Long-term variations in river and sea factors responsible for the hydrological regime and morphological structure of the Thames River mouth area

General geographic features of the Thames River, its basin, and mouth area, consisting of the tidal mouth reach of the river, a large estuary, and an open nearshore zone of the river mouth (the North Sea coastal zone) are discussed. The peculiarities of river and sea hydrological factors responsible for the regime of the Thames River mouth area are described in detail. Characteristics of the river water runoff were specified and supplemented by the data on the river inundations in the area of London. Particular emphasis was placed on variations in the mean sea level in the area of the Thames River mouth as well as on specific features of tides and storm surges in the area of the sea inlet into the estuary. Main regularities in the estuary evolution during Holocene and present-day morphological processes in the Thames River mouth area were revealed.     

Water and sediment dynamics in the estuary and mouth area of the Seine River

The principal features of the hydrological regime of the Seine River mouth area are discussed. Attention is focused on studying the dynamics of water and sediments in the estuary of the Seine River and in its tidal mouth area under the combined effect of seasonal variations in river runoff and tides. The history of development and improvement of the estuary is described.     

Hydrological-morphological processes in the mouth area of the Orinoco (Venezuela)

The peculiarities of the hydrological regime of the Orinoco River and the coastal zone of the Atlantic Ocean that affect the hydrological-morphological processes in the mouth area of the Orinoco River are considered. The major features of the delta water regime, including its inundation, runoff distribution over the delta branches, water and sediment balance, and the processes of river and sea water mixing are described. Special attention is paid to the morphological processes at the Orinoco mouth (delta evolution and modern processes at its coastline).     

Delta formation processes at the Mississippi River mouth

Specific processes of delta formation at the Mississippi River mouth are discussed. In the last 7000–8000 years, a series of large deltaic lobes was formed in succession at the Mississippi River mouth under the condition of high river sediment runoff and stabilization of the ocean level after its sudden postglacial rise. In the mid-XX century, the formation of a new deltaic lobe began at the Atchafalaya Branch mouth. Over the last centuries, the processes of delta formation at the Mississippi River mouth slowed down as a result of the river sediment runoff decrease after flow regulation of the Missouri and Arkansas tributaries; in some parts of the deltaic plain, these processes gave way to degradation of marshes and seashore erosion under the impact of intense land subsidence. The current processes of delta formation are under the great influence of local economic activities.     

Hypersalinization of river estuaries in West Africa

Regularities in processes of seawater intrusion into the rivers of Senegal, Saloum, Gambia, and Casamance in West Africa are analyzed. The seawater intrusion during the low-flow period, which is a common phenomenon for the lower reaches of these rivers, has taken on extreme features in the course of the severe drought that occurred in West Africa in the 1970s–1980s. The processes of progressing water salinization in estuaries under the impact of drastic reduction of atmospheric precipitation and river runoff, considerable evaporation water losses, and tides are described. Due consideration is given to the unique hydrological phenomenon, i.e., the so-called reverse estuary. The Senegal River mouth is taken as a case study of cyclic variations in runoff, water salinity, and distance of saltwater penetration into the river. Certain environmental consequences of water salinization are discussed using the Casamance River estuary as an example. Methods used in Africa to prevent seawater intrusion and salinization of estuaries harmful for the environment and economy are described in this article.     

Hydrological Regime and Morphodynamics of the Yangtze River Mouth Area

The features of the hydrological regime, modern morphological structure, fluviomorphological processes, and the history of formation of the Yangtze River mouth area are discussed. The influence of the huge river water and sediment runoff and tides on the hydrological and morphological processes in the Yangtze River mouth is shown. The possible impact of construction of the large waterworks Three Gorges on the hydrological and morphological processes in the Yangtze River mouth is roughly evaluated.     

Hydrological processes at an Arctic river mouth: Case study of the Colville River, Alaska, USA

Data on the Colville River mouth (Alaska, USA) are used to discuss the regularities in hydrological processes taking place in river mouth areas, functioning under extreme arctic conditions. Seasons and periods are recognized in the annual cycle of the Colville river mouth hydrologic regime. A thick ice cover commonly forms in winter in the river, its delta distributaries, and the offshore zone. Water salinity in under-ice water in the distributaries and near-delta river reach appreciably increases in late winter. The spring flood is very short; in this period, snowmelt water propagates toward the ocean first over ice and next under it. A wedge of freshened waters forms in the nearshore zone above fast ice. River runoff abruptly drops in the summer-autumn low-water period. The morphological processes in the distributaries and some ecological conditions in the delta are also discussed.     

Hydrological processes in the mouth area of the Hong Ha (Red River)

The main features of hydrological processes taking place in the mouth area of the Hong Ha River in Vietnam are considered. The geographic and hydrological conditions in the Hong Ha River basin and in its receiving water body—the Gulf of Tonkin, South China Sea—are briefly characterized. The main features of the mouth area of the Hong Ha River as a specific geographic object are identified. The hydrological regime of the delta and the nearshore zone of the Hong Ha River are described in detail. Water balance of the delta, runoff water levels and delta inundation, water and sediment runoff distributions over delta branches, and the effect of tides, typhoons, and storm surges on delta regime are considered. Present-day problems of the use and protection of natural resources at the Hong Ha River mouth are briefly discussed.     

Hydrological and morphological processes in the mouth area of the Columbia River (United States) and their changes under the impact of large-scale hydroengineering works

The main hydrological and morphological features of the Columbia River mouth area, including its tidal estuary, are discussed. Close attention is given to the characteristics of large-scale hydraulic projects in the river basin as well as to dredging and channel training operations in the river mouth area and to the assessment of the impact of these operations on hydrological and morphological processes. Variations in the regime of river flow after its regulation, processes of dynamic interaction and mixing of river and sea water in the estuary are characterized. Changes of the mouth bar and sea coasts near the Columbia River mouth as a result of construction of stream-training jetties are discussed.     

Modeling of ice phenomena in the mouth of the Vistula River

The mouth of the Vistula River, which is a river outlet located in tideless area, is analyzed. The Vistula River mouth is a man-made, artificial channel which was built in the 19th century in order to prevent the formation of ice jams in the natural river delta. Since the artificial river outlet was constructed, no severe ice-related flood risk situations have ever occurred. However, periodic ice-related phenomena still have an impact on the river operation. In the paper, ice processes in the natural river delta are presented first to refer to the historical jams observed in the Vistula delta. Next, the calibrated mathematical model was applied to perform a series of simulations in the Vistula River mouth for winter storm condition to determine the effects of ice on the water level in the Vistula River and ice jam potential of the river outlet.     

Water and sediment dynamics at Saint Lawrence River mouth

The main features of the hydrological regime and morphological structure of the estuarine-type mouth area of the Saint Lawrence River are considered. Data on the structure of water masses, thermal and ice regimes in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, which has a significant effect on the estuary, are given. The major attention is paid to water mixing processes, water and sediment dynamics in the estuary under the joint effect of river runoff and tides, and as a function of bed topography. The parameter determining the type of water stratification and circulation is discussed. The effect of the Coriolis force on the stratified flow in the estuary and formation of the geostrophic current is discussed.     

Hydrological and Morphological Processes in the Kura River Delta

Peculiarities of the development of the Kura Delta over the last 200 years are discussed. As shown, changes in the delta were greatly affected by the Caspian Sea level drop during 1929–1977 and its rise during 1978–1995 as well as by natural and human-induced variations in the water and sediment runoff of the river. It was noted that the delta area decreased by nearly 40% as a result of the sea level rise. The following significant changes in the Kura Delta were revealed in recent years using space images: river water rushed through the right mouth spit and, hence, the main Southeastern Branch was devoid of its flow and a new sea spit began its formation in the branch mouth using wave-cut products.     

Many-year variations in river delta structures

Data on several river deltas are used to analyze the regularities in their dynamics in the context of variations of water and sediment runoff, sea level, and hydroengineering activities in delta areas. The basis for this analysis includes the results of many-year studies of river deltas in Russia and the world. The specific features of the evolution of the structure and morphometry of bayhead deltas, forming in bays, lagoons, and estuaries are shown in the case of the Alikazgan delta in the Terek mouth area and the deltas of two watercourses in the Mississippi mouth area. Data on many-year variations of the morphometric characteristics of modern protruding deltas in open coastal zones are systematized, and the factors that have an effect on these changes are analyzed. The types of delta formation processes and the types of deltas are considered with regard to the factors involved. The majority of modern river deltas are found to slow down their progradation into seas under the effect of anthropogenic runoff decline; moreover, some deltas have started retreating and degrading.     

Specific features of hydrological and morphological processes in the mouth area of the Mekong River

The geographical and hydrological features of the Mekong River basin and the nearshore zone of the South China Sea, which influence the hydrological regime of the Mekong River mouth, are discussed. Detailed characteristics are provided for the drainage system of the Mekong River mouth area, water flow distribution among the delta branches, processes of the delta submergence during floods, as well as propagation of tidal, surge-induced level fluctuations and seawater intrusion into the river. Regularities of the Holocene evolution of the Mekong River mouth area and recent processes of delta formation are also discussed.     

Water and sediment runoff at the Amazon River mouth

The regime and budget of water and sediment runoff in the mouth area of the Amazon River are discussed. New values of the water and sediment runoff at the terminal cross section (the town of Obidos) and at its outflow into the Atlantic Ocean have been obtained on the basis of observational data. It turned out that the water runoff value was markedly higher and the sediment runoff value was lower than it had been considered previously.     

Hydrological and morphological processes at the Zhujiang River mouth area, China

Hydrological and morphological processes in the Zhujiang River (Pearl River) mouth area of China are discussed. The hydrological regime of the Xijiang River, which is the largest river of South China and the main source of water inflow into the Zhujiang mouth area, is described. The basic features of the hydrological regime of the delta and the near-shore zone of the Zhujiang River mouth are characterized, much attention being given to the role of tides and mixing of river and sea water in the hydrological regime. Special emphasis is placed on morphodynamic processes at the mouth area and the history of the Zhujiang Delta evolution.     

Interaction of tides and storm surges at the Elbe River mouth

The main regularities in the interaction of tides and storm surges at river mouths are discussed. A study of the Elbe River mouth area is used to describe the processes of interaction of the eustatic sea level rise, tides, surges, and river flow and special features of formation of maximum water levels. As shown, the intensification of cyclonic activity over the Northern Atlantic in the second half of the XX century resulted in more frequent extremely high storm surges at the Elbe River mouth. An assessment is given for possible changes in the regime of tides and surges at the Elbe River mouth in the XXI century, which may be caused by the acceleration of the eustatic sea level rise. The impact of local hydraulic engineering works (diking, dredging, and channel straightening) on maximum water levels within the town of Hamburg is analyzed.     

River and sea water interaction and delta formation in tidal mouth area of the Fraser River (Canada)

The history of studies and development of water resources of the Fraser River (Canada) and its mouth area is presented. The history of the Fraser River delta development and the hydrologomorphological processes that occur at this delta are discussed. Close attention is given to the analysis of processes of dynamic interaction and mixing of river and sea water under the joint impact of river flow and tidal fluctuations.     

Changes of flow regimes and precipitation in Huai River Basin in the last half century

Huai River Basin, as the sixth largest river basin in China, has a high‐regulated river system and has been facing severe water problems. In this article, the changing patterns of runoff and precipitation at 10 hydrological stations from 1956 to 2000 on the highly regulated river (Shaying River) and less‐regulated river (Huai River) in the basin are evaluated at the monthly, seasonal and annual scales using the Mann–Kendall test and simple linear regression model. The results showed that: (1) No statistically significant trends of precipitation in the upper and middle Huai River Basins were detected at the annual scale, but the trend of annual runoff at Baiguishan, Zhoukou and Fuyang stations in Shaying River decreased significantly, whereas the others were not. Moreover, the decreasing trends of runoff for most months were significant in Shaying River, although the trend of monthly precipitation decreased significantly only in April in the whole research area and the number of months in the dry season having significantly decreasing trends in runoff was more than that in the wet season. (2) The rainfall–runoff relationship was significant in both highly regulated river and less‐regulated river. In regulated river, the reservoirs have larger regulation capacity than the floodgates and thus have the smaller correlation coefficient and t‐value. In Huai River, the correlation coefficients decreased from upper stream to downstream. (3) The regulation of dams and floodgates for flood control and water supply was the principal reason for the decreasing runoff in Huai River Basin, although the decreasing precipitation in April in this basin was statistically significant. The findings are useful for recognizing hydrology variation and will provide scientific foundation to integrated water resources management in Huai River Basin. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.