Effects of Human Activity on the Evolution of the Yangtze Estuary During the Last 20 Years

The Yangtze River Estuary has been the scene of intense human activity in the past two decades. A large number of projects have been implemented to develop waterways and ports, construct bridges, reclaim land, and build reservoirs. During this time, an abundance of monitoring data has been collected. Human activity in natural estuaries often have two major consequences: (1) the dynamic features of the estuary undergo transformation; and (2) engineering activities will change the natural morphology of the ecosystem, harming the integrity of the estuary. Consequently, human activity may lead to the development of a different ecosystem, including the complete filling of waterways with silt, causing serious environmental impacts. This study focuses on the process of the morphological evolution of the Yangtze Estuary. The goal of the present study is to improve our fundamental knowledge of small-scale processes around navigation channels of this estuary, increase our understanding of the large-scale response of estuaries, and explain some complex phenomena, such as the high level of siltation occurring in the North Passage of the Yangtze Estuary. Managers will find the results useful in developing appropriate management plans for the estuary.