End-member modeling and sediment trend analysis as tools for sedimentary processes inference in a subtropical estuary

• Published in: Estuarine, coastal and shelf science Vol. 278; p. 108126
• Main Authors: Paladino, Ítalo M., Mengatto, Mateus F., Mahiques, Michel M., Noernberg, Mauricio A., Nagai, Renata H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 05-11-2022
• Subjects: End-member; Estuarine dynamics. Regional index terms: Southern Brazil; Grain size; Mathematical models; Paranaguá; Sediment transport; State of Paraná; Grain size; State of Paraná; Estuarine dynamics. Regional index terms: Southern Brazil; Mathematical models; Paranaguá; End-member; Sediment transport
• ISSN: 0272-7714; 1096-0015
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecss.2022.108126

Mathematical models based on grain size data enable identifying sediment transport sources and processes in coastal regions, helping to understand the relationship between hydrodynamic and sedimentary processes. This study applied End-Member Analysis and Grain Size Trend Analysis to a grain size database from the Paranaguá Estuarine Complex (PEC), a subtropical estuary in southern Brazil. The end-member analysis allowed identifying three grain size populations, whose spatial distribution is influenced by the dynamics between river discharge and tidal currents acting in the Paranaguá Estuarine Complex. The end-member 1 — formed by finer sediments — is mainly distributed over Antonina Bay and extends into the maximum turbidity zone. The Grain Sized Trend Analysis revealed that these sediments — derived from the weathering of rocks from the Serra do Mar mountain range system — are transported in the west-east direction by river discharge, mainly from the Cachoeira and Nhundiaquara rivers. Furthermore, our results indicate that sediments from end-members 2 and 3 — which are coarser — are distributed in the Paranaguá and Laranjeiras Bays. The transport of these sediments happens towards the center of the estuary due to wave- and tidal-generated currents.
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•First-time application of grain size-based mathematical models for the Paranaguá Estuarine Complex (PEC).•Identification of sediment source-to-sink paths through BasEMMA and GSTA models.•Proposed classification of PEC as a wave-dominated estuary.•Potential application of these models to assess and monitor anthropic impacts in estuarine environments.