Sustained increase in suspended sediments near global river deltas over the past two decades

Xuejiao Hou, Danghan Xie, Lian Feng (), Fang Shen and Jaap H. Nienhuis ()
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Xuejiao Hou: Sun Yat-Sen University
Danghan Xie: Utrecht University
Lian Feng: Southern University of Science and Technology
Fang Shen: East China Normal University
Jaap H. Nienhuis: Utrecht University

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract River sediments play a critical role in sustaining deltaic wetlands. Therefore, concerns are raised about wetlands’ fate due to the decline of river sediment supply to many deltas. However, the dynamics and drivers of suspended sediment near deltaic coasts are not comprehensively assessed, and its response to river sediment supply changes remains unclear. Here we examine patterns of coastal suspended sediment concentration (SSC) and river sediment plume area (RPA) for 349 deltas worldwide using satellite images from 2000 to 2020. We find a global increase in SSC and RPA, averaging +0.46% and +0.48% yr−1, respectively, with over 59.0% of deltas exhibiting an increase in both SSC and RPA. SSC and RPA increases are prevalent across all continents, except for Asia. The relationship between river sediment supply and coastal SSCs varies between deltas, with as much as 45.2% of the deltas showing opposing trends between river sediments and coastal SSCs. This is likely because of the impacts of tides, waves, salinity, and delta morphology. Our observed increase in SSCs near river delta paints a rare promising picture for wetland resilience against sea-level rise, yet whether this increase will persist remains uncertain.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47598-6

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