PARTITIONING OF TRANSGRESSIVE DEPOSITS IN THE SOUTHEASTERN YELLOW SEA- A SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION

The last glacio-eustatic sea-level fluctuation in the southeastern par t of the Yellow Sea formed a number of unconformity-bounded sedimentar y sequences. These sequences comprise: (1) regressive to transgressive incision-fills (Unit C); (2) transgressive sand ridges and swales (Un it B); and (3) transgressive to highstand muds (lower mud Unit A2, upp er mud Unit Al). The sequence boundary between Unit C and the lower un it comprises erosional surface which can be traced for the entire stud y area. The even and sharp boundary between the incision-fills (Unit C ) and the sand ridges (Unit B) represents a transgressive surface of e rosion. The depositional boundary between the lower mud (Unit A2) and the upper mud (Unit Al) suggests a change in oceanographic conditions. The boundary is confined landward and correlated offshore with the to p of Units B and C that is exposed on the seafloor. These transgressiv e deposits show partitioning, controlled by currents, tides, and sedim ent supply as well as physiography of the seafloor. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.