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Abstract: The largest plain in the North Vietnam has formed by the redundant sediment of the Red River system. Sediment supply is not equally distributed, causing erosion in some places. The paper analyzes the evolvement and physical mechanism of the erosion. The overlay of five recent topographical maps (1930, 1965, 1985, 1995, and 2001) shows that sediment redundantly deposits at some big river mouths (Ba Lat, Lach, and Day), leading to rapid accretion (up to 100m/y). Typical mechanism of delta propagation is forming and connecting sand bars in front of the mouths. Erosion coasts are distributed either between the river mouths (Hai Hau) or nearby them (Giao Long, Giao Phong, and Nghia Phuc). The evolvement of erosion is caused by wave-induced longshore southwestward sediment transport. Meanwhile sediment from the river mouths is not directed to deposit nearshore. The development of sand bars can intensively reduce the erosion rate nearby river mouths. Erosion in Hai Hau is accelerated by sea level rise and upstream dams. Sea dike stability is seriously threatened by erosion-induced lowering of beach profiles, sea level rise, typhoon, and storm surge. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The Red River (China/Vietnam, A=155,000km²) is a typical humid tropics river originating from the mountainous area of Yunnan Province in China. Based on information on daily discharge (Q) and suspended particulate matter (SPM) concentration between 1960–2008 for the SonTay gauging station (outlet of the River and entry to the Delta) provided by the National Institute IMHE-MONRE, the mean annual SPM flux was estimated at 90 Mt/yr, corresponding to a sediment yield of 600t/km²/yr. The temporal variability of annual SPM fluxes (ranging from 24 to 200Mt/yr) is strongly related to the interannual hydrological conditions. However, some years of high water flow were not associated with high sediment fluxes, especially after 1989 when the HoaBinh dam came into operation. Therefore, the median discharge pre- (3389m3/s) and post 1989 (3495m3/s) are similar indicating there was little or no change between both periods. Sediment rating curves (power law-type; SPM=aQb) were fitted for both periods (1960–1989; 1990–2008). The analysis of the pre- and post-1989 sediment rating parameters (a, b) suggests a downshift of b-parameter values after 1989, attributed to a decrease of the sediment supply due to the commissioning of the HoaBinh dam. A single sediment rating curve derived from 1960–1989 data was used to simulate the annual variability of former sediment delivery, generating excellent cumulative flux estimates (error ~1%). In contrast, applying the same rating curve to the 1990–2008 data resulted in systematic and substantial (up to 109%) overestimation. This suggests that the HoaBinh dam reduces annual SPM delivery to the delta by half, implying important metal/metalloid storage behind the HoaBinh dam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this study we applied 40Ar/39Ar dating methods to muscovite grains in sands from the modern Red and Yangtze Rivers in order to constrain palaeo and modern erosion patterns and sediment transport processes. Micas in the headwaters of the Red River and its southern Da River tributary are dominantly Cenozoic, while the northern Lo River tributary shows a typical 160–220Ma population. The lower reaches of the Red River comprise 53% of such Triassic grains, indicating that the Lo River is the most important net contributor to the modern delta. However, this contrasts with zircon U–Pb data indicating that the upper reaches of the Red River dominate that mineral group. We suggest that the mismatch reflects the rapid transport of mica relative to zircon in the river and the fact that the Red River is not in equilibrium. We hypothesize that the zircons were eroded >8ka under a regime of stronger monsoon that enhanced erosion in the northern drainage basin, while modern erosion is focused in the south, especially in the Song Chay Massif. Micas from the upper Yangtze River are resolvably older than those in the Red River (230–250Ma), so that this method could be used to test for drainage capture in palaeo-delta sediments. Micas in the modern Yangtze delta are generally much younger than those in the upper reaches and indicate that erosion in the Longmen Shan (Sichuan) and neighbouring regions is more important than the upper Yangtze in supplying sediment, reflecting the stronger monsoon rains in those areas. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]