Mechanisms leading to the frequent occurrences of hypoxia and a preliminary analysis of the associated acidification off the Changiiang estuary in summer

Based on literature data and shipboard observations,this study investigated the main environmental characteristics of the seafloor topography,current field,front,and upwelling that are closely related to hypoxia occurrence off the Changjiang estuary.The physical processes of the plume front and upwelling off the Changjiang estuary in summer were coupled.The vertical distribution pattern of the plume front was closely related to the upwelling.By reviewing and analyzing the historical summer hypoxia events off the Changjiang estuary,we statistically demonstrated the spatial structure of the horizontal distribution of the hypoxic zone and investigated the location of occurrence zone of the hypoxia.We found that the dissolved oxygen(DO)concentration on the inner continental shelf off the estuary showed a"V"shape in relation to station depth.Therefore,we noted that the hypoxic water on the inner continental shelf mostly occurred on the slopes with steep seafloor topography.Base on the current understanding of the hypoxic mechanisms off the Changjiang estuary,we analyzed the biogeochemical mechanisms that could cause the steep terrain off the Changjiang estuary to become the main areas prone to summer hypoxia and explained the internal relations between the location of the hypoxic zone on the slopes and the plume front and upwelling.The plume front and upwelling off the Changjiang estuary and their coupling were important driving forces of summer hypoxia.The continuous supply of nutrients affected by the interaction of the plume front extension of the Changjiang Diluted Water(CDW)and upwelling and the favorable light conditions were important mechanisms causing the phytoplankton blooms and benthic hypoxia off the Changjiang estuary in summer.By analyzing oxygen utilization,organic carbon mineralization,and nutrient regeneration in the hypoxic zone,we observed that the significant oxygen utilization process off the Changjiang estuary in summer also mainly occurred near the steep slopes with front and upwelling features and confirmed the apparent nutrient loss in the benthic hypoxic zone.Meanwhile,our analysis revealed that the sediment resuspension in the benthic boundary layer in the mud areas off the Changjiang estuary could also affect the oxygen utilization and mineralization of organic carbon and nutrient recycling and regeneration.This study also demonstrated that the steep terrain off the Changjiang estuary was the main location for summer acidification,and the coupling between the plume front and upwelling on the steep slopes was an important physical driving force inducing summer benthic acidification.Finally,we discussed issues to address in future studies of the hypoxic zone and water acidification off the Changjiang estuary.     

环境恶化导致我国东部夏季频现北旱南涝

根据延伸的我国晴空总辐射量和夏季气候的关系,本文再次确认反映大气污染程度的晴空太阳辐射减少对我国近年来夏季频现的北旱南涝产生显著影响．同时。它还对随后2年以上的我国北方沙地面积的扩张起相当作用．较全面研究了近年来我国东部夏季北旱南涝加速发展的前期成因。认为这是包含空气质量,土地沙化在内的我国整个生态环境快速恶化并受到温室效应和“亚洲棕云”更大范围环境变化影响的综合结果．理应引起我们高度警惕．     

Tidally induced upwelling off Yangtze River estuary and in Zhejiang coastal waters in summer

MASNUM wave-tide-circulation coupled numerical model (MASNUM coupled model, hereinafter) is de-veloped based on the Princeton Ocean Model (POM). Both POM and MASNUM coupled model are ap-plied in the numerical simulation of the upwelling off Yangtze River estuary and in Zhejiang coastal waters in summer. The upwelling mechanisms are analyzed from the viewpoint of tide, and a new mechanism is proposed. The study suggests that the tidally inducing mechanism of the upwelling in-cludes two dynamic aspects: the barotropic and the baroclinic process. On the one hand, the residual currents induced by barotropic tides converge near the seabed, and upwelling is generated to maintain mass conservation. The climbing of the residual currents along the sea bottom slope also contributes to the upwelling. On the other hand, tidal mixing plays a very important role in inducing the upwelling in the baroclinic sea circumstances. Strong tidal mixing leads to conspicuous front in the coastal waters. The considerable horizontal density gradient across the front elicits a secondary circulation clinging to the tidal front, and the upwelling branch appears near the frontal zone. Numerical experiments are de-signed to determine the importance of tide in inducing the upwelling. The results indicate that tide is a key and dominant inducement of the upwelling. Experiments also show that coupling calculation of the four main tidal constituents (M2, S2, K1, and O1), rather than dealing with the single M2 constituent, im-proves the modeling precision of the barotropic tide-induced upwelling.     

Recognition on the forming-vanishing process and underlying mechanisms of the hypoxia off the Yangtze River estuary

On the basis of compiled multidisciplinary historical data in 2006–2007 and incorporation of relevant simulation results and remote sensing data, we performed an in-depth study of the generation and dissipation process of the hypoxic zone and its distribution morphology and structure off the Yangtze River estuary. Based on the hydrological circulation dynamics, reproduction of phytoplankton(leading to the decomposition of organic matter), and other factors, we comprehensively and systematically investigated the generation and dissipation of the hypoxic zone and underlying mechanisms for the seasonal variation in its position, explored the multi-factorial synergistic reactions during the generation and dissipation process of the hypoxic zone, and revealed the controlled mechanism for the morphology and structure of the hypoxic zone's distribution. Our studies indicate that in the winter and spring seasons, the hydrological environment off the Yangtze River estuary provides a water body with relatively low contents of dissolved oxygen(DO), which is the background for the formation of a hypoxic zone. After entering into the summer season, the hypoxic zone gradually develops towards the north and becomes mature. Because of the impact of the terrain, local decomposition of organic matter, and upwelling of the Kuroshio subsurface water in July–August, the hypoxic zone off the Yangtze River estuary exhibits the characteristics of discontinuous distribution in space and has a south and north "dual-core" structure in the inner continental shelf. In addition, there is a hypoxic core in the eastern outer continental shelf. The degrees of hypoxia vary for different areas; they are strongest overall in the north, next strongest in the south; they are weakest on the outer continental shelf. In summer, the hypoxic zone in the north is related to the northward differentiation of the southern hypoxic zone and results from local development and intensification. In August, the hypoxic zone in the north reaches its peak, and after September, it rapidly retreats southward and disappears because of weakening stratification. In the fall, there is hypoxic zone along the coast of Zhejiang in the south, and there is also a low-DO area to the southwest of Jeju Island, with both zones disappearing rapidly. In addition, the change of dynamic environment also causes the low-DO area of the outer continental shelf to move outward in the fall. The variation in the intensity of the stratification and its cumulative effects as a barrier of vertical DO transportation over long periods of time have a significant impact on the degree of hypoxia in the hypoxic zone. In addition, the seasonal variations in the size of the stratified region, intensity of each current system/water mass, upwelling, front, and high-value area of phytoplankton biomass jointly restrict the extension of the hypoxic zone in the inner continental shelf and latitudinal(south-north direction) movement of its location off the Yangtze River estuary. The combined effect of dynamic factors, such as that of the Kuroshio subsurface water, causes a low-DO core in the outer continental shelf. The bottom cold water to the north of the East China Sea is the dynamic basis for the formation of the low-DO area to the southwest of Jeju Island during the fall season. The special seabed topography and mud area distribution off the Yangtze River estuary have a certain degree of influence on the development of the hypoxic zone. The generation and dissipation of the hypoxic zone and its distribution morphology off the Yangtze River estuary, and seasonal variation of its structure and position are a result of the synergistic effects of various factors.     

Distribution of chlorophyll-a off the Changjiang River and its dynamic cause interpretation

Red tide,also called harmful algal bloom interna-tionally,is a disaster abnormal phenomenon of oceanecology with an explosive breed or dense assemble ofone or several phytoplanktons in a specific ocean en-vironment condition,colors the seawater,influencesand harms ocean living things.The formation of redtide is controlled mainly by a complex interplay ofbiological,physical and chemical processes,but themost main cause influencing the occurrence of red tideis the seawater eutrophication,i.e.,the…     

Predicting summer hypoxia in the northern Gulf of Mexico: redux

We report on the evolution and accuracy of a model used to predict the mid-summer area of hypoxia (oxygen ≤2 mg l(-1)) in the northern Gulf of Mexico, use it to test for impacts from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill (2010), and estimate the N loading that would meet a management goal. The prediction since 2000 were 100%±6% (μ±1 SE) of the actual value. The predicted in 2010 was 99% of that actual value, suggesting that the net effect of the 2010 oil spill on the hypoxic zone size was negligible. A tropical storm, however, may have reduced the potential size of the hypoxic zone. Lowering the May nitrogen load to about 70,000 mton N nitrate+nitrite would bring the model's predicted hypoxic zone size down to the management goal of 5000 km(2) and restore hypoxic waters to normoxic conditions.     

Vertical dynamics of summer phytoplankton in a stratified estuary (Gulf of Finland,Baltic Sea)

We present the results of multiparametric observations designed to follow the phytoplankton dynamics and interrelated physical, chemical and biological processes in the Gulf of Finland (Baltic Sea). Data were acquired by an autonomous moored water column profiler, an acoustic Doppler current profiler, a flow-through system installed aboard a ferry and by profiling and discrete water sampling aboard research vessels in July and August 2009. The main aim of the study was to investigate the processes responsible for the formation and maintenance of sub-surface maxima of phytoplankton biomass. We suggest that the environmental conditions caused by the prevailing atmospheric and oceanographic forcing (wind; vertical stratification; basin-wide, mesoscale and sub-mesoscale processes) are preferred by certain species/taxonomic groups and explain the migration patterns of phytoplankton. Nocturnal downward migration of phytoplankton with a swimming speed up to 1.6 m h⁻¹ occurred when the community was dominated by the dinoflagellate Heterocapsa triquetra. The observed splitting of the population into two vertically separated biomass maxima suggests that the H. triquetra cells, which reached the sub-surface layers with high nutrient concentrations, experienced bi-diurnal or asynchronous (when swimming upwards) vertical migration. The most intense sub-surface biomass maxima, on some occasions with the biomass much higher than that in the surface layer, were detected in connection to the sub-mesoscale intrusions below the depth of the strongest vertical density gradient.     

长江口中华绒螯蟹亲体捕捞量现状及波动原因

对二十多年来抚仙湖表层湖水中藻类的第一手监测资料做了比较系统的分析研究,以揭示其发展趋势与成因.结果表明,抚仙湖浮游植物生物量增长了10.5倍,种群结构从45种增加到78种,主要原因是入湖TN、TP滞留率高达88.5%和93%,星云湖泄水高浓度藻量,为抚仙湖藻类增长提供了种源及营养源.     

Effects of the Changjiang river discharge on sea surface warming in the Yellow and East China Seas in summer

This study explores the effects of the Changjiang (also called the Yangtze River) river discharge (CRD) on the density stratifications and associated sea surface temperature (SST) changes using a global ocean general circulation model with regional focus on the Yellow and East China Seas (YECS). It is found that CRD increases the SST in summer through a barrier layer (BL) formation that tends to enhance stratification at the mixed layer base, and thus reduces both vertical mixing and entrainment. This process is effective, particularly in August, after the CRD reaches its maximum in July. The SST difference between the composites of flood and drought years confirms that the surface warming is related to surface freshening by the CRD. This result suggests that the BL induced by the CRD is an important contributor to the surface heat budget in the YECS.     

Surface heat budget of a polynya in the coastal waters off Queen Maud Land, Antarctica, during austral summer

The daily surface heat budget of a polynya in the coastal waters off Queen Maud Land, Antarctica is studied for the period from 23 December 1986 to February 1987 using the surface meteorological data collected on board the Swedish vessel M.S. Thuleland.The incoming solar radiation was found to be the most important component in the surface heat budget; its mean value for the study period was found to be about 209 W m⁻². The latent and sensible heat fluxes were found in opposition and nearly balancing each other out. The average net heat gain over the polynya, for the study period, was 141 W m⁻². From the mean heat storage values obtained from the temperature profiles, the heat gain at the surface is seen to be almost lost through advection and other interior physical processes in the top 50 m layer of the water column. This is reflected in sea surface temperature which was almost steady during the study period.     

Variability of the subtropical shelf front off eastern South America: Winter 2003 and summer 2004

Hydrographic data collected during surveys carried out in austral winter 2003 and summer 2004 are used to analyze the distributions of temperature (T) and salinity (S) over the continental shelf and slope of eastern South America between 27°S and 39°S. The water mass structure and the characteristics of the transition between subantarctic and subtropical shelf water (STSW), referred to as the subtropical shelf front (STSF), as revealed by the vertical structure of temperature and salinity are discussed. During both surveys, the front intensifies downward and extends southwestward from the near coastal zone at 33°S to the shelf break at 36°S. In austral winter subantarctic shelf water (SASW), derived from the northern Patagonia shelf, forms a vertically coherent cold wedge of low salinity waters that locally separate the outer shelf STSW from the fresher inner shelf Plata Plume Water (PPW) derived from the Río de la Plata. Winter T–S diagrams and cross-shelf T and S distributions indicate that mixtures of PPW and tropical water only occur beyond the northernmost extent of pure SASW, and form STSW and an inverted thermocline characteristic of this region. In summer 2004, dilution of Tropical water (TW) occurs at two distinct levels: a warm near surface layer, associated to PPW–TW mixtures, similar to but significantly warmer than winter STSW, and a colder (T∼16 °C) salinity minimum layer at 40–50 m depth, created by SASW–STSW mixtures across the STSF. In winter, the salinity distribution controls the density structure creating a cross-shore density gradient, which prevents isopycnal mixing across the STSF. Temperature stratification in summer induces a sharp pycnocline providing cross-shelf isopycnal connections across the STSF. Cooling and freshening of the upper layer observed at stations collected along the western edge of the Brazil Current suggest offshore export of shelf waters. Low T and S filaments, evident along the shelf break in the winter data, suggest that submesoscale eddies may enhance the property exchange across the shelf break. These observations suggest that as the subsurface shelf waters converge at the STSF, they flow southward along the front and are expelled offshore, primarily along the front axis.     

Seismic analysis of coupled soil-pile-structure systems leading to the definition of a pseudo-natural SSI frequency

The elastodynamic response of coupled soil-pile-structure systems to seismic loading is studied using rigorous three-dimentional (3D) finite element models. The system under investigation comprises of a single pile supporting a single degree of freedom (SDOF) structure founded on a homogeneous viscoelastic soil layer over rigid rock. Parametric analyses are carried out in the frequency domain, focusing on the dynamic characteristics of the structure, as affected by typical foundation properties such as pile slenderness and soil-pile relative stiffness. Numerical results demonstrate the strong influence on effective natural SSI period of the foundation properties and the crucial importance of cross swaying-rocking stiffness of the pile. Furthermore, the notion of a pseudo-natural SSI frequency is introduced, as the frequency where pile-head motion is minimized with respect to free field surface motion. Dynamic pile bending is examined and the relative contributions of kinematic and inertial interaction, as affected by the frequency content of input motion, are elucidated.     

Predicting summer hypoxia in the northern Gulf of Mexico: riverine N, P, and Si loading

We conducted a statistical analysis to discern the relative strengths of the loading of various forms of nitrogen, phosphorus, dissolved silicate and their molar ratios on the variance in the size of the summertime low oxygen zone found off the Mississippi River, northern Gulf of Mexico. A stable statistical model that included Year and riverine nitrate+nitrite loading for the 2 months prior to the measurement of hypoxic zone size described 82% of its variation in size from 1978 to 2004. The usefulness of the term Year is consistent with the documented increase in carbon stored in sediments after the 1970s, which is when the hypoxic zone is predicted to have become a regular feature on the shelf and to have expanded westward. The increased carbon storage is anticipated to cause a sedimentary respiratory demand influencing the size of the zone, and whose temporal influence is cumulative and transcends the annual variations in nitrogen loading. The variable Year is negatively correlated with the TN:TP ratio in a way that suggests N, not P, has become more important as a factor limiting phytoplankton growth in the last 20 years. Nitrogen, in particular nitrate+nitrite, and not phosphorus, dissolved silicate, or their molar ratios, appears to be the major driving factor influencing the size of the hypoxic zone on this shelf. This conclusion is consistent with cross-system analyses that conclude that the TN:TP ratio in the Mississippi River, currently fluctuating around 20:1, is indicative of nitrogen, not phosphorus, limitation of phytoplankton growth. Nutrient management that places stronger emphasis on reducing nitrogen loading as compared to phosphorus loading, is justified.     

The distribution and transportation of fine-grained sediments on the inner continental shelf off the Keum River estuary,Korea

A study of suspended particulate matter in the Keum estuary and the adjacent continental shelf, southeastern Yellow Sea, showed that most of the suspended matter (average amount of2.7 × 10⁴ tons in October 1980) is derived from the Keum River and the major dispersal directions are westward and southwestward. Associated investigations of the clay mineral and trace element of the bottom sediment in the same study area confirmed that the bulk of fine-grained sediments derived from the Keum River and its estuary probably is dispersed essentially to the southwest, but indicated that less significant amounts are dispersed to the west or northwest.     

Lateral dynamics and associated transport of sediment in the upper reaches of a partially mixed estuary,Chesapeake Bay,USA

Data from time series of transects made over a tidal period across a section of the upper Chesapeake Bay, USA, reveal the influence of lateral dynamics on sediment transport in an area with a deep channel and broad extents of shallower flanks. Contributions to lateral momentum by rotation (Coriolis plus channel curvature), cross channel density gradients and cross channel surface slope were estimated, and the friction and acceleration terms needed to complete the balance were compared to patterns of observed lateral circulation. During ebb, net rotation effects were larger because of river velocity and reinforcement of Coriolis by curvature. During flood, stratification was greater because of landward advection of strong vertical density gradients. Together, the ebb intensified lateral circulation and flood intensified stratification focused sediment and sediment transport along the left side of the estuary (looking seaward). The tendency for greater stratification on flood and net sediment flux toward the left-hand shoal are contrary to more common models which, in the northern hemisphere, predict greater resuspension on flood and move sediment toward the right-hand shoal. These tidal asymmetries interact with the lateral circulation to focus net sediment flux on the left side of the estuary, and to produce net ebb directed sediment transport at the surface of the same order of magnitude as net flood directed sediment transport at the bottom.     

Multi-source water pollution in a highly anthropized wetland system associated with the estuary of Huelva (SW Spain)

Major ions, nutrients, trace elements and pesticides distribution were studied in a coastal wetland heavily impacted by human development in Spain. Past land use has altered the local hydrodynamics leading to the partitioning of the ecosystem into a tideland subject to marine influence, and an artificial freshwater reservoir created by stream impoundment. The tideland stretch is flooded twice a day with a heavy metal plume that emerges from the mine-polluted estuary of Huelva and propagates landward depicting the same dispersal trend of major seawater ions. Additionally, the tidal channel receives acid discharges from industrial point sources that contribute to metal enhancement. The impounded area and stream tributaries are affected by agrochemicals runoff (nitrate, phosphate, pendimethalin, simazine, diuron and therbuthylazine) from surrounding agricultural lands. The tidal regime plays a crucial role in the transport and dispersion of pollutants, except in the artificial reservoir where freshwater exhibits a seasonal mineralization pattern.     

北极海冰与夏季欧亚遥相关型年际变化的联系及对我国夏季降水的影响

本文利用NCEP/NCAR等再分析资料和CAM3.1数值模式研究了夏季欧亚中高纬遥相关型年际变率与前期春季北极海冰变化的联系及其对我国夏季降水影响的可能机制.结果表明,夏季北大西洋-欧亚中高纬地区500 hPa位势高度场自然正交分解第二模态表现为"-+-+"遥相关波列,其中格陵兰岛-北大西洋和乌拉尔山地区为异常高空槽区所控制,而欧洲和贝加尔湖附近地区则为异常高压脊区,这种波列分布与欧亚中高纬EU型遥相关型十分类似.当遥相关波列为"-+-+"（"+-+-"）型分布时,前期春季巴伦支海北部和巴芬湾一带海冰偏少（多）,同期夏季巴伦支海北部一带海冰亦持续偏少（多）,同时在我国东北北部地区、长江和黄河之间地区降水明显偏少（多）.深入分析发现,巴伦支海北部和巴芬湾一带海冰偏少后,由于该地区湍流热通量明显偏强,在动力过程影响方面会形成异常Rossby波源,准定常Rossby波活动通量将向东亚地区传播,使得夏季欧亚中高纬"-+-+"遥相关波列出现.另外,海冰异常偏少后,在热动力过程影响方面,4-5月欧亚中高纬乌拉尔山-贝加尔湖以北地区积雪会出现"西少东多"偶极子型异常分布,其通过影响后期土壤湿度及下垫面热通量异常,也有利于夏季欧亚中高纬遥相关波列的维持.伴随着欧亚中高纬"-+-+"遥相关波列的出现,乌山阻塞高压偏弱,东亚槽偏浅,且亚洲副热带急流随之加强,贝加尔湖以北的副极地地区出现西风异常,东亚副热带急流北侧出现东风异常,贝加尔湖以南地区为异常反气旋控制,南下冷空气活动减弱.受到上述环流形势影响,我国东北北部地区、黄河和长江之间地区降水明显偏少.当巴伦支海北部和巴芬湾区域海冰偏多时,结论则反之.最后,基于春季海冰指数和晚春偶极子型积雪指数,我们建立了江淮流域夏季降水的预测模型,回报结果表明其对江淮流域夏季降水的年际变率具有较高的预测技巧.     

Numerical simulation and analysis of the mean coastal circulation off California

A two-dimensional numerical model is applied to a coastal ocean wherein alongshore elevation and density gradients, normally calculated by a three-dimensional model, are instead supplied by climatologically averaged data for the California Current System between 25 and 40°N. Surface wind stress is also obtained from climatological data. Both surface and bottom boundary layers are resolved in the model calculations; a second moment turbulence closure submodel supplies vertical diffusivities. Near steady state solutions are possible when surface buoyancy flux is imposed at the surface.Model results are as follows: Southward wind stress produces a broad equatorward current with an embedded coastal jet in accordance with previous studies. Positive wind stress curl reduces the jet current and produces a poleward undercurrent which then surfaces as the curl is increased. The jet currents are reduced and poleward flow increases as bottom steepness increases; to a lesser extent, inclusion of the beta effect has a similar effect. The existence of near bottom, poleward or equatorward flow is explained rather simply in terms of the bottom stress resulting from the alongshore balance of surface wind stress and vertically integrated pressure gradient, the latter involving the alongshore surface elevation and density gradient. A further finding is that the upwelling circulation associated with wind stress is confined to the top 200 to 300 m of the ocean along the California coast.     

青海地区强震活动的统计分析及预报探讨

从统计的角度出发，研究了青海地区１９９３年Ｍ≥６强震的发生概率，在此基础上应用非线性最小二乘法拟合的Ｇｏｍｐｅｒｔｚ与Ｌｏｇｉｓｔｉｃ曲线模型以及可公度模型对该区Ｍ≥６．５强震进行了预测探索。结果表明，１９９３年该地区Ｍ≥６强震的发生概率将达到０．７６－０．８７，１９９３－１９９４年有可能发生Ｍ≥６．５强震。