MARINE SEDIMENTARY ENVIRONMENTS ON THE SOUTH BANK OF MODERN YELLOW RIVER ESTUARY

45 surface samples and 5 short cores are collected from the south bank of the modern Yellow River Estuary. Sediment types and their spatial distribution patterns are studied. Based on probability accumulative curves, grain size parameters are computed and the clustering method is adopted to reveal the spatial distribution and transport path of the sediments. Sediments vary in a pattern of "coarse-fine-coarse" from the modern Yellow River mouth to the Guangli Estuary. The study area is thus subdivided to two parts according the grain size distribution pattern. Frequency and probability cumulative curves in different depth of core sediments, combined with the data of coastline changes, types of sedimentary environment and sedimentation rate, suggest that the tempo-spatial variation in sediment discharge from the Yellow River are the major cause to the changes in sedimentary environments. The influence of Guangli River may be observed through the correlation of the probability cumulative curves of beach profiles in wet and dry seasons. The Guangli river system plays an obvious role in changes of the original sedimentary environment, while the Xiaoqing River and Mihe River on the southern bank of the Laizhou Bay also play certain roles to the changes in sedimentary environment.