Widespread sea surface salinification induced by tropical cyclones over the Changjiang River Plume
Journal
Communications Earth & Environment
Journal Volume
6
Journal Issue
1
ISSN
2662-4435
Date Issued
2025-05-02
Author(s)
Guan, Shoude
Huang, Mengya
Wu, Hui
Lin, Yaoting
Wu, Ziyi
Zhang, Yihan
Jin, Fei-Fei
Wang, Weili
Hong, Xin
Li, Cheng
Liu, Zhenmin
Lin, Xiaopei
Zhao, Wei
Tian, Jiwei
Abstract
Riverine plumes greatly shape ocean environments and ecosystems. The Changjiang River plume, widely spreading in the Yellow and East China Seas in summer, induces extremely low surface salinity and threatens local aquaculture and fisheries. Passage of tropical cyclones potentially increases surface salinity by stirring upper oceans, yet the extent of cyclones’ effects on the Changjiang River Plume extension and its mechanisms remains less explored. Here, combining satellite and in-situ observations with numerical experiments, we reveal a widespread surface salinification induced by Lekima (2019), with the maximum salinification reaching 6.5 psu and an 83% Changjiang River Plume contraction. Tropical cyclone-induced vertical mixing contributes to this dramatic salinification, while horizontal advection can either contribute to or offset the salinification, depending on specific locations. Further examination of surface salinity during 2015–2022 suggests that tropical cyclones can effectively restrict the Changjiang River Plume extension, potentially shielding fishing and aquaculture industries from low-salinity-related disasters.
Subjects
China
East China Sea
Pacific Ocean
Yangtze River
Yellow Sea
numerical model
salinization
satellite imagery
sea surface salinity
tropical cyclone
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Type
journal article