基于Delft 3D模型的感潮河口示踪模拟

为研究感潮河口的水力特征及溶质扩散规律，通过布放仪器监测水文参数，分析研究区的水力特征；采用荧光染色剂罗丹明B作为示踪剂开展现场示踪实验，研究示踪剂的扩散规律；基于Delft 3D模型的水动力模块与示踪模块相耦合，对研究区的动力场和示踪结果进行模拟，获取了小清河口的水平湍流扩散系数。结果表明：调查期间（非汛期）小清河口的水力条件主要受潮汐控制，潮汐对河口下游的作用更明显。由于河流径流量较小，在潮汐作用下，示踪剂从小清河口向海传输的速度较慢，导致示踪剂在河口长时间滞留。相关性分析（R²）和均方根误差（RMSE）结果表明示踪剂迁移模拟结果的可靠性高。基于本研究得到小清河口的水平湍流扩散系数（D_ξ，η）为6t^0.12 m²/s。本研究可为小清河口以及同类河口中水平湍流扩散系数的估值提供参考，对于评价污染物在同类河口中的传输行为具有指导意义。     

长江河口与瓯江河口最大浑浊带的比较研究

长江河口与瓯江河口均发育了庞大的最大浑浊带（TM），但这两条河口的河流性质、几何形态、径潮流动力条件、盐淡水混合类型和泥沙来源等差异极为明显，长江口与瓯江口TM的变化特点是：前者洪盛枯衰，后者枯盛洪衰；所在部位，前者在口门附近，后者在口门之内，研究结果表明，除了径潮流动力平均带和丰富的泥沙来源是发育长江口、瓯江河口TM的两个基本条件外，河口环流和潮汐不对称分别在长江、瓯江河口的TM形成、发育、维持过程中起了第二位作用。     

Reproductive ecology of the dominant dinoflagellate, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ceratium fusus</Emphasis>, in coastal area of Sagami Bay,Japan

The seasonal abundance of the dominant dinoflagellate, Ceratium fusus, was investigated from January 2000 to December 2003 in a coastal region of Sagami Bay, Japan. The growth of this species was also examined under laboratory conditions. In Sagami Bay, C. fusus increased significantly from April to September, and decreased from November to February, though it was found at all times through out the observation period. C. fusus increased markedly in September 2001 and August 2003 after heavy rainfalls that produced pycnoclines. Rapid growth was observed over a salinity range of 24 to 30, with the highest specific rate of 0.59 d⁻¹ measured under the following conditions: salinity 27, temperature 24°C, photon irradiance 600 μmol m⁻²s⁻¹. The growth rate of C. fusus increased with increasing irradiance from 58 to 216 μmol m⁻²s⁻¹, plateauing between 216 and 796 μmol m⁻²s⁻¹ under all temperature and salinity treatments (except at a temperature of 12°C). Both field and laboratory experiments indicated that C. fusus has the ability to grow under wide ranges of water temperatures (14–28°C), salinities (20–34), and photon irradiance (50–800 μmol m⁻²s⁻¹); it is also able to grow at low nutrient concentrations. This physiological flexibility ensures that populations persist when bloom conditions come to an end.     

春季我国不同纬度河口浮游动物群落变化趋势

根据2010-2012年春季由南向北河口海域：北仑河口、九龙江口、瓯江口、长江口和灌河口的浮游动物调查资料;通过比较不同纬度河口浮游动物群落的生物多样性指数（H''）、物种更替率（R）和群落相似系数（S）;探讨了河口浮游动物群落特征沿着不同纬度变化的趋势。结果表明;自南向北5个河口可以划分为3个不同的浮游动物区系。北仑河口和九龙江口为南部亚热带区系;位于亚热带海域;以亚热带种为主;H''分别为1.01和2.18;两河口之间R值为65.52%;S值为51.28%;瓯江口和长江口为中部过渡区系;位于亚热带和温带过渡海域;亚热带种和暖温带种是主要出现的种类;H''分别为1.31和1.86;两河口之间R值为58.33%;S值为58.82%;灌河口单独为北部温带区系;位于温带海域;暖温带种是主要出现的种类;H''值为1.19;与其余河口物种更替率均高于80.00%;群落相似系数均低于32.00%;表明群落结构由南到北的变化非常显著。线性回归结果表明：我国不同河口之间浮游动物的物种更替率与纬度差（两河口所处纬度的差值;δN）呈正相关关系（R=0.026ΔN+0.608;p=0.002）;群落相似系数与纬度差呈负相关关系（S=0.034ΔN+0.578;p=0.001）。春季;我国不同纬度河口浮游动物群落结构的变化;主要是因为影响各河口的水温和水团存在较大差别所致。     

非结构网格三维斜压模型研究人类活动对海南岛清澜潮汐汊道水动力影响

清澜潮汐汊道为海南岛东部一个典型的泻湖-潮汐汊道-沙坝系统,由于其优越的自然条件而成为开发的重点区域。近几年的人类活动主要包括:口门西侧的围填工程,航道的疏浚和八门湾泻湖内的围塘工程。采用SELFE模型,结合观测资料,研究了不同人类活动对潮汐汊道的潮波、潮通量与涨落潮历时、河口重力环流、盐水入侵和河口羽流的影响。结果表明不同的人类活动其对动力的影响不同,口门西侧围填工程减小了潮汐汊道的潮差,对潮通量和盐水入侵影响很小;航道疏浚则加大了潮差和潮通量,加强了河口环流和盐水入侵;泻湖内围塘工程使潮差有所增大,但减小了潮通量,对盐水入侵的影响不显著。口门西侧围填工程改变了河口羽流的路径,而航道疏浚则使河口羽流更加向海扩散。     

渤海湾南部滩涂贝类群落结构特征及其环境因子相关性研究

本研究以渤海湾南部(滨州)滩涂为研究区域,设置6个断面共36个采样站位,覆盖潮间带(高潮带-中潮带-低潮带)和潮下带,研究该区域贝类资源群落结构特征及其环境因子相关性。结果表明:整个调查区域常见贝类总共有30种。潮间带共有23种常见贝类,优势种为光滑篮蛤(Potamocorbula laevis Hinds 1843)、四角蛤蜊(Mactra quadrangularis Reeve 1854)、短文蛤(Meretrix petechialis Lamarck 1799);潮下带共有26种常见贝类,优势种为中国蛤蜊(Mactra chinensisi Philippi 1846)、等边浅蛤(Gomphina aequilatera Sowerby 1825)、朝鲜笋螺(Terebra koreana Yoo 1976)、红带织纹螺(Nassarius succinctus A.Adams 1852)、纵肋织纹螺(Nassarius variciferus A.Adams 1851);潮间带贝类多样性指数(H'')和均匀度指数(J'')显著高于潮下带,而丰富度指数(D)则相反;潮间带贝类生物量(710.16 g/m²)和栖息密度(4 523个/m²)远高于潮下带(17.10 g/m²,35个/m²)。群落结构多元统计分析将贝类按照站位划分为5个组群,包括东侧潮下带、西侧潮下带、西侧潮间带、东侧潮间带以及D4站位。冗余分析(RDA)结果表明,对潮间带贝类影响较大的环境因子主要为沉积物的粒径以及砂、粉砂含量,而对潮下带贝类影响较大的主要为浮游植物密度、沉积物的粒径以及砂、粉砂和黏土含量。渤海湾南部(滨州)滩涂贝类资源较为丰富,但应从不同滩涂区域生态特性的角度出发,加强贝类的保护和资源修复,本研究可为该区域贝类的资源养护和可持续利用提供数据基础。     

2014年冬季西太平洋浮游植物光合作用特征

利用浮游植物荧光仪Phyto-PAM测量了西太平洋浮游植物最大光化学量子产量、快速光曲线系数,结合相应的生态因子,对西太平洋浮游植物进行了原位光合作用特征研究。结果表明：西太平洋走航断面表层浮游植物最大光化学量子产量F_v/F_m值基本在0.2以下,而DY（大洋）断面F_v/F_m平均值仅为0.16,光能利用效率α的变化范围为0.007-0.117,平均值为0.039;相对最大电子传递速率rETRmax变化范围为6.8-113.4（μmol/（s·m²））,平均值为32.72（μmol/（s·m²））;饱和光强Ek的变化范围为60.3-1662.7（μmol/（s·m²））,平均值为846.83（μmol/（s·m²））。DY断面F_v/F_m最大值水层与DCM层（叶绿素最大层）相吻合,既保护了浮游植物光反应中心不受强烈光辐射影响,又支持了DCM层浮游植物相对较强的光合作用和对整个水体初级生产力的贡献率。DY断面浮游植物具有极低的光能利用效率却需要较高的光强来达到光饱和,导致这种生活环境下浮游植物处于一种低活衰老的状态,这是造成某些大洋海区低生产力现象出现的原因之一。     

南海北部中尺度反气旋涡的湍流混合空间分布特征

文章利用GHP细结构参数化方法和Thorpe-scale方法，分析水下滑翔机于2015年5月在南海北部采集的数据，估算了南海北部中尺度反气旋涡的湍流混合空间分布特征。结果显示该反气旋涡的混合具有明显的空间非对称性，混合率在其运动方向的后侧边缘明显增强达到O(10^-3 m²/s)量级；而在其运动方向的前侧边缘，平均混合率要小一个量级。这一混合非对称特征与中尺度的涡动能密切相关性。中尺度涡后侧边缘处存在高流速剪切，容易引起垂向剪切不稳定，可能是引起该处混合增强的主要因素。另外，中尺度涡后侧边缘发展的次中尺度过程同样导致了该处强混合。本研究结果有助于人们进一步认识南海北部的混合过程。     

Effects of irradiance on pigment signatures of harmful algae during growth process

Three harmful algal bloom (HAB) species, Phaeocystis globosa, Thalassiosira rotula, and Proro-centrum donghaiense were isolated from the coast of China and cultured in batches at three light intensities (40, 70 and 150 μmol photons·m^-2·s^-1). The variation patterns of cell numbers and growth rates with light intensity during growth process were different among species. In P. globosa and T. rotula, maximum growth rates were found at 150 μmol photons·m^-2·s^-1 and ranged from 0.60 divisions per day in T. rotula, to 1.17 divisions per day in P. globosa. The highest growth rate of P. donghaiense, however, was found at 70 μmol photons·m^-2·s^-1 (0.36 divisions per day). In general, all the three HAB species showed adaptation to increasing light intensity by decreas-ing cellular concentrations of chlorophyll a (Chl a), but the variation patterns during the growth process were species-specific. The cellular concentrations of Chl a in P. donghaiense and T. rotula increased gradually with incubation time, but the opposite trend was found in P. globosa. Most of the pigment ratios and pigment indices of these three species were nearly constant during the growth process and showed small changes at different light intensities illustrating the applicability of chemotaxonomy during the initial and developing stages of HAB events, which is very important to study the ecological issues related to HAB species. Ratios of photoprotective carotenoids, such as diadinoxanthin, diatoxanthin and β,β-carotene to total chlorophylls a (Tchl a) showed the trend of increasing with the increase of light intensity during growth process. The species-specific and pigment-specific variations in pigment ratios/indices at different light intensities during growth pro-cess probably reflected the differences in the pigment composition as well as the adaption capabilities of different species to the changes of physical conditions.     

九龙江口潮滩表层沉积物矿物磁性分异特征及其沉积环境意义

为寻找有效判别潮滩沉积微相的磁学指标,以便将环境磁学更好地应用于河口古环境演变及海平面重建,本研究在九龙江口浒茂洲东部潮滩4个亚带：高潮滩、中潮滩、低潮滩和潮下带,采集23个次表层沉积物样品,进行粒度和磁性测量。结果显示,磁性参数χ、SIRM由陆向海增大且在低潮滩和潮下带呈现显著高值,反映潮滩亚铁磁性矿物的绝对含量由陆向海增加;参数组合χ_ARM、χ_ARM/χ、χ_ARM/SIRM在高、中潮滩呈现高值,低潮滩和潮下带呈现低值,反映细颗粒SP/SD亚铁磁性矿物富集于高、中潮滩,而粗颗粒PSD/MD铁磁性矿物富集于低潮滩和潮下带,揭示九龙江河口潮滩沉积动力对磁性矿物的分选作用。磁性参数组合χ_ARM/χ、χ_ARM/SIRM可作为九龙江口高潮滩和中潮滩的有效识别指标。     

Tidal and river discharge forcing upon water and sediment circulation at a rock-bound estuary (Guadiana estuary,Portugal)

The relative impacts of tidal (neap, spring) and river discharge (including a flood event) forcing upon water and sediment circulation have been examined at the rock-bound Guadiana estuary. Near-bed and vertical profiles of current, salinity, turbidity, plus surface suspended sediment concentrations (SSC, at some stations only), were collected at the lower and central/upper estuary during tidal and fortnightly cycles. In addition, vertical salinity and turbidity profiles were collected around high and low water along the estuary. Tidal asymmetry produced faster currents on the ebb than on the flood, especially at the mouth. This pattern of seaward current dominance was enhanced with increasing river flow, due to horizontal advection that was confined within the narrow estuarine channel. The freshwater inputs and, at a degree less, the tidal range controlled the vertical mixing and stratification importance. Well-mixed (spring) and partially stratified (neap) conditions alternated during periods of low river flows, with significant intratidal variations induced by tidal straining (especially at the partially stratified estuary). Highly stratified conditions developed with increasing river discharge. Intratidal variability in the pycnocline depth and thickness resulted from current shear during the ebb. A salt wedge with tidal motion was observed at the lower estuary during the flood event. Depending on the intensity of turbulent mixing, the residual water circulation was dominantly controlled either by tidal asymmetry or gravitational circulation. The SSC was governed by cyclical local processes (resuspension, deposition, mixing, advection) driven by the neap-spring fluctuations in tidal current velocities. More, intratidal variability in stratification indicated the significance of tidal pumping at the partially and highly stratified estuary. The estuary turbidity maximum (ETM) was enhanced with increasing current velocities, and displaced downstream during periods of high river discharge. During the flood event, the ETM was expelled out of the estuary, and the SSC along the estuary was controlled by the sediment load from the drainage basin. Under these highly variable river flow conditions, our observations suggest that sand is exported to the nearshore over the long-term (>years).     

Turbulent mixing in a stratified estuarine tidal channel: Hikapu Reach,Pelorus Sound,New Zealand

Channel constrictions within an estuary can influence overall estuary-sea exchange of salt or suspended/dissolved material. The exchange is modulated by turbulent mixing through its effect on density stratification. Here we quantify turbulent mixing in Hikapu Reach, an estuarine channel in the Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand. The focus is on a period of relatively low freshwater input but where density stratification still persists throughout the tidal cycle, although the strength of stratification and its vertical structure vary substantially. The density stratification increases through the ebb tide, and decreases through the flood tide. During the spring tides observed here, ebb tidal flow speeds reached 0.7?m?s^?1 and the buoyancy frequency squared was in the range 10^?5 to 10^?3?s^?2. Turbulence parameters were estimated using both shear microstructure and velocimeter-derived inertial dissipation which compared favourably. The rate of dissipation of turbulent kinetic energy reached 1?×?10^?6?m²?s^?3 late in the ebb tide, and estimates of the gradient Richardson number (the ratio of stability to shear) fell as low as 0.1 (i.e. unstable) although the results show that bottom-boundary driven turbulence can dominate for periods. The implication, based on scaling, is that the mixing within the channel does not homogenise the water column within a tidal cycle. Scaling, developed to characterise the tidal advection relative to the channel length, shows how riverine-driven buoyancy fluxes can pass through the tidal channel section and the stratification can remain partially intact.     

Modeling residual circulation and stratification in Oujiang River estuary

A 3D,time-dependent,baroclinic,hydrodynamic and salinity model was implemented and applied to the Oujiang River estuarine system in the East China Sea.The model was driven by the forcing of tidal elevations along the open boundaries and freshwater inflows from the Oujiang River.The bottom friction coefficient and vertical eddy viscosity were adjusted to complete model calibration and verification in simulations.It is demonstrated that the model is capable of reproducing observed temporal variability in the water surface elevation and longitudinal velocity,presenting skill coefficient higher than 0.82.This model was then used to investigate the influence of freshwater discharge on residual current and salinity intrusion under different freshwater inflow conditions in the Oujiang River estuary.The model results reveal that the river channel presents a two-layer structure with flood currents near the bottom and ebb currents at the top layer in the region of seawater influenced on north shore under high river flow condition.The river discharge is a major factor affecting the salinity stratification in the estuarine system.The water exchange is mainly driven by the tidal forcing at the estuary mouth,except under high river flow conditions when the freshwater extends its influence from the river’s head to its mouth.     

Salt-wedge propagation in a Mediterranean micro-tidal river mouth

The dynamics of a seasonally formed salt-wedge propagating along the micro-tidal channel of Strymon River estuary, Northern Greece, and its consequences on river water quality, are thoroughly studied through intensive sampling campaigns. The wedge is developed at the downstream river part, under the summer limited freshwater discharge conditions (Q < 30 m³/s). The geometric features of the wedge (length and thickness) appeared directly related to Strymon River discharge. A maximum intrusion length of 4.7 km along Strymon River estuary was observed under minimum river discharge of almost 6 m³/s. Relations produced from in situ data illustrate that limited river flow expands the wedge horizontally, reducing its vertical dimension, while higher flows lead to increased wedge thickness. Estuarine flushing time ranges between 0.2 and 1.5 days, exponentially dependent on Strymon River discharge. Wedge velocities depicted tidal asymmetry between tidal phases, with consistent inward motion, even under the ebb tidal stage. Strong vertical stratification prevails throughout the tidal cycle, proving the limited vertical mixing between the two layers, although higher interfacial stresses are produced in ebb. Bottom topography plays an interesting role in wedge propagation, as the presence of an underwater sill either prevents saline intrusion during flood or isolates the front of the wedge from its core at the ebb. Ecological consequences of salt-wedge propagation in Strymon River estuary are the frequent evidence of bottom hypoxic conditions and the increased TSS levels, leading to the occurrence of a turbidity maximum at the tip of the salt-wedge. Higher BOD and ammonium levels were mostly observed at the river end, associated to point and non-point pollution sources. Nitrates and silicates were found associated with freshwater fluxes, while ammonia levels were related to saline intrusions. The reduced phosphorus freshwater fluxes, resulting from phosphorus uptake at the upstream reservoir (Kerkini Lake) and the increased bottom turbidity induced by the salt-wedge seem responsible for the limited chlorophyll-a levels along Strymon River estuary.     

长江河口北支上口不规则周期潮流的动力机制

数值模拟和动量分析长江河口北支上口枯季大潮期间 1 d内出现"四涨四落"不规则周期涨落潮流现象。长江河口北支上口 1日内两次涨潮流和两次落潮流为常规涨落潮流,受外海半日潮流控制,两次涨潮流和落潮流为非常规涨落潮流。北支上口非常规的涨潮流处于南支落潮的末期,范围小,流速弱,历时约2 h;表层主要是垂向黏滞项和水平扩散项与正压项间的作用,南向的垂向黏滞项起着决定的作用,底层则是斜压项与正压项间的作用;北支上口非常规涨潮流是北风、盐度锋面产生的南向斜压压强梯度力和南支末期落潮流的牵引作用共同造成的;径流抑制非常规涨潮流的产生,持续时间随径流量的增加呈指数递减,当径流量达到22 300 m3/s时,非常规涨潮流现象消失。北支上口非常规落潮流处于南支涨潮流的初期,由于在北支上口南支的涨潮流早于北支涨潮流,导致南支水体进入北支,形成北支上口第二次落潮流,范围较大,流速较强,历时约2.5 h,从表层至底层主要是垂向黏滞项与非线性平流项和正压项之间的作用。本文揭示了北支上口 1 d内出现"四涨四落"不规则周期涨落潮流的动力过程和机制。     

Prediction of salinity intrusion in the sheltered estuary of Terengganu River in Malaysia using 1-D empirical intrusion model

Generally one dimensional(1-D) empirical salinity intrusion model is limited to natural alluvial estuary. However,this study attempts to investigate its ability to model a sheltered alluvial estuary of the Terengganu River in Malaysia. The constructed breakwater at the mouth of the river shelters the estuary from direct influence of the open sea. The salinity density along the estuary was collected during the wet and dry seasons for scenarios before and after the constructed breakwater. Moreover, the freshwater discharges, tidal elevations and bathymetry data were also measured as model inputs. A good fit was demonstrated between simulated and observed variables,namely salinity distribution and intrusion length for both scenarios. Thus, the results show that 1-D empirical salinity model can be utilized for sheltered estuarine condition at the Terengganu Estuary, but with an appropriate determination of an initial point. Furthermore, it was observed that the salinity intrusion in the study area is largely dependent on the freshwater discharge rather than tidal elevation fluctuations. The scale of the salinity intrusion length in the study area is proportional to the river discharge of the –1/2 power. It was appeared that the two lines of the 1-D empirical salinity model and discharge power based equation fitted well to each other, with the average predicted minimum freshwater discharge of 150 m3/s is going to be required to maintain acceptable salinity levels during high water slack(HWS) near the water intake station, which is located at 10.63 km from river mouth.     

强人类活动驱动下珠江磨刀门河口径潮动力的季节性异变特征

人类活动对河口环境影响巨大,揭示在强人类活动驱动下河口径潮动力非线性相互作用的异变特征,有利于了解人类活动影响河口动力地貌的机制,对河口区水利工程建设及环境保护等具有重要指导意义。基于1960—2016年珠江磨刀门河口沿程潮位站(甘竹、竹银、灯笼山、三灶)的逐月高、低潮位数据及马口水文站的月均流量数据,统计分析了磨刀门河口在强人类活动驱动下月均水位、潮波振幅及其空间梯度(即月均水位坡度和潮波振幅衰减率)的季节性异变特征。结果表明,1990年和2000年为磨刀门河口径潮动力的异变年份, 1990年前为自然演变阶段, 2000年后为恢复调整阶段,1990—2000年为过渡阶段;高强度采砂导致的河床下切使磨刀门河口月均水位及月均水位坡度显著减小,夏季减小幅度最为明显,沿程平均分别减小0.53m和8.93×10~(-6);月均水位坡度减小导致潮波衰减效应减弱,进而使沿程潮波振幅增大,多年平均增大0.071m;磨刀门河口径潮动力相互作用具有明显的季节性差异,夏季月均水位坡度随流量增大在上游抬升明显,冬季月均水位坡度在上游显著减小,但在下游略有抬升;随着流量的增大潮波振幅的衰减作用增强,但当流量超过阈值20000m~3/s时,月均水位坡度引起的底床摩擦增大效应不足以抵消横截面积辐散效应,潮波衰减效应略有减弱。     

Stratification and salt-wedge in the Seomjin river estuary under the idealized tidal influence

Advection, straining, and vertical mixing play primary roles in the process of estuarine stratification. Estuaries can be classified as salt-wedge, partially-mixed or well-mixed depending on the vertical density structure determined by the balancing of advection, mixing and straining. In particular, straining plays a major role in the stratification of the estuarine water body along the estuarine channel. Also, the behavior of a salt wedge with a halocline shape in a stratified channel can be controlled by the competition between straining and mixing induced by buoyancy from the riverine source and tidal forcing. The present study uses Finite Volume Coastal Ocean Model (FVCOM) to show that straining and vertical mixing play major roles in controlling along-channel flow and stratification structures in the Seomjin river estuary (SRE) under idealized conditions. The Potential Energy Anomaly (PEA) dynamic equation quantifies the governing processes thereby enabling the determination of the stratification type. By comparing terms in the equation, we examined how the relative strengths of straining and mixing alter the stratification types in the SRE due to changes in river discharge and the depth resulting from dredging activities. SRE under idealized tidal forcing tends to be partially-mixed based on an analysis of the balance between terms and the vertical structure of salinity, and the morphological and hydrological change in SRE results in the shift of stratification type. While the depth affects the mixing, the freshwater discharge mainly controls the straining, and the balance between mixing and straining determines the final state of the stratification in an estuarine channel. As a result, the development and location of a salt wedge along the channel in a partially mixed and highly stratified condition is also determined by the ratio of straining to mixing. Finally, our findings confirm that the contributions of mixing and straining can be assessed by using the conventional non-dimensional parameters with respect to salt-wedge behavior.     

Methodology for estimation of river discharge and application of the Zhujiang River Estuary(ZRE)

The ZRE is a very complicated estuary with multi-river inlets. The total sum of river discharge in the upstream(away from the tidal influence region) of the Zhujiang River can be easily measured. However, when the total river discharges into the estuary from eight inlets, it is a very difficult task to obtain a continuous river discharge flux data from each branch of the Zhujiang River. However, the different ratios of river discharges between the river branches can significantly affect the estuarine circulation feature and baroclinic process. Moreover, the accuracy of numerical forecast for the estuarine circulation is very much dependent on the accuracy of the time history of the river discharge flux for each branch. Therefore, it is important to estimate river discharge from each branch in order to improve the accuracy of the model forecast for the circulation of the ZRE. The development of a new estimation method of the river discharges is focused on based on the system identification theory, numerical modeling and the time history data from the CODAR observed sea surface current. The new approach has been appfied to estimating the time history (hourly) of river discharge from each branch in the upstream of the ZRE.     

River discharge controls phytoplankton dynamics in the northern San Francisco Bay estuary

Phytoplankton dynamics in the upper reach of the northern San Francisco Bay estuary are usually characterized by low biomass dominated by microflagellates or freshwater diatoms in winter, and high biomass dominated by neritic diatoms in summer. During two successive years of very low river discharge (the drought of 1976-77), the summer diatom bloom was absent. This is consistent with the hypothesis that formation of the diatom population maximum is a consequence of the same physical mechanisms that create local maxima of suspended sediments in partially-mixed estuaries: density-selective retention of particles within an estuarine circulation cell. Because the estuary is turbid, calculated phytoplankton growth rates are small in the central deep channel but are relatively large in lateral shallow embayments where light limination is less severe. When river discharge falls within a critical range (100–350 m³ s^?1) that positions the suspended particulate maximum adjacent to the productive shallow bays, the population of neritic diatoms increases. However, during periods of high discharge (winter) or during periods of very low discharge (drought), the suspended particulate maximum is less well-defined and is uncoupled (positioned downstream or upstream) from the shallow bays of the upper estuary, and the population of neritic diatoms declines. Hence, the biomass and community composition of phytoplankton in this estuary are controlled by river discharge.