Abstract:

Based on the materials of water depth of 1958-2013 in the Yangtze Estuary channel, this article established the database of water depth during different periods with the aid of the Arcmap analysis software. The results showed that: (1) The state of the north passage channel was basically stable, and the river channel in the south passage was experiencing a developing stage. The developing center of the south passage channel was observed in the lower reach, while the upper reach of the north passage channel had slightly shrunk. (2) Currently, the south and north passages were still shifting under the effect of the project. The area where the tidal increased was mainly found in the south passage and south channel. The developing pattern in the north passage was fixed and confined. (3) In the study period, with the reduced amount of sediments from the catchment and the construction of the deep sea waterway project in the north passage, the tidal volume, suspended sediment flux and the ratio of them changed obviously. (4) The sediments in the north and south channels are concentrated in the lower part of the north channel and also in the south and north passages.

Key words: tidal volume, water capacity of channel, sediment volume of channel, GIS, Yangtze Estuary