SPM transport in the Bohai Sea: field experiments and numerical modelling

Abstract

The suspended particulate matter (SPM) concentration in the Bohai Sea, China, is measured during two cruises carried out from September to October 1998 and April to May 1999. The analysis of the in-situ data reveals two zones of high SPM concentration that can be attributed to Yellow River water as well as to resuspension. The exchange with water masses of the Yellow Sea leads to a reduction of the SPM concentration in the eastern and central part of the Bohai Sea. The field data also show that in the Bohai Sea the wind waves strongly influence the SPM concentrations. This explains the major part of the seasonal variation: the SPM concentration is higher in spring than in summer, which results from the seasonal variation of the wind. A 3D numerical SPM transport model is used in this study to simulate the conditions during two cruises that have been conducted in the frame of the project. The results show that the model can well reproduce the observed SPM concentrations in the Bohai Sea. The results also agree well with SeaWiFS satellite data taken during one of the cruises.