Author(s): Huaping Qi; Jianfeng Tao; Changkuan Zhang; Ya Tan
Linked Author(s): Changkuan Zhang
Keywords: No Keywords
Abstract: The Yangtze Estuary bifurcates on three-stages and enters sea with four outlets. Tide level in estuarine areas is affected by both upstream discharge and downstream tidal wave. In the past two decades, several major water conservancy projects were constructed in the upstream of Yangtze River, resulting in seasonal redistribution of the discharge in the Yangtze River into the sea. Based on the daily-averaged discharge data of Datong gauge station in the Yangtze River and Jiangyin, Xuliujing and Yanglin tide stations in the Yangtze Estuary of 1993-2009, statistical analysis is carried out on the river discharge and tide level. Non-linear relationship is established between the daily rise of tide level in estuarine tide station and the increment of discharge in Datong in both flood and dry season around the construction of the major water conservancy project. The results indicate that the water level fluctuation effect caused by discharge of Yangtze River decreases gradually from upstream Jiangyin tide station to downstream Yanglin tide station. After the construction of the major water conservancy project, the tide range decreases about 6cm in estuarine area, while the flood-tide duration increases 8 minutes and the ebb-tide duration decreases correspondingly. In the flood season, daily-averaged water level was lower than that before the operation of Three Gorges Project, while daily-averaged water level slightly increases in dry season. Meanwhile, the highest water level appears several later.
Year: 2013