Article
Environmental Sciences
Xia Li, Yanzi Cai, Zezheng Liu, Xiaobiao Mo, Li Zhang, Cheng Zhang, Baoshan Cui, Ze Ren
Summary: This study analyzed long-term observational data to investigate the variability of tidal dynamics in the Pearl River Estuary. The results showed significant spatial-temporal variability in tidal variables, which were influenced by estuarine geomorphology, river discharge, and sea-level rise.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xin Li, Haiming Yan, Ying Yang, Zhihao Xu, Huicai Yang
Summary: This study examines the coastline variation of the Pearl River Estuary in China using Landsat satellite images from 1987 to 2017. The results show that the estuary has experienced significant expansion during recent decades, with the length of the coastline increasing by 74.81 km and the land area increasing by 679.25 km(2). The study also identifies the dominant factors influencing coastline variation, including reductions in sand content caused by reservoir construction and river dredging, as well as urbanization and land reclamation for aquaculture. These findings have important implications for understanding the impact of human activities on coastline variation and can inform sustainable management strategies for estuaries.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Ajimon Thomas, J. C. Dietrich, M. Loveland, A. Samii, C. N. Dawson
Summary: This research proposes a new approach that maps coarse mesh predictions onto a fine mesh with increased resolution during simulation, increasing efficiency and eliminating refinement decisions during the simulation process. Results show efficiency gains of up to 53 percent for historical storms, with minimal accuracy losses compared to static simulations.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiaohao Zhang, Jingrou Lin, Huamei Huang, Junjie Deng, Aiping Chen
Summary: This study analyzes the changes in the coastline and sea reclamation of the Pearl River Estuary over the past half a century using satellite images. The results show an increase in the total length of the coastline and the reclamation area. In recent years, the purpose of reclamation has shifted from agriculture and pond culture to transportation, industrial development, and urban construction.
Article
Engineering, Marine
Yutao Chi, Zengrui Rong
Summary: The study utilized a wave-current coupled model to simulate storm surges and waves caused by 98 typhoons affecting the Changjiang River Estuary over the past 32 years. Differences were found in results between ERA reanalysis and synthetic winds, with higher risk identified in Hangzhou Bay and the coast of Zhejiang. Wave effects were found to contribute to 2-12.5% of extreme surge levels.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Furun Li, Zhimao Mai, Chen Qiu, Lijuan Long, Anyi Hu, Sijun Huang
Summary: This study examined the diversity and abundance of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the Pearl River Estuary (PRE) and adjacent coastal areas using high-throughput quantitative PCR. It found that the distribution of ARGs in seawater exhibited a distance-decay phenomenon from the estuary to coastal areas, while sediment samples did not show an obvious distribution pattern. The estuarine water was found to be the hotspot of ARGs, with a higher number of species and abundance compared to coastal waters. SourceTracker analysis revealed that ARGs from the estuary contributed only a small fraction to ARG contamination in coastal areas.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Marine
Zongxu Qiu, Jinhong Xian, Yuexin Yang, Chao Lu, Honglong Yang, Yuanyuan Hu, Jiaqi Sun, Chunsheng Zhang
Summary: It is found that coastal low-level jets (CLLJs) in the Pearl River Estuary are mainly influenced by the large-scale north-south pressure gradient and the topography. The CLLJs occur mostly during the flood season, with distinct diurnal cycles. In the non-flood seasons, the CLLJs are triggered by inertial oscillations caused by cold air and land-sea thermal contrast, while in the flood season, the strong near-surface pressure gradient and topography contribute to their occurrence. These findings provide a basis for understanding precipitation and CLLJs in other coastal areas with complex mountain ranges.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mengyao Ma, Wenyan Zhang, Wei Chen, Junjie Deng, Corinna Schrum
Summary: The Pearl River Delta has experienced significant changes in its hydro-morphology, with a reduction in water area by 21% and an increase in average water depth by 2.24 m. This study investigates the response of stratification in the Pearl River Estuary to morphological change and external forcing using three-dimensional numerical modeling. The results show that stratification exhibits distinct spatial and temporal variabilities, with human-induced morphological change enhancing stratification by up to four times. Future sea level rise would further enhance stratification, but to a lesser extent than past human impacts. Stratification in different areas of the estuary also responds differently to driving factors.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Marine
Moleni Tu'uholoaki, Antonio Espejo, Moritz Wandres, Awnesh Singh, Herve Damlamian, Zulfikar Begg
Summary: The South Pacific region is vulnerable to extreme total water levels due to the lack of wide continental shelves that can dissipate waves. This study examined the waves and storm surge induced by severe TC Harold in 2020 on Tongatapu using advanced hydrodynamic and wave models. The contributions of winds, atmospheric pressure, waves, and wave-radiation-stress-induced setup to extreme total water levels were analysed. The suite of models used in this study can support the Tonga Meteorological Service Tropical Cyclone Early Warning System.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Yangyang Zhao, Khanittha Uthaipan, Zhongming Lu, Yan Li, Jing Liu, Hongbin Liu, Jianping Gan, Feifei Meng, Minhan Dai
Summary: Intermittent hypoxia in the Pearl River estuary is influenced by factors such as typhoons and biochemical processes, leading to destruction and rapid restoration of hypoxic conditions. Freshwater inputs suppress hypoxia formation, and the reinstatement of hypoxia is influenced by offshore subsurface water intrusion. This study highlights the importance of understanding hypoxia intermittency in coastal areas under changing climate conditions.
Article
Engineering, Marine
Linoj Vijayan, Wenrui Huang, Mengdi Ma, Eren Ozguven, Mahyar Ghorbanzadeh, Jieya Yang, Zhaoqing Yang
Summary: Dynamically-coupled SWAN and ADCIRC models have been used to improve the prediction of extreme waves and storm surges in the Gulf of Mexico caused by hurricanes and sea level rise. The performance of the models was evaluated using Hurricane Michael as a case study, and the results showed that the dynamically-coupled models significantly increased the accuracy of the simulations compared to the stand-alone SWAN model.
Article
Engineering, Marine
Shuofu Li, Jianguo He, Zhigang Lai
Summary: This study examined the spatial and temporal variations in abundance, species composition, and community structure of Ichthyoplankton in the Pearl River estuary. The results showed a positive/negative correlation between abundance and taxonomic diversity with the monthly Oceanic Nino Index. The study also found that the species diversity of larval fish varied in sync with climate change, while the abundance had a 3-month lag. Additionally, it was observed that the regional climate transitioned from cold to warm in the early 2010s, resulting in significant changes in abundance and species composition of the ichthyoplankton.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jiangchao Qiu, Bingjun Liu, Fang Yang, Xiaola Wang, Xiaogang He
Summary: Floods in river deltas are caused by various factors such as astronomical tides, sea levels, storm surges, wind waves, rainfall-runoff, and river discharge. A simple and efficient stress test framework is developed to assess future compound coastal-fluvial flood hazards in river deltas. The framework combines historical and projected climatological information and a hydrodynamic model. Applied in China's Pearl River Delta, the study finds that extreme sea level is the main driver of compound coastal-fluvial floods. The research provides important insights for adaptation planning in river deltas.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Siyang Li, Yilin Wang, Lihong Liu, Houwei Lai, Xiancan Zeng, Jianyu Chen, Chang Liu, Qijin Luo
Summary: This study analyzed microplastics pollution in the Pearl River Estuary in the South China Sea, finding that abundance was higher during the rainy season, mainly sourced from rivers, and composed mainly of fibers, granules, and fragments, with polyethylene being a significant component.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Thanh Cong Nguyen, Klaus Schwarzer, Klaus Ricklefs
Summary: Southeast Asian deltas are under threat of flooding due to natural compaction, subsidence, and human impacts. These impacts include extraction of resources, river damming, and changes in land use. Sea-level rise and storm surges are further amplified by tide-induced water-level fluctuations and seasonal variations of freshwater runoff. Increasing populations and societal demands also contribute to the pressure on delta areas.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2023)
