Nuo Wang

Comparing effects of land reclamation techniques on water pollution and fishery loss for a large-scale offshore airport island in Jinzhou Bay, Bohai Sea, China

Plans are being made to construct Dalian Offshore Airport in Jinzhou Bay with a reclamation area of 21 km(2). The large-scale reclamation can be expected to have negative effects on the marine environment, and these effects vary depending on the reclamation techniques used. Water quality mathematical models were developed and biology resource investigations were conducted to compare effects of an underwater explosion sediment removal and rock dumping technique and a silt dredging and rock dumping technique on water pollution and fishery loss. The findings show that creation of the artificial island with the underwater explosion sediment removal technique would greatly impact the marine environment. However, the impact for the silt dredging technique would be less. The conclusions from this study provide an important foundation for the planning of Dalian Offshore Airport and can be used as a reference for similar coastal reclamation and marine environment protection.

Effects of Different Layout Schemes on the Marine Environment of the Dalian Offshore Reclaimed Airport Island

AbstractLarge-scale marine reclamation is expected to have some effects on the marine environment, but these effects vary depending on the reclamation layout schemes. For the offshore airport programming of Dalian, China, an insular artificial island scheme and a peninsula artificial island scheme are considered. To contrast the effects of these two schemes on the marine environment, a two-dimensional (2D) hydrodynamic model was applied on the basis of the characteristics of the tides, currents, waves, and sediments in the Jinzhou Bay. Furthermore, a water quality model of suspended sediment convection-diffusion was developed on the basis of the hydrodynamic model, and suspended sediments were the source for identifying the intensity of sewage outfalls during the sea-filling process. Data for tides, currents, waves, and sediments from field observations carried out in 2009 at six stations were used for calibration and validation of the models, which showed a positive agreement with the simulated results. ...

Hydrodynamic Behavior and the Effects of Water Pollution from Dalian’s Large-Scale Offshore Airport Island in Jinzhou Bay, China

China is developing a 21 km² artificial island to be used for an offshore airport in Dalian’s Jinzhou Bay, Bohai Sea. It is important to study the impacts on the marine environment of such a large-scale reclamation project. In this paper, a two-dimensional hydrodynamic model and an advection-diffusion water quality model are implemented to study the effects of the reclamation on the hydrodynamic behavior and pollution levels in Jinzhou Bay. Data from field observations performed in 2009 are used to calibrate and validate the models. The numerical models are also further validated by the hydrodynamic responses to a partial construction in 2012. Finally, the simulated results for the proposed full construction indicate that the creation of the offshore artificial island will greatly influence the near-field hydrodynamic characteristics. A mass of suspended sediments will be discharged, causing approximately 4.05 km² of seawater pollution. The conclusions of this study provide an important foundation for the Dalian offshore airport program, and they can be used as a reference for similar coastal engineering and marine environment protection programs.

Use of pollution risk and ecosystem service values in marine management strategies in Bohai Sea, China

ABSTRACT Different coastal areas possess different pollution risks and ecosystem service values. The management strategies in these areas also differ. With limited environmental funds available, it is necessary to conduct in-depth study of pollution risks and ecosystem service values for developing marine conservation and management strategies. This paper proposes a management method that combines marine pollution risks and ecosystem service values to identify the management priorities of different sites, which are used to determine the appropriate management strategies. The management priorities of different bays in Chinas Bohai Sea were determined, and management strategies were recommended. The method can be used to determine effective management strategies for oceans around the world, especially in developing countries with limited environmental protection funds.

Simulation of different sea-crossing traffic route structures’ effects on the marine environment for the Dalian large-scale offshore airport island

ABSTRACT China is developing a 21 km2 artificial island for the Dalian offshore airport in Jinzhou Bay, and a sea-crossing bridge traffic route scheme and an impervious seawall road traffic route scheme are under consideration. To compare the effects of the development of the airport island with these two schemes on the marine environment, a two-dimensional hydrodynamic model and a pollutant transport model have been developed. The data from field observations have been used for the calibration and validation of the models. The numerical simulation results of the effects on hydrodynamics, morphological evolution, water pollution, and biological losses indicate that the sea-crossing bridge traffic route scheme is less damaging to the marine environment than that of the seawall road scheme. This studys conclusions provide an important foundation for the Dalian offshore airport programme and can be used as a reference for similar coastal engineering and marine environmental protection programmes.

Abundance, Habitat Conditions, and Conservation of the Largha Seal (Phoca largha) During the Past Half Century in the Bohai Sea, China

Abstract. The largha seal (Phoca largha) is critically endangered in China because of human harassment and habitat destruction. The Bohai Sea is their southernmost breeding site in the world and the only site in China. Long-term studies of the largha seal population in the Bohai Sea were reviewed. The seal population size significantly decreased by more than 80%, from approximately 8000 individuals in the 1940s to 1500 in the 2000s. In the past few decades, the ice formation conditions have been favorable for seals; however, seawater has been severely polluted, and available fish food resources have significantly decreased. In addition, heavy marine transportation has caused increasing levels of seawater and noise pollution. The deteriorating marine environmental conditions in the Bohai Sea most likely affected the largha seal population dynamics, and despite the seal hunting prohibition enacted in 1988, the population has been declining. No successful law has been executed so far by the Chinese government to reduce marine pollution in the Bohai Sea, which may negatively impact seal survival. More efficient protection measures for the species and control measures to improve the marine environment in the Bohai Sea are urgently needed.

Using satellite remote sensing and numerical modelling for the monitoring of suspended particulate matter concentration during reclamation construction at Dalian offshore airport in China

ABSTRACT In this study, remote sensing and numerical modelling were used to monitor the distribution of suspended particulate matter (SPM) concentrations induced by a reclamation construction of an offshore artificial island airport in China’s Bohai Sea. A hydrodynamic model and a water quality model were used to simulate the SPM diffusion under the actions of tides and currents. An artificial neural network (ANN) model was then developed based on HJ-1A/1B satellite and measured SPM concentrations. The obtained main results are as follows: (1) The dispersion area of SPM with a concentration higher than 10 mg/l obtained by the numerical model was approximately 105.15 km2; (2) The developed ANN model provided an excellent relationship between the measured and retrieved SPM concentrations, with R2 = 0.97 and mean relative error (MRE) of 30%, at the model validation phase; (3) The SPM distribution obtained by the numerical model showed a qualitatively similar pattern with that obtained by the ANN model, indicating the modelled SPM distribution was credible. Thus, when the distribution of SPM concentrations cannot be derived from the satellite images due to weather conditions, the numerical model can be used to simulate the SPM distribution in the sea area around the construction.