Yao, Y.; Zhan, W.; Liu, Z.; Zhang, Z.; Zhan, M., and Sun, J., 2013. Neotectonics and its Relations to the Evolution of the Pearl River Delta, Guangdong, China. In: Harff, J., Leipe, T., Waniek, J.J., and Zhou, D. (eds.), Depositional Environments and Multiple Forcing Factors at the South China Sea's Northern Shelf, Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue, No. 66, pp. 1–11. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.

Systematical reanalysis of previously published data indicates that neotectonics of the Pearl River Delta is characterized by fault activity and differentiated movement of fault-blocks, which has played one of the most important roles in the deltaic development. Basement faults that were developed or had reactivated during Quaternary cut the delta area into fault-blocks. These fault-blocks move in different directions with different rates, but vertically they are dominated by subsidence, which has created accommodation for Quaternary sediments. Distinct differences in distribution of fluvial gravels formed before and after the first transgression in the late Late Pleistocene suggests that the paleo-drainage pattern took a dramatic change, and this change was greatly attributed to fault activities. Since the Holocene, neotectonic influence on channel development turned to be less important as neotectonics became weaker.

Xia, Z.; Jia, P.; Ma, S.; Liang, K.; Shi, Y., and Waniek, J.J., 2013. Sedimentation in the Lingdingyang Bay, Pearl River Estuary, Southern China. In: Harff, J., Leipe, T., Waniek, J.J., and Zhou, D. (eds.), Depositional Environments and Multiple Forcing Factors at the South China Sea's Northern Shelf, Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue, No. 66, pp. 12–24. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.

The Lingdingyang Bay is the biggest outlet of the Pearl River Estuary surrounded by several large cities undergoing rapid economic development. It is a sensitive land-ocean interaction zone and therefore of international interest. This study analyzes the sedimentary characteristics of the Lingdingyang Bay based on the data from the marine geo-environment and geo-hazards surveys in the bay in 2003–2004 carried out by Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey (GMGS). In the area six types of sediments, two strata groups since late Pleistocene, with rock and bedrock below them were identified. In the Lingdingyang Bay grain size and the sediment types of the surficial sediments vary regionally, and the grain size declines continuously from north of the Lingdingyang Bay towards the south, with some local exceptions, in close connection to the hydrodynamics especially river runoff and the tidal regime leading into a subdivision of the Lingdingyang Bay into four different sedimentary regions. Our study demonstrates that the central part of the Lingdingyang Bay is not strongly affected by erosion which contradicts the results of Heise et al. (2010). Additionally, multibeam and selected satellite images of the PRE provide the evidence for sand mining with consequent re-deposition of the fine fraction of the sediments. The human related activities are thought to be the causes for the observed changes in topography leading to the conclusion that anthropogenic impact is increasing in the Lingdingyang Bay over the recent years, especially at the western coast and in the channels.

Shi, Y.; Ma, S.; Zeng, N., and Xia, Z., 2013. Characteristics of Engineering Geological Environment at Lingdingyang Estuary of Pearl River Mouth, South China Sea. In: Harff, J., Leipe, T., Waniek, J.J., and Zhou, D. (eds.), Depositional Environments and Multiple Forcing Factors at the South China Sea's Northern Shelf, Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue, No. 66, pp. 25–33. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.

The Lingdingyang Estuary is one of the most important estuaries in the Southern China. With the regional rapid industrialization and urbanization, the engineering geological environment at Lingdingyang Estuary has attracted growing attention. Total of 250 samples and about 1,420 km of high resolution seismic profiles were collected by the Guangzhou Marine Geology Survey (GMGS) in 2004 and 2005. First, the characteristics of engineering geological environment at Lingdingyang Estuary were studied regarding three aspects, including topography and morphology, shallow geology, the submarine soil types and its physical-mechanical properties. The characteristics of the topography and morphology, and the shallow geology in the Lingdingyang Estuary were studied based on the high resolution seismic profiles, whereas the sediments were used to derive the physical-mechanical properties of soil. Second, the soil stability and engineering geological areas are discussed. Finally, it is suggested that the study area can be divided into 2 regions: area I and area II. Area I can be further divided into 3 subdivisions: subarea I₁, subarea I₂ and subarea I₃.

Heise, B.; Bobertz, B.; Tang, C.; Harff, J., and Zhou, D., 2013. Surface sediments of the Pearl River Estuary (South China Sea) – spatial distribution of sedimentological / geochemical properties and environmental interpretation. In: Harff, J., Leipe, T., Waniek, J.J., and Zhou, D. (eds.), Depositional Environments and Multiple Forcing Factors at the South China Sea's Northern Shelf, Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue, No. 66, pp. 34–48. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.

The Pearl River Delta (South China) is one of the densest populated regions of the world. This study aims at the investigation and interpretation of the spatial distribution of grain size parameters and geochemical parameters obtained from surface sediment samples. These samples have been taken during cruises in 2003, 2004 and 2005. Investigations of the spatial correlations of the parameters obtained reveal an approximately north-south directed trend for the majority of the parameters. The trend was removed before applying Ordinary Kriging for interpolation. The maps obtained show non-uniform distribution patterns of the sedimentological and geochemical parameters. Here e.g. the concentrations of the As, Co, Cu, Hg and Ni decrease to the more marine influenced southeastern parts and show a higher concentration in the central part and at the western shoals of the estuary.

Bauer, A.; Radziejewska, T.; Liang, K.; Kowalski, N.; Dellwig, O.; Bosselmann, K.; Stark, A.; Xia, Z.; Harff, J.; Böttcher, M.E.; Schulz-Bull, D.E., and Waniek, J.J., 2013. Regional differences of hydrographical and sedimentological properties in the Beibu Gulf, South China Sea. In: Harff, J., Leipe, T., Waniek, J.J., and Zhou, D. (eds.), Depositional Environments and Multiple Forcing Factors at the South China Sea's Northern Shelf, Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue, No. 66, pp. 49–71. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.

Analyzing the Beibu Gulf's hydrography and sediment properties is crucial for the understanding of naturally and anthropogenically induced matter and energy fluxes in the South China Sea's north-western coastal regions. For this reason, the present study combines hydrographical (T, S, σ_t, chlorophyll, nutrients, suspended particulate matter) and sedimentological (grain size, pore water properties, phosphate speciation, foraminifera, plant pigment contents) investigations.

On the basis of hydrographical profiles (temperature, salinity and σ_t) taken at 25 stations, four ecological zones are identified in the study area for the sampling period in September/October 2009. These zones are mainly influenced by riverine input and tidal mixing, water mass transport through the Qiongzhou Strait which also affects the gulf's circulation, and South China Sea waters in the southern Beibu Gulf. The zonation extends from the coastal areas in the northern Beibu Gulf and west of Hainan Island across the central regions to the southern part of the gulf. The study demonstrates that the hydrographical peculiarities of the different zones influence not only the biogeochemical features (chlorophyll, nutrients, suspended particulate matter) of the water column but also the deposition of sediments and their biological (plant pigment contents and foraminifera) and geochemical (pore water properties) characteristics. Both, the near-shore area and the zone in the vicinity of the Qiongzhou Strait show relatively high chlorophyll concentrations and therefore give evidence of enhanced primary production in the entire water column. Whereas the grain size and the foraminifera in the surface sediments follow the hydrodynamically controlled sedimentation conditions, plant pigment contents in the surface sediments additionally follow the productivity pattern in the water column. Depending on the depositional environments with their respective sedimentology and organic matter contents, the geochemical sediment properties reflect the primary production within the water column as well.

Xia, Z.; Waniek, J.J., and Leipe, T., 2013. Anthropogenic fingerprint in Beibu Gulf (South China Sea) sediments. In: Harff, J., Leipe, T., Waniek, J.J., and Zhou, D. (eds.), Depositional Environments and Multiple Forcing Factors at the South China Sea's Northern Shelf, Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue, No. 66, pp. 72–90. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.

Surface sediments and five cores were chosen to determine grain size, geochemical elements, heavy metals concentrations and age using ¹⁴C dating to study sedimentary environment and anthropogenic impact in the Beibu Gulf (South China Sea). The grain size analysis shows differences in the depositional environment amongst the subareas of the gulf. In the north of the gulf, the depositional environment is strong and unstable with complicated hydrodynamics because of the combined influence of rivers, tide, littoral current and the monsoon. In the central part, the depositional environment is weaker and stable, whereas in the south of the gulf (at the entrance), the deposition is higher and influenced mainly by tide. The deposition rate is around 0.3 mm/yr based on ¹⁴C dating. The geochemical element analysis indicates different sediment sources in different subareas of the gulf and possible influence of a biogenic source. The terrigenous elements (Al, Fe, Li, Ti, K and Zr) have high positive correlation coefficients, and originate from the northern coast and Hainan Island. The trace elements are mostly enriched within the fine sediments. The enrichment factors (EF) and cultural enrichment factors (CEF) based on aluminum and titanium show that total organic carbon (TOC), As and Hg have high concentrations in the surficial sediments in the north (9.92 mg/kg and 34 μg/kg) and the south (15.5 mg/kg and 22 μg/kg) of the gulf, and are enriched below the surface. Despite the regional differences in heavy metal concentrations in surface sediments, no anthropogenic impact was observed in the center of the gulf according to the results of EF and CEF using the core data. Measured concentrations of the anthropogenic elements were below the evaluation criterion values of the National Standards of GB18668-2002, P. R. China indicating low anthropogenic impact in the entire gulf.