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1.
Recently, bivalves have been massively killed by anoxia or hypoxia in summer at the northern part of Isahaya Bay, Japan, which constituted a major problem for fisheries. However, the mechanism behind the occurrence of hypoxic water masses is unclear. It is known that the bottom water dissolved oxygen (DO) in this area is affected by the inflow of seawater into the northern mouth of Isahaya Bay. To understand the mechanism of hypoxia, it is necessary to determine the physical processes that cause changes in the bottom DO concentrations in this area. This study shows that there is a neap-spring tidal variation in bottom DO due to a change in vertical tidal mixing, and it also suggests that the decrease in bottom DO was generated by a baroclinic flow, which is due to the internal tide, and a shear flow, which is induced by the external tide in the bottom boundary layer. In addition, our study suggests that the source of cold and hypoxic water that appears in the bottom layer at low tide is the inner area of the Ariake Sea. 相似文献
2.
基于2018年早春和夏季长江口邻近海域的调查数据,分析溶解氧(DO)的时空分布,并讨论其影响因素.结果表明,夏季DO浓度变化范围为1.58～9.37 mg/L,浮游生物光合作用产生的DO是夏季表层水体过饱和的主要因素;夏季调查海域受台湾暖流北上引起海水层化加强,同时水体富营养化导致表层生物大量繁殖所引起有机碎屑的沉降和耗氧分解作用是底层低氧区存在的主要因素.夏季在台湾暖流影响下底层水体表观耗氧量(AOU)与营养盐成正相关关系,底层有机物耗氧降解过程与营养盐的再生密切相关.早春DO浓度变化范围为7.90～10.1 mg/L,长江口外北部海域和浙江近岸海域海水混合均匀,DO浓度主要受温度控制,而台湾暖流影响区海水出现层化现象,其低DO含量也为低氧区的形成奠定了基础. 相似文献
3.
乳山湾邻近海域低氧现象及成因浅析 总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1
根据2009-06-2009-09及2010-05-2010-06在乳山湾及其毗邻海域的综合调查,分析了该海域溶解氧的变化,初步探讨了影响溶解氧变化及底层低氧形成的原因。结果表明,夏季乳山湾邻近海域存在季节性低溶解氧区,溶解氧在6,7月份相对较高,而在8,9月份相对较低,最低值出现在8月份,为3.21mg/L(饱和度为35.5%),表观耗氧量为5.82mg/L。乳山湾外邻近水域溶解氧略高于湾口和湾内。底层溶解氧水平受到潮汐的影响,具有较大的周日波动性,变化范围介于3.74～8.26mg/L;在落潮时质量浓度降低而在涨潮时质量浓度升高。在这一区域存在较为强烈的温、盐跃层,从而限制了表、底层溶解氧的交换,而COD质量浓度的升高为这一区域的耗氧过程提供了一定的物质基础。潮汐、黄海冷水团的顶托作用、有机物质在底层水域的氧化作用以及底泥耗氧过程导致底层溶解氧的亏损。 相似文献
4.
Recently carbon dioxide fluxes between sea water and air have been measured in many coastal seas to clarify whether the coastal seas are source or sink of CO2. In this study behavior of CO2 within the water column was studied in a semi-enclosed coastal sea: the Seto Inland Sea, Japan. It was found that seasonal formation of hypoxic water mass is highly related to CO2 dynamics in coastal seas. Bacterial remineralization of organic matter consumes dissolved oxygen (DO) and releases dissolved CO2 in the bottom water when summertime thermal stratification develops. The CO2 accumulates within the low DO bottom water (hypoxic water) and causes increasing of carbonic acid content which results in low pH. Concentrations of dissolved CO2 and pH are highly correlated with DO concentration. The summertime low DO and acidification (low pH) occur in the lower layer every year. The accumulated CO2 during the summer season is dispersed to the atmosphere at the beginning of mixing season. 相似文献
5.
Application of an ecosystem model for the environmental assessment of the reclamation and mitigation plans for seagrass beds in Atsumi Bay 总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1
An ecosystem model was used to evaluate the effects of reclaiming seagrass beds and creating artificial shallows with seagrass beds to mitigate the effects of the reclamation. The applied model can simulate the pelagic and benthic ecosystems including seagrass beds and tidal flats. The objectives of this study were (a) to investigate the likelihood of cultivating and maintaining seagrass beds in artificial shallows (Part 1), and (b) to understand the effects of the reclamation of seagrass beds and the creation of artificial shallows on the water quality in the estuary (Part 2). In Part 1, first, the nutrient turnover rates due to both biochemical and physical processes in the natural seagrass beds where reclamation is proposed were analyzed. Biological processes rather than physical processes were the most significant driving forces of nutrient cycles in seagrass beds. Second, the effects of filter feeding benthic fauna (suspension feeders) in the seagrass beds were analyzed. The scenario with suspension feeders resulted in higher transparency of the water column (8.7% decrease in the light attenuation coefficient) and an increase in nutrient supply (24.9% increase in NH4-N in the water column) contributing to the high specific growth rate of seagrass. Third, the specific growth rate of seagrass on the proposed artificial shallows was measured. The value on the artificial shallows set at a depth of datum line minus 0.8 m (D.L. − 0.8 m) was approximately the same as that of the natural seagrass beds. In Part 2, first, water quality in the estuary was compared among the scenarios with/without natural seagrass beds and artificial shallows. Then, the defined values of the water purification capability of (a) artificial shallows with/without seagrass beds, and (b) natural seagrass beds per unit area were evaluated. The reclamation of the natural seagrass beds resulted in a decrease of the removal of phytoplankton and detritus from the pelagic system (i.e. resulted in a loss in the purification rate). In contrast, the creation of artificial shallows resulted in an increase of the removal of phytoplankton and detritus from the pelagic system (i.e. resulted in a gain in the purification rate). Based on an annual average, approximately twice as much phytoplankton was removed from the artificial shallows at the depth D.L. − 0.8 m, than at the depth, D.L. − 1.5 m, and the artificial shallows with seagrass beds removed pelagic DIN and DIP at a rate 120% higher than that without seagrass beds. 相似文献
6.
Hypoxia has occurred in Upper Charlotte Harbor, a shallow (∼3 m) estuary in Southwest Florida, during moderate to high freshwater flows from the Peace and Myakka Rivers and after hurricanes, due to nutrient loading and vertical stratification. This paper studies the annual hypoxia and water quality dynamics in Upper Charlotte Harbor in 2000, using CH3D-IMS, an integrated modeling system which includes coupled models of circulation, wave, sediment transport, and water quality. The CH3D-IMS simulations showed that bottom-water hypoxic conditions occur during periods with relatively steady moderate to high (5–40 m3/s) freshwater inflows and sediment oxygen demand (SOD). During periods of relatively steady moderate to high river discharge, strong vertical salinity stratification results in reduced vertical mixing which prevents surface water from supplying dissolved oxygen (DO) to bottom water where SOD continuously consumes DO. There was significant temporal fluctuation of the hypoxic water volume, as a result of significant temporal variation in vertical turbulent mixing associated with combinations of spring-neap tides and river discharge. The validated modeling system could be used to forecast hypoxia. 相似文献
7.
Jan Svejkovsky Nikolay P. Nezlin Neomi M. Mustain Jamie B. Kum 《Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science》2010
Spatial–temporal characteristics and environmental factors regulating the behavior of stormwater runoff from the Tijuana River in southern California were analyzed utilizing very high resolution aerial imagery, and time-coincident environmental and bacterial sampling data. Thirty nine multispectral aerial images with 2.1-m spatial resolution were collected after major rainstorms during 2003–2008. Utilizing differences in color reflectance characteristics, the ocean surface was classified into non-plume waters and three components of the runoff plume reflecting differences in age and suspended sediment concentrations. Tijuana River discharge rate was the primary factor regulating the size of the freshest plume component and its shorelong extensions to the north and south. Wave direction was found to affect the shorelong distribution of the shoreline-connected fresh plume components much more strongly than wind direction. Wave-driven sediment resuspension also significantly contributed to the size of the oldest plume component. Surf zone bacterial samples collected near the time of each image acquisition were used to evaluate the contamination characteristics of each plume component. The bacterial contamination of the freshest plume waters was very high (100% of surf zone samples exceeded California standards), but the oldest plume areas were heterogeneous, including both polluted and clean waters. The aerial imagery archive allowed study of river runoff characteristics on a plume component level, not previously done with coarser satellite images. Our findings suggest that high resolution imaging can quickly identify the spatial extents of the most polluted runoff but cannot be relied upon to always identify the entire polluted area. Our results also indicate that wave-driven transport is important in distributing the most contaminated plume areas along the shoreline. 相似文献
8.
通过对2011年北部湾北部海域春季和夏季溶解氧（DO）及其他环境要素进行分析讨论，发现DO的季节性差异较大，春季DO含量（平均8.11 mg/L）明显高于夏季（平均6.05 mg/L）。夏季北部湾底层部分区域存在DO低值，该低值区常年存在，并且DO最低值逐渐降低、低值区范围逐渐扩大。利用相关性分析和灰色关联度分析的方法，对夏季底层DO低值的成因进行分析发现：夏季底层水体浮游植物产氧作用较弱，海水层化作用强，阻碍了表底层DO的交换；另外底层有机质分解的耗氧作用明显，出现了氧气的净消耗，由此导致夏季底层水体出现DO的低值。同时，由于2011年之后北部湾北部海域陆源污染排放和赤潮的频发使得该海域低氧状况加剧，潜在低氧区逐渐发展为低氧区。 相似文献
9.
Knowledge of estuarine hydrodynamics and water quality comes mostly from studies of large estuarine systems. The processes affecting algae, nutrients, and dissolved oxygen (DO) in small and shallow subtropical estuaries are relatively less studied. This paper documents the development, calibration, and verification of a three dimensional (3D) water quality model for the St. Lucie Estuary (SLE), a small and shallow estuary located on the east coast of south Florida. The water quality model is calibrated and verified using two years of measured data. Statistical analyses indicate that the model is capable of reproducing key water quality characteristics of the estuary within an acceptable range of accuracy. The calibrated model is further applied to study hydrodynamic and eutrophication processes in the estuary. Modeling results reveal that high algae concentrations in the estuary are likely caused by excessive nutrient and algae supplies in freshwater inflows. While algal blooms may lead to reduced DO concentrations near the bottom of the waterbody, this study indicates that stratification and circulation induced by freshwater inflows may also contribute significantly to bottom water hypoxia in the estuary. It is also found that high freshwater inflows from one of the tributaries can change the circulation pattern and nutrient loading, thereby impacting water quality conditions of the entire estuary. Restoration plans for the SLE ecosystem need to consider both a reduction of nutrient loading and regulation of the freshwater discharge pattern. 相似文献
10.
溶解氧(DO)是海洋生物生存不可缺少的要素。随着人类活动的增加，全球近岸海域低氧情况愈发严重，已经成为威胁海洋生态系统健康的重要因素。通过对2017年5?9月秦皇岛外海区域的观测调查，探讨了该海域低氧与酸化的形成机制并计算了月平均耗氧速率。结果表明，5月秦皇岛外海水体混合较为均匀，表、底层DO浓度一致，均大于8 mg/L；6月开始形成密度跃层，与此同时底层DO浓度和pH开始下降；8月底层呈现明显的低氧和酸化状态，DO浓度下降至2～3 mg/L，pH下降至7.8以下；9月随着层化消失，底层水体DO浓度和pH逐渐升高。相关性分析显示，DO和叶绿素a (Chl a)以及pH具有良好的耦合性，说明秦皇岛外海区域的低氧发生过程主要为局地变化。同时表明DO浓度和pH主要受水体中浮游植物的光合作用和有机物有氧分解的影响。通过箱式模型计算得到2017年6?8月密度跃层以下水体及沉积物耗氧速率为951～1193 mg/(m2·d)[平均为975 mg/(m2·d)]。综合来看，水体分层是秦皇岛外海低氧和酸化发生的先决条件，跃层以下的有机物分解耗氧则是底层水体发生低氧和酸化的重要原因。 相似文献
11.
Losses of pelagic diatom production resulting from silica limitation have not only been blamed for toxic algal blooms, but for the reduction in ability of coastal food webs to support higher trophic levels. Recent research has shown the importance of advective seepage water fluxes of dissolved silica (DSi) from freshwater marshes to pelagic waters during moments of riverine Si-limitation. In this study, we investigated the potential impact of recently installed new tidal areas along the Schelde estuary, located in former polder areas and characterized by so-called controlled reduced tidal regimes (CRT). Nine mass-balance studies were conducted in a newly constructed CRT in the freshwater Schelde estuary. During complete tidal cycles both DSi and amorphous silica (ASi) concentrations were monitored at the entrance culverts and in different habitats in the marsh. A swift DSi-delivery capacity was observed despite the shifted spatiotemporal frame of exchange processes compared to reference marshes. As silica-accumulating vegetation is not yet present, and difference with reference marshes’ deliveries is surprisingly small, we indicate diatomaceous debris and phytoliths to be the main silica source. Although further research is necessary on the driving forces of the different processes involved, restoration of former agricultural areas under CRT-regime provide the potential to buffer silica in the estuary. 相似文献
12.
Geórgenes Hilário Cavalcante Björn Kjerfve Bastiaan Knoppers David A. Feary 《Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science》2010
We examined and compared tidal currents and water column structure between a near-shore station (12 km from the coast) and an offshore station (32 km from the coast) adjacent to the Caeté River, Pará Region, Brazil. Although the coastal system of Pará is largely influenced by local tides and wind, we found substantial differences in the dominant forcing agents between stations. Water column dynamics at the near-shore station were largely affected by local tidal processes, while differences between surface and bottom layer flows also indicated the importance of gravitational circulation at this station and a substantial influence of the adjacent Caeté River discharge. In comparison, at the offshore station, water column structure was largely influenced by a semi-diurnal tidal flow, an along-coastal current flow (mainly associated with the North Brazil Current) and the dynamics of local wind flow. The near-shore station at low tide showed a high level of stratification; at high tide such stratification was reduced. In comparison, stratification was only apparent within the upper 6 m at the offshore station, the rest of the water column was relatively well-mixed. The stratification within Station 1 at low tide was a result of the bi-directional movement of water discharged from the Caeté River, with lower salinity surface water and high salinity bottom water resulting in an estuarine-like circulation environment. The spatial variability and lack of correlation in current flow and water column structure between the near-shore and offshore stations suggest that a flow field resulting from differences in local circulation, tidal variability and wind persistence separate areas. We argue that this separation may indicate that the offshore station is located in a transition region between the Caeté River waters and the local coastal area. 相似文献
13.
Long-term changes of dissolved oxygen,hypoxia, and the responses of the ecosystems in the East China Sea from 1975 to 1995 总被引：4，自引：0，他引：4
Observation data obtained in the 32°N transect (transect E) in 1975–1995 were used to analyze the long-term changes in dissolved
oxygen (DO) concentration and near-bottom hypoxic water in the East China Sea (ECS). A declining trend in annual average DO
concentration and the degree of DO saturation was observed. Consequently, the apparent oxygen utilization in the western waters
of transect E was on the rise. There was a seasonal hypoxic phenomenon in near-bottom water in the western water of transect
E. The width of hypoxic water formed in summer gradually extended eastward along the continental shelf (transect E) at the
rate of 3.12 km year−1. Three potential reasons might have caused the formation and maintenance of near-bottom hypoxic water. First, the special
hydrological topography and hypoxic deep water of the Taiwan Warm Current provided a backdrop for the hypoxic zone. Second,
in summer, the strength of water column stratification restricts water exchange. Third is the occurrence and decay of the
phytoplankton bloom. In surface water, nutrient concentrations increased gradually, and chlorophyll (Chl a), primary production, and phytoplankton biomass in summer increased. On the other hand, the community structure of phytoplankton,
zooplankton, and zoobenthos became simple. Blooming phytoplankton consumed plenty of nutrients in the surface, but the upwelling
of nutritious bottom water was suppressed by the strong thermocline. As a result, sinking of phytoplankton was enhanced because
of nutrient deficiency. In recent years, a serious lack of zoobenthos in the study area corresponded to a higher degree of
hypoxia. This phenomenon would have a major effect on the evolution of ecological dynamic systems in the ECS. 相似文献
14.
The relative impacts of tidal (neap, spring) and river discharge (including a flood event) forcing upon water and sediment circulation have been examined at the rock-bound Guadiana estuary. Near-bed and vertical profiles of current, salinity, turbidity, plus surface suspended sediment concentrations (SSC, at some stations only), were collected at the lower and central/upper estuary during tidal and fortnightly cycles. In addition, vertical salinity and turbidity profiles were collected around high and low water along the estuary. Tidal asymmetry produced faster currents on the ebb than on the flood, especially at the mouth. This pattern of seaward current dominance was enhanced with increasing river flow, due to horizontal advection that was confined within the narrow estuarine channel. The freshwater inputs and, at a degree less, the tidal range controlled the vertical mixing and stratification importance. Well-mixed (spring) and partially stratified (neap) conditions alternated during periods of low river flows, with significant intratidal variations induced by tidal straining (especially at the partially stratified estuary). Highly stratified conditions developed with increasing river discharge. Intratidal variability in the pycnocline depth and thickness resulted from current shear during the ebb. A salt wedge with tidal motion was observed at the lower estuary during the flood event. Depending on the intensity of turbulent mixing, the residual water circulation was dominantly controlled either by tidal asymmetry or gravitational circulation. The SSC was governed by cyclical local processes (resuspension, deposition, mixing, advection) driven by the neap-spring fluctuations in tidal current velocities. More, intratidal variability in stratification indicated the significance of tidal pumping at the partially and highly stratified estuary. The estuary turbidity maximum (ETM) was enhanced with increasing current velocities, and displaced downstream during periods of high river discharge. During the flood event, the ETM was expelled out of the estuary, and the SSC along the estuary was controlled by the sediment load from the drainage basin. Under these highly variable river flow conditions, our observations suggest that sand is exported to the nearshore over the long-term (>years). 相似文献
15.
C.G. Simionato A. Berasategui V.L. Meccia M. Acha H. Mianzan 《Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science》2008
The Río de la Plata Estuary presents a strong bottom salinity front located over a submerged shoal. Apparently favored by retention processes, it is a spawning ground for several coastal fishes. This estuary is very shallow and essentially wind driven and, moreover, in time scales relevant to biota, estuarine circulation is wind dominated and highly variable. Two intriguing questions are, therefore, how this system can favor retention and what the involved mechanisms are. This paper qualitatively explores mechanisms involved in the estuary where retention is favored applying numerical simulations in which neutral particles – simulating fish eggs and early larvae – are released along the bottom frontal zone and tracked for different wind conditions. Results suggest that retentive features can be a consequence of estuarine response to natural wind variability acting over bathymetric features. For winds from most directions, particles either remain trapped near their launching position or move northeastward to southwestward along the shoal. As alternation of winds that favor along-shoal motion is the dominant feature of wind variability in the region, a retentive scenario results from prevailing wind variability. Additionally, winds that tend to export particles with a poor chance of being restored to the front are neither frequent nor persistent. Results show, therefore, that physical forcing alone might generate a retentive scenario at the inner part of this estuary. The physical retention mechanism is more effective for bottom than for surface launched particles. Wind statistics indicate that the proposed mechanism has different implications for retention along the seasons. Spring is the most favorable season, followed by summer, when particles would have a larger propensity to reach the southern area of the estuary (Samborombón Bay). Fall and winter are increasingly less favorable. All these features are consistent with patterns observed in the region in organisms having different life history traits. 相似文献
16.
河控型河口盐度混合和层化是控制悬沙输移扩散的重要动力机制。以珠江磨刀门河口为研究对象,基于2017年洪季三船同步大、小潮水文泥沙观测数据,分析河控型河口水体盐度层化结构的时空变化对悬沙分布的影响机制。结果表明:受径潮动力耦合时空变化影响,河口盐度垂向分布表现出时空差异,即受径流主导的M1站(挂锭角),河口盐度在涨落潮周期内垂向混合均匀,受径潮控制的M2站(口门)在整个潮周期内盐度层化结构明显,口门外侧的M3站,潮动力作用较强,盐度垂向分布随涨落潮变化而变化;悬沙空间分布与盐度分布关系密切,盐度混合均匀利于悬沙垂向均匀分布,而盐度层化则使悬沙倾向于滞留在底层水体中,且在盐度层结界面之下出现高悬沙浓度,悬沙浓度垂向分布曲线呈L字型或抛线型,纵向上表现为高浓度悬沙团抑制在盐水楔前端,盐度层化对悬沙的捕集效应明显。通过对比水体标准化分层系数与水流垂向扩散强度系数发现,两者呈现负相关关系,即标准化分层系数愈大,垂向扩散强度愈小,表明水体层化抑制悬沙垂向扩散强度,而且水体层化程度越高,悬沙垂向扩散抑制程度越大,进而促进了河口水体盐度层化对悬沙捕集作用。本研究有助于揭示河口细颗粒泥沙运动机制及河口拦门沙演变机制,并为磨刀门河口拦门沙治理提供科学依据。 相似文献
17.
A 3D,time-dependent,baroclinic,hydrodynamic and salinity model was implemented and applied to the Oujiang River estuarine system in the East China Sea.The model was driven by the forcing of tidal elevations along the open boundaries and freshwater inflows from the Oujiang River.The bottom friction coefficient and vertical eddy viscosity were adjusted to complete model calibration and verification in simulations.It is demonstrated that the model is capable of reproducing observed temporal variability in the water surface elevation and longitudinal velocity,presenting skill coefficient higher than 0.82.This model was then used to investigate the influence of freshwater discharge on residual current and salinity intrusion under different freshwater inflow conditions in the Oujiang River estuary.The model results reveal that the river channel presents a two-layer structure with flood currents near the bottom and ebb currents at the top layer in the region of seawater influenced on north shore under high river flow condition.The river discharge is a major factor affecting the salinity stratification in the estuarine system.The water exchange is mainly driven by the tidal forcing at the estuary mouth,except under high river flow conditions when the freshwater extends its influence from the river’s head to its mouth. 相似文献
18.
夏季,长江口底层极易发生大面积低氧甚至缺氧.比较2016和2017年夏季长江口缺氧区(DO<2 mg/L)、低氧区(2 mg/L3 mg/L)浮游动物群落(>160μm)特征发现:2016年群落丰度和生物量均表现为缺氧区明显高于低氧区和正常海区;中小型桡足类、胶质浮游动物丰度表现为缺氧区和低氧区均高于正常海区;胶质浮游动物的组成,在低氧程度较严重的2016年夏季,以滤食性的海樽纲和有尾纲为主,在2017年夏季,以肉食性毛颚动物为主. 相似文献
19.
Tripod measured residual currents and sediment flux: Impacts on the silting of the Deepwater Navigation Channel in the Changjiang Estuary 总被引：3，自引：0，他引：3
Four bottom-mounted instrument-equipped tripods were deployed at two sections spanning the region characterized by severe sedimentation rates in the Deepwater Navigation Channel (DNC) along the North Passage of Changjiang Estuary in order to observe currents, near-bed suspended sediment, and salinity. Seaward residual currents predominated in the up-estuary section. In contrast, a classical two-layered estuarine circulation pattern occurred in the down-estuary section. Flow moved seaward in the upper layer and a heavier inflow, driven by the salinity gradient, moved landward in the lower layer. The near-bed residual currents in the up-estuary section and the down-estuary section acted in opposing directions, which implies that the region is a convergence zone of near-bed residual currents that trap sediment at the bottom. The maximum salinity gradient at the maximum flood current indicates the presence of a strong front that induces sediment trapping and associated near-bottom convergence of sediment, which explains the high sedimentation rates in this section of the estuary. 相似文献
20.
This study has compared the environmental characteristics of the basins and saline lower reaches of the tributaries of eight estuaries on the south coast of Western Australia, which differ in their degree of connectivity with the ocean. Although four estuaries between 115.1° and 121.8° E along that coast remain permanently open to the ocean, the others only become open when the volume of river discharge is sufficient to breach the prominent sand bars at their mouths, which occurs annually following heavy winter and early spring rainfall in some estuaries (seasonally open) and infrequently in others (normally closed). Estuaries to the west of 118.5° E are predominantly permanently open, e.g. Oyster Harbour, or seasonally open, e.g. Broke, Irwin and Wilson inlets, whereas those further east, e.g. Wellstead Estuary and Hamersley, Culham and Stokes inlets, where annual rainfall and thus discharge are much lower, only become open after exceptionally heavy discharge. In permanently and seasonally-open estuaries, pronounced haloclines and oxyclines are present in the narrow rivers but not the wide basins where the waters are subjected to wind-driven mixing. The extent of cyclical seasonal fluctuations in environmental conditions differed markedly among the three seasonally-open estuaries and between years in one of those systems. These differences reflected variations in the relationship between the volume of fluvial discharge, which is determined by a combination of the amount of local rainfall, catchment size and extent of clearing of native vegetation, and the amount of intrusion by marine waters, which is largely controlled by the size and duration of the opening of the estuary mouth. The mean seasonal salinities in the basins of the three normally-closed estuaries increased over three years of very low rainfall to 64 in the deepest of these estuaries (Stokes Inlet) to 145 in Hamersley Inlet and to 296 in the shallowest estuary (Culham Inlet). These results demonstrate that the environmental characteristics of estuaries on the south coast of Western Australia differ markedly, even among those of the same type, e.g. seasonally-open estuaries or normally-closed estuaries. 相似文献