Method for tracing sediment source based on size distribution and corresponding mass percentages

A method for tracing a sediment source, comprising:

• S100:
• sampling at sampling points and a plurality of additional testing points around each sampling point;
• wherein the sampling points comprise a first sampling point and a second sampling point;
• S200:
• measuring sediment grain size distribution and corresponding mass percentages to plot sediment grain size distribution curves of each sampling point and its additional testing points;
• S300:
• plotting a sediment fingerprint matrix of each sampling point;
• wherein a horizontal axis of the sediment fingerprint matrix represents grain size, a vertical axis of the sediment fingerprint matrix represents mass percentage, and elements of the sediment fingerprint matrix are the number of the sediment grain size distribution curves;
• S400:
• comparing patterns of the sediment fingerprint matrix of the first sampling point with patterns of the sediment fingerprint matrix of the second sampling point, and
• determining whether sediment at the first sampling point and that at the second sampling point have the same source,
• wherein the patterns refer to columns of the sediment fingerprint matrix of each sampling point.