长江倒灌对鄱阳湖水动力特征影响的数值模拟

长江水倒灌是鄱阳湖的一个重要现象,是江湖作用的具体体现.利用环境流体动力学开源代码(EFDC)建立鄱阳湖的二维水动力模型,并借助染色剂模块和水龄模块,分析鄱阳湖全年的水动力变化过程、倒灌现象及其影响.数值模拟结果精确地验证倒灌的发生、持续时间和倒灌流量,显示倒灌时期湖区水力梯度、湖流逆向的特点.顶托作用强于鄱阳湖盆地作用时是倒灌发生的条件,通过计算倒灌发生的临界流量并与实际来流进行对比,本文提出新的倒灌判定条件,可以准确地预测倒灌和预估倒灌流量,且利用2007 2009年的测量数据验证了其可靠性.通过在赣江入流设置染色剂的方法,模拟获得2008年4次倒灌入流水体在湖区的占据面积.顶托作用和倒灌造成湖水不能外泄甚至逆流,增加湖区水体的水龄,通过数值模拟并与水力停留时间进行对比,估算出湖湖水水龄的增加时间.     

The influence of river‐to‐lake backflow on the hydrodynamics of a large floodplain lake system (Poyang Lake,China)

Backflow, the temporary reversal of discharge at the outlet of a lake, is an important mechanism controlling flow and transport in many connected river–lake systems. This study used statistical methods to examine long‐term variations and primary causal factors of backflow from the Yangtze River to a laterally connected, large floodplain lake (Poyang Lake, China). Additionally, the effects of backflow on the lake hydrology were explored using a physically based hydrodynamic model and a particle‐tracking model. Although backflow into Poyang Lake occurs frequently, with an average of 16 backflow events per year, and varies greatly in magnitude between years, statistical analysis indicates that both the frequency and magnitude of backflow reduced significantly during 2001–2010 relative to the previous period of 1960–2000. The ratio of Poyang Lake catchment inflows to Yangtze River discharge can be used as an indication of the daily occurrence of backflow, which is most likely to occur during periods when this ratio is lower than 5%. Statistical analysis also indicates that the Yangtze River discharge is the main controlling factor of backflow during July to October, rather than catchment inflows to the lake. Hydrodynamic modelling reveals that, in general, backflow disturbs the normal northward water flow direction in Poyang Lake and transports mass ~20 km southward into the lake. The effects of backflow on flow direction, water velocities and water levels propagate to virtually its upstream extremity. The current study represents a first attempt to explore backflow and causal factors for a highly dynamic floodplain lake system. An improved understanding of Poyang Lake backflow is critical for guiding future strategies to manage the lake, its water quality and ecosystem value, given proposals to modify the lake–river connectivity. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

长江倒灌对鄱阳湖水文水动力影响的数值模拟

倒灌是发生在湖泊与周围水体交汇处的一个重要物理过程,对湖泊水文水动力与水环境带来严重影响或干扰,进而对湖泊水质产生重要的影响或控制作用.本文采用统计方法和二维水动力-粒子示踪耦合模型来分析倒灌物理成因、倒灌发生判别与指示以及倒灌对鄱阳湖水文水动力的影响.统计表明,流域"五河"入湖径流、长江干流径流情势以及两者叠加作用均是倒灌的影响因素,但长江干流径流情势是影响或者控制倒灌频次与倒灌强度的主要因素."五河"来水与长江干流的流量比可用来判别与指示倒灌发生与否.当流量比低于约5%时,倒灌可能发生且最大发生概率可达25%;当流量比高于10%时,倒灌发生概率则低于2%.水动力模拟结果表明,倒灌对湖区水位与流速的影响向湖区中上游逐渐减弱,湖泊水位和流速受影响最为显著的区域主要分布在贯穿整个湖区的主河道,而浅水洪泛区的水位和流速则受倒灌影响相对较小.倒灌使得湖泊空间水位提高约0.2~1.5 m,湖泊主河道的流速增加幅度可达0.3 m/s.粒子示踪结果表明,倒灌导致湖区水流流向转变约90°~180°,倒灌导致的水流流向变化能够使湖区大部分粒子或物质向上游迁移约几千米至20 km,且粒子在下游主河道的迁移距离要明显大于中上游洪泛区.     

Lake flooding sensitivity to the relative timing of peak flows between upstream and downstream waterways: A case study of Poyang Lake,China

The relative timing of peak flows (RTPF) from tributaries has significant influence on flood occurrence at their confluence. This study is aimed at (1) analysing the characteristics of the RTPF of the 5 recharging rivers in the Poyang Lake catchment and the Yangtze River during the period of 1960–2012, and (2) employing a physically‐based hydrodynamic model (MIKE 21) to quantify the effects of RTPF on flood behaviour in the Poyang Lake (the largest freshwater lake in China). The results show that short RTPF, or close occurrence of peak flows, triggers flood in the Poyang Lake more easily. More than 75% of total flood events in the study period occurred with RTPF less than 60 days, and more than 55% of the events occurred with RTPF less than 30 days. The hydrodynamic simulation revealed that the date of flood peak in the lake was postponed by 4–7 days and the flood stage raised by 0.69 m because of the delay of peak flows from the upstream rivers/tributaries. On the other hand, earlier start of the Yangtze River peak flow led to flood peak in the lake 6–13 days earlier. Additionally, the duration of high lake water levels was extended by 9–12 days when the RTPF shortened, and the flood hydrograph of the Poyang Lake changed from a flat to a flashy type. These results indicate that an enlarged RTPF between the upstream rivers and the Yangtze River could be an effective way to prevent flood disasters in the Poyang Lake, a method apparently being adopted in the operation of the Three Gorges Dam. The RTPF should be considered and integrated when developing flood prevention and management plans in the Poyang Lake, as well as in other similar regions in the world.     

鄱阳湖入湖、出湖污染物通量时空变化及影响因素(2008-2012年)

研究鄱阳湖入、出湖污染物通量是加强鄱阳湖及长江水功能区限制纳污红线管理的前提,是建立鄱阳湖水质预测模型的基础.基于2008-2012年鄱阳湖8条主要入湖河流、出湖口的逐月水量、水质同步监测资料,根据污染源特征优选算法,计算总磷(TP)、氨氮(NH3-N)、高锰酸盐指数(CODMn)的入、出湖污染物通量,并分析时空变化特征及影响因素.结果表明:(1)出湖口和乐安河入湖口断面的NH3-N、TP及昌江入湖口断面的TP,以点源污染为主,采用每月瞬时通量作为月平均通量的算法更准确;其余以非点源污染为主,采用瞬时污染物浓度与月平均流量之积来计算月平均通量更准确.(2)2008-2012年CODMn、NH3-N和TP年平均人湖通量分别为304398、53063和9175 t,年平均出湖通量分别为367436、45814和8452t.8条入湖河流每年的入湖水量、CODMn通量和个别年份的NH3-N、TP通量小于出湖,这主要是因为未计算区间产流及相应排污和采砂引起的内源污染.(3)入、出湖污染物通量在年际间主要受水量影响而呈现W型波动变化趋势,CODMn、NH3-N、TP入湖通量及CODMn出湖通量均集中在汛期,NH3-N、TP出湖通量则是冬季较多(低水位下湿地植被净化作用受限).入湖TP、NH3-N、CODMn通量主要来自赣江、信江、乐安河,而NH3-N、TP浓度最高的是乐安河、信江.     

鄱阳湖湖口、外洲、梅港三站水沙变化及趋势分析(1955-2001年)

对鄱阳湖流域三个主要控制站湖口、外洲和梅港多年(1955-2001年)水沙数据进行了统计分析,利用滑动平均法,Spearman秩次相关检验、线性回归检验方法对三个测站的水沙变化趋势进行了分析检验,结果表明,鄱阳湖泥沙出湖集中于长江大汛前的2-6月,在长江7-9月大汛期间,会出现长江泥沙倒灌鄱阳湖的情况．湖口站近期(1990-2001年)径流量和输沙量变幅都非常大,同上世纪80年代相比,年均径流量增加255．3×10~8 m~3．年均减少沙量0．29×10~8 t;外洲站近期的输沙量明显减少,沙量分别为70年代前、70年代、80年代的49．6%、48．7%和52．3%;梅港站径流量略微增加沙量无明显变化趋势．从入湖径流来看,赣江和信江占52．4%,入湖泥沙量占了76．0%以上．从赣江和信江水沙总体变化趋势来看,赣江径流量变化趋势不明显,而输沙量具有明显减少的趋势;信江径流量增加趋势明显,输沙量基本无明显趋势．鄱阳湖流域水沙变化主要受人类活动的影响．土地利用方式的改变和流域水利工程设施的修建极大地影响了流域水沙特征及其变化趋势．     

鄱阳湖泄流能力分析

鄱阳湖近年低枯水位频繁发生,引起了人们广泛的关注.鄱阳湖作为吞吐型湖泊,通过狭长的湖口水道与长江自然相通,其水力特性直接影响着长江与鄱阳湖的相互作用关系.基于水力学方法,提出湖泊泄流能力的概念,并采用湖泊水文观测数据,研究了鄱阳湖的泄流能力特征及其近年的演变过程.结果表明,2000s之前鄱阳湖泄流能力基本维持不变,之后迅速提高,近年开始趋于稳定.泄流能力的显著提高改变了鄱阳湖与长江相互作用的水力特性,从而影响了鄱阳湖的水量平衡,加剧了近年枯水情势.研究表明,大规模采砂是鄱阳湖泄流能力变化的主因,应加强鄱阳湖采砂管理.     

基于长短时记忆神经网络的鄱阳湖水位预测

湖泊水位是维持其生态系统结构、功能和完整性的基础.鄱阳湖受流域"五河"和长江来水双重影响,水位变化复杂.为了准确预测鄱阳湖水位变化,采用长短时记忆神经网络方法(LSTM)构建了鄱阳湖水位预测模型.该模型以赣江、抚河、信江、饶河和修水"五河"入湖流量和长江干流流量作为输入条件,预测鄱阳湖湖区不同代表站(湖口、星子、都昌、吴城和康山)的水位过程.研究以1956—1980年的水文时间序列数据作为训练集,1981—2000年作为验证集,探讨了LSTM模型输入时间窗、隐藏神经元数目、初始学习率等模型参数对预测精度的影响,并确定了鄱阳湖水位预测模型的最优参数.结果表明,采用LSTM神经网络方法可基于流域"五河"和长江来水量历时数据合理预测鄱阳湖不同湖区的水位过程,五站水位预测的均方根误差为0.41～0.50 m,纳什效率系数和决定系数达0.96～0.98.为考察模型训练数据集对鄱阳湖水位预测结果的影响,进一步选取了随机5年(1956—1960年)的资料和5个典型水文年(1954年、1973年、1974年、1977年和1978年)的日均流量资料来训练模型.结果显示随机5年资料作为训练数据的预测精度要差于典型年水文资料训练得到的模型,尤其是洪、枯水位的预测;由于典型水文年数据量仍远低于20年的资料,故其总体预测精度要略低于采用20年资料训练的模型.建议应用这类基于数据驱动的模型时,应该尽可能多选取具有代表性的资料来训练.     

Seasonal,tidal, and geomorphic controls on sediment export to Amazon River tidal floodplains

Mainstem–floodplain material exchange in the tidal freshwater reach of major rivers may lead to significant sequestration of riverine sediment, but this zone remains understudied compared to adjacent fluvial and marine environments. This knowledge gap prompts investigation of floodplain-incising tidal channels found along the banks of tidal rivers and their role in facilitating water and suspended-sediment fluxes between mainstem and floodplain. To evaluate this role, and how it evolves along the tidal river and with time, we measured water level, flow velocity, temperature, and suspended-sediment concentration (SSC) in four tidal channels along the tidal Amazon River, Brazil. Eleven deployments were made during low, rising, high, and falling seasonal Amazon discharge. Generally, channels export high-SSC water from the mainstem to the tidal floodplain on flood tides and transfer low-SSC water back to the mainstem on ebbs. Along the length of the tidal river, the interaction between tidal and seasonal water-level variations and channel–floodplain morphology is a primary control on tidal-channel sediment dynamics. Close to the river mouth, where tides are large, this interaction produces transient flow features and current-induced sediment resuspension, but the importance of these processes decreases with distance upstream. Although the magnitude of the exchange of water and sediment between mainstem and floodplain via tidal channels is a small percentage of the total mainstem discharge in this large tidal-river system, tidal channels are important conduits for material flux between these two environments. This flux is critical to resisting floodplain submergence during times of rising sea level. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

定常风对鄱阳湖水动力的影响

鄱阳湖属大风区,风场作为仅次于流域"五河"倾泻和长江顶托作用的另一重要驱动力,或在某些时刻影响局部区域的水流结构,进而影响局部水体中泥沙、污染物、营养盐等物质的输移和扩散.基于鄱阳湖二维水动力数学模型,模拟定常风场条件下的鄱阳湖流场分布及环流形式,并与无风条件下的水流时空结构进行对比.结果表明:3.03 m/s的NE向和SSW向定常风对湖泊水位影响微弱;对流速的影响主要集中在7月中旬至9月底的"湖相"期;其影响区域主要分布在湖区中部大湖面偏西岸及东部湖湾,约占湖泊最大水面积的16%;上述区域出现明显环流,环流结构具有时空异质性特点,环流区流速普遍增至无风时的两倍以上;NE向和SSW向风场产生的环流位置相近,方向相反.相比于以往鄱阳湖水动力研究中对风场的忽略,本次研究揭示了定常风场对鄱阳湖的重点影响区域、影响程度及影响形式,可为泥沙及污染物输移模拟中对风场条件的处理及可能带来的误差与误差的空间分布提供重要依据.     

Precipitation and hydrological variations and related associations with large‐scale circulation in the Poyang Lake basin,China

Long streamflow series and precipitation data are analysed in this study with aim to investigate changing properties of precipitation and associated impacts on hydrological processes of the Poyang Lake basin. Underlying causes behind the precipitation variations are also explored based on the analysis of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) and the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) reanalysis data. Besides, water intrusion from the Yangtze River to the Poyang Lake basin is studied. The results indicate that (1) seasonal transitions of precipitation are observed, showing increasing precipitation in winter, slight increase and even decrease of precipitation in summer; (2) analysis of water vapour circulation indicates decreasing/increasing water vapour flux in summer/winter; in winter, water vapour flux tends to be from the Pacific. Altered water vapour flux is the major cause behind the altered precipitation changes across the Poyang Lake basin and (3) occurrence of water intrusion from the Yangtze River to the Poyang Lake basin is heavily influenced by hydrological processes of the Poyang Lake basin. Effects of the hydrological processes from the middle Yangtze River on the occurrence of water intrusion events are not significant. The results of this study indicate that floods and droughts should share the same concerns from the scholars and policy makers. Besides, the altered hydrological circulation and associated seasonal transition of precipitation drive us to face new challenges in terms of conservations of wetlands and ecological environment under the changing climate. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

风场对鄱阳湖丰水期表层蓝藻密度的影响

目前,在风场对蓝藻的影响研究方面,国内针对太湖、滇池、巢湖等浅水湖泊的研究较多,针对鄱阳湖的研究则多集中于蓝藻群落特征及其与营养盐之间的关系。近年来,作为长江流域重要的通江湖泊,处于轻度富营养化状态的鄱阳湖水体蓝藻水华在局部库湾和部分水域出现,风场如何影响鄱阳湖表层蓝藻密度是一个值得探讨的问题。2019-2021年,在鄱阳湖布设13~49个采样点,于平水期、丰水期和枯水期现场采集各个点位表层水样、藻类、风场和流场数据,分析风场对鄱阳湖丰水期表层蓝藻密度的影响。结果表明,2019-2021年鄱阳湖丰水期风速与表层蓝藻密度呈显著正相关性,风场对水体的充分混合及驱动水体形成的风生流是促进蓝藻生长的原因之一。在流速较高(>0.05 m/s)的区域,无论风速高于还是低于临界风速(3~4 m/s),鄱阳湖表层蓝藻密度的空间分布受流场的影响更大;在流速较低(<0.05 m/s)的区域,风速在临界风速以下时,鄱阳湖表层蓝藻密度的空间分布受风场影响更大。2019-2021年鄱阳湖丰水期蓝藻密度超过水华暴发的阈值,但在高风速高流速的共同作用下未能发生大范围的蓝藻水华,仅能在风速适宜(<3~4 m/s)、流速较低(<0.05 m/s)的内湾、尾闾区等区域发生小面积的蓝藻水华。鄱阳湖丰水期水体处于长江顶托的低流速且微风条件下时,发生大面积蓝藻水华的概率可能会明显上升。     

The influence of flow discharge variations on the morphodynamics of a diffluence–confluence unit on a large river

Bifurcations are key geomorphological nodes in anabranching and braided fluvial channels, controlling local bed morphology, the routing of sediment and water, and ultimately defining the stability of their associated diffluence–confluence unit. Recently, numerical modelling of bifurcations has focused on the relationship between flow conditions and the partitioning of sediment between the bifurcate channels. Herein, we report on field observations spanning September 2013 to July 2014 of the three‐dimensional flow structure, bed morphological change and partitioning of both flow discharge and suspended sediment through a large diffluence–confluence unit on the Mekong River, Cambodia, across a range of flow stages (from 13 500 to 27 000 m³ s^?1). Analysis of discharge and sediment load throughout the diffluence–confluence unit reveals that during the highest flows (Q = 27 000 m³ s^?1), the downstream island complex is a net sink of sediment (losing 2600 ± 2000 kg s^?1 between the diffluence and confluence), whereas during the rising limb (Q = 19 500 m³ s^?1) and falling limb flows (Q = 13 500 m³ s^?1) the sediment balance is in quasi‐equilibrium. We show that the discharge asymmetry of the bifurcation varies with discharge and highlight that the influence of upstream curvature‐induced water surface slope and bed morphological change may be first‐order controls on bifurcation configuration. Comparison of our field data to existing bifurcation stability diagrams reveals that during lower (rising and falling limb) flow the bifurcation may be classified as unstable, yet transitions to a stable condition at high flows. However, over the long term (1959–2013) aerial imagery reveals the diffluence–confluence unit to be fairly stable. We propose, therefore, that the long‐term stability of the bifurcation, as well as the larger channel planform and morphology of the diffluence–confluence unit, may be controlled by the dominant sediment transport regime of the system. © 2017 The Authors. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.     

拟建鄱阳湖水利枢纽工程对长江干流流量影响的模拟

维系江湖关系的重要基础是江湖之间的物质通量,而江湖之间物质通量的核心内容是水的通量.规划中的鄱阳湖水利枢纽工程,以"一湖清水"为建设目标,坚持"江湖两利"的原则,按"调枯不控洪"方式运行.目前,国内学者对拟建的鄱阳湖水利枢纽工程可能导致湖泊影响方面的研究较多,但对该工程能否实现或维持"江湖两利"方面的研究较少.本文采用二维水动力模型,针对拟建的鄱阳湖水利枢纽工程和规划中的水位调度方案,分别从湖泊丰水期和枯水期两个时段,选择鄱阳湖丰、平、枯3种典型年型,在无枢纽与有枢纽两种情景模拟的基础上,定量分析丰、平、枯3种典型年枢纽工程的水位调度方案对长江干流流量的可能影响.模拟结果表明:在一个鄱阳湖水利枢纽工程水位调度周期中,无枢纽状态与有枢纽情景下湖泊外排到长江干流的径流总量差异很小,从模拟的年份来看,有枢纽外排减少量在0.2%~0.7%之间变化,基本维持了有枢纽与无枢纽状态下的水量平衡,但在一定程度上改变了湖泊外排长江干流水量的分配时间,使不同年型丰水期的湖泊外排水量有所减少,而在湖泊和长江低枯水期,对长江流量则有一定的增排作用,且增排效果为枯水年型平水年型丰水年型,不同年型的增排比例在2.1%~17.0%之间变化;在丰水期湖泊水位偏低,且枢纽位置的实际水位严重不足9 m的年型情况下,按照枢纽工程的水位调度方案要在9月15日将湖泊水位提升至14~15 m是难于实现的,现有的枢纽工程调度方案在这种情况下缺乏可操作性,有进一步细化和优化的空间.     

鄱阳湖长江江豚的现状和保护展望

长江江豚(Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis)是一种小型齿鲸,仅分布在长江中下游干流和洞庭湖及鄱阳湖中,其种群数量仅约1000头,极度濒危.鄱阳湖是长江江豚最重要的栖息地之一,估算种群数量约450头,是长江江豚最后的避难所.本文系统地总结了鄱阳湖长江江豚种群生态学、保护遗传学和保护生物学的研究进展,着重探讨了各种人类活动对其种群迁移活动的影响,并对鄱阳湖长江江豚种群面临的威胁、保护对策和未来研究方向等进行了总结和展望,以期为今后的保护工作提供借鉴.     

The impact of Three Gorges Reservoir refill operation on water levels in Poyang Lake,China

The refill operation of Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) in the end of flood season significantly alters the water level regimes in Poyang Lake by reducing Yangtze River flow discharge. This study aims to investigate the impact of TGR refill operation on water level probability distribution of the Poyang Lake. The multiple linear regression model was established to estimate the water level with catchment inflow and Yangtze River flow as explanatory variables. A probability distribution of water level was derived and the refill operation effects were quantified by comparing the water level distribution at Xingzi station in the Poyang Lake before and after TGR. It is revealed that Yangtze River flow, rather than the catchment inflow is the dominant factor affecting the water level of Poyang Lake during TGR refill operation period. Results also show that the water level distribution estimated by the derived distribution method can be accepted as a theoretical distribution and has a comparable accuracy as the directly fitted distribution method before TGR. The derived method can be adapted to the environment change, thus is well suited for estimating the water level distribution after TGR. It is observed that Xingzi water levels with different design frequencies have been reduced due to the TGR refill operation. The water level reductions induced by TGR refill operation are 1.28, 0.87, and 0.50 m corresponding with design frequencies of 50, 90 and 99 %, respectively. The results from this work would improve the understanding of the TGR effects on the downstream river–lake system and provide scientific evidences for formulating better scheme for water resources management in this region.     

三峡水库175 m试验性蓄水期调度运行对洞庭湖蓄水量变化的影响

长江干流与洞庭湖存在复杂的并联型分汇关系,当三峡水库调度改变长江径流过程时,会引起洞庭湖年内槽蓄量的变化,对于洞庭湖地区防洪、水资源配置和水环境保护产生显著的影响.本文建立了枝城至螺山站的荆江-洞庭湖水流模型,利用2008-2017年的三峡水库实际调度日数据,分析有、无三峡水库调度两种情况下洞庭湖槽蓄量的变化过程,同时利用建库前和近期的水位流量关系反映河道过流能力,分析了河道调整的影响.结果表明:由河道调整引起的槽蓄量变化在汛前消落期、汛期、汛末蓄水期和枯水期分别为-3.06%、0.12%、-0.01%和-13.31%.有三峡水库影响情况下,汛前消落期由于荆江"三口"进入洞庭湖的多年平均总径流增加23.94%,洞庭湖出口处城陵矶多年平均水位升高0.53 m,阻碍了洞庭湖出流,洞庭湖多年平均槽蓄量增长13.30%;汛期由于荆江"三口"分流量减少3.54%,城陵矶水位降低0.02 m导致出湖流量增多,因此洞庭湖多年平均槽蓄量减少0.20%;在汛末蓄水期,荆江"三口"分入洞庭湖的多年平均总径流量减少37.18%,城陵矶多年平均水位降低1.33 m,导致出湖流量增多,因而洞庭湖多年平均槽蓄量减少27.74%;在枯水期,荆江"三口"多年平均总径流量增加5.61%,城陵矶多年平均水位上升0.07 m,最终洞庭湖多年平均枯期槽蓄量增加2.96%.     

Reappraisal of sediment dynamics in the Lower Mekong River,Cambodia

The Mekong Basin in southeast Asia is facing rapid development, impacting its hydrology and sediment dynamics. Although the understanding of the sediment transport rates in the Mekong is gradually growing, the sediment dynamics in the lower Mekong floodplains (downstream from Kratie) are poorly understood. The aim of this study is to conduct an analysis to increase the understanding of the sediment dynamics at the Chaktomuk confluence of the Mekong River, and the Tonle Sap River in the Lower Mekong River in Cambodia. This study is based on the data from a detailed field survey over the three hydrological years (May 2008–April 2011) at the two sites (the Mekong mainstream and the Tonle Sap River) at the Chaktomuk confluence. We further compared the sediment fluxes at Chaktomuk to an upstream station (i.e. Mukdahan) with longer time series. Inflow sediment load towards the lake was lower than that of the outflow, with a ratio on average of 84%. Although annually only a small amount of sediment load from the Tonle Sap contributes to the delta (less than 15%), its share is substantial during the February–April period. The annual sediment load transport from the confluence to the delta in 2009 and 2010 accounted for 54 and 50 Mt, respectively. This was on average only 55% of the sediment fluxes measured at Mukdahan, a more upstream station. Furthermore when compared to sediment loads further downstream at the Cambodia–Vietnam border, we found that the suspended sediment flux continued to decline towards the South China Sea. Our findings thus indicate that the sediment load to the South China Sea is much lower than the previous estimate 150–160 Mt/yr. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Spatio-temporal patterns of hydrological processes and their responses to human activities in the Poyang Lake basin,China

Abstract

Poyang Lake is the largest freshwater lake in China, and plays a major role in flood mitigation, restoration and conservation of the ecological environment in the middle Yangtze River basin. Sediment load and streamflow variations in Poyang Lake basin are important for the scouring and deposition changes of this lake. However, these hydrological processes are heavily influenced by human activities, such as construction of water reservoirs, and land-use/land cover changes. By thorough analysis of long series of sediment and streamflow obtained from five major hydrological stations, we systematically investigated the spatial and temporal patterns of these hydrological processes and the hydrological responses to human activities using the Mann-Kendall trend test, the double cumulative mass curve and the linear regression method. The results show: (1) no significant change in streamflow followed by an increasing tendency after the 1990s that turns to be decreasing about 2000; and (2) a sharp increase of sediment load during the late 1960s and 1970s triggered by extensive deforestation (during the “Cultural Revolution” in China) followed by a tendency to decrease after the early 1980s. Construction of water reservoirs has greatly reduced the sediment load of the Poyang Lake basin, and this is particularly the case in the Ganjiang River, where the sediment load changes may be attributed to the trapping effects of the Wan'an Reservoir, the largest water reservoir within the Poyang Lake basin. There is no evidence to corroborate the influence of water reservoirs on the streamflow variations. It seems that the streamflow variations are subject mainly to precipitation changes, but this requires further analysis. The current study may be of scientific and practical benefit in the conservation and restoration of Poyang Lake, as a kind of wetland, and also in flood mitigation in the middle Yangtze River basin that is under the influence of human activities.

Citation Zhang, Q., Sun, P., Jiang, T. & Chen, X.-H. (2011) Spatio-temporal patterns of hydrological processes and their hydrological responses to human activities in the Poyang Lake basin, China. Hydrol. Sci. J. 56(2), 305–318.     

Downstream effects of impounding a natural lake: the Snake River downstream from Jackson Lake Dam,Wyoming, USA

A sediment mass balance constructed for a 16‐km reach of the Snake River downstream from Jackson Lake Dam (JLD) indicates that river regulation has reduced the magnitude of sediment mass balance deficit that would naturally exist in the absence of the dam. The sediment budget was constructed from calibrated bed load transport relations, which were used to model sediment flux into and through the study reach. Calibration of the transport relations was based on bed load transport data collected over a wide range of flows on the Snake River and its two major tributaries within the study area in 2006 and 2007. Comparison of actual flows with unregulated flows for the period since 1957 shows that operations of JLD have reduced annual peak flows and increased late summer flows. Painted tracer stones placed at five locations during the 2005 spring flood demonstrate that despite the reduction in flood magnitudes, common floods are capable of mobilizing the bed material. The sediment mass balance demonstrates that more sediment exits the study reach than is being supplied by tributaries. However, the volume of sediment exported using estimated unregulated hydrology indicates that the magnitude of the deficit would be greater in the absence of JLD. Calculations suggest that the Snake River was not in equilibrium before construction of JLD, but was naturally in sediment deficit. The conclusion that impoundment lessened a natural sediment deficit condition rather than causing sediment surplus could not have been predicted in the absence of sediment transport data, and highlights the value of transport data and calculation of sediment mass balance in informing dam operations. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.