Work

Widespread erosion of river islands in the Sichuan Basin revealed by satellite observations over the past decade

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: River islands are key indicators of fluvial geomorphic change, yet knowledge of their evolution is largely confined to single case studies. This study presents the first regional, long-term (2016–2024) quantitative assessment of river island dynamics. Using time-series Sentinel−2 and Landsat imagery and the Modified Normalized Difference Water Index (MNDWI), we monitored 15 typical islands in China’s intensely dammed Sichuan Basin. Our results reveal a dominant trend of erosion, a degradation coupled with a complex ecological response. Furthermore, our analysis confirms that erosion is highest downstream of dams, while island stability is enhanced by the backwater effects from dams further downstream. Our findings provide critical macroscopic evidence of cascade dam impacts and a scientific basis for predicting island stability in regulated basins.

Source: Geocarto International

DOI: 10.1080/10106049.2025.2594087

Authors: Chenxi Huang, Qinglin Wu, Xin Shu, Qiugui Shu, Yu Zeng

Institutions: China West Normal University, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu Normal University

Language: English

Topic: Hydrology and Sediment Transport Processes

Subfield: Ecology

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Life on land, Clean water and sanitation, Climate action

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,390