FRONT SYSTEMS AND SUSPENDED SEDIMENT DYNAMICS OF LINGDINGYANG BAY IN THE SUMMER, PEARL RIVER ESTUARY, SOUTH CHINA

Lingdingyang (LDY) is an important navigation waterway for the Pearl River delta (PRD), and an important passage for fresh water and sediments entering the sea. The data and hydrological information, including SSC, current, water level, and bed sediment was collected on July 6-7, 2005 to analyze its characteristics, and sediment transport. The data was entered into a hydrodynamic simulation model used to characterize the processes of sedimentation and morphological evolution of the Pearl River estuary (PRE). LDY was divided into three sub-areas dominated by (1) west shoal area, (2) jet flow area, and (3) saline water area. Navigation engineering and other human activities result in an increase of deposition rate. These characteristics can be greatly accelerated by human activities. Field data and model results indicate that the front system, composed of the shear front and tide incursion front, has an important impact on sedimentation.