Textural Characteristics and distribution of Coastal Sediments in the northern section of the Syrian continental shelf

Detailed textural study of the Northern section of the Syrian Continental shelf (N35.92991 E35.91785: N35.35752 E35.91542) has been carried out in order to determine the sediment nature and distribution. The sediments are mainly coarse to very fine-grained particles, moderately sorted, negatively skewed to fine skewed and leptokurtic to mesokurtic in nature. Interrelationship of various parameters shows bimodal nature of sediments having dominance of mainly medium to coarse sand. The major part of the sediment fall in coarse to very fine grained category (sand, silt and clay). Based on the CM (Coarser one percentile and Median size values in micron) pattern, the sediment fall in rolling and suspension field. These factors indicate that the sediments discharged from the rivers mixes with offshore sediments and with the sediments eroded from a source rock. Moreover, the wave energy conditions were high enough to disperse the sediments along the shelf and passing it to the open ocean and later dispersing them by littoral currents.

Study of sediment characteristics and distribution in the southern section of the Syrian continental shelf

Detailed sedimentary study of the Southern section of the Syrian Continental shelf (N 35.16022 E 35.92712: N 34.71354 E 35.94267) has been carried out in order to determine the sediment nature and distribution. The study of coastal sandy samples (from beach to 2m water depth) revealed variation in the sand colours from place to place. This indicates that there are many sources for coastal sand mostly derived from the hinterlands. Six sediment sorting types were identified along the continental shelf and these are: Sand; Sandy Mud; Slightly Gravelly Sand; Slightly Gravelly Muddy Sand; Slightly Gravelly Sandy Mud; and Gravel. The textural studies clearly establish that the sediments are of medium grain size, moderately well sorted, very negatively skewed and mesokurtic. These parameters confirm that the sediments were deposited under moderate to high energy conditions. These conditions vary from place to another according to the place of deposition and the nature of the source material on one hand and the severity of the kinetic energy namely ocean currents, marine eddies, waves and tides on the other hand.