Global Circuit Research Articles

‘Learning and Unlearning’: Core Leadership Competencies for Driving Success in Special Economic Zones in South Africa

Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are instrumental in promoting industrialisation and economic growth in many countries, especially within the developing world. While various SEZs established in South Africa are expected to drive local economic development processes, their performance has been erratic due to various governance, regulatory, and infrastructure issues. This study explores the core leadership competencies required to enhance the success of SEZs. It emphasises the importance of continuous learning and unlearning outdated practices. The paper draws on Peter Senge’s Continuous Learning Theory to explain how SEZ leaders could adapt to dynamic environments and provide sustainable growth. The study addresses two key research questions: (1) What leadership competencies are necessary to efficiently govern SEZs? (2) How do continuous learning and unlearning by SEZ leaders make a difference in inducing sustainable growth? This systematic review applied the PRISMA methodology to source the data from databases like Google Scholar and Scopus, among others, for sources published between 2010 and 2024. Findings revealed that the core leadership competencies required for effective SEZs include innovation, adaptability, and strategic thinking. This paper argues that continuous learning is imperative for leaders to keep pace with the complexity of shifting global economic circuits while unlearning is critical to avoid common pitfalls. This study contributes to the literature by recommending that leadership development inside SEZs be more contributory toward economic outcomes and encourages further research into what part leadership will play in regional economic development.

Sub-m-benziporphyrin: a subcarbaporphyrinoid and its BIII complex with an unprecedented planar tridentate 14π-aromatic network.

Sub-m-benziporphyrins were synthesized by Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling of α,α'-diboryl-m-benzitripyrrane with 9,10-bis(1,1-dibromomethylenyl)anthracene. Reaction of sub-m-benziporphyrin with PhBCl2 and triethylamine gave its B-phenyl complex as a tetracoordinate nonaromatic BIII complex. In contrast, the reaction with BBr3 and triethylamine furnished a neutral BIII porphyrinoid with a planar and triangular coordination as the first example, in which the m-phenylene unit was partially reduced, allowing for the global 14π-aromatic circuit. This aromatic BIII complex is stable and inert towards nucleophiles such as pyridine, 4-dimethylaminopyridine, and fluoride anions but undergoes an oxygen-insertion reaction upon refluxing in the air. In addition, this BIII complex displays structured vibronic Q-bands, slow S1-state decay, and fluorescence (Φ F = 0.30 and τ F = 9.7 ns), in line with its aromatic nature, while the nonaromatic BIII complexes show ill-defined absorption spectra and very fast S1-state decays.

Integration of partially observed multimodal and multiscale neural signals for estimating a neural circuit using dynamic causal modeling.

Integrating multiscale, multimodal neuroimaging data is essential for a comprehensive understanding of neural circuits. However, this is challenging due to the inherent trade-offs between spatial coverage and resolution in each modality, necessitating a computational strategy that combines modality-specific information effectively. This study introduces a dynamic causal modeling (DCM) framework designed to address the challenge of combining partially observed, multiscale signals across a larger-scale neural circuit by employing a shared neural state model with modality-specific observation models. The proposed method achieves robust circuit inference by iteratively integrating parameter estimates from local microscale and global meso- or macroscale circuits, derived from signals across various scales and modalities. Parameters estimated from high-resolution data within specific regions inform global circuit estimation by constraining neural properties in unobserved regions, while large-scale circuit data help elucidate detailed local circuitry. Using a virtual ground truth system, we validated the method across diverse experimental settings, combining calcium imaging (CaI), voltage-sensitive dye imaging (VSDI), and blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) signals-each with distinct coverage and resolution. Our reciprocal and iterative parameter estimation approach markedly improves the accuracy of neural property and connectivity estimates compared to traditional one-step estimation methods. This iterative integration of local and global parameters presents a reliable approach to inferring extensive, complex neural circuits from partially observed, multimodal, and multiscale data, showcasing how information from different scales reciprocally enhances entire circuit parameter estimation.

Science for whom? The influence of the regional academic circuit on gender inequalities in Latin America

AbstractThe Latin‐American scientific community has achieved significant progress towards gender parity, with nearly equal representation of women and men scientists. Nevertheless, women continue to be underrepresented in scholarly communication. Throughout the 20th century, Latin America established its academic circuit, focusing on research topics of regional significance. Through an analysis of scientific publications, this article explores the relationship between gender inequalities in science and the integration of Latin‐American researchers into the regional and global academic circuits between 1993 and 2022. We find that women are more likely to engage in the regional circuit, while men are more active within the global circuit. This trend is attributed to a thematic alignment between women's research interests and issues specific to Latin America. Furthermore, our results reveal that the mechanisms contributing to gender differences in symbolic capital accumulation vary between circuits. Women's work achieves equal or greater recognition compared to men's within the regional circuit, but generally garners less attention in the global circuit. Our findings suggest that policies aimed at strengthening the regional academic circuit would encourage scientists to address locally relevant topics while simultaneously fostering gender equality in science.

On exact observability of a nonlinear evolutionary equation with a bounded right-hand side operator on a small interval

For the Cauchy problem associated with a nonlinear ordinary differential equation in a Hilbert space $X$, we obtain sufficient conditions for exact observability on a small interval. By means of the condition of boundedness from below by a positive constant on the unit sphere with respect to a linear observer (observation operator) and with the help of Minty–Browder's theorem, the observability problem is reformulated as an operator (integral) equation with the right-hand side involving (in addition to the Volterra-type term, which is “local” in time) a nonlocal term as well. The unique solvability of the obtained operator equation (the equation of state reconstruction from observation) is proved with the help of the contraction map principle and the hypothesis about smallness of the observation interval. Moreover, we prove two theorems on global reconstruction of a state: 1) from observation on a small interval and under the condition of global solvability of some majorant integral equation in the space $\mathbb{R}$; 2) from a series of observations on small intervals in the presence of a priori information on the belonging of the state values to a bounded ball in $X$. As an example (of an independent interest), a semilinear equation of the global electric circuit in the Earth's atmosphere is considered.

Numerical investigation on chloride-induced macro-cell corrosion of steel fiber reinforced concrete

Steel corrosion is a significant deterioration issue of reinforced concrete structures in marine environments. Steel Fiber Reinforced Concrete (SFRC) is widely accepted to have better corrosion resistance than reinforced concrete (RC). Moreover, fibers in the cover inhibit corrosion of the reinforcement inside. However, the mechanism for SFRC corrosion has not been clarified yet, and the effective period of corrosion inhibition cannot be predicted. This paper proposes a space-averaged modeling method (including discrete and smeared models) for the macro-cell corrosion of SFRC. The method accurately reproduces the corrosion processes and rust distribution observed in previous pseudo-concrete experiments. Due to the chloride ion concentration difference, steel fibers dispersed in concrete solutions form a global macro-cell circuit. Thus, the corrosion of internal reinforcement is inhibited due to the cathodic protection. Additionally, using real chloride supplies in marine environments and concrete pore structures, fibers provides a more substantial corrosion inhibition duration ( > 10 years). This method can be used as a reliable reference for evaluating the corrosion of SFRC structures.

Politics and power in the global tennis circuit

Abstract Like most global sports, professional tennis is eager to claim that politics has no place on its playing field. On closer investigation, however, this ‘myth of autonomy’ soon cracks. In addition to adding tennis as a much-needed case to the study of sport and international affairs, this article develops the concept of ‘the circuit’ to approach phenomena that criss-cross traditional levels of analysis in international relations. In its first part, the article zooms in on the practice of writing celebratory messages onto the lenses of TV cameras as an example of the power relations that exist in and around professional tennis courts today. In its second part, it zooms out to map the themes and questions that have framed tennis as a political activity around the world and over time. The analysis identifies and characterizes the global tennis circuit as a site within which many of the most pressing political questions of our time are contained, focusing on the prestigious tournaments which make up the Grand Slam, and the elite athletes that participate in them.

Investigating the Impact of Multiphysics on Modeled Planetary Boundary Layer Height Estimates during the PECAN Field Campaign

Abstract Accurate representation of the planetary boundary layer (PBL) in numerical weather prediction is crucial to air quality, weather forecasting, and climate change research and operations. Here, we evaluate the estimates of PBL height (PBLH) from a set of convective-permitting simulations conducted using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model during the Plains Elevated Convection at Night (PECAN) campaign (from June to mid-July 2015). Our analysis aims to quantify the variability in PBLH, along with its associated surface variables and atmospheric profiles, to gauge the influence of model physics on the accuracy of simulated PBL properties. Specifically, we conducted twenty-four 45-day retrospective simulations encompassing different combinations of three PBL and two microphysics schemes, two initial and boundary condition (ICBC) datasets, and two model vertical grid spacings. We compare these simulations with measurements from surface sites and radiosonde launches across four sites in the southern Great Plains during PECAN. Our findings indicate that deriving PBLH from modeled atmospheric profiles yields a narrower spread (200–300 m) compared to PBLH calculated from the model’s PBL scheme (400–500 m) relative to radiosonde-derived PBLH under fair weather conditions. The choice of PBL scheme and ICBCs exerts the most significant impact (by up to 400 m) on the spread of modeled PBLH and associated atmospheric profiles, primarily influencing the representation of surface heating, transport, and mixing processes in the model. The model has difficulty reproducing the correct thermodynamic profile under cloud-intense conditions. These results underscore the benefit of using the physically consistent approach in retrieving, evaluating, and assimilating PBLH estimates, as well as the utility of multiphysics to better address model uncertainties. Significance Statement Studies on weather forecast models typically involve running the model multiple times and adjusting model inputs slightly each time to produce a range of predicted variables. This range is crucial for evaluating forecast probabilities and integrating observations into the model. We found that using different model physics schemes can result in an equal or greater spread for predicted variables (here, we focus on boundary layer height and related variables), compared to input tweaks alone. Additionally, a particular scheme can introduce biases. These findings underscore the importance of employing multiple physics schemes in the model, as they widen the coverage (potentially doubling) of outputs, and thus better address forecast uncertainties.

Different Effects of a Super Storm on Atmospheric Electric Fields at Different Latitudes

Geomagnetic storms have a significant impact on Earth’s magnetosphere and ionosphere, as well as on the global atmospheric circuit. This study focuses on investigating the anomalous variations in the vertical atmospheric electric field at eight mid-latitude and low-latitude stations during a mega-geomagnetic storm on 24 April 2023. The majority of stations observed vertical atmospheric electric field increases, while only three nearby stations exhibited vertical atmospheric electric field decreases. The analysis revealed that vertical atmospheric electric field changes ranged from 19 to 370 V/m, and the time differences between extreme vertical atmospheric electric field values and the minimum Dst value ranged from 0 to 5.3 h. Other response patterns to this super magnetic storm at different latitudes are summarized, and the physical mechanisms of different effects of magnetic storms on the electric fields of stations at different latitudes are also discussed.

Memory, Forgetfulness, and Multidimensional Acts of Resistance

In this dialogic intervention, we discuss the multiple dimensions of forgetting in Italian history and historiography through both temporal and geographical lenses. To do so, we begin by exploring issues of memory and "strategic” forgetfulness (Del Boca 2002; Favero 2010), arguing that forgetting is not merely a neutral and passive act, but rather a generative process embedded within dynamics of race, gender, class, and space. Starting with the temporal dimension, we discuss Charles Mills’s concept of “white ignorance” (2007), which underlines the ways “collective memory” has been used and manipulated to forge racialized national identities and to selectively forget the colonial past and (by extension) the war crimes committed by Europeans during the colonial invasion of Africa. Within this framework, ignorance, rather than representing absence, serves an ideological function and is used to create oblivion through selective forms of cultural remembrance. In the case of Italy, certain stories of Italian colonial and racial violence (as well as anticolonial and antiracist resistance) have been excluded from the domain of mainstream knowledge production, resulting in the perpetuation and transmission of dominant master narratives based on white, Eurocentric, and colonial ideas of “knowledge.” We also analyze memory and forgetting from a geographical perspective, considering the ways memory and forgetting become embedded in physical places such as monuments, street names, and spatial arrangements. Additionally, the production of historical amnesia functions through the active forgetting of the deep and layered connections that link Italy to the broader global circuits of colonial racial capitalism, as well as transnational resistance. This conversation encourages the exploration of alternative ways of knowing within an epistemological framework of resistance and will promote the use of memories and “subjugated knowledges” (Foucault, 1980) as powerful multidimensional counternarratives for challenging crystallized and selective notions of hegemonic historical memory.

The Role of Benthic Fluxes in Acidifying the Bottom Waters in the Northern Gulf of Mexico Hypoxic Zone Based on an Updated Water Column Biogeochemical‐Seabed Diagenetic and Sediment Transport Model

AbstractThe seabed and the water column are tightly coupled in shallow coastal environments. Numerical models of seabed‐water interaction provide an alternative to observational studies that require concurrent measurements in both compartments, which are hard to obtain and rarely available. Here, we present a coupled model that includes water column biogeochemistry, seabed diagenesis, sediment transport and hydrodynamics. Our model includes realistic representations of biogeochemical reactions in both seabed and water column, and fluxes at their interface. The model was built on algorithms for seabed‐water exchange in the Regional Ocean Modeling System and expanded to include carbonate chemistry in seabed. The updated model was tested for two sites where benthic flux and porewater concentration measurements were available in the northern Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone. The calibrated model reproduced the porewater concentration‐depth profiles and benthic fluxes of O2, dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), TAlk, NO3 and NH4. We used the calibrated model to explore the role of benthic fluxes in acidifying bottom water during fair weather and resuspension periods. Under fair weather conditions, model results indicated that bio‐diffusion in sediment, labile material input and sediment porosity have a large control on the importance of benthic flux to bottom water acidification. During resuspension, the model indicated that bottom water acidification would be enhanced due to the sharp increase of the DIC/TAlk ratio of benthic fluxes. To conclude, our model reproduced the seabed‐water column exchange of biologically important solutes and can be used for quantifying the role of benthic fluxes in driving bottom water acidification over continental shelves.

Irish Immigrants in Colonial Port Cities of Cuba: Havana, Santiago, and Cienfuegos

Abstract The port city of Havana, central to the Spanish colonial fleet system since the late sixteenth century, remained an important nexus for nineteenth-century Atlantic trade networks of sugar, coffee, tobacco, and the slave trade. Positioning Irish immigrants in this global hub allows us to examine their presence in Cuba and their participation in global circuits of commodities, trade, and labor. Drawing on local colonial sources, we evaluate the opportunities and experiences of Irish immigrants as social actors in the multi-ethnic urban spaces of Havana and other strategically located port cities of Santiago and Cienfuegos. The Irish who converged on Cuba rarely came directly from Ireland. Hence, we explore three migration trajectories mediated through the British West Indies, the Spanish metropole, and globally connected cities of North America. The most prominent were high-ranking military men who arrived in Cuba in the eighteenth century through Iberian-Irish connections; a smaller number of propertied Irish who migrated from the West Indies; and lastly, distinct flows of largely anonymous nineteenth-century immigrants who came through emerging Atlantic networks of colonial labour via the United States. This study explores the entangled histories of Irish, African, and European diasporas in the social and political worlds of three Spanish Caribbean port cities. Through an analysis of how Irish immigrants negotiated processes of class, religion, race, and gender in colonial Cuba, we highlight their participation in key economic and social dynamics of white colonization strategies, plantation slavery, and the Atlantic slave trade.

Temporal variation of atmospheric electric field in comparison with solar terrestrial activities during the 24th solar cycle

Solar activities play an important role in the variation of the Atmospheric Electric Field (AEF), and affect the Global Electric Circuit (GEC). The relationship between the variation of the AEF and solar activities is focused in the present study. It includes the variation in the AEF with respect to sunspot numbers, direct and indirect radiations, and solar flares during the decline phase of solar cycle 24 from 2015–2019 for Islamabad (ISL) observatory in detail, and partially for Muzaffarabad (MZF) observatory. A few of them had good relationship with the atmospheric electric field. The solar eclipse effect on the atmospheric electric field for the Muzaffarabad station is also presented in this work. A significant increase was observed during the eclipse period which led to decrease in electrical conductivity of atmospheric electric field as compared to alternate days for the same period.

The influence of the solar wind electric and magnetic fields on the latitude and temporal variations of the current density, JZ, of the global electric circuit, with relevance to weather and climate

Observations have shown small day-to-day stratiform cloud opacity and atmospheric dynamical responses to variations in the ionosphere-earth current density (JZ). We model the day-to-day and seasonal/bi-decadal changes in the area-integrals of ionospheric potential (Vi) near the magnetic poles due to solar wind electric field inputs. The overhead value of Vi, divided by the local column resistance (R) determines JZ, where the conductivity of the column is the result of ionization by galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) and solar and magnetospheric energetic particle precipitation. These vary with time, due to varying solar wind magnetic field inputs, not only on the day-to-day timescale (e.g., Forbush decreases) but also on the decadal and bi-decadal and century timescales. The GCR and energetic particle inputs vary with latitude, due to filtering of particle energies in the geomagnetic field. We compare area-integrals of the amplitude of the JZ variations due to Vi changes to those due to the R changes, for evaluating their global effectiveness in affecting cloud microphysics and weather and climate changes. The day-to-day and bi-decadal correlated weather and climate variations indicate JZ rather than other solar forcings as mainly responsible for the correlations. The decadal and longer climate responses to space weather are not large; however, understanding them could help improve predictions of future climate change due to greenhouse gases.

Tonic and burst-like locus coeruleus stimulation distinctly shift network activity across the cortical hierarchy

Noradrenaline (NA) release from the locus coeruleus (LC) changes activity and connectivity in neuronal networks across the brain, modulating multiple behavioral states. NA release is mediated by both tonic and burst-like LC activity. However, it is unknown whether the functional changes in target areas depend on these firing patterns. Using optogenetics, photometry, electrophysiology and functional magnetic resonance imaging in mice, we show that tonic and burst-like LC firing patterns elicit brain responses that hinge on their distinct NA release dynamics. During moderate tonic LC activation, NA release engages regions associated with associative processing, while burst-like stimulation biases the brain toward sensory processing. These activation patterns locally couple with increased astrocytic and inhibitory activity and change the brain’s topological configuration in line with the hierarchical organization of the cerebral cortex. Together, these findings reveal how the LC–NA system achieves a nuanced regulation of global circuit operations.

Earthquake Precursors: The Physics, Identification, and Application

The paper presents the author’s vision of the problem of earthquake hazards from the physical point of view. The first part is concerned with the processes of precursor’s generation. These processes are a part of the complex system of the lithosphere–atmosphere–ionosphere–magnetosphere coupling, which is characteristic of many other natural phenomena, where air ionization, atmospheric thermodynamic instability, and the Global Electric Circuit are involved in the processes of the geosphere’s interaction. The second part of the paper is concentrated on the reliable precursor’s identification. The specific features helping to identify precursors are separated into two groups: the absolute signatures such as the precursor’s locality or equatorial anomaly crests generation in conditions of absence of natural east-directed electric field and the conditional signatures due to the physical uniqueness mechanism of their generation, or necessity of the presence of additional precursors as multiple consequences of air ionization demonstrating the precursor’s synergy. The last part of the paper is devoted to the possible practical applications of the described precursors for purposes of the short-term earthquake forecast. A change in the paradigm of the earthquake forecast is proposed. The problem should be placed into the same category as weather forecasting or space weather forecasting.

Lower ionospheric resonance caused by Pekeris wave induced by 2022 Tonga volcanic eruption

The submarine volcano Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha’apai erupted explosively on January 15, 2022, offering a unique opportunity to investigate interactions between the atmosphere and ionosphere caused by Lamb and Pekeris waves. However, the resonance of Pekeris waves has not been previously detected. In this study, we applied a multi-point monitoring approach focusing on the lower ionosphere and atmospheric electric field. Here we show observed oscillations of 100–200 s in manmade transmitter signals and the magnetic and atmospheric electric fields, which were caused by Pekeris waves. However, no corresponding changes with the period of 100–200 s in atmospheric pressure due to Pekeris waves were observed on the ground. A simulation of neutral wind revealed Pekeris waves oscillating near the mesopause, suggesting resonance. Therefore, the oscillation in atmospheric electric field is interpreted that the resonance in the lower ionosphere was projected onto the Earth's surface via a global electric circuit.

The response of sediment transport and morphological evolution to storms with different characteristics

Strong wave-current interaction under the impact of storm events can induce a series of complex sedimentary processes of sediment resuspension and transport and morphology changes, significantly changing the topography of coastal zones. However, coastal sedimentary processes during storm events have not been fully understood. In this study, we developed a wave-current-sediment coupled model to investigate the response of dynamical processes to extreme storm events. The model was first validated against the observed data for both storm conditions during the 2007 Typhoon Wipha and fair-weather conditions in 2016 in the Haizhou Bay (HZB) of the Yellow Sea. The simulated results indicated that the longshore sediment transport was dominated originally by tidal effects which were significantly enhanced by wind-induced waves during the passage of the Typhoon Wipha. Storms with different characteristics correspond to two typical sedimentary dynamic response modes based on a series of numerical experiments. The tidal pumping effect (T3 + T4 + T5) and gravitational circulation term (T6) controlled the total storm-induced sediment flux, and T6 played a crucial and special role, typically in the opposite direction of the dominant wind of the storm. The strong wind could lead to the stratification of the water column, causing the down-slope or up-slope cross-shore sediment transport, resulting in coastal seabed erosion/deposition. In addition, the onshore wind was found to have a stronger impact on the sedimentary process. The methodology and findings of this study provide a scientific basis for understanding the response mechanism of sediment transport during storm events in coastal areas.

STATISTICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE GEOPHYSICAL FIELDS DISTURBED BY WEATHER FRONTS

The Earth (internal spheres) — atmosphere — ionosphere — magnetosphere (EAIM) formation is a single integrated system with direct and reverse, positive and negative coupling, as well as with their combination. The high-energy sources of natural and anthropogenic origins activate coupling between the components of the EAIM. The effects that the sources of various physi- cal nature have on the EAIM system have been studied quite well, while the influence of the weather fronts and other powerful atmospheric sources on the EAIM system and its components has been studied only partly. The scientific objective of this study is to conduct a statistical analysis of variations in the basic parameters of the geophysical fields that accompany the movement of atmospheric fronts. The histograms have been constructed that show the atmospheric pressure difference, atmospheric tem- perature difference, duration of the action of the atmospheric front, and the rate of change in the pressure and temperature, as well as the histograms showing the distribution of variations in the atmospheric electric field, the atmospheric current density, and in the magnetic field. The analysis undertaken has shown that these parameters exhibit variations within a broad range of values. The mean values of these parameters are estimated to be 145 Pa, 6 °C, 70 min, 2.4 Pa/min, 0.23 °C/min, 3.2 kV/m, 63 nA/m2, and 20 nT, respectively. The analysis of the scatter diagrams shows that the correlation between the variation in physi- cal parameters is almost always absent. This means that a single governing parameter along the path of the atmospheric front does not exi st. A simplified analytical relation has been derived to estimate the perturbation in the electric field strength caused by the atmospheric front, which yields ~6–60 kV/m values that increase by an order of magnitude during thunderstorms. Under disturbed conditions, the atmospheric current density is shown to increase from 10 –12 A/m2 to 10–11—10–10 A/m 2. The fol- lowing three mechanisms of an increase in the magnetic induction under the influence of the atmospheric front are considered: the disturbances of the external current density, electromagnetic induction, and the magnetic effect of turbulence. All these mechanisms yield the value of the effect less than ~1 nT. Only the magnetic effect of the ionosphere can explain an increase of 10—70 nT in the magnetic field variations. The energetics of the pressure, temperature, electric, and magnetic fields has been estimated to be (~10 16—10 17 J, ~1013—1014 W), (~1018—1019 J, 1015—1016 W), (~109—1011 J, ~106—108 W), (~1010 — 10 11 J, 107—108 W), respectively. The following channels have been validated through which the components of the EAIM sys- tem couple under the action of atmospheric fronts: atmospheric pressure differences, ionospheric electron density differences, the generation of infrasound and gravity waves, the generation of electromagnetic waves by lightning flashes, and the perturba- tions in the global electric circuit.

Spatiotemporal variations in the grain size distribution in the water column and sediments from the Yellow River Delta to distal areas under coastal currents

The differentiation of sediment grain size from large river deltas to distal areas in a coastal flow system and its evolution are vital because they greatly contribute to matter transport, pollution accumulation, and carbon cycling on the inner shelf. Here, the Yellow River sedimentary system in the adjacent seas is studied, including the proximal delta of the Yellow River and the distal mud patch. The grain size distributions of the suspended particulate matter (SPM), surface sediments, and core sediments in the Shandong Peninsula Coastal Current (SPCC) system were integrated and analyzed. The results show that apparent variations in the grain size distribution exist in the SPM and sediments in the SPCC system. The grain size distribution of the SPM near the proximal delta of the Yellow River is multimodal and variable with water depth, whereas that in the distal mud area is typically unimodal. The coarse-grained endmember of suspended sediments is restricted in the proximal area by ocean fronts under fair weather conditions in both summer and winter and is only transported to the distal mud area under strengthened coastal currents in winter. In contrast, fine-grained endmembers can be transported far away under tidal currents and coastal currents year-round. The temporal grain size variation near the proximal delta is also significantly affected by historical shifts in the Yellow River mouth, while the strength of coastal currents associated with the East Asian Winter Monsoon (EAWM) controls the grain size distribution in the distal mud area. The roles of river behaviors, ocean fronts, tides, and winds are all highlighted in the control of grain size differentiation. These results potentially have significance for understanding sediment dynamics and mass transport processes in similar coastal current systems involving large rivers worldwide.