Spatial and Temporal Variation in Erosion and Accumulation of the Subaqueous Yellow River Delta (1976–2004)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Xing, G. P.; Wang, H. J.; Yang, Z. S., and Bi, N. S., 2016. Spatial and temporal variation in erosion and accumulation of the subaqueous Yellow River Delta (1976–2004). Yellow River Delta (YRD), one of the most heavily human-influenced delta systems, had undergone dramatic changes since 1976. To determine the erosion and accretion pattern of the subaqueous YRD, bathometry data as well as the sediment discharge from the Lijin station over the period of 1976 to 2004 were analyzed. The erosion and accretion pattern of the subaqueous YRD was delineated by 1) the northern abandoned delta lobe, consisted of the heavily eroded Diaokou (DK) and Shenxiangou (SXG) lobes; 2) the active delta lobe, comprised of Qingshuigou (QSG) and Q8 lobes and featuring fast progradation; 3) the Laizhou Bay (LZB) with slight accumulation. Three stages were summarized based on the evolution of the northern abandoned delta lobe. During 1976–1980, the northern abandoned delta was severely eroded due to the cutoff of sediment ...