Radial velocity of ocean surface current estimated from SAR Doppler frequency measurements—a case study of Kuroshio in the East China Sea

Ocean currents are a key element in ocean processes and in meteorology,affecting material transport and modulating climate change patterns.The Doppler frequency shift information of the synthetic aperture radar(SAR)echo signal can reflect the dynamic characteristics of the sea surface,and has become an essential sea surface dynamic remote sensing parameter.Studies have verified that the instantaneous Doppler frequency shift can realize the SAR detection of the sea surface current.However,the validation of SAR-derived ocean current data and a thorough analysis of the errors associated with them remain lacking.In this study,we derive high spatial resolution flow measurements for the Kuroshio in the East China Sea from SAR data using a theoretical model of shifts in Doppler frequency driven by ocean surface current.Global ocean multi observation(MOB)products and global surface Lagrangian drifter(GLD)data are used to validate the Kuroshio flow retrieved from the SAR data.Results show that the central flow velocity for the Kuroshio derived from the SAR is 0.4–1.5 m/s.The error distribution between SAR ocean currents and MOB products is an approximate standard normal distribution,with the 90%confidence interval concentrated between–0.1 m/s and 0.1 m/s.Comparative analysis of SAR ocean current and GLD products,the correlation coefficient is 0.803,which shows to be significant at a confidence level of 99%.The cross-validation of different ocean current dataset illustrate that the SAR radial current captures the positions and dynamics of the Kuroshio central flow and the Kuroshio Counter Current,and has the capability to monitor current velocity over a wide range of values.

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.

Characterization of longshore currents in southern East China Sea during summer and autumn

Current characteristics and vertical variations during summer and autumn in the southern East China Sea were investigated by measuring current profile, tide, wind, and wave data for 90 d from July 28 to October 25, 2015. Our results are:(1) The current was mainly a(clockwise) rotating flow, displaying reciprocating flow characteristics,and vertically the current directions were the same throughout the vertical profile.(2) The horizontal current speed was strongest during August(summer) with an average speed of 51.8 cm/s. The average current speeds during spring tides were highest in August and weakest in September, with speeds of 59.9 and 42.8 cm/s,respectively.(3) Considerable differences exist in average current speeds in different layers and seasons. The highest average current speeds were found in the middle–upper layers in August and in the middle–lower layers in September and October.(4) The residual current speed was highest in August, when the speed was 12.5–47.1 cm/s,whereas the vertical average current speed was 34.3 cm/s. The depth-averaged residual current speeds in September and October were only 50% of that in August, and the residual current direction gradually rotated in a counter-clockwise direction from the lower to surface layers.(5) Typhoon waves had a significant influence on the currents, and even affected the middle and lower water layers at depths of >70.0 m. Our results showed that the currents are controlled by the dynamic interplay of the Taiwan Warm Current, incursion of the Kuroshio Current onto the continental shelf, and monsoonal changes.

风暴在长江三角洲侵蚀和沉积物向南输运中的控制作用

Densely populated coasts are vulnerable to storm damage. Episodic storm-induced redistribution of coastal sediment is known to have major geological and ecological implications [1,2], but little is known about storm-driven delta erosion and longshore sediment transport. The Yangtze (Changjiang) Delta and Zhejiang–Fujian coasts (Fig. S1 online) are among the world’s largest coastal depositional systems, and play an important role in supporting China’s socioeconomic development [3,4].