Anlysis On Granulometric Characteristics Of Sediments From Sandy Beaches Along The Coast Of South China

Based on the field investigation and laboratory analysis and the collection of a large number of former data, the influential factors of granulometric characteristics of the sediments of sandy beaches along the coast of South China are analyzed from topography and geomorphology, coastline outline, sediments sources, hydrodynamic environment (such as wave, tide and storm-induced wave ) as well as the backshore height in the paper.Aimed at the features of sandy beaches along the coast of South China, according to the characteristics of the combination of historical genesis and main shore topography, the sandy beaches are classified into four basic types, cape-bay coast, barrier-lagoon coast, straightened coast, and coral-reef coast. In vertical sequence, the granulometric characteristics of sediments of the surface (0-5cm) and sub-surface (from 5cm to 50cm) layers for different types of coast are analyzed. In horizontal sequence, the variations of granulometric characteristics along the distance and the vertical sequence of grain size from different geomorphologic units (supratidal zone, intertidal zone) of each beach profile are analyzed. In time sequence, the granulometric characteristics of surface and sub-surface layers in two different seasons (summer and winter) are also studied. The influential factors and granulometric characteristics of the sediments of sandy beaches along the coast of South China are quantitatively discussed based on their granulometric characteristics.