Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Impact of anthropogenic drivers on subaqueous topographical change in the Datong to Xuliujing reach of the Yangtze River

  • Research Paper
  • Published:
Science China Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Changes of subaqueous topography in shallow offshore water pose safety risks for embankments, navigation, and ports. This study conducted measurements of subaqueous topography between Datong and Xuliujing in the Yangtze River using a SeaBat 7125 multi-beam echo sounder, and the channel change from 1998 to 2013 was calculated using historical bathymetry data. The study revealed several important results: (1) the overall pattern of changes through the studied stretch of the river was erosion–deposition–erosion. Erosion with a volume 700×106 m3 occurred in the upper reach, deposition of about 204×106 m3 occurred in the middle reach, and erosion of about 602×106 m3 occurred in the lower reach. (2) Dunes are the most common microtopographic feature, accounting for 64.3% of the Datong to Xuliujing reach, followed by erosional topography and flat river topography, accounting for 27.6% and 6.6%, respectively. (3) Human activities have a direct impact on the development of the microtopography. For instance, the mining of sand formed holes on the surface of dunes with lengths of 20–35 m and depths of 3–5 m. We concluded that the overall trend of erosion (net erosion volume of 468×106 m3) occurred in the study area mainly because of the decreased sediment discharge following the closure of the Three Gorges Dam. However, other human activities were also impact factors of topographic change. Use of embankments and channel management reduced channel width, restricted river meandering, and exacerbated the erosion phenomenon.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ashley G. M. 1990. Classification of large-scale subaqueous bed forms: A new look at an old problem. J Sediment Petrol, 1: 160–172

    Google Scholar 

  • Best J. 2005. The fluid dynamics of river dunes: A review and some future research directions. J Geophys Res, 110: F04S02

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barnard P L, Erikson L H, Kvitek R G. 2011. Small-scale sediment transport patterns and bedform morphodynamics: New insights from high-resolution multibeam bathymetry. Geo-Mar Lett, 31: 227–236

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen J, Wang Z B, Li M T, Wei T Y, Chen Z Y. 2012. Bedform characteristics during falling flood stage and morphodynamic interpretation of the middle-lower Changjiang (Yangtze) River channel, China. Geomorphology, 147-148: 18–26

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen J Y, Yu Z Y, Yun C X. 1959. The development of the Yangtze River Delta (in Chinese). Acta Geogr Sin, 3: 201–220

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen W M, Yang Z S, Cao L H, Guo Z G, Liu H, Du J P. 1993. Microgeomorphology on the subaqueous slope of the Changjiang River Delta (in Chinese). J Ocean Univ Qingdao, S1: 45–51

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen Z Y, Zhou C Z, Yang W D, Wu Z G. 1986. Subaqueous topography and sediments off modern Changjiang Estuary (in Chinese). Donghai Mar Sci, 2: 28–37

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheng H Q, Li M T, Zhou T Y, Xue Y Z. 2002. High-resolution microtopography movement in the Changjiang Estuary (in Chinese). China Ocean Eng, 20: 91–95

    Google Scholar 

  • Franzetti M, Le Roy P, Delacourt C, Garlan T, Cancouët R, Sukhovich A, Deschamps A. 2013. Giant dune morphologies and dynamics in a deep continental shelf environment: Example of the banc du four (Western Brittany, France). Mar Geol, 346: 17–30

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guo X J, Cheng H Q, Mo R Y, Yang Z Y. 2015. Statistical characteristics and transport law of sand waves in the Yangtze Estuary (in Chinese). Haiyang Xuebao, 37: 148–158

    Google Scholar 

  • Knaapen M A F. 2005. Sandwave migration predictor based on shape information. J Geophys Res, 110: F04S11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knaapen M A F, Hulscher S J M H, de Vriend H J, Stolk A. 2001. A new type of sea bed waves. Geophys Res Lett, 28: 1323–1326

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li B, Yan X S, He Z F, Chen Y, Zhang J H. 2015. Impacts of the Three Gorges Dam on the bathymetric ecolution of the Yangtze River Estuary (in Chinese). Chin Sci Bull, 60: 1735–1744

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu G P, Xu H, Bi J F. 2014. The analysis of sand mining and its influence to river channel evolution at Jiangsu segment in the Yangtze Estuary (in Chinese). Yangtze River, S2: 193–196

    Google Scholar 

  • Lu X J. 2016. Research on the local scour at bridge piers in the tidal reach of the Changjiang River (in Chinese). Doctoral Dissertation. Shanghai: East China Normal University

    Google Scholar 

  • Luo X X, Yang S L, Wang R S, Zhang C Y, Li P. 2017. New evidence of Yangtze delta recession after closing of the Three Gorges Dam. Sci Rep, 7: 41735

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luo Z, Cai B, Chen S L. 2016. Grain size and shape analysis of beach sediment using dynamic image analysis and comparison with sieving method (in Chinese). Acta Sediment Sin, 34: 881–891

    Google Scholar 

  • Perillo M M, Best J L, Garcia M H. 2014. A new phase diagram for combined-flow bedforms. J Sediment Res, 84: 301–313

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qian N, Wang Z H. 2003. Mechanics of Sediment Movement (in Chinese).. Beijing: Science Press. 145–189

    Google Scholar 

  • Qu G X. 2014. The characteristics and explanations of channel change in the Datong-Jiangyin reach of the lower Yangtze River: 1958–2008 (in Chinese). Doctoral Dissertation. Nanjing: Nanjing Normal University

    Google Scholar 

  • Song C C, Wang J. 2014. Erosion-accretion changes and controlled factors of the submerged delta in the Yangtze Estuary in 1982–2010 (in Chinese). Acta Geol Sin, 11: 1683–1696

    Google Scholar 

  • Schindler R J, Parsons D R, Ye L, Hope J A, Baas J H, Peakall J, Manning A J, Aspden R J, Malarkey J, Simmons S, Paterson D M, Lichtman I D, Davies A G, Thorne P D, Bass S J. 2015. Sticky stuff: Redefining bedform prediction in modern and ancient environments. Geology, 43: 399–402

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang J, Liu P, Gao Z R, Bai S B, Cao G J, Qu G X. 2007. Temporal-spatial variation of the channel in Jiangsu reach of the Yangtze River during the last 44 years (in Chinese). Acta Geol Sin, 11: 1185–1193

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang W W, Fan F X, Li C G, Yan J. 2007. Activity of submarine sand waves and seafloor erosion and deposition in the sea area to the southwest of Hainan Island (in Chinese). Mar Geol Quat Geol, 27: 23–28

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang Z, Chen Z Y, Shi Y F, Li M T, Zhang Q, Wei T Y. 2007. The fluvial bedform and hydrodynamic controls along the middle and lower Yangtze River (from Wuhan to estuary) (in Chinese). Sci China Ser DEarth Sci, 37: 1223–1234

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu J, Wang Y, Cheng H. 2009. Bedforms and bed material transport pathways in the Changjiang (Yangtze) Estuary. Geomorphology, 104: 175–184

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu S H, Cheng H Q, Li J F, Zheng S W. 2016. Recent morphological variation and micro-topography features in North Channel of the Yangtze Estuary (in Chinese). J Sediment Res, 2: 26–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu Z Y, Li J B, Jin X L, Shang J H, Li S J, Jin X B. 2014. Distribution, features, and influence factors of the submarine topographic boundaries of the Okinawa Trough. Sci China Earth Sci, 57: 1885–1896

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu Z Y, Saito Y, Zhao D N, Zhou J Q, Cao Z Y, Li S J, Shang J H, Liang Y Y. 2016. Impact of human activities on subaqueous topographic change in Lingding Bay of the Pearl River estuary, China, during 1955–2013. Sci Rep, 6: 37742

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xia J Q, Deng S S, Lu J Y, Xu Q X, Zong Q L, Tan G M. 2016. Dynamic channel adjustments in the Jingjiang Reach of the Middle Yangtze River. Sci Rep, 6: 22802

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xu Q X. 2013. Study of sediment deposition and erosion patterns in the middle and downstream Changjiang mainstream after impoundment of TGR (in Chinese). J Hydroel Eng, 2: 146–154

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang S L, Milliman J D, Li P, Xu K. 2011. 50000 dams later: Erosion of the Yangtze River and its delta. Glob Planet Change, 75: 14–20

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang S L, Milliman J D, Xu K H, Deng B, Zhang X Y, Luo X X. 2014. Downstream sedimentary and geomorphic impacts of the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River. Earth-Sci Rev, 138: 469–486

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang S L, Xu K H, Milliman J D, Yang H F, Wu C S. 2015. Decline of Yangtze River water and sediment discharge: Impact from natural and anthropogenic changes. Sci Rep, 5: 12581

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhong D Y, Wang Q X, Ding Y. 2005. Influence of sand wave migration on non-saturated suspended load transport in alluvial rivers (in Chinese). J Hydraul Engineering, 36: 1432–1438

    Google Scholar 

  • Zheng S W, Cheng H Q, Wu S H, Liu G W, Lu X J, Xu W X. 2016. Discovery and implications of catenary-bead subaqueous dunes. Sci China Earth Sci, 59: 495–502

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zheng S W, Cheng H Q, Wu S H, Shi S Y, Xu W, Zhou Q P, Jiang Y H. 2017. Morphology and mechanism of the very large dunes in the tidal reach of the Yangtze River, China. Cont Shelf Res, 139: 54–61

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhuang Z Y, Lin Z H, Zhou J, Liu Z F, Liu Y F. 2004. Environmental conditions for the formation and development of sand dunes (waves) in the continental shelf (in Chinese). Mar Geol Lett, 20: 5–10

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank the two reviewers for their insightful comments and contributions. Thanks go to Wu Shuaihu, Lu Xuejun, Luo Zhang, Cai Bing, Luo Zhifa, Zhan Jian, Dong Weili and Xu Houyong. This study was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 51761135023 & 41476075) and the China Geological Survey (Grant No. DD20160246).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China

    Shuwei Zheng, Heqin Cheng, Shengyu Shi & Wei Xu

  2. Nanjing Geological Survey Center, China Geological Survey, Nanjing, 210016, China

    Quanping Zhou & Yuehua Jiang

  3. Yangtze River Water Resources Commission, Yangtze River Hydrology and Water Resources Survey Bureau, Shanghai, 200136, China

    Fengnian Zhou

  4. Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Hydrology-Water Resources and Hydraulic Engineering, Nanjing, 210098, China

    Minxiong Cao

Authors
  1. Shuwei Zheng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Heqin Cheng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Shengyu Shi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Wei Xu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Quanping Zhou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Yuehua Jiang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Fengnian Zhou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Minxiong Cao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Heqin Cheng.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zheng, S., Cheng, H., Shi, S. et al. Impact of anthropogenic drivers on subaqueous topographical change in the Datong to Xuliujing reach of the Yangtze River. Sci. China Earth Sci. 61, 940–950 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-017-9169-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-017-9169-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation