Progress in Seto Inland Sea Research

The Seto Inland Sea is a representative coastal sea in Japan with a complicated geometry and thus a variety of marine environments. This sea is, at the same time, one of the most industrialized areas in Japan, and its marine environment has been significantly affected by the anthropogenic impacts over the last four decades. The wide range of marine environments in this sea and the serious environmental issues resulting from these impacts have attracted the attention of Japanese coastal oceanographers. It is believed that the nature and scope of these studies might be an example of the progress of Japanese coastal oceanography. The historical changes in the Seto Inland Sea environment in the last four decades are briefly summarized, and the progress in the studies of the Seto Inland Sea is reviewed with reference to historical changes. Some recent research topics and activities are also mentioned. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Analysis of primary production in the Seto Inland Sea, Japan, using a simple ecosystem model

A simple model of lower trophic level ecosystem has been created to analyze possible environmental control of primary production in eight sub-areas of the Seto Inland Sea. The primary production rates observed by Hashimotoet al. (1997a) in these sub-areas are well reproduced by the model, including horizontal processes such as horizontal transport of nutrients and vertical processes such as vertical mixing, light intensity and sinking of particulate matter. Without taking account of horizontal processes the model also successfully reproduces the observed primary production rates in some areas, but if fails to reproduce those in the others. This shows that the relative importance of the horizontal transport on the primary production differs are by area. Two time scales,T _z andT _H, are introduced to explain this difference.T _z is a vertical cycling time of material, which is defined as the time during which the stock of the material in the water column is utilized for primary production;T _H is the horizontal transit time of the material. The relative importance of the horizontal process is well explained by theT _H/T _z ratio; that is, the horizontal transport process is important in the areas where this ratio is small. Further the possible mechanisms of nutrient supply for the primary production in each sub-area are investigated using this model.     

Dynamics of microphytobenthic biomass in a coastal area of western Seto Inland Sea, Japan

This study focused on the causes of the variation in microphytobenthic biomass and the effects of this variation on macrobenthic animals in the western Seto Inland Sea, Japan, where the importance of microphytobenthos as the primary food source for benthic animals has been recently reported. We investigated the microphytobenthic biomass together with light attenuation of seawater, phytoplanktonic biomass, macrobenthic density and biomass at eight stations (water depth = 5–15 m) during four cruises in 1999–2000. The increased light attenuation coefficient of the water column associated with increased concentration of the phytoplanktonic Chl-a caused a decrease in light flux that reached the seafloor. The biomass of the microphytobenthos within the upper 1 cm of the sediment, 1.9–46.5 mg Chl-a m⁻², was inversely correlated with the phytoplanktonic biomass in the overlying water column, 10.9–65.0 mg Chl-a m⁻². Thus, interception of light by phytoplankton is considered to be a main cause of the variation in the microphytobenthic biomass. The microphytobenthos biomass showed a significant positive correlation with the macrobenthic density (78–9369 ind. m⁻²) and biomass (0.4–78.8 gWW m⁻²). It appears that the increase in oxygen production by the microphytobenthos allowed macrobenthic animals to become more abundant, as a consequence of oxygenation of the organically enriched muddy sediments (14.5 ± 2.69 mg TOC g⁻¹). This study suggests that the variation in the microphytobenthic biomass is influenced by the phytoplanktonic biomass due to shading effect, and the balance between these two functional groups might affect the variability in the macrobenthic density and biomass.     

Standing stocks and production rates of phytoplankton and abundance of bacteria in the Seto Inland Sea, Japan

Standing stocks and production rates of phytoplankton and abundance of bacteria were investigated at 39 stations in the Seto Inland Sea, Japan during four crulses in October 1993, January, April and June 1994. Primary productivity was measured by the¹³C tracer method. Photosynthetic rate varied from 0.41 to 32.1 μgC/1/h with an average value of 4.67 μgC/l/h. Annual primary production was estimated to be 218 gC/m²/year. Annual primary production in this study was 1.8 times as high as the values which were previously reported at same area. The reason for the disagreement between our primary production value and previous values is not thought to be due to the difference of methods used for measuring primary production or the different Chl.a concentrations but to the method of estimating the primary production in the euphotic zone from thein vitro measurements. The distribution of bacterial cells in surface seawater was examined during the same cruises. Bacterial cell density ranged from 0.32 to 3.4×10⁶ cells/ml. The density was relatively high in the eutrophic regions of Hiroshima Bay and Osaka Bay In addition, a high density of bacteria was also observed in an area within Suo Nada where Chl.a was relatively low. The disparity between Chla and bacterial density in Suo Nada suggests that bacterial abundance can be controlled by the availability of substrates other than phytoplankton exudate.     

Semidiurnal Dynamics of Salinity, Nutrients and Suspended Particulate Matter in an Estuary in the Seto Inland Sea, Japan, during a Spring Tide Cycle

The physical and chemical variability of the water column at subtidal station of an estuary in the Seto Inland Sea, Japan, was studied over a 24-hour period during a spring tide (tidal range ca. 2 m) in May 1995. Surface water and several depths through the water column were monitored every one and two hours, respectively. At each occasion, water temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen concentration were measured and water samples were collected for the determination of nutrients and suspended particulate matter (SPM). Disruptive changes in the physical and chemical characteristics of the water was produced by the tidal cycle and the mixing of water masses of different origin. These changes were highly significant both spatially and temporally, yet with varying effects on physical parameters, nutrients and the different components of SPM. Significant differences in nutrient concentrations were also observed when the data-set was divided into ebb and flood components, irrespective of the depth. Nitrate and nitrite rose to 1.8 times higher during the flood. Spatial differences of SPM were less marked than those of nutrients, only particulate organic carbon (POC) being significantly higher at the surface than in the intermediate and the lower layer. Both POC and pheopigment concentrations increased markedly through the water column, being highest shortly before the lower low tide. In contrast, suspended solid (SS) content increased sharply after the lower low tide (>40 mg l⁻¹) and this coincided with a marked decrease of the C/SS content (<20 mg g⁻¹). The lagtime between POC and SS tidal transport was caused by particle resuspension from the exposed intertidal sediments as the tidal level rose, and particle transport selection in relation to the tidal state. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Evidence of microphytobenthic roles on coastal shallow water of the Seto Inland Sea,Japan

This study describes the temporal variation of microphytobenthic biomass and its controlling factors, as well as the impact of microphytobenthic activities on coastal shallow sediment in the eastern Seto Inland Sea, Japan. The chlorophyll a (Chl a), phaeopigments and sedimentary biophilic element (C, N, P and Si) contents in surface sediments, as well as nutrient concentrations at the sediment-water interface (overlying water and pore water) were observed monthly during November 2003 to May 2005 at one site in Shido Bay (water depth ca. 7 m) and at one site in Harima-Nada (35 m). No correlation was observed between the sedimentary biophilic elements and other parameters. The maximum chlorophyll a content of 48.2 μg g^–1 was found in surface sediments under the photon flux reaching the seafloor of 537 μmol photon m^–2 s^–1 during the winter period when water transparency was the highest at station S (Shido Bay). Our results suggest that higher chlorophyll a content in surface sediment was due to the fresh microphytobenthic biomass (mainly benthic diatom). We also found a significant negative correlation between Chl a and inorganic nutrients in pore water during the low temperature period, especially silicic acid. This result suggests that the silicic acid was assimilated largely during the increase of microphytobenthic biomass in surface sediment. This study suggests that the microphytobenthic roles may have a great effect on nutrient budgets during the large supply of irradiance (winter periods) for their photosynthetic growth in shallow coastal waters.     

Long-term variability of shelf water intrusion and its influence on hydrographic and biogeochemical properties of the Seto Inland Sea, Japan

The variability of the pathway of the Kuroshio is known to control that of the intensity of upwelling of the cold and nutrient-rich deep shelf water at the shelf-break point. This study has investigated the influences of the long-term variability of the hydrographical and biogeochemical conditions at the shelf-break point on those in the inner Seto Inland Sea. Results from observations conducted since 1972 by prefectural fisheries observatories showed a temporary decrease of temperature in the lower layer of the entrance of Kii Channel in summertime in the specific years when the Kuroshio pathway favored deep shelf water intrusion. A corresponding change in temperature was also found in the inner shelf sea, such as western Osaka Bay and Harima-Nada. The model developed in this study covers a 30-year period and well reproduces the temporal change in temperature. It also shows sufficient reproducibility in both seasonal behavior of hydrographical and biogeochemical properties and the inter-annual variability of hydrographical properties throughout the eastern Seto Inland Sea. It was found that the inter-annual variations of annual total flux through the section at the entrance to Kii Channel affect the inter-annual variation of the observed concentration of Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen (DIN) in Harima Nada, but the effect was smaller than those of river input and other parameters.     

The effect of a tidal cycle on the dynamics of nutrients in a tidal estuary in the Seto Inland Sea, Japan

A 24 hour time series survey was carried out during a spring tide (tidal range ca.2 m) of May 1995 on a tidal estuary in the Seto Inland Sea, Japan, in the context of an integrated program planned to quantify the dynamics of biophilic elements (carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus) and the roles played by the macrobenthos on the processes. Three stations were set along a transect line of about 1.4 km, which linked the river to the rear to the innermost part of the subtidal zone. Every hour, at each station, measurements were made of surface water temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen concentration, and surface water was collected for the determination of nutrients [NH₄ ⁺−N, (NO₃ ⁻+NO₂ ⁻)−N, PO₄ ³⁻−P and Si (OH)₄−Si]. During the ebb flow, riverine input of silicate and nitrate+nitrite significantly increased the concentrations of both the intertidal and the subtidal stations. Conversely, during the high tide, river nutrient concentrations were lowered by the mixing of fresh water with sea water. As a result, best (inverse) correlations were found at the river station for salinity against silicate (y=-2.9 Sal.+110.7,r ²=0.879) and nitrate+nitrite (y=-1.3 Sal.+48.4,r ²=0.796). In contrast, ammonium nitrogen concentrations were higher at intermediate salinities. Indeed, no significant correlation was found between salinity and ammonium. The effect of the macrobenthos, which is abundant on the intertidal flat, is discussed as a biological component that influences the processes of nutrient regeneration within the estuary. The effect of the tidal amplitude is an important one in determining the extent of the variations in nutrient concentrations at all three stations, which were stronger between the lower low tide and the higher high tide.     

渤海环境污染治理对策研究 ——以濑户内海为参考

渤海作为我国唯一的内海,自然资源极其丰富,渤海沿海地区有着浑厚的工业基础以及绝佳的地理优势,海洋经济发展速度十分迅猛。但随着经济的迅速发展,生态环境与开发利用之间的矛盾也日益激化,海洋资源开发强度高、利用方式粗放,陆源污染物排放总量久居不下,重点海湾环境质量未见根本好转,环境风险压力有增无减,生态环境整体形势依然严峻。文章介绍了渤海地区的发展现状,分析渤海与濑户内海的相同与不同之处,以便于借鉴日本濑户内海的治理措施以及立法经验,深刻剖析我国海洋环境保护立法的不足,并提出健全制度体系建设、完善海洋环境管理体制、调整渔业发展、提升海洋生态预警能力监测等建议,以期总结出适合我国渤海环境治理的海洋规划方案,从而挽救渤海的生态环境,恢复渤海往日的生机。     

基于全球潮汐模型的东海海域潮汐性质空间分布

利用全球潮汐模型FES 2014(Finite Element Solution 2014)空间分辨率为(1/16)°×(1/16)°的网格点处13个分潮调和常数,借助基于最小二乘法调和分析方法和潮汐特征值的定义算法,定量分析东海海域(117°～131°E,23°～33°N)的潮汐类型、深度基准值和不同潮差类型.结果表...     

南海西边界ADCP观测海流的垂直结构

采用多种数据处理方法,分析了南海西南陆架西边界处定点连续观测站上的海流记录。正压潮流的调和分析结果表明该海域以日周期潮流为主,潮流椭圆随深度旋转。去潮后流速垂直结构的奇异值分解(SVD)证实观测点的流速结构存在不同的垂向模态,第一模态对应平均流的变化部分,第二模态含有倾向性变化部分,双日周期变化在各个模态中均较明显。对各观测层流速进行小波分析,进一步发现观测流的频率构成具有垂向变频和同一层次频率漂移的特征。     

南海海洋环流季节变化的数值模拟研究

基于POM(Princeton Ocean Model)海洋模式,对南海不同深度环流的季节性变化进行了数值模拟研究。模拟结果表明:南海表层和上层环流受季风影响,在夏季西南季风驱动下,南海表层环流在南部呈现强反气旋式结构,在南海北部则是一个弱的气旋环流;在冬季东北季风驱动下,南海表层环流结构呈气旋式,并且明显加强了沿越南沿岸向南流动的西边界流;春季和秋季为南海季风的转换期,其对应的环流特征也处于冬季环流与夏季环流的过渡流型,流速与冬季和夏季相比较弱。南海200m层环流的季节变化与表层相似。在500与1 000m层,则出现许多处中尺度漩涡,流场也变得较为紊乱。     

渤、黄、东海M2和K1分潮潮流场的有限元模拟

使用有限元模式(QUODDY)数值模拟了渤、黄、东海浅水区的M2和K1分潮潮流场。对于M2分潮潮流场,东分量和北分量的潮流调和常数与16个测站观测资料的平均绝对误差分别为8.23 cm/s,23.74°();7.36 cm/s,27.78(°)。对于K1分潮潮流场,则分别为8.39 cm/s,36.48(°);9.40 cm/s,38.04(°)。文中得到的M2分潮流在模拟海区共有9个圆流点(秦皇岛附近1个,莱州湾口1个,山东半岛北部海域2个,黄海北部2个,苏北辐射沙洲的外侧1个,舟山群岛东南海域2个)。K1分潮流在模拟海域也存在9个圆流点(秦皇岛附近1个,莱州湾口1个,北黄海2个,南黄海1个,苏北辐射沙洲的外侧1个,济州岛东南海域3个),其中黄海北部偏北的圆流点(39°25′N,123°05′E)和济州岛东南海域最东南的圆流点(32°50′N,127°50′E)以前未见过报道。     

Three-Dimensional Tidal Model and Its Application to Numerical Simulation of Water Quality in Coastal Waters

- The turbulence mechanism plays an important part in the mixing process and momentum transfer of turbulence. A three-dimensional Prandtl mixing length tidal model has been developed to simulate tidal flows and water quality. The eddy viscosities and diffusivities are computed from the Prandtl mixing length model. In order to model the water quality of an estuary or coastal area many interdependent processes need to be simulated. These may be conveniently separated into three main groups: transport and mixing processes, biochemical interaction of water quality variables and the utilization and re-cycling of nutrients by living matter. The model simulates full oxygen and nutrient balance, primary productivity and the transport, reaction mechanism and fate of pollutants over tidal time-scales. The model is applied to numerical simulation of tidal flows and water quality in Dalian Bay. The model has been calibrated against a limited data set of historical water quality observations and in general demonstra     

渤海南部沿岸水运移及渤黄海水体交换的季节变化

针对渤海及附近海区的曲折岸线变化以及水文资料时空分布不均匀性的特点,使用四维客观分析LOESS方法得到逐月气候态盐度场。结果表明:渤海南部沿岸水扩展和运移受季风影响显著。冬季沿岸水向渤海湾和莱州湾堆积,形成沿山东半岛龙口海岸东向爬行的水舌,该水舌在蓬莱水域向东扩展;夏季沿岸水向渤海中部冲溢,特别是在黄河口附近,其核心区厚度可达8 m,可扩展到119°30′E处,同时莱州湾内的沿岸水向湾内西部收缩。冬季渤海海峡呈现显著"北进南出"水交换态势;夏季渤海海峡定常流方式的水交换特征不明显。     

垂向二维潮流数值模型及其在长江口北槽的应用

应用变网格有限元方法，采用任意四边形等参单元，离散横向积分的Navier—Stokes方程，建立河口潮流垂向二维数学模型。应用此模型，对长江口北槽水域两个观测站的潮流水位、流速垂线分布和整个北槽潮流流速纵向分布进行了模拟。潮流水位、流速垂线分布的模拟值分别与观测站的实测值可以较为吻合，证明了本文模型的实用有效。模拟得到的涨急、落急时刻整个北槽潮流流速纵向分布给出了定性的结果。     

东中国海潮波自适应数值模型及其数值模拟

首次为整个东中国海设计出一种自适应网格 ,利用自适应网格能同时兼顾网格的光滑性、正交性及疏密程度的特点 ,得到了物理平面上的网格分布。该网格既与边界适应 ,又在水深变化急剧的东海陆坡处得以加密 ,从而使坐标变换下的三维模式成功实现了跨越陆坡的计算。用该模式模拟了海域的潮汐变化。依据所得结果绘制出 M2 分潮的同潮图和潮流椭圆。模拟结果与现有的数值研究结果基本一致 ,表明此模式在该海域的适用性     

全球和南海海平面变化及其与厄尔尼诺的关系

利用卫星高度计资料,分析了1993年1月至2004年12月全球和南海的海平面变化特征.结果表明,在1993-2004年期间,全球和南海海平面的平均上升率分别为(2.5±0.2)mm/a 和(4.8±1.2)mm/a.研究发现,全球和南海海平面的低频变化都与 El Ni(n)o 密切相关,但二者对El Ni(n)o 的响应位相相反.1997-1998年 El Ni(n)o 初期,全球平均海平面升高,呈现正异常;El Ni(n)o 后期,全球平均海平面下降并由正异常变为负异常.南海平均海平面在 El Ni(n)o 期间呈现负异常,在 La Ni(n)a期间呈现正异常,其低频变化与南方涛动指数的低频分量位相变化几乎完全一致.ENSO 可以通过南海季风和北太平洋环流(黑潮)的变化来影响南海海平面.El Ni(n)o 发生前后的北风异常,以及同期黑潮流量的变化都对 ENSO 影响南海有一定的贡献.     

渤黄海潮汐潮流精细化数值模拟及可视化预报系统

利用有限元海洋模式ADCIRC (Advanced Circulation Model),建立了高分辨率的渤黄海二维潮汐潮流数值模型,该模型以M2,S2,K1,O1等8个分潮的水位作为驱动,模拟出了该8个分潮的潮汐潮流调和常数;利用该调和常数预报的潮位和二维平均潮流与实测资料相比,符合较好;利用模拟得到的潮汐潮流调和常...     

Large Eddy Simulation of Open Ocean Deep Convection with Application to the Deep Water Formation in the East Sea (Japan Sea)

Various important features could be found on the open ocean deep convection and the subsequent deep water formation from large eddy simulation (LES), and the results were applied to the East Sea (Japan Sea). It was found that under a strong cold wind outburst with the heat flux of 1000 Wm⁻² for 5 days generates a deep convection which can penetrate to the depth 1500 m, but under the continuous cooling with the heat flux of 250 Wm⁻² the growth of a mixed layer is suppressed at 700 m. The effects of the spatial and temporal variations of the surface forcing were investigated with regard to the penetrative depth of convection, the generation of baroclinic eddies, the volume of the water mass formation, and the intensity of the rim current. The deep water formations in the intermediate and deep layer of the East Sea were explained in terms of the simulation results, and the intensity of the consequent circulation and the volume of water mass formation were compared with the observation data. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.