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Variations of Runoff and Sediment Load in the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River, China (1950-2013)

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  • Na Li
  • Lachun Wang
  • Chunfen Zeng
  • Dong Wang
  • Dengfeng Liu
  • Xutong Wu

Abstract

On the basis of monthly runoff series obtained in 1950–2013 and annual sediment load measured in 1956–-2013 at five key hydrological stations in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River basin, this study used the Mann-Kendall methods to identify trend and abrupt changes of runoff and sediment load in relation to human activities. The results were as follows: (1) The annual and flood season runoffs showed significant decreasing trends at Yichang station, and showed slight downward trends at Hankou and Datong stations, while the abrupt changes of dry season runoff at Yichang, Hankou and Datong stations occurred in about 2007 and the change points were followed by significant increasing trends. The construction of the Three Gorges Dam, which began to operate in 2003, influenced the variations of runoff in the mainstream of Yangtze River, but the effect weakened with the distance along the downstream direction from TGD. (2) Since the 1990s, annual sediment loads at Yichang, Hankou, and Datong stations have been decreasing significantly, and after 2002, the annual sediment load at Yichang dropped below that of Hankou and Datong. The dams and deforestation/forestation contributed to the significant decreasing trend of the sediment load. In addition, the Three Gorges Dam aggravated the downward trend and caused the erosion of the riverbed and riverbanks in the middle and lower reaches. (3) The runoff and sediment load flowing from Dongting Lake into the mainstream of the Yangtze River showed significant decreasing trends at Chenglingji station after 1970s, and in contrast, slight increase in the sediment flow from Poyang Lake to the mainstream of the Yangtze River at Hukou station were detected over the post-TGD period (2003–2013). The result of the study will be an important foundation for watershed sustainable development of the Yangtze River under the human activities.

Suggested Citation

  • Na Li & Lachun Wang & Chunfen Zeng & Dong Wang & Dengfeng Liu & Xutong Wu, 2016. "Variations of Runoff and Sediment Load in the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River, China (1950-2013)," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(8), pages 1-18, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0160154
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0160154
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. John D. Milliman, 1997. "Blessed dams or damned dams?," Nature, Nature, vol. 386(6623), pages 325-327, March.
    2. Christoph Humborg & Venugopalan Ittekkot & Adriana Cociasu & Bodo v. Bodungen, 1997. "Effect of Danube River dam on Black Sea biogeochemistry and ecosystem structure," Nature, Nature, vol. 386(6623), pages 385-388, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jilong Chen & Xinrui Fang & Zhaofei Wen & Qiao Chen & Maohua Ma & Yuanyang Huang & Shengjun Wu & Liang Emlyn Yang, 2018. "Spatio-Temporal Patterns and Impacts of Sediment Variations in Downstream of the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-17, November.
    2. Huanyang Zhou & Zhaoli Wang & Xushu Wu & Yuhong Chen & Yixuan Zhong & Zejun Li & Jiachao Chen & Jun Li & Shenglian Guo & Xiaohong Chen, 2019. "Spatiotemporal Variation of Annual Runoff and Sediment Load in the Pearl River during 1953–2017," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-20, September.

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