Rapid changes of the Changjiang (Yangtze) River and East China Sea source-to-sink conveying system in response to human induced catchment changes

    Human activity has led to rapid changes in the erosion and deposition conditions and boundaries of the different units within the Changjiang–ECS S2S conveying system, thereby resulting in major changes in the source-sink pattern of the entire S2S conveying system. After 2003, the insufficient sediment supply disequilibrated the mass balance relationship between the estuary-coast-shelf deposition systems, thereby resulting in alteration in siltation and erosion state and sea bed sediment types, and the adjustment of the geomorphology evolvement. In addition, currently, the upper reach of the Changjiang became disconnected from the Changjiang–ECS S2S conveying system to become an independent S2S conveying system. Thus, the length of the Changjiang–ECS S2S conveying system is shortened, and the source area within this S2S conveying system has significantly increased.