1954 Flood of the Yangtze River

Author: Changjiang Water Conservancy Commission Hydrology Bureau
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-12-01
Features: The 1954 Great Flood in the Changjiang River Basin saw water levels in the approximately 1,800-kilometer section below Zhijiang exceed all previous records. The flood levels persisted for an unusually long duration, and the total flood volume was exceptionally large. Under the correct leadership of the Communist Party of China and the People's Government, the people along both banks of the river carried out heroic and tenacious flood control struggles. Based on the development and prediction of hydrological conditions, several flood diversion measures were promptly and systematically implemented, significantly alleviating the harm caused by the disaster. The collection of hydrological data during the great flood provided favorable conditions for understanding and analyzing this event. To systematically organize and evaluate these valuable achievements, explore the meteorological evolution and development process of this flood, and further understand the flood characteristics of the Changjiang River, its changing patterns, and river channel changes, this book was compiled. The main contents of this book include: (1) A comprehensive analysis of the abnormal meteorological conditions during the 1954 flood season, the development process of rainfall, and the causes and impacts of heavy rainfall; (2) A brief description of the flood stage water level development process and the changes in the gradient of water levels in the middle and lower reaches of the Changjiang River; (3) An analysis and calculation of runoff, preliminary discussions on water balance, flood composition, runoff distribution, and changes in lake storage capacity; (4) Providing data and supplementary analysis on the evolution of river channels, particularly the condition of the Jingjiang River channel and the scouring and deposition changes in certain middle and lower reaches; (5) Preliminary explorations of several issues.