1. School of Hydraulic Engineering, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha 410114, China 2. Key Laboratory of Water-Sediment Sciences and Water Disaster Prevention of Hunan Province, Changsha 410114, China 3. State Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China 4. Changjiang Institute of Survey, Planning, Design and Research, Wuhan 430010, China 5. Changjiang Waterway Institute of Planning, Design & Research, Wuhan 430040, China 6. School of Engineering, The University of Edinburgh, The King’s Buildings, Edinburgh EH9 3JL, UK 7. Department of Earth Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Channel evolution and depo-center migrations in braided reaches are significantly influenced by variations in runoff. This study examines the effect of runoff variations on the erosion-deposition patterns and depo-center movements within branching channels of the near-estuary reach of the Yangtze River. We assume that variations in annual mean duration days of runoff discharges, ebb partition ratios in branching channels, and the erosional/depositional rates of entire channels and sub-reaches are representative of variations in runoff intensity, flow dynamics in branching channels, and morphological features in the channels. Our results show that the north region of Fujiangsha Waterway, the Liuhaisha branch of Rugaosha Waterway, the west branch of Tongzhousha Waterway, and the west branch of Langshansha Waterway experience deposition or reduced erosion under low runoff intensity, and erosion or reduced deposition under high runoff intensity, with the depo-centers moving upstream and downstream, respectively. Other waterway branches undergo opposite trends in erosion-deposition patterns and depo-center movements as the runoff changes. These morphological changes may be associated with trends in ebb partition ratio as the runoff discharge rises and falls. By flattening the intra-annual distribution of runoff discharge, dam construction in the Yangtze Basin has altered the ebb partition ratios in waterway branches, affecting their erosion-deposition patterns and depo-center movements. Present trends are likely to continue into the future due to the succession of large cascade dams under construction along the upper Yangtze and ongoing climate change.
Annual mean duration days of runoff discharge/(days?yr−1) b)
<10,000 m3?s−1
10000–20000 m3?s−1
>50000 m3?s−1
>60000 m3?s−1
Fujiangsha
north region
2005-2007
0.650
4
170
10
0
2007-2011
-0.458
0
168
14
7
2011-2014
-0.186
0
156
14
0
south branch
2005-2007
-0.147
4
170
10
0
2007-2011
-0.314
0
168
14
7
2011-2014
-0.020
0
156
14
0
Rugaosha
middle branch
2005-2007
0.348
4
170
10
0
2007-2011
-0.603
0
168
14
7
2011-2014
-0.123
0
156
14
0
Liuhaisha branch
2005-2007
0.902
4
170
10
0
2007-2011
-0.224
0
168
14
7
2011-2014
-0.156
0
156
14
0
Tongzhousha
east branch
2005-2007
0.310
4
170
10
0
2007-2011
-0.147
0
168
14
7
2011-2014
0.024
0
156
14
0
west branch
2005-2007
-0.095
4
170
10
0
2007-2011
-0.018
0
168
14
7
2011-2014
-0.678
0
156
14
0
Langshansha
east branch
2005-2007
0.005
4
170
10
0
2007-2011
0.711
0
168
14
7
2011-2014
0.201
0
156
14
0
west branch
2005-2007
0.458
4
170
10
0
2007-2011
-0.229
0
168
14
7
2011-2014
0.767
0
156
14
0
Tab.2
Fig.7
Waterway
Branching channel
Period
Erosional/Depositional rate of upper sub-reach/(m?yr−1) a)
Erosional/Depositional rate of lower sub-reach/(m?yr−1) a)
Annual mean duration days of runoff discharges at Datong Station/(days?yr−1) b)
<10000 m3?s−1
10000–20000 m3?s−1
>50000 m3?s−1
>60000 m3?s−1
Fujiangsha
north region
2005-2007
1.083
0.212
4
170
10
0
2007-2011
-0.553
-0.359
0
168
14
7
2011-2014
-0.170
-0.211
0
156
14
0
south branch
2005-2007
0.802
-1.331
4
170
10
0
2007-2011
-0.481
-0.087
0
168
14
7
2011-2014
0.089
-0.131
0
156
14
0
Rugaosha
middle branch
2005-2007
0.091
0.820
4
170
10
0
2007-2011
-0.383
-1.023
0
168
14
7
2011-2014
-0.543
0.635
0
156
14
0
Liuhaisha branch
2005-2007
0.487
1.437
4
170
10
0
2007-2011
-0.203
-0.308
0
168
14
7
2011-2014
-0.038
-0.265
0
156
14
0
Tongzhousha
east branch
2005-2007
-0.229
0.708
4
170
10
0
2007-2011
-0.113
-0.172
0
168
14
7
2011-2014
-0.668
0.535
0
156
14
0
west branch
2005-2007
-0.260
0.036
4
170
10
0
2007-2011
0.324
-0.293
0
168
14
7
2011-2014
-1.444
-0.063
0
156
14
0
Langshansha
east branch
2005-2007
-0.579
0.778
4
170
10
0
2007-2011
0.507
0.982
0
168
14
7
2011-2014
0.588
-0.311
0
156
14
0
west branch
2005-2007
0.938
-0.122
4
170
10
0
2007-2011
-0.433
0.017
0
168
14
7
2011-2014
1.977
-0.681
0
156
14
0
Tab.3
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