Abstract
Because the Three Gorges Dam (TGD) has disturbed the normal hydrological regime downstream, analyzing the influence of the TGD on water level fluctuation is of great importance to ecological planning. The distribution and dynamic of the water level before and after the TGD were analyzed using frequency distribution and a complex network. Frequency distribution was unimodal before the TGD, and the peak ranged from 13–15 m. Frequency distribution was bimodal after TGD and two peaks ranged from 9–10 m and 16–17 m. The number of days when the water level was above warning level was reduced, and it was increased when the water level was below the ecological level. Further, the TGD had little effect on the number of days of rapid water level rising, which mainly existed during the flood season. However, this imposed a greater influence on the number of days of rapid water level decline, which implies a weaker intensity of the recession process, along with a longer duration. Thirdly, in winter and spring, the water level after the TGD was lower than that before the TGD by approximately 1 m. In summer, the number of days when the water level was above warning level was reduced. In autumn, the frequency distribution changed from unimodal to bimodal. The TGD has the greatest influence during the winter, which resulted in a lower water level and more severe drought.
Highlights
Wetlands are complicated and special ecosystems formed by soil, water, and organisms, and have evolved over billions of years [1,2]
The number of days when the water level was below the ecological level was significantly increased
The results suggest that the construction of the Three Gorges Dam (TGD) had little effect on the time range of rapid rising stages of the water level, which mainly existed in the flood season, despite its certain effect on the degree of rapid rising of the water level
Summary
Wetlands are complicated and special ecosystems formed by soil, water, and organisms, and have evolved over billions of years [1,2] They provide a great deal of natural resources for the survival and development of human beings [3] but are of great significance to climate regulation [4], water conservation and purification [5], the protection of biodiversity, carbon sequestration [6], and other life-support functions [7]. The construction of the TGD has brought great benefits for shipping, power generation, and flood control It has inevitably affected the hydrological regime, e.g., disturbing water discharge and the water level of downstream rivers and lakes, altering the ecosystems and posing threats to the well-being of humans.
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