Validation of MODIS ocean-colour products in the coastal waters of the Yellow Sea and East China Sea

An extensive study collected in situ data along the Yellow Sea(YS) and East China Sea(ECS) to assess the radiometric properties and the concentration of the water constituents derived from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer(MODIS). Thirteen high quality match-ups were obtained for evaluating the MODIS estimates of Rrs(λ), chlorophyll a(Chl a) and concentrations of suspended particulate sediment matter(SPM). For MODIS Rrs(λ), the mean absolute percentage difference(APD) was in the range of 20%–36%, and the highest uncertainty appeared at 412 nm, whereas the band ratio of Rrs(λ) at 488 nm compared with that at 547 nm was highly consistent, with an APD of 7%. A combination of near-infrared bands and shortwave infrared wavelengths atmosphere correction algorithm(NIR-SWIR algorithm) was applied to the MODIS data, and the estimation accuracy of Rrs were improved at most of the visible spectral bands except 645 nm, 667 nm and 678 nm. Two ocean-colour empirical algorithms for Chl a estimation were applied to the processed data, the results indicated that the accuracy of the derived Chl a values was obviously improved, the four-band algorithms outperformed the other algorithm for measured and simulated datasets, and the minimum APD was 35%. The SPM was also quantified. Two regional and two coastal SPM algorithms were modified according to the in situ data. By comparison, the modified Tassan model had a higher accuracy for the application along the YS and ECS with an APD of 21%. However, given the limited match-up dataset and the potential influence of the aerosol properties on atmosphere correction, further research is required to develop additional algorithms especially for the low Chl a coastal water.

Fouling community characteristics in subtropical coastal waters of the southwestern East China Sea

A fouling study was conducted in coastal waters southwest of the East China Sea between December 2013 and November 2014. A total of 84 species of fouling organisms belonging to 69 genera, 49 families, and 10 phyla were recorded over the entire year. The community composition was dominated by coastal warm-water species belonging to typical subtropical inner bay communities. The prosperous stage of settlement lasted from April to September, and the adhesion strength of the fouling organisms was the highest in summer. Sessile suspension feeders constituted the main core of settlement for the fouling community. Amphibalanus reticulatus was the most dominant and representative species of fouling organism, and other dominant species included Caprella equilibra, Ectopleura crocea, Anthopleura nigrescens, Stylochus ijimai, Spirobranchus kraussii, Crassostrea angulata, Perna viridis, Jassa falcata, Stenothoe valida, Sphaerozius nitidus, and Biflustra grandicella. The individuals in the fouling community showed a mutual dependence or constraint relationship due to competition for settlement space and food, and they exhibited a particular spatiotemporal distribution in accordance with adaptation to environmental factors. Temperature was the most important environmental factor determining the geographic distribution of fouling organisms. The temperature characteristics of species essentially reflect the differences in the fouling community composition in various climate zones. The species number, settlement stage, and settlement rate of fouling organisms are closely related to water temperature. Local natural environmental conditions（salinity, water currents, light, etc.） as well as human activity（such as aquaculture production） are all important factors affecting the settlement of fouling organisms.

Analysis of Cu,Co,V and Zn in Coastal Waters of the East China Sea by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry(ICP-MS)

In this study, a simple method for the simultaneous determination of trace metals(Cu, V, Co, Zn) in coastal seawater using the Mg(OH)2 coprecipitation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(ICP-MS) was developed. This multi-element method enables the simultaneous extraction of four metals, particularly Co and V. The recoveries of Cu, Co, V and Zn after Mg(OH)2 coprecipitation were 73%, 96%, 94% and 92%, which means that our procedure was well-suited to the determination of these four trace metals. The detection limits were 3.81, 0.18, 6.09 and 1.91 nmol L-1, respectively. Then, applying this method to the simultaneous determination of these four metals in coastal water samples from the East China Sea revealed that the concentrations of Cu, Zn, Co and V were higher in bottom waters compared to water at other depths, and higher concentrations were generally observed at the Yangtze River estuary. Additionally, example vertical profiles of dissolved trace metal concentrations for the East China Sea in spring and autumn are compared. These findings indicate that Zn had the greatest seasonal variation followed by Cu, V and Co. For Zn and Co, the concentrations were higher during spring than during autumn. For Cu and V, the seasonal variation in the concentrations was opposite.

An analysis on the formation mechanism of the distributionof high content of chlorophyll-a in the continentalshelf edge waters of East China Sea

On the basis of the data obtained from the comprehensive Kuroshio surveys in 1987-1988,this paper analyses the oceanographic characteristics in the area (125°-130° E,27°-31° N) of the continental shelf edge of the East China Sea (E. C. S. ) and its adjacent waters and discusses the effects of the Kuroshio front,thermocline and upwelling of the Kuroshio subsurface water on the distribution of standing stock of phytoplankton (chlorophyll-a). The distribution of high content of chlorophylly-a has been detected at 20-50 in depth in the water body on the left side of the Kuroshio front in the continental shelf edge waters of the E. C. S. The high content of chlorophyll-a spreads from the shelf area to the Kuroshio area in the form of a tongue and connects with the maximum layer of subsurface chlorophyll-a of the Kuroshio and pelagic sea. The author considers that the formation of the distribution of high content chlorophyll-a in this area results from the bottom topography and oceanic environment and there are close correlations between the high content of chlorophyll-a and the light-nutrient environment.

Seasonal Variability of the Yellow Sea/East China Sea Surface Fluxes and Thermohaline Structure

We use the U.S. Navy's Master Oceanographic Observation Data Set (MOODS) forthe Yellow Sea/ East China Sea (YES) to investigate the climatological water mass features and theseasonal and non-seasonal variabilities of the thermohaline structure, and use the ComprehensiveOcean-Atmosphere Data Set (COADS) from 1945 to 1989 to investigate the linkage between the fluxes(momentum, heat, and moisture) across the air-ocean interface and the formation of the water massfeatures. After examining the major current systems and considering the local bathymetry and watermass properties, we divide YES into five regions: East China Sea (ECS) shelf, Yellow Sea (YS) Basin,Cheju bifurcation (CB) zone, Taiwan Warm Current (TWC) region, Kuroshio Current (KC) region. Thelong term mean surface heat balance corresponds to a heat loss of 30 W m^(-2) in the ESC and CBregions, a heat loss of 65 W m^(-2) in the KC and TWC regions, and a heat gain of 15 W m^(-2) in theYS region. The surface freshwater balance is defined by precipitation minus evaporation. The annualwater loss from the surface for the five subareas ranges from 1.8 to 4 cm month^(-1). The freshwater loss from the surface should be compensated for from the river run-off. The entire watercolumn of the shelf region (ECS, YS, and CB) undergoes an evident seasonal thermal cycle withmaximum values of temperature during summer and maximum mixed layer depths during winter. However,only the surface waters of the TWC and KC regions exhibit a seasonal thermal cycle.. We also foundtwo different relations between surface salinity and the Yangtze River run-off, namely, out-of-phasein the East China Sea shelf and in-phase in the Yellow Sea. This may confirm an earlier study thatthe summer fresh water discharge from the Yangtze River forms a relatively shallow, low salinityplume-like structure extending offshore on average towards the northeast.

The study on seasonal characteristics of water masses in the western East China Sea shelf area

On the basis of the CTD data and the modeling results in the winter and summer of 2009, the seasonal characteristics of the water masses in the western East China Sea shelf area were analyzed using a cluster analysis method. The results show that the distributions and temperature-salinity characteristics of the water masses in the study area are of distinct seasonal difference. In the western East China Sea shelf area, there are three water masses during winter, i.e., continental coastal water（CCW）, Taiwan Warm Current surface water（TWCSW） and Yellow Sea mixing water（YSMW）, but four ones during summer, i.e., the CCW, the TWCSW, Taiwan Warm Current deep water（TWCDW） and the YSMW. Of all, the CCW, the TWCSW and the TWCDW are all dominant water masses. The CCW, primarily characterized by a low salinity, has lower temperature, higher salinity and smaller spatial extent in winter than in summer. The TWCSW is warmer, fresher and smaller in summer than in winter, and it originates mostly from the Kuroshio surface water（KSW） northeast of Taiwan, China and less from the Taiwan Strait water during winter, but it consists of the strait water and the KSW during summer. The TWCDW is characterized by a low temperature and a high salinity, and originates completely in the Kuroshio subsurface water northeast of Taiwan.

Effect of Sea Level Variation on Tidal Characteristic Values for the East China Sea

Tidal waves in the East China Sea are simulated numerically with POM(Princeton Ocean Model) model for normal mean sea level, 30 cm higher, 60 cm higher, and 100 cm higher, respectively, and the simulated result is compared with the harmonic analysis result of hourly sea level data from 19 tide gauges for more than 19 years. It is indicated that the long-term mean sea level variation affects notably tidal waves in this region. Generally, the tidal amplitude increases when the mean sea level rises, but this relationship may be inverse for some sea areas. The maximal variation of tidal amplitude takes place in the zones near the Fujian coast and the Zhejiang coast, rather than the shallowest Bohai Sea. The maximum increase of M2 amplitude can exceed about 15 cm corresponding to the 60 cm rise of the mean sea level along the Fujian coast. The other regions with large variations of tidal amplitude are those along the Jiangsu coast, the south-east coast of Shandong, and the south-east coast of Dalian. The propagation of tidal waves is also related to mean sea level variation, and the tidal phase-lag decreases generally when the mean sea level rises. Almost all the regions where the tidal phase-lag increases with rising mean sea level are close to amphidromic points, meanwhile the spatial area of such regions is very small. Because the influence of mean sea level variation upon tidal waves is spatially marked, such spatial effect should be considered in calculation of the tidal characteristic value and engineering water level. In the region where the amplitudes of the major tidal constituents increase, the probable maximum high water level becomes higher, the probable maximum low water level becomes lower, and both design water level andcheck water level increase obviously. For example, the design water level at Xiamen increases by 13.5 cm due to the variation of tidal waves when the mean sea level rises 60 cm, the total increase of design water level being 73.5 cm.

Bacterial diversity and community structure in the East China Sea by 454 sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene

The 454 sequencing method was used to detect bacterial diversity and community structure in the East China Sea. Overall, 149 067 optimized reads with an average length of 454 nucleotides were obtained from 17 seawater samples and fi ve sediment samples sourced in May 2011. A total of 22 phyla, 34 classes, 74 orders, 146 families, and 333 genera were identifi ed in this study. Some of them were detected for the fi rst time from the East China Sea. The estimated richness and diversity indices were both higher in the sediment samples compared with in the seawater samples. All the samples were divided by their diversity indices into four regions. Similarity analysis showed that the seawater samples could be classifi ed into six groups. The groups differed from each other and had unique community structure characteristics. It was found that different water masses in the sampling areas may have had some infl uence on the bacterial community structure. A canonical correspondence analysis revealed that seawater samples in different areas and at different depths were affected by different environmental parameters. This study will lay the foundation for future research on microbiology in the East China Sea.

Numerical Study of Water and Suspended Matter Exchange Between the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea

POM was used to study the monthly mean circulation in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea. The calculated results showed almost all major characteristics of the circulation system. The calculated circulation system and observational data were used to determine the sediment concentration, volume transport, heat flux and suspended matter flux between the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea. The conclusions obtained were that the volume and heat are transported northward through the 32°N section during each season; that in winter and autumn, total suspended matter is transported southward, and is larger in winter than in autumn. The reason is that the Yellow Sea Coastal Current is strong and always contains more suspend matter in winter and autumn. The seasonal suspended matter exchange between the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea are 0.58×10 7 tons in spring, 2.81×10 7 tons in summer, -2.60×10 7 tons in autumn and -3.40×10 7 tons in winter. Net flux of suspended matter from the Yellow Sea to the East China Sea is 2.61×10 7 tons every year.

Seasonal Variations of Several Main Water Masses in the Southern Yellow Sea and East China Sea in 2011

The seasonal variations of several main water masses in the southern Yellow Sea (SYS) and East China Sea (ECS) in 2011 were analyzed using the in-situ data collected on four cruises.There was something special in the observations for the Yellow Sea Warm Current (YSWC) ,the Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass (YSCWM) and the Changjiang Diluted Water (CDW) during that year.The YSWC was confirmed to be a seasonal current and its source was closely associated with the Kuroshio onshore intrusion and the northerly wind.It was also found that the YSCWM in the summer of 2011 occupied a more extensive area in comparison with the climatologically-mean case due to the abnormally powerful wind prevailing in the winter of 2010 and decaying gradually thereafter.Resulting from the reduced Changjiang River discharge,the CDW spreading toward the Cheju Island in the summer of 2011 was weaker than the long-term mean and was confined to flow southward in the other seasons.The other water masses seemed normal without noticeable anomalies in 2011.The Yellow Sea Coastal Current (YSCC) water,driven by the northerly wind,flowed southeastward as a whole except for its northeastward surface layer in summer.The Taiwan Warm Current (TWC) was the strongest in summer and the weakest in winter in its northward movement.The Kuroshio water with an enhanced onshore intrusion in autumn was stable in hydrographic features apart from the seasonal variation of its surface layer.

A spectral mixture model analysis of the Kuroshio variability and the water exchange between the Kuroshio and the East China Sea

For understanding more about the water exchange between the Kuroshio and the East China Sea,We studied the variability of the Kuroshio in the East China Sea(ECS) in the period of 1991 to 2008 using a three-dimensional circulation model,and calculated Kuroshio onshore volume transport in the ECS at the minimum of 0.48 Sv(1 Sv ;106 m3/s) in summer and the maximum of 1.69 Sv in winter.Based on the data of WOA05 and NCEP,The modeled result indicates that the Kuroshio transport east of Taiwan Island decreased since 2000.Lateral movements tended to be stronger at two ends of the Kuroshio in the ECS than that of the middle segment.In addition,we applied a spectral mixture model(SMM) to determine the exchange zone between the Kuroshio and the shelf water of the ECS.The result reveals a significantly negative correlation(coefficient of-0.78) between the area of exchange zone and the Kuroshio onshore transport at 200 m isobath in the ECS.This conclusion brings a new view for the water exchange between the Kuroshio and the East China Sea.Additional to annual and semi-annual signals,intra-seasonal signal of probably the Pacific origin may trigger the events of Kuroshio intrusion and exchange in the ECS.

STUDY OF WATER-TRANSPORT THROUGH SOME MAIN STRAITS IN THE EAST CHINA SEA AND SOUTH CHINA SEA

OCCAM global ocean model results were applied to calculate the monthly water transport through 7 straits around the East China Sea (ECS) and the South China Sea (SCS). Analysis of the features of velocity profiles and their variations in the Togara Strait, Luzon Strait and Eastern Taiwan Strait showed that: 1) the velocity profiles had striped pattern in the Eastern Taiwan Strait, where monthly flux varied from 22.4 to 28.1 Sv and annual mean was about 25.8 Sv; 2) the profiles of velocity in the Togara Strait were characterized by core structure, and monthly flux varied from 23.3 to 31.4 Sv, with annual mean of about 27.9 Sv; 3) water flowed from the SCS to the ECS in the Taiwan Strait, with maximum flux of 3.1 Sv in July and minimum of 0.9 Sv in November; 4) the flux in the Tsushima Strait varied by only about 0.4 Sv by season and its annual mean was about 2.3 Sv; 5) Kuroshio water flowed into the SCS in the Luzon Strait throughout the year and the velocity profiles were characterized by multi core structure. The flux in the Luzon Strait was minimum in June (about 2.4 Sv) and maximum in February (about 9.0 Sv), and its annual mean was 4.8 Sv; 6) the monthly flux in the Mindoro Strait was maximum in December (3.0 Sv) and minimum in June (only 0.1 Sv), and its annual mean was 1.3 Sv; 7) Karimata Strait water flowed into the SCS from May to August, with maximum inflow flux of about 0.75 Sv in June and flowed out from September to April at maximum outflow flux of 3.9 Sv in January. The annual mean flux was about 1.35 Sv.

Effects of Climate Variability on Habitat Range and Distribution of Chub Mackerel in the East China Sea

Spatio-temporal distribution of chub mackerel Scomber japonicus is strongly susceptible to climate variability.In this study,a weighting-based habitat suitability index(HSI)model was established to assess the impacts of Pacific Decadal Oscillation(PDO)on habitat range and distribution of S.japonicus in the East China Sea(ECS)using vertical water temperature at depths of 2.5 m,25 m and 50 m.Results showed that the optimal HSI model selected from ten weighting scenarios can yield reliable predictions.Correlation analysis revealed a significant negative relationship between the PDO index and water temperature anomaly at different depths.The water temperatures at three different layers on the fishing ground of S.japonicus tended to be low in the warm PDO phase and high in the cold PDO phase,respectively.The range of suitable habitats and its spatial distribution exhibited large differences between the warm and cold PDO regimes.During a warm PDO phase,vertical water temperature became cool,and the monthly preferred water temperature at each depth for S.japonicus shifted southeastward.Consequently,habitat quality dramatically decreased,and suitable habitat ranges also reduced and moved southeastward.Conversely,in a cool PDO phase,with the warmer vertical water temperature and northwestward shift of the preferred water temperature,the suitable habitats enlarged and migrated in the same direction.Our findings indicate that the PDO produced significant impacts on habitat range and distribution of S.japonicus in the East China Sea.

Sedimentary ladderane core lipids as potential indicators of hypoxia in the East China Sea

Anammox （anaerobic ammonium oxidation） is an important process in many suboxic to anoxic marine environments for converting fixed nitrogen to N2, and has a major impact on the marine nitrogen cycle. Ladderane core lipids have been utilized as an indicator of the contribution of anammox to the marine nitrogen cycles. However, such studies have not been reported for the China seas and little is known about the importance of anammox within the nitrogen cycle of these marginal seas. In the research reported here, the ladderane core lipid contents of 17 surface sediment samples from the East China Sea are reported, and their spatial distribution is investigated. C^8-[5]-ladderane FAME, C20-[5]-ladderane FAME and C20-[3]- ladderane FAME have all been detected, suggesting that the anammox bacteria are widely present within the study area. The total contents of the three ladderane lipids （ZFAMEs） range from 24-355 ng/g （weight of dry sediments）, with higher contents occurring in the Minzhe Mud Zone and broadly coincident with the spatial distribution of hypoxia. It is suggested that the sedimentary ladderane core lipids are mainly produced in the water column and their sedimentary contents can be used as indicators of water column hypoxia.

Preliminary analysis of distribution and variation of perennialmonthly mean water masses in the Bohai Sea,the Huanghai Sea and the East China Sea

On the basis of perennial monthly mean temperature and salinity data, the classification of monthly water masses at the surface and the bottom in the Bohai Sea, the Huanghai Sea and the East China Sea, has been made by using the method of fuzzy cluster from the modified characteristic of water masses in the shallow water area. In this paper, the basic features, growth and decline patterns of water masses in relation to fishing grounds in the whole shelves of the Bohai Sea, the Huanghai Sea and the East China Sea are discussed with emphasis.

Impact of the exceptionally high flood from the Changjiang River on the aquatic chemical distributions on the Huanghai Sea and East China Sea shelves in the summer of 1998

On the basis of the field observation in the Huanghai Sea and East China Sea in the summer of 1998, a rare event of exceptionally high discharge from the Changjiang River was described and how this high discharge altered water masses as well as chemical distributions on the shelves of the Huanghai Sea and East China Sea. The maximal extending ranges of the Changjiang diluted water and the nutrients in the freshwater from the Changjiang River were recorded for the first time. It was also found that there was a closed area with high oxygen and pH values in the offshore area of the southern Huanghai Sea and the northern East China Sea, indicating that the extensive spreading of nutrients due to the high discharge led to photosynthesis of phytoplankton mostly taking place in the offshore area far from the river mouth. The presence of ＂excess nitrogen＂ in almost all the northern East China Sea and the south of the Huanghai Sea suggests that these areas are potentially phosphorus-limited rather than nitrogen-limited, manifesting more like an estuarine ecosystem rather than a common marine ecosystem.

Picoplankton distribution in different water masses of the East China Sea in autumn and winter

Abstract Picoplankton distribution was investigated in different water masses of the East China Sea in November, 2006 and February, 2007. The autumn and winter cruises crossed three major water masses： the coastal water mass （CWM）, the mixed water mass （MWM）, which forms on the continental shelf, and the Kuroshio water mass （KWM）. Picoplankton composition was resolved into four main groups by flow cytometry, namely Synechococcus, Prochlorococcus, picoeukaryotes, and heterotrophic bacteria. The average abundances of Synechococcus, picoeukaryotes, and heterotrophic bacteria were （0.63＋ 10.88）~ 103, （1.61＋1.16）x103, （3.39~1.27）x105 cells/mL in autumn and （6.45~8.60）x103, （3.23~2.63）x103, （3.76~1.37）x 105 cells/mL in winter, respectively. Prochlorococcus was not found in the CWM and seldom observed in surface samples in either season. However, Prochlorococcus was observed in the MWM and KWM （approximately 103 cells/mL） in both auttman and winter. Synechococcus distribution varied considerably among water masses, with the highest levels in KWM and lowest levels in CWM. The depth-averaged integrated abundance of Synechococcus was approximately 5-fold higher in KWM than in CWM, which may be due primarily to water temperature. In the MWM, Synechococcus was resolved as two subgroups; the presence of both subgroups was more common in autumn. Picoeukaryote abundance varied less among water masses than Synechococcus, and heterotrophic bacteria depth-averaged integrated abundance exhibited the smallest seasonal variations with respect to water mass. Correlation analysis showed that relationships between picoplankton abundances and environmental factors （temperature, nutrients, and chlorophyll a） differed among the three water masses, suggesting that the three water masses have different effects on picoplankton distribution （particularly Synechococcus）.

Estimation of water volume transports through the main straits of the East China Sea

The structure of current speed and the variability of volume transports of the Kuroshio in the Tokara-kaikyo and Osumi-kaikyo are discussed on the basis of data of KER in the period from 1977 to 1984. The average geostrophic transport through these two straits is estimated to be 24. 5×106 m3/s and only 1/12 of the transport is through the Osumi-kaiky5. Countercurrents on both sides of the Kuroshio trunk are observed in the Tokara-kaikyo. Calculation indicates that the average geostrophic current speed is less than the GEK current speed, systematically. On the basis of the current measurements, the northward transports through the Taiwan Strait in winter and summer are estimated to be 1. 05×106and 3. 16×106m3/s, respectively. From Chu's data (1976) the average transport of the Kuroshio flowing into the East China Sea passing through the passage east of Taiwan is about 29. 3×106m3/s. From Miita and Ogawa's data (1984) the average transport through the Tsushima-kaikyo is 3. 6×106m3/s. Thus the volume transports through the above four straits are roughly in balance, the total outflowing transport is slightly larger than the total inflowing transport. The possible reasons resulting in the difference of transports are also discussed.

Temporal and spatial variability of the carbon cycle in the east of China's seas:a three-dimensional physical-biogeochemical modeling study

In the east of China＇s seas, there is a wide range of the continental shelf. The nutrient cycle and the carbon cycle in the east of China＇s seas exhibit a strong variability on seasonal to decadal time scales. On the basis of a regional ocean modeling system（ROMS）, a three dimensional physical-biogeochemical model including the carbon cycle with the resolution（1/12）°×（1/12）° is established to investigate the physical variations, ecosystem responses and carbon cycle consequences in the east of China＇s seas. The ROMS-Nutrient Phytoplankton Zooplankton Detritus（NPZD） model is driven by daily air-sea fluxes（wind stress, long wave radiation, short wave radiation, sensible heat and latent heat, freshwater fluxes） that derived from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction（NCEP） reanalysis2 from 1982 to 2005. The coupled model is capable of reproducing the observed seasonal variation characteristics over the same period in the East China Sea. The integrated air-sea CO_2 flux over the entire east of China＇s seas reveals a strong seasonal cycle, functioning as a source of CO_2 to the atmosphere from June to October, while serving as a sink of CO_2 to the atmosphere in the other months. The 24 a mean value of airsea CO_2 flux over the entire east of China＇s seas is about 1.06 mol/（m^2·a）, which is equivalent to a regional total of3.22 Mt/a, indicating that in the east of China＇s seas there is a sink of CO_2 to the atmosphere. The partial pressure of carbon dioxide in sea water in the east of China＇s seas has an increasing rate of 1.15 μatm/a（1μtm/a=0.101 325Pa）, but p H in sea water has an opposite tendency, which decreases with a rate of 0.001 3 a^（–1） from 1982 to 2005.Biological activity is a dominant factor that controls the pCO_2 air in the east of China＇s seas, and followed by a temperature. The inverse relationship between the interannual variability of air-sea CO_2 flux averaged from the domain area and Ni？o3 SST Index indicates that the carbon cycle in the east of China＇s seas has a high correlation with El Ni？o-Southern Oscillation（ENSO）.

Pore-water distribution and quantification of diffusive benthic fluxes of nutrients in the Huanghai and East China Seas sediments

The distribution of nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, phosphate and silicate in pore-water and their exchange between sediments and overlying waters （benthic flux） were determined at nine locations on the shelve of Huanghai and East China Seas. On the basis of the redox potential of sediments and nutrients distributions in the pore-waters, it is found that the benthic sediments are being in a suboxic to anoxic environment in the Huanghai and East China Seas. The nutrients distribution in the pore-waters is mainly controlled by the sediment environment, and ammonia is the major inorganic nitrogen in the pore-waters. On the basis of benthic fluxes of nutrients calculated us- ing Fick＇s first law, there is remarkable efflux of ammonia, dissolved inorganic nitrogen（DIN）, phosphate and silicate from the sediments to the overlying waters in the study area, and their benthic fluxes are 299.3-2 214.8, 404.4-2 159.5 , 5.5-18.8 and 541.3-1 781.6 μmol/（m^2·d） respectively, and perhaps they are the major source of dissolved inorganic nitrogen, phosphate and silicate for the overlying water. At most stations, the nitrate flux was from the overlying waters to the sediments, which suggests that suboxic organic matter decomposition via denitrification is dominated in the most area of Huanghai and East China Seas. High benthic fluxes appearing in the coastal area and relatively low benthic fluxes occurring in the shelf area are found and are consistent with pri- mary productivity zoning in the study area. On the other hand, the ammonia flux displays an exponential decrease with water depth increase and an exponential increase with the bottom water temperature. However, others do not display this trend.