The Impact of Seasonal Weather Changes on the Accumulated Sediments within Back-Reef Environment around Umm Al-Maradim island- Kuwait

Abstract

This study is based on petrographic, geochemical and mechanical analysis of all collected samples from the intertidal zone around the southern Umm Al-Maradim Island in Kuwait. The objective is to interpret the impact of seasons conditions on coral buildups around the island. Petrographic study revealed that the intertidal area is a part of a back-reef environment which is composed of the accumulation of broken up coral debris, coralline algae, foraminifera, echinoderms particles, bivalves, and gastropods. Generally, most abundant grain sizes along the shores are coarse and very coarse sand size, indicating short distance of transport and high wave action. Short transportation distance and fast sedimentation resulted in the accumulation of poorly sorted and strongly coarse to coarse skewed sediments. Detailed study of the samples shows variations in grain size parameters as well as type of accumulated sediments between the different seasons and locations along the island, which is mainly related to the differences in wind intensity, changes in prevailing wind direction, and biological activities affecting the coral reefs. Geochemical study suggests an aragonitic and low-Mg calcite composition for the coral fragments, as well as a pathetic relationship between all tested major elements within the collected sediments.