Objective-Based Method for Environmental Flow Assessment in Estuaries and Its Application to the Yellow River Estuary,China |
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Authors: | Tao Sun Jing Xu Zhifeng Yang |
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Institution: | (1) State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China |
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Abstract: | We developed an objective-based method for assessing environmental flows in estuaries; this method consists of two steps:
identifying ecological objectives with temporal–spatial variability and establishing a relationship between variations in
environmental factors and the alteration of freshwater inflows. Critical salinity and water depth requirements for different
species in special seasons in addition to temporal variation in natural river discharge were combined as objectives with spatial
and temporal variability. In a case study of the Yellow River Estuary, we determined that 15% and 101% of the natural river
discharge should be provided to ensure the minimum and maximum levels of environmental flows, respectively, for successful
integration of various objectives. Periods in early April, the end of June, August, and early October were identified as critical
for fulfilling reasonable water requirements. Although the recommended environmental flows may not be ideal for certain types
of species, they offer a boundary of environmental flows for preserving habitats and biodiversity in estuaries. |
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