Cite this paper:
GUO Yaru, RONG Zengrui, LI Bo, XU Zhao, LI Pixue, LI Xiaodan. Physical processes causing the formation of hypoxia off the Changjiang estuary after Typhoon Chan-hom, 2015[J]. Journal of Oceanology and Limnology, 2019, 37(1): 1-17

Physical processes causing the formation of hypoxia off the Changjiang estuary after Typhoon Chan-hom, 2015

GUO Yaru1, RONG Zengrui1,2, LI Bo3, XU Zhao1,2, LI Pixue4, LI Xiaodan1
1 Physical Oceanography Laboratory/CIMST, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China;
2 Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China;
3 Marine Science and Technology College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, China;
4 Shanghai Marine Environmental Monitoring and Forecasting Center, Shanghai 200062, China
Abstract:
Severe hypoxia was observed in the submarine canyon to the east of the Changjiang estuary in July 14, 2015, two days after typhoon Chan-hom. The oxygen concentration reached as low as 2.0 mg/L and occupied a water column of about 25 m. A ROMS model was configured to explore the underlying physical processes causing the formation of hypoxia. Chan-hom passed through the Changjiang estuary during the neap tide. The stratification was completely destroyed in the shallow nearshore region when typhoon passing. However, it was maintained in the deep canyon, though the surface mixed layer was largely deepened. The residual water in the deep canyon is considered to be the possible source of the later hypoxia. After Chan-hom departure, not only the low salinity plume water spread further offshore, but also the sea surface temperature (SST) rewarmed quickly. Both changes helped strengthen the stratification and facilitate the formation of hypoxia. It was found that the surface heat flux, especially the solar short wave radiation dominated the surface re-warming, the offshore advection of the warmer Changjiang Diluted Water (CDW) also played a role. In addition to the residual water in the deep canyon, the Taiwan Warm Current (TWC) was found to flow into the deep canyon pre- and soon post-Chan-hom, which was considered to be the original source of the hypoxia water.
Key words:    hypoxia|Changjiang estuary|deep canyon|vertical mixing|advection|heat flux   
Received: 2017-11-17   Revised: 2018-01-22
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