苏北海岸带潮成辐射砂脊群的形成及其古地理意义

南黄海潮成辐射砂脊群的面积约为20000km2，以160° 的角度从弓京港向海展开。它与以弓京港为顶点的辐聚辐散潮流场相伴而生。60余个钻孔揭示，毗邻海区辐射砂脊体系的江苏沿岸平原上存在一个面积约3000 km2潮成砂区，其顶点位于东台，同样呈扇形以130°的角度向东展开。在潮成砂区内潮成砂质沉积单元位于冰后期海侵型砂坝-湖沉积层之上，二者之间具明显的冲刷面。砂坝-湖沉积层位于晚更新世基底硬粘土层之上，二者之间有较长的沉积间断。潮成砂沉积层上覆潮坪沉积层，二者呈渐变关系。以潮成砂层底部的侵蚀面为界，其下为海侵序列，其上为海退序列。古潮流的研究揭示，潮成砂区内同样存在辐聚辐散的古潮流场，其顶点位于东台附近。由此推断，沿海平原的潮成砂区内也是辐射状潮成砂脊体系，它形成于全新世海退时期。由于长江和黄河三角洲的前展，以东台为顶点的潮成砂脊体系逐渐暴露成陆。陆上和海域潮成辐射砂脊群形成于相同的潮汐动力环境，但处在不同的发育阶段，前者形成于全新世中期，后者发育于全新世晚期。矿物分析揭示，陆上和海区的潮成辐射砂脊体系主要由长江和黄河沉积物组成，其中长江沉积物由南向北运移，且时间较早；黄河沉积物由北向南运移，时间较迟，这种泥沙的运移趋势一直延续至今。随着海平面上升趋于减缓，长江三角洲增长，江苏海岸线向外推进，苏北潮成砂区逐渐出露成陆。1128年黄河由苏北入海，大量的黄河沉积物的加入，加快了本区海岸线的推进速度。潮成辐射砂脊体系与辐聚辐散的潮流场相伴而生，全新世最大海侵以来，辐聚辐散的潮流场的位置曾经历三次变化，第一次以长江古河口湾为顶点，第二次位于现今陆上潮成砂区，第三次位于以弓京港为顶点的现代海域，代表了潮成辐射砂脊体系发育的三个阶段。只是长江古河口湾的潮成辐射砂脊体系由于河流的巨大改造作用，可能未很好保存，至今未发现典型的辐射砂脊体系。     

Eustatic and hydrodynamic controls on the architecture of a deep shelf sand bank (Celtic Sea)

The architecture of a tidal sand bank in the south-eastern Celtic Sea was examined using very high-resolution seismic surveys. The bank comprises four depositional units. The lowest unit 1 is characterized by gently dipping (1–8°) strata that strike parallel to the length of the bank. Unit 1 is erosionally overlain by unit 2, which forms the bulk of the bank. This unit consists of stacked sets of downcurrent-dipping (7–12°) master bedding formed by climbing, sinuous-crested tidal dunes that are up to 20 m high. These deposits are locally incised by an anastomosed channel network (unit 3) that may represent a buried swatchway system. The upper part of the bank comprises wave-related deposits that are mainly preserved on the bank flanks (unit 4). The outer bank surface is erosional. The bank is believed to have formed during the last post-glacial sea-level rise. The facies evolution from unit 1 to unit 3 indicates an upward increase in tidal energy, mainly characterized by the thickening of dune cross-bed sets in unit 2. The majority of bank growth is inferred to have occurred in water depths of the order of 60 m. This evolution was controlled by relative sea-level rise, which is likely to have caused an episode of tidal resonance with associated strong tidal currents that were responsible for the incision of the deep, cross-cutting channels of unit 3. The transition to wave-dominated sedimentation in unit 4 is related to the decay of resonance with continued sea-level rise.     

JW-5型地下电磁波探测系统设计

JW-5地下电磁波探测系统是一种新型设备,它由数据采集系统和数据处理系统组成。数据采集系统包括井中发射机、接收机和地面收录控制器等;数据处理系统包括数据预处理、正反演和图形图像等模块。发射机发射宽频带程控扫频的脉冲信号,接收机同步接收此扫频脉冲信号。数据经地面收录控制器记录并送至数据处理系统处理、成图。这里介绍了该系统的组成和主要设计思想,重点说明了井中发射机、接收机、地面收录控制器和软件系统的设计方案和性能。JW-5地下电磁波探测系统可以跨孔方式探测钻孔间的剖面,也可以单孔方式探测孔周围。系统轻便,能适应小口径钻孔。针对不同应用目的,设计开发了适用于钻孔、坑道等型号的设备,并给出了应用实例。     

环渤海区域滩涂资源开发承载力时空演变特征

有效识别和评估各滩涂区域资源开发承载力时空变化的差异,有利于滩涂资源的科学规划,对实现沿海滩涂资源的高效利用与保护具有重要意义。本文针对渤海半封闭海湾滩涂特征的空间差异性,基于“驱动力-状态-影响”模型,构建了滩涂资源开发承载力评估体系,对研究区域7个评价单元在4个代表年份的资源承载力进行了评估,阐明了海湾滩涂资源开发承载力时空演变特征。结果表明：围填工程减弱了渤海湾滩涂资源开发承载能力,工程大规模建设期间(2003—2012年)各评价单元承载力均呈下降趋势,2012年后随着国家围填海管控措施的实施,滩涂承载力有回升态势;在空间上滩涂资源承载力表现为湾顶的降幅高于海湾南部区域,滩涂开发前后天津港附近区域承载力较弱,黄骅港以南滩涂养殖区承载力较强。     

苏北陆区潮成沙体的磁组构特征及沉积环境

苏北陆区潮成沙体磁组构分析表明,与苏北海域辐射沙洲一样,砂体也形成于辐聚辐散的潮流场。沉积物在辐聚辐散的潮流场中经潮流、波浪作用,K、P值普遍较大,在垂向和横向上变化显著,可能是沉积动力增强的反映。P、F值相关性较好,而P、L值之间的相关性差,反映沉积环境较稳定。q值小,以正常沉积为主,出现q>07的风暴事件沉积。     

珠江口盆地阳江凹陷中新统潮控体系及其岩性圈闭勘探意义

阳江凹陷作为珠江口盆地西北部浅水边缘盆地珠三坳陷内次级负向构造单元,具有周缘隆起带及局部凸起障壁环境,中新世时期（19.1~13.8 Ma）阳江-一统断裂带两侧火山活动发育,研究区发育港湾状地貌限定下半封闭潮控海岸-河口湾背景.珠三坳陷勘探成熟的多为构造圈闭,而对于岩性圈闭的识别刻画研究尚处在起步阶段,其中阳江凹陷已发现6个含油构造,并部署19口钻井,具有良好的资料基础,中新统缺乏岩性潜力系统研究认识,地层岩性圈闭搜索、排序及优选亟待开展.应用钻测井资料、岩心资料和新采集三维地震资料,基于区域构造-火山活动背景,在高精度层序格架搭建和沉积充填序列框架上,聚焦于阳江凹陷潮控体系沉积特征、沉积相展布及演化规律,进而解剖潮控体系下潮汐砂坝的识别标志、分布规律及岩性圈闭发育特征.研究表明:阳江东凹中新统发育潮控河口湾-潮控三角洲沉积体系,有利岩性圈闭叠合区恩平2-8构造储集砂体为潮汐砂坝,对于珠江口盆地浅水区域潮控体系及岩性圈闭预测具重要理论与勘探意义,并为其他浅水边缘盆地岩性圈闭研究提供了参考借鉴.      

聚合物驱油浓度与粘度的研究

本文对聚全物驱油试验获得聚合物溶液的方式和聚合物浓度、粘度的测定进行了研究和比较，得到了辉锐公司自动混配装置中的可编程控制器设置浓度的修正值。此研究对控制聚合物浓度稳定、准确地注入和聚合物驱油效果的评价具有实际价值。     

Estuarine deposition of a mid-Viséan tetrapod unit,Ducabrook Formation,central Queensland: implications for tetrapod dispersal

At Ducabrook property, central Queensland, the mid-Viséan Ducabrook Formation has yielded a diverse vertebrate fauna (fish and one tetrapod taxon) from a thin unit among siltstone interbedded with sandstone, minor oolitic limestone and conglomerate. Five lithofacies can be distinguished: the Oolitic Facies, distinguished by oolitic limestone and straight parallel ripple crests; the Sandy Facies, composed of plane-laminated and current-rippled sandstones; the Conglomeratic Facies, represented by pebble conglomerate displaying planar cross-bedded megaripples; the Silty Facies of siltstone with abundant calcrete nodules or sand/silt/clay interlaminations; and the Lime-Flake Facies, characterised by abundant locally derived lime flakes. The last includes the fossiliferous tetrapod unit. The Oolitic Facies was deposited in the inner (proximal) and outer (distal) zones of an estuary, based on identification of tidal sedimentary structures (e.g. mud drapes) and estuarine oolitic fabrics; the Lime-Flake Facies and Silty Facies were deposited in the estuary and lower reaches of a river and its surrounds; and the Sandy and Conglomeratic Facies represent braid-river deposits. Overall, the sequence represents intermittent deposition throughout an estuary, both within the tidal channel and the surrounding tidal flats, with additional deposition from the feeder river. The tetrapod unit, from the Lime-Flake Facies, represents a twin-peaked storm-induced flood event onto the tidal channel floor. The vertebrate bones have a shared taphonomic history and have undergone only local transport. The tetrapod and fish were spatially and temporally concurrent, probably in a shallow tidally influenced proximal estuarine habitat experiencing monsoonal conditions. Estuarine adaptations of these vertebrate taxa can explain migration along shallow-water continental shelves between the supercontinents during the Late Devonian and Early Carboniferous.     

Using Hydroacoustics to Understand Fish Presence and Vertical Distribution in a Tidally Dynamic Region Targeted for Energy Extraction

The use of tidal currents by fishes for movements to and from onshore spawning, foraging, and nursery grounds is well documented. However, fishes’ use of the water column in tidal currents frequently exceeding 1.5 m?·?s^-1 is largely unknown. With growing interest in extracting energy from the tides, understanding animal use of these dynamic environments has become essential to determining environmental effects of tidal energy devices. To assess the effects of a tidal energy device on fishes, we used down-looking single-beam hydroacoustic technology to collect pre-deployment data on the presence and vertical distribution of fishes at a pilot project site and a control site in Cobscook Bay, ME. Twenty-four-hour stationary surveys were conducted in each season of 2010 and 2011. Relative fish density and vertical distribution were analyzed for variation with respect to site, year, month, and diel and tidal cycles. A seasonal pattern in fish density was apparent in both years at both sites, with maxima in spring and late fall. Fish density was generally highest near the sea floor. Diel changes in vertical distribution were frequently observed, but changes in distribution related to tidal cycle were inconsistent. Results from the project and control sites were very similar, demonstrating that the control site provides a reference for quantifying changes in fish density and vertical distribution related to the tidal device. This approach and baseline dataset will be used to compare hydroacoustic data collected at the project and control sites after device deployment.     

Ecological Signatures of Anthropogenically Altered Tidal Exchange in Estuarine Ecosystems

One of the most conspicuous anthropogenic disturbances to estuaries worldwide has been the alteration of freshwater and tidal influence through the construction of water control structures (dikes, tide gates, culverts). Few studies have rigorously compared the responses of differing groups of organisms that serve as contrasting conservation targets to such anthropogenic disturbances in estuarine ecosystems. Elkhorn Slough in central California includes a spectrum of tidally restricted habitats behind water control structures and habitats experiencing full tidal exchange. To assess community composition for several different taxa in habitats with varying tidal exchange, we employed a variety of field approaches and synthesized results from several different studies. Overall, we found that communities at sites with moderately restricted tidal exchange were fairly similar to those with full tidal exchange, but those with extremely restricted tidal exchange were markedly different from other categories. These differences in community composition are likely the result of several factors, including restricted movement due to physical barriers, differences in water quality characteristics, and differences in habitat structure. Indeed, in this study, we found that water quality characteristics strongly vary with tidal restriction and may strongly influence patterns of species presence or absence. We also found that different conservation targets showed contrasting responses to variation in tidal exchange. Full exchange appears to favor native oysters, commercially valuable flatfish, migratory shorebirds, and site-level biodiversity. Minimal tidal exchange due to water control structures supports a suite of estuarine endemics (including the tidewater goby and California brackish snail) not represented elsewhere and minimizes invasions by non-native marine species. Altogether, our results suggest that total estuary-wide biodiversity may be enhanced with a mosaic of tidal exchange regimes.     

Genetic Diversity of Benthic Microbial Eukaryotes in Response to Spatial Heterogeneity of Sediment Geochemistry in a Mangrove Ecosystem

Little is known about the diversity, community composition, or distribution of benthic microbial eukaryotes in organic carbon (OC)-rich mangrove sediments. We hypothesized that the distribution of microeukaryotes was related to the spatial heterogeneity of mangrove sediment geochemistry due to tidal zonation and the rhizosphere effect. A range of geochemical properties of surface sediments were characterized, and alpha and beta diversities of microeukaryotes in a mangrove ecosystem were investigated using MiSeq sequencing of 18S rRNA genes. We found that the sequence proportions of Chlorophyta and Bacillariophyta were notably high in the datasets. Both operational taxonomic unit (OTU) richness and microeukaryotic community structure (MCS) were significantly different between the OC-rich upper tidal zone and the sulfate- and ammonium-rich lower tidal zone, indicating a strong response of microeukaryotic diversity to tidal zonation. The zonewise community differences were characterized by distinct shifts in the proportions and OTUs of chlorophytes, diatoms, and fungi. However, neither OTU richness nor MCS was significantly different between near-root and bulk sediments, though several geochemical parameters varied. Similarly, the assemblages of fungi showed a pattern of tidal zonation. Overall, variations in MCS in mangrove sediments were mainly driven by the quantity and quality of organic matter, grain size, and concentration of sulfate.     

Statistical analysis of the temporal and spatial controls on tidal signal preservation in late-Holocene tidal rhythmites, Romney Marsh, Southeast England

A hierarchical series of tidal periodicities are preserved within laminated tidal flat deposits at the barrier/back-barrier interface of Romney Marsh and the Dungeness Foreland in southeast England. The sedimentary record of the tidal signature, extracted from variations in sand layer thickness, was found to be severely truncated with neap-spring periods typically represented by five or less sand layers and possibly only alternate neap-spring periods present. Despite the low number of sand layers deposited in these higher frequency tidal cycles, semi-annual periods are clearly preserved but tend to contain less than the expected 6 months of sedimentation. Annual accumulation rates of around 0.2–0.3 m/year are indicated. Local emplacement of storm beaches is considered to have created the protected conditions suitable for tidal rhythmite preservation. Ongoing foreland progradation and infilling eventually restricted tidal inundation to the point where distinct sand laminae were no longer deposited. Here, in contrast with other systems, accommodation space was not limiting and tidal flat elevation is reflected as a more subtle control on spatial changes in the resolution of the tidal signal.     

The Cambrian Araba Formation in northeastern Egypt: Facies and depositional environments

The Cambrian Araba Formation exposed in Gabal El Zeit and in the Sinai Peninsula unconformably overlies Precambrian basement rocks, and is in turn overlain unconformably by the Ordovician Naqus formation. The Araba Formation has been subdivided into three informal lithologic units: lower, middle and upper, from field observations. Seven sedimentary facies assignable to three facies associations (fluvial, tidal and coastal to open marine) are recognized within the Araba Formation. The lower unit comprises two main facies: matrix-supported conglomerate (facies-A) in the south (Gabal Araba and Wadi Feiran) and interbeds of granulestone and sandstone (facies-B) in the north (Gabal Dhalal and Taba) deposited in fluvial conditions. The middle unit includes four facies: cross-bedded sandstone (facies-C), thin laminated sandstone (facies-D), burrowed-massive sandstone (facies-E) and rhythmically bedded sandstone–mudstone (facies-F) deposited mainly under tidal conditions in the coastal zone. The upper unit consists mainly of interbeds of burrowed mudstone-siltstone, with Skolithos, probably deposited in open marine environment. The sequence records the southward transgression of the Tethys Ocean over a horst and graben system developed in the late Precambrian on the northern margin of the Arabo-Nubian continent.     

对潮流量测验误差控制的探讨

通过感潮河流流量测验误差试验成果,对潮流量测验Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ型误差的影响进行分析,对潮流量测验中误差控制指标和潮流期内测次分布提出建议。     

鄂尔多斯盆地下古生界碳酸盐岩构造-沉积分异及成藏效应

鄂尔多斯盆地碳酸盐岩是当前的油气勘探热点。当前对鄂尔多斯盆地不同构造区的潜在碳酸盐岩储层及圈闭仍认识不清，阻碍了勘探目标优选。本文通过构造-沉积分异特征分析，揭示了鄂尔多斯盆地早古生代碳酸盐岩台地的构造-沉积分异演化过程及其后期构造改造分异特征。结果表明，受中央古隆起和陆表海环境的控制，盆地南缘以发育镶边礁滩相储层为特征，西缘以发育层状弱镶边礁滩储层为特征，内克拉通则以局限的台地潮坪白云岩储层为特征；三个不同构造-沉积分异区的碳酸盐岩建造都具备成藏条件，但遭受的构造形变具有显著差异，可分为西缘压性构造区、南缘张性构造区和内克拉通稳定构造区；西缘陆内前陆盆地的破碎褶皱带的有利圈闭包括逆掩断层遮挡圈闭和向斜中的次级背斜圈闭；南缘受渭北地堑影响形成的张性构造带发育基底潜山相关圈闭；内克拉通的伊陕斜坡带为一长期保持构造稳定的弱改造的大型单斜构造，以发育岩性圈闭型为特征，岩性圈闭的沉积相分布主要受陆表海旋转潮汐流的约束。      

Broad Timescale Forcing and Geomorphic Mediation of Tidal Marsh Flow and Temperature Dynamics

Tidal marsh functions are driven by interactions between tides, landscape morphology, and emergent vegetation. Less often considered are the diurnal pattern of tide extremes and seasonal variation of solar insolation in the mix of tidal marsh driver interactions. This work demonstrates how high-frequency hydroperiod and water temperature variability emerges from disparate timescale interactions between tidal marsh morphology, tidal harmonics, and meteorology in the San Francisco Estuary. We compare the tidal and residual flow and temperature response of neighboring tidal sloughs, one possessing natural tidal marsh morphology, and one that is modified for water control. We show that the natural tidal marsh is tuned to lunar phase and produces tidal and fortnight water temperature variability through interacting tide, meteorology, and geomorphic linkages. In contrast, temperature variability is dampened in the modified slough where overbank marsh plain connection is severed by levees. Despite geomorphic differences, a key finding is that both sloughs are heat sinks in summer by latent heat flux-driven residual upstream water advection and sensible and long-wave heat transfer. The precession of a 335-year tidal harmonic assures that these dynamics will shift in the future. Water temperature regulation appears to be a key function of natural tidal sloughs that depends critically on geomorphic mediation. We investigate approaches to untangling the relative influence of sun versus tide on residual water and temperature transport as a function of system morphology. The findings of this study likely have ecological consequences and suggest physical process metrics for tidal marsh restoration performance.     

Sedimentation in a tropical, microtidal, wave-dominated coastal-plain estuary

The Mono estuary is an infilled, microtidal estuary located on the wave-dominated Bight of Benin coast which is subject to very strong eastward longshore drift. The estuarine fill comprises a thick unit of lagoonal mud deposited in a ‘central basin’between upland fluvial deposits and estuary-mouth wave-tide deposits. This lagoonal fill is capped by organic-rich tidal flat mud. In addition to tidal flat mud, the superficial facies overlying the ‘central basin’fill include remnants of spits resting on transgressive/washover sand, an estuary-mouth association of beach, shoreface, flood-tidal delta and tidal inlet deposits, and a thin sheet of fluvial sediments deposited over tidal flat mud. After an initial phase of spit intrusion over the infilled central basin east of the present Mono channel, the whole estuary mouth became bounded by a regressive barrier formed from sand supplied by the Volta Delta during the middle Holocene eustatic highstand. Barrier progradation ceased late in the Holocene following the establishment of an equilibrium plan-form shoreline alignment that allowed through-drift of Volta sand to sediment sinks further downdrift. Over the same period, accretion, from fluvially supplied sediments, of the estuarine plain close to the limit of spring high tides, or, over much of the lower valley, into a fluvial plain no longer subject to tidal flooding, induced marked meandering of the Mono and its tidal distributaries in response to confinement of much of the tidal prism to these channels. The process resulted in erosion of spit/washover and regressive barrier sand, and in reworking of the tidal flat and floodbasin deposits. The strong longshore drift, equilibrium shoreline alignment and the year-round persistence of a tidal inlet maintained by discharge from the Mono and from Lake Ahémé have resulted in a stationary barrier that is reworked by a mobile inlet. The Mono example shows that advanced estuarine infill may result in considerable facies reworking, obliteration of certain facies and marked spatial imbrication of fluvial, estuarine and wave-tide-deposited facies, and confirms patterns of sedimentary change described for microtidal estuaries on wave-influenced coasts. In addition, this study shows that local environmental factors such as sediment supply relative to limited accommodation space, and strong longshore drift, which may preclude accumulation of sediments in the vicinity of the estuary mouth, may lead to infilled equilibrium or near-equilibrium estuaries that will not necessarily evolve into deltas.     

杭州湾南岸庵东潮坪现代沉积特征

在进行庵东潮坪水文要素定点测量的基础上,对地貌特征,沉积粒度,沉积构造及重向剖面作了全面分析与研究。结果表明,滩地位于杭州湾进、退潮流的交会点,控制其发育的主动力为潮汐作用,具明显的不规则半日潮特性,涨潮流强度远大于落潮流,造就了宽达十余公里的潮滩地貌。滩地水动力深受湾内水流影响,高潮期服从其总体潮流流向,导致潮坪上发育众多与杭州湾深槽系统相连的潮沟,破坏了沉积物正常分布规律,高潮坪存在一定向平行岸线的大型潮沟,受强劲水流影响,沉积粒度粗化,并因快冲快淤而产生变形构造;中潮坪接受退潮期潮沟漫岸物质,粒度相对较小,分选性变差,沉积构造以直脊流水波痕及板状交错层理为主;低潮坪潮流作用大、沉积粒度粗,分选性最佳,发育小型流水波痕,内部构造以槽状交错层理,“青鱼刺”层理及再作用构造为特征。潮坪近岸处潮沟迁移层序及浪成波痕层理的发现反映水动力异常强大,威胁人工海塘的安全,建议停止进一步围垦滩涂,采取促淤方法,抑制潮沟的发育,以维持滩地稳定。     

Circulation and mixing due to tidal forcing in the Bertioga Channel, São Paulo, Brazil

Bertioga Channel is a partially mixed (type 2) tidal estuary on the coastal plain of São Paulo, Brazil. Hourly current and salinity measurements during neap and spring tides in July 1991 yielded information about the physical structure of the system. Peak along-channel velocities varied from 40 cm s^?1 to 60 cm s^?1 during flood tides and from 70 cm s^?1 to 100 cm s^?1 during ebb tides. Net vertical velocity profiles indicate that the net current reverses directions at a depth of 2.5–3.0 m in the halocline. Due to appreciable fortnightly tidal modulation, the estuary alternates from being highly stratified (type 2b) during neap tides, with advection and diffusion contributing equally to the net upstream salt flux, to being moderately stratified (type 2a) during spring tides, when 90% of the net upstream salt transport is the result of effective tidal diffusion. Decomposition of the salt flux indicates that the relative contribution to the upstream salt transport by gravitational circulation shear is greater than the oscillatory tidal flux by a factor of 2.6 during neap tides. The oscillatory tidal flux is generated by the correlation of the tidal components of the u-velocity and salinity and is responsible for approximately the same amount of upstream salt transport, during neap and spring tides. However, during spring tides, this oscillatory term is greater than the other salt flux terms by a factor of 1.4. The total salt transport, through a unit width of the section perpendicular to the flow, was within 2% of the sum of the seven major decomposed, advective and dispersive terms. On the assumption that the Bertioga Channel is laterally homogeneous, the results also indicate that the estuary is not in steady state with respect to salt flux.     

Wave and tidal current sorting of shelf sediments southwest of England

The relative roles of waves and tidal currents in transporting bottom sediment on the continental shelf off Lands End, southwest England, are evaluated by study of (a) sediment grain size in relation to boundary layer measurements in tidal currents, (b) regional variation in sediment parameters in relation to peak tidal and wave-induced currents, and (c) visual observation of bedforms. (a) The sediments are mainly zoogenic sands. The average hydraulic equivalent median diameter is Mdφ=1.40φ (medium grade sand), and two-thirds of the median grain sizes fall between 0.97φ and 1.83φ. The linear bottom current which will just move this range of sizes is exceeded only slightly by the highest tidal drag velocities ū* measured in the area. Thus, sediment movement by tidal currents alone is restricted to areas of high bed roughness and strong peak tidal flows. In contrast, wave-induced oscillatory currents at 100 m depth (typical of the area) attain sufficient speed to disturb the same particle sizes over 3% of the time. This includes storm periods when much greater velocities occur. (b) The average Mdφ of the sediment decreases southwest and northeast from south of the Lizard. This correlates well with the pattern of maximum tidal current speeds, suggesting that tidal currents control the areal distribution of sediment median grain size. Most sediments are well sorted (mean σ_i=0.48φ). Sorting improves at shallower depths but does not improve in areas of faster tidal currents, suggesting that wave-induced currents exert the major control on sorting. Silt and clay proportions increase west of the Scilly Isles and are influenced by both wave and tidal currents. (c) Photographs and television pictures show that symmetrical bedforms due to wave action are dominant north and west of the western Channel. Asymmetric bedforms are more common in the western Channel itself, where tidal currents and bed roughness are both high. Results are used to construct a sediment transport model for the study area. Since medium grade well sorted sands occur in depths of over 100 m, many ancient, extensive, well sorted sand sheets may have been deposited at depths greater than previously suspected.