A study on tidal asymmetry in the Zhujiang River Estuary

Liu Jingui; Li Shuo; Li Yichun; Zhang Jiawei; Zhang Tianyu; Li Gaochen

doi:10.12284/hyxb2025079

Volume 47 Issue 8

Aug. 2025

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Liu Jingui，Li Shuo，Li Yichun, et al. A study on tidal asymmetry in the Zhujiang River Estuary[J]. Haiyang Xuebao，2025, 47(8)：26–34 doi: 10.12284/hyxb2025079

Citation:

Liu Jingui，Li Shuo，Li Yichun, et al. A study on tidal asymmetry in the Zhujiang River Estuary[J]. Haiyang Xuebao，2025, 47(8)：26–34 doi: 10.12284/hyxb2025079

Citation:

Liu Jingui，Li Shuo，Li Yichun, et al. A study on tidal asymmetry in the Zhujiang River Estuary[J]. Haiyang Xuebao，2025, 47(8)：26–34 doi: 10.12284/hyxb2025079

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A study on tidal asymmetry in the Zhujiang River Estuary

doi: 10.12284/hyxb2025079

Liu Jingui^{1, 2, 3, 4, 5
,},
Li Shuo¹,
Li Yichun¹,
Zhang Jiawei¹,
Zhang Tianyu^{1, 2, 3, 4, 5
,
,},
Li Gaochen¹

1.
Guangdong key laboratory for Coastal Ocean Variation and Disaster Prediction, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
2.
Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519000, China
3.
Guangdong Provincial Observation and Research Station for Tropical Ocean Environment in Western Coastal Waters, Zhanjiang 524088, China
4.
Key Laboratory of Climate, Resources and Environment in Continental Shelf Sea and Deep Sea of Department of Education of Guangdong Province, Zhanjiang 524088, China
5.
Key Laboratory of Space Ocean Remote Sensing and Application, Ministry of Natural Resources, Beijing 100081, China

Received Date: 2025-03-24
Rev Recd Date: 2025-07-01
Publish Date: 2025-08-31

Abstract

Abstract

The Zhujiang River Estuary, a typical subtropical large-scale estuary, exhibits significant interactions between diurnal and semi-diurnal tides. Under the combined impacts of global climate change and intensive human activities, its tidal dynamics system has undergone notable variations. This study focuses on the nonlinear coupling mechanisms between diurnal tides (K₁, O₁) and semi-diurnal tides (M₂, S₂), developing an integrated evaluation framework that combines constituent amplitude ratios, relative phase analysis, and skewness method. This approach systematically reveals the spatiotemporal characteristics and driving mechanisms of barotropic tidal deformation in the Pearl River Estuary. The results include: (1) Tidal asymmetry transitions from ebb dominance at the estuary mouth to flood dominance at the upper estuary, with the controlling mechanism shifting from astronomical constituent interactions (O₁/K₁/M₂) in the outer estuary to synergistic effects of semi-diurnal constituents (S₂, M₂) and shallow-water constituents (M₄, MS₄) in the upper reaches; (2) From 2010 to 2020, upstream constituents exhibited amplitude attenuation and phase increases, leading to a reversal from flood-to-ebb dominated asymmetry. Negative asymmetry induced by astronomical constituent interactions intensified, while the contribution of high-frequency constituents decreased; (3) In offshore areas, ebb-dominated asymmetry weakened, with emerging positive asymmetry driven by interactions between astronomical and shallow-water constituents; (4) The tidal dynamics system of the Pearl River Estuary has undergone significant long-term adaptive adjustments. Due to the combined influences of large-scale infrastructure construction, water resource allocation projects, and sea level rise, coastline and terrain both occur significant changes, which further has driven middle-to-long term adjustment of tidal dynamics. This study provides a novel analytical framework for understanding tidal system evolution under multi-scale perturbations and offers crucial insights for integrated estuarine management.
- tidal asymmetry,
- overtides,
- compound tides,
- skewness,
- Zhujiang River Estuary

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References(27)

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