Boosting riverine sediment by artificial flood in the Yellow River and the implication for delta restoration

Abstract

Due to accelerated river-derived sediment deficits, global deltas are presently under an increasing risk of being submerged. To address the fundamental need to save Earth's deltas, boosting riverine sediment supply can be considered a reasonable option, but only if the new supply of sediment is prolonged and greater than the opposing forces: sea level rise, delta subsidence and compaction, and ocean energy. In July 2018, an artificial flood with a peak discharge of 3780 m3/s was released from the Xiaolangdi Reservoir, the last reservoir located on the mainstream of Yellow River, China. From July 03 to July 29, 412 million tons (Mt) of sediment was discharged out of the dam, including 240 Mt. that was previously sequestered within the reservoir. During this event, 140 Mt. of the escaped sediment directly reached the estuary. A total of 245 Mt. of sediment was deposited along the lower river channel bed, of which 83.6 Mt. was eroded once again and transported to the sea in the subsequent five months. This dam-released pulse, coupled with channel diversion and tidal shear fronts, nourished the deltaic area. New land was built, with the submarine offshore gaining up to 2.6 m in seafloor shoaling. Sediment impounded behind the dam, if properly released, could thus become a potential savior for sediment-starved deltas.