Seasonal variations of sediment discharge from the Yangtze River before and after impoundment of the Three Gorges Dam

Over the past decades, > 50,000 dams and reforestation on the Yangtze River (Changjiang) have had little impact on water discharge but have drastically altered annual and particularly seasonal sediment discharge. Before impoundment of the Three Gorges Dam (TGD) in June 2003, annual sediment discharge had decreased by 60%, and the hysteresis of seasonal rating curves in the upper reaches at Yichang station had shifted from clockwise to counterclockwise. In addition, the river channel in middle-lower reaches had changed from depositional to erosional in 2002.During the four years (2003–2006) after TGD impoundment, ~ 60% of sediment entering the Three Gorges Reservoir was trapped, primarily during the high-discharge months (June–September). Although periodic sediment deposition continues downstream of the TGD, during most months substantial erosion has occurred, supplying ~ 70 million tons per year (Mt/y) of channel-derived sediment to the lower reaches of the river. If sand extraction (~ 40 Mt/y) is taken into consideration, the river channel loses a total of 110 Mt/y. During the extreme drought year 2006, sediment discharge in the upper reaches drastically decreased to 9 Mt (only 2% of its 1950–1960s level) because of decreased water discharge and TGD trapping. In addition, Dongting Lake in the middle reaches, for the first time, changed from trapping net sediment from the mainstem to supplying 14 Mt net sediment to the mainstem. Severe channel erosion and drastic sediment decline have put considerable pressure on the Yangtze coastal areas and East China Sea.     

Chemical element transfer of weathering granite regolith in the Three Gorges Dam region of Yangtze River

Clearing up sediment and regolith on the foundation of the dam in the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River in 1999, riverbed were exposed. On the basis of weathering granite regolith sampled from different portions of the valley landforms, by analysing total chemical contents with X rays fluorescent slice and calculating proper value of chemical element transferring ratio and intensity, the transferring law of chemical elements in different portions of the landforms were concluded: 1) In various landforms of the river valley, the process of desilication is not distinct; 2) in weathering granite regolith of riverbed, easy soluble CaO and MgO are relatively enriched whereas Al2O3 tends to decrease. The enriching rate of Fe2O3 is the greatest in various landforms of the river valley; 3) in weathering granite regolith of flood-plain, K2O and MgO contents are relatively enriched; 4) the weathering granite regolith of valley slope is a typical north subtropical weathering regolith, and its chemical weathering degree is in the transition phase from early to middle period; and 5) there is an opposite layer where K2O is relatively leaching and Na2O relatively enriching in 6.5 m depth of all weathering granite regolith.     

Chemical element transfer of weathering granite regolith in the Three Gorges Dam region of Yangtze River

Clearing up sediment and regolith on the foundation of the dam in the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River in 1999, riverbed were exposed. On the basis of weathering granite regolith sampled from different portions of the valley landforms, by analysing total chemical contents with X rays fluorescent slice and calculating proper value of chemical element transferring ratio and intensity, the transferring law of chemical elements in different portions of the landforms were concluded: 1) In various landforms of the river valley, the process of desilication is not distinct; 2) in weathering granite regolith of riverbed, easy soluble CaO and MgO are relatively enriched whereas A1₂O₃ tends to decrease. The enriching rate of Fe₂O₃ is the greatest in various landforms of the river valley; 3) in weathering granite regolith of flood-plain, K₂O and MgO contents are relatively enriched; 4) the weathering granite regolith of valley slope is a typical north subtropical weathering regolith, and its chemical weathering degree is in the transition phase from early to middle period; and 5) there is an opposite layer where K₂O is relatively leaching and Na₂O relatively enriching in 6.5 m depth of all weathering granite regolith.     

Flow resistance adjustments of channel and bars in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River in response to the operation of the Three Gorges Dam

Journal of Geographical Sciences - Since the Three Gorges Dam (TGD) was put into operation, the flood water level at an identical discharge rate has not displayed a decreasing trend along the...     

Immediately downstream effects of Three Gorges Dam on channel sandbars morphodynamics between Yichang-Chenglingji Reach of the Changjiang River,China

Sandbars are of vital ecological and environmental significance, which however, have been intensively influenced by human activities. Morphodynamic processes of sandbars along the Yichang-Chenglingji Reach of the Changjiang River, the channel immediately downstream of the Three Gorges Dam (TGD), are assessed based on remote sensing images between 2000 and 2016. It can be found that the entire area of sandbars reduces drastically by 19.23% from 149.04 km² in 2003 to 120.38 km² in 2016, accompanied with an increase in water surface width. Owing to differences in sediment grain size and anti-erosion capacity, sandbar area in the upstream sandy gravel reach (Yichang-Dabujie) and downstream sandy reach (Dabujie-Chenglingji) respectively decreases by 45.94% (from 20.79 km² to 11.24 km²) and 14.93% (from 128.30 km² to 109.14 km²). Furtherly, morphological evolutions of sandbars are affected by channel type: in straight-microbend channel, mid-channel sandbars exhibit downstream moving while maintaining the basic profile; in meandering channel, point sandbars show erosion and deposition in convex and concave bank respectively, with mid-channel sandbars distributing sporadically; in bending-branching channel, point sandbars experience erosion and move downstream while mid-channel sandbars show erosion in the head part along with retreating outline. We document that the primary mechanism of sandbars shrinkages along the Yichang-Chenglingji Reach can be attributed to TGD induced suspended sediment concentration decreasing and increasing in unsaturation of sediment carrying capacity. Additionally, channel type can affect the morphological evolution of sandbars. Along the Yichang-Chenglingji Reach, sandbars in straight-microbend channel are more affected by water flow than that in bending-branching channel.     

Interacting effects of multiple factors on the morphological evolution of the meandering reaches downstream the Three Gorges Dam

Elucidating the influence of dams on fluvial processes can inform river protection and basin management. However, relatively few studies have focused on how multiple factors interact to affect the morphological evolution of meandering reaches. Using hydrological and topographical data, we analyzed the factors that influence and regulate the meandering reaches downstream the Three Gorges Dam (TGD). Our conclusions are as follows. (1) The meandering reaches can be classified into two types based on their evolution during the pre-dam period: G1 reaches, characterized by convex point bar erosion and concave channel deposition (CECD), and G2 reaches, characterized by convex point bar deposition and concave channel erosion (CDCE). Both reach types exhibited CECD features during the post-dam period. (2) Flow processes and sediment transport are the factors that caused serious erosion of the low beaches located in the convex point bars. However, changes in the river regime, river boundaries and jacking of Dongting Lake do not act as primary controls on the morphological evolution of the meandering reaches. (3) Flood discharges ranging from 20,000 to 25,000 m³/s result in greater erosion of convex point bars. The point bars become scoured if the durations of these flows, which are close to bankfull discharge, exceed 20 days. In addition, the reduction in bedload causes the decreasing of point bar siltation in the water-falling period. (4) During the post-dam period, flood abatement, the increased duration of discharges ranging from 20,000 to 25,000 m³/s, and a significant reduction in sediment transport are the main factors that caused meandering reaches to show CECD features. Our results are relevant to other meandering reaches, where they can inform estimates of riverbed change, river management strategies and river protection.     

长江三峡考古遗址文化断层研究

长江三峡考古遗址的地理位置、14C 测年数据及考古学文化年代、地面高程、文化层的连续性、文化层的埋深和厚度、文化断层的埋深和厚度等统计数据综合分析的结果表明长江三峡地区新石器时代到历史时期考古遗址沉积地层中有5 期文化断层: (1) 城背溪文化末期到大溪文化初期(7200~6000a BP); (2) 大溪文化关庙山类型三期(5800~5500a BP); (3) 夏代 (4000~3500a BP); (4) 春秋晚期至战国时期(2500~2200a BP); (5) 宋代以来(960A.D.以来)。探讨文化断层与灾变事件发生之间的关系, 从而揭示三峡地区史前和历史时期环境演变过程及其与人类活动的影响。     

长江三峡库区现代坡地剥蚀速率研究

三峡库区以山地为主 ,人口密度较大 ,三峡工程引起的移民搬迁以及经济建设的需要 ,造成坡地上人类活动强度越来越大 ,从而造成现代坡地剥蚀作用的加剧。采用简便、实用且操作方便的地貌测量方法 ,对三峡库区草堂河流域三个坡段进行了现代坡地剥蚀速率研究。结果表明 ,<15°的缓坡、15°～ 4 5°的斜坡和 >4 5°的陡坡的现代剥蚀速率分别为 4 .0、4 .9和 7.1mm/a。当地平均现代坡地剥蚀速率已达 4 .9mm/a (790 2t/km2 ·a) ,即达到强度剥蚀标准 ,未来三峡库区坡地退耕还林 (草 )以及水土保持等生态建设任务十分艰巨。     

The relationship between water level change and river channel geometry adjustment in the downstream of the Three Gorges Dam

In this study, data measured from 1955-2016 were analysed to study the relationship between the water level and river channel geometry adjustment in the downstream of the Three Gorges Dam (TGD) after the impoundment of the dam. The results highlight the following facts: (1) for the same flow, the low water level decreased, flood water level changed little, lowest water level increased, and highest water level decreased at the hydrological stations in the downstream of the dam; (2) the distribution of erosion and deposition along the river channel changed from “erosion at channels and deposition at bankfulls” to “erosion at both channels and bankfulls;” the ratio of low-water channel erosion to bankfull channel erosion was 95.5% from October 2002 to October 2015, with variations between different impoundment stages; (3) the low water level decrease slowed down during the channel erosion in the Upper Jingjiang reach and reaches upstream but sped up in the Lower Jingjiang reach and reaches downstream; measures should be taken to prevent the decrease in the channel water level; (4) erosion was the basis for channel dimension upscaling in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River; the low water level decrease was smaller than the thalweg decline; both channel water depth and width increased under the combined effects of channel and waterway regulations; and (5) the geometry of the channels above bankfulls did not significantly change; however, the comprehensive channel resistance increased under the combined effects of riverbed coarsening, beach vegetation, and human activities; as a result, the flood water level increased markedly and moderate flood to high water level phenomena occurred, which should be considered. The Three Gorges Reservoir effectively enhances the flood defense capacity of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River; however, the superposition effect of tributary floods cannot be ruled out.     

洞庭湖与长江水体交换能力演变及对三峡水库运行的响应

运用洞庭湖区与长江干流相关控制站1951-2010 年实测水文数据, 在分析江湖水力关系的基础上, 从不同时间尺度分析江湖水体交换能力的演变特征及其对三峡水库运行的响应。结果表明:① 7-9 月长江荆南三口对洞庭湖的补给能力较强, 1-3 月洞庭湖对长江的补给能力较强;② 江湖水体交换系数具有明显的年代际波动, 其中1951-1958 年、1959-1968 年荆南三口对湖泊的补给能力较强, 而2003-2010 年湖泊对长江的补给能力增强;③ 三峡水库运行后无论是典型年还是在水库不同调度方式运行期, 三口分泄能力减弱, 入湖水量减少, 而因四水入湖水量占绝对优势, 湖泊对长江的补给能力明显增强;④ 尽管影响江湖水体交换能力的因素极为复杂, 但从总体上讲, 除受流域降水波动影响外, 江湖水体交换能力在不同时间尺度上的演变特征及其过程均随着江湖水体交换量的变化而变化, 说明江湖水体交换能力强度与江湖水体交换量之间存在着彼此消长的关系。     

三峡工程对长江三峡旅游空间格局的影响

该文分析三峡工程对长江三峡旅游资源、旅游交通和旅游线路变化的影响 ,指出三峡工程是促进长江三峡旅游空间格局演变的主导因素 ,预测长江三峡旅游空间格局演变趋势 ,针对即将产生的长江三峡旅游空间新格局 ,提出若干对策建议。     

长江三峡水库消落区保护利用研究

阐述了长江三峡水库消落区概况及其保护利用的意义和目的,分析了消落区存在的主要问题,提出了三峡水库消落区保护利用的相应对策：尽快编制消落区保护利用规划,有序开展保护利用工作;尽快建立完善消落区保护利用法规,依法开展其工作;及时研究消落区保护利用作中出现的新情况及重大问题,进行理论突破、政策创新和管理创新;尽快开展消落区保护利用的科研工作,寻求科技支撑,提高其保护利用效益。     

三峡大坝下游水位变化与河道形态调整关系研究

三峡水库蓄水利用已有13年,对坝下游洪、枯水位和河道形态调整的影响已初步显现,通过对1955-2016年长江中游水位、河道地形等资料的分析,结果表明：① 坝下游各水文站同流量枯水位下降、洪水位变化不大,最低水位上升,最高水位下降趋势;② 2002年10月-2015年10月枯水河槽冲刷量占平滩河槽冲刷量的95.5%,冲淤分布由蓄水前“冲槽淤滩”转为“滩槽均冲”,不同蓄水阶段存在差异;③ 河槽冲刷过程中,上荆江及以上河段枯水位下降趋势趋缓,下荆江及以下河段下降速率增加,应采取防控措施遏制河道水位下降趋势;④ 枯水河槽冲刷是长江中下游航道水深提升的基础,枯水位降幅小于深槽下切深度,在河道和航道整治工程综合作用下航道尺度提升,提前5年实现了2020年航道尺度规划目标;⑤ 平滩水位以上河槽形态调整不大,在河床粗化、岸滩植被、人类活动等综合作用下河道综合阻力增加,出现了中洪水流量—高水位现象,应引起足够重视。三峡水库汛期调蓄作用可有效提升中下游洪水防御能力,但不排除遭遇支流洪水叠加效应,中下游洪水压力仍然较大。     

长江上游降水对三峡水库蓄水关键月入库流量的影响

论文基于长江上游271个气象站点1961—2017年逐日降水量数据及三峡水库日入库流量资料,辅以差异t检验、合成分析、相关分析和聚类分析等方法,就长江上游降水对三峡水库入库流量的影响进行了分析,结果表明：① 三峡水库蓄水期关键月的入库流量受同年8月及9月的降水影响最为明显;② 依据降水特征将长江上游进行分区的结果是在沿江及以南遵循自然流域划分,长江以北则不同,6个区分别为：I区(嘉陵江流域南部)、II区(金沙江上游、岷沱江北部、嘉陵江北部)、III区(重庆—宜昌)、IV区(乌江)、V区(宜宾—重庆)、VI区(金沙江流域中下游);③ 6个区对三峡水库蓄水关键月的入库流量贡献：I区和III区的降水量最大,汇流距离短,相较其他4个区,贡献最大;II区站点稀疏,降水量最少,汇流距离长,贡献最小;其他3个区(IV、V、VI区)贡献相近;④ 分析2003年以来蓄水期遭遇的3次流量峰值超50000 m³/s的洪水过程,其中2014年9月11—18日I区出现连续强降水,同时叠加III区过程性强降水,导致了19—20日三峡水库入库出现超过50000 m³/s的超大洪峰,证实了I区和III区降水对三峡入库流量的高贡献影响分析结论可靠,该结论也对三峡水库合理蓄水调度具有一定的参考价值。     

Quaternary sediment in the Yichang area: Implications for the formation of the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River

Sediment data from the Yichang area in the Jianghan Basin of Hubei Province in China suggest deposition in a lacustrine environment prior to 0.75 Ma, B.P., followed by incision of the Yangtze River. The earliest Quaternary Yunchi Formation accumulated in an alluvial fan to fan-delta environment. The subsequent Shanxiyao Formation was deposited in an environment that changed from fan-delta to lacustrine. The distribution of sedimentary facies suggests the presence of a lake in the Yichang area prior to 0.75 Ma, B.P. The lack of sediments contemporaneous with the Yunchi and Shanxiyao Formations in other areas of the Jianghan Basin, suggests that this ancient lake was limited to the Yichang area. This lake predates the present Yangtze River in the Yichang area and the Jianghan basin. Provenance studies of gravels in the Yunchi and Shanxiyao Formations, as well as gravels in terraces and the channel of the Yangtze River indicate a variety of sediment sources, but suggest that no material from the area west of the Three Gorges had been carried into the Yichang area prior to 0.75 Ma, B.P. The Yangtze River cut through Three Gorges area only after 0.75 Ma, B.P.     

流域侵蚀产沙人类活动影响指数研究——以长江上游为例

流域产沙是土壤侵蚀的重要反映, 受降雨等自然要素和人类活动的共同作用。采用退 耦理论的思想和差分方法推导出流域侵蚀产沙人类活动影响指数的简易估算方法, 并对长江 上游的金沙江、乌江、嘉陵江、岷江分别计算人类活动总体贡献率。结果表明, 各流域人类 活动对侵蚀产沙变化的贡献率达72%～97%,总体上属于抑制侵蚀的正向活动。长江上游输 沙量呈阶段梯级变化, 根据流域侵蚀产沙人类活动影响指数的距平累积变化的突变特征将 1955～2009年划分为5个阶段并分析了每个阶段人类活动的主要特点及其对侵蚀产沙的影响。 其中, 20世纪80年代中期以前河流输沙量较大, 主要与“一五”、“大炼钢铁”、“三线建设”、 农村改革前期不稳定因素等密切相关, 而70年代河流输沙量较小是受当时大搞农田基本建设 和采取“挑沙面土”、“边沟背沟”等传统水土保持措施的影响, 80年代中期后河流输沙量明 显减少, 主要受社会经济稳定有序发展、水保工程的实施及大兴水库建设等影响。     

Some effects of the Tiga Dam on valleyside erosion in downstream reaches of the River Kano

Some of the effects of a lower river stage on valleyside fluvial processes are examined in downstream reaches of the Tiga Dam in the Kano River basin. The focus is on valley-bottom gullies which responded clearly and quickly to the lower height of flow in the Kano River channel in these reaches. The characteristics of the valley-bottom gullies at a time before the construction of the Tiga Dam were compared with those of the same gullies when the Tiga Dam was in operation.It is clear that valley-bottom gullies along the Kano channel changed from the typical, savanna shallow types (pre-Tiga) to deeper ones (post-Tiga). For example, the depth of the gully mouth increased from 1.3 m to 2.02 m, the gullies lost their alluvial deposits on the gully floors and a dual-cycle gully shape was established. The incision was rapid and intense, lasting not more than three wet seasons.It is argued that the construction of major dams on savanna streams would usually escalate fluvial processes on the valleyside slopes downstream, and that the maintenance of perennial flow in the relevant river channel would shorten the relaxation time required for a new equilibrium to occur.     

三峡水库重庆段一级支流回水河段富营养化潜势研究

本文采用箱模型法分析三峡水库蓄水对重庆段主要一级支流回水河段富营养化的影响。结果表明,对于所预测的2010年以前的污染负荷水平,由于回水段平均水深达到15m左右,三峡水库重庆段主要支流回水段整体上不会出现富营养化现象;但对于水深小于1m的库岸附近,可能出现局部富营养化。根据日本国立公害研究所的富营养化指标的标准,当总磷(TP)浓度在0.05mg/L-0.11mg/L区间时,属于中-富营养。由于三峡水库一些支流回水段的TP浓度肯定超过0.05mg/L,虽然还达不到富营养的程度,但也已接近富营养化     

三峡库区长江阶地冲积物的年代测定

三峡库区的长江阶地是研究川江、峡江水系演变的重要证据。发育冲积物的阶地主要出现在库区西半部的川东和重庆的中低山、丘陵区,最多有6级。阶地研究中遇到的主要问题是难以确定阶地的形成时代。我们采用TL法和ESR法测量了三峡库区6个地点阶地的堆积年龄。测量数据显示,ESR法基本不适合测定三峡库区冲积物的年龄;尽管TL法本身存在缺陷,但测得的T1~T4的堆积年龄得到其他独立的测年结果的支持。阶地T1~T4的TL年龄依次为7~17 ka、28~46 ka、62~81 ka和103~105 ka。此外,根据年代地层对比的方法以及前人的古地磁测量结果,推测三峡库区第四级阶地的年龄大于101 ka,第五级阶地的年龄大于392 ka,而第六级阶地的年龄小于780 ka。从而初步建立了三峡库区阶地堆积的时间序列。     

Bank and point bar morphodynamics in the Lower Jingjiang Reach of the Yangtze River in response to the Three Gorges Project

Journal of Geographical Sciences - Geomorphic dynamics of alluvial rivers in response to upstream damming have substantial impacts on navigation, habitat protection, and channel stability. The...