Yangtze River of China: historical analysis of discharge variability and sediment flux

Abstract

Hydrological records (covering a 100-year period) from the upper, middle and lower Yangtze River were collected to examine the temporal and spatial distribution of discharge and sediment load in the drainage basin. The Yangtze discharge, as expected, increases from the upper drainage basin downstream. Only an estimated 50% of the discharge is derived from the upper Yangtze, with the rest being derived from the numerous tributaries of the middle and lower course. However, the distribution of sediment load along the Yangtze is the reverse of that observed for discharge, with most of the sediment being derived from the upper basin. A dramatic reduction in sediment load (by ∼0.8×10 8 tons/year) occurs in the middle Yangtze because of a marked decrease in slope and the change to a meandering pattern from the upper Yangtze rock sections. Considerable siltation also occurs in the middle Yangtze drainage basin as the river cuts through a large interior Dongting Lake system. Sediment load in the lower Yangtze, while significantly less than that of the upper river, is somewhat higher than the middle Yangtze because of additional load contributed by adjacent tributaries. A strong correlation exists between the discharge and sediment load along the Yangtze drainage basin during the dry season as lower flows carry lower sediment concentration. During the wet season, a strong correlation is also present in the upper Yangtze owing to the high flow velocity that suspends sand on the bed. However, a negative to poor correlation occurs in the middle and lower Yangtze because the flow velocity in these reaches is unable to keep sand in suspension, transporting only fine-grained particles downstream. Hydrological data are treated for 30 years (1950–1980), when numerous dams were constructed in the upper Yangtze drainage basin. At Yichang and Hankou hydrological stations, records revealed a decreasing trend in annual sediment load, along with slightly reduced annual discharge at the same stations. This can be interpreted as the result of water diversion primarily for agriculture. Sediment load at Datong further downstream is quite stable, and not influenced by slightly reduced discharge. Furthermore, sediment concentration at the three hydrological stations increased, which can be attributed to sediment loss in association with intensifying human activity, especially in the upper drainage basin, such as deforestation and construction of numerous dams. Mean monthly sediment load of these 30 years pulses about 2 months behind discharge, implying dam-released sediment transport along the entire river basin during the high water stage.