Alternating patterns of cross-shelf suspended sediment transport in the northern East China Sea in winter

Suspended sediment transport across the continental shelf is a key process for the materials exchange between coastal seas and the deep ocean. The cross-shelf transport through the Yangtze Shoal in the northern East China Sea (ECS) exhibits a unique pattern, which is characterized by alternations between high and low values in suspended sediment concentration (SSC). This study is conducted to reveal the underlying mechanisms and their effects on sediment fluxes. Surface SSC retrieved from GOCI data are combined with in situ observations of concentration and particle sizes of suspended sediment to study the temporal and spatial variations of the SSC in the Yangtze Shoal. Additionally, a numerical model for examining ocean circulation based on the FVCOM is established to display the hydrodynamic feature in the study area. The alternating SSC pattern is closely related to the topography of three ridges and two troughs. High SSC with fine particle size can be found over the ridge, while low SSC is detected at the surface layer of water in the trough. Even during the flood and ebb tides, this alternating pattern of high and low SSCs does not change, except for the expansion and contraction of coverage areas of high SSC. The high SSC near the tidal ridge should have resulted from the combined effect of resuspension and upwelling since the stronger bottom shear stress and a surface divergence that may induce an upwelling can be found in this area. Combined with the simulated current, the sediment transport flux between ridges and troughs is estimated. The sediment flux in the ridge is substantially increased than that in the trough, especially during the flood maximum and ebb maximum time. The contribution of suspended sediments from the Yangtze Shoal to the Southwestern Cheju Island Mud (SCIM) is relatively small during the normal weather in winter. However, cross-shelf transport can be remarkably strengthened by strong northerly winds in winter. This work puts forward a detailed cross-shelf transportation process induced by topography. •Alternating patterns of suspended sediments in the Yangtze Shoal, and this pattern is induced by local topography.•The high-low alternation pattern of SSC is consistent with the topography of three ridges and two troughs.•High temporal-spatial resolution remote sensing data are used to analyze the variation of SSC in a tidal cycle.•Strong wind in winter plays an important role in sediment transport to the outer sea.