Tidal amplification and salt intrusion in the Mekong Delta driven by anthropogenic sediment starvation.

ABSTRACT: Natural resources of the Mekong River are essential to livelihood of tens of millions of people. Previous studies highlighted that upstream hydro-infrastructure developments impact flow regime, sediment and nutrient transport, bed and bank stability, fish productivity, biodiversity and biology of the basin. Here, we show that tidal amplification and saline water intrusion in the Mekong Delta develop with alarming paces. While offshore M₂ tidal amplitude increases by 1.2-2 mm yr^-1 due to sea level rise, tidal amplitude within the delta is increasing by 2 cm yr^-1 and salinity in the channels is increasing by 0.2-0.5 PSU yr^-1. We relate these changes to 2-3 m bed level incisions in response to sediment starvation, caused by reduced upstream sediment

SUBMITTER: Eslami S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6904557 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature