SEDIMENT TRANSPORT IN YALU RIVER ESTUARY

Tidal cycle measurements of tidal currents, salinity and water temperature, and suspended sediment concentrations were measured at four stations, together with surveys along two profiles short core collection within the Yalu River estuary. Grain size analysis of the three core sediment showed that: 1) the sediment from B-1 to B-3 became finer, worse sorting and positively skewed; 2) the diversification of matter origin became more and more evident from east to west; 3) the sediments over the region were of the same origin, as indicated by their similar colors and grain sizes. The data indicated that stratification occurred in the flood season, from upstream to downstream, and a salt wedge was formed. The water column was well mixed, but the longitudinal gradient of the salinity was larger on spring tide. The results also showed that the dominating mechanism of suspended sediment transport in the Yalu River estuary was T-1, T-2, T-3 and T-5. The non-tidal steady advection transport was restricted by the net transport of suspended sediment induced by mass Stoked drift directed to landwards, then the net sediment transport rate were decreased and the turbidity maxima was also favored to forming and extending.