Influence of inter-river water diversion on estuary pollution control: A case study of Liaodong Bay

Abstract

Long-term mass transport processes in offshore seas are controlled by seasonal residual currents. The Euler residual mass transport velocity field was calculated form seasonal residual current patterns in shallow sea area, comparing with polluted water changes in typical years. The following conclusions were made: closed local large loops of the Euler residual mass transport led to polluted waters in the northeast Liaodong Bay, and the bay's optimal physical self-purification occurred in winter (Euler residual mass transport diffuses polluted water masses) and spring (overall self-purification capacity of the bay plays a role after winter). The central waters were clean while pollutants were discharged into near-shore waters, leading to perennial pollution in some near-shore waters. Pollution in Liaodong Bay could be alleviated or eliminated via diversion of water from the Daliaohe River (flowing into the northeast corner of Liaodong Bay and carrying > 65% of the total amount of pollutants discharged into the top of the bay) into the Liaohe River and Daling River. The percentage of inorganic nitrogen carried by 10% of the flux of the Daliaohe River was 5.70% of that discharged into Liaodong Bay. If 10% of the flux of the Daliaohe River was discharged into the Daling River, the annual total environmental carrying capacity of inorganic nitrogen increased 4.48%. Many bays in the world have adjacent river flows, such as Gulf of Mexico, Gulf of Guinea, and Bay of Bengal. Based on the Euler residual mass transport field, the water transfer between adjacent rivers could make better use of the Euler residual mass transport capacity to mitigate the water pollution of the estuaries.