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- Title
Sustained increase in suspended sediments near global river deltas over the past two decades.
- Authors
Hou, Xuejiao; Xie, Danghan; Feng, Lian; Shen, Fang; Nienhuis, Jaap H.
- Abstract
River sediments play a critical role in sustaining deltaic wetlands. Therefore, concerns are raised about wetlands' fate due to the decline of river sediment supply to many deltas. However, the dynamics and drivers of suspended sediment near deltaic coasts are not comprehensively assessed, and its response to river sediment supply changes remains unclear. Here we examine patterns of coastal suspended sediment concentration (SSC) and river sediment plume area (RPA) for 349 deltas worldwide using satellite images from 2000 to 2020. We find a global increase in SSC and RPA, averaging +0.46% and +0.48% yr−1, respectively, with over 59.0% of deltas exhibiting an increase in both SSC and RPA. SSC and RPA increases are prevalent across all continents, except for Asia. The relationship between river sediment supply and coastal SSCs varies between deltas, with as much as 45.2% of the deltas showing opposing trends between river sediments and coastal SSCs. This is likely because of the impacts of tides, waves, salinity, and delta morphology. Our observed increase in SSCs near river delta paints a rare promising picture for wetland resilience against sea-level rise, yet whether this increase will persist remains uncertain. River sediments play a critical role in sustaining coastal ecosystems. This study examines patterns of coastal suspended sediment concentration (SSC) for 349 deltas worldwide via satellite images and investigated the possible driving factors.
- Subjects
ASIA; SUSPENDED sediments; RIVER sediments; REGIONS of freshwater influence; ABSOLUTE sea level change; REMOTE-sensing images; WETLANDS; COASTAL sediments
- Publication
Nature Communications, 2024, Vol 15, Issue 1, p1
- ISSN
2041-1723
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1038/s41467-024-47598-6