Evolution Characteristic and Reclamation Potentiality of the Muddy Coast in Jiangsu Province, China

Abstract

The study area was located in central coast of Jiangsu Province, China. The coast between Wanggang estuary and Chuandonggang estuary belonged to a typical accumulation muddy coast. When the Yellow River flowed into the Yellow Sea using the Huai River course, the coast deposited rapidly and the coastline advanced to the sea about 60 km. The deposition source stopped after the Yellow River returned to the north and flowed into the Bohai Sea. The entral coast of Jiangsu still maintained a high deposition rate in the supratidal zone because of the erosion supply of the abandoned Yellow River delta. But the subtidal zone was in the erosion state. The coast entered into the adjustment period in the 21st century and showed the equilibrium of the erosion and deposition. In recent years, the supratidal area decreased because of the reclaimation. The living space of the salt marshes was limited. The reclamation potentiality will be limited too in the future.