Seasonal Changes in Sediment Characteristics on the Tidal Flat in Geunso Bay, West Coast of Korea

Geunso Bay, a semi-enclosed tidal flat in the western Korean Peninsula, exhibits seasonal variations in sediment characteristics driven primarily by suspended sediment supply and tidal current circulation. Research conducted between winter and summer of 2009 revealed that while erosion dominates the middle part of the bay with an annual net erosion rate of -15.0 mm/year, deposition occurs in the western tidal flat during winter and spring at a net rate of 10.8 mm/year. Sediments were classified into five facies, predominantly muddy sand, with suspended sediments supplied in larger quantities during winter and spring, transported anti-clockwise. Winter waves had limited influence due to the bay's southwestward-opening mouth. The study highlights the critical role of sediment supply and tidal dynamics in shaping seasonal sedimentation patterns on this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Woo, H. J., Kang, J., Lee, J.-H., & Jang, S. (2016). Seasonal Changes in Sediment Characteristics on the Tidal Flat in Geunso Bay, West Coast of Korea. Journal of Coastal Research, 75(sp1), 1412–1416. https://doi.org/10.2112/si75-283.1