APPLICATION OF AIRBORNE REMOTE SENSING TO THE SURFACE SEDIMENT CLASSIFICATION IN A TIDAL FLAT

Abstract

The tidal channel network is recognized as an important factor influencing the morphodynamics of the tidal flat and the surface sedimentary facies. We examined the relations of the channel distribution with the sedimentary facies in Geunso-bay tidal flat, Korea. The tidal channel networks were extracted from a high resolution aerial photograph, and for each sedimentary facies, the patterns of the channel distribution were compared in terms of the fractal analysis, channel density and distance from the channel. The channels in each sediment facies showed relatively constant meandering patterns, however, the density and the complexity were distinguishable. The 2nd fractal dimension were 1.87 in the mud flat, 1.41 in the mixed flat, and about 1.30 in the sand flat. The channel density in the mud flat was 0.036-0.06 m/m2, and the mixed and sand flat showed 0-0.024 m/m2. This implies that the tidal channels in the mud flat area represented complex and dendritic pattern with high density compared with those in the mixed or sand flat area. The results were applied to the adjustment of the sedimentary facies classification which has been generated from interpolation based on the survey data. We estimated quantitatively the patterns of channel distribution for each sedimentary facies based upon the high resolution aerial photograph. We suggest that the feature of the channel networks should be applied to the surface sedimentary facies classification in the tidal flat.