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Saltwater intrusion is a common feature in the Changjiang Estuary affected by river discharges and tidal flows. It leads to a two‐layer flow structure during the flood‐to‐ebb tidal transient period: the seaward tidal flow in the upper water column and onshore intruded salt flow in the lower column, even though the lower column water usually experiences an ebb flow eventually. Our recent measurements with a tripod deployed in a tidal channel of the North Branch in the East China Sea challenged this feature. We detected that the two‐layer flow structure disappeared in the ebb tide period during the neap cycle due to intense saltwater intrusion. A constant onshore flood‐like flow predominated the entire water column. The physical mechanism for the flow reversal was examined using the Finite Volume Community Ocean Model (FVCOM). The FVCOM was robust to capture the observed flow reversal in the tidal channel during the neap tidal cycle. The momentum balance analysis results suggest that the flow reversal occurred when the saltwater intrusion‐induced onshore baroclinic pressure gradient force and baroclinic tidal rectification overwhelmed the seaward barotropic pressure gradient force. A parameter‐driven criterion was derived theoretically to determine the potential occurrence of a stable ebb flow reversal in the tidal channel. Plain Language Summary: Many estuaries experience saltwater intrusion, bringing saltwater from offshore regions to nearshore and river channels. In the Changjiang Estuary, it could create a two‐layer flow structure during the flood‐to‐ebb transient period, a seaward fresher ebb tidal flow in the upper water column, and an onshore intruded salt flow in the lower water column. Could the increased saltwater intrusion destroy this two‐layer flow structure and form an onshore flow throughout the water column in the ebb‐tidal period during a neap tidal cycle? If it does, what is the critical driving mechanism? To answer these questions, we deployed a tripod system integrated with state‐of‐the‐art marine instruments in a tidal channel of North Branch in the Changjiang Estuary, an area where saltwater intrusion frequently occurs. The observational data captured a flow‐overtured feature, showing a stable flood‐like intruded flow throughout the entire water column in the ebb‐tidal period during a neap tidal cycle. We applied the Finite‐Volume Community Ocean Model to examine the physical driving mechanism for flow‐overturning. The results suggest that the flow‐overturning could occur when the along‐channel saltwater intrusion‐induced baroclinic pressure gradient force and stratified tidal rectification overwhelmed the along‐channel tide‐induced barotropic pressure gradient force. Key Points: The bottom tripod system identified an overturned tidal flow in the North Branch channelA numerical model revealed the baroclinic gradient force from saltwater intrusion dominated the overturnThe balance criteria were proposed to estimate competition between these two dynamics [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluid mud (FM) is a unique sedimentary feature in high‐turbidity estuaries, where it can make a rapid contribution to morphodynamics. Insufficient field measurements and fixed‐point monitoring lead to deficient understandings of the formation, transport, and breakdown of the FM under extreme weather conditions. A field survey was conducted in the Changjiang Estuary during the period of turbidity maximum, just after Typhoon Haikui. The measurements captured the formation of the FM beneath the suspended layers, particularly around the lower reach of the North Passage. The thickness of the observed FM gradually decreased landward along the channel, with the maximum value reaching ~0.9 m. The major features of the observed storm‐induced FM were simulated using the Finite‐Volume Community Ocean Model. The results indicated that the initial appearance of the FM was the result of a typhoon‐intensified, salinity‐induced stratification in the outlet region. The subsequent landward propagation of the FM was driven by the combined effects of the FM‐induced mud surface pressure gradient force and saltwater intrusion near the bottom. Weak mixing during the subsequent neap tidal period sustained the FM as it rapidly extended into the middle region of the North Passage. This produced a large velocity shear at the interface of the FM and upper suspension layer, increasing the entrainment from the FM to the upper suspension layer. As a result of the increased tidal mixing, the FM weakened and then finally broke down in the subsequent spring tidal period. Plain Language Summary: The environment along the large river to estuary continuum is generally turbid and frequently produces highly concentrated benthic sediment suspensions, that is, fluid mud (FM). The FM is a sediment feature, with a concentration mostly in the range of 10 to >100 g/L. It is difficult to track the FM's movement and breakdown. The response of the FM to extreme atmospheric and oceanic conditions is therefore not well understood. In this study, a comprehensive field campaign identified the large‐scale formation of the FM after a severe tropical storm in the Changjiang Estuary. The life cycle of the FM in this estuary cannot, however, be determined through the field observation alone. A two‐layer FM model was developed to achieve this goal. The experiments suggested that the key physical factor was the stratification resulting from the typhoon‐enhanced saltwater intrusion. This led to the formation of the FM in the near‐bottom layer. After the FM formed, it extended onshore along the channel under the influence of an ambient saltwater intrusion. The FM was constrained in the benthic layer as a consequence of weak mixing from the saltwater intrusion. The breakdown of the FM was governed by enhanced tidal mixing in the subsequent spring tide. Key Points: A strong fluid mud (FM) formed during the passage of a tropical stormA storm‐increased stratification initially triggered a massive formation of the FMThe FM was sustained and transported by saltwater intrusion, and it subsequently broke down during the strong‐mixing spring tide [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tidal choking is a geometric feature caused by a narrowed channel. Construction of the Yangshan Harbour, Shanghai, China obstructed three key channels and intensively changed the local geometry and topography. In this study nine numerical experiments based on the Finite-Volume Community Ocean Model are conducted to study the project's influence on tidal characteristics. Results show that stronger tidal choking happened at the East Entrance after project, mainly due to the jet induced water-level drop forced by Bernoulli law and the longer and narrower geometry. The stronger tidal choking forces a faster flow and larger tidal energy flux at the choked channel while reducing the tidal amplitude in the Inner Harbour Area (IHA). The scouring on this channel reduces the choking effect but further enlarges tidal energy flux. Moreover, damming the channels decrease the tidal amplitude at the lee side of tidal propagating direction while increasing the amplitude on the stoss side. The dams also decrease the tidal current on both sides, and meanwhile develop two patches with stronger current aside the dam. The project induced changes in tidal characteristics are complex in space, and perturbations in bathymetry increase this complexity. Yangshan Harbour's construction induces little changes in the total tidal energy density in the IHA, but induces obvious changes in the spatial distribution of tidal energy. Although this study is site-specific, the findings may be applicable to tidal dynamics in land reclamation close to open seas, such as the dramatic reclamation of islands in the South China Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]