Fostering spatial ability development in and for authentic STEM learning

Empirical interdisciplinary research has explored the role of spatial ability in STEM learning and achievement. While most of this research indicates that fostering spatial thinking in educational contexts has the potential to positively impact students’ enrollment and performance in STEM subjects, there is less agreement on the best approach...

Reclamation of Tidal Flats Within Tidal Basins Alters Centennial Morphodynamic Adaptation to Sea-Level Rise

Reclamation of low-lying tidal flats and floodplains adjacent to present shorelines has been implemented worldwide for both coastal defense and development. While it is technically feasible to monitor the short-term impact of tidal flat embankments, it is challenging to identify long-term and cumulative morphodynamic impact, particularly...

Feedback Effects of Sediment Suspensions on Transport Mechanisms in an Estuarine Turbidity Maximum

The mechanisms controlling the formation of an estuarine turbidity maximum (ETM) in estuaries have been extensively investigated, but one aspect that has received much less scientific attention is the role of high suspended sediment concentrations in combination with tidal asymmetry in ETM formation. Particularly in highly turbid estuaries,...

Scaffolding Pupils’ Spatial Thinking through Design: A Biomimicry Project for the Primary Classroom

Spatial thinking is embedded in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) learning. Design and Technology education inherently encompasses a wide range of spatial activities, such as mentally transforming objects and materials to form representations of design ideas, visually communicating ideas, and creating 2D and 3D...

Anthropogenic effects on the hydro-morphological development of turbid estuaries

Estuarine sediment dynamics involves estuarine hydrodynamics, sediment transport, and morphology, and strongly influence ecosystem dynamics and sustainability. In the current geological epoch, referred to as the Anthropocene, human activities are exerting increasing impacts on the environment on all scales, changing hydrodynamics, sediment...

Exploration of Decadal Tidal Evolution in Response to Morphological and Sedimentary Changes in the Yangtze Estuary

Estuarine tidal dynamics are influenced by changes in morphology and friction. In this work, we quantified changes in tidal damping in the Yangtze Estuary and explored the impact of morphology and friction using a numerical model. In-depth analyses of tidal data reveal a strong reduction in tidal damping from 1990 to 2010, followed by a...

Changjiang Delta in the Anthropocene: Multi-scale hydro-morphodynamics and management challenges

The Changjiang Delta (CD) is one of well-studied large deltas of critical socio-economical and ecological importance regionally and global representativeness. Cumulated field data and numerical modeling has facilitated scientific understanding of its hydro-morphodynamics at multiple spatial and time scales, but the changing boundary forcing...

Regime shifts in the Changjiang (Yangtze River) Estuary: The role of concentrated benthic suspensions

Channel deepening often triggers positive feedback between tidal deformation, sediment import and drag reduction, which leads to the regime shift in estuaries from low-turbid to hyper-turbid state. In this study, a transition in profiles of suspended sediment concentration (SSC) is hypothesised by including a positive feedback loop of...

Effects of Sediment-Induced Density Gradients on the Estuarine Turbidity Maximum in the Yangtze Estuary

An estuarine turbidity maximum (ETM) is a region of elevated suspended sediment concentration (SSC) resulting from residual transport mechanisms driven by river flow, tides, and salinity-induced density gradients (SalDG). However, in energetic and highly turbid environments such as the Yangtze Estuary, SedDG may also substantially contribute...

A historical review of sediment export–import shift in the North Branch of Changjiang Estuary

Net sediment transport is predominantly seaward in fluvial-dominated estuaries worldwide. However, a distributary branch in the Changjiang Estuary, the North Branch, undergoes net landward sediment transport, which leads to severe channel aggradation. Its controlling mechanism and the role of human activities remain insufficiently understood,...

Strong Inland Propagation of Low‐Frequency Long Waves in River Estuaries

Tidal waves traveling into estuaries are modified by channel geometry and river flow. The damping effect of river flow on incident astronomical tides is well documented, whereas its impact on low‐frequency tides like MSf and Mm is poorly understood. In this contribution, we employ a numerical model to explore low‐frequency tidal behavior under...

From the headwater to the delta: A synthesis of the basin-scale sediment load regime in the Changjiang River

Many large rivers in the world delivers decreasing sediment loads to coastal oceans owing to reductions in sediment yield and disrupted sediment deliver. Understanding the sediment load regime is a prerequisite of sediment management and fluvial and deltaic ecosystem restoration. This work examines sediment load changes across the Changjiang...

Decadal morphological evolution of the mouth zone of the Yangtze Estuary in response to human interventions

The morphology of the Yangtze Estuary has changed substantially at decadal time scales in response to natural processes, local human interference and reduced sediment supply. Due to its high sediment load, the morphodynamic response time of the estuary is short, providing a valuable semi-natural system to evaluate large-scale estuarine...

How have the river discharges and sediment loads changed in the Changjiang River basin downstream of the Three Gorges Dam?

Streamflow and sediment loads undergo remarkable changes in worldwide rivers in response to climatic changes and human interferences. Understanding their variability and the causes is of vital importance regarding river management. With respect to the Changjiang River (CJR), one of the largest river systems on earth, we provide a...

Estuarine morphodynamic adaptation to sediment supply and human activities: A case study of turbidity maximum

Estuarine morphodynamics undergo significant changes due to declined sediment supply from river, rising sea-level, and human interferences (Syvitski and Saito, 2007; Syvitski et al., 2009). The Yangtze Estuary is such a case whose decadal morphodynamic evolution was broadly examined. It was documented that the subaqueous delta shifted from...

How important is mud transport on large scale estuarine and deltaic morphodynamics?

Sediment transport provides a critical bridge between hydrodynamics and morphodynamics. Sediment transport behaviour has obvious impacts on morphodynamic development. Long-term morphodynamic modelling enables examination of large scale morphological patterns, such as channel-shoal patterns in estuaries and deltaic channel structures. Non...