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Acta Geographica Sinica >

2025 , Vol. 80 >Issue 5: 1282 - 1295

DOI: https://doi.org/10.11821/dlxb202505008

Surface Processes and Geomorphology

Adjustment of thalweg longitudinal profile in response to sediment silting in cascade reservoirs: A case study of the lower Jinsha River

  • WANG Suiji , 1, 2
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  • 1. Key Laboratory of Water Cycle and Related Land Surface Processes, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS, Beijing 100101, China
  • 2. College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China

Received date: 2024-10-04

  Revised date: 2025-03-24

  Online published: 2025-05-23

Supported by

National Key R&D Program of China(2022YFC3203903)

National Natural Science Foundation of China(42371010)

National Natural Science Foundation of China(41971004)

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Abstract

How the strong segmentation of cascade reservoir dams and the spatiotemporal changes of sediment interception volume affect the river morphology adjustment in the reservoir area is a scientific issue worthy of exploration. This study aims to reveal the adjustment mechanism of the longitudinal profile of the thalweg in cascade reservoirs. Taking the Xiangjiaba and Xiluodu reservoirs in the lower Jinsha River as research objects, based on the multi-period observation data of the thalweg elevation in the reservoir sections before and after dam construction, relevant methods of statistics, geomorphology, and sedimentology are used to analyze the change characteristics of the measured curve, trend curve, and theoretical fitting curve of the longitudinal profile of the thalweg. Two types of adjustment modes of the longitudinal profile of cascade reservoirs are revealed: concave curve type and convex curve type. The former is characterized by slight scouring and silting of the riverbed→rapid aggradation in the upstream section of the reservoir area after the dam has closed→slow aggradation in the entire reservoir area. This is the commonality of reservoirs built earlier and relatively located downstream (such as the Xiangjiaba Reservoir). The latter is characterized by the adjustment of the longitudinal profile from a straight line (or concave curve) with slight scouring and silting of the riverbed → a convex curve type with strong siltation after the dam has completed. This is the characteristic of reservoirs built later and relatively located upstream (such as the Xiluodu Reservoir). The adjustment of the longitudinal profile of cascade reservoirs is controlled by the spatiotemporal changes of sediment deposition volume and sedimentation rate in the reservoir area. The hydrodynamic gradient and alternating changes of regulation mode affect the spatial heterogeneity of sedimentation rate. The research results are helpful for understanding the adjustment mechanism of the longitudinal profile of cascade reservoirs in similar areas and play a guiding role in predicting the adjustment trend of the longitudinal profile of cascade reservoirs without observation data.

Key words： cascade reservoir; longitudinal profile; adjustment mode; suspended sediment load; sedimentation rate; lower Jinsha River

Cite this article

WANG Suiji . Adjustment of thalweg longitudinal profile in response to sediment silting in cascade reservoirs: A case study of the lower Jinsha River[J]. Acta Geographica Sinica, 2025 , 80(5) : 1282 -1295 . DOI: 10.11821/dlxb202505008

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