The Changjiang (Yangtze) River Delta: A Review

by Pinxian Wang, Tongji Univ, Shanghai, China,
Huanting Shen, Tongji Univ, Shanghai, China,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Deltas of the World

Abstract:

The Changjiang river delta is the best studied one in China in terms of hydrology, sedimentology and evolution history. The construction of Pudong New Area in Shanghai in the 1990s has given a new impulse to the socio-economic development of the delta. Coastal erosion, silting up of waterway in estuary, soil salinization, saltwater intrusion, water pollution, and ground subsidence are the major environmental problems faced by the Changjiang delta now. The growth in economy is accompanied by growing environmental concern, and the gigantic projects of three gorge dam and south-to-north water transfer would bring about much more serious problems such as saltwater intrusion, land loss and disturbance of ecosystem to the delta environment. This paper briefly reviews the recent progress in Chinese studies on the Changjiang river delta and discusses its various environmental problems related to its present status, to the future constructions and to the sea level rise caused by global warming.

Subject Headings: Soil pollution | Salt water intrusion | Rivers and streams | Salt water | Water pollution | Soil water | Sediment | China | Asia | Shanghai

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