Journal of Tropical Oceanography ›› 2022, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (6): 143-150.doi: 10.11978/2022017CSTR: 32234.14.2022017

• Marine Hydrology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Trend analysis of marine heatwaves variability in the outer Pearl River estuary from 1974 to 2020

TANG Ling1,2(), NIE Yuhua1,2, WANG Ping1,2, TANG Chaolian1,2   

  1. 1. South China Sea Information Center, State Oceanic Administration, Guangzhou 510310, China
    2. Key Laboratory of Marine Environment Survey Technology and Application, Ministry of Natural Resource, Guangzhou 510330, China
  • Received:2022-01-27 Revised:2022-04-20 Online:2022-11-10 Published:2022-04-24
  • Contact: TANG Ling E-mail:sunnytl969@163.com
  • Supported by:
    Science and Technology Fundamental Resources Survey Program of Ministry of Science and Technology(2019FY202110)

Abstract:

Based on the daily mean sea surface temperature (SST) data observed at the Dawanshan Marine Environmental Monitoring Station (DMEMS) in the Pearl River Estuary from 1974 to 2020, the definition of marine heatwaves (MHW) adopted by the World Meteorological Organization, the intensity classification criteria, and the global and northern hemisphere annual mean surface temperature anomaly data, the trends of MHW in the Pearl River Estuary are analyzed using correlation and comparison methods. The results show that: 1) MHW incidents have occurred annually in the Pearl River Estuary in the past 47 years, with an average of 6.5 times per year and up to 13 times in 2020. There is an upward trend in the number of occurrences every year. The average duration is 11.7 days, up to 62 days. 2) MHW days in the Pearl River Estuary have increased significantly in the past 47 years, with an increasing rate of 1.81 d·a-1. 3) During this period, the proportion of MHW days with each level of intensity to all days is: moderate 18.92%, strong 53.24%, severe 24.06% and extreme 3.77%. 4) The main reasons for the increase of MHW days and the occurrence of extreme MHW in the Pearl River Estuary might be global warming, enhanced high pressure and weakened monsoon in the South China Sea. It is estimated that the MHW days in the Pearl River Estuary will increase in the future.

Key words: marine heatwaves, global warming, weakening of monsoon, Pearl River Estuary

CLC Number: 

  • P732