Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of Suspended Sediment Concentration in the Pearl River Estuary Based on Remote Sensing

In this paper, 152 suspended sediment concentration resulting images retrieved from reflectance of NOAA/AVHRR channel 1 (580 nm~690 nm) and channel 2 (720 nm~1 100 nm) in the Pearl River estuary and its adjacent coastal waters from 1995 to 2000 were selected to analyze the spatial distribution and variation of suspended sediment concentration in three temporal scales. The modeler of ERDAS IMAGINE ver8.5 was employed to calculate pixel based average concentration of suspended sediment according to the special time period and the regulation of spatial and temporal distribution and variation of suspended sediment concentration was studied. Results showed that obvious spatial distribution and temporal variation existed in all three temporal scales, concentration contours almost paralleled coastline and the values decreased from river mouth to open sea. The curvature and gradient implied the impact of run-off on suspended sediment along the coastal waters. The shift and convex of concentration contour basically directed the impact scope of run-off and the movement of suspended sediment along the coastal waters.