The Temporal and Spatial Evolution of Saltwater Intrusion during Dry Season in the Yangtze River Estuary, China

Abstract. The saltwater intrusion in the Yangtze River Estuary is very frequent and complicated with a great effect on freshwater supply in Shanghai and nearby cities. By using the hydrologic data observed in dry season, the temporal and spatial variation of the saltwater intrusion in the Yangtze River Estuary were analyzed. The results show that the saltwater intrusion of the south branch is mainly induced by the saltwater spilling over from the north branch, which causes the Chenhang reservoir being plagued by saltwater intrusion during dry season. As the saltwater group from the north branch moving downward along the south branch, the longitudinal salinity distribution present a high-low-high shape during spring tide cycle, low-high-low-high shape during medium tide cycle and low-high shape during neap tide cycle along the south branch-south channel-south passage. Moreover, the north branch is controlled by high saline water with the increase of the salinity in the upstream reach in medium and spring tides, but this phenomenon is vanished in neap tide. In addition, the vertical distribution of salinity is more homogeneous in shoals than that in deep channels, which is induced by mixing degree in water column.