Development of the Yangtze and Yellow River estuaries during the Holocene

Abstract

As is well known, sea-level first rose and then entered a phase of relative quiescence during the postglacial period. The transgressive sedimentary sequences of the early Middle Holocene, and the regressive sedimentary sequences of the mid-Late Holocene are widely distributed in the estuarine and deltaic areas of the world, forming a transgressionregression sedimentary cycle. However, the thickness and the sedimentary fill was different in areas of different initial relief. The model of estuary and delta development varies with both boundary and dynamic conditions. The Yangtze and Yellow River estuaries are of two different types and may be considered typical of large estuaries throughout the world.