相应划分出3种沉积相和细分9种沉积带。礁顶是全新世中期以来形成发育的。     

Contradicting Barrier Reef relationships for Darwin’s Evolution of reef types

The Darwinian progressive subsidence model for the evolution of fringing reefs, barrier reefs and atolls has been generally accepted following the indisputable proof of subsidence provided by drilling results in the Pacific. Nonetheless, there are data that do not fit the expectations of the model, such as the similar lagoon depths of barrier reefs and atolls as opposed to the subsidence theory’s implicit prediction that atolls should have significantly greater depths. In contrast, a great deal of evidence supports the influence of meteoric solution on barrier reef morphology. For example, the maximum lagoon depth of 56 modern barrier reefs is statistically correlated with the lagoon catchment area for modern annual rainfall. These modern rainfall patterns would seem to be a reasonable proxy for relative geographic differences in glacial lowstand rainfall, even though the absolute amounts of such rainfall are unknown. The correlation therefore suggests the importance of Pleistocene subaerial solution in contributing to barrier reef morphology. Further support for antecedent influence occurs in the form of barrier reef passes in which the depth of the reef pass is correlated with onshore drainage volumes. On a larger scale, the Cook Island of Mangaia provides evidence that solution can produce barrier reef morphology independent of reef development. In contrast, there are no examples of the subsidence-predicted lagoon transition of fringing reefs to barrier reefs to atolls. Moreover, the common occurrence of fringing reefs within barrier reefs negates subsidence as a causal factor in their ‘presumed progressive evolutionary development. Consequently, the evidence to date suggests that a solution morphology template has been accentuated by reef construction to produce the diagnostic barrier reef morphology we see today. The importance of subsidence would seem to be in accounting for the overall thickness of the resulting carbonate caps of oceanic examples and in contributing to lagoon depth variation among the larger continental entities.

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Response of Tidal Creek Fish Communities to Dredging and Coastal Development Pressures in a Shallow-Water Estuary

To investigate the effects of dredging and associated development pressures (i.e., shoreline armoring, developed land use) on fish, three sets of paired dredged and undredged tidal creeks were surveyed within Lynnhaven River, Virginia. Fish species diversity, community abundance, biomass, and size structure were compared among creeks and related to watershed, shoreline, and physicochemical characteristics. Mean fish community characteristics (e.g., abundance) were similar among creeks; however, species-specific analysis revealed subtle differences. Species biomass differed between dredged and undredged creeks, though species abundance was similar. Turbidity highly influenced differences in species abundance among creeks, while organic matter, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and shoreline hardening may be influencing biomass patterns. The most recently dredged creek appeared to provide less suitable nursery habitat for some species than historically dredged creeks, suggesting initial adverse effects with eventual recovery. Protective measures, such as preservation of marshes, dredge depth, and time-of-year restrictions, may be moderating development and dredging pressures.     

南沙群岛珊瑚礁区仙掌藻的现代沉积特征

仙掌藻为温暖水体中钙化的绿藻,是南沙群岛珊瑚礁区重要的钙质沉积物源。对南沙群岛８座环礁现代沉积物样品的分析表明,仙掌藻碎屑在环礁各地貌沉积带沉积物中的含量,以泻湖盆底最高,平均为32.66％,最高可达75％,泻湖坡次之,平均9.22％,礁坪含量低,平均6.06％。南沙群岛仙掌藻以砂质基底上生长的直立类型为主,能生长于各个地貌沉积带,最适生态环境为封闭性好、泻湖面积大、水深较大（10～25m）、水动力弱的砂质泻湖盆底。仙掌藻的现代沉积特征反映了其生态特征,可作为中新世以来珊瑚礁沉积相划分的依据。     

Carbonate sediment transport pathways based on foraminifera: case study from Frank Sound, Grand Cayman, British West Indies

Foraminifera can be used to determine the source(s) of carbonate sediment and the directions of sediment transport in shallow, coastal lagoons such as Frank Sound on the south-central coast of Grand Cayman. These determinations, based on the distribution of foraminiferal assemblages and ‘tracer species’ (numerically abundant species that live in known physiographic units and/or ecological conditions), show that the lagoonal sediments are a mixture of grains that originated in the lagoon and forereef. The variable proportions of these foraminifera throughout the lagoon reflects the dynamic processes that control lagoonal sedimentation. Amphistegina gibbosa, Discorbis rosea, and Asterigerina carinata lived in the forereef environment. The fact that these ‘tracer species’ are found throughout Frank Sound and in the beach sands, shows that they were transported across the reef crest and the lagoon. Abrasion-resistant Archaias angulatus, a‘tracer species’ indicative of a lagoonal setting, forms up to 50% of foraminiferal assemblages found in the lagoonal sediments. Preferential winnowing of small tests from these populations indicates sorting under high energy conditions. The vertical distribution of the forereef and lagoonal foraminifera in the sediment blanket that covers the floor of Frank Sound indicates that these processes are temporally persistent. Transportation of forereef foraminifera into and around the lagoon and sorting of the lagoonal foraminifera cannot take place under ‘normal’ conditions when the tranquil lagoon is characterized by weak currents. Storms and/or hurricanes, however, generate short-lived high-energy events that can move and sort the sediment and foraminifera. At the height of a storm, water and sediment are moved over the reef and then piled and held onshore by the onshore winds and the constant flow of water over the reef and across the lagoon. These currents can mix some of the lagoonal and forereef sediments. As a storm wanes, however, the ‘piled water’ flows offshore via strong rip currents that pass into the ocean through the channels which transect the reef. These currents winnow and/or strip sediment from the lagoon and may transport lagoonal sediments into the forereef area. As a result, residual lagoonal sediment is commonly characterized by larger and abrasion-resistant foraminifera.     

Carbonate sediments of Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs close to the southern limits of reef growth in the southwest Pacific

Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs are atoll-like structures that have developed on top of volcanic edifices and are close to the southern environmental limit of reef development in the southwest Pacific. Reef morphology and vertical accretion rates during the Holocene appear similar to those on other more tropical reefs. Sediment samples were collected from the lagoon of both reefs and around the flanks of Middleton Reef. A distinctly chlorozoan assemblage was observed with coral, molluscs, Halimeda, coralline algae and foraminifers being the dominant sediment constituents. Lagoon sediment samples show little variation within or between reefs, lacking the concentric zonation characteristic of larger atolls. Samples collected from the flanks of Middleton Reef, and subsurface material from vibrocores, differ compositionally from the surficial lagoon sand and were typically more tropical in character. A comparison of the sediment constituents from these reefs with those of samples from within a fringing reef and from the shelf around Lord Howe Island, further south, indicated regional patterns in sediment composition. Halimeda rapidly decreased in abundance with increased latitude, and appeared confined to deeper water, whereas coralline red algae increased significantly. The rapid change in these major sediment contributors is coincident with the general decrease in coral growth rates with latitude. This reinforces the notion that the latitudinal limit of reef development is constrained by factors other than coral growth alone.     

南沙群岛道明群礁库归沙洲脊槽地貌定量研究

脊槽地貌（Spur and Groove）是现代珊瑚礁礁坪和礁前的典型地貌,其发育特征是揭示珊瑚礁形成与演化过程的重要基础,目前有关环礁各地貌带脊槽地貌形态及成因的研究仍较为薄弱。南海南沙群岛岛礁脊槽地貌发育,是进行相关研究的理想区域。本文以南沙群岛北部道明群礁东北库归沙洲的典型脊槽地貌为研究对象,基于多波束测深数据,借助小波分析和过零点分析等方法,对环礁脊槽地貌形态参数进行定量研究。结果表明：库归沙洲各地貌带脊槽发育平均起始水深为15~16 m,主要为深水脊槽,最大起始水深相差较大（达8 m）,而终止水深相似（平均为16 m左右）。脊槽高差在礁前斜坡和内礁坪为2.15 m左右,在潟湖坡为1.24 m;平均槽宽在礁前斜坡为47.30 m,在潟湖坡达54.92 m。因此,在礁前斜坡脊槽发育相对密集且高差大,潟湖坡脊槽发育相对稀疏且高差小。从礁前斜坡至潟湖坡,脊槽边坡坡度逐渐增大,由“V”型脊槽向“U”型脊槽过渡,槽谷由左倾逐渐转化为右倾。同时,在内礁坪和潟湖坡多发育次一级脊槽,“V”型和“U”型共存。与全球代表性珊瑚礁脊槽形态的对比分析表明：南海地区各环礁多发育深水脊槽,其槽宽和延伸长度的关系部分符合波浪侵蚀作用主控的“V”型脊槽的拟合直线,部分符合生物建造作用主控的“U”型脊槽的拟合直线,表明其可能受上述两个作用共同控制,不同地貌带两者相对强弱不同。同时,频繁的热带风暴的破坏作用可能也是一个要因。     

西藏羌塘盆地中侏罗世布曲期及夏里期岩相古地理与油气远景

在露头剖面地层学及沉积学研究的基础上,采用单因素分析多因素综合作图法,编制了西藏羌塘盆地中侏罗世布曲期和夏里期的单因素图和岩相古地理图。布曲期以碳酸盐岩沉积为主,自北而南依次发育局限台地（潮坪、泻湖）、开阔台地（台盆、浅滩/点礁）、台缘礁/浅滩、台缘斜坡、盆地等沉积（亚）相;夏里期以陆源碎屑沉积为主,发育泻湖、潮坪、滨岸、陆棚等沉积（亚）相。布曲组台盆和泻湖相泥灰岩和泥晶灰岩是良好的烃源岩,台缘礁和浅滩相碳酸盐岩是良好的储集岩,而上覆的夏里组泻湖和潮坪相泥岩和膏盐层是良好的区域性盖层,共同构成良好的生、储、盖组合。该生储盖组合大都被上覆的上侏罗统、白垩系、第三系覆盖。因此,布曲组是盆地内最好的油气勘探目的层,沿中央隆起带两侧以及北羌塘地区的琵琶湖－半岛湖凸起一带应是油气勘探的有利区带。     

秦皇岛七里海潟湖水上钻探取样及勘察成果分析

秦皇岛七里海湿地生态修复工程主要通过退养还湿、清淤疏浚和岸线综合整治对七里海潟湖进行生态修复和景观提升。通过水上钻探取样技术,对七里海潟湖进行工程勘察,根据土层物理力学性质,分析该区域工程地质特征、液化分区情况和浅层土类别,对工程疏浚适宜性作出评价,为清淤疏浚和岸线整治提供有利依据。     

Nature and stability of atoll island shorelines: Gilbert Island chain,Kiribati, equatorial Pacific

Islands rimming Pacific atolls typically form narrow, low‐lying lands that are commonly perceived to be particularly vulnerable to global changes such as sea‐level rise. As these, low islands form the only habitable land for many island nations, understanding the character of shorelines, and the rates and controls that operate to bring about changes, is an issue of central importance. The purpose of this study is to unravel the characteristics of coastal change on atoll islands of the Gilbert Island chain of the equatorial Pacific nation of Kiribati, especially as they relate to autogenic shoreline processes and El Niño/Southern Oscillation variability. Integration of field observations, differential global positioning system data, historical aerial photographs and ultra‐high resolution remote sensing images demonstrates the nature, spatial patterns and rates of change from 17 islands on Maiana and Aranuka atolls. The results illustrate that, between 2005 and 2009, ca 50% of the shorelines on these islands displayed a discernable shift in position; some shorelines were accretionary (at net rates up to ca 8 m year^?1) and others were erosional (up to ca 18 m year^?1). Long‐term net rates of change on Maiana between 1969 and 2009 were lower than short‐term net rates measured between 2005 and 2009. Both short‐term and long‐term observations illustrate some of the greatest change occur near terminations of the largest, north–south oriented islands, associated with longshore movement of coarse sand and gravel. Direct hits by tropical depressions and marked seasonality, factors interpreted as being essential in island growth and shoreline dynamics elsewhere, do not directly impact these equatorial atolls and can be eliminated as fundamental controls on shoreline dynamics. Similarly, observations over four years suggested that shoreline variability probably is not influenced directly by marked sea‐level change, although a recent increase in the rates of shoreline change could reflect instability related to the cumulative effect of a long‐term increase in the rate of sea‐level rise. Within this framework of global change, local anthropogenic effects, autogenic shoreline processes and El Niño/Southern Oscillation‐influenced wind and wave variability control many aspects of these dynamic shorelines. These results provide quantitative insights into the character and variability of rates of shoreline change, information essential for evaluating and mitigating the vulnerability of island nations such as Kiribati.     

Sedimentation,dredging, and spoil disposal in a subtropical estuarine lagoon

Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, is an estuary used as a harbor for a military installation and for recreation, fishing, and research purposes. Rapid shoaling of the bay had been reported and attributed to increased stream erosion and sedimentation from the newly suburbanized watershed. Comparison of a 1976 bathymetric survey of Kaneohe Bay with that of a 1927 survey indicates an average shoaling of the lagoonal area of 1.0 m. Average shoaling for the north and middle bay at 0.6m/49 years (1.2 cm yr⁻¹ is lower than for the south bay at 1.5m/49 years (3.1 cm yr⁻¹). The total lagoonal fill in the 49-year period is about 1.95× 10⁷ m³, assigned as follows: 64% carbonate detritus from the reefs as well as growth of living coral and unrecorded dredging spill, 9% recorded dredging spoils, and only 27% terrigenous sediment. Seismic reflection profiles distinguish spoil from natural sediment and show that the infilling sediment is trapped between, burying reef structures built during Quaternary lower stands of the sea. There had been little obvious change between 1882 and 1927 surveys. All information suggests that increased shoaling rates since 1927 are due to reported and unreported disposal of dredge spoil, mainly from 1939 to 1945 for ship and seaplane channels in the south bay, and not from increased runoff and urbanization around the south bay. Hawaii Institute of Geophysics Contribution No. 1257.     

The significant role of sediment bio-retexturing within a contemporary carbonate platform system: Implications for carbonate microfacies development

Assessments of carbonate platform reef–lagoon sediments and benthic habitats around Rodrigues Island (south-west Indian Ocean) have been undertaken in order to examine carbonate sediment textural properties and the controls on texturally-defined sediment fabrics. Reef–lagoon sediments, sampled from across the expansive (~ 8 km wide) carbonate-dominated windward platform, principally comprise poorly sorted medium- to coarse-grained bioclastic sands, composed of a low diversity of grain constituents — predominantly non-geniculate coralline algal bioclasts. Despite a marked homogeneity in sediment compositional and grain size properties, eight distinct sediment textural groups can be identified that form a heterogeneous mosaic across the contemporary reef–lagoon system. Only along the narrow outer platform margins (reef crest, sand apron and outermost lagoon environments) do we observe consistent (predictable) transitions in sediment textural groups, where physical processes are the primary drivers of selective sediment transport and sorting. In contrast, across the main expanse of the lagoon, the sediment substrates are characterised by an irregular mosaic of texturally-defined sediment groups — formed primarily as a function of sediment bio-retexturing. The burrowing activities of alpheid and callianassid shrimps are particularly important in this respect and impart a distinctly unique textural fabric to the upper sediment horizons in the environments in which the respective organisms occur. The consequence of this is that, at the platform system scale, individual, texturally-defined sediment groups are relatively poor indicators of prevailing hydrodynamic regimes or of local sediment production, reflecting more the biological action of organisms inhabiting the substrate. This has important implications for understanding the development of carbonate sediment fabrics in the context of palaeoenvironmental reconstructions and for interpreting a key diagnostic criteria of carbonate microfacies.     

Beach erosion under rising sea‐level modulated by coastal geomorphology and sediment availability on carbonate reef‐fringed island coasts

This study addresses gaps in understanding the relative roles of sea‐level change, coastal geomorphology and sediment availability in driving beach erosion at the scale of individual beaches. Patterns of historical shoreline change are examined for spatial relationships to geomorphology and for temporal relationships to late‐Holocene and modern sea‐level change. The study area shoreline on the north‐east coast of Oahu, Hawaii, is characterized by a series of kilometre‐long beaches with repeated headland‐embayed morphology fronted by a carbonate fringing reef. The beaches are the seaward edge of a carbonate sand‐rich coastal strand plain, a common morphological setting in tectonically stable tropical island coasts. Multiple lines of geological evidence indicate that the strand plain prograded atop a fringing reef platform during a period of late‐Holocene sea‐level fall. Analysis of historical shoreline changes indicates an overall trend of erosion (shoreline recession) along headland sections of beach and an overall trend of stable to accreting beaches along adjoining embayed sections. Eighty‐eight per cent of headland beaches eroded over the past century at an average rate of ?0·12 ± 0·03 m yr^?1. In contrast, 56% of embayed beaches accreted at an average rate of 0·04 ± 0·03 m yr^?1. Given over a century of global (and local) sea‐level rise, the data indicate that embayed beaches are showing remarkable resiliency. The pattern of headland beach erosion and stable to accreting embayments suggests a shift from accretion to erosion particular to the headland beaches with the initiation of modern sea‐level rise. These results emphasize the need to account for localized variations in beach erosion related to geomorphology and alongshore sediment transport in attempting to forecast future shoreline change under increasing sea‐level rise.     

A fine balance: Accommodation dominated control of contemporaneous cool-carbonate shelf-edge clinoforms and tropical reef-margin trajectories,North Carnarvon Basin,Northwestern Australia

The concurrent development of a cool-carbonate Miocene clinoform system and the tropical reef which developed on its shelf in the North Carnarvon Basin is studied. The study, based on seismic interpretation and geometrical analysis, seeks to investigate how the architecture of the clinoforms develops in relation to the advance of the reef-margin, providing a proxy for discussing contemporaneous shoreline versus shelf-edge development. The progradation of the reef and shelf-edge often display a closely mirrored development, although the reef twice advances an order of two to three times the concurrent advance of the shelf-edge. The forced regression of the second advance, as compared to the normal regression during the first, is observed in proportionally higher input of sediment towards advance of the shelf-edge and toe, along with a gentler slope. The inability of the shelf-edge to keep pace with the reef-margin (and by proxy the shoreline) during lower accommodation/sedimentation is a result of the increased volume of sediment required to match reef-margin advance beyond the shelf-edge. Increased accommodation/sedimentation ratios promote higher trajectories where the volumes on shelf and slope are more balanced and the development more closely matched. The observed matched development of reef and shelf-edge during both limited and increased slope sedimentation, suggest that accommodation is the dominant control on the location and trajectory of both ‘shoreline’ and shelf-edge, and that excess sediment is deposited along the slope.     

南沙道明群礁珊瑚礁地貌

珊瑚礁支持了对全球气候变化响应最敏感的生态系统之一,其部分特征地貌是海面变化记录的重要载体.目前,无论是对珊瑚礁现代地貌还是埋藏古地貌的研究多以定性为主,定量研究相对匮乏.基于2017年8～9月采集的浅层地震剖面数据,结合遥感影像研究显示,道明群礁目前是发育有1个岛、4个沙洲、7个干出礁和若干座暗礁的典型珊瑚群礁,其形...     

四川龙门山区中泥盆统金宝石组核形石岩石学特征及其成因*

四川龙门山区甘溪剖面中泥盆统金宝石组顶部发育一套核形石灰岩。通过野外剖面实测和镜下详细观察,认为该套核形石灰岩垂向上可分为3个沉积旋回,每个旋回均由核形石灰岩和泥晶灰岩组成。葛万藻(Girvanella)丝状体在核形石的核心和包壳中均有发育,对核形石的形成具有重要的作用。结合核形石中的纹层类型、Girvanella丝状体形态以及渗滤砂与核形石纹层的关系,认为核形石是在浅滩和礁后潟湖环境中沉积形成的,核形石及其围岩中赋存的粒内渗滤砂和粒间渗滤砂,形成于核形石沉积之后的大气水淋滤作用。通过对核形石形成环境的分析可知,龙门山区甘溪剖面中泥盆统金宝石组顶部核形石灰岩形成的水动力条件从下到上逐渐减弱,反映了当时相对海平面由低到高的变化特点。     

Transgressive facies in the South Munster Basin, Ireland

This paper describes the sedimentation style associated with the basal Carboniferous transgression in southern Ireland and the influence which this event had on the palaeogeography of the region. The transgression as marked by the base of the Carboniferous succession is shown to represent one of several genetically related transgressive pulses which commenced during the Late Devonian. At this time an east-west trending graben, the South Munster Basin, developed in southern Ireland. This was initially a non-marine depositional site in which sediment was derived from the north and west. Subsidence and eustatic sea-level rise resulted in a marine transgression which proceeded in a rhythmic style resulting in a number of transgressive-stillstand pulses. The first transgressive pulse (T1) advanced in a westerly direction along the basin axis resulting in the development of an epicontinental-like sea. The shoreline remained essentially static along the northern basin margin initially until a second transgressive pulse (T2) resulted in expansion of the marine area. The latter proceeded by gradual northward erosive advance of a barred coastal area as far as the northern basin margin where the stability of the bounding platform halted its progress. Erosion of the barrier shoreface was insufficient to destroy all the backbarrier lagoonal deposits which are preserved as a thin transgressive diachronous unit which grades northwards to a coastal alluvial plain. Immediately preceding the basal Carboniferous transgression (T3), a shallow, wave-dominated, storm-influenced shelf sea occupied the basinal area. Two sublittoral sand bar complexes developed on the shelf under the influence of shore-parallel current regimes, apparently derived from source areas located on either side of the epicontinental sea The basal Carboniferous transgression took place in two pulses. The first (T3a) resulted in a rapid reduction in sand supply to the shelf and deposition of clay. The barrier shoreline responded by erosively retreating across the lagoon, leaving a transgressive lag in its wake. Its northwards advance was, however, limited due to the relative stability of the northern platform. Sand supply to the shelf was completely terminated in the second pulse (T3b) and the barrier rapidly migrated erosively across the northern platform for a considerable distance such that the coastal plain is overlain by a thin transgressive lag. This transgressive phase was immediately followed by shoreline stillstand and progressive shallowing of the shelf. An open sandy shelf developed on which offshore sand bars accumulated under a storm and wave dominated regime. Clay deposition continued in the deeper part of the basinal area but was eventually terminated as the shelf sands prograded centripetally into the basin. The main factor that controlled the style of the overall transgression was an interplay between eustatic sea level rise and basin subsidence. The rate of relative sea-level rise together with the effect of differential subsidence and fluvial input from the north appear to have diminished with time. The rate at which successive transgressive pulses advanced northwards shows an overall progressive increase.     

Comparison of the basin-scale effect of dredging operations and natural estuarine processes on suspended sediment concentration

Suspended sediment concentration (SSC) data from San Pablo Bay, California, were analyzed to compare the basin-scale effect of dredging and disposal of dredged material (dredging operations) and natural estuarine processes. The analysis used twelve 3-wk to 5-wk periods of mid-depth and near-bottom SSC data collected at Point San Pablo every 15 min from 1993–1998. Point San Pablo is within a tidal excursion of a dredged-material disposal site. The SSC data were compared to dredging volume, Julian day, and hydrodynamic and meteorological variables that could affect SSC. Kendall's τ, Spearman's ?, and weighted (by the fraction of valid data in each period) Spearman's ρ, correlation coefficients of the variables indicated which variables were significantly correlated with SSC. Wind-wave resuspension had the greatest effect on SSC. Median water-surface elevation was the primary factor affecting mid-depth SSC. Greater depths inhibit wind-wave resuspension of bottom sediment and indicate greater influence of less turbid water from down estuary. Seasonal variability in the supply of erodible sediment is the primary factor affecting near-bottom SSC. Natural physical processes in San Pablo Bay are more arally extensive, of equal or longer duration, and as frequent as dredging operations (when occurring), and they affect SSC at the tidal time scale. Natural processes control SSC at Point San Pablo even when dredging operations are occurring.     

Swell impact on reef sedimentary processes: A case study of the La Reunion fringing reef

Two surface‐sediment sampling campaigns were carried out in November and December 2003, before and after a strong swell event, in the back‐reef area of a microtidal fringing reef on the western coast of La Reunion, Indian Ocean. The spatial distributions of the mean grain size, sorting and skewness parameters are determined, and grain‐size trend analysis is performed to estimate the main sediment transport pathways in the reef. The results of this analysis are compared with hydrodynamic records obtained in the same reef area during fair weather conditions and during swell events. Sediment dynamics inferred from the hydrodynamic records show that significant sediment erosion and transport occur only during swell events and under strongly agitated sea states. Under normal wave conditions, there is a potential for onshore sediment transport from the reef‐flat to the back‐reef, but this transport is episodic and occurs principally during high‐tide stages. Sediment transport trends revealed by the grain‐size trend analysis method show onshore and alongshore low‐energy transport processes that are in agreement with the hydrodynamic records. The grain‐size trend analysis method also provides evidence of an offshore high‐energy transport trend that could be interpreted as a real physical process associated with return flow from the shore to the reef. The impact of swell on the reef sediment dynamics is clearly demonstrated by onshore and alongshore transport. Considering different combinations of the vector transport trends computed through the grain‐size trend analysis approach, more realistic and pertinent results can be obtained by applying an exclusive OR operation (XOR case) on the vectors. The main results presented here highlight a trend towards the accumulation of carbonate sands in the back‐reef area of the fringing reef. These sediments can only be resuspended during extreme events such as storms or tropical cyclones.