Seasonal variations of textural parameters and distribution pattern of surface sediments in Yeongkwang intertidal and sub-tidal zones, west coast of Korea

Abstract

Summer and winter characteristics of the surface sediments on the Yeongkwang intertidal and subtidal-nearshore zones, on the west coast of Korea, were investigated in terms of textural parameters, distributional patterns and sedimentary processes. It is understood that the textural parameters and distribution patterns of the intertidal and subtidal-nearshore zone sediments will vary significantly depending on season, winter or summer. The major textural parameters (mean grain size and sorting) of surface sediments for the winter are coarser and better sorted than those of the summer. Furthermore, the extensive distribution pattern of finer sedimentary facies for summer seems to be dominant, while for winter the dominant distribution pattern of relatively coarser sedimentary facies is also well shown. Such seasonal surficial sedimentary facies changes seem to be due to active input and deposition of finer-grained facies (mostly finer than 11 phi) during the wet summer season, while during the stormy winter season, active erosion, reworking and transportation are major sedimentary processes.