Morphodynamic changes in the Yangtze Estuary under the impact of the Three Gorges Dam, estuarine engineering interventions and climate-induced sea level rise

The estuarine turbidity maximum (ETM) in the Yangtze Estuary Delta (YED) is muddy by definition and lacks bottom undulations. However, since 2013, a remarkable change has occurred YED. Recent images detected multibeam echosounder system, SeaBat 7125, for first time have confirmed widespread regions of subaqueous dunes ETM channel. This abnormal result morphodynamic transformation from combination an abrupt decline sediment supply resulting construction Three Gorges Dam (TGD) hydrodynamic changes caused sea level rise. latter includes anthropogenic-induced rises (from land subsidence coastal engineering) 7–37 cm climate-induced rise 8 during past four decades. Obvious evidence tidal amplification, i.e., 10–28 range, 42–65 lowest dry season, 45–67 highest flood season 10–30% increase amplitude major component. These findings will likely global implications formulating strategies to combat superimposed effects human interventions climate on upstream river downstream developments.