Response of Fresh Water Distributions on Abrupt Changes of Topography in the Pearl River Networks of China

Shousheng Mu,Yong He,Zhenjun He,Bo Su,J.W Gu,X.L Chen,E.H Liu

doi:10.1051/matecconf/20152501004

Abstract

A 2-D numerical model was used to study the response of fresh water transports and distribu- tions on the abrupt changes of topography in the Pearl River Networks (RNPRD). The results indicate that both the tidal forces in Jiaomen and Humen and the runoff power in Modaomen are intensified, which leads to a fresh water movement from the northeast to the southwest side of the West and North River Delta Networks. However, the water distributions in the East River Delta Networks remain almost the same. The residual currents in the RNPRD decreased dramatically in the West and North River Delta Networks due to the increasing volume of the river channels. This decreasing trend was intensified in the North River Main Channel due to the annual water discharge redistribution in the RNPRD.

Highlights

The Pearl River Network (RNPRD) is the world’s most complicated tidal river network system located in the northern continental shelf of the South China Sea (CSC, Figure 1). Anthropogenic impacts such as sand excavation and waterway regulation have greatly changed the morphology of the Pearl River Delta (PRD), resulting in a severe and uneven river-bed down cutting in the entire Pearl River Network (RNPRD) during the past 20 years
The fresh water distributions in the Pearl River Network (RNPRD) under different topographies were investigated with a 2-D numerical model, which covered the entire Pearl River Delta
The model results show that the severe river-bed down cutting occurred in the entire PRD, the water redistribution in the RNPRD is totally different in space and time

Summary

Introduction

The Pearl River Network (RNPRD) is the world’s most complicated tidal river network system located in the northern continental shelf of the South China Sea (CSC, Figure 1) Anthropogenic impacts such as sand excavation and waterway regulation have greatly changed the morphology of the Pearl River Delta (PRD), resulting in a severe and uneven river-bed down cutting in the entire Pearl River Network (RNPRD) during the past 20 years. The fresh water transports and distributions in the RNPRD have changed

Methods

Results

Conclusion