Severely Declining Suspended Sediment Concentration in the Heavily Dammed Changjiang Fluvial System

As a key component of global change, dam-induced sediment reduction occurs in large rivers worldwide, which has profound implications on the fluvial systems. However, systematic change suspended concentration (SSC) and its dynamic processes are not well known. We summarize typical SSC changes propose new modeling framework for heavily dammed systems with Changjiang (Yangtze River) as background. find that declined by an order magnitude, i.e., from ?1.0 to ?0.1 kg/m3, even ?0.01 kg/m3 locally. The distribution pattern along mainstream changed remarkably, source/sink being partially reversed. Downstream Three Gorges Dam, recovery capacity gradually decreases erosion quantity accumulated over time, contribution rate linked lake (Dongting) will negative (ca. ?39%) positive 17%), coming decades.