Comparative Sedimentology Institute, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China

In fair weather the wave action along the Yangtze Delta is weak, with a wave height of 0.5–1.0 m and average wave energy of 0.127 erg/s. However, in late summer and early autumn the coastal area is usually swept by typhoons, which sometimes are extremely violent. The development of cheniers is mainly controlled by these strong typhoons. As a result, a number of the sedimentary characteristics of the cheniers are related to the typhoon-generated high-energy environment.

Moreover, the study shows that the top elevation of a fully developed chenier indicates the spring high water level during a violent typhoon (11–12 on the Beaufort scale).