Distribution pattern and influencing factors of seabed surface sediments in Qinzhou Bay

Cai Mingquan; Dai Zhijun; Mei Xuefei; Xi Yangyang; Liang Xixing

doi:10.12284/hyxb20250137

Volume 47 Issue 12

Dec. 2025

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Article Navigation > Haiyang Xuebao > 2025 > 47(12): 35-47

Cai Mingquan，Dai Zhijun，Mei Xuefei, et al. Distribution pattern and influencing factors of seabed surface sediments in Qinzhou Bay[J]. Haiyang Xuebao，2025, 47(12)：35–47 doi: 10.12284/hyxb20250137

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Distribution pattern and influencing factors of seabed surface sediments in Qinzhou Bay

doi: 10.12284/hyxb20250137

1.
State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
2.
Guangxi Academy of Marine Sciences, Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanning 530007, China
3.
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Change and Disaster in Beibu Gulf, Beibu Gulf University, Qinzhou 535011, China

Received Date: 2025-10-29
Rev Recd Date: 2026-01-05
Publish Date: 2025-12-31

Abstract

Abstract

Qinzhou Bay is a typical estuary–bay coupled system. Seabed surface sediments distribution pattern in the bay and their variations can substantially influence navigation-channel geomorphological stability and vessel safety. Based on high-density seabed surface sediment samples and hydrological data collected in Qinzhou Bay during the flood and dry seasons of 2024, this study systematically investigates the seasonal variability of seabed surface sediments and the driving mechanisms. The results show that seabed surface sediments in Qinzhou Bay are dominated by sand. The mean grain size is 3.67φ (0.079 mm) in the flood season and 3.39φ (0.095 mm) in the dry season, indicating a coarser tendency in the dry season. During the flood season, six sediment types are identified, including medium sand, fine sand, very fine sand, coarse silt, medium silt and fine silt, with silts and fine sand dominating the inner bay, fine sand dominating the northern Longmen Channel, medium sand dominating the southern outlet and the central outer bay while sediments on both sides of the eastern and western navigation channels turning finer again. During the dry season, five sediment types are identified, including medium sand, fine sand, very fine sand, coarse silt and medium silt. Fine sand dominates the inner bay, the Longmen Channel and the western outer bay, medium sand dominates the central outer bay and sediments in the eastern outer bay become finer. The distribution of seabed surface sediment in Qinzhou Bay is characterized by "fine in the inner bay, coarse in the channel, coarse in the central outer bay and fine on the two sides", which is consistent in flood and dry seasons, as shown in the first mode of Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF). However, the second mode of EOF suggest different characters in the flood and dry seasons. Specifically, the flood season is characterized by "fine sand dominating the central–eastern outer bay" while the dry season is characterized by "very fine sand dominating the inner bay, fine sand and coarse silt dominating the western and eastern sides of the outer bay, respectively". The seabed surface sediment distribution in Qinzhou Bay is primarily controlled by the coupled effects of runoff and tidal currents, while local sedimentation differences are jointly influenced by channel constrained flow effects and human activities such as channel dredging, canal construction and aquaculture industry.
- Qinzhou Bay,
- Seabed,
- surface sediments,
- Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF)

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References(56)

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