Drivers of Spatial and Temporal Dynamics in Water Turbidity of China Yangtze River Basin

The sustainable development of the water environment in Yangtze River basin has become a critical issue China. Turbidity is comprehensive element for quality monitoring. In this study, baseline turbidity was constructed using 36 years Landsat images from 1986 to 2021. spatial and temporal dynamics its driving factors were explored. results show that (i) proposed Landsat-based model performs well, with correlation coefficient (R2) 0.68 Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) 7.83 NTU whole basin. (ii) level spatially high upper reaches (41.7 NTU), low middle (30.9 higher lower (37.6 NTU). river (60.1 NTU) than lakes reservoirs (29.6 shows decreasing trend 2021, most significant decrease mainstream River. Seasonally, mean “low summer winter” trend, but opposite trends revealed first time rivers lakes, such as Dongting Lake, Poyang Taihu etc. (iii) Natural factors, including precipitation natural vegetation cover (woodlands, grasslands, shrubs) could explain 58% variations, while human activities impervious surfaces, cropland, barren land are impact. Annual negatively correlated turbidity, cropland showed positive correlation. study great practical value provides reference remote sensing monitoring inland bodies.