Dispersal of suspended sediment in the southwest inshore off the modern Huanghe (Yellow) River estuary

In this paper, the surface suspended sediment concentration (SSC) in Yellow River estuary and the adjacent regions was quantitatively estimated by analyzing in situ SSC and spectral feature of these waters. A long time series synoptic maps of SSC have been retrieved at different time and multiple conditions, and the diffusion character of suspended sediment systematically was analyzed in offshore area of southwestern part of Yellow River estuary. The results showed that a littoral barrier drift southward commonly existed in western near-shore area, the diffusing direction of suspended sediment gradually turned to SSE direction when it was transported along the coast, and an approximately 20 degree-angle has formed between the coastline and a long-shore drift. Several years repetitive monitoring of coastal profiles and sediment data from field observation in study area all adequately illuminated the reliability of these conclusions.