Spatial-Temporal Variations of Chlorophyll-a in the Adjacent Sea Area of the Yangtze River Estuary Influenced by Yangtze River Discharge

Ying Wang, Hong Jiang, Jiaxin Jin, Xiuying Zhang, Xuehe Lu and Yueqi Wang
Additional contact information
Ying Wang: Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science and Technology, Nanjing University, Xianlin Road 163, Nanjing 210023, China
Hong Jiang: Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science and Technology, Nanjing University, Xianlin Road 163, Nanjing 210023, China
Jiaxin Jin: Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science and Technology, Nanjing University, Xianlin Road 163, Nanjing 210023, China
Xiuying Zhang: Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science and Technology, Nanjing University, Xianlin Road 163, Nanjing 210023, China
Xuehe Lu: Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science and Technology, Nanjing University, Xianlin Road 163, Nanjing 210023, China
Yueqi Wang: Key Laboratory of Coastal Zone Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, China

IJERPH, 2015, vol. 12, issue 5, 1-19

Abstract: Carrying abundant nutrition, terrigenous freshwater has a great impact on the spatial and temporal heterogeneity of phytoplankton in coastal waters. The present study analyzed the spatial-temporal variations of Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentration under the influence of discharge from the Yangtze River, based on remotely sensed Chl-a concentrations. The study area was initially zoned to quantitatively investigate the spatial variation patterns of Chl-a. Then, the temporal variation of Chl-a in each zone was simulated by a sinusoidal curve model. The results showed that in the inshore waters, the terrigenous discharge was the predominant driving force determining the pattern of Chl-a, which brings the risk of red tide disasters; while in the open sea areas, Chl-a was mainly affected by meteorological factors. Furthermore, a diversity of spatial and temporal variations of Chl-a existed based on the degree of influences from discharge. The diluted water extended from inshore to the east of Jeju Island. This process affected the Chl-a concentration flowing through the area, and had a potential impact on the marine environment. The Chl-a from September to November showed an obvious response to the discharge from July to September with a lag of 1 to 2 months.

Keywords: spatial-temporal variations; chlorophyll-a; discharge; Yangtze River estuary; SeaWiFS (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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