Seasonal Variation of Suspended Matter Distribution and Flux in Coastal Waters of Eastern Shandong Peninsula

Key words: 
• suspended sediment /
• mud wedge /
• Yellow Sea warm current /
• shear current front

Abstract: The seasonal variation of coastal waters off eastern Shandong Peninsula contributes significantly to the special sedimentary dynamic environment. Based on temperature, turbidity, and concentration of suspended matter observed during the summer and winter of 2007 and tidal currents and suspended matter observed during the winter of 2017, the seasonal variation for the distribution of suspended matter was analyzed, and the annual suspended matter net flux to the south through eastern Shandong Peninsula in winter was calculated. The sedimentary dynamic environment of the mud wedge was further studied, combined with the distribution of tidal and residual currents in winter. The results show that the distribution of suspended matter in the shelf waters off eastern Shandong peninsula is mostly affected by seasonal variations of the coastal currents, the Yellow Sea cold water mass, and the Yellow Sea warm current. Its concentration in winter is several times larger than in summer. Suspended matter off eastern Shandong Peninsula is restricted near the bottom by vertical water stratification and the Yellow Sea cold water mass in summer. A large amount of suspended matter is transported southward, driven by the strong coastal currents due to strong winter winds, while some suspended matter can also be transported northward by the Yellow Sea warm current. The annual suspended matter net flux in winter through the shelf waters off eastern Shandong Peninsula accounts for 3.22%-9.10% of the annual suspension matter net flux outward through the Bohai Strait, and also accounts for 6.84%-19.38% of the annual suspension matter net flux outward through the Bohai Strait in winter.