Spatial and temporal variability of the suspended sediment distribution observed by remote sensing

Abstract

Variation in the transport of fine sediment is at the heart of many ecosystem functions, such as biochemical cycling, movement of nutrients, biodiversity maintenance, biological production, and mitigation of floods (Eleveld et al., 2014 Miere et al., 2005). Monitoring of suspended particulate matter (SPM) concentrations is useful in ecological management and to draft legislation, because dynamic variations in the SPM on the sea surface provide clues to underlying sedimentary processes (Chen et al., 2007 Torres & Morelock, 2002). Analysis of SPM is a key to understanding the turbulent quantities of sediment flow in the Heuksan mud belt (HMB) located along the southwestern coast of the Korean Peninsula. The purpose of this study was to investigate intra-annual variability in remotely sensed SPM derived from the Geostationary Ocean Color Imager (GOCI) and sea surface temperature (SST) based on the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR), respectively, around the HMB over a period of 1 year (2013). Monthly composite SPM images showed pronounced seasonal changes in turbid water. The extent of turbid water increased during the winter season along Gomso Bay to Jangsado, whereas it decreased during the summer months from Yeonggwang to Sinan. A comparison of monthly composite SST images and wind data showed that the northwesterly winds of monsoons and net heat loss from the sea surface to the atmosphere resulted inere et al., 2005). Monitoring of suspended particulate matter (SPM) concentrations is useful in ecological management and to draft legislation, because dynamic variations in the SPM on the sea surface provide clues to underlying sedimentary processes (Chen et al., 2007 Torres & Morelock, 2002). Analysis of SPM is a key to understanding the turbulent quantities of sediment flow in the Heuksan mud belt (HMB) located along the southwestern coast of the Korean Peninsula. The purpose of this study was to investigate intra-annual variability in remotely sensed SPM derived from the Geostationary Ocean Color Imager (GOCI) and sea surface temperature (SST) based on the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR), respectively, around the HMB over a period of 1 year (2013). Monthly composite SPM images showed pronounced seasonal changes in turbid water. The extent of turbid water increased during the winter season along Gomso Bay to Jangsado, whereas it decreased during the summer months from Yeonggwang to Sinan. A comparison of monthly composite SST images and wind data showed that the northwesterly winds of monsoons and net heat loss from the sea surface to the atmosphere resulted in