Spatiotemporal variations in concentration and size of suspended particulate matter in the Changjiang (Yangtze River) Estuary and its adjacent sea

Gao Yongqiang; Gao Lei; Zhu Lixin; Li Daoji

doi:10.3969/j.issn.0253-4193.2018.03.006

Article Contents

Article Navigation > Haiyang Xuebao > 2018 > 40(3): 62-73

Gao Yongqiang, Gao Lei, Zhu Lixin, Li Daoji. Spatiotemporal variations in concentration and size of suspended particulate matter in the Changjiang (Yangtze River) Estuary and its adjacent sea[J]. Haiyang Xuebao, 2018, 40(3): 62-73. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4193.2018.03.006

Citation:

Gao Yongqiang, Gao Lei, Zhu Lixin, Li Daoji. Spatiotemporal variations in concentration and size of suspended particulate matter in the Changjiang (Yangtze River) Estuary and its adjacent sea[J]. Haiyang Xuebao, 2018, 40(3): 62-73. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4193.2018.03.006

Citation:

Gao Yongqiang, Gao Lei, Zhu Lixin, Li Daoji. Spatiotemporal variations in concentration and size of suspended particulate matter in the Changjiang (Yangtze River) Estuary and its adjacent sea[J]. Haiyang Xuebao, 2018, 40(3): 62-73. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4193.2018.03.006

PDF( 8632 KB)

Spatiotemporal variations in concentration and size of suspended particulate matter in the Changjiang (Yangtze River) Estuary and its adjacent sea

doi: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4193.2018.03.006

State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China

Received Date: 2017-07-20

Abstract

Abstract

The Changjiang (Yangtze River) Estuary is a typical high-turbidity estuary, and Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) in the Changjiang Estuary and its adjacent sea have large variation ranges of mass concentration, and show quite active and complicated behaviors there. SPM at 99 and 89 stations in this area was studied using OBS and LISST instruments in July 9-20, 2015 and in March 7-19, 2016, respectively, and parameters of turbidity, beam attenuation coefficient, floc total volume, mean size, and size spectrum of SPM were obtained from the two instruments. SPM mass concentration at surface, middle, and bottom layers of all stations were obtained after filtration, and δ¹³C(‰) values of particulate organic carbon (POC), δ¹⁵N(‰) values of particulate nitrogen (PN), and molecular ratios of POC/PN in SPM at typical stations were also obtained. The three parameters of turbidity, beam attenuation coefficient, and floc total volume all showed significant positive correlations with SPM mass concentration. Larger SPM mean sizes were generally found at bottom rather than at surface in the study area, and generally found in the dry season rather than in the flood season. The mean sizes of SPM released by the Changjiang freshwater were also much larger in March than in July. The SPM contents with similar size spectra could be further differentiated by their significantly different δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values. The parameter of SPM mean effective density, calculated by mass concentration divided by floc total volume, can help elucidate the field depositing processes. The two parameters of SPM mean effective density and size showed significant negative correlations during both cruises. All the above results suggest that in March under the influence of strong vertical mixing, the Changjiang-originated SPM (with larger size, lower density and then lower depositing velocity) would be mixed with the resuspended sediments near the Changjiang mouth bar, and then transported as far as the eastern edge of the northern part of the study area. However in July, the Changjiang-originated SPM with smaller size, higher density and then higher depositing velocity would deposit rapidly near the river mouth.
- optical backscatter sensor,
- laser in-situ scattering and transmissometry,
- suspended particulate matter,
- floc mean size,
- Changjiang Estuary

FullText(HTML)

References(41)

References

Dyer K R. Sediment processes in estuaries:Future research requirements[J]. Journal of Geophysical Research:Oceans, 1989, 94(C10):14327-14339.

Eisma D, Bernard P, Cadée G C, et al. Suspended-matter particle size in some West-European estuaries; part Ⅱ:A review on floc formation and break-up[J]. Netherlands Journal of Sea Research, 1991, 28(3):215-220.

Fettweis M, Sas M, Monbaliu J. Seasonal, neap-spring and tidal variation of cohesive sediment concentration in the Scheldt Estuary, Belgium[J]. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 1998, 47(1):21-36.

Jago C F, Bull C F J. Quantification of errors in transmissometer-derived concentration of suspended particulate matter in the coastal zone:implications for flux determinations[J]. Marine Geology, 2000, 169(3):273-286.

Fettweis M, Francken F, Pison V, et al. Suspended particulate matter dynamics and aggregate sizes in a high turbidity area[J]. Marine Geology, 2006, 235(1/4):63-74.

Jago C F, Jones S E, Sykes P, et al. Temporal variation of suspended particulate matter and turbulence in a high energy, tide-stirred, coastal sea:Relative contributions of resuspension and disaggregation[J]. Continental Shelf Research, 2006, 26(17/18):2019-2028.

Markussen T N, Andersen T J. A simple method for calculating in situ floc settling velocities based on effective density functions[J]. Marine Geology, 2013, 344(4):10-18.

Markussen T N, Andersen T J. Flocculation and floc break-up related to tidally induced turbulent shear in a low-turbidity, microtidal estuary[J]. Journal of Sea Research, 2014, 89(3):1-11.

Papenmeier S, Schrottke K, Bartholomä A. Over time and space changing characteristics of estuarine suspended particles in the German Weser and Elbe estuaries[J]. Journal of Sea Research, 2014, 85(1):104-115.

Fugate D C, Friedrichs C T. Determining concentration and fall velocity of estuarine particle populations using ADV, OBS and LISST[J]. Continental Shelf Research, 2002, 22(11/13):1867-1886.

Voulgaris G, Meyers S T. Temporal variability of hydrodynamics, sediment concentration and sediment settling velocity in a tidal creek[J]. Continental Shelf Research, 2004, 24(15):1659-1683.

Li Y, Chen Y N, Ruan M N, et al. The Jiulong River plume as cross-strait exporter and along-strait barrier for suspended sediment:Evidence from the endmember analysis of in-situ, particle size[J]. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 2015, 166(5):146-152.

Lee J, Liu J T, Hung C C, et al. River plume induced variability of suspended particle characteristics[J]. Marine Geology, 2016, 380:219-230.

Many G, Bourrin F, Madron X D D, et al. Particle assemblage characterization in the Rhone River ROFI[J]. Journal of Marine Systems, 2016, 157:39-51.

Agrawal Y C, Pottsmith H C. Laser diffraction particle sizing in STRESS[J]. Continental Shelf Research, 1994, 14(10/11):1101-1121.

Traykovski P, Latter R J, Irish J D. A laboratory evaluation of the laser in situ scattering and transmissometery instrument using natural sediments[J]. Marine Geology, 1999, 159(1/4):355-367.

Agrawal Y C, Pottsmith H C. Instruments for particle size and settling velocity observations in sediment transport[J]. Marine Geology, 2000, 168(1/4):89-114.

Chang T S, Joerdel O, Flemming B W, et al. The role of particle aggregation/disaggregation in muddy sediment dynamics and seasonal sediment turnover in a back-barrier tidal basin, East Frisian Wadden Sea, southern North Sea[J]. Marine Geology, 2006, 235(1/4):49-61.

Maggi F. Biological flocculation of suspended particles in nutrient-rich aqueous ecosystems[J]. Journal of Hydrology, 2009, 376(1/2):116-125.

Xia X M, Li Y, Yang H, et al. Observations on the size and settling velocity distributions of suspended sediment in the Pearl River Estuary, China[J]. Continental Shelf Research, 2004, 24(16):1809-1826.

Pedocchi F, García M H. Evaluation of the LISST-ST instrument for suspended particle size distribution and settling velocity measurements[J]. Continental Shelf Research, 2006, 26(8):943-958.

Fettweis M. Uncertainty of excess density and settling velocity of mud flocs derived from in situ measurements[J]. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 2008, 78(2):426-436.

Yuan Y, Wei H, Zhao L, et al. Observations of sediment resuspension and settling off the mouth of Jiaozhou Bay, Yellow Sea[J]. Continental Shelf Research, 2008, 28(19):2630-2643.

Li Y H, Li D Y, Fang J Y, et al. Impact of Typhoon Morakot on suspended matter size distributions on the East China Sea inner shelf[J]. Continental Shelf Research, 2015(101):47-58.

Liu S D, Qiao L L, Li G X, et al. Distribution and cross-front transport of suspended particulate matter over the inner shelf of the East China sea[J]. Continental Shelf Research, 2015(107):92-102.

Guo C, He Q, Guo L C, et al. A study of in-situ sediment flocculation in the turbidity maxima of the Yangtze Estuary[J]. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 2017(191):1-9.

Gartner J W, Cheng R T, Wang P F, et al. Laboratory and field evaluations of the LISST-100 instrument for suspended particle size determinations[J]. Marine Geology, 2001, 175(1):199-219.

Gray J R, Agrawal Y C, Pottsmith H C. The LISST-SL streamlined isokinetic suspended-sediment profiler[C]//International Symposium on River Sedimentation, 2004.

Williams N D, Walling D E, Leeks G J L. High temporal resolution in situ measurement of the effective particle size characteristics of fluvial suspended sediment[J]. Water Research, 2007, 41(5):1081-1093.

Gao L, Li D J, Ishizaka J. Stable isotope ratios of carbon and nitrogen in suspended organic matter:Seasonal and spatial dynamics along the Changjiang (Yangtze River) transport pathway[J]. Journal of Geophysical Research:Biogeosciences, 2014, 119(8):1717-1737.

Sutherland T F, Lane P M, Amos C L, et al. The calibration of optical backscatter sensors for suspended sediment of varying darkness levels[J]. Marine Geology, 2000, 162(2/4):587-597.

Downing J. Twenty-five years with OBS sensors:The good, the bad, and the ugly[J]. Continental Shelf Research, 2006, 26(17/18):2299-2318.

Baker E T, Lavelle J W. The effect of particle size on the light attenuation coefficient of natural suspensions[J]. Journal of Geophysical Research:Oceans, 1984, 89(C5):8197-8203.

Mikkelsen O A, Pejrup M. In situ particle size spectra and density of particle aggregates in a dredging plume[J]. Marine Geology, 2000, 170(3/4):443-459.

沈焕庭, 潘定安. 长江河口最大浑浊带[M]. 北京:海洋出版社, 2001. Shen Huanting, Pan Ding'an. Turbidity Maximum in the Changjiang Estuary[M]. Beijing:China Ocean Press, 2001.

Waldron S, Tatner P, Jack I, et al. The impact of sewage discharge in a marine embayment:a stable isotope reconnaissance[J]. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 2001, 52(1):111-115.

于海燕, 俞志明, 宋秀贤, 等.长江口海域悬浮颗粒有机物的稳定氮同位素季节分布与关键生物地球化学过程[J]. 海洋学报,2014, 36(2):16-22. Yu Haiyan, Yu Zhiming, Song Xiuxian, et al. Seasonal distribution of the isotopic composition of suspended particulate nitrogen in the Changjiang River estuary and its biogeochemistry implications[J]. Haiyang Xuebao, 2014, 36(2):16-22.

Johnson B D, Cooke R C. Bubble populations and spectra in coastal waters:A photographic approach[J]. Journal of Geophysical Research, 1979, 84(C7):3761-3766.

Wu J. Bubble populations and spectra in near-surface ocean:summary and review of field measurements[J]. Journal of Geophysical Research:Atmospheres, 1981, 86(C1):457-463.

Wu J. Bubbles in the near-surface ocean:A general Description[J]. Journal of Geophysical Research:Oceans, 1988, 93(C1):587-590.

Hsu R T, Liu J T. In-situ, estimations of the density and porosity of flocs of varying sizes in a submarine canyon[J]. Marine Geology, 2010, 276(1/4):105-109.

Relative Articles

Supplements(0)

Cited By

Proportional views