Morphodynamic characteristics of the dextral diversion of the Yangtze River mouth, China: tidal and the Coriolis Force controls

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)

LI, M.

State Key Lab. of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal Univ., Shangai, Chine

CHEN, Z.

State Key Lab. of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal Univ., Shangai, Chine

YIN, D.

State Key Lab. of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal Univ., Shangai, Chine

CHEN, J.

State Key Lab. of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal Univ., Shangai, Chine

WANG, Z.

State Key Lab. of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal Univ., Shangai, Chine

SUN, Q.

State Key Lab. of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal Univ., Shangai, Chine

Description :
This paper examines the morphological development of the Yangtze River mouth, which has been diverting southeasterly (dextrally), according to historical (150 years) chart-based digital evolution model and on-site measured tidal flow data. The AA. reveal a significantly narrowing of the northern river mouth branch due to rapid siltation. Their data have further demonstrated that the ebb flow that dominates in the study area changes its direction gradually from east to southeast. The AA. examine whether the Coriolis Force could explain the dextral diversion of the ebb flow and the altered morphodynamical processes. The Coriolis Force causes an offset in propagation of in-out flow directions at the river mouth area to form a slack water setting prone to estuarine siltation. Using the present approach also enables explanation of the morphological development of the Holocene Yangtze delta-coast that extends to the southeast.

Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Earth surface processes and landforms, issn : 0197-9337, 2011, vol. 36, n°. 5, p. 641-650, nombre de pages : 10, Références bibliographiques : 30 ref.

Date :
2011

Editeur :
Pays édition : Royaume-Uni, Chichester, Wiley

Langue :
Anglais