Fig. 11

Data from the Yangtze River. a Satellite image showing the Yangtze River plunging into the East China Sea. Note development of both hyperpycnal plume (yellow color due to high sediment concentration) near the river mouth and hypopycnal plume (blue color due to low sediment concentration) on the seaward side. Note deflected hypopycnal flows that move southward (white arrow), possibly due to modulation by south-flowing shelf currents. In a recent study, Luo et al. (2017) recognized that extended and deflected density plumes (white arrow) tend to develop during winter months, which are absent during the summer months. Note sheet-like mud belt developed along the inner shelf due to contour-following shelf currents. White dashed circle = River mouth. See Fig. 12a for the river course; see also Fig. 7a. River image credit: NASA Visible Earth, Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Land Science Team. https://visibleearth.nasa.gov/view.php?id=55219. Image acquired on September 16, 2000. Instrument: Terra-MODIS; b Map showing warm Kuroshio Current (KC) in the East China Sea and Yellow Sea. TWC = Taiwan Warm Current; YSWC = Yellow Sea Warm Current; ZFCC = Zhejiang−Fujian Coastal Current; JCC = Jiangsu Coastal Current. Blue circles: Yangtze and Yellow River mouths. From Liu et al. (2006) with additional labels by G. Shanmugam; c Conceptual model of sedimentary and oceanographic processes affecting the sediment dispersal at both subaqueous delta and alongshore deposits associated with the Yangtze River. From Liu et al. (2006) with additional labels by G. Shanmuagm. Both B and C figures with permission from Elsevier. Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink: Licensee: G. Shanmugam. License Number: 4258820168883. License Date: December 30, 2017