Journal of Tropical Oceanography ›› 2025, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (1): 108-121.doi: 10.11978/2024042CSTR: 32234.14.2024042

• Marine Hydrology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Summer hydrological variations during 2021-2023 in the Pearl River Estuary and its adjacent areas

GUO Shaojing1(), ZHANG Xiaobo1, CHANG Jinglong1, ZHANG Shouwen1, JI Xuanliang2, MIAO Runqiao1, LI Jiandong1, ZHU Xueming1()   

  1. 1. School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519082, China
    2. National Marine Environmental Forecasting Center, Ministry of Natural Resources, Beijing 100081, China
  • Received:2024-02-22 Revised:2024-03-18 Online:2025-01-10 Published:2025-02-10
  • Contact: ZHU Xueming
  • Supported by:
    Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai)(SML2023SP219); National Natural Science Foundation of China(42176029)

Abstract:

Using in-situ data collected by summer cruises during 2021−2023, summer hydrological variations and their influencing factors were studied. The results show that the summer temperature and salinity were charactered by northeast-southwest distribution pattern, while variations in values were significant during the investigation. Mean sea surface temperature (SST) was lowest in 2021 but highest in 2022. Bottom temperature was highest in 2021, but moderate in 2022 and lowest in 2023. Strong runoff caused a significant outward expansion of diluted waters, sea surface salinity (SSS) was strikingly lower in 2022 than those in 2021 and 2023. Bottom salinity was highest in 2023, moderate in 2021 and lower in 2022. Temperature and salinity variations in the middle and low layers were related to the passage of typhoons and invasion of shelf cold and saline water. Those vertical temperature and salinity observed after Typhoon Lupit passed in 2021 mixed homogeneously, weakening stratification. Bottom shelf water intruded into the Lingding Bay, forming a low-temperature zone and apparent salinity front. Middle and bottom temperature (salinity) decreased (increased) owing to the enhanced bottom shelf water intrusion in sequence in 2022 and 2023. In 2023, strong upwelling inhibited the expansion of diluted water seaward to increase SSS over the shelf higher than those in 2021 and 2022. Bottom temperature and salinity varied with the tide, in which the shoreward movement of cold and saline water tended to decrease temperature and increase salinity during flood tide, while the opposite occurred during ebb tide. The positive correlation between SST and air temperature suggested that SST varied with air temperature.

Key words: Pearl River Estuary, hydrology, spatiotemporal variations, shelf water, onshore wind

CLC Number: 

  • P731