Multi-year observations of near-bed hydrodynamics and suspended sediment at the core of the estuarine turbidity maximum of the Changjiang Estuary

Journal Article (2025)
Author(s)

Zaiyang Zhou (East China Normal University)

Jianzhong Ge (Institute of Eco-Chongming (IEC), East China Normal University)

Dirk Sebastiaan Van Maren (TU Delft - Environmental Fluid Mechanics, East China Normal University, Deltares)

Hualong Luan (Key Laboratory of River and Lake Regulation and Flood Control in the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Changjiang River of Ministry of Water Resources, Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute)

Wenyun Guo (Shanghai Maritime University)

Jianfei Ma (East China Normal University)

Yingjia Tao (Shanghai Investigation Design and Research Institute Co.)

Peng Xu (Zhongke Sanqing Technology Co., Ltd)

Yu Kuai (TU Delft - Coastal Engineering)

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DOI related publication
https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-17-917-2025 Final published version
More Info
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Publication Year
2025
Language
English
Journal title
Earth System Science Data
Issue number
3
Volume number
17
Pages (from-to)
917-935
Downloads counter
296
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Abstract

A comprehensive multi-year field campaign, the North Passage Channel Measurements (NP-ChaM), was designed and executed to enhance our understanding of the hydrodynamics and sediment dynamics in the North Passage, the primary navigation channel of the Changjiang Estuary, China. The NP-ChaM campaign comprised eight observational sites and spanned 50 d, distributed over 4 years, including two dry seasons and two wet seasons. A series of tripod systems, equipped with multiple instruments, were deployed on the seabed to monitor near-bed physical processes reliably.

The resulting dataset comprises the following: (i) fluid motions, encompassing pressure, flow velocity and direction (at the bottom and throughout the entire water column), and wave patterns; (ii) near-bed environmental conditions, including temperature, salinity, and turbidity (at the bottom and across a near-bed 1-meter range); (iii) supplementary meteorological data sourced from credible providers; and (iv) preliminary results from post-processing, showcasing the practical application of the data, such as lateral flows and turbulent kinetic energy characterizations.

This dataset is especially valuable due to its extensive temporal and spatial coverage, as well as the high concentrations characterizing many of the observations (from several grams per liter to tens of grams per liter). Conducted annually from 2015 to 2018, the NP-ChaM campaign facilitated detailed observations of seasonal variations in environmental conditions and associated physical processes. The eight observational sites, positioned on either side of the deep channel, enable quantifications of channel–shoal exchanges, along-channel flow dynamics, and saltwater intrusion. This dataset is suitable for advancing our understanding of along-channel and cross-channel dynamics in a channel–shoal system and for calibrating numerical models. The dataset has undergone rigorous quality control to ensure reliability and accuracy.