Jishang Xu

Seasonal evolution of the Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass and its interactions with ambient hydrodynamic system

The Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass (YSCWM) is an important component of the hydrodynamic system in the South Yellow Sea (SYS). However, its intricate interactions with the ambient flows over long time scales are not fully understood. This paper presents the analysis of the data set obtained from a seabed‐mounted Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) deployed for nearly 1 year in the western SYS. It allowed us to study the evolution of YSCWM, including the seasonal changes of tidal currents, near‐inertial oscillations (NIOs), and the wind‐driven currents due to typhoons and winter storms. Strong NIOs were found near the bottom of mixed layer and in the pycnocline with nearly opposite current directions, with maximum velocity of nearly 20 cm·s−1 in summer. The YSCWM can also inhibit the direct downward energy transport in the water column due to typhoons. Conversely, the hydrodynamic system also feeds back to influence the change of YSCWM. A large current shear (S) of 20 cm·s−1·m−1 is generated near the top of pycnocline. Generally, the intensity and depth of the pycnocline determine Ss magnitude and vertical location, respectively. Based on the monthly averaged density profile data, the Richardson number and wavelet analysis, the NIOs are considered to be capable of inducing predominant shear instability around the pycnocline. However, the NIOs are not strong enough to influence the lower YSCWM. In addition, in autumn, each fortnightly spring tide corresponds with a bottom temperature increase of nearly 2°C, indicating that tidal currents are the leading hydrodynamic driving force to decline the YSCWM.

Hydrodynamic condition and suspended sediment diffusion in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea

Based on monthly averaged current, temperature, and salinity, we analyzed the changes of suspended sediment concentration (SSC) and the relationship with the warm current, coastal current, and cold water mass (CWM) in the East China Seas (ECSs). The result shows that the coastal current and surface diluted water are the route for transporting suspended sediment. The Kuroshio and its derived warm current branches play the important role of the continental shelf circulation system and control the diffusion of suspended sediment. High SSC has been mainly concentrated in coastal current and CWM. Two sedimentary dynamic patterns have been identified. The winter-half-year pattern lasts almost 7 months. The coastal currents off the Shandong Peninsula, northern Jiangsu, Zhejiang-Fujian coast are the main routes for diffusion and deposition of the suspended sediment from the Yellow River and Changjiang River. The summer-half-year pattern is characterized by the well-developed CWM. All CWMs have a unique function to trap suspended sediment under the thermocline due to weakening tidal current and residual current there. These CWMs in the Yellow Sea (YS) and north ECS are connected together. The layer above the thermocline is characterized by diluted water with low salinity, high temperature. Suspended sediment can be transported into the Okinawa Trough and the South Korea coast during this period. A strong eddy always occur nearby the Kuroshio bend at northeast Taiwan, which has promoted the exchange between the ECS shelf and Okinawa Trough, and the development of the shelf edge current and Taiwan warm current (TWC).

The marine dynamics and changing trend off the modern Yellow River mouth

Topography around the Yellow River mouth has changed greatly in recent years, but studies on the current state of marine dynamics off the Yellow River mouth are relatively scarce. This paper uses a two-dimension numerical model (MIKE 21) to reveal the tidal and wave dynamics in 2012, and conducts comparative analysis of the changes from 1996 to 2012. The results show that M2 amphidromic point moved southeastward by 11 km. It further reveals that the tides around the Yellow River mouth are relatively stable due to the small variations in the tidal constituents. Over the study period, there is no noticeable change in the distribution of tidal types and tidal range, and the mean tidal range off the river mouth during the period studied is 0.5–1.1 m. However, the tidal currents changed greatly due to large change in topography. It is observed that the area with strong tidal currents shifted from the old river mouth (1976–1996) to the modern river mouth (1996–present). While the tidal current speeds decreased continually off the old river mouth, they increased off the modern river mouth. The Maximum Tidal Current Speed (MTCS) reached 1.4 m s−1, and the maximum current speed of 50-year return period reached 2.8 m s−1. Waves also changed greatly due to change in topography. The significant wave height (H1/3) of 50-year return period changed proportionately with the water depth, and the ratio of H1/3 to depth being 0.4–0.6. (H1/3) of the 50-year return period in erosion zone increased continually with increasing water depth, and the rate of change varied between 0.06 and 0.07 m yr−1. Based on the results of this study, we infer that in the future, the modern river mouth will protrude gradually northward, while the erosion zone, comprising the old river mouth and area between the modern river mouth and the old river mouth (Intermediate region) will continue to erode. As the modern river mouth protrudes towards the sea, there will be a gradual increase in the current speed and decrease in wave height. Conversely, the old river mouth will retreat, with gradual decrease in current speed and increase in wave height. As more coastal constructions spring up around the Yellow River mouth in the future, we recommend that variation in hydrodynamics over time should be taken into consideration when designing such coastal constructions.

Seasonal Suspended Particles Distribution Patterns in Western South Yellow Sea Based on Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler Observation

An Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) observation site was set up in the Western South Yellow Sea from 2012 to 2013 to study the local suspended particle matters (SPM) distribution pattern. The SPM concentration could be semi-quantitatively represented by backscatter intensity (Sv), converted by the echo intensity (EI) of ADCP. Results show two types of SPM in the water column: the quasi-biological SPM and quasi-mineral SPM. The quasi-biological SPM mainly exists in summer half year and is concentrated above the thermocline. It has periodically diurnal variations with high concentration at night and low concentration in the daytime. The quasi-mineral SPM is located in lower part of the water column, with similar relation to monthly tidal current variation all year round. However, the daily quasi-mineral SPM distribution patterns vary between summer and winter half year. The sunlight is thought to be the origin factor leading to the diurnally vertical motion of the biological features, which might cause the diurnal Sv variation. Unlike in winter half year when tidal current is relatively single driving force of the monthly SPM pattern, the high speed current near the thermocline is also responsible for the concentration of quasi-mineral SPM in summer half year. The sediment input difference between summer and winter half year contribute to the varied daily variation of quasi-mineral SPM with re-suspended SPM in winter and sediments from Yellow Sea Mud Area (YSMA) in summer. The seasonal variations in hydrodynamics, water structure and heavy-wind incidents are the primary factors influencing the differential seasonal SPM distribution patterns.

Estimation of extreme marine hydrodynamic variables in western Laizhou Bay

Laizhou Bay and its adjacent waters are of great importance to China’s marine oil and gas development. It is therefore crucial to estimate return-period values of marine environmental variables in this region to ensure the safety and success of maritime engineering and maritime exploration. In this study, we used numerical simulations to estimate extreme wave height, sea current velocity and sea-level height in western Laizhou Bay. The results show that the sea-level rise starts at the mouth of the bay, increases toward west/southwest, and reaches its maximum in the deepest basin of the bay. The 100-year return-period values of sea level rise can reach 3.4–4.0 m in the western bay. The elevation of the western part of the Qingdong Oil Field would remain above the sea surface during extreme low sea level, while the rest of the oil field would be 1.6–2.4 m below the sea surface. The return-period value of wave height is strongly affected by water depth; in fact, its spatial distribution is similar to the isobath’s. The 100-year return-period values of effective wave height can be 6 m or higher in the central bay and be more than 1 m in the shallow water near shore. The 100-year return-period values of current velocity is about 1.2–1.8 m s−1 in the Qingdong Oil Field. These results provide scientific basis for ensuring construction safety and reducing construction cost.

Sedimentary Characteristics of the Second Marine Layer During the Late Marine Isotope Stage 3 in Southern Yellow Sea and Their Response to the East Asian Monsoon

We use the particle size of sediments in core YS01A to study the sedimentary environment of the mud deposit in the central South Yellow Sea of China during late Marine Isotope Stages 3 (MIS3; 40.5 kyr–31.3 kyr). In addition, the East Asian Monsoon and its relationship with the North Atlantic Ocean climate change are discussed based on the sensitive grain-size calculation and the spectrum analysis. The results show that during late MIS3, the muddy area in the central South Yellow Sea experienced the evolution of coastal facies, shallow marine facies, coastal facies, and continental facies, with weak hydrodynamic conditions. Compared with other climate indicators, we found that there were many century to millennium-scale climate signals documented in the muddy area sediments in the central South Yellow Sea. According to our particle size results, three strong winter monsoon events occurred at 37.6 kyr, 35.6 kyr and 32.2 kyr. The East Asian Winter Monsoon records in core YS01A are consistent with the Greenland ice core and the Hulu cave stalagmite δ18O. The millennial and centennial scale cycles, which are 55 yr, 72 yr, 115 yr, 262 yr respectively, correspond to solar activity cycles, while the 1049 yr and 2941 yr cycles correspond to the Dansgaard-Oeschger cycles. These cycles indicate that the paleoclimate evolution of the area was controlled by the solar activities, with the high-latitude driving thermohaline circulation as the main energy conveyor belt, followed by the sea-air-land amplification of the winter monsoon variation in the central Yellow Sea in the late MIS3.

A Field Investigation on the Effects of Background Erosion on the Free Span Development of a Submarine Pipeline

The safety of submarine pipelines is largely influenced by free spans and corrosions. Previous studies on free spans caused by seabed scours are mainly based on the stable environment, where the background seabed scour is in equilibrium and the soil is homogeneous. To study the effects of background erosion on the free span development of subsea pipelines, a submarine pipeline located at the abandoned Yellow River subaqueous delta lobe was investigated with an integrated surveying system which included a Multibeam bathymetric system, a dual-frequency side-scan sonar, a high resolution sub-bottom profiler, and a Magnetic Flux Leakage (MFL) sensor. We found that seabed homogeneity has a great influence on the free span development of the pipeline. More specifically, for homogeneous background scours, the morphology of scour hole below the pipeline is quite similar to that without the background scour, whereas for inhomogeneous background scour, the nature of spanning is mainly dependent on the evolution of seabed morphology near the pipeline. Magnetic Flux Leakage (MFL) detection results also reveal the possible connection between long free spans and accelerated corrosion of the pipeline.