Seasonal Changes in Phytoplankton Biomass and Dominant Species in the Changjiang River Estuary and Adjacent Seas:General Trends Based on Field Survey Data 1959-2009

The characteristics of seasonal variation in phytoplankton biomass and dominant species in the Changjiang River Estuary and adjacent seas were discussed based on field investigation data from 1959 to 2009. The field data from 1981 to 2004 showed that the Chlorophyll-a concentration in surface seawater was between 0.4 and 8.5 ktg dm-3. The seasonal changes generally presented a bimodal trend, with the biomass peaks occurring in May and August, and Chlorophyll-a concentration was the lowest in winter. Seasonal biomass changes were mainly controlled by temperature and nutrient levels. From the end of autumn to the next early spring, phytoplankton biomass was mainly influenced by temperature, and in other seasons, nutrient level （including the nutrient supply from the terrestrial runoffs） was the major influence factor. Field investigation data from 1959 to 2009 demonstrated that dia- toms were the main phytoplankton in this area, and Skeletonerna costatum, Pseudo-nitzschia pungens, Coscinodiscus oculus-iridis, Thalassinoema nitzschioides, Paralia sulcata, Chaetoceros lorenzianus, Chaetoceros curvisetus, and Prorocentrum donghaiense Lu were common dominant species. The seasonal variations in major dominant phytoplankton species presented the following trends： 1） Skeletonema （mainly S. costatum） was dominant throughout the year; and 2） seasonal succession trends were Coscinodiscus （spring） →Chaetoceros （summer and autumn） → Coscinodiscus （winter）. The annual dominance of S. costatum was attributed to its environmental eurytopicity and long standing time in surface waters. The seasonal succession of Coscinodiscus and Chaetoceros was associated with the seasonal variation in water stability and nutrient level in this area. On the other hand, long-term field data also indicated obvious interannual variation of phytoplankton biomass and community structure in the Changjiang River Estuary and adjacent seas： average annual phytoplankton biomass and dinoflagellate proportion both presented increased trends during the 1950s - 2000s.

Variations of temperature, salinity and current in the southern tidal passage of the Hangzhou Bay, China

Field surveys covering a spring-neap tidal period were conducted to investigate the characteristics of tidal dynamics within a curved channel in the southern Hangzhou Bay, China. The channel has a maximum depth of more than 100 m with an average tidal range of 2.5 m, serving as the main tidal passage in the southern part of the Hangzhou Bay. Water salinity, temperature and velocity data were collected from the ship-based transects and mooring measurements. During flood tide, the tidal current intrudes into the Hangzhou Bay through the northern side of the channel with a maximum velocity of about 2 m/s, while retreats through the southern side during ebb tide with a maximum velocity of 1.8 m/s. Due to the pressure, density gradients, the Coriolis force and centrifugal effect, a lateral exchange flow is generated as the tidal current relaxes from flood to ebb. Salinity and temperature data show that the water in the channel is weakly stratified during both spring and neap tides in summer time.However, mixing in the middle region will be enhanced by the lateral circulation. Mooring data indicate that the temperature and salinity are varying at a frequency similar to tidal current but higher than sea level oscillation.Our results support the hypothesis that the high frequency salinity and temperature variations could be generated by combination of the tidal current and the lateral exchanging flow.

Analysis of the characteristics of offshore currents in the Changjiang(Yangtze River) estuarine waters based on buoy observations

A buoy of 10 m in diameter was used to record the current speed and direction in a vertical profile in the offshore area of the Changjiang（Yangtze River） Estuary（with an average water depth of 46.0 m） for one year.The results include：（1） the currents rotate clockwise and the current direction is consistent in a vertical profile without clear seasonal variations.（2） The horizontal current speeds are generally high,with a maximum of 128.5 cm/s occurring in summer and 105.5 cm/s appearing in winter commonly close to the surface.The average current speeds in the vertical profile fall in the same range（the differences are less than 8.0 cm/s）,with the maximum of47.0 cm/s occurring in summer and 40.8 cm/s in winter.The average current speed during spring tides is twice that during neap tides（26.5 cm/s）.（3） Significant differences of speeds are observed in the vertical profile.The maximum current speed occurs at either surface（spring and winter） or sub-surface（summer and autumn）,with the minimum current speed appearing at the bottom.The maximum average current speed of all layers is 57.9cm/s,which occurs in the 18-m layer during summer.（4） The average speed of the residual currents ranges from7.5 cm/s to 11.3 cm/s,with the strongest occurring in spring and weakest in winter.The residual currents of all layers are eastward during spring and winter,whereas northeastward or northward during summer and autumn.（5） The currents in the offshore of Changjiang Estuary are impacted collectively by diluted Changjiang River discharge,the Taiwan Warm Current,monsoon and tides.