Dai, Z.-J.; Chu, A.; Li, W.-H.; Li, J.-F., and Wu, H.L., 2013. Has suspended sediment concentration near the mouth bar of the Yangtze (Changjiang) Estuary been declining in recent years? There are considerable concerns about the decrease in suspended sediment discharge (SSD) into the large estuaries of the world as a result of extensive anthropogenic activities in their catchment areas. With the operation of Three Gorges Dam (TGD) in 2003, the riverine loads into the Yangtze (Changjiang) Estuary have been greatly changed with the sharp decrease of SSD and suspended sediment concentration (SSC). However, according to our analysis on the SSC in the surfacial water measured at different stations in the Yangtze Estuary, we conclude that the spatial characteristics of the annual mean SSC around the mouth bar area show no apparent change yet, even though the TGD was constructed with an ascending trend at the upper part of the estuary. The spring–neap periodicity of the daily mean SSC after the TGD was ...

While it is generally difficult to separate the impact of extreme climate events on river catchment conditions from that of human activities, there are unique data available to document this for the catchment area of the Yangtze in the years that the Three Gorges Dam (TGD) started to have an impact. During the second impoundment phase in 2006, the suspended sediment discharge (SSD) and water stored behind the TGD was 23×106 t and 11×109 m3, respectively, which is only 18% of the total SSD reduction and about 1% of the water discharge (901×109 m3) in 2005 at Datong. The total SSD and water discharge into the Yangtze Estuary in 2006 was 60 and 24% less than those in 2005, respectively. It can be quantified that the contribution of the extreme climate (drought) on discharge and SSD reduction was 95 and 82% of the total in 2006, respectively. In addition, it was found that the periods of high salinity (>250 and 400 mg/L) at Haimen that happened during the second impoundment phase accounted for 25 and ...

Tao, Z.; Chu, A.; Chen, Y.; Lu, S., and Wang, B., 2020. Wind effect on the saltwater intrusion in the Yangtze Estuary. In: Hu, C. and Cai, M. (eds.), Geo-informatics and Oceanography. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 105, pp. 42–46. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.Events of freshwater shortage occur in Shanghai under strong wind conditions in the dry season, although coastal freshwater reservoirs Chenhang, Qingcaosha, and Dongfengxisha have been constructed in the Yangtze Estuary (YE) as a freshwater supply. In this paper, the wind effect on salt intrusion in the YE was investigated based on a validated numerical model. The flux decomposition method was applied to separate salt transport mechanisms. The results show that mechanisms of Lagrangian and tidal pumping dominate in salt transport. Wind direction determines the wind-induced circulation in the YE and influences the salt transport. The Deep Draft Channel Project also plays an important role in the salt transport. The relationship between wind speed and the salinity excessive area rate shows the S-curve characteristic.

One of the most important processes for mass movement in coastal areas is sediment transport; it plays a significant role in coastal morphology changes. This manuscript focuses on the distribution and variation in surface-suspended sediments in the North Passage of the Yangtze Estuary. Field data on surface-suspended sediment concentration (SSSC) and suspended particle size (SPS) were collected at fifteen hydrological sites over a period of three years, from 2016 to 2018. The main objective was to analyze the spatial and temporal patterns of sediment and particle size and their potential impact on the estuary. Results indicate that extreme weather events have an influence on the hydrological conditions and sediment dynamics of the area. The intensity and range of SSSC variation in the North Passage seem to be determined by the magnitude of the current velocity, while the sediment load significantly impacted the sediment distribution pattern. This study demonstrates that surface sediment dynamics can be used as a basis for understanding the spatiotemporal variation in estuarine turbidity maximum (ETM) in the North Passage of the Yangtze Estuary.