Yangtze Estuary's Shrinking Sediment Threatens Coastal Communities' Future
The study analyzed runoff and sediment discharge in the Yangtze Estuary. By comparing data from two hydrological stations, researchers found a strong correlation between runoff and sediment discharge. Over recent years, the amount of sediment being carried by the river has been decreasing, while the volume of water remains relatively stable. The estuary sees more ebb tidal volume during flood periods and more flood tidal volume during non-flood seasons. Additionally, the size of suspended sediment particles is larger in the dry season compared to the flood season.