The study looked at how sediment levels change in the Yangtze River estuary and nearby waters over a year. Sediment levels increase from Xuliujing to Hangzhou Bay, with higher levels in summer in the inner estuary and in winter in the outer estuary. Sediments from the river get stirred up by tides and wind. Sediment levels follow a tidal cycle and change with the seasons. Tidal currents affect the tidal cycle, while wind waves affect seasonal changes. The amount of sediment in the water is influenced by river flow and ocean currents.