Abstract
This study focuses on dynamic mechanism behind the formation of the freshwater zone around the Meimao Sandbank by use of 3D numerical simulation. The Meimao Sandbank is located along the southern bank of the South Passage in the Changjiang (Yangtze River) estuary, which is considered as a freshwater resource for Shanghai City. Interaction between runoff and tide is the main mechanism of the freshwater zone formation. However, the freshwater zone often suffers from saltwater intrusion in dry season. Tidal oscillation is stronger during spring tides, able to carry freshwater farther seaward. Therefore, it is more likely to occur during the ebb of a spring tide in dry seasons. In addition, the water zone is sensitive to runoff: when runoff decreases, it disappears, and vice versa. The northerly winds favor the formation of the freshwater zone.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Blumberg A F. 1978. The influence of density variation on estuarine tide and circulation. Estuarine and Coastal Marine Science, 6: 209–215.
Blumberg A F. 1994. A primer for ECOM-si. In: Technical Report, HydroQual, Inc., Mahwah, N. J., 66 p.
Chen C, Zhu J R, Ralph E, et al. 2001. Prognostic modeling studies of the Keweenaw Current in Lake Superior, Part I: formation and evolution. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 31: 379–395.
Kong Y Z, He S L, Ding P X, et al. 2004. Characteristics of temporal and spatial variation of salinity and their indicating significance in the Changjiang Estuary. Acta Oceanologica Sincia, 26(4): 9–18. (in Chinese with English abstract)
Mao Z C. 1995. A study on salt fronts in the Changjiang River Estuary. Oceanologia et Limnologia Sinca, 26(6): 645–649. (in Chinese with English abstract)
Shen H T, Mao Z C, Gu G C, 1980. Preliminary study of the saltwater intrusion in the Changjiang estuary-involving south-north water transfer. People Changjiang 3: 20–26. (in Chinese)
Wu H, Zhu J R, Chen B R, et al. 2006. Quantitative relationship of runoff and tide to saltwater spilling over from the North Branch in the Changjiang Estuary: A Numerical Study. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 69: 25–132.
Wu H, Zhu J R. 2007. Analysis of the transport mechanism of the saline water spilled over from the North Branch in the Changjiang estuary. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 29(1): 17–25. (in Chinese with English abstract)
Xiao C Y, Shen H T, 1998. The analysis of factors affecting the saltwater intrusion in the Changjiang Estuary. Journal of East China Normal University (Natural Science), 3: 74–80. (in Chinese with English abstract)
Xiao C Y, Zhu J R, Shen H T. 2000. Study of numerical modeling about salt water flow backward in the Changjiang Estuary north branch. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 22(5): 24–132. (in Chinese with English abstract)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Supported by the Funds for Creative Research Groups of China (No. 40721004), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 40976056), and National Major Science and Technology Project of Water Pollution Control and Countermeasures (No. 2008ZX07421-001)
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chen, B., Zhu, J. & Fu, L. Formation mechanism of freshwater zone around the Meimao Sandbank in the Changjiang estuary. Chin. J. Ocean. Limnol. 28, 1329–1339 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-010-9136-9
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-010-9136-9