Atmospheric correction of Sea WiFS imagery for turbid coastal and inland waters

A practical algorithm of atmospheric correction for turbid coastal and inland waters is provided. The presentalgorithm uses the property that the water-leaving radiance at 412 nm increases very little with the increasing of waterturbidity. Thus, in very turbid coastal and inland waters, the radiance at 412 nm can be used to estimate the aerosolscattering radiance at 865 nm. The performance of the new algorithm is validated with simulation for several cases. Itis found that the retrieved remotely sensed reflectance is usually with error less than 10% for the first six bands ofSeaWiFS. This new algorithm is also tested under various atmospheric conditions in the Changjiang River Estuaryand the Hangzhou Bay where the sediment concentration is very high and the standard SeaWiFS atmosphericcorrection algorithm creates a mask due to atmospheric correction failure. The result proves the efficiency of thissimple algorithm in reducing the errors of the water-leaving radiance retrieving using SeaWiFS satellite data.

Phosphorus forms in sediments of the East China Sea and its environmental significance

By means of SEDEX, ASPILA and XRF, depth-dependent changes of different phosphorus forms in sediment cores from specific areas of the offshore Changjiang Estuary (Yangtze Estuary) in 1998 were analyzed. Results show that contents of total phosphorus (TP), organic-phosphorus (OP) and iron-phosphorus (Fe-P) decreased down-core, while those of absorbed-phosphorus (Ad-P) and calcium-phosphorus (Ca-P) increased. The distribution tendency of detritus-phosphorus (De-P) is not obvious. Results also show that TP, Fe-P and OP contents at Meso station of the Changjiang Estuary and Hangzhou Bay are higher than that of the other stations. This suggests that the pollutants carried by the Changjiang and the Qiantang rivers from inland have affected the natural environment in offshore area. TP, Fe-P and OP contents of each station become higher from bottom to top, indicating the amount of the terrestrial pollutants carried by the two rivers has been enhanced since the last 30-50 years. Ad-P, Ca-P, Fe-P and OP are all active phosphorus in sediments, and their re-cycling in sediment is closely related to each other.

Diagnostic calculation of the upper-layer circulation in the South China Sea during the winter of 1998

On the basis of hydrographic data obtained in November 28 to December 27, 1998 cruise, the calculation of the circulation in the South China Sea (SCS) is made by using the P-vector method, in combination with SSH data from TOPEX/ERS-2 analysis. For study of the dynamical mechanism, which causes the pattern of winter circulation in the SCS, the diagnostic model (Yuan et al., 1982; Yuan and Su, 1992) is used to simulate numerically the winter circulation in the SCS. The following results have been obtained. (1) The main characteristics of the circulation systems in the central SCS are as follows: A coastal southward jet in winter is present at the western boundary near the coast of Vietnam; there is a stronger cyclonic circulation with a larger horizontal scale east of this coastal southward jet and west of 114°E; there is a weaker anti-cyclonic circulation in the central part of eastern SCS; there is a stronger and northeastward flow opposing the northeasterly monsoon between above a stronger cyclonic circulation and a weaker anti-cyclonic circulation. (2) The circulation systems in the northern SCS are as follows: 1) There is a cyclonic circulation system northwest of Luzon, and it has three centers of the cold water; 2) There is an anti-cyclonic eddy. Its center is located near(20°N, 116°40' E); 3)There is a warm and anti-cyclonic circulation south of Hainan Island; 4) There is a northeastward flow, the South China Sea Warm Current, in winter off Guangdong coast in the northern SCS. (3) In the southern SCS there is an anti-cyclonic circulation, and also there is a smaller scale cold water and cyclonic eddy. (4) The above pattern of winter circulation in the SCS agrees qualitatively with the horizontal distribution of temperature at 200 m level. (5) The dynamical mechanism which produces the above basic pattern of winter circulation is because of the following two causes: 1) The joint effect of the baroclinity and relief (JEBAR) is an essential dynamical cause; 2) The interaction between the wind stress and bottom topographic (IBWT) under the strong northeasterly monsoon is the next important dynamical mechanism. (6) Comparing the hydrographic structure and the horizontal distribution of velocity with the SSH data from TOPEX/ERS-2 analysis in the SCS during December of 1998, it is found that they agree qualitatively.

Several characteristics of water exchange in the Luzon Strait

Using the hydrographic data obtained from two sectional observations crossing the Luzon strait in the summer of 1994 and in the winter of 1998, the volume transport through this strait is calculated. It is found that in winter the volume transport (4.45×106 m3/s) is far larger than that in the summer (2.0 ×106 m3/s), respectively being about equal to 15.0% and 6.9% of the Kuroshio.And the paths of water in and out of the section of the strait vary distinctly with the season. In summer, the water flows in and out of the South China Sea (SCS) three times: that is, the inlet passages almost appear on the southern sides of the three deep troughs,the outlet passages are all located on the northern sides of the troughs,and the in-out volume transports through the channel are not lower than 4.0×106 m3/s. The highest velocity (>80 cm/s) and the largest entering water capacity (6.6×106 m3/s) all occur in the Balintang Channel. Except for the north outlet passage in the section, all the higher velocities over 10 cm/s are mainly distributed on the layer above 500 m. In winter,the water flows in and out of the strait two times:the southern sides of the second and third deep troughs are the main passages of the Kuroshio water running into the SCS,while the whole section of the first deep trough and the bottom section of the second deep trough are the outlet passages.The higher velocities over 10 cm/s are almost distributed on the layer above 300 m. Numerical calculation shows that the northern side of the third trough may be the outlet passage.

Calculation of circulation in the South China Sea during summer of 2000 by the modified inverse method

On the basis of hydrographic data obtained in August 2000 cruise, the circulation in the South China Sea (SCS) is computed by the modified inverse method in combination with SSH data from TOPEX/ERS-2 analysis. For study of the dynamical mechanism, which causes the pattern of summer circulation in the SCS, the diagnostic model (Yuan et al. 1982. Acta Oceanologica Sinica,4(1):1-11; Yuan and Su. 1992. Numerical Computation of Physical Oceanography.474-542) is used to simulate numerically the summer circulation in the SCS. The following results have been obtained. (1) The central and southwestern SCSs are dominated mainly by anticy-clonic circulation systems. They are mainly as follows. 1) There is strong anticyclonic eddy southeast of Vietnam (W1). Its horizontal scale is about 300 km, and it extends vertically from the surface to the about 1 000 m level. 2) There are a warm eddy W2 southeast of Zhongsha Islands and the anticyclonic circulation system W3 west off the Luzon Island. 3) There is a stronger cyclonic eddy C1 between the anticyclonic eddies W1 and W2.4) A strong northward coastal jet is present near the coast of Vietnam, and separates from the coast of Vietnam at about 12° N to the northeast.(2)The northern SCS is dominated mainly by a cyclonic circulation system. There is a cyclonic circulation system near and north of Section N2. (3) The southeastern SCS is dominated mainly by the cyclonic circulation system. (4) Comparing the results of circulation in the SCS during the summer of 2000 with those during the summer of 1998, it is found that they agree qualitatively, but there is the some difference between them in quantity.This shows that the circulation in the SCS has obviously seasonal feature. (5) The dynamical mechanism which products the basic pattern of summer circulation is because the following two reasons: 1) the joint effect of the baroclinity and relief (JEBAR) is essential dynamical cause; and 2) it is next important dynamical cause that the interaction between the wind stress and bottom topography under the southerly monsoon. (6) Comparing the hydrographic structure and distribution of stream functions with the SSH data from TOPEX/ERS-2 analysis in the SCS during August of 2000, they agree qualitatively.

Mesoscale eddies in the South China Sea and their impact on temperature profiles

Some life history statistics of the mesoscale eddies of the South China Sea (SCS) derived from altimetry data will be further discussed according their different formation periods. A total of three ATLAS (autonomous temperature line acquisition system)mooring buoys data will be analyzed to discuss eddies' impact on temperature profiles.They identify that the intraseasonal variation of SCS thermocline is partly controlled by mesoscale eddies.

An operational satellite remote sensing system for ocean fishery

Ocean environmental information is very important to supporting the fishermen in fishing and satellite remote sensing technology can provide it in large scale and in near real-time. Ocean fishery locations are always far away beyond the coverage of the satellite data received by a land-based satellite receiving station. A nice idea is to install the satellite ground station on a fishing boat. When the boat moves to a fishery location, the station can receive the satellite data to cover the fishery areas. One satellite remote sensing system was once installed in a fishing boat and served fishing in the North Pacific fishery areas when the boat stayed there. The system can provide some oceanic environmental charts such as sea surface temperature (SST) and relevant derived products which are in most popular use in fishery industry. The accuracy of SST is the most important and affects the performance of the operational system, which is found to be dissatisfactory. Many factors affect the accuracy of SST and it is difficult to increase the accuracy by SST retrieval algorithms and clouds detection technology. A new technology of temperature error control is developed to detect the abnormity of satellite-measured SST. The performance of the technology is evaluated to change the temperature bias from -3.04 to 0.05 ℃ and the root mean square (RMS) from 5.71 to 1.75℃. It is suitable for employing in an operational satellite-measured SST system and improves the performance of the system in fishery applications. The system has been running for 3 a and proved to be very useful in fishing. It can help to locate the candidates of the fishery areas and monitor the typhoon which is very dangerous to the safety of fishing boats.

SEDIMENT TRANSPORT IN YALU RIVER ESTUARY

Tidal cycle measurements of tidal currents, salinity and water tempe rature, and suspended sediment concentrations were measured at four stations, to gether with surveys along two profiles short core collection within the Yalu Riv er estuary. Grain size analysis of the three core sediment showed that: 1) the s ediment from B1 to B3 became finer, worse sorting and positively skewed; 2) the diversification of matter origin became more and more evident from east to west; 3) the sediments over the region were of the same origin, as indicated by their similar colors and grain sizes. The data indicated that stratification occurred in the flood season, from upstream to downstream, and a salt wedge was formed. The water column was well mixed, but the longitudinal gradient of the salinity w as larger on spring tide. The results also showed that the dominating mechanism of suspended sediment transport in the Yalu River estuary was T1, T2, T3 and T5. The non-tidal steady advection transport was restricted by the net transport o f suspended sediment induced by mass Stoked drift directed to landwards, then th e net sediment transport rate were decreased and the turbidity maxima was also f avored to forming and extending.

Standing stock and community structure of photosynthetic picoplankton in the northern South China Sea

The investigation on community structure of standing stock of photosynthetic picoplankton: Synechococcus (Syn), Prochlorococcus (Pro) and Picoeukaryotes (Euk) and their environmental regulation mechanisms in the northern South China Sea was carried out in the summer of 1999. The results showed that the average abundances of Syn, Pro and Euk in the study sea areas were (5.0±7.6)×104 cell/cm3 (51%), (4.6±4.2)×104 cell /cm3 (47%) and (1.8±1.1)×103 cell/cm3 (2%) respectively, and those of their carbon biomass were (12.5±18.9) ?滋g/dm3 (74%), (2.7±2.5) ?滋g/dm3 (16 %) and (1.7±1.0) ?滋g /dm3 (10%). The most of high values of Syn appeared in the estuaries, coastal zone and continental shelf in the sea area to the east of Leizhou Peninsula and Hainan Island where nutrients were rich, and those appeared in the Beibu Gulf were the second, while those appeared in continental slope and open sea were tens times lower than the above those. Its distribution in water column was mainly above the thermocline and its abundance below it sharply decreased. Two different populations of Pro were found, the surface population and deep one. The distribution pattern of the former was similar to that of Syn; while with marked difference from that of the former, the abundance and biomass of the latter markedly increased towards outer sea, continental slope and open sea where nutrients were poor; the high values in the water column mainly appeared at the bottom of euphotic zone and above the nitrocline, where it often vigorously grow. The distribution difference of Euk in the various sea areas is not as obvious as those of Syn and Pro, but it was high in coastal and shelf waters and low in continental slope and open sea. The high values in the water column were mostly appeared at the bottom of euphotic zone. This difference of distribution pattern for the three type of photosynthetic picoplankton depends on environmental effects and their ecophysiological differences.

Measurement of the current and spectral analysis on the continental shelf in the East China Sea

Direct measurements of current velocity and water temperature were undertaken at the mooring Sta. M (125°29.38' N, 31°49.70' E) on the continental shelf area in the East China Sea in June 1999 by R/V Xiangyanghong 14. The relationship between various time series of oceanic fluctuations is calculated by spectral analysis. The major results are as follows: (1) an average (u,v) of (6.9,-3.0 cm/s) at the 30 m depth is obtained during the 9-day observation, and that at the 45 m depth is (3.7,-1.1 cm/s), i. e., the mean flows are southeastward at both the 30 and 45 m depths;the currents become stronger gradually during the observation period; this may be mainly attributed to the transition of the tidal currents from neap to spring; (2)semidiurnal fluctuation is the most dominant in the current fluctuations, and rotates mainly clockwise; in the next place, there is also diurnal fluctuation;the local inertial period is close to the period of diurnal fluctuation, and an inertial motion is clockwise; thus, local inertial motion combines with diurnal fluctuation, and makes the spectral peaks in clockwise components much higher than those in counterclockwise ones; except for the fluctuations of above main periods, there is also the peak at 3 d period for counterclockwise compo-nents in the upper and lower layers; (3) the calculation of cross spectra between two time series of current velocities at the 30 and 45 m depths shows that both the current fluctuations at the 30 and 45 m depths are much alike, i. e., they are synchro; this shows that the flow field here is rather vertically homogeneous; (4)power spectra of tempera-ture time series at both the 30 and 45 m depths show that the semidiurnal peak is the most predominant, and the second highest peak is the diurnal period; besides spectral peaks at above periods, there are also obvious spectral peaks at 6.8 h and 2 d; (5)plots of temperature time series at 16 , 30 , 35 , 45 and 50 m depths show that the temporal variations of temperature at these depths are synchro, which are like those in the velocity field; temperature records also show a gradual rise in temperature, which are also like those in the velocity field.

Variability of the circulation in the southern Huanghai Sea and East China Sea during the two investigative cruises in June 1999

On the basis of the hydrographic data obtained from June 17 to 25, 1999 on board R/V Eardo , Korea (hereafter'the second cruise'), the circulation in the southern Huanghai Sea and East China Sea is computed by using the modified inverse method. The comparison between the two computed results in the first cruise, which was carried out from June 4 to 19, 1999 on board R/V Xiangyanghong 14, China, and in the second cruise is made. The following results have been obtained. (1) Part of the Kuroshio flows northward through the eastern part of Section E, and its volume transport(VT) is about 6.2×106 m3/s,and its maximum velocity is about 93 cm/s.This shows that most of the Kuroshio flows northward through the region east of Section E.The VT of the offshore branch of Taiwan Warm Current west of the Kuroshio through Section E is about 0.4×106 m3/s. (2) There is the following variability between these two cruises, whose time difference is about two weeks:① The position of the Kuroshio in the second cruise is slightly more east than that in the first cruise; ②The high-density water (HDW) with a cold water occurs in the region south of Cheju Island between 125°30' and 127°E at Sections D and C. The circulation in the region of HDW is cyclonic. Comparing the position of HDW during the second cruise with that during the first cruise,it is found that its position in the second cruise moves slightly northward.(3) The cold and uniform mixing layer occurs in the layer from the 30 m level to the bottom of the middle part of Section A and in the layer from the 20 m level to the bottom of the middle part of Section B,respectively.They are both the southern part of the Huanghai Sea Cold Water Mass (HSCWM). (4) There are higher temperature and lower density with a weaker anticyclonic circulation in the southwestern part of the computed region.Its center is located at the westernmost point of Section E.

Discussion about mechanism of harmful algal blooms breakout

HAB (harmful algal bloom) is a serious marine ecological disaster. Up to now there is no definite conclusion about its mechanism of occurrence.The observation results show that the HAB breakout in the Xiangshan Bay was mainly caused by physical convergence ca-pacity,and the breakout process had no direct relation to eutrophication.As a new idea it is thought that the process of the HAB breakout is mainly a physical convergence or accumulation process in some areas. A hypothesis about dynamic mechanism of the HAB appearing in the area off the Changjiang Estuary is put forward according to hydrology and topography and the past work, and a breakthrough is expected to be made for doing further research.

Numerical study on the summer circulation of the upper South China Sea and its establishment

A coupled single-layer/two-layer model is employed to study the South China Sea (SCS) upper circulation and its response before and after the onset of summer monsoon. It is found that, in summer, due to the β effect and the first baroclinic mode of the wind-driven current, a northward western boundary jet current is formed along the Indo-China Peninsula coast, and it leaves the coast at about 13° N and diffuses towards northeast; next to the Indo-China Peninsula, a large anticyclonic gyre in the southern SCS and a cyclonic eddy to the north of this gyre are induced. There are two possible mechanisms for the generation of this anticyclonic gyre: first, it is induced by the summer wind stress curl; second, it is associated with the westward moving of two anticyclonic eddies, which are originally generated to the west of Palawan Island and over the Nansha Trough respectively, in winter. The cyclonic eddy north of this anti-cyclonic gyre may be induced by the summer wind stress curl or related to the southwestward moving of the cyclonic eddy/gyre induced by the Kuroshio branch in the northern SCS.

A three-dimensional model study on ocean dynamic response to traveling cyclone over the Huanghai Sea

On the basis of numerical simulation of the mean circulation and relevant thermal-salinity fields in June with a three-dimensional o-cean model (ECOM-si), the model outputs are used as first guess of initial fields for numerical integration of the model equations and the numerical results are applied to investigating the dynamical responses of the Huanghai Sea and the East China Sea (HECS) in the course of a weak land-to-sea cyclone's passage over the Huanghai Sea on 15-16 June 1999. Predominance of the dynamic impact of cyclone over the thermal one in June in the HECS is justified using observations and model simulations.The cyclone and its surrounding weather system, i.e., subtropical high ridge to its south could influence current and thermal fields in the Bohai Sea, the Huanghai Sea and the northern East China Sea even though the intensity of cyclone was rather weak. The response of oceanic currents to the wind stresses driven by the cyclone and its soumern subtropical high were strongly characterized by the wind drift with its extent of equivalent scale of cyclone in the horizontal and of Ekman layer in the vertical. The sea response at a given site was closely related to the transient local wind speed and direction.especially was sensitive to the local wind direction,which is demonstrated at three points locating at the southern and western Huanghai Sea and the northern East China Sea. So the sea responses at locations differed considerably from one another. Current responded to the wind stress in a simple way:directly to the wind-driven current and subsequent gradient current and slope current, etc., whereas sea temperature responded to the wind stress in two ways: directly to the cyclone-induced cooling and indirectly to water movements both in the horizontal and the vertical by the cyclone' s wind stress. So the sea temperature variation under the influence of cyclone was more complicate than the current. The HECS in response to the cyclone and its ambient weather system was likely to be a fast process and such a response could last at least for more than 1 d. Current increased with the duration of wind stress exerted on the surface and decreased with the increasing depth. Affected by the cyclone, the maximum sea surface temperature decreased by almost 1.6 ℃during the 24 h cyclone.

Currents in the Luzon Strait during the spring of 2002: observation and computation by modified inverse model

On the basis of the current measurements at 200,500 and 800 m from moored current meters with the time series data from March 17 to April 15 at the mooring station (20°49′57″N, 120°48′ 12″E) and the hydrographic data obtained in the Luzon Strait during the spring of 2002 cruise, the circulation in the investigated area is computed by using the modified inverse method. The major observed results are as follows: (1) the average velocity and the flow direction in the observing days are (47.4 cm/s, 346°) at the 200 m level. The average velocity in the observing days is (20.3 cm/s, 350? at the 500 m level. These mean that the Kuroshio intrudes into the South Chin Sea to flow northwestward through the Luzon Strait at 200 and 500 m levels. (2) The average velocity in the observing days is (1.2 cm/s, 35°) at the 800 m level, i. e., its direction is northeastward. This means that the flow condition at the 800 m level very differs from mat at the 200 and 500 m levels. (3) There is the high density and cold water (HDCW) in the middle of western part of in the investigated region, and its center is located near the hydrological station 3 at Section A. (4) There is the lower density and warm water (LDWW) in the southeastern part of investigated region. (5) The currents in April 2002 are stronger than those in March 2002.The major computed results are as follows: (1) The northwestward and southeastward VTs through Section B are 32.48×106 m3/s (inclusive of VT of anticyclonic eddy) and 3.34×106m3/s, respectively. The net northwestward VT through Section B in the investigated area is about 29.14×106 m3/s. (2) The eastern and western VTs through Section A are about 16.71×106 and 8.57×106 m3/s, respectively. Thus, the net eastward VT through Section A is about 8.14×106 m3/s. (3) The net northward VT through Section M is about 24.68×106 m3/s. (4) After about 24.68×106 m3/s flows through Section M, most of it, about 16.54×106 m3/s, flows northward through the eastern part of Section C and then flows northward into the region east Taiwan Island. The other part of it, about 8.14×106 m3/s, branches out from the main Kuroshio and then flows meanderingly through the western part of Section C. Thus, the Kuroshio has the two cores of current at Section C. (5) The direction of the computed current near the mooring station M agrees with the direction of the current measurements at 200 and 500 m from moored current meters, i.e., their directions both are northwestward. (6) About 3.34×106 m3/s of the South Chin Sea water probably flows slowly from the northwest to the southeast in the layer below 550 m at the western part of Section B.

Characteristics of the Distribution and Control Factors of Polymetallic Nodules in the West Region of CCFZ (China Pioneer Area)

The tectonic setting of the west region of the Reserved Area of the International Seabed Authority is the same as that of China Pioneer Area. They have similar characteristics of topography and nodule distribution. To research and analyse the characteristics and control factors of nodule distribution can help the establishment of a geological model and the assessment of the polymetallic nodule resource. From the year of 1991 till 2000 COMRA (China Ocean Mineral Resource Research and Development Association) carried out phase 1 and 2 of the exploration and resource assessment project of polymetallic nodules in China Pioneer Area. The features of topography and geo logy, and the distribution of polymetallic nodules and control factors have been clearly understood. The results show that the formation and types and spatial features of abundance and grade of nodules resulted from several factors, the tectonic features (volcanism and faulting) and seafloor topography play an important role in the geological process of the formation of polymetallic nodules.

Competition within the marine microalgae over the polar dark period in the Greenland Sea of high Arctic

With the onset of winter, polar marine microalgae would have faced total darkness for aperiod of up to 6 months. A natural autumn community of Arctic sea ice microalgae was collected for dark survival experiments from the Greenland Sea during the ARKTIS-XI/2 Expedition of RV Po-larstem in October 1995. After a dark period of 161 days, species dominance in the algal assemblage have changed from initially pennate diatoms to small phytoflagellates (<20 μm). Over the entire dark period, the mean algal growth rate was - 0.01 d-1. Nearly all diatom species had negative growth rates, while phytoflagellate abundance increased. Resting spore formation during the dark period was observed in less than 4.5% of all cells and only for dinoflagellates and the diatom Chaetoceros spp. We assume that facultative heterotrophy and energy storage are the main processes enabling survival during the dark Arctic winter. After an increase in light intensity, microalgal cells reacted with fast growth within days. Phytoflagellates had the highest growth rate, followed by Nitzschia frigida. Further investigations and experiments should focus on the mechanisms of dark survival (mixotrophy and energy storage) of polar marine microalgae.

Research on the Response of the Upper Layer Heat Structure in the Western Pacific Warm Pool to the Mean Madden-Julian Oscillation

By using the long-term observed hydro-meteorological data (1985-2002) from the Tropical Atmosphere Ocean System (TAO) during the international Tropical Ocean and Global Atmosphere (TOGA) experiment, the key parameters of the Sea Surface Temperature (SST), thermocline depth, surface sensible heat flux and latent heat flux, and the pseudo wind stress in the Westen Equatorial Ocean are calculated in this paper. On the basis of the calculation, the response of upper layer heat structure in the Westen Pacific Warm Pool to the mean Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) and its relation to the El Nio events are analyzed. The results show that within the MJO frequency band (42-108 d), the distributions of sea surface wind stress and upper ocean temperature have several spatial-temporal variation structures. Among these structures, the type-I surface pseudo wind stress field plays the role of inhibiting the eastward transport of ocean heat capacity, while the type-II strengthens the heat capacity spreading eastward. Therefore the type-II surface pseudo wind stress field is the characteristic wind field that provokes El Nio events. During calm periods (July-September) of the wind stress variations, the sensible and latent heat capacity fluxes change considerably, mostly in the region between 137°-140°E, while to the east of 150°E, the heat capacity flux changes less.\ In the mean MJO state, the type-I surface pseudo wind stress field structure dominates in the Western Pacific. This is why El Nio events can not occur every year. However, when the type-II and type-III surface pseudo wind stress field structures are dominant, an El Nio event is likely to occur. In this case, if the heat capacity of the Western Pacific Warm Pool is transported eastward and combined with the Equatorial Pacific heat capacity spreading eastward, El Nio events will soon occur.

Sedimentation rates in the Wanggang salt marshes,Jiangsu

Coastal salt-marshes represent an important coastal wetland system. The total area of coastal wetlands exceeds 5000 km2 in Jiangsu Province, China, but it is decreasing rapidly in response to the intense reclamation activities and coastal erosion along a part of the coastline. Hence, two types of plants, Spartina angelica and Spartina alterniflora, were introduced successively into the Jiangsu coastal areas, in order to protect the coastline from erosion and to increase the accumulation rate. Pb-210 and Cs-137 analyses were carried out for sediment samples from the salt-marshes of Wanggang to determine the sedimentation rate, on the basis of an evaluation of the background activity values and the factors affecting the enrichment of Pb-210. Analysis of a typical sediment column of the tidal flat shows that there is weak absorption of Pb-210 in the silt-dominated sediment. Because of the influences of factors such as storm events, bioturbation, material sources and analytical error, some abnormal data points appear in the Pb-210 record. After ignoring these data the calculated sedimentation rate was 3.3 cm yr-1 on average. Based upon analysis of the Cs-137 dating, the rate since 1963 was 3.1 cm yr-1 on average, similar to the data by Pb-210 dating and the previous studies. The dating results show that there were three stages of sedimentation, with the most rapid accretion being taking place after Spartina angelica was introduced into the area. The study also shows that at the stage of Spartina alterniflora growth, the accretion rate was higher than on the flat surface with the same elevation without the cover of this plant.

The Land Subsidence and Relative Sea Level Rise in Chinese Delta Areas

Based on some experts’ research effort, the problems of land subsidence and relative sea level rise in three Chinese delta areas (Huanghe, Changjiang and Zhujiang Delta) are analyzed and discussed in this paper. The authors’ opinion is that the land subsidence is mainly induced by human activity and has made the greater contributions to the relative sea level rise and become one of the geological hazards in these areas. In Tianjin and Shanghai areas where had ever existed serious land subsidence problem, due to the positive and effective control methods, the ratio of man-induced land subsidence to relative sea level rise decreased from 80%-90% in 1960s-1970s to less than 60% at present. But it is estimated that in the next tens of years this ratio will still be considerable. So human being must keep its eyes on this phenomenon and take more positive countermeasures to control the land subsidence.