Abstract
(1) Background: To reveal the intrinsic relationship between the tidal flat sediments in an estuary wetland and the runoff from the upstream river. This research was conducted in the tidal flats of the Liaohe estuary wetland. (2) Methods: The 137Cs and 210Pb dating technique was used to reconstruct the time correspondence between tidal flat sediments and runoff, and the periodic response was explored between the changes in the tidal flat sediments and runoff based on the spectrum analysis method. (3) Results: The average sedimentation rate in the tidal flat was 2.24 cm·year−1 during the past 50 years. The amount of fine sediment particles deposited on the estuary tidal flat was directly related to the amount of sediments transported by the river and inversely proportional to the ability of rivers to transport fine matter. The high frequency reproduction cycle of 14–15 years in the flood season flow and 5–6 years in the annual sediment discharge of the Liaohe River correspond to the high and low frequency reproduction cycles of the median size of sediments in Liaohe estuarine wetland tidal flats. (4) Conclusions: The research clarified the hydrological constraints of the action law between Liaohe River runoff and the estuarine sediments. The periodic response between Liaohe River runoff and the sediment was established.
Highlights
The ocean is the final destination of fine-grained matter from land, and estuarine wetlands are an important land–sea transition zone
The amount of fine sediment particles deposited on the estuary tidal flat was directly related to the amount of sediments transported by the river and inversely proportional to the ability of rivers to transport fine matter
According to the results of related research, it was believed that the amount of fine sediment particles deposited on the estuary tidal flat was directly related to the amount of sediments transported by the river and inversely proportional to the ability of rivers to transport fine matter [26]
Summary
The ocean is the final destination of fine-grained matter from land, and estuarine wetlands are an important land–sea transition zone. Regarding the relationship between sediment deposition in estuaries and the hydrological processes of rivers, it is very important to establish the time correspondence between the tidal flat sediment deposition parameters and the time series data of rivers, such as runoff and sediment discharge. Establishing this correspondence requires the identification of the environmental information carried by the fine sediments deposited in the tidal flats of the estuary [2].
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