Geomorphological development and sedimentation in Qiantang Estuary and Hangzhou Bay

Abstract

The Qiantang Estuary which fronts on Hangzhou Bay is a typical funnel-shaped estuary. It formed under specific geomorphological and hydrological conditions. This article discusses the development processes of the estuary and the large bar that occurs in it. The funnel-shape is a prerequisite for the formation of the bar which conditions the existence of the Hangzhou bore. There is a temporal sequence that extends from the time of the formation of the funnel-shaped estuary through that of the bar to the bore.