The Influence of Climate Change on the Fresh Water Plume in the Pearl River Estuary

Yuxiang Chen, Min Zhang, Huazhi Zou, Pimao Chen, Zhenzhao Tang

2018

Abstract

In this study, a 3D mathematical model of Pearl River Estuary (PRE) and offshore is constructed. Numerical simulation is applied to study the mechanism of the plume of the PRE and the influence of future sea level rise. The model is verified by runoff and water elevation during the July 1999 flood season. The harmonic constants obtained from the simulation are compared with the existing results, and the results are in good consistency. The numerical simulation shows that the expansion of the plume is mainly affected by runoff, topography, Coriolis force, wind and sea surface height. The rise of sea level will make the salt isoline lines of the PRE move to upstream, but it does not affect the overall scope of the fresh water, the range of fresh water is mainly influenced by upstream flow. After the sea level rise the fresh water of the west coast of Guangdong Province appears to be expanded to the west in spring, summer and autumn. At the same time, the estuary circulation of the north-south is enhanced. The increased estuary circulation causes more fresh water flows out through the surface, which strengthened the westward expansion of the Coriolis force. In summer the special symmetrical structure of plume will be destroyed after sea level rise which is also the result of the change in the estuary circulation.

Paper Citation

in Harvard Style

Chen Y., Zhang M., Zou H., Chen P. and Tang Z. (2018). The Influence of Climate Change on the Fresh Water Plume in the Pearl River Estuary.In Proceedings of the International Workshop on Environment and Geoscience - Volume 1: IWEG, ISBN 978-989-758-342-1, pages 386-394. DOI: 10.5220/0007430803860394

in Bibtex Style

@conference{iweg18,
author={Yuxiang Chen and Min Zhang and Huazhi Zou and Pimao Chen and Zhenzhao Tang},
title={The Influence of Climate Change on the Fresh Water Plume in the Pearl River Estuary},
booktitle={Proceedings of the International Workshop on Environment and Geoscience - Volume 1: IWEG,},
year={2018},
pages={386-394},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0007430803860394},
isbn={978-989-758-342-1},
}

in EndNote Style

TY - CONF

JO - Proceedings of the International Workshop on Environment and Geoscience - Volume 1: IWEG,
TI - The Influence of Climate Change on the Fresh Water Plume in the Pearl River Estuary
SN - 978-989-758-342-1
AU - Chen Y.
AU - Zhang M.
AU - Zou H.
AU - Chen P.
AU - Tang Z.
PY - 2018
SP - 386
EP - 394
DO - 10.5220/0007430803860394