Detection of the Three Gorges Dam influence on the Changjiang (Yangtze River) submerged delta

• DOI: 10.1038/srep06600
• Publication Date: 2014-10-16T13:37:41Z
• Authors: Zhijun Dai; James T. Liu; Wen Wei; Jiyu Chen
• Keywords: Three gorges; Deposition; Yangtze river

While most large river-deltas in the world are facing risk of subsidence and erosion Anthropocene, it is suspected that Changjiang submerged delta (CSD) could be subjected to impacts world's largest dam, Three Gorges Dam (TGD). Here we firstly indicate CSD went through high accumulation (1958–1978); slight (1978–1997), (1997–2002); (2002–2009), despite 70% reduction sediment load from upstream since operation TGD 2003. Meanwhile, at depocenter delta, maintained a rate 10 cm/yr during 1958–2009. This suggests on longer term, distal source had little effect CSD. Within this time frame changes partition among branching channels Estuary likely control shifting decadal scale. Episodic extreme floods storm surges also increased magnitude deposition short-term scales. A re-evaluation urgently needed.