Statistical grain size parameter of surface samples from Kiel Bay

Geological observations, using "free-diving" techniques (Figure I) were made in September, 1960 and March 1961 along two continuous profiles in the outer Kiel Harbor, Germany and at several other spot locations in the Western Baltic Sea. A distinct terrace, cut in Pleistocene glacial till, was found that was covered with varying amounts and types of recent deposits. Hand samples were taken of the sea-floor sediments and grainsize distribution determined for both the sediment as a whole and for its heavy mineral fraction. From the Laboratory and Field observations it was possible to recognize two distinct types of sand; Type I, Sand resulting from transportation over a long period of time and distance and Type 11, Sand resulting from little transportation and found today near to xvhere it was formed.
Several criterea related to the agent of movement could be used to classify the nature of the sediment; (1) undisturbed (the sediment Cover of the Pleistocene Terrace is essentially undisturbed), (2) mixed by organisms, (3) transported by water movements (sediment found with ripple marks, etc., and (4) "Scoured" (the movement of individual particles of sediment from around larger boulders causes a slow downward movement or "Creeping" which is due to both the force of gravity and bottom currents. These observations and laboratory studies are discussed concerning their relationship to the formation of residual sediments, the direction of sand transportation, and the intensive erosion on the outer edge of the wave-cut platform found in this part of the Baltic Sea.

1960年9月与1961年3月，研究团队借助“自由潜水（free-diving）”技术，沿德国外基尔港的两条连续剖面，以及西波罗的海的多个定点位置开展地质观测。本次观测发现一处发育于更新世冰碛物（Pleistocene glacial till）中的清晰阶地，其表面覆盖着厚度与类型各异的现代沉积物。研究人员手工采集海底沉积物样品，并分别对沉积物整体及其重矿物组分（heavy mineral fraction）开展粒度分布测试。通过野外与实验室观测结果，可识别出两种截然不同的砂体类型：Ⅰ型砂为经长期、长距离搬运形成的砂体，Ⅱ型砂则为搬运作用极弱、现今仍赋存于其形成位置附近的砂体。
可通过与搬运营力相关的多项判别准则，对沉积物的性质进行分类：（1）未受扰动状态（本次发现的更新世阶地沉积物覆盖层基本未受扰动）；（2）生物扰动改造；（3）水流搬运作用（可见波纹痕等沉积构造的沉积物）；以及（4）“冲刷”作用（沉积物颗粒围绕较大砾石移动，在重力与底流共同作用下发生缓慢向下迁移，即“蠕移”现象）。本文将对上述观测与实验室研究结果展开讨论，分析其与残余沉积物（residual sediments）形成、砂体搬运方向，以及本次研究区域内波罗的海海域浪蚀平台（wave-cut platform）外缘强烈侵蚀作用之间的关联。