Mud deposits in cold water masses (CWMs) on continental shelves represent distinct units of suspended particulate matter (SPM); however, the generative mechanism and variation in SPM during source–sink processes remain unresolved. In this study, we measured the properties of SPM during transport among water masses into a CWM in the Nort in situ scattering and transmissometry (LISST). Our results show that this CWM is an important sink for SPM from the Bohai Sea and Chengshan Cape. The SPM in these source areas mainly consists of fine aggregates or flocs. Particles may bond to form coarse flocs when they pass through a high-temperature water mass (HTWM), as the weak turbulent shear in these water masses facilitates flocculation. The subsequent transport of such coarse flocs into the marginal waters around the CWM, where temperatures are lower and turbulent shear is stronger, causes the coarse flocs to disaggregate into fine aggregates/flocs. These low-density fine flocs, which are mainly composed of organic matter (OM), are subsequently transported toward the upper water body by upwelling; meanwhile, high-density fine aggregates, which are mainly inorganic, are transported toward a northern CWM, where they are deposited due to the quiescent near-bottom water. The results of our model provide new insights into the generative mechanisms of muddy deposits subject to cold vortices on continental shelves.

中文翻译：

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秋季北黄海悬浮颗粒的演变：激光原位散射和透射法测量的粒度分布


大陆架冷水团 (CWM) 中的泥浆沉积物代表了不同的悬浮颗粒物 (SPM) 单元；然而，源-汇过程中SPM的生成机制和变化仍未解决。在这项研究中，我们测量了诺特原位散射和透射测量 (LISST) 中水团传输到 CWM 期间 SPM 的特性。我们的研究结果表明，该CWM是来自渤海和成山角的SPM的重要汇。这些源区的SPM主要由细骨料或絮凝物组成。当颗粒穿过高温水团 (HTWM) 时，它们可能会结合形成粗絮凝体，因为这些水团中的弱湍流剪切力有利于絮凝。随后，这些粗絮凝物被输送到水坝周围的边缘水域，那里的温度较低，湍流剪切力较强，导致粗絮凝物分解成细聚集体/絮凝物。这些主要由有机物（OM）组成的低密度细絮体随后通过上升流被输送到上部水体；与此同时，主要是无机的高密度细骨料被输送到北部水煤浆，并由于近底水的静止而沉积在那里。我们模型的结果为大陆架冷涡作用下泥质沉积物的生成机制提供了新的见解。