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Sustained increase in suspended sediments near global river deltas over the past two decades

Earth Sciences

Sustained increase in suspended sediments near global river deltas over the past two decades

X. Hou, D. Xie, et al.

Join Xuejiao Hou, Danghan Xie, Lian Feng, Fang Shen, and Jaap H. Nienhuis as they explore global patterns of coastal suspended sediment concentration and river sediment plume area near deltas. This groundbreaking study reveals significant increases in sediment levels, posing intriguing questions about their implications for wetland resilience against climate change, all while navigating the complex influences of natural coastal processes.

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Playback language: English
Abstract
This study investigates global patterns of coastal suspended sediment concentration (SSC) and river sediment plume area (RPA) near 349 deltas from 2000 to 2020 using satellite imagery. A global increase in both SSC and RPA was observed (+0.46% and +0.48% yr⁻¹, respectively), with over 59% of deltas showing increases in both. However, the relationship between river sediment supply and coastal SSCs varied considerably, with opposing trends observed in 45.2% of deltas, highlighting the influence of tides, waves, salinity, and delta morphology. The increase in SSCs suggests potential positive implications for wetland resilience against sea-level rise, although the persistence of this trend remains uncertain.
Publisher
Nature Communications
Published On
Apr 18, 2024
Authors
Xuejiao Hou, Danghan Xie, Lian Feng, Fang Shen, Jaap H. Nienhuis
Tags
coastal sediment
suspended sediment concentration
river sediment plume
deltas
satellite imagery
wetland resilience
climate change
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