Influence of the Three Gorges Dam on the East China Sea ecosystem

Abstract

The Three Gorges Dam on the Changjiang (Yangtze) River is the largest hydropower project in the world, implemented in June 2003, and its potential impact on the marine ecosystem since that time is discussed. Long-term trends of primary production, chlorophyll-a concentration (CHL), photosynthetically active radiation, sea surface temperature, and euphotic layer depth in the coastal East China Sea are investigated for the last 17 years (1998-2014) and their correlation with anomalies of the Changjiang River discharge is examined to understand their potential influence on marine productivity. In addition, CHL dynamics before and after 2003 is considered. Large-scale variability of the productivity indices does not show any correlation with the Three Gorges Dam operation, and all indices have no significant trends. Thus, an insignificant influence of the Three Gorges Dam on primary productivity of the East China Sea is concluded.uction, chlorophyll-a concentration (CHL), photosynthetically active radiation, sea surface temperature, and euphotic layer depth in the coastal East China Sea are investigated for the last 17 years (1998-2014) and their correlation with anomalies of the Changjiang River discharge is examined to understand their potential influence on marine productivity. In addition, CHL dynamics before and after 2003 is considered. Large-scale variability of the productivity indices does not show any correlation with the Three Gorges Dam operation, and all indices have no significant trends. Thus, an insignificant influence of the Three Gorges Dam on primary productivity of the East China Sea is concluded.