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Influence of the Three Gorges Dam on downstream delivery of sediment and its environmental implications, Yangtze River
Author(s) -
Yang S. L.,
Zhang J.,
Xu X. J.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2007gl029472
Subject(s) - estuary , sediment , progradation , hydrology (agriculture) , environmental science , delta , three gorges , erosion , yangtze river , sedimentary budget , river delta , inlet , geology , oceanography , sediment transport , geomorphology , sedimentary depositional environment , china , geography , geotechnical engineering , archaeology , structural basin , aerospace engineering , engineering
Water and sediment supplies from ungauged areas were calculated and combined with datasets from gauging stations to establish sediment budgets. Using sediment budgets and regression relationships, the influence of the Three Gorges Dam (TGD) on downstream delivery of sediment was quantified. We found that 151 mt/yr (1 mt = 10 6 tons) of sediment has been retained by TGD since it began operation (2003–2005). In response to this, significant erosion has occurred in the downstream riverbed. This erosion did not offset the sediment lost in the reservoir, and the sediment flux into the estuary decreased by 85 mt/yr (31%). This decrease has lead to conversion from progradation to recession in the delta front. In combination with other anthropogenic impacts, TGD was expected to decrease the sediment flux into the estuary for centuries, which is of great importance for delta ecosystem and human development.