The influence of the Three-Gorges Dam on hydrographic and hydrodynamic conditions of the East China Sea

A fine resolution model has been applied to get more insight into the effects of a modified runoff due to the Three-Gorges-Dam (TGD) on the East China Sea (ECS). The region of interest was confined to the offshore area in the vicinity of the Changjiang River. To the east, it extended up to the area southwest of Cheju Island. The model was used to evaluate the effect of a modified runoff on the water properties of the adjacent regions like the Changjiang diluted water (CDW) and the Zhoushan Fishing Ground. The sensitivity of the ECS to a modified Changjiang runoff was explored firstly by sensitivity studies and secondly by experiments based on historical runoff records and water management plans of the TGD. These experiments led to the general conclusion that the most affected area by runoff is located close to the Changjiang River mouth. The area of influence has an extension of about 150 km×150 km. In the realistic experiment, the related anomalies reached their maximum value in early summer (May). In normal years the related salinity anomalies can get to as large as 2.