The turbidity maxima of the northern Jiangsu shoal-water in the Yellow Sea, China

The Yellow Sea general circulation model coupled to a sediment transport model with and without surface waves was implemented to study sediment distribution and resuspension in the northern Jiangsu shoal-water (NJSW) in March and April 2006–2008. With surface wave, the general features of model simulated turbidity maxima agreed well with the MODIS remote sensing data. Without wave, the turbidity maxima moved offshore with much reduced suspended sediment concentration (SSC). This demonstrated that surface waves played a dominant role over the tides to form the turbidity maxima in the region. The study also found that NJSW exported sediments to the Yellow Sea and East China Sea through offshore and southern boundaries. As March and April 2008 was a wind anomalous year with a decreased wind speed over last three years, the wind generated waves in the region were also reduced, leading to lower sediment resuspension and SSC in that year.

► A sediment transport model was implemented to study sediment dynamics in the Yellow Sea from 2006–2008.
► Surface waves played a dominant role over the tides to form the turbidity maxima in the region.
► As 2008 was a wind anomalous year with a decreased wind speed, this led to lower sediment resuspension and turbidity in that year.