Sediment Distribution in the Yangtze River Channel below Wuhan

fluvial transects were specifically selected along the Yangtze River channel extending from Wuhan to the river mouth. Three samples were taken at each transect, i.e., one from the main river channel and the other two from both flank shallow-water riverbeds. The present study examines the distribution of grain size throughout the river channel, in terms of along the river-channel transect and along the one perpendicular to the river channel. This is primarily on the basis of different river-channel patterns defined. Computing simulation of various grain-size parameters obtained from the laboratory helps recognize effectively the sediment characteristics of the river patterns. It is believed that the river flow and river morphology affected largely by the regional geology, climate setting, etc., are the determinant factors, which characterize the sedimentation of the middle and lower Yangtze river catchment. The paper demonstrates that the sedimentation of modern Yangtze River channel below Wuhan remains relatively stable, as evidenced by: 1) almost equivalent input and output of sediment budget in the upstream Hankou and downstream Datong hydrological stations; and 2) bed load movement rarely occurred in the river channel where fine and medium sand prevail. Four segments of the sediment distribution of the river channel recognized as coarser-finer-coarser-finer were differentiated.