Variations of Runoff and Sediment Fluxes into the Pacific Ocean from the Main rivers of China

 

Cheng LIU, Zhao-Yin WANG and Fabio Souza

 

 

Abstract

This paper presents information on variations of runoff and sediment fluxes into the Pacific Ocean from Chinese rivers during the period 1955 to 2007. The data series are summarized by the annual runoff and sediment loads of 17 representative gauge stations on 10 major rivers flowing to the Pacific Ocean. It is shown that the average annual runoff flux entering the Pacific Ocean from Chinese rivers is about 1,560 billion cubic meters. Over the observed 53-year study period, the runoff flux has presented no evidence of a tendency to change. The mean annual sediment flux carried into the Pacific Ocean is about 1,392 million tonnes and it decreased from 2,087 million tonnes to 575 million tonnes with 4 clear steps over the 53-year study period. This decrease is due to the integrated effects of human activity and climate change.

 

Key Words: Runoff, sediment flux, Pacific Ocean, Yellow River, Yangtze River

The paper was published in the Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Estuaries and Coasts (September 14-16, 2009. Sendai, Japan), Vol. 1, pp. 94-100

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