春、夏季长江口—近海连续体中锋面的空间分布格局与生态环境效应

Spatial Variation of the Front and Its Ecological-Environmental Effects in the Changjiang River Estuary-Coastal Continuum During Spring and Summer

  • 摘要: 长江口—近海连续体锋面对水文-化学-生物过程具有重要的调控作用,然而当前对其时空变化和生态环境效应仍缺乏系统的认识。基于2021年4月与8月在长江口及其邻近陆架海域所获取的现场调查和卫星遥感资料,本研究刻画了春、夏季河口—近海连续体锋面的空间分布格局及变化,并深入探讨了其对物质输运、叶绿素a(Chl-a)分布和低氧的调控。结果表明,在长江口—东海连续体中空间上相互分离的悬沙锋和羽状锋之间,嵌有因春季黄海西部沿岸流分支南向入侵/穿刺与夏季近岸上升流而形成的温度锋,并由此构成了锋面嵌套结构。在悬沙锋和羽状锋影响下,悬浮颗粒物与营养盐的空间输运分离促成了两锋面间Chl-a高值区的产生,嵌套其中的冷水南下(春季)和上升流(夏季)为连续体提供了额外营养盐,并在一定程度上重塑了Chl-a高值的空间分布;悬沙锋向岸一侧最大浑浊带处悬浮颗粒物的净解吸作用使得磷酸盐浓度出现高值。夏季连续体中底层溶解氧低值区的范围明显受到悬沙锋和羽状锋的影响,而嵌套在两锋面间的上升流则调控着低氧水体的垂向分布和变化。研究结果可为深入理解长江口-近海连续体中锋面系统对物质输运的调控及其生态环境效应等提供重要科学依据。

     

    Abstract: Fronts in the Changjiang River Estuary-coastal continuum play a critical role in regulating hydro-chemical-biological processes; however, a systematic understanding of their spatiotemporal variability and ecological consequences remains limited. Based on in situ investigations and remote sensing data collected in April and August 2021, this study characterizes the spatial distribution and seasonal evolution of frontal systems within the Changjiang River Estuary–coastal continuum and elucidates their regulatory mechanisms on material transport, Chlorophyll a (Chl-a) distribution, and hypoxia. The results reveal a nested frontal structure where thermal fronts, which are driven by the southward intrusion of the western Yellow Sea Coastal Current in spring and coastal upwelling in summer, are interposed between the spatially segregated turbidity and plume fronts. The decoupled transport of suspended particulate matter and nutrients induced by the turbidity and plume fronts favors the formation of a high Chl-a zone between these two fronts. The nested cold water intrusion (spring) and upwelling (summer) supply additional nutrients and reshape the spatial pattern of high Chl-a. Meanwhile, net desorption of phosphate from suspended particles within the turbidity maximum zone on the inshore side of the turbidity front leads to elevated phosphate concentrations. In summer, the spatial extent of low-dissolved-oxygen bottom water is strongly modulated by the turbidity and plume fronts, whereas the nested upwelling regulates the vertical distribution and evolution of hypoxic water. This study provides a scientific basis for understanding the regulatory effects of frontal systems on material transport and their eco-environmental impacts in the Changjiang River Estuary–coastal continuum.

     

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