Ecological and sediment dynamics response to typhoons passing from the east and west sides of the Changjiang (Yangtze River) Estuary and its adjacent sea area

Abstract

The hydrodynamic environment of the Changjiang (Yangtze River) Estuary and its adjacent sea area frequently experiences the influence of typhoon activities during the summer season. However, the differences in responses to typhoons with different trajectories are still poorly understood. Using buoy observations with synchronous satellite images, we investigated the sediment dynamics response to Typhoon Danas and Lekima, which passed through the Changjiang Estuary and its adjacent sea area from the east and west sides, respectively. The results indicated that wind forcings disrupted the semidiurnal cycles of ocean currents, leading to southeastward or northwestward residual currents during typhoons Danas and Lekima, respectively. The residual current velocity was typically below 150 mm/s under calm conditions but exceeded 200 mm/s, reaching up to 600 mm/s during typhoon conditions. Typhoon Danas (Lekima) generated onshore (offshore) Ekman transport in the surface layer, resulting in coastal downwelling (upwelling) and bottom offshore (onshore) currents due to the Ekman pumping (suction) effect. Typhoon Danas shifted the Changjiang Diluted Water from northeastward to southeastward, triggering the post-typhoon phytoplankton bloom, while Typhoon Lekima strengthened and even drove the detachment of the Changjiang Diluted Water. These findings suggest the need for different preventive strategies based on the trajectory of each typhoon, considering the potential land damage caused by west-side typhoons and the occurrence of post-typhoon Harmful Algal Blooms resulting from east-side typhoons. Additionally, sediment transport primarily occurred in the bottom layer, governed by the combined effect of tidal currents and typhoon-driven bottom currents. Typhoon Danas, located on the east side of the Changjiang Estuary, led to offshore (positive cross-shore) sediment flux and southwestward (negative along-shore) sediment flux. Conversely, Typhoon Lekima, situated on the west side, caused onshore (negative cross-shore) sediment flux and northeastward (positive along-shore) sediment flux. These findings suggest that existing sediment records may underestimate the frequency and intensity of historical typhoon activities.