Study of the major Asian rivers discharge to the ocean reveals variations of their water discharges and sediment loads, and local characteristics of river sediment concentrations. On the basis of this, the Asian river...Study of the major Asian rivers discharge to the ocean reveals variations of their water discharges and sediment loads, and local characteristics of river sediment concentrations. On the basis of this, the Asian rivers fall into three regions, including Eurasia Arctic, East Asia, Southeast and South Asia Regions. The Eurasia Arctic Region is characterized by the lowest sediment concentration and load, while the East Asia Region is of the highest sediment concentration and higher sediment load, and the South-East and South Asia Region yields higher sediment concentration and highest sediment load.The sediment loads of these regions are mainly controlled by climate, geomorphology and tectonic activity. The Eurasia Arctic rivers with large basin areas and water discharge, drain low relief which consists of tundra sediment, thus causing the lowest sediment load. The East Asia rivers with small basin areas and lowest water discharges, drain extensive loess plateau, and transport most erodible loess material, which results in highest sediment concentration. The SE and South Asia rivers originating from the Tibet Plateau have large basin areas and the largest water discharges because of the Summer Monsoon and high rainfall influence, causing the highest sediment load.In Asia, tectonic motion of the Tibet Plateau plays an important role. Those large rivers originating from the Tibet Plateau transport about 50% of the world river sediment load to ocean annually, forming large estuaries and deltas, and consequently exerting a great influence on sedimentation in the coastal zone and shelves.展开更多
Rivers often witness non-uniform bed load sedim ent transport. For a long tim e, non-uniform bed load transport has been assum ed to be at capacity regime determined exclusively by local flow. Yet whether the capacity...Rivers often witness non-uniform bed load sedim ent transport. For a long tim e, non-uniform bed load transport has been assum ed to be at capacity regime determined exclusively by local flow. Yet whether the capacity assumption for non-uniform bed load transport is justified remains poorly understood. Here, the relative time scale of non-uniform bed load transport is evaluated and non-capacity and capacity models are compared for both aggradation and degradation cases with observed data. As characterized by its relative time scale, the adaptation of non-uniform bed load to capacity regime should be fulfilled quickly. However, changes in the flow and sedim ent inputs from upstream or tributaries hinder the adaptation. Also, the adaptation to capacity regime is size dependent, the finer the sediment size the slower the adaptation is, and vice versa. It is shown that the capacity model may entail considerable errors compared to the non-capacity model. For modelling of non-uniform bed load, non-capacity modelling is recommended, in which the temporal and spatial scales required for adaptation are explicitly appreciated.展开更多
基金The Project is sponsored by the Chinese National Nature Science Foundation (49676288) Scientific Research Foundation for the Returned Overseas Chinese Scholars of the Ministry of Education of China and the Russian Foundation for Fundamental Research (Pr
文摘Study of the major Asian rivers discharge to the ocean reveals variations of their water discharges and sediment loads, and local characteristics of river sediment concentrations. On the basis of this, the Asian rivers fall into three regions, including Eurasia Arctic, East Asia, Southeast and South Asia Regions. The Eurasia Arctic Region is characterized by the lowest sediment concentration and load, while the East Asia Region is of the highest sediment concentration and higher sediment load, and the South-East and South Asia Region yields higher sediment concentration and highest sediment load.The sediment loads of these regions are mainly controlled by climate, geomorphology and tectonic activity. The Eurasia Arctic rivers with large basin areas and water discharge, drain low relief which consists of tundra sediment, thus causing the lowest sediment load. The East Asia rivers with small basin areas and lowest water discharges, drain extensive loess plateau, and transport most erodible loess material, which results in highest sediment concentration. The SE and South Asia rivers originating from the Tibet Plateau have large basin areas and the largest water discharges because of the Summer Monsoon and high rainfall influence, causing the highest sediment load.In Asia, tectonic motion of the Tibet Plateau plays an important role. Those large rivers originating from the Tibet Plateau transport about 50% of the world river sediment load to ocean annually, forming large estuaries and deltas, and consequently exerting a great influence on sedimentation in the coastal zone and shelves.
基金funded by the N atural Science Foundation of China (G rants No. 11172217, 51279144 and 11432015)Chinese Academy of Sciences (G rant No. KZZDEW -05-01-03)
文摘Rivers often witness non-uniform bed load sedim ent transport. For a long tim e, non-uniform bed load transport has been assum ed to be at capacity regime determined exclusively by local flow. Yet whether the capacity assumption for non-uniform bed load transport is justified remains poorly understood. Here, the relative time scale of non-uniform bed load transport is evaluated and non-capacity and capacity models are compared for both aggradation and degradation cases with observed data. As characterized by its relative time scale, the adaptation of non-uniform bed load to capacity regime should be fulfilled quickly. However, changes in the flow and sedim ent inputs from upstream or tributaries hinder the adaptation. Also, the adaptation to capacity regime is size dependent, the finer the sediment size the slower the adaptation is, and vice versa. It is shown that the capacity model may entail considerable errors compared to the non-capacity model. For modelling of non-uniform bed load, non-capacity modelling is recommended, in which the temporal and spatial scales required for adaptation are explicitly appreciated.
