Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Dynamic characteristics of saltwater intrusion in the Pearl River Estuary, China

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Natural Hazards Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

River discharge, tide, wind, topography and other factors all have great impacts on the saltwater intrusion of Modaomen Waterway (MW), a major outlet of the Pearl River Estuary. A coupled 1D–3D numerical model was applied in this study to account for the dynamic characteristics of saltwater intrusion in the MW, and the impacts of tide and river discharge on the length of saltwater intrusion were uncovered. Results are as the followings: (1) River discharge from upstream induces an obvious dilution of salinity along the MW, whereas tide can exert a positive force that pushes salt water landward. The effects of river discharge and tide on the length of saltwater intrusion can be well described by a regression function; (2) the saltwater intrusion along the MW is generally aggravated by increases in tidal range from the South China Sea. The length of saltwater intrusion usually reaches a maximum 2 or 3 days before spring tide, and the hourly length of saltwater intrusion along the MW usually slows the tidal process for approximately 4 h, which can provide important information that the pumping operation along the MW to store freshwater in the backup storages needs to be at least 3 days ahead of the spring tide so as to avoid serious impact from saltwater intrusion; (3) the length of saltwater intrusion generally decreases with increasing river discharge. In 2005, 2009 and 2010, the average river discharge from upstream was 2680, 2630 and 3160 m3/s, respectively, with corresponding average lengths of saltwater intrusion of 32.7, 42.3 and 21.4 km. The inverse correlation between the water flow and the length of saltwater intrusion may provide some guidance for operations to maintain enough upstream flow to dilute the salinity and therefore satisfy the domestic water supply.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alebregtse NC, de Swart HE (2016) Effect of river discharge and geometry on tides and net water transport in an estuarine network, an idealized model applied to the Yangtze estuary. Cont Shelf Res 123:29–49

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Allen J, Somerfield P, Gilbert F (2007) Quantifying uncertainty in high-resolution coupled hydrodynamic-ecosystem models. J Mar Syst 64(1–4):3–14

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bao Y, Liu J (2008) The study of salt intrusion limit in Modaomen estuary during dry season. Ship Build 49(SI 2):441–445 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Barendregt A, Swarth CW (2013) Tidal freshwater wetlands: variation and changes. Estuar Coasts 36:445–456

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhuiyan MJAN, Dutta D (2012) Assessing impacts of sea level rise on river salinity in the Gorai river network, Bangladesh. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 96:219–227

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bowen MM, Geyer WR (2003) Salt transport and the time-dependent salt balance of a partially stratified estuary. J Geophys Res 108:3158–3173

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brockway R, Bowers D, Huguane A, Dove V, Vessele V (2006) A note on salt intrusion in funnel-shaped estuaries, application to the incomati estuary, Mozambique. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 66:1–5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buschman FA, Hoitink AJF, Van Der Vegt M, Hoekstra P (2009) Subtidal water level variation controlled by river flow and tides. Water Resour Res 45:10–20

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cai H, Savenije HHG, Jiang C (2014) Analytical approach for predicting fresh water discharge in an estuary based on tidal water level observations. Hydrol Earth Syst Sci 18(10):4153–4168

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chang FJ, Kao LS, Kuo YM, Liu CW (2010) Artificial neural networks for estimating regional arsenic concentrations in a blackfoot disease area in Taiwan. J Hydrol 388(1):65–76

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen RL, Liu C, Gao SY (2011) Analysis of the mechanism on the saltwater intrusion in Modaomen estuary. Chin J Hydrodyn 26(3):312–317

    Google Scholar 

  • Crank J, Nicolson P (1947) A practical method for numerical evaluation of solutions of partial differential equations of the heat-conduction type. Math Proc Camb Philos Soc 6(1):207–226

    Google Scholar 

  • Dame R, Alber M, Allen D, Mallin M, Montague C, Lewitus AJ, Chalmers A, Gardner R, Gilman C, Kjerfve B, Pinckney J, Smith N (2000) Estuaries of the South Atlantic Coast of North America, their geographical signatures. Estuar Coasts 23:793–819

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daniel J, Erik DDG, Firmijn Z, Dirk S, Alex YWC (2009) Coupled 1D–3D hydrodynamic modeling, with application to the Pearl River Delta. Ocean Dyn 59:1077–1093

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fang LG, Chen SS, Wang HQ, Qian JP, Zhang LX (2010) Detecting marine intrusion into rivers using EO-1 ALI satellite imagery, Modaomen waterway, Pearl River Estuary, China. Int J Remote Sens 31(15):4125–4146

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Geyer WR, Cannon GA (1982) Sill processes related to deep water renewal in a fjord. J Geophys Res Oceans 87(C10):7985–7996

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Geyer WR, Trowbridge JH, Bowen MM (2000) The dynamics of a partially mixed estuary. J Phys Oceanogr 30(8):2035–2048

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gong W, Shen J (2011) Response of salt intrusion to changing river flow and tidal amplitude during winter season in the Modaomen estuary, Pearl River Delta area, China. Cont Shelf Res 31:769–788

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gong WP, Wang YP, Jia JJ (2012) The effect of interacting downstream branches on saltwater intrusion in the Modaomen estuary, China. J Asian Earth Sci 45:223–238

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang WR, Liu XH, Chen XJ, Flannery MS (2011) Critical flow for water management in a shallow tidal river based on estuarine residence time. Water Resour Manag 25:2367–2385

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Janes A, Chaineaux J, Carson D, Le Lore PA (2007) MIKE 3 versus HARTMANN apparatus, comparison of measured minimum ignition energy (MIE). J Hazard Mater 152(1):32–39

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ji XM, Sheng JY, Tang LQ, Liu DB, Yang XL (2011) Process study of circulation in the Pearl River Estuary and adjacent coastal waters in the wet season using a triply-nested circulation model. Ocean Model 38:138–160

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jiang HZ, Shen YM, Wang SD (2009) Numerical study on salinity stratification in the Oujiang River Estuary. J Hydrodyn 21(6):835–842

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jonas K (2015) A Matlab mesh generator for the two-dimensional finite element method. Appl Math Comput 250:650–664

    Google Scholar 

  • Kacimov AR, Sherif MM, Perret JS, Al-Mushikhi A (2009) Control of sea-water intrusion by salt-water pumping: coast of Oman. Hydrogeol J 17:541–558

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Larson M, Bellanca R, Jönsson L, Chen CQ, Shi P (2005) A model of the 3D circulation, salinity distribution, and transport pattern in the Pearl River Estuary, China. J Coast Res 215:896–908

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Launder BE, Spalding DB (1972) Lectures in mathematical model of turbulence. Academic Press, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee YJ, Lwiza K (2005) Interannual variability of temperature and salinity in shallow water: long Island sound, New York. J Geophys Res-oceans 110(C9):919–931

    Google Scholar 

  • Leonard WH (1976) The effect of the Spring-neap tidal cycle on the vertical salinity structure of the James, York and Rappahannock Rivers, Virginia, USA. Estuar Coast Mar Sci 5:485–496

    Google Scholar 

  • Lerczak JA, Geyer WR, Ralston DK (2009) The temporal response of the length of a partially stratified estuary to changes in river flow and tidal amplitude. J Phys Oceanogr 39:915–933

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li L, Zhu JR, Wu H, Guo ZG (2014) Lateral saltwater intrusion in the north channel of the Changjiang estuary. Estuar Coasts 37:36–55

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu DD, Chen XH, Lou ZH (2010) A model for the optimal allocation of water resources in a saltwater intrusion area: a case study in Pearl River Delta in China. Water Resour Manag 24:63–81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu BJ, Yan SL, Chen XH, Lian YQ, Xin YB (2014) Wavelet analysis of the dynamic characteristics of saltwater intrusion—a case study in the Pearl River Estuary, China. Ocean Coast Manag 95:81–92

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Long A, Sun LY, Shi RG, Zhou WH, Dang AC (2013) Saltwater intrusion induced by a complete neap tide and its effect on nutrients variation in the estuary of Pearl River, China. J Coast Res 29(5):1158–1168

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lv A, Du W (2006) The mechanism analysis of salt intrusion in Modaomen estuary. Guangdong Water Resour Hydropower 5:50–53 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Magritsky DS, Lebedeva S, Skripnik E (2016) Hydrological hazards at mouths of the Northern Dvina and the Pechora rivers, Russian Federation. Nat Hazards 2016:1–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Mao QW, Shi P, Yin KD, Gan JP, Qi YQ (2004) Tides and tidal currents in the Pearl River Estuary. Cont Shelf Res 24:1797–1808

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • May LB, Richard AJ, Michael AM (2010) Hydrodynamic behavior of the Cape Fear River and estuarine system, a synthesis and observational investigation of discharge salinity intrusion relationships. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 88:407–418

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mikhailov VN, Mikhailova MV, Morotaev VN (2006) Hydrological and morphological processes at the Zhujiang River Mouth Area, China. Water Resour 33(3):231–238

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Monismith SG, Kimmerer W, Burau JR, Stacey MT (2002) Structure and flow-induced variability of the subtidal salinity field in Northern San Francisco Bay. J Phys Oceanogr 32(11):3003–3019

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mountain DG (2003) Variability in the properties of shelf water in the Middle Atlantic Bight, 1977–1999. J Geophys Res. doi:10.1029/2001JC001044

    Google Scholar 

  • Ralston DK, Geyer WR, Lerczak JA (2010) Structure variability and salt flux in a strongly forced salt wedge estuary. J Geophys Res. doi:10.1029/2009JC005806

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodi W (1980) Prediction of hydrodynamic characteristics of oxidation ditches using the k–ε turbulence model. In: 2nd International symposium on Engineering Turbulence modeling and measurements, Florence, pp 261–271

  • Shaha DC, Cho YK (2009) Comparison of empirical models with intensively observed data for prediction of salt intrusion in the Sumjin River Estuary, Korea. Hydrol Earth Syst Sci 13(6):923–933

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith DL, Threadgill TL, Larson CE (2010) Modeling the hydrodynamics and water quality of the lower Minnesota River using CE-QUAL-W2, a report on the development, calibration, verification, and application of the model

  • Sudha Rani NNV, Satyanarayana ANV, Bhaskaran PK (2015) Coastal vulnerability assessment studies over India: a review. Nat Hazards 77(1):405–428

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turrell WR, Brunn J, Simpson JH (1996) Salt intrusion and secondary flow in a shallow, well-mixed estuary. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 42:153–169

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uncles RJ, Stephens JA (1996) Salt intrusion in the tweed estuary. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 43:271–293

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uncles RJ, Stephens JA (2011) The effects of wind, runoff and tides on salinity in a strongly tidal sub-estuary. Estuar Coasts 34:758–774

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang B, Zhu JR, Wu H, Yu FJ, Song XJ (2012) Dynamics of saltwater intrusion in the Modaomen Waterway of the Pearl River estuary. Sci China Earth Sci 55(11):1901–1918

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xiao GS, Chen ZS (2010) Analysis of saline intrusion and salinity transport mechanism in estuary of Pearl River. J Chin Hydrol 30(3):11–15 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu H, Lin J, Wang D (2008) Numerical study on salinity stratification in the Pamlico River Estuary. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 80(1):74–84

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xue PF, Chen CS, Ding PX, Beardsley RC, Lin HC, Ge JZ, Kong YZ (2009) Saltwater intrusion into the Changjiang River, a model-guided mechanism study. J Geophys Res. doi:10.1029/2008JC004831

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang ZM, Cui BS, Zhao H, Fan XY, Zhang HG (2010a) Discharge-salinity relationships in Modaomen waterway, Pearl River Estuary. Proc Environ Sci 2:1235–1245

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang W, Ruan XH, Zheng JH, Zhu YL, Wu HX (2010b) Long-term change in tidal dynamics and its cause in the Pearl River Delta, China. Geomorphology 120(3):209–223

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang W, Feng HC, Zheng JH, Hoitink AJF, van der Vegt M, Zhu YL, Cai HJ (2013) Numerical simulation and analysis of saltwater intrusion lengths in the Pearl River Delta, China. J Coast Res 29(2):372–382

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou W, Wang DX, Luo L (2012) Investigation of saltwater intrusion and salinity stratification in winter of 2007/2008 in the Zhujiang River Estuary in China. Acta Oceanol Sin 31(3):31–46

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The research in this paper is fully supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 50909106, 51210013 and 41301627), and the Water Conservancy Science and Technology Project of Guangdong Province, China (Grant No. 2014-20).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Water Resources and Environment, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, People’s Republic of China

    Bingjun Liu, Yeying Liao, Shulan Yan & Hengheng Yan

Authors
  1. Bingjun Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yeying Liao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Shulan Yan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Hengheng Yan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bingjun Liu.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Liu, B., Liao, Y., Yan, S. et al. Dynamic characteristics of saltwater intrusion in the Pearl River Estuary, China. Nat Hazards 89, 1097–1117 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-017-3010-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-017-3010-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation