The combined effect of discharge and tides on low-angle dune evolution at the tidal current limit of the Changjiang Estuary

Low-angle dunes (LADs) are recognized as the most common roughness element in large fluvial rivers and estuaries. Comprehending their development is vital to understand the flow and sediment dynamics, and paleo-environmental reconstruction of the geological record. However, our understanding of LADs evolution under unsteady flows is poorly understood. Here we investigate dune adaptation under the combined effect of discharge and tides at the tidal current limit of the Changjiang Estuary. Our observations show that compound dunes exist in the late flood season, while only simple dunes are found in the late dry season after five-month decay. The effect of tides enhances bedload transport, thereby accelerating the decay of compound dunes. The increasing deformation rate of superimposed small dunes from the trough to the crest of primary dunes results in a decrease in dune size in the neap tide, as superimposed dunes over the higher part of primary dunes decay more significantly. We find that the size of superimposed small dunes in the late flood season and simple dunes in the late dry season are significantly controlled by fortnightly tides when discharge is between 20,000 and 30,000 m3/s. It implies that compound dunes decay with crest erosion via frequent migration and deformation of superimposed small dunes between neap and spring tides. This finding could potentially help identify and interpret paleo-hydraulic environments that were influenced by tides from sedimentary records. Additionally, given the discharge of the lower Changjiang River is increasingly regulated by dams, figuring out dune adaptation to the regulated hydrograph could be used to advance our prediction of the evolution of river morphology. •LAD evolution at the tidal current limit of the Changjiang Estuary is investigated.•Seasonal variation of discharge leads to a significant change of dune size and shape.•The effect of tides enhances bedload transport and accelerates compound dunes' decay.•The size and evolution of active dunes are controlled by fortnightly tides.