Effects of stepwise tidal flat reclamation on tidal evolution in the East China and Yellow Sea

Abstract

Abstract Because many coastal developments have been continuously occurred in the Yellow and the East China Sea, it is necessary to analyze the effect of persistent topographic change. This study simulated the tidal change in response to stepwise tidal flat reclamation in East China and the Yellow Sea using the MOdelo HIDrodinâmico (MOHID) ocean model. Based on previous studies and historical coastal information maps, we conducted several numerical experiments with reliable coastal topography changes around two areas (Jiangsu Shoalwater and Gyeonggi Bay) from 1990 to 1994 when the most active development took place. The results show that, unlike other components (S2, O1, and K1), the simulated amplitude of the M2 constituent significantly increased with the disappearance of the tidal flat in the Yellow Sea. At the same time, it decreased in the East China Sea. These results are consistent with the quantile regression analysis using observational data. We also found an accumulating effect of tidal energy flux when the reclamation continued, which does not appear in the previous studies. These results indicate persistent man-made tidal flat reclamation in a specific area can cause more remarkable regional tidal changes through tidal energy redistribution and modification.