Sediment sources of the back-siltation in the North Passage of the Yangtze Estuary

The sources of back-siltation sediment were analyzed,in the North Passage( NP) of the Yangtze Estuary after the deep navigation passage project. Based on the fact that sediment from the basin is no longer the main sources of back-siltation,the sediment exchange between channel and shoal will play a more important role,including the internal exchange in the NP and the exchange between NP and Jiuduan Shoal,and Hengsha shoal. The authors suggest that the further field observations and research should focus on the accretion /erosion of muddy area in the south of the estuary which would have a greater effect on the NP,the sediment resuspension induced by wave on the shoal near the entrance and the dam area,and the sediment transport in the dam area.