Development of suspended sediment model for the Yellow and East China Seas

Abstract

A sediment numerical model was embedded into a wave-tide-circulation coupled model to estimate the distribution of suspended sediment concentration (SSC) and the suspended sediment fluxes (SSF) for the Yellow and East China Seas. Eight Chinese rivers and the Han River in Korea are considered. The model is validated by comparing model simulated SSC with those from observation of GOCI satellite data. Simulated results show a constant high SSC along the western coast of the Korea, and along the China coast that is south of 34°N. There is an obvious seasonal variability. The SSC in autumn and winter is generally higher than in spring and summer, except for the high SSC out of the river mouths in summer due to large amount of sediment discharge. The tongue with high SSC off the Northern Jiangsu Coast appears in Sep and maintains till Apr. The highest SSC in the maxima turbidity off the Northern Jiangsu Coast appears in Sep and Dec.ese rivers and the Han River in Korea are considered. The model is validated by comparing model simulated SSC with those from observation of GOCI satellite data. Simulated results show a constant high SSC along the western coast of the Korea, and along the China coast that is south of 34°N. There is an obvious seasonal variability. The SSC in autumn and winter is generally higher than in spring and summer, except for the high SSC out of the river mouths in summer due to large amount of sediment discharge. The tongue with high SSC off the Northern Jiangsu Coast appears in Sep and maintains till Apr. The highest SSC in the maxima turbidity off the Northern Jiangsu Coast appears in Sep and Dec.