Grain size is an important property of sediment particles, affecting their entrainment, transport and deposition. An attempt has been made to determine the changes in grain size pattern from near shore to offshore region along the Chennai coast, India. The results revealed that sediments were moderately sorted to well sorted, symmetrical skewed to fine skewed, and very platykurtic to platykurtic. Grain size diameters showed a decreasing trend from nearshore to offshore areas. Relatively higher values of hydrodynamic characteristics such as waves, tides and currents obtained at Marina and Adayar regions. The differences in the grain sizes distribution patterns of the sediments between the northern and the southern parts of the region are mainly due to variable discharges through Coovum river at the northern part and Adyar river at the southern part. Except this fluvial influence, the local wave, tide and current action have also played an important role in the distribution of the coastal and nearshore sediments. Results of this study provide further insight for expensive dredging, pollution control and coastal management.
