Effects of dissolved oxygen and nutrients from the Kuroshio on hypoxia off the Changjiang River estuary

The intrusion of the Kuroshio into the East China Sea(ECS)aff ects the development of hypoxia off the Changjiang(Yangtze)River estuary;however,quantitative analysis of its impacts is lacking.In this study,the Regional Ocean Modeling Systems(ROMS)model coupled with the Carbon,Silicate and Nitrogen Ecosystem(CoSiNE)model was used to investigate the relative importance of dissolved oxygen(DO)and diff erent nutrients(silicate,nitrate,and phosphate)in the Kuroshio on hypoxia in the ECS.Results show that changes in DO concentrations in the Kuroshio modify the distribution and intensity of hypoxia through direct onshore transport by hydrodynamic processes.An increase in Kuroshio DO concentration by 25%or 50%would result in a decrease of the maximum hypoxia extent(MHE)in the ECS by 76%or 86%,respectively,while a 25%decrease in Kuroshio DO would increase the MHE by up to 219%.The contribution of DO in the Taiwan Strait is almost negligible.In contrast to Kuroshio DO,nutrients aff ect hypoxia in the ECS through onshore transport by hydrodynamic and biochemical processes.Changes in phosphate and nitrate concentrations by 25%in the Kuroshio would change the MHE by up to 30%and 18%,respectively,accompanied by apparent changes in surface chlorophyll-a concentrations.The eff ect of silicate on hypoxia is negligible because a 25%change in silicate concentrations in the Kuroshio would result in less than 1%change in the MHE.Our results reveal a hierarchical rank of importance for environmental variables in the Kuroshio(i.e.,DO>phosphate>nitrate>silicate)in modifying the development of hypoxia in the ECS.

Long-term changes in sedimentary diatom assemblages and their environmental implications in the Changjiang(Yangtze) River estuary, China

Long-term data on diatom assemblages in a sediment core （60 cm） obtained from the Changjiang （Yangtze） River estuary were analyzed in order to assess the environmental changes that took place in the approximately 38 years （as determined by 210pb measurements）, i.e., between 1974 and 2012, of sediment accumulation. From the sediment core, 62 diatom taxa and genera were identified. The diatom biomass in the core generally increased beginning in the mid-1990s （core depth： 35 cm）, accompanied by a shift in the dominant species from Podosira stelliger and two species of Cyclotella （C. stylorum and C. striata） to Paralia sulcata, three species of Thalassiosira （ T. eccentria, I＂. oestrupii, and T. excentrica）, Actinoptychus undulates, and Thalassionema nitzschioides. The changes in both species diversity and abundance suggested that since the 1980s the estuary has undergone extensive eutrophication. This conclusion was supported by the increased proportion of planktonic species, another indicator of high nutrients inputs, in the Changjiang River estuary.

Seasonal variations of particulate silicon in the Changjiang (Yangtze River) Estuary and its adjacent area

Temporal and spatial distribution of biogenic （BSi） and lithogenic （LSi） silica were studied in the Changjiang （Yangtze River） Estuary and its adjacent area. The annual average BSi and LSi concentrations were （1.714-1.79） #mol/L and （0.564-1.41） mmol/L, respectively. Both BSi and LSi were high ii~. tbe inshore ar- eas, where they received terrigenous discharge from the Changjiang, and decreased towards the offshore region. BSi and LSi were most abundant at the near bottom layer due to the high sedimentation rates and resuspension of sediment. Diatom blooms occurred in summer with high Chl a concentration in the sur- face layer, which induced that BSi in the surface layer during summer was obviously higher than that in the surface layer of other seasons. LSi concentration was maximal in autumn and spring and minimum in summer, associated with the seasonal variation of SPM values. Drifting investigation and mesocosm exper- iments were conducted during dinoflagellate bloom, aiming to understand the effect of nutrients on BSi by changing the phytoplankton composition. The results show that the low dissolved inorganic phosphorus concentration and high molar ratio of N/P （dissolved inorganic nitrogen vs. dissolved inorganic phospho- rus）, were the important factors for decreasing diatom biomass in the study area, and it would subsequently decrease the BSi concentration in aquatic ecosystem.

Potential impacts of Three Gorges Dam in China on the ecosystem of East China Sea

The Changjiang River in China was dammed in 2003. The possible changes in matters fluxes from the river downstream after the completion of Three Gorges Dam and their potential impacts on the ecosystem of the East China Sea are discussed . The estuarine and coastal waters in the East China Sea were heavily fertilized by the inflow of nutrient-rich freshwater from the Changjiang River, which has led to severe eutrophication and frequent harmful algal blooms ,thus worsening the ecosystem health in this area. Analy- sis showed that the nutrient loadings are very likely to be reduced in the lower Changjiang River due to the construction of Three Gorges Dam. Especially for the total phosphorus, the discharges to the East China Sea will be reduced by one-third, which would relieve the severe eutrophication in this area. However, the expected decrease in the riverine silicate discharge would lead the ratio of silicon to nitrogen to be much less than 1 in the estuarine and coastal waters and thus may cause an elevation of flagellate growth. The changes in the annual water discharges and their seasonal distributions below the dam will be minor. Reduction of suspended particulate matter loading, due to the sedimentation behind the dam, will reduce the nutrient loadings of the particulate form especially for phosphorus, and decrease the turbidity of estuarine and coastal waters. On the other hand, this may enhance the erosion of the delta and the coasts as well as modifythe benthic ecosystem.

Peaked abundance of Calanus sinicus earlier shifted in the Changjiang River (Yangtze River) Estuary:a comparable study between 1959,2002 and 2005

The sea surface temperature （SST） of the East China Sea （ECS） increased in the past decades, which may have a great impact on the ecosystem of the ECS, including the changes in planktonpopulation structure. In this paper, the changes in peaked abundance of Calanus sinicus in the Changjiang River （Yangtze River） Estuary were compared between 1959 and 2002, based on the data collected from the seasonally oceanographic cruises and those performed in spring of 2005. It was much higher in spring compared with that in other seasons both in 1959 and 2002. Furthermore, in spring 2005, the time for occurrence and decrease of the peaked C. sinicus abundance advanced about one month, accompanying the increase in the sea surface water temperature （SST）. It peaked in June and decreased in July in 1959, however, in 2005, it peaked in May and attenuated sharply in early June. The earlier decrease of peaked C. sinicus abundance may further deteriorate the ecosystem in the Changjiang River Estuary and north nearshore of the ECS.

Effect of regional warming on the abundance of P seudeuphausia sinica Wang et Chen(Euphausiacea)off the Changjiang River(Yangtze River)Estuary

Distribution and abundance of Pseudeuphausia sinica off the Changjiang River Estuary （30 ° 00′ – 32 ° 00′ N, 122 ° 00′ –123 ° 30 ′E）, the East China Sea were studied in relation to environmental features associated with the regional warming. P. sinica is a subtropical species. Off the Changjiang River Estuary, its abundance reached maximum in summer. To examine spatial and temporal changes of P. sinica off the Changjiang River Estuary, the authors have combined all available sampling data in 1979, 1981, and 2000–2007. This database shows that a significant increase in abundances of P. sinica was observed in spring of 2000–2007 as compared with 1979, 1981. The abundance of P. sinica increased from 0.18–0.21 ind./m 3 in 1979 and 1981 to 0.68–4.00 ind./m 3 in 2000–2007. Accordingly, the sea temperature increased obviously from spring of 1979, 1981 to the 2000s. The authors further found a positive relationship between average surface temperature and average abundance of P. sinica. Regional warming, together with the release of predator induced stress due to a sharp decline in the abundance of its predator （e.g., fishes）, were thought to be responsible for the increase in abundance of P. sinica in water off the Changjiang River Estuary.

Preservation of black carbon in the shelf sediments of the East China Sea

Concentrations and carbon isotopic(14C,13C) compositions of black carbon(BC) were measured for three sediment cores collected from the Changjiang River estuary and the shelf of the East China Sea. BC concentrations ranged from 0.02 to 0.14 mg/g(dry weight) ,and accounted for 5% to 26% of the sedimentary total organic carbon(TOC) pool. Among the three sediment cores collected at each site,sediment from the Changjiang River estuary had relatively high BC contents compared with the sedi-ments from the East China Sea shelf,suggesting that the Changjiang River discharge played an im-portant role in the delivery of BC to the coastal region. Radiocarbon measurements indicate that the ages of BC are in the range of 6910 to 12250 years old B.P.(before present) ,that is in general,3700 to 9000 years older than the 14C ages of TOC in the sediments. These variable radiocarbon ages suggest that the BC preserved in the sediments was derived from the products of both biomass fire and fossil fuel combustion,as well as from ancient rock weathering. Based on an isotopic mass balance model,we calculated that fossil fuel combustion contributed most(60%―80%) of the BC preserved in these sediments and varied with depth and locations. The deposition and burial of this "slow-cycling" BC in the sediments of the East China Sea shelf represent a significant pool of carbon sink and could greatly influence carbon cycling in the region.

长江口-东海陆架黏土中高活性铁的富集效应及环境控制机制

铁元素的化学相态分析是深入理解沉积物的来源、环境演化以及铁参与的生物地球化学循环的关键手段,但不同粒级沉积物中铁化学相态研究薄弱,制约了表生铁循环的研究认知。本文选择长江口-东海陆架表层沉积物,通过六步提取法分析沉积物全样及其黏土组分中总铁(FeT)、高活性铁(FeHR)、弱活性铁(Fe_(PR))和不活性铁(Fe_(U))的含量,含量均遵循Fe_(HR)>Fe_(PR)>Fe_(U)。全样中Fe_(T)和Fe_(HR)的含量与平均粒径、黏土、有机碳和铝含量密切相关,表明富含有机质的黏土矿物易于富集高活性铁;相较于全样,黏土组分中Fe_(HR)/Fe_(T)比值升高10%,而Fe_(PR)/Fe_(T)比值则降低10%,反映黏土组分对高活性铁的富集效应。河口动力环境基本控制沉积物中Fe的相态分布,长江口最大浑浊带沉积物全样中Fe_(T)和Fe_(HR)含量较高,且受粒度的影响显著;黏土组分可以显著消除粒度效应的影响,Fe_(T)和Fe_(HR)被大量截留在最大浑浊带前缘的河口低盐度区域;而在中高盐度的口外区域,Fe的来源相对稳定,主要为富Fe_(HR)的长江源和贫Fe_(HR)的陆架源沉积物混合。本研究揭示黏土组分在流域-河口-陆架的迁移可能主导了高活性Fe在陆海界面的分布和循环过程,这对深入理解入海颗粒态Fe的源汇过程、地球化学循环及其环境效应有重要参考价值。

长江口和东海内陆架黏土矿物与黏土粒级碎屑矿物构成及物源指示意义

黏土矿物以及黏土粒级碎屑矿物颗粒细小、搬运距离远,是进行长江口及浙闽内陆架泥质区多物源示踪的良好指标。本研究利用改进的黏土矿物XRD(X射线衍射分析)预处理方法,制作了供多面XRD衍射分析的方形样品,实现了部分黏土矿物种的鉴定,结合黏土粒级中碎屑矿物鉴定,探讨了长江口及内陆架沉积物来源。研究表明:长江口及内陆架表层沉积物中的黏土矿物种属包括伊利石(含2M1、2M2两个多型)、高岭石、珍珠陶土、斜绿泥石以及弹性绿泥石,非黏土矿物主要有石英、钾长石、斜长石、白云石、铁白云石、方解石以及硬石膏。依据黏土矿物、黏土粒级碎屑矿物空间分布差异把长江口及东海内陆架划分为两个物源区:长江口及内陆架北部物源区、内陆架南部物源区,前者受废黄河物质影响,后者受浙闽中小河流物质影响。本研究表明来自苏北废黄河的沉积物不仅跨过了长江冲淡水进入长江水下三角洲,而且一直向南达到浙闽泥质区的北部。

东海赤潮高发区营养盐时空分布特征及其控制要素

东海长江口、舟山渔场附近海域是我国近海赤潮爆发严重的区域之一。在影响该海域营养盐分布的水团中 ,长江冲淡水向表层输入了大量的氮、磷、硅营养盐 ,台湾暖流主要对底层和长江口外上升流区有贡献 ,苏北沿岸水、闽浙沿岸水主要影响近岸区域。同时 ,营养盐在海水 -沉积物界面的交换作用 ,大气湿沉降作用等也影响着该海域营养盐的时空分布。结合2002年4月～2003年3月对29°00′～32°00′N、122°00′～124°00′E海域四季航次调查的营养盐分布规律 ,该海域可分为三片区域 ,由岸边向外海分别为高营养盐、低浮游植物区 ,较高营养盐、高浮游植物区和较低营养盐、低浮游植物区。随着近年来营养盐输入通量的增加 ,富营养化程度加大 ,受化学、物理、生物等因素综合作用 ,高浮游植物区赤潮爆发频率和规模逐年增加 。

东海赤潮高发区春季溶解氧和pH分布特征及影响因素探讨

根据2002年4月27日—5月2日长江口邻近海域的大面调查,分析了东海溶解氧及pH值的分布特征,并对长江口外溶解氧低值区的成因及其与赤潮发生的关系进行了初步探讨。结果表明,调查海域pH值呈近岸低、外海高的分布趋势,溶解氧整体处于过饱和状态,呈近岸高、外海低的分布趋势。4月下旬在调查海区东南部底层已开始出现溶解氧低值区,面积约为15400km2,该水域表观耗氧量AOU一般在1.50mg/L以上,并伴随有氧的亏损发生,形成原因主要是水交换较弱和有机物分解耗氧。溶解氧低值区可能是有机碎屑的沉降汇集区,随着夏季温度的升高及长江丰水期的到来,有机碎屑有可能在台湾暖流的影响下产生西、北向的爬升而造成溶解氧低值区扩大和溶解氧含量的进一步降低。

东、黄海典型海域叶绿素a含量的垂向变化与周日波动

2000年10月21至11月5日对东海与黄海典型海区进行了叶绿素a浓度的现场周日观测。地理环境和水文状况的差异使各海区的垂向变化与日波动表现出各自的特征 :东海观测站位在垂向上的分布比较单一 ,多数呈上混合层均匀分布型并在跃层以下递减 ;长江口受潮流影响大 ,偶而在底层出现峰值 ;而南黄海观测站位垂向分布出现了均匀分布型与次表层双峰型两种。受潮流等影响 ,叶绿素a浓度的日变化在各海区间及各自的垂向上都有所差异 :出现层化的测站 ,跃层以上日波动比跃层以下明显 ;在E7测站的表层和长江口测站的底层都以半日周期为主 ,而南黄海测站以全日周期为主。

长江口及邻近水域氮、磷的形态特征及分布研究

根据近几年大面调查的监测资料,对长江口及邻近水域氮、磷营养盐的形态组成、时空分布及氮磷比的变动规律及其影响因素进行了分析研究。结果表明,长江口及邻近水域中硝酸盐是水体无机氮存在的主要形态,其约占总无机氮的90%,无机氮含量河口高,向东南方向愈来愈低;从该水域总磷的形态组成来看,磷营养盐主要以溶解态和颗粒态共存的形式存在,TDP略高于TPP,无机磷的平面分布与无机氮十分相似,春季无机磷含量高于夏季;N/P值变动范围大和平均值较高是该水域的主要特征,N/P值与长江径流量的大小有关系,夏季N/P值比春季高,综合分析来看,磷营养盐和光照都有可能成为该水域浮游植物生长的重要限制因子。

长江口和东海海域沉积物粒径对有机质分布的影响

利用2007年11月采集于长江口和东海陆架区域的78个站位的表层沉积物样品,以及2007年11月、2008年4月采集于长江口东南和浙江近岸泥质区的悬浮物样品,对长江口和东海海域表层沉积物以及部分站位的悬浮物进行了粒度、有机碳和总氮的分析和研究,探讨了沉积物粒径对有机质运移和沉积过程的影响。结果表明:(1)水体中悬浮物的平均粒径从长江口沿浙江近岸向南逐渐减小,与悬浮物含量和颗粒有机碳含量都有较好的相关性,表明悬浮物粒径是影响有机质运移的重要因素。(2)表层沉积物粒径分布呈现出明显的区域性变化特征,有机碳、总氮的分布趋势与表层沉积物的粒径分布密切相关,表层沉积物的粒径越小,有机碳和总氮的含量则越高;长江口和浙江沿岸泥质区表层沉积物中含砂量低,而中外陆架和长江口水下三角洲东北隅表层沉积物中的含砂量较高,含砂量呈现出由近岸向外海逐渐增加的趋势。由此可见,随着含砂量的增加、沉积物粒径的增大,有机质含量由陆向海方向逐渐降低,而有机质含量与粘土粉砂含量有着明显的正相关性,细粒沉积物是有机质运移的主要载体,同时也控制着沉积物中有机质的分布。

长江口及其邻近海域营养盐的分布特征和输送途径

根据黄海、东海的最新现场调查资料 ,探讨了长江口及其邻近海域营养盐分布特征与输送途径 .调查结果表明 ,在长江口以东及其东北部海域终年存在一个范围很大的营养盐高值区 .分析表明 ,这些营养盐主要来自长江冲淡水的扩展及苏北沿岸流的输送 .此外 ,还获得了 1 998年长江流域特大洪水期间 ,迄今被观测到的长江冲淡水中营养盐的最大扩展范围 .

1998年夏季长江特大洪水入海的化学水文学特征

根据1998年夏季长江流域特大洪水期间黄海、东海的现场调查资料,讨论了洪水入海对黄海和东海陆架区化学水文学的影响。给出了迄今调查获得的长江冲淡水及其营养物质的最大扩展范围;发现了表层溶解氧和pH分布的一个突出现象,即在南黄海南部和东海北部的远岸海域存在一溶解氧和pH高值封闭区;指出浮游植物的光合作用主要发生在南黄海南端至东海北部海域,而不是在长江口门内。南黄海南部、东海北部和东海近岸海域过量无机氮的存在表明,与其它海洋生态系统不同,上述海域的初级生产可能是磷限制而非氮限制。

长江口及邻近水域渔业环境质量的现状及变化趋势研究

本文根据2000～2002年6个航次的调查资料,对长江口及邻近水域的渔业环境质量进行全面研究及变动趋势分析。研究结果表明,长江口及邻近水域营养盐含量十分丰富,约90%无机氮是以硝酸盐形态存在。该水域主要受营养盐、重金属及有机物的污染。其中杭州湾水域受污染程度最为严重。长江口及邻近水域浮游植物初级生产主要受磷营养盐的限制。总的来说,长江口及邻近水域渔业环境质量正呈逐步下降趋势。

长江口及其邻近海域近代沉积物中甲藻孢囊的垂直分布

于2005年4～5月，在长江口外及浙江中南部海域设置5个采样站点，获取了15～40cm的沉积物柱状样，分层研究了甲藻（dinoflagellates）孢囊的垂直分布。在本研究中共鉴定出46种甲藻孢囊，其中自养型19种，异养型27种。长江口海域复杂的流系特征及环境状况对孢囊分布有明显影响，致使孢囊丰度较低，平均丰度为366.2 cysts·g^-1，且无明显垂直分布规律。锥状斯氏藻孢囊是最为丰富的自养型甲藻孢囊，平均质量分数介于17．0％～28．9％；异养型甲藻孢囊以原多甲藻属为主，平均质量分数为29．5％～53．6％，其它类型孢囊仅零星分布。有毒藻亚历山大藻孢囊在各站位均有分布，但丰度较低，最高值仅为68．1 cysts·g^-1。

长江口及邻近海域夏季溶解无机碳体系及其响应机制初探

根据2009年8月＂908＂项目长江口补充调查总碱度（TAlk）、溶解无机碳（DIC）、pH值、溶解氧（DO）和叶绿素a（Chla）等数据的分析结果显示,长江口及邻近东海海域夏季溶解无机碳（DIC）含量分布范围在1 647.1~2 236.9μmol/dm3之间,平均值为2 031.2μmol/dm3;空间分布为由近岸冲淡水方向向外海逐渐增加;DIC在垂直分布上总体呈现底层水〉次表层水〉表层水,在29.0°N,122.6°E的底层存在1个高值中心,这可能与低温高盐的台湾暖流深层水作用有关。对TAlk、DIC与盐度的相关性探讨发现,当盐度为10~25,TAlk、DIC与盐度呈现很好的保守性关系;而在盐度接近0、大于30及盐度为25~28时则出现偏离保守型稀释曲线现象,而这3个区域分别属于河口淡水端、海水端和长江口羽状锋区域,这一现象的发生与河水端不同的输入源、海水端的水文物理过程以及长江羽状锋区域生物活动强弱密切相关。此外,根据DIC体系中DIC、pH值、温度和盐度等的实测数据进行推算可知,长江口及其邻近海域表层pCO2的范围为15.4~166.9 Pa（154.0~1 669.0μatm）,其中以29.5°N、123°E为中心的区域出现表层pCO2值的低值中心[〈39.0 Pa（390μatm）],理论上可认为是大气CO2的1个典型汇区。

黄、东海西部营养盐浓度近几十年来的变化

通过对以往调查资料和研究成果的总结,发现黄、东海西部海域在近40～50年中NO3-、SiO32-和PO43-浓度均发生了显著的变化,NO3-浓度快速上升,而SiO23-和PO34-浓度显著下降。NO3-浓度的上升和SiO23-浓度的下降均与它们在长江等河流中的变化趋势一致;PO34-浓度的下降在河流以及长江口海域并不明显,而更多地体现在较为封闭的渤海、黄海。作者推测,NO3-陆源输入的增加,提高了海洋生产力,加强了浮游植物对PO43-的吸收可能是造成PO43-在研究区域平均水平下降的一个原因。基于这个假设,设计了一个简单的数学模型,用以计算为了满足目前PO43-的下降量,外界NO3-输出通量所需的增长速率。结果表明,如果增长的氮通量全部是由长江等河流输出的NO3-提供,这些河流NO3-的平均浓度在近几十年中至少增加了7.8μmol/L。