Numerical Simulation for the Topographic Change of Yellow River Delta, China

Abstract

Large deltas in China are the centers of economic growth with high population. Since these deltas would be threatened by sea-level rise and the decrease in sediment supply due to dam construction and afforestation in the hinterlands, it is needed to predict the future changes in the topography of the delta. For the Yellow River, satellite remote sensing data revealed the history of the delta development, which can be used for calibrating predictive models. With such backgrounds, a numerical simulation model was developed for the topographic change of the delta, which consists of submodels for the river flow, nearshore flow, sediment transport including bed and wash loads, and bottom topographic change. This model reproduced the basic features, such as the formation of delta at river mouth and leaning of the delta toward the downstream direction of the nearshore current, in a quantitative manner. Further Studies are required to establish a sediment transport model applicable even for the flood duration, and to incorporate nearshore sediment transport into the present model.