Chen Shen-liang

Temporal and spatial changes of suspended sediment concentration and resuspension in the Yangtze River estuary

A detailed analysis of suspended sediment concentration (SSC) variations over a year period is presented using the data from 8 stations in the Yangtze River estuary and its adjacent waters, together with a discussion of the hydrodynamic regimes of the estuary. Spatially, the SSC from Xuliujing downwards to Hangzhou Bay increases almost constantly, and the suspended sediment in the inner estuary shows higher concentration in summer than in winter, while in the outer estuary it shows higher concentration in winter than in summer, and the magnitude is greater in the outer estuary than in the inner estuary, greater in the Hangzhou Bay than in the Yangtze River estuary. The sediments discharged by the Yangtze River into the sea are resuspended by marine dynamics included tidal currents and wind waves. Temporally, the SSC shows a pronounced neap-spring tidal cycle and seasonal variations. Furthermore, through the analysis of dynamic mechanism, it is concluded that wave and tidal current are two predominant factors of sediment resuspension and control the distribution and changes of SSC, in which tidal currents control neap-spring tidal cycles, and wind waves control seasonal variations. The ratio between river discharge and marine dynamics controls spatial distribution of SSC.

Temporal variations of water discharge and sediment load of Huanghe River, China

Based on the data from gauging stations, the changes in water discharge and sediment load of the Huanghe (Yellow) River were analyzed by using the empirical mode decomposition (EMD) method. The results show that the periodic oscillation of water discharge and sediment load of the Huanghe River occurs at the interannual, decadal, and multi-decadal scales, caused by the periodic oscillations of precipitation, and El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) affects water discharge by influencing precipitation distribution and contributes to periodic varations in precipitation and water discharge at interannual timescale. The water discharge and sediment load of the Huanghe River have decreased since the 1960s under the influence of precipitation and huamn activities, and human activities attribute more than precipitation to the reduction in the water discharge and sediment load, furthermore, water abstraction and water-soil conservation practices are the main causes of the decrease in water discharge and sediment load, respectively. The reduction in sediment load has directly impacted on the lower reaches of the Huanghe River and the river delta, causing considerable erosion of the river channel in the lower reaches since the 1970s along with River Delta changing siltation into erosion around 2000.

Characteristics of landscape information Tupu of the Yellow River swings and its subdeltas during 1855-2000

Based on the theories and methods of cartography on spatial pattern and temporal evolution in Geo-information Tupu (Carto-methodology in Geo-information, CMGI) and the quantitative measurements of pattern and process in landscape ecology, the methodology of landscape information Tupu in studying the swing process of the Yellow River (YR) over the Yellow River Delta (YRD) during 1855–2000 has been demonstrated. The main content includes: (1) methodology of landscape information Tupu; (2) evolution process Tupu of YR rump channels; (3) evolution process Tupu of the 7 pieces of subdeltas in YRD during 1855–2000; (4) landscape information Tupu of the modern YRD and the current YRD; (5) landscape information Tupu of YR rump channels on the 7 pieces of subdeltas during 1855–2000; and (6) corridor-matrix landscape information Tupu by YR swings. The methodology of landscape information Tupu here is still primary but we hope that it could provide a new tool for exploring an integrated research on spatiotemporal approaches for landscape “pattern and process”.

Similarities between Yangshan Harbor area and the Yangtze estuary

By analysis of published papers on the Yangtze estuary and hydrological and sediments data in Yangshan Harbor area, many similarities are found between Yangshan Harbor area and the Yangtze estuary. These similarities include the phenomenon of stagnating flow areas, the distributive characteristics of the highest suspended sediment concentration areas, superficial sediments and shoal bars. The stagnating flow area is the major similarity which causes other similarities. These similarities indicate that: 1) Turbidity Maximum and mouth bars in estuaries are mainly caused by the hydraulic balance of stagnating flow areas of estuaries; 2) The stagnating sand area of sands caused by stagnating flow area often locates on the narrower side of the stagnating flow area; 3) The location (or shape) of fine sediments area caused by stagnating flow area reflects the location (or shape) of the stagnating flow area. Both Yangshan Harbor area and the Yangtze estuary are the important developmental areas in the future (man-made similarity). In-depth studies on these similarities between Yangshan Harbor area and the Yangtze estuary will have momentous theoretical and practical significance.