Sediment Dynamics of a Tropical River-Marine Dispersal System: the Mekong from River Source to Ocean Sink

The Mekong sediment dispersal system has a major impact on the landscape and seascape of southeast Asia and on the people living there. Investigations of its operation are important for a basic understanding of fluvial and deltaic sedimentation, and for preparing to deal with environmental change of many types (e.g., sea-level rise, salt intrusion, river damming). Recent studies by a range of international scientists have provided a wealth of new knowledge about the numerous interfaces along the continuum from fluvial to tidal-river to estuarine to coastal (mangrove) to continental-shelf environments. Among recent advances are understanding of impacts on sedimentation from: seasonal exchange between the river channel and floodplain; non-steady flow imparted by tidal influence; modulation of estuarine processes with level of river discharge; variable wave energy impacting mangrove shorelines; monsoonal circulation patterns controlling growth of the shelf clinoform. This session will present recent results and integrate them into a comprehensive understanding of deltaic sedimentation and of the Mekong system, in particular.