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Wavelet-based characterization of water level behaviors in the Pearl River estuary, China

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Abstract

In this paper, we analyzed the high/low water levels of eight stations along the Pearl River estuary and the high/low tidal levels of Sanzao station, and streamflow series of Sanshui and Makou stations using wavelet transform technique and correlation analysis method. The behaviors of high/low water levels of the Pearl River estuary, possible impacts of hydrological processes of the upper Pearl River Delta and astronomical tidal fluctuations were investigated. The results indicate that: (1) the streamflow variability of Sanshui and Makou stations is characterized by 1-year period; 1-, 0.5- and 0.25-year periods can be detected in the high tidal level series of Sanzao station, which reflect the fluctuations of astronomical tidal levels. The low tidal level series of Sanzao station has two periodicity elements, i.e. 0.5- and 0.25-year periods; (2) different periodicity properties have been revealed: the periods of high water levels of the Pearl River estuary are characterized by 1-, 0.5- and 0.25-year periods; and 1-year period is the major period in the low water levels of the Pearl River estuary; (3) periodicity properties indicate that behaviors of low water levels are mainly influenced by hydrological processes of the upper Pearl River Delta. High water levels of the Pearl River estuary seem to be affected by both hydrological processes and fluctuations of astronomical tidal levels represented by tidal level changes of Sanzao station. Correlation analysis results further corroborate this conclusion; (4) slight differences can be observed in wavelet transform patterns and properties of relationships between high/low water levels and streamflow changes. This can be formulated by altered hydrodynamic and morphodynamic processes due to intensifying human activities such as construction of engineering infrastructures and land reclamation.

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Acknowledgments

The work described in this paper was fully supported by a grant from the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China (Project no. CUHK4627/05H; CUHK405308), Programme of Introducing Talents of Discipline to Universities—the 111 Project of Hohai University and by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant no.: 40701015). Wavelet software was provided by C. Torrence and G. Compo, and is available at: http://paos.colorado.edu/research/wavelets/. Cordial thanks should be extended to the editor-in-chief, Prof. Dr. George Christakos, and the three anonymous reviewers for their invaluable comments which greatly improved the quality of this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 73 East Beijing Road, 210008, Nanjing, China

    Qiang Zhang

  2. Institute of Space and Earth Information Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China

    Qiang Zhang

  3. Department of Geosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

    Chong-Yu Xu

  4. Department of Geography and Resource Management, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China

    Yongqin David Chen

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  1. Qiang Zhang
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  2. Chong-Yu Xu
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  3. Yongqin David Chen
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Correspondence to Qiang Zhang.

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Zhang, Q., Xu, CY. & Chen, Y.D. Wavelet-based characterization of water level behaviors in the Pearl River estuary, China. Stoch Environ Res Risk Assess 24, 81–92 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00477-008-0302-y

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