Study of seabed elevation changes using geochemical elements
Using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopic analysis and the method of ratio matching, the mean directions of sand movement and the geochemical classifications of sand grains can be determined, from which the physical condition of seabeds (erosion or accretion) can be evaluated. This method is applied to two coasts in Japan and the results are in good agreement with the comparison of sea bottom topography measured in different years. The changes of seabed elevation are found to be quantitatively connected with the number of vectors to or from each sampling point.
geochemical elements ratio matching littoral drift of sand erosion and accretion x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy correlation number correlation matrix beaches ports breakwaters aerial photographs geological characteristics