Modulation of sediment load recovery downstream of Three Gorges Dam in the Yangtze River

The sediment load in the Yangtze River downstream of the Three Gorges Dam (TGD) has substantially declined in recent decades. The decrease is more profound below the TGD, e.g., a 97% decrease at Yichang, compared with that at the delta apex, 1200 km downstream, e.g., a 75% decrease, implying along-river sediment recovery. Two large river...

Impact of Reduced Fluvial Sediment Supply on Saltwater Intrusion in the Yangtze Estuary

A decline of the fluvial sediment supply leads to coastal erosion and land loss. However, the fluvial sediment load may influence not only coastal morphodynamics but also estuarine hydrodynamics and associated saltwater intrusion. Previous studies revealed that suspended sediments influence estuarine hydrodynamics through various flow...