Volume 18 Issue 4
Dec.  2025
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Zheng Wu, Yuan-yuan Mao, Lin Lan, Peng Zhang, Hua-yang Cai, Yi-han Zhao, Zhi-shi Lu. 2025: Analytical investigation of tidal dynamics in a micro-tidal estuary: A case study of Yongjiang Estuary, China. Water Science and Engineering, 18(4): 444-453. doi: 10.1016/j.wse.2025.06.002
Citation: Zheng Wu, Yuan-yuan Mao, Lin Lan, Peng Zhang, Hua-yang Cai, Yi-han Zhao, Zhi-shi Lu. 2025: Analytical investigation of tidal dynamics in a micro-tidal estuary: A case study of Yongjiang Estuary, China. Water Science and Engineering, 18(4): 444-453. doi: 10.1016/j.wse.2025.06.002
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Analytical investigation of tidal dynamics in a micro-tidal estuary: A case study of Yongjiang Estuary, China

doi: 10.1016/j.wse.2025.06.002

  • a. Water Resources Planning Bureau of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing 210029, China;

  • b. Institute of Estuarine and Coastal Research, School of Ocean Engineering and Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519082, China

Funds:

This work was supported by the Jiangsu Provincial Young Scientific and Technological Talent Support Program (Grant No. JSTJ-2024-184), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 52279080), and the Jiangsu Provincial Water Resources Science and Technology Project (Grant No. 2022003).

  • Received Date: 2024-12-20
  • Accepted Date: 2025-05-14
    • Available Online: 2025-12-03
    Abstract
  • Understanding the processes and dynamics of tidal wave propagation in estuaries is critical for assessing the impacts of natural processes and human interventions on estuarine systems. However, current knowledge of tidal dynamics in micro-tidal estuaries and their variability across various timescales remains limited. This study used an analytical framework and field observations to investigate the fundamental physical processes and mechanisms governing tidal wave propagation in the Yongjiang Estuary, a micro-tidal estuary on the eastern coast of China. The analytically computed tidal amplitude and wave propagation timing aligned with observed data. Significant wet/dry and spring/neap variations in tidal wave properties were identified, primarily influenced by the interplay between channel convergence and bottom friction. Given the high siltation rates in the Yongjiang Estuary, analytical simulations suggested that human-induced dredging enhances tidal dynamics, while channel bed siltation weakens hydrodynamic processes, potentially exacerbating local sedimentation. The findings of this study provide valuable insights for estuarine management and establish a foundation for future research on sediment dynamics in the Yongjiang Estuary.

     

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