Spatial and temporal distributions of suspended sediment in the Nanhui nearshore from TM/ETM images

Remote sensing has widely been used to study suspended sediment distributions due to its synoptic and repetitive coverage. Using previous in situ data and Landsat imagery, we estimate suspended sediment concentrations (SSC) in order to understand the transport and distribution of suspended sediments in the Nanhui nearshore area, China. During an ebb tide period, the area with the maximum turbidity was observed along the southern Nanhui nearshore area and the maximum SSC value was 1.916g/l. During a flood tide period, the area with the maximum turbidity moved northwards and the maximum SSC value was 1.400 g/l. The northern Nanhui nearshore area suffered from the strong current discharge from the South Passage, its eastern area was affected by wind waves, and its southern area was influenced by the tidal currents from the Hangzhou Bay. These processes were responsible for the southern Nanhui nearshore area extending southeastwards and sediments in the northern Nanhui nearshore area.