Journal of Tropical Oceanography ›› 2020, Vol. 39 ›› Issue (1): 20-35.doi: 10.11978/2019035CSTR: 32234.14.2019035

• Marine Hydrology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Spring-neap tidal variation and mechanism analysis of the maximum turbidity in the Pearl River Estuary during flood season

YAN Dong1,2,4, SONG Dehai1,3(), BAO Xianwen1,2,3   

  1. 1. Key Laboratory of Physical Oceanography, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
    2. College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
    3. Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China
  • Received:2019-04-08 Revised:2019-05-15 Online:2020-01-20 Published:2020-01-09
  • Contact: Dehai SONG E-mail:songdh@ouc.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China(41876088);National Natural Science Foundation of China(41406097);National Natural Science Foundation of China(41476030)

Abstract:

The spring-neap tidal variation of the estuarine turbidity maximum (ETM) in the Pearl River Estuary (PRE) is studied, using the Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS). The longitudinal and lateral distribution of suspended sediment concentration (SSC) shows that the ETM is located between 22.3°-22.45°N and varies with flood and ebb tides. The main mechanism on the ETM formation is the bottom convergence generated by residual current. The location of the ETM is determined by horizontal advection. The sediment source is resuspended sediment on the shoal during spring tides. The fine sediment deposited on the shoal during neap tides is resuspended and transported downstream to the stagnation point during spring tides, and then trapped on the west shoal. The tidal pumping effect can transport suspended sediment seaward (landward) during spring (neap) tides, while the vertical shear always transports suspended sediment landward, both leading to the convergence of sediment in the ETM. The decomposition of residual current shows that the bottom landward residual flow is mainly induced by density difference, followed by asymmetric tidal-mixing. Moreover, there is little difference in residual currents between spring and neap tides.

Key words: Pearl River Estuary, estuarine turbidity maximum, spring-neap tidal variation, sediment transport, lateral circulation, mechanism analysis

CLC Number: 

  • P731.21