Distribution and Controlling Factors of Dissolved Gaseous Mercury and Reactive Mercury in Seawater Near Yangtze River Estuary

Complex hydrocultural conditions in the estuary affect the migration and transformation of mercury.Using two voyages in July and October 2018,Dissolved Gaseous Mercury(DGM)and Reactive Mercury(RHg)were determined to explore the source,transformation and influence of DGM content in the adjacent waters of Yangtze River Estuary in summer and autumn.The results showed the contents of DGM and RHg in summer were higher than those in autumn,and both of them were higher than those in open sea.In summer and autumn,the Yangtze River brought a higher concentration of DGM,and different flow direction and runoff resulted in differences in the high value region of the surface.The emergence of low-oxygen zones in summer was conducive to the production of DGM.In autumn,windy weather allowed seawater disturbances to promote the release of mercury from the underlying sediments,especially in shallow sea in northwest.RHg showed a higher concentration in the offshore than in the open sea in summer,but there was no such trend in autumn,reflecting the influence of less runoff input.DGM is the main product of RHg reduction,and there was a significant positive correlation between DGM and RHg in summer(r=0.356,P<0.05),while the correlation between DGM and RHg was not significant in autumn due to the influence of light intensity,wind speed and nutrients.The exchange flux of mercury in the adjacent waters of the Yangtze River Estuary was higher than that in the open sea.There was no significant difference of the release flux of mercury in summer and autumn.This article highlighted that the input of mercury from the Yangtze River runoff promotes the release of mercury in seawater,and the hypoxic zone caused by eutrophication is conducive to the production of DGM.

Distribution of clay minerals in surface sediments off Yangtze River estuary

Based on the clay minerals, content analysis from 187 stations in the surface sediments, this paper dealt with the assemblages and the distributions of clay minerals in the surface sediments off the Yangtze River estuary. The research results showed that the illite dominates the surface sediments off the Yangtze River estuary with the smectite or kaolinite the second rank and chlorite the third rank; the illite-smectite-kaolinite-chlorite-assemblage is the main type of the clay minerals assemblage in the area, with the illite-kaolinite-chlorite-smectite-type as the second rank; the source of clay mineral is mainly from the Yellow River and the Yangtze River. The Q-type cluster analysis show that sediments from both recent and ancient Yellow River were deposited mainly in the northeast part of the study area to the north of 29°30′. Substance from the Yangtze River was deposited mainly in the western and middle parts off the Yangtze River estuary.

Phytoplankton Assemblage of Yangtze River Estuary and the Adjacent East China Sea in Summer, 2004

A cruise was conducted from late August to early September 2004 with the intention of obtaining an interdisciplinary understanding of the Yangtze River Estuary including the biological, chemical and physical subjects. Water sample analysis indicated that total phytoplankton species richness was 137. Of them 81 were found in Bacillariophyta and 48 in Pyrrophyta, accounting for 59.1% and 35.0% respectively. The average cell abundance of surface water samples was 8.8 ×104 cells L^-1, with the maximum, 102.9×104 cells L^-1, encountered in the area （31.75°N, 122.33°E） and the minimum, 0.2×10^4 cells L^-1, in （30.75°N, 122.17°E）. The dominant species at most stations were Skeletonema costatum and Proboscia alata f. gracillima with the dominance of 0.35 and 0.27. Vertical distribution analysis indicated that obvious stratification of cell abundance and dominant species was found in the representative stations of 5, 18 and 33. Shannon-Wiener index and evenness of phytoplankton assemblage presented negative correlation with the cell abundance, with the optimum appearing in （30.75°N, 122.67°E）. According to the PCA analysis of the environmental variables, elevated nutrients of nitrate, silicate and phosphate through river discharge were mainly responsible for the phytoplankton bloom in this area.

Distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments from Yellow River Estuary and Yangtze River Estuary,China

Surface sediment samples collected from twenty-one sites of Yellow River Estuary and Yangtze River Estuary were determined for sixteen priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons （PAHs） by isotope dilution GC-MS method. The total PAH contents varied from 10.8 to 252 ng/g in Yellow River Estuary sediment, and from 84.6 to 620 ng/g in Yangtze River Estuary sediment. The mean total PAH content of Yangtze River Estuary was approximately twofold higher than that of Yellow River Estuary. The main reasons for the difference may be the rapid industrial development and high population along Yangtze River and high silt content of Yellow River Estuary. The evaluation of PAH sources suggested that PAHs in two estuaries sediments estuaries were derived primarily from combustion sources, but minor amounts of PAHs were derived from petroleum source in Yellow River Estuary. PAHs may be primary introduced to Yellow River Estuary via dry/wet deposition, wastewater effluents, and accidental oil spills, and Yangtze River Estuary is more prone to be affected by wastewater discharge.

Temporal and spatial changes of suspended sediment concentration and resuspension in the Yangtze River estuary

A detailed analysis of suspended sediment concentration (SSC) variations over a year period is presented using the data from 8 stations in the Yangtze River estuary and its adjacent waters, together with a discussion of the hydrodynamic regimes of the estuary. Spatially, the SSC from Xuliujing downwards to Hangzhou Bay increases almost constantly, and the suspended sediment in the inner estuary shows higher concentration in summer than in winter, while in the outer estuary it shows higher concentration in winter than in summer, and the magnitude is greater in the outer estuary than in the inner estuary, greater in the Hangzhou Bay than in the Yangtze River estuary. The sediments discharged by the Yangtze River into the sea are resuspended by marine dynamics included tidal currents and wind waves. Temporally, the SSC shows a pronounced neap-spring tidal cycle and seasonal variations. Furthermore, through the analysis of dynamic mechanism, it is concluded that wave and tidal current are two predominant factors of sediment resuspension and control the distribution and changes of SSC, in which tidal currents control neap-spring tidal cycles, and wind waves control seasonal variations. The ratio between river discharge and marine dynamics controls spatial distribution of SSC.

Trends of soil organic matter turnover in the salt marsh of the Yangtze River estuary

Characteristics and tidal flat trends of soil organic matter （SOM） turnover were studied for the Chongmingdongtan Salt Marsh in the Yangtze River estuary, based on analyses of stable carbon isotope composition （δ^13C）, grain sizes and contents of particulate organic carbon （POC）, total nitrogen （TN） and inorganic carbon （TIC） for three cores excavated from high tidal flat, middle tidal flat and bare flat. Results demonstrate that correlations between soil POC contents and δ^13C values of the salt marsh cores were similar to those between soil organic carbon （SOC） contents and δ^13C values of the upper soil layers of mountainous soil profiles with different altitudes. SOM of salt marsh was generally younger than 100 years, and originated mainly from topsoil erosions in catchments of the Yangtze River. Correlations of TN content with C/N ratio, POC content with TIC content and POC content with δ^13C values for the cores suggest that turnover degrees of SOM from the salt marsh are overall low, and trends of SOM turnover are clear from the bare flat to the high tidal flat. Bare flat samples show characteristics of original sediments, with minor SOM turnover. Turnover processes of SOM have occurred and are discernable in the high and middle tidal flats, and the mixing degrees of SOM compartments with different turnover rates increase with evolution of the muddy tidal flat. The exclusive strata structure of alternate muddy laminae and silty laminae originated from dynamic depositional processes on muddy tidal flat was a great obstacle to vertical migration of dissolved materials, and SOM turnover was then constrained. The muddy tidal flat processes exerted direct influences on sequestration and turnover of SOM in the salt marsh, and had great constraints on the spatial and temporal characteristics of SOM turnover of the Chongmingdongtan Salt Marsh in the Yangtze River estuary.

Analysis on the Circulation of the Yangtze River Estuary Based on ADCP Measurements

According to analysis on field data obtained by ADCP （Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler）, the flow regime of the Yangtze River Estuary is studied by use of a 3-D numerical model. The flow field characteristics, under the influence of Coriolis force, saltwater intrusion and freshwater inflow and tidal current interaction, are depicted in details. The main driving forces and some important effective factors of lateral, longitudinal and horizontal circulation are also analyzed.

Study on Nutrient Limitation of Phytoplankton in the Field Experiment of the Yangtze River Estuary in Summer

From July 23rd to August 15th, 2001, a field cultivation experiment was carried out to determine the limitation factors of phytoplankton in the Yangtze River estuary and the adjacent areas. The results indicated that the potential limiting nutrient was phosphorus in the Yangtze River diluted water area, nitrogen in the offshore of the Yangtze River estuary and the conversion of phosphorus to nitrogen in the middle area. Iron and silicon were not the potential limiting factors. If there were some kinds of limiting factors in the water, the growth of phytoplankton would be limited obviously. In case of disappearance of the limiting factor, the phytoplankton would grow fast. When the Noctiluca scintiuans bloom occurred, the phytoplankton biomass level was very low in a short time due to the grazing pressure. When the grazing pressure disappeared, the phytoplankton would grow quickly in abundant nutrients condition.

THE RESEARCH ON MAXIMUM TURBIDITY OF YANGTZE RIVER ESTUARY AND URBAN GROWTH OF SHANGHAI USING TM CCT DATA

Based on the research on the diffusion of suspended sediments discharged outside of Yangtze River estuary and the landuse of Shanghai using Landsat MSS images in several years, the authors analysed the characteristics of TM CCT data of Shanghai scene, pointed out concrete range of maximum turbidity and growth of urban boundary of Shanghai through the information extraction.The feature vector combination method is used in the research process. The result is getting nice.

Analysis of the Synoptic Situation Field on the Red Tide Occurred in Yangtze River Estuary Water Area

The occurrence of the red tide is an extremely complex process, which is considered as the comprehensive result of various factors. The Yangtze River estuary water area is always in high incidence area of red tide. In this paper, according to the events of red tide and meteorologic and hydrologic data in Yangtze River estuary water area from 2000 to 2010, by using mathematical statistics methods, we analyze the relevance between the occurrence of the red tide and the synoptic situation field, and probe into the regular patterns.

Novel wreck salvaging method using curved rectangular pipe basing method:A case study of"Yangtze River EstuaryⅡ"ancient shipwreck salvage project

Shipwreck salvage is a risky,time-consuming,and expensive process.Although there are many sunken ships along coastlines and in the open seas,the salvage process of a sunken ship has rarely been reported.The integrated salvage of the"Yangtze River EstuaryⅡ"shipwreck used a novel method with 22 closely locked curved rectangular pipes to form a watertight base that wrapped the shipwreck inside.The basing was lifted out of the water using a powerful crane situated on an engineering ship.For the first time,the tunneling method was used in a shipwreck salvage project,significantly reducing the disturbance to the shipwreck and its stowage,thereby preserving the original state and integrity of the shipwreck to the greatest extent.In this study,the basic concepts of the salvage method and process are explained.Solutions to critical issues in the new salvage method are provided,including jacking force prediction and major considerations for the structural design of the salvage system.The design of the salvage system and salvage process of the"Yangtze River EstuaryⅡ"shipwreck are introduced.The monitored jacking force,pipe deformation,and observed water-tightness verified that the proposed method was effective and efficient.Other possible application scenarios for the proposed method are presented at the end.

Recognition on the forming-vanishing process and underlying mechanisms of the hypoxia off the Yangtze River estuary

On the basis of compiled multidisciplinary historical data in 2006-2007 and incorporation of relevant simulation results and re- mote sensing data, we performed an in-depth study of the generation and dissipation process of the hypoxic zone and its distribu- tion morphology and structure off the Yangtze River estuary, Based on the hydrological circulation dynamics, reproduction of phytoplankton （leading to the decomposition of organic matter）, and other factors, we comprehensively and systematically inves- tigated the generation and dissipation of the hypoxic zone and underlying mechanisms for the seasonal variation in its position, explored the multi-factorial synergistic reactions during the generation and dissipation process of the hypoxic zone, and revealed the controlled mechanism for the morphology and structure of the hypoxic zone＇s distribution. Our studies indicate that in the winter and spring seasons, the hydrological environment off the Yangtze River estuary provides a water body with relatively low contents of dissolved oxygen （DO）, which is the background for the formation of a hypoxic zone. After entering into the summer season, the hypoxic zone gradually develops towards the north and becomes mature. Because of the impact of the terrain, local decomposition of organic matter, and upwelling of the Kuroshio subsurface water in July-August, the bypoxic zone off the Yang- tze River estuary exhibits the characteristics of discontinuous distribution in space and has a south and north ＂dual-core＂ structure in the inner continental shelf. In addition, there is a hypoxic core in the eastern outer continental shelf. The degrees of hypoxia vary for different areas; they are strongest overall in the north, next strongest in the south; they are weakest on the outer continen- tal shelf. In summer, the hypoxic zone in the north is related to the northward differentiation of the southern hypoxic zone and re- sults from local development and intensification. In August, the hypoxic zone in the north reaches its peak, and after September, it rapidly retreats southward and disappears because of weakening stratification. In the fall, there is hypoxic zone along the coast of Zhejiang in the south, and there is also a low-DO area to the southwest of Jeju Island, with both zones disappearing rapidly. In addition, the change of dynamic environment also causes the low-DO area of the outer continental shelf to move outward in the fall. The variation in the intensity of the stratification and its cumulative effects as a barrier of vertical DO transportation over long pe- riods of time have a significant impact on the degree of hypoxia in the hypoxic zone. In addition, the seasonal variations in the size of the stratified region, intensity of each current system/water mass, upwelling, front, and high-value area of phytoplankton biomass jointly restrict the extension of the hypoxic zone in the inner continental shelf and latitudinal （south-north direction） movement of its location off the Yangtze River estuary. The combined effect of dynamic factors, such as that of the Kuroshio subsurface water, causes a low-DO core in the outer continental shelI： The bottom cold water to the north of the East China Sea is the dynamic basis for the formation of the low-DO area to the southwest of Jeju Island during the fall season. The special seabed to- pography and mud area distribution off the Yangtze River estuary have a certain degree of influence on the development of the hypoxic zone. The generation and dissipation of the hypoxic zone and its distribution morphology off the Yangtze River estuary, and seasonal variation of its structure and position are a result of the synergistic effects of various factors.

NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF SUMMER CIRCULATION IN THE EAST CHINA SEA AND ITS APPLICATION IN ESTIMATING THE SOURCES OF RED TIDES IN THE YANGTZE RIVER ESTUARY AND ADJACENT SEA AREAS

Based on the COHERENS （a Coupled Hydrodynamical Ecological model for Regional Shelf seas）, a three-dimensional baroclinic model for the summer of East China Sea （ECS） was established with the sigma-coordinate in the vertical direction and spherical coordinate in the horizontal direction. The circulation patterns of the Kuroshio Current, the Taiwan Warm Current （TWC）, the Tsushima Current and the Yangtze Diluted Water （YDW） were successfully simulated with this model. The calculated results are fairly consistent with previous observations and studies. Based on this baroclinic current field, the Lagranian particles tracking was simulated to estimate the possible origins of the red tides frequently occurring in the Yangtze River estuary and its adjacent sea areas. If there are ＂seeds＂ （cysts） of the red tide algae at the seabed of the Taiwan Strait, the offshore of Fujian and Zhejiang Provinces and the northeast Taiwan Island, those are extremely possible sources of the red tides in the Yangtze River estuary and its adjacent sea areas. Field data are needed to confirm it. Numerical simulation to estimate the source of the red tides is a new application of the Lagrangian transport in the marine ecology.

The variations of suspended sediment concentration in Yangtze River Estuary

With the Yangtze River Estuary as an example, this paper analyzes the influence of human activity on the sea water content, the sediment content and the regional transport situation. In both flood seasons and dry seasons, as well as in the whole year, the sediment discharge rate and the suspended sediment concentration （SSC） in the estuary area of the Yangtze River show decreasing trends. In the estuary area, the amount of sediment transported into the South and North Branches and the offshore area is also in a decreasing trend over the years. The SSCs at the sections at the entrances of the South Branch, the South Channel, the North Channel and the South Passage in the Yangtze River Estuary show decreasing trends during 1959-2011. The remote-sensing data reveal that for the same runoff and tidal current combination, the SSC in the surface water is decreased, caused by the dramatic decrease in the sediment discharge and the sediment content from the watershed. Although the SSC in the offshore area does not exhibit an apparent decreasing trend, the SSC in the nearshore area drops by 21.42% during the period of 2003-2011 as compared with that during the period of 1985-2002 before the impounding of the Three Gorges Reservoir. The sediment re-suspension in the estuary slows down the reduction of the SSC. The period of2003-2011 is dry years for the Yangtze River, when the flow is relatively low. The peak value of the SSC in the coast area shifts inwards for about 1/60 of longitude. Due to the deepwater channel improve- ment project in the North Passage at the Yangtze River Estuary in 1998, the SSC in the waterway area is decreased. With the de- crease of the divided flow ratio and the sediment splitting ratio in the entrance and the exit of the North Passage, the SSC in the upper and lower reaches of the North Passage during the period of 2008-2011 is decreased by about 14.25% as compared with that during the period of 2000-2007. Primarily due to the jetty at the south side, the SSC in the middle reach shows an increasing trend.

Water quality model with multiform of N/P transport and transformation in the Yangtze River Estuary

As the Yangtze River Estuary and adjacent sea have been classified as a problem area with regard to eutrophication, it is important to explore the spatial and temporal variations of nitrogen and phosphorus （N/P） nutrients in this area. Based on danish hydraulic institute （DHI）＇s open platform Ecolab, a hydrodynamic and water quality model was developed for the Yangtze River Estuary, in which the transport and transformation processes of different forms of N/P nutrients were considered. Validations against measured data show that the model is overall reliable. Preliminary application of the model suggests that the model can simulate the characteristics of high phosphorus concentration area in the Yangtze River Estuary, and the high concentration area is closely related to the resuspension process of particulate phosphorus.

Dynamics of arsenic in salt marsh sediments from Dongtan wetland of the Yangtze River estuary,China

The mobility and transformation of arsenic （As） in salt marsh sediments were investigated in Dongtan wetland of the Yangtze River estuary, China. As in surface water, pore water and the rhizosphere sediments were quantified. The microcosm incubation experiments were conducted during the flooding of the sediments to examine As dynamics that occurred during changing redox conditions. The concentrations of dissolved As in pore water （0.04--0.95 ixmol/L） were significantly greater than that in surface water （0.03-0.06 lunol/L）. Under anoxic conditions, the reactive As could be initially mobilized by the reductive dissolution of Fe（III） （hydr）oxides. Subsequently, most of the dissolved As was likely to be associated with secondary iron （hydr）oxide phases and remained in solid phases. The seasonal variability of acid volatile sulfide concentrations suggest the anoxic conditions are enhanced during summer by Spartina alterniflora compared to Phragmites australis and Scirpus mariqueter, causing a notable increase in As mobility. Generally, there was a typical variation in redox conditions with season in salt marsh sediments of Dongtan wetland, in which the dynamics of As mobility and transformation possibly were controlled by iron, and all of this could be significantly influenced by the rapid spread of S. alterniflora.

The environment effect on fish assemblage structure in waters adjacent to the Changjiang(Yangtze) River estuary(1998-2001)

We collected fish abundance data in the Changjiang(Yangtze River) estuary and adjacent waters in November 1998,May 1999,November 2000,and May 2001.Using the data,we evaluated the characteristics of the fish assemblages at each site and investigated the effect of several environmental factors.We used a multivariate analysis,including community ordination methods such as detrended correspondence analysis(DCA) and canonical correspondence analysis(CCA),and two-way indicator species analysis(TWINSPAN).We analyzed the biological community structure and environmental factors to determine their spatial distributions,temporal dynamics,and seasonal variations.Among the fish species,five exceeded 5% of the total abundance:Harpodon nehereus(42.82%),Benthosema pterotum(13.85%),Setipinna taty(11.64%),Thryssa kammalensis(9.17%) and Apogonichthys lineatus(6.49%).These were separated into four ecological assemblages:hypsithermal-saline,hypsithermal-brackish,hypothermal-brackish,and hypothermal-saline.We evaluated the degree of influence of environmental factors on the fish community.Our analyses suggested that environmental factors including water depth,salinity,turbidity,transparency,nutrient,and suspended matter formed a synthetic spatial gradient between the coastal and pelagic areas.Ecological and environmental factors changed temporally from 1998 to 2001,and drove the fish community succession.The environmental factors driving the fish community structure included bottom temperature,water depth,bottom and surface pH,surface total phosphorous,and bottom dissolved oxygen.This investigation was completed before completion of the Three Gorges Dam;therefore the results of this study provide an important foundation for evaluating the influence of the human activities.

Size-fractionated phytoplankton biomass in autumn of the Changjiang(Yangtze) River Estuary and its adjacent waters after the Three Gorges Dam construction

A cruise was undertaken from 3rd to 8th November 2004 in Changjiang(Yangtze) River Estuary and its adjacent waters to investigate the spatial biomass distribution and size composition of phytoplankton.Chlorophyll-a(Chl-a) concentration ranged 0.42-1.17 μg L-1 and 0.41-10.43 μg L-1 inside and outside the river mouth,with the mean value 0.73 μg L-1 and 1.86 μg L-1,respectively.Compared with the Chl-a concentration in summer of 2004,the mean value was much lower inside,and a little higher outside the river mouth.The maximal Chl-a was 10.43 μg L-1 at station 18(122.67°E,31.25°N),and the region of high Chl-a concentration was observed in the central survey area between 122.5°E and 123.0°E.In the stations located east of 122.5°E,Chl-a concentration was generally high in the upper layers above 5 m due to water stratification.In the survey area,the average Chl-a in sizes of >20 μm and <20 μm was 0.28 μg L-1 and 1.40 μg L-1,respectively.High Chl-a concentration of <20 μm size-fraction indicated that the nanophytoplankton and picophytoplankton contributed the most to the biomass of phytoplankton.Skeletonema costatum,Prorocentrum micans and Scrippsiella trochoidea were the dominant species in surface water.The spatial distribution of cell abundance of phytoplankton was patchy and did not agree well with that of Chl-a,as the cell abundance could not distinguish the differences in shape and size of phytoplankton cells.Nitrate and silicate behaved conservatively,but the former could probably be the limitation factor to algal biomass at offshore stations.The distribution of phosphate scattered considerably,and its relation to the phytoplankton biomass was complicated.

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.

Spatial distribution and deposition history of nonylphenol and bisphenol A in sediments from the Changjiang River(Yangtze River) Estuary and its adjacent East China Sea

Nonylphenol（NP） and bisphenol A（BPA） are endocrine disruptors causing harmful effects including feminization and carcinogenesis to various organisms,and consequently,their contamination in natural environment has received wide concerns.This study reports the distribution characteristics of NP and BPA in surface sediments and their deposition history based on a dated sediment core in the Changjiang River（Yangtze River） Estuary and its adjacent East China Sea.The contents of NP and BPA in surface sediments ranged from 1.56-35.8 and 0.72-13.2 ng/g（dry mass）,respectively,with high values recorded in the two mud zones,the Changjiang River Estuarine Mud Zone and the Zhejiang Coastal Mud Zone.High values in the Zhejiang Coastal Mud Zone suggest the possibility of long distance transport of both contaminants through the Changjiang riverine plume.The contents were not correlated with the distance from the pollution source,indicating other factors including particle deposition rate and sediment grain size obviously affecting the distribution pattern.NP was also detected in a sediment core at layers deposited from the year of 1971 to 2001 with contents of up to 20.9 ng/g（dry mass）.The deposition fluxes of NP varied from 0.68 to 17.9 ng/（cm^2 · a） with peaks and valleys reflecting the traces of economic development history in China during the previous three decades.BPA was detected at sediment layers deposited from 1973 to 2001 with contents of up to 3.66 ng/g.The fluxes of BPA varied from 0.62 to 3.13 ng/（cm^2 · a） showing a similar pattern as NP.The contents of NP and BPA also indicated potential risks on benthic organisms in the study area.