A multilayer study of pCO2 in the surface waters of the Yellow and South China Seas in spring and the sea-air carbon dioxide flux

A multilayer study of pCO₂ for the Yellow and South China Seas in the surface waters was conducted based on data from four cruises sponsored by the China SOLAS Project in 2005 and 2006, including data for the surface microlayer (SML), subsurface layer (SSL) and surface layer (SL). The carbon fluxes across the air-sea interface were calculated. The results showed that the pCO₂ values in the surface waters of the study area decreased in the following order: pCO_{2 SML} > pCO_{2 SSL} > pCO_{2 SL}. The highest values were found in March for all SML, SSL and SL, followed by those in April, and the lowest were in May. The pCO₂ values had a significant positive correlation with temperature or salinity. While there was no relationship between pCO₂ and longitude, there was a significant negative correlation between it and latitude, i.e., ‘high latitude low pCO₂’. By using four calculation models, the carbon dioxide fluxes ( ) in spring in the Yellow and South China Seas, which were found to act as a ‘sink’ of atmospheric CO₂, were preliminarily estimated on the basis of the pCO₂ data in the SML to be −7.00×10⁶t C and −22.35×10⁶t C, respectively. It is suggested that the calculated on the basis of pCO₂ data in the SML is more reliable than that calculated on the basis of those in the SL.     

Multilayer distribution of carbon dioxide system in surface water of the Yellow Sea in spring

Surface water can be divided into three layers from top downward: surface microlayer (SML, thickness≤50 μm), subsurface layer (SSL, ≈25 cm) and surface layer (SL, 1–5m), among which the SML plays an important role on sea-air interaction because of its unique physical-chemical property. Carbon dioxide system including DIC (dissolved inorganic carbon), Alk (alkalinity), pH and pCO2 (partial pressure of CO2) in multilayered waters of the Yellow Sea was studied for the first time in March and May 2005. The results show that: DIC and Alk are obviously enriched in SML. The contents of DIC, Alk and pCO2 become lower in turn from SML, SSL to SL, higher in March and lower in May, whereas for pH it was opposite. The relationship between DIC and Alk is clearly positive, but negative between pH and pCO2. Meanwhile, pCO2 and temperature/salinity is also in positive relation, pCO2 decreases with latitude increase. DIC and Alk show a similar variation trend with the maximum at 02:00–03:00, but pH and pCO2 show an opposite pattern. In addition, the distribution patterns are similar to each other in the three layers. The Yellow Sea is shown to be a sink of atmospheric CO2 in spring by two methods: (1) comparing pCO2 in seawater and atmosphere; (2) turning direction of “pH-depth” curve. Calculation on the base of pCO2 data in SML in four models shows that carbon flux in spring in the area was about -6.96×106 t C.     

pCO2 and carbon fluxes across sea-air interface in the Changjiang Estuary and Hangzhou Bay

Partial pressure of CO2(pCO2) was investigated in the Changjiang(Yangtze River) Estuary,Hangzhou Bay and their adjacent areas during a cruise in August 2004,China.The data show that pCO2 in surface waters of the studied area was higher than that in the atmosphere with only exception of a patch east of Zhoushan Archipelago.The pCO2 varied from 168 to 2 264 μatm,which fell in the low range compared with those of other estuaries in the world.The calculated sea-air CO2 fluxes decreased offshore and varied from -10.0 to 88.1 mmol m-2 d-1 in average of 24.4 ± 16.5 mmol m-2 d-1.Although the area studied was estimated only 2 × 104 km2,it emitted(5.9 ± 4.0) × 103 tons of carbon to the atmosphere every day.The estuaries and their plumes must be further studied for better understanding the role of coastal seas playing in the global oceanic carbon cycle.     

Distribution of Dissolved Inorganic Carbon （DIC） and Its Related Parameters in Seawater of the North Yellow Sea and off the Qingdao Coast in October, 2007

Data on the distribution of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) were obtained from two cruises in the North Yellow Sea (NYS) and off the Qingdao Coast (QC) in October, 2007. Carbonate parameters were calculated. The concentrations of DIC are from 1.896–2.229 mmolL⁻¹ in the NYS and from 1.939–2.032 mmolL⁻¹ off the QC. In the southwest of the NYS, DIC in the upper layers decreases from the north of the SP (Shandong Peninsula) shelf to the center of the NYS; whereas in the lower layers DIC increases from the north of the SP shelf to the center of the NYS and South Yellow Sea. In the northeast of the NYS, DIC in all layers increases from the YR (Yalu River) estuary to the centre of the NYS. The distribution of DIC in NYS can be used as an indicator of Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass (YSCWM). Air-sea CO₂ fluxes were calculated using three models and the results suggest that both the NYS and the QC waters are potential sources of atmospheric CO₂ in October.     

Fouling acorn barnacles in China—a review

We review the species composition,distribution, and seasonal variation of fouling acorn barnacles in Chinese waters-from Bohai Sea and Yellow Sea to East and South China Seas. Thirty-two species of acorn barnacles were found, of which, the dominant species are Amphibalanus amphitrite, A. reticulatus, A. variegates, Balanus trigonus, Fistulobalanus kondakovi, Megabalanus tintinnabulum, Striatobalanus amaryllis, and Eurapha withersi in the fouling communities. A. amphitrite is the dominant species in the coastal waters of Bohai Sea and Yellow Sea and A. reticulatus is dominant in the East and South China Seas. The settlement period of fouling acorn barnacles is usually in summer and autumn. From north to south with the decrease of latitude, their settlement period obviously extends, even to the whole year, and the species number also increases.0ther environmental factors, such as salinity and distance from shore, also play an important role in the distribution of fouling acorn barnacles.     

The distribution of dissolved aluminum in the Yellow and East China Seas

Water samples containing dissolved aluminum were collected from the Yellow and East China Seas in October-November 2000. The average concentrations of dissolved AI in the Yellow Sea （YS） and East China Sea （ECS） were 0.042 and 0.056 μ molL^-1, respectively. The concentration of dissolved aluminum decreased gradually across the continental shelf. The lower concentrations appeared in the YS cold water center and in the bottom layer at the shelf edge of the ECS, where they were 0.016 and 0.011 μmolL^-1, respectively. The distribution of dissolved Al was controlled by physical mixing processes rather than biological uptake processes. The impact of different water masses along the PN transect was calculated based on the mass balance model. The results show that the impact of the Changjiang River was mainly concentrated on the coastal area and the top thermocline water on the ECS shelf, where the impact percentage decreased from 12.6% to 1.1% in the surface water, while the contribution of the Kuroshio water was dominant on the ECS shelf in this survey, increasing from 77.6% to 97,8% along the PN transect from the Changjiang River Estuary to the Ryukyu Islands. It is concluded that aluminum can serve as a proper tracer for studying the impact of Changjiang terrestrial matter on the ECS shelf water.     

BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL STUDIES OF SEA-SURFACE MICROLAYER （SML） IN DAYA BAY, CHINA IIA. BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SML AND THE CORRELATION AMONG THEM

Two cruises for multi-discipline investigation were conducted in October and November,1998 in Daya Bay to collect: (1) samples from five levels including sea-surface microlayer (SML), subsurface (SSL), surface, body (mid-column) and bottom water; and (2) observational data on chlorephylla and notri-eras, and important factors such as turbidity, BOD, COD, TN, TP and phytoplanklon. Results showed that there was no enrichment of chlorophyll-a in the SML, but quite notable enrichment of some organic matter and nutrients. Compared with the findings in earlier researches, PO4^-P and SiO3-Si have decreased, and the N/P ratio has increased obviously to even more than 100 in the SML. It is concluded preliminarily that PO4-P and SiO3-Si mainly determine phytoplankton growth in Daya Bay at present.     

Dissolved oxygen distribution and O2 fluxes across the sea-air interface in East China Sea waters

This study on the sectional and vertical distribution of dissolved oxygen (DO) and the O₂ fluxes across the sea-air interface in East China Sea (ESC) waters shows that the waters were in steady state and that the difference of DO was great in upper and bottom waters in Apr. 1994; but that seawater mixing was strong and the difference of DO was small in upper and bottom waters in Oct. 1994. The above conclusions were specially obvious in continental shelf waters under 100 m. The DO maximum in subsurface layer waters appeared only at several stations and in general the DO in the waters decreased with depth. The horizontal distributions of O₂ fluxes across the sea-air interface appeared in stripes in Leg 9404 when most regions covered were supersaturated with O₂ seawater to air flux was large, and that on section No. 1 was 1.594 L/m²·d. The horizontal distribution of O₂ fluxes across the sea-air interface appeared lumpy in Leg 9410, when most regions covered were unsaturated with O₂·O₂ was dissolved from air to seawater, and the fluxes were 0.819 L/m²·d on section No. 1 in Leg 9310, 0.219 L/m²·d in Leg 9410. The main reasons for DO change in surface layer seawater were the mixture of upper and bottom layer water, and the exchange of O₂ across the sea-air interface. The variation of DO by biological activity was only 20% of total change of DO. Contribution No. 2716 from Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.     

Viscosity of sea surface microlayer in Jiaozhou Bay and adjacent sea area

This study on the temporal and spatial variability of the viscosity and some chemical parameters in the sea surface microlayer (SML), the relationship between the viscosity and chemical parameters, and the influence of the viscosity on the mass transfer coefficient (K) in the flux of materials through the air-sea interface revealed that: The values of viscosity and some chemical parameters in the SML are higher than those in the sub-surface layer (SSL), and at daytime are higher than those at night. The viscosity has positive corelation with chemical oxygen demand (COD),dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and salinity. The “SML effect“ on K need not be considered because the SML effect on materials concentration is so small.     

Distribution of biomass of heterotrophic bacterioplankton in the Bohai Sea

Distribution, variation and impact factors of biomass of bacterioplankton from April to May 1999 in Bohai Sea were studied in DAPI method with epifluorescence microscopy. The biomass in surface waters showed a small day-night variation, varying from 0.13 to 2.51μg/dm^3 with an average of 0.84μg/dm^3. The biomass in bottom waters showed, however, a large variation, changing from 0.15 to 4.18μg/dm^3 with an average of 1.36μg/dm^3. The peak values occurred at 5 and 11 a.m. The bottom water biomass showed a significant correlation with particulate organic carbon （r=0.639, P〈0.05）. Heterotrophic bacterioplankton biomass was high in nearshore waters and low in offshore areas with a high biomass zone around Huanghe （Yellow） River mouth, showing the same distribution of nutrients. In vertical distribution, heterotrophic bacteria biomass in bottom waters was higher than that in surface water.     

Seasonality and causes of the Yellow Sea Warm Current

To study the seasonality and causes of the Yellow Sea Warm Current (YSWC) in detail, rotated empirical orthogonal function (REOF) and extended associate pattern analysis are adopted with daily sea surface salinity (SSS), sea surface temperature (SST) and sea surface height (SSH) datasets covering 1126 days from American Navy Experimental Real-Time East Asian Seas Ocean Nowcast System in the present paper. Results show that in the Yellow and East China Seas, the YSWC is a mean barotropic flow as compensation of winter-monsoon-driven surface currents, which has been directly observed. When East Asia winter monsoon weakens, so do the meridional pressure gradient of the surface seawater and the YSWC, while the transversal pressure gradient changes rather slowly that results in the YSWC left turning. In addition, there is southward mean flow compensation of summer-monsoon-driven surface currents, which actually was also directly ob-served.     

MOLAR RATIOS OF C, N, P OF PARTICULATE MATTER AND THEIR VERTICAL FLUXES IN THE YELLOW SEA

The vertical fluxes and molar ratios of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus of suspended particulate matter in the Yellow Sea were studied based on the analysis of suspended particulate matter,sediments and sinking particles obtained by use of moored sediment traps. The POC ： PON ratios indicate that most of the particulate organic matter in the Yellow Sea water column comes from marine life rather than the continent. The vertical fluxes of SPM, POC, PON and POP in the Yellow Sea are much higher than those in other seas over the world, and present a typical pattern in shallow epicontinental seas. The estimated residence time of the bioactive elements showed that the speed of the biogeochemical process of materials in the Yellow Sea is much shorter than that in the open ocean as there was high primary productivity in this region.     

An investigation of the properties of low-frequency internal waves in the northeastern China Seas

A simple and practical method for separating low-frequency internal waves from low-frequency barotropic waves was employed to analyze the observation data. Analysis of some data gathered in the northestern China Seas revealed strong semidiurnal internal tides and near-inertial internal waves at the stations in the East China Sea and near-inertial waves but no semidiurnal internal tides at the station in the centre of the Yellow Sea. The geographic properties of low-frequency internal waves in the region are discussed primarily on the basis of the mechanism of internal tide generation on the continental shelfbreak, and the mechanisms of local generation and global generation. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China.     

Numerical Study of Water and Suspended Matter Exchange Between the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea

INTRODUCTIONTheYellowSeaandtheEastChinaSea (ECS)aremarginalseasofthenorthwestPacificandhaveexpansivecontinentalshelves .TheuniqueandstrikingfeaturesoftheYellowSeaandtheECSarethattheyhavestrongtidalcurrent;aresubjecttostrongmonsooninfluence ;andreceiveinflowfromthebiggestriverinChina ,theChangjiangRiver ;andthatthefamouswesternboundarycurrent,theKuroshio ,passesthroughtheECS ,withitsbranchesintrudingupwardintothecontinentalshelfareas.Generallyspeaking ,thewaterexchangecapacityofthe…     

Distribution of microbial populations and their relationship with environmental variables in the North Yellow Sea, China

In order to understand the large-scale spatial distribution characteristics of picoplankton,nanophytoplankton and virio-plankton and their relationship with environmental variables in coastal and offshore waters,flow cytometry(FCM) was used to ana-lyze microbial abundance of samples collected in summer from four depths at 36 stations in the North Yellow Sea(NYS).The data revealed spatial heterogeneity in microbial populations in the offshore and near-shore waters of the NYS during the summer.For the surface layer,picoeukaryotes were abundant in the near-shore waters,Synechococcus was abundant in the offshore areas,and bacte-rial and viral abundances were high in the near-shore waters around the Liaodong peninsula.In the near-shore waters,no significant vertical variation of picophytoplankton(0.2-2μm) abundance was found.However,the nanophytoplankton abundance was higher in the upper layers(from the surface to 10 m depth) than in the bottom layer.For the offshore waters,both pico-and nanophytoplankton(2-20μm) abundance decreased sharply with depth in the North Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass(NYSCWM).But,for the vertical dis-tribution of virus and bacteria abundance,no significant variation was observed in both near-shore and offshore waters.Autotrophic microbes were more sensitive to environmental change than heterotrophic microbes and viruses.Viruses showed a positive correla-tion with bacterial abundance,suggesting that the bacteriophage might be prominent for virioplankton(about 0.45μm) in summer in the NYS and that viral abundance might play an important role in microbial loop functions.     

Distribution and migration of the common squidTodarodes pacificus in the Yellow Sea

Study of the distribution and migration of the common squid,Todarodes pacificus Steenstrup,basedon the index of important fishing ground(P) and fisheries statistics on the Yellow Sea and northern EastChina Sea during 1980—1991 showed that:1.Its catch in the fishing period(June to November) is 91.77% of the annual yield.The fishingground distributes over the northem and middle Yel1ow Sea and adjacent area of the Changjiang Estuary.2. It over-winters in the northem East China Sea and waters adjacent to Goto Island from De-cember to February and spawns in waters near Haijiao Is1and and west of Kyushu. The main stock mi-grates along 123°30′E to the ChangJiang Estuary, Haizhou Bay. offsea from Shidao to Qingdao,mideastern Yellow Sea, and offsea Weihai and Haiyang Island succesively for feeding after April. The sur-plus stock migrates again to the wintering ground in December.3.The favorable feeding temperature is 6-23℃(optimum of l3-20℃ in the Changjiang Estua-ry and 7-13℃ in the northern and middle Yel     

THE N／P RATIO IN THE NORTHERN SOUTH YELLOW SEA IN AUTUMN

Study of horizontal and vertical distributions of the N/P(nitrogen versus phosphate)atom ratio in the northem South Yellow Sea showed that the ratio varied greatly in upper waters of the in-vestigated area and was always much greater than the theoretical Redfield ratio of 16:1 found below the thermocline zone.It was in general higher near the coast and lower in the central part.With increasing depth,the ratio became smaller and smaller.This distribution pattem is attributed to :1)the anthropo-genic influence of the surface N and P which makes the N/P ratio differ from the normal value;2)the easy adsorption of P on particles hinders P trasport to the central part;3)below the thermocline zone,the N and P mainly come from the remineralization of the sedimented phytoplankton residues which have almost the theoretical Redfield value and;4)the existence of the Yellow Sea Bottom Cold Water which inhibits the vertical exchange of the water.     

MODEL OF UPPER OCEANIC CIRCULATIONS IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA DURING NORTHEAST MONSOON

MODUrnONTheS0uthChinaSea(SCS)isabophalrnarginalbasinwhereEastAsiamonsoonsprevail.0bviousadjustInentSoftheupperocanoccurduetOthealtematingsurnxneandwintermonsoons.ThemostboohantaspchoflargeanlecurmtSintheSesaretheupperoonnicresponsetothemonsoons(Dale,l956).MostpreviousmrehesfocusedondiagnostiesandmodelingofsuffocecurmtS.Wwti(l96l)plotalsurfacentsbasedonshipdriflsintheNAGAReportNo.2anddescritaltheperiodicallysdri-annualreversingofwindsandrtinthisarea.Xuetal.(l982)calculatalthedy-naAn…     

ON THE FAMILY LYONSIIDAE (MOLLUSCA:BIVALVIA), WITH DESCRIPTION OF A NEW GENUS AND SPECIES FROM THE CHINA SEAS

The present paper deals with 4 species of Family Lyonsiidae , collected from the China Seas : one new genus and new species, Sinolyonsia sinica gen . et sp. nov, one species, Lyonsia kawamurai recorded for the first time from the China Seas , and 2 species L . ventricosa Gould and Agriodesma navicula (Adams et Reeve) reported previously from the Yellow Sea by the author .