Centennial Impacts of the East Asian Summer Monsoon on Holocene Deltaic Evolution of the Huanghe River, China

The Huanghe River (Yellow River) is the most sediment laden river system in the world, and many efforts have been conducted to understand modern deltaic evolution in response to anthropological impacts. However, the natural background and its linkage to climatic changes are less documented in previous studies. In this work, we studied the sediments of core YDZ–3 and marine surface samples by grain-size analysis to retrieve Holocene dynamics of the Huanghe River delta in detail. The main findings are as follows: The mean value of sediment grain size of the studied core is 5.5 ± 0.9 Φ, and silt and sand contents are 5.2 ± 2.3% and 8.2 ± 5.3%, respectively, while the variance of clay particles is relatively large with an average value of 86.4 ± 8.5%. All grain-size data can be mathematically partitioned by a Weibull-based function formula, and three subgroups were identified with modal sizes of 61.1 ± 28.9 μm, 30.0 ± 23.9 μm, and 2.8 ± 1.6 μm, respectively. There are eight intervals with abrupt changes in modal size of core YDZ–3, which can be correlated to paleo-superlobe migration of the Huanghe River in the Holocene. Based on these observations, the presence of seven superlobes in the history are confirmed for the first time and their ages are well constrained in this study, including Paleo-Superlobes Lijin (6400–5280 yr BP), Huanghua (4480–4190 yr BP), Jugezhuang (3880–3660 yr BP), Shajinzi (3070–2870 yr BP), Nigu (2780–2360 yr BP), Qikou (2140–2000 yr BP), and Kenli (1940–1780 and 1700–1650 yr BP). By tuning geomorphological events to a sedimentary proxy derived from core YDZ–3 and comparing to various paleoenvironmental changes, we proposed that winter climate dominated Holocene shifts of the Huanghe River delta on millennial timescales, while summer monsoons controlled deltaic evolution on centennial timescales.

Dynamics of modern delta of the Huanghe River at last decades: investigation by satellite images

Space images from Landsat-5, -7, -8 satellites were used to investigate the changes of the Huanghe River delta for 1995–2015, after overlapping Quingshuigou channel, active in 1976–1996, turning the river to the East, and forming a new channel and promontory Chahe. In the work with images strong attention was paid to tidal activity. Compiled schemes of modern delta promontories dynamics show the growth of the new promontory of Chahe and the erosion of the old promontory of Quingshuigou. Before the 2000-s the data of the new delta promontory growth exceeded that of the old one, but after this time the erosion became stronger than the accumulation. In spite of sediments discharge reducing, the whole delta continues its growth, although the tendency for its future reducing is emerging.

Dynamics of modern delta of the Huanghe River at last decades: investigation by satellite images

Space images from Landsat-5, -7, -8 satellites were used to investigate the changes of the Huanghe River delta for 1995–2015, after overlapping Quingshuigou channel, active in 1976–1996, turning the river to the East, and forming a new channel and promontory Chahe. In the work with images strong attention was paid to tidal activity. Compiled schemes of modern delta promontories dynamics show the growth of the new promontory of Chahe and the erosion of the old promontory of Quingshuigou. Before the 2000-s the data of the new delta promontory growth exceeded that of the old one, but after this time the erosion became stronger than the accumulation. In spite of sediments discharge reducing, the whole delta continues its growth, although the tendency for its future reducing is emerging.