Changes of coastline and tidal flat and its implication for ecological protection under human activities: Take China’s Bohai Bay as an example

The change processes and trends of shoreline and tidal flat forced by human activities are essential issues for the sustainability of coastal area,which is also of great significance for understanding coastal ecological environment changes and even global changes.Based on field measurements,combined with Linear Regression(LR)model and Inverse Distance Weighing(IDW)method,this paper presents detailed analysis on the change history and trend of the shoreline and tidal flat in Bohai Bay.The shoreline faces a high erosion chance under the action of natural factors,while the tidal flat faces a different erosion and deposition patterns in Bohai Bay due to the impact of human activities.The implication of change rule for ecological protection and recovery is also discussed.Measures should be taken to protect the coastal ecological environment.The models used in this paper show a high correlation coefficient between observed and modeling data,which means that this method can be used to predict the changing trend of shoreline and tidal flat.The research results of present study can provide scientific supports for future coastal protection and management.

Influence of Seawall Line Choice on Tide Lock Drainage in Tidal Flat Inning——Cangdongpian Inning Area on the west part of Tiaozini Sand as a case study

Most of the flood from the wide inner lowland plain discharges through tide locks on coast, and the influence of tidal flat inning projects on the tide lock drainage must be solved by seawall line choice. Taking the Cangdongpian inning area on the west side of Tiaozini Sand as a case study, the paper analyzed the compages and validity of ebb tide water to maintain the flood discharge creek below the tide lock for different projects of seawall line. Result indicates that a rational seawall line program has little influence on the flood discharge of lock during the mean tide or general spring tides, but has certain influences during a storm surge or an extreme spring tide in autumn. However it could be resolved by several times of artificial scour on the creek.

DEPOSITS OF THE MANGROVE TIDAL FLATSAND MANGROVE PEATS IN HAINAN ISLAND

In this paper, the environment characteristics, micro-environment division and evolution of the mangrove tidal flats, peats and their genetic markers are discussed. It proves that the mangrove tidal flat is a kind of tidal flats and the peat flats are developed in a specific evolution stage of mangrove tidal flats; the mangrove peats are the products of a specific evolution stage of the mangrove tidal flats.

The Effects of Farmyard Manure and Mulch on Soil Physical Properties in a Reclaimed Coastal Tidal Flat Salt-Affected Soil

Careful soil management is important for the soil quality and productivity improvement of the reclaimed coastal tidal flat saline land in northern Jiangsu Province, China. Farmyard manure（ FYM） and mulch applications, which affect soil characteristics and plant significantly, are regard as an effective pattern of saline land improvement. As a conventional management in the study region, FYM and mulch are used for the amendment of the new reclaimed tidal flat regularly, but little is known about their effects on soil physical properties functioning. A study was conducted on a typical coastal tidal flat saline land, which was reclaimed in 2005, to evaluate the effects of FYM, polyethylene film mulch（PM）, straw mulch（SM）, FYM combined with PM（FYM＋PM）, FYM combined with SM（FYM＋SM）, on soil hydraulic properties and soil mechanical impedance. CK represented conventional cultivation in study area without FYM and mulch application and served as a control. The experiment, laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications, was studied in Huanghaiyuan Farm, which specialized in the agricultural utilization for coastal tidal flat. Result showed that capillary water holding capacity（CHC）, saturated water content（SWC）, saturated hydraulic conductivity（ Ks） and bulk density（BD）, cone index（CI） were affected significantly by the FYM and mulch application, especially in the 0-10 cm soil layer. FYM and mulch management increased CHC, SWC and Ks over all soil depth in the order of FYM＋SM〉FYM＋PM〉FYM〉SM〉PM〉CK. With the contrary sequence, BD and CI decreased significantly; however, FYM and mulch application affected BD and CI only in the upper soil layers. CHC, SWC and Ks decreased significantly with the increasing of soil depth, BD and CI, and a significant liner equation was found between CHC, SWC, Ks and BD, CI. With the highest CHC（38.15%）, SWC（39.55%）, Ks（6.00 mm h-1） and the lowest BD（1.26 g cm-3） and CI（2.71 MPa）, the combined management of FYM and SM was recommend to be an effective method for the melioration of reclaimed coastal tidal flat saline soil.

Distribution of ^137Cs and ^210Ppb in sediments of tidal flats in north Jiangsu Province

Seven cores were collected from different sediment zones of tidal flats at Xin- yanggang in north Jiangsu province in August 2007. Sediment grain-size distribution and radioisotopes of ^137Cs and ^210Ppb analysis were carried out for these cores. Sediment rates of the cores and radioisotopes distribution in surface sediment in different zones of the tidal flat were calculated from the ^137Cs and ^210Ppb activities in sediments cores. The results indicated that each tidal zone had experienced different evolution phases, hydrological dynamics in the tidal flats made the grain-size of the surface sediment change gradually. ^137Cs and ^210Ppb activities on the superficial layer of the cores varied spatially and the reason was discussed. On tidal flats, the fluctuation of ^137Cs and ^210Ppb activities in the cores reflected the special sedimentary characteristics. Vegetation affects the grain-size distribution and the vertical profiles of ^137Cs and ^210Ppb in the upper depths. ^137Cs and ^210Ppb chronology got the comparable average sediment rates on the tidal flat. The characteristics of ^137Cs and ^210Ppb in the cores reflected various depositional dynamical environments in different tidal zones and gave information on the different evolvement phases of the tidal zones. Based on the information of grain-size distribution, texture of the cores, sediment rates and topography, the evolution lines of the tidal flat were reconstructed.

Impact of Human Activities on Depositional Process of Tidal Flat in Quanzhou Bay of China

As a very important component of a coastal system, tidal flats come to be a focus of the studies on land-ocean interaction in the coastal zone because those areas are subjected to intense human activities and are highly sensitive to the global change. The Quanzhou Bay, located along the middle part of Fujian coast of China, covers about 136.4km^2, and the area of coastal wetland in the entire bay from intertidal to subtidal with 6m of water depth accounts for 96% of the total area. Seven short cores were collected and divided in situ with the interval of 5cm on the coastal wetlands of Quanzhou Bay on April 19, 2006. The sediment samples were scattered and the grain sizes were measured by using Mastersizer 2000. Human beings＇ activities on tidal fiat have disturbed the vertical distribution of sediments in stratigraphic sequence and accelerated the sedimentation rates. Grain size analysis results show that the grain size diameters increase and sediment becomes worse sorted towards the sea under the strong human disturbance; Spartina alterniflora can play a role of trapping the fine sediment; but near the bank, the sediment becomes coarse and there are two peak values on frequency curve influenced by the sandpile. The trough formed by human activities along the coastline changes the transport path of water and suspended sediment. The sediments are transported through the trough and deposit in it during the flood; the ebb flow is retarded by the flow output through the adjacent trough, and the deposited sediment can not be re-suspended; then, the sedimentation rate increases. In situ observation show that the sedimentation rate is about 8-10cm/yr.

Spatial-temporal changes of tidal flats in the Huanghe River Delta using Landsat TM/ETM+ images

Integrating remote sensing, geographic information system (GIS) and fractal theory, change characteristics of tidal flats and tidal creeks in the Huanghe (Yellow) River Delta over the period of 1986-2001 were discussed. The results show that evolutions of tidal flats throughout the Huanghe River Delta are influenced by various factors, and that progressive succession and regression of tidal flats concur in different coastal segments of the delta. Human activities have played an increasingly important role in the succession process of tidal flats. Due to land reclamation in coastal zones of the delta in the last 15 years, lots of tidal flats were occupied, the artificial coastline migrated seaward (the maximum change rate was 0.8 kmyr-1) and tidal creeks became sparser (the highest decreasing rate of length of tidal creeks was 14.9 kmyr-1). Except for two coastal segments from the Tiaohe Estuary to the 106 Station and from the south of the Huanghe River mouth to the north of the Xiaodao River Estuary, fractal dimension values of tidal creeks in the remaining coastal segments of the delta decreased. In addition, the time dimension, sediment fluxes into the sea, waves and tidal-currents have profound influences on the evolution process of tidal flats. Four types of tidal flats-river-dominated tidal flats, tide-dominated tidal flats, wave-dominated tidal flats and man-dominated tidal flats can be identified. Owing to the intensification of human activities in coastal zones of the delta, man-dominated tidal flats have become the main kind of tidal flats.

The variation of sediments organic carbon content in Chongming east tidal flat during Scirpus mariqueter growing stage

The investigations on the organic carbon （OC） of core sediments were carried out in Chongming east tidal fiat （CM） during Scirpus mariqueter growing stage （from April to December 2004） in Yangtze Estuary. The Yangtze River annually transports a runoff discharge of 30,000 m^3/s, carrying about 480 million tons of sediments to the estuarine and coastal area, which formed a great OC pool. In the sampling spots, seven quadrats of 50 cm × 50 cm and five sediments cores of 20 cm deep （40 cm deep in December） were randomly established in order to collect vegetations and core sediments samples during the low tide each month except November. After pretreatment, the core sediments were sieved and their OC contents were measured according to the potassium dichromate method. The results show that the higher surface sediment OC content in summer comes from allochthonous terrigenous particle settlements on the Chongming east middle tidal fiat S. mariqueter zone. In autumn and winter, the decomposing of the defoliated S. mariqueter increases the surface sediments OC content. Settling velocity, sediment temperature and S. mariqueter growth are the main factors that can control the sediment carbon content. Summer is the “carbon losing” period of the tidal fiat sediments, while from September, it changes into the “carbon accumulating” period of sediment OC pool because of the decomposing of dead S. mariqueter community in the sediments. From this alternation of “carbon losing” period and “carbon accumulating” period, we conclude that carbon in the OC pool of the middle tidal fiat S. mariqueter zone sediments mainly comes from the atmospheric carbon rooted by S. mariqueter photosynthesis.

Processes,feedbacks,and morphodynamic evolution of tidal flat-marsh systems:Progress and challenges

Tidal flats and saltmarshes have been a long-standing research focus because of their high socio-economic and ecological values.The evolution of tidal flat-marsh systems is highly complex due to the intertwined processes operating over a variety of spatial and temporal scales.As a traditional research highlight,the role of regular hydrodynamic processes such as tides,waves,and river flows have been explored comprehensively with fruitful outcomes.Over past decades,the changing environment(e.g.,sea level rise,increasing anthropogenic activities,and extreme weather conditions)has attracted more attention with many reported insightful results.More recent advances indicate that biological activities play a critical role in tidal flat-marsh morphodynamics but are still poorly understood.The field of research that connects the bio-logical and physical processes is commonly described as"biogeomorphology"and requires the joint efforts by scientists from multiple dis-ciplines ranging from hydraulics,ecology,and geography to sociology.This review aims to provide a synthesis of the current research status of tidal flat-marsh morphodynamics,with a particular emphasis on the understanding of various processes and feedbacks underlying the devel-opment of morphodynamic models.Some future research needs and challenges are identified to facilitate a more sustainable management strategy for tidal flats and saltmarshes under climate change.

THE TIDAL FLATS MORPHOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT AND THE COASTAL LAND RECLAMATION IN SHANGHAI

More than 904.2 km2 of the flats are above the theorotical datum level with progressive rate of 20-200 m/a to the sea in Shanghai. Since the reclaimed land is vital important to the city, multiple approaches to accelerating siltation are proposed in the paper according to detailed study of dynamics, sedimentary structure and landform evolution based on plentiful in situ data. It is of great significance to utilize tidal flats and reclamation of land in Shanghai.

Acid Volatile Sulfide and Simultaneously Extracted Metals in Tidal Flat Sediments of Jiaozhou Bay, China

It is well known that acid-volatile sulfide (AVS) plays an important role in influencing the toxicity of divalent cationic metals within anoxic sediments. In studying sediment core samples collected from tidal flats within the Jiaozhou Bay, China, we found that the AVS concentration gradually increases with depth and decreases from high tidal flat to low tidal flat areas. We evaluated the chemical activity and bioavailability of heavy metals in the tidal flat based on the molar ratio of simultaneously ex- tracted metals (SEM) and AVS. The value of SEM/AVS is generally less than 1 in this area except for the surface layer, which suggests that the heavy metals only have chemical activity in the surface layer. SEM is most highly concentrated at the boundary of the redox layer. SEM have similar depth distributions throughout the tidal flat. The aeration of low tidal flat sediment indicates that SEM gradually move to deeper sites via interstitial water.

A numerical study on the effect of tidal flat's slope on tidal dynamics in the Xiangshan Bay, China

The Xiangshan Bay is a semi-enclosed and narrow bay, which is characterized by large scale tidal flats and has been historically utilized through coastal construction and aquaculture engineering. The hydrodynamic model using the Finite Volume Coastal Ocean Model（FVCOM） was constructed to examine the changes of tidal dynamics due to the variation of tidal flat slopes. According to the model results, a decreased slope of a tidal flat would amplify the M2 tidal amplitude and delay the M2 tidal phase in the inner harbor, due to an increased tidal prism, and vice versa. The amplitude of the main shallow-water tide M4 would be amplified/dampened in the entire bay due to the changed bottom friction, if the tidal flat＇s slope were reduced/increased at the Tie inlet. The phase was advanced. The change of a tidal flat＇s slope at the Tie inlet had greater impacts on tidal amplitude,phase and duration asymmetry, than that at the Xihu inlet. The impact of changes of the tidal flat slope at the Xihu inlet was small and was constrained locally. Changes in the tidal flats＇ slopes at the Tie and Xihu inlets changed the tidal duration asymmetry, residual current and tidal energy via modulating tides. The ebb dominance decreased when the tidal flat＇s slope at the Tie inlet was changed. Decreased/increased ebb dominance occurred when the tidal flat＇s slope was reduced/increased at the Xihu inlet. The residual current and tidal energy density was amplified/dampened and more/less tidal energy was dissipated, with reduced/increased slope at both of the inlets. The findings in this study are instructive to coastal engineering and estuarine management.

The rule of sediment transport on the Nanhui tidal flat in the Changjiang Estuary

The Nanhui tidal flat is located in the area of slow current where the ebb currents from the Changjiang Estuaryand the Hangzhou Bay converge and the flood current from the sea diverges into the estuary and the bay. The flat extends seaward in tongue shape and has a wide and gentle surface with a marked difference of tidal levels on its two sides, which results in the sediment longitudinal transport on the flat. The water-sediment conditions are diverse at different locations. The velocity and sediment concentration in intertidal zone are higher during the flood tide than those during the ebb tide. The net sediment transport is landward, resulting in a large amount of deposition of sediments on the shoal. However, the ebb current is the dominant one in deep-water area where the net sediment transport is seaward. There exist two circulation systems in plane view on the shoal and in its adjacent deep-water area, which results in the sediment exchanges between the flat and channel and between the estuary and the bay. The landward storm waves erode shoal face, causing the rise of water level on the flat, originating the formation of the vertical circulation system of the sediment transport, and consequently * accelerating the evolution process of the tidal flat.

Numerical Tidal Current Modeling Using Fine Boundary-Fitted Grids for Tidal Flats

Fine grids with small spacing in boundary-fitted coordinates are normally used to treat the computation of fluid dynamics for estuarine areas and tidal flats. However, the adoption of Cartesian components of velocity vectors in this kind of non-orthogonal coordinates will definitely result in a difficulty in solving implicitly the transformed momentum equations, and also complicate the wet-dry point judgement used for flood areas. To solve this problem, equations in terms of generalized contravariant velocity vectors in curvilinear coordinates are derived in the present study, by virtue of which, an Alternative-Direction-Implicit numerical scheme in non-orthogonal grids would then be easily obtained, and wet-dry point judgement would as well be largely simplified. A comparison is made between the explicit scheme and implicit scheme, showing that the present model is accurate and numerically stable for computations of fluid dynamics for estuarine areas and tidal flats.

Distribution of benthic macrofaunal communities in intertidal flat under hydrodynamic influence:a case study of Jiangsu coast,East China

To identify the distribution pattern of macrofaunal assemblages of the Dafeng intertidal flats in response to hydrodynamic and sediment dynamic processes in the northern Jiangsu coast,East China,macrofauna sampling and hydrodynamic observations were carried out simultaneously across the mud flat,mixed mud-sand flat,and silt-sand flat of the intertidal zone in June 2018.Results show that there was a clear zonal distribution pattern of the macrofaunal communities,as is controlled by local hydrological and sedimentary environments.Principal component analysis(PCA)revealed three types of intertidal area in terms of hydrological and surficial sediment parameters.Similarly,three distinct groups of the macrofaunal communities,i.e.,mud flat,mix mud-sand,and silt-sand groups,were recognized at similarity level of 24%based on the CLUSTER analysis in similarity profile(SIMPROF)test.Correlation analysis upon best variables stepwise search(BVSTEP)indicated the importance of the hydrodynamics(e.g.,water temperature and salinity,tidal duration,flow speed,suspended sediment concentration,and wave height)in the differentiation of macrofaunal communities with different taxonomic classes over the intertidal zone.Therefore,macrofaunal assemblages,similar to hydrology and surficial sediment,have a unique zonation pattern.Small-sized deposit feeders adapt better to low energy environments,thus dominated the upper part of the intertidal flat,whilst the heavy and large-sized filter feeders and deposit feeders were dominant over the middle and lower parts.The hydrodynamic and sediment processes cause biota-niche separation,which affected the biological processes across the intertidal flat.

Distribution and Source of Main Contaminants in Surface Sediments of Tidal Flats in the Northern Shandong Province

Twenty-nine samples of surface sediments from tidal flats in the Northern Shandong Province were collected for grain size, heavy metal(Hg, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, and Cr), and oil pollution analyses. The geoaccumulation index(Igeo) and factor analysis were introduced to evaluate sediment quality and source of contaminants. The mean concentrations of Hg, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Cr, and oil in the surface sediments in the study area are 0.033, 17.756, 19.121, 55.700, 0.291, 59.563, and 14.213 μg g-1, respectively. The heavy metal contamination in the old delta lobe is slightly higher than that in the abandoned delta lobe; however, the opposite was observed for oil pollution. The Igeo results revealed that the overall quality of the surface sediments in the study area is in good condition. The heavy metal pollution levels show a descending order: Cd> Hg> Cr> Cu> Zn> Pb, Cd being the main pollutant. The contamination level for in the study area is relatively lower than those for China's other tidal flats. Heavy metals are mainly derived from natural sources of rock weathering and erosion, partly influenced by industrial and agricultural discharge. However, oil pollution is mainly from runoff input, motorized fishing boat sewage, and oil exploitation.

Seasonal Distribution of Meiofaunal Assemblages in the Mangrove Tidal Flat of Futian,Shenzhen,China

Meiofauna are fundamental components in mangrove ecosystem which play important roles in the energy flow and mat-ter cycling.In order to reveal the spatio-temporal distribution of meiofaunal assemblages in mangrove habitats,sediment samples were collected in July(summer)and October(autumn)of 2013,January(winter)and April(spring)of 2014 in the mangrove tidal flat of Futian,Shenzhen,China.A total of 14 meiofaunal taxa were identified,including free-living marine nematodes,benthic copepods,polychaetes,oligochaetes,ostracods,isopods,etc.Additionally,there were also undetermined taxa.Results showed that the abun-dance range of meiofauna was(488.35±71.29)-(5136.36±623.38)ind(10 cm)−2.Marine nematodes were the most dominant group,with an average abundance of(1869.56±227.92)ind(10 cm)−2,accounting for 98.35%of the total abundance of meiofauna.The sea-sonal distribution of meiofauna showed that the abundance was the highest in summer,followed by those in spring,winter,and au-tumn.Vertical distribution showed that meiofauna were mainly distributed in the upper sediment layer(0-5 cm),with a proportion of 89.56%.Correlation analysis between meiofauna and environmental factors showed that meiofaunal abundance and biomass had significantly negative correlation with salinity.BIOENV analysis between meiofaunal assemblages and environmental factors show-ed that meiofaunal assemblages were affected by the combined effects of temperature,salinity,sediment median grain size,water content,and chlorophyll a content.

A STUDY ON EQUILIBRIUM COASTAL PROFILES OF THE CLOSE TIDAL FLAT—A Case Study of Fengxian Tidal Flat

The article analyses the temporal spatial changes of profiles by EOF (Empirical Orthogonal Function) analysis and DTM analysis of GIS. These profiles, which are not affected by engineering, are chosen from the coast with successive field monitoring data from 1990 to 1999. Temporal and spatial EOF indicates the obvious stability of coast profile parameters in Fengxian tidal flat. In spatial scale, high tidal flats and deep water terraces are in a balance state while upper clino with steep slopes are sensitive and the stability is easy to be destroyed. In temporal scale, the erosion and deposition in this area are kept in balance in a whole. There are almost no change below 8- 9.5m. At the same time, it is the lower limit of tidal affection and the erosion and deposition process from it to high tidal flat keep in balance for many years. So the closure depth is appointed to from 8m to 9.5 m (Wusong datum mark).

Morphodynamic signatures derived from daily surface elevation dynamics can explain the morphodynamic development of tidal flats

Understanding the sensitivity of tidal flats to environmental changes is challenging.Currently,most studies rely on process-based models to systematically explain the morphodynamic evolution of tidal flats.In this study,we proposed an alternative empirical approach to explore tidal flat dynamics using statistical indices based on long-term time series of daily surface elevation development.Surface elevation dynamic(SED)indices focus on the magnitude and period of surface elevation changes,while morphodynamic signature(MDS)indices relate sediment dynamics to environmental drivers.The statistical analyses were applied to an intervention site in the Netherlands to determine the effect of recently constructed groynes on the tidal flat.Using these analyses,we were able to(1)detect a reduction in the daily SED and(2)determine that the changes in the daily SED were predominantly caused by the reduction in wave impact between the groynes rather than the reduction in tidal currents.Overall,the presented results showed that the combination of novel statistical indices provides new insights into the trajectories of tidal flats,ecosystem functioning,and sensitivity to physical drivers(wind and tides).Finally,we suggested how the SED and MDS indices may help to explore the future trajectories and climate resilience of intertidal habitats.

Sources of sediment in tidal flats off Zhejiang coast,southeast China

The growth of tidal flats off Zhejiang coasts in southwestern China has provided substantial areas for local agriculture and construction activities.To evaluate modern and future development of tidal flats in the region,a good understanding of sediment sources is necessary.Previous research has concluded that the Changjiang(Yangtze)River is the dominant supplier of sediments to this part of the southeast Chinese coast,despite the fact that sediment delivery from this source has been decreased markedly in the past two decades.In this study,we investigated the sources of tidal flat sediments,and the magnetic and geochemical properties of recent tidal flat sediments along the Zhejiang coast were compared with those discharged from rivers.Magnetic and geochemical properties of the tidal flat samples reveal statistically distinct sediment provenance groups.The magnetic and geochemical scatter plots show that the suspended sediment samples are naturally divided into two different groups,one including the Changjiang River and Qiantang River material,and the other including the Jiaojiang,Oujiang,and Feiyun Rivers that located in the central and southern parts of the study areas.At last,a binary source of tidal flat sediments along the Zhejiang coast was determined,with the substantial majority originating from local rivers,while a much smaller proportion emanates from the Changjiang River to the north.We conclude that the sediment contribution of the Changjiang River to tidal flat development in the region has been markedly overestimated,with important implications for management.