Effects of the normal operation of the Three Gorges Reservoir on wetland inundation in Dongting Lake,China: a modelling study |
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| Authors: | Xijun Lai Jiahu Jiang Qun Huang |
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| Institution: | 1. State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 73 Beijing East Road, Nanjing 210008, Chinaxjlai@niglas.ac.cn;3. State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 73 Beijing East Road, Nanjing 210008, China |
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| Abstract: | AbstractThe operation of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) is an important driver of the recent hydrological changes in the lowlands of Dongting Lake, China. Nevertheless, there has been no convincing study on the quantitative effects of the TGR regulation on the wetland inundation process. Here, the temporal and spatial patterns of the response of wetland inundation in Dongting Lake to the TGR regulation are addressed in detail using a two-dimensional hydrodynamic model, which can accurately reproduce the flooding and drying processes. The results show that temporal patterns of wetland inundation are altered by the TGR regulation, especially in the water pre-releasing period (May to early June) and the water storing period (late September to November). Spatially heterogeneous effects are also observed in Dongting Lake. These findings can help us to take measures at an early stage to effectively deal with the possible adverse effects of the normal operation of the TGR on Dongting Lake.Editor D. Koutsoyiannis; Associate editor A. PorporatoCitation Lai, X., Jiang, J., and Huang, Q., 2013. Effects of the normal operation of Three Gorges Reservoir on wetland inundation in Dongting Lake, China: a modelling study. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 58 (7), 1467–1477. |
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| Keywords: | wetland hydrology inundation depth duration extent timing Three Gorges Project Dongting Lake China |
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