Datong Hydrological Station Research Articles

Quantitative Relationships between the Tidal Current Limit, Tidal Level Limit and River Discharge in the Changjiang River Estuary

Estuaries are areas where runoff and tide interact. Tidal waves propagate upstream from river mouths and produce tidal currents and tidal level variations along rivers. Based on the hydrological frequency analysis of river discharge in the dry season and flood season at the Datong hydrological station over the past 70 years, a three-dimensional estuary numerical model was used to produce the quantitative relationships between the tidal current limit, tidal level limit and river discharge in the Changjiang River estuary. The positions of tidal current limit and tidal level limit depend not only on river discharge but also on river topography. When river discharge varies from a hydrological frequency of 95% to 5%, the relationship between the tidal current limit and river discharge is y=2×10−13x3+3 × 10−8x2− 0.0074x+359.35 in the flood season, with a variation range of 90 km, and y=−4×10−10x3−1 × 10−5x2−0.1937x − 1232.9 in the dry season, with a variation range of 200 km. The relationship between the tidal level limit and river discharge is y=6×10−8x2−0.0096x+775.94 in the flood season, with a variation range of 127 km, and y=0.3428x2−17.9x+777.55 in the dry season, with a variation range of 83 km, which is located far upstream of the Datong hydrological station.

Measurement of Yangtze River Flow Based on Coastal Acoustic Tomography

River flow is an important hydrological element for river management, and it can be used to detect the profile of river water resources. Coastal acoustic tomography technology, is a novel flow measurement technology, can continuously observe flow changes compared to the acoustic Doppler velocity profiler (ADCP) flow measurement. In this article, our experiment has arranged two acoustic tomography stations on both banks near the Datong Hydrological Station in the Yangtze River. Each station is equipped with a coastal acoustic tomography system. The depth of the transducer placed underwater is about 7 meters, the frequency of the transmitted signal is 50kHz. Knowing the distance between the two stations, calculate the average flow velocity between the stations according to the reciprocal propagation time difference between the stations, and then obtain the average velocity of the section according to the geometric relationship between the flow velocity between the stations and the section velocity. Finally the cross-sectional velocity multiplied by the cross-sectional area is the cross-sectional flow, and the calculation result of the river flow is compared with the official data. Experimental results prove that coastal acoustic tomography technology has broad prospects in monitoring river flow.

Estimating particulate organic carbon flux in a highly dynamic estuary using satellite data and numerical modeling

Quantitative estimates of the flux, transportation, and burial of riverine particulate organic carbon (POC) in estuaries and shelf areas are crucial for understanding the carbon cycle in marginal seas. The complexity of the hydrodynamic environment and estuarine processes in the Changjiang River estuary (CRE) results in a POC flux with high spatiotemporal variability. In this study, we proposed a new method for time series monitoring of riverine POC flux by combining satellite ocean color and numerical modeling data. We used 500-m resolution geostationary satellite data from the Geostationary Ocean Color Imager (GOCI) to retrieve surface POC concentrations in the CRE and used the numerical Finite Volume Community Ocean Model (FVCOM) to simulate three-dimensional (3D) current and sediment distribution. Diurnal, seasonal, and annual variations in POC flux through the lower reaches (Datong Hydrological Station), upper estuary (Xuliujing Hydrological Station), and outlets of the CRE, as well as transportation and deposition outside the CRE, were examined from July 2011 to June 2018. The annual mean POC fluxes through the Datong, Xuliujing, and outlet sections were 1.16 ± 0.16 Tg C/yr, 1.29 ± 0.11 Tg C/yr, and 1.17 ± 0.11 Tg C/yr, respectively. After passing through the estuary, 35.2% of POC was deposited in the sandbar outside the outlets, 52.9% was transported to the south, and a small amount entered the eastern shelf. Thus, these results indicated that POC flux through the river and estuary sections differed from the effective riverine POC flux into the sea. The proposed method combining high spatiotemporal-resolution satellite data and numerical modeling not only makes full use of their advantages, but also reduces the uncertainty of their individual estimates. This approach also supports long-term monitoring of riverine fluxes to the sea and helps clarify the effects of terrestrial inputs on marginal seas under multiple stresses from human activities and climate change.

Long-term (1980–2015) changes in net anthropogenic phosphorus inputs and riverine phosphorus export in the Yangtze River basin

Quantitative information on long-term net anthropogenic phosphorus inputs (NAPI) and its relationship with riverine phosphorus (P) export are critical for developing sustainable and efficient watershed P management strategies. This is the first study to address long-term (1980–2015) NAPI and riverine P flux dynamics for the Yangtze River basin (YRB), the largest watershed in China. Over the 36-year study period, estimated NAPI to the YRB progressively increased by ∼1.4 times, with NAPIA (chemical fertilizer input + atmospheric deposition + seed input) and NAPIB (net food/feed imports + non-food input) contributing 65% and 35%, respectively. Higher population, livestock density and agricultural land area were the main drivers of increasing NAPI. Riverine total phosphorus (TP), particulate phosphorus (PP) and suspended sediment (SS) export at Datong hydrological station (downstream station) decreased by 52%, 75% and 75% during 1980–2015, respectively. In contrast, dissolved phosphorus (DP) showed an increase in both concentration (∼7-fold) and its contribution to TP flux (∼16-fold). Different trends in riverine P forms were mainly due to increasing dam/reservoir construction and changes in vegetation/land use and NAPI components. Multiple regression models incorporating NAPIA, NAPIB, dam/reservoir storage capacity and water discharge explained 84% and 92% of the temporal variability in riverine DP and PP fluxes, respectively. Riverine TP flux estimated as the sum of DP and PP fluxes showed high agreement with measured values (R2 = 0.87, NSE = 0.84), indicating strong efficacy for the developed models. The model forecasted an increase of 50% and 7% and a decrease of 15% and 22% in riverine DP flux from 2015 to 2045 under developing, dam building, NAPIA and NAPIB reduction scenarios, respectively. This study highlights the importance of including enhanced P transformation from particulate to bioavailable forms due to river regulation and changes in land-use, input sources and legacy P pools in development of P pollution control strategies.

Validation and application of soil moisture active passive sea surface salinity observation over the Changjiang River Estuary

Using sea surface salinity (SSS) observation from the soil moisture active passive (SMAP) mission, we analyzed the spatial distribution and seasonal variation of SSS around Changjiang River (Yangtze River) Estuary for the period of September 2015 to August 2018. First, we found that the SSS from SMAP is more accurate than soil moisture and ocean salinity (SMOS) mission observation when comparing with the in situ observations. Then, the SSS signature of the Changjiang River freshwater was analyzed using SMAP data and the river discharge data from the Datong hydrological station. The results show that the SSS around the Changjiang River Estuary is significantly lower than that of the open ocean, and shows significant seasonal variation. The minimum value of SSS appears in July and maximum SSS in December. The root mean square difference of daily SSS between SMAP observation and in situ observation is around 3 in both summer and winter, which is much lower than the annual range of SSS variation. In summer, the diffusion direction of the Changjiang River freshwater depicted by SSS from SMAP is consistent with the path of freshwater from in situ observation, suggesting that SMAP observation may be used in coastal seas in monitoring the diffusion and advection of freshwater discharge.

Satellite estimation of particulate organic carbon flux from Changjiang River to the estuary

Rivers link land and ocean ecosystems, the two largest active carbon reservoirs in the world, and transport tremendous amounts of particulate organic carbon (POC) into marginal seas annually. Due to high spatiotemporal variations, estimations of riverine POC flux into the sea can be relatively inexact when based on field measurement only. In this study, remote sensing algorithms of riverine POC flux through the Xuliujing hydrological station in the Changjiang River Estuary (CRE) were developed using satellite data with hourly resolution from the Geostationary Ocean Color Imager (GOCI). Based on data collected during four seasonal cruises in the CRE from 2014 to 2016, POC concentration showed a significant linear relationship to total suspended matter (TSM) (N = 426, R2 = 0.97, p < 0.01). Thus, surface POC concentration was calculated by satellite-derived TSM. From the in-situ data, the vertical POC concentration profile at Xuliujing showed an exponentially increasing curve (p < 0.01), but a linear decrease (p < 0.01) for the water flow profile from the surface to the bottom. Combining the GOCI-derived surface POC concentration and vertical profiles of POC and water flow, we estimated monthly riverine POC fluxes to the CRE. Results showed that monthly POC flux at Xuliujing (0.071 ± 0.022 Tg C) was 22.64% higher, on average, than the commonly used value at the non-tidal Datong hydrological station. Moreover, under human activity pressures, the influences of POC input from the Changjiang River on POC concentration at Xuliujing have weakened in recent years. Monthly and diurnal POC variations in the CRE were mainly impacted by wind speed and tidal processes, respectively. Thus, satellite monitoring with high spatiotemporal resolution has great significance for accurately estimating riverine POC flux to estuary.

Research on the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River and Lake’s Hydrological Alterations Based on RVA

On the basis of river-lake relationship analysis, this paper chose the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River where the Poyang Lake locates as the study area. The storage variable of Three Gorges Project was deduced to hydrological stations at the lower reaches. The natural runoff processes of hydrological stations were restored. Then RVA method was applied to analyze the hydrologic alterations of river channels at the hydrological stations before and after reservoir operation. The analysis result indicated that Hankou hydrological station and Datong hydrological station at the lower reaches had medium changes after operation of the Three Gorges Project. The hydrological regimes of Hankou hydrological station, Hukou hydrological station and Datong hydrological station in different periods before and after operation of Three Gorges Project were analyzed, the water exchange between Poyang Lake and the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River was investigated, and the relevant results indicated that the inflow of lower reaches river channel decreased during impoundment of Three Gorges Project, the water level of river channel dropped, and the outflow from the lake increased, which was the major reason behind water deficiency of Poyang Lake area. The recommendation is to optimize the Three Gorges Project’s water storage scheme, so as to improve the river-lake relationship at the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River.

Variation of River Islands around a Large City along the Yangtze River from Satellite Remote Sensing Images.

River islands are sandbars formed by scouring and silting. Their evolution is affected by several factors, among which are runoff and sediment discharge. The spatial-temporal evolution of seven river islands in the Nanjing Section of the Yangtze River of China was examined using TM (Thematic Mapper) and ETM (Enhanced Thematic Mapper)+ images from 1985 to 2015 at five year intervals. The following approaches were applied in this study: the threshold value method, binarization model, image registration, image cropping, convolution and cluster analysis. Annual runoff and sediment discharge data as measured at the Datong hydrological station upstream of Nanjing section were also used to determine the roles and impacts of various factors. The results indicated that: (1) TM/ETM+ images met the criteria of information extraction of river islands; (2) generally, the total area of these islands in this section and their changing rate decreased over time; (3) sediment and river discharge were the most significant factors in island evolution. They directly affect river islands through silting or erosion. Additionally, anthropocentric influences could play increasingly important roles.

Aggravation of north channels' shrinkage and south channels' development in the Yangtze Estuary under dam-induced runoff discharge flattening

Construction of dams on rivers has progressively affected the seasonal variability of runoff discharge, which has consequently produced remarkable impacts on the morphology of estuarine channels. This paper considers four-typical-order bifurcations of the Yangtze Estuary and adopts an ebb partition ratio (defined as the diversion ratio of ebb flow in a given branch divided by the total ebb tidal discharge immediately upstream of the river node where the bifurcation occurs) as a measure of water excavating force in the bifurcation channels. Results show that the seasonal variability of runoff discharge at Datong Hydrological Station (Datong) is flattened, being mainly driven by upstream runoff flattening observed at Yichang Hydrological Station (Yichang) and the tributary rivers. Yearly ebb partition ratios of the channels located to the north and south of the islands present decreasing and increasing trends respectively, and as also do the yearly north and south channel volume of the bifurcations. Yearly ebb partition ratio is proved to be an effective index to represent the water excavating force considering the stability of yearly ebb tidal discharge and its relationship with the channel erosion-deposition. River dams are the driving factors behind the runoff flattening at Datong because of their flattening effects on its main contributors (Yichang and tributary rivers). This flattening significantly helps reduce and enlarge the yearly ebb partition ratios of the north and south channels respectively, and then aggravates the shrinkage and development of the north and south channels separately. Yearly ebb partition ratio of the North Passage (NP) must be enlarged in order for the NP to maintain its function as a shipping channel.

Quantifying the anthropogenic and climatic contributions to changes in water discharge and sediment load into the sea: A case study of the Yangtze River, China

Based on data from the Datong hydrological station and 147 meteorological stations, the influences of climate change and human activities on temporal changes in water discharge and sediment load were examined in the Yangtze River basin from 1953 to 2010. The Mann–Kendall test, abrupt change test (Mann–Kendall and cumulative anomaly test), and Morlet wavelet method were employed to analyze the water discharge and sediment load data measured at the Datong hydrological station. The results indicated that the annual mean precipitation and water discharge exhibited decreasing trends of −0.0064mm/10yr and −1.41×108m3/yr, respectively, and that the water sediment load showed a significant decreasing trend of −46.5×106t/yr. Meanwhile, an abrupt change in the water discharge occurred in 2003. The sediment load also exhibited an abrupt change in 1985. From 1970 to 2010, the climate change and human activities contributed 72% and 28%, respectively, to the water discharge reduction. The human-induced decrease in the sediment load was 914.03×106t/yr during the 1970s and 3301.79×106t/yr during the 2000s. The contribution from human activities also increased from 71% to 92%, especially in the 1990s, when the value increased to 92%. Climate change and human activities contributed 14% and 86%, respectively, to the sediment load reduction. Inter-annual variations in water discharge and sediment load were affected by climate oscillations and human activities. The effect of human activities on the sediment load was considerably greater than those on water discharge in the Yangtze River basin.

Long Term Evolution Characteristics of Runoffs in the Tideway of the Changjiang River

Abstract. Datong hydrological station is the last control station in the Changjiang River mainstream, and its runoffs have great significance on evolution of the tideway and the estuary of the Changjiang River. Therefore, this paper compiled long term series (1950~2010) of daily water discharges at Datong gauging station, and utilized the statistic methods to analyze the long term evolution characteristics of the Datong runoff. The results show that: (1) Inter-annual variability of runoffs was relatively stable, with average fluctuation range below 104m3/s, which may be caused by the location of the river basin and regulation of many large scale lakes; (2) The monthly runoffs have distinctly seasonal variation characteristics, wherein, the runoffs from June to September occupy 51% within a year, and the other months occupy the residual 49%, moreover, the runoff proportion of flood season within 2003~2010 has a slight decline of 2%, compared with that of 1995~2002.

长江大通水文站流量减少及其原因分析

气候变暖不仅引起气候要素变化，也引起径流变化。这些变化还引起环境和社会经济变化，因此，研究气候变化对水文要素的影响对未来水资源规划和管理有重要意义。位于长江最下游的大通水文站，是中国东海的海洋潮汐所能到达的河流的上界，是控制长江流域入海径流的重要水文站。本文运用一元、多元回归分析和M-K方法，对近几十年来长江大通站流量减小现象和原因进行了分析。结果表明，在1951~2011年期间，大通站无论是年平均流量，还是丰、枯水期流量都有明显的减少现象，特别是在1994年以后，气候变暖显著，年流量和丰、枯水期流量减小趋势更加显著。流量减小的原因与气温显著升高、降水量和相对湿度显著减少有很大关系，降水量对流量减小可贡献61.9%，相对湿度可贡献18.6%，气温可贡献13.5%，日照时数可贡献6.0%。在丰、枯水期，气象要素的贡献略有差异。The increase in temperature not only causes changes in many other climate elements but also al-ters the timing and magnitude of runoff. Such changes raise the possibility of environmental and socioeconomic dislocations, and they have important implications for future water resources planning and management. Datong hydrological station, located at downstream of the Yangtze River, is an important station controlling the Yangtze River basin and is the uppermost boundary of ocean tide rising of East China Sea. Its hydrological elements change obviously because of climate warming. In the present paper, simple and multiple regression analysis and M-K method were used to research the variations and trends of flow and meteorological elements of Datong hydrological station. The results showed that there were obvious intra- and inter-annual variations for the annual mean flow during the year of 1951-2011 in Datong station. The annual mean and high water period flow decreased significantly and low water period flow increased slightly. When air temperature rose significantly after 1994, precipitation, wind speed, relative humidity and sunshine duration decreased, and annual mean flow, low and high water period flow also decreased. There was closed relationship between flow and meteorological elements, in which the contributions of precipitation, temperature, relative humidity and sunshine duration to decrease of annual mean flow were about 61.9%, 18.6%, 13.5%, and 6.0%, respectively. There were different contributions of meteorological elements to decrease of high and low water periods flow.

Analysis of the Periodicity of Annual Extreme Runoff at Datong Station, Yangtze River, China

The periodicities of the annual maximum and minimum runoff time series at Datong hydrological station in the Yangtze River（P. R. China）were analyzed, according to the data from 1950 to 1995. The runoff of Datong hydrological station can be used to estimate the water discharges into the sea from the Yangtze River in a certain degree as there is no branch inflow from Datong station to the Yangtze Estuary. Two independent techniques were used in the analysis of time series: the conventional periodogram and the maximum entropy spectral analysis. The results reveal that the periods obtained in the time series at Datong station are related to the rainfall characteristics of the Yangtze River to a great extent. The long periods that are more than 10 years may be related to some climatic factors which are influenced by the solar activities. The short periods that are less than 10 years may be related to some factors which are affected by oceanic tides or human activities. The obtained periods not only reflect the periodicity characteristics of the water discharges into the sea from the Yangtze River, but also provide scientific evidence for the study of evolution of Datong reach of the Yangtze River.

Sr-Nd isotope stratification along water depth: An example from Datong hydrological station of Yangtze River

This study examines the effects of hydrologic sorting and mixing of sources on the Sr-Nd isotopic compositions of suspended sediments at different water depths. The samples were collected from three layers (surface, middle and bottom) at Datong hydrological station of Yangtze River during the flood season of 2010. Our results show that, 87Sr/86Sr values decrease from surface to bottom, ranging from 0.730332 to 0.720857. ɛNd(0) values range from −14.75 to −10.09, with surface sediments being the most negative. The isotope composition at the middle layer can best represent the mean isotopic composition of the total suspended sediments transported by a river. It is believed that the stratification of Sr-Nd isotope is attributable to mixing of sediments from different sources due to hydrological sorting. Sediments from the upper stream are found to be coarser, and tend to contribute more to the lower water column. Although Sr-Nd isotope is a well acknowledged tool to trace sediment provenance, the current study suggests that the grain size of the samples and the sampling locations should be taken into consideration when applying this method to provenance study.

The Changjiang sediment flux into the seas: measurability and predictability

This paper examines the credibility and predictability of sediment flux of the Changjiang River that has discharged into the seas on the basis of historical database. The assumption of the study stands on the lack of sufficient observation data of suspended sediment concentration (SSC) during peaking flood period, which most likely results in the application of an inappropriate method to the downstream-most Datong hydrological gauging station in the Changjiang basin. This insufficient method (only 30–50 times of SSC observation per year), that obviously did not cover the peaking SSC during peaking floods, would lead to an inaccuracy in estimating the Changjiang sediment load by 4.7×108 t/a (multiyearly) into the seas. Also, sediment depletion that often takes place upstream of the Changjiang basin has, to some extent, lowered the credibility of traditional sediment rating curve that has been used for estimating sediment budget. A newly-established sediment rating curve of the present study is proposed to simulate the sediment flux/load into the seas by using those SSC only under discharge of 60000 m3/s at the Datong station-the threshold to significantly correlate to SSC. Since discharge of 60000–80000 m3/s is often linked to extreme flood events and associated sediment depletion in the basin, unincorporating SSC of 60000–80000 m3/s into the sediment rating curve will increase the credibility for sediment load estimation. Using this approach of the present study would indicate the sediment load of 3.3×108–6.6×108 t/a to the seas in the past decades. Also, our analytical result shows a lower sediment flux pattern in the 1950 s, but higher pattern in the 1960 s–1980 s, reflecting the changes in landuse in the upstream of Changjiang basin, including widely devastated deforestation during the middle 20th century.

A decade of variation of COD in the Changjiang River (Yangtze River) and its variation trend analysis

The average annual value of COD (chemical oxygen demand) fluxes of the Changjiang River (Yangtze River) and its main tributaries in the past decade (i.e., 1991–2000), has been evaluated. Based on the data from the Datong Hydrological Station (DHS), it was found that the Dongting Lake drainage basin contributed the greatest water discharge (35.8%) and COD flux (48.3%) among the main tributary drainage basins, followed by the Poyang Lake drainage basin with the contributions of 15.4% and 19.3%, respectively. By the end of the year of 2000, COD flux in the Changjiang River rose by almost 45% relative to that in the year of 1991, reaching about 1941000 ton/a at DHS. Statistical analysis revealed that industrial wastewater discharge, as well as COD in it, was found decreasing in the same period, due to the gradual reinforcement of environmental management. Moreover, correlation analysis indicated that non-point pollution from agriculture and increasing discharge of domestic sewages caused by rapid growth of population along the Changjiang River drainage valley should be responsible for the high COD. Furthermore, with the current trend of population growth and agricultural development in this basin, water quality of the Changjiang River, in terms of COD level, is going to deteriorate in the near future. Thus, the rational applications of fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture and the proper treatment of domestic sewages before they are discharged would be the most concerned controlling parameters.

Long-term variations in dissolved silicate, nitrogen, and phosphorus flux from the Yangtze River into the East China Sea and impacts on estuarine ecosystem

Variations of dissolved silicate (DSi) flux in the Yangtze River have caused great concern among scientists. Analysis of spatial and temporal variations of DSi indicates that the distribution of DSi concentration (DSiC) is closely related to the occurrence of bedrocks in the river cathchment. On average, the upper Yangtze River and Dongting and Poyang Lake of the middle Yangtze basin serve as the major DSi sinks, retaining 3.39 × 10 4 t y −1, 5.59 × 10 4 and 2.51 × 10 4 t y −1. The middle and low Yangtze River remains DSi sources, emitting 2.85 × 10 4 and 2.48 × 10 4 t y −1, respectively. Geochemical data at Datong hydrological station recorded the flux of nutrients entering into the sea during the flood season, i.e. 74% for DSi, 73% for DIN (Dissolved Inorganic Nitrate) and 68% DIP (Dissolved Inorganic Phosphate). The yearly DSiC and flux show a sharp decrease since 1950s. The mean DSiC was 109.47, 91.09, and 77.56 μmol l −1 in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, respectively. The mean DSi fluxes for the same time period were 2.72, 2.23, and 2.13 × 10 6 t. A PP (primary productivity) model estimates 3.14 × 10 5 t of DSi (13.08% of the annual mean flux entering into the sea) was fixated within the 162 reservoirs in 2002. On the other hand, DIN and DIP concentration and flux have increased greatly since the 1950s. Fertilizer application peaked after the 1980s can interpret these high DIN and DIP. A sharply decreasing DSi flux and quickly increasing DIN and DIP fluxes into the sea have enhanced eutrophication and caused frequent harmful algal blooms in coastal waters. On average, red-tide frequency was from 0.04 during 1933–1979 to 7.0 during 2000–2002. The Skeletonema costatum (siliceous alga), the red-tide-predominant species that is in positive proportion to DSi flux, decreased from 33% during the 1980s to 24% during 2000–2002. The present data evidence the increase of Prorocentrum dentatum (non-siliceous alga) from 12.5% in the 1980s to 36% in 2000–2002, which tends to be dominant species of the red tides off the Yangtze estuary. The number of big dams in the Yangtze River basin will double in the next 30–50 years. This will significantly influence the variations of nutrient fluxes in the river basin and estuary, in relation to health management of river-coast ecosystem.

The composition and bioavailability of phosphorus transport through the Changjiang (Yangtze) River during the 1998 flood

Water and suspended sediment (SS) samples were collected from the Changjiang River at the Datong Hydrological Station (DHS), five times from May 1997 through January 1999 in order to evaluate transport, composition and bioavailability of phosphorus (P) during a 1998 flood. Transport of most of the phosphorus compositions was substantially higher during the 1998 flood than at other sampling dates. Phosphorus associated with suspended sediment (TPP) accounted for more than 85% of total phosphorus (TP) transport during periods of preflood and flood. The high transport of TPP during the flood was due to unusually high concentrations of TPP and sediment discharge. The potentially bioavailable phosphorus in SS (PBAP) accounted for about 10% of TPP. PBAP with dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) consisted of 15–89% of TP. For all the sampling dates, the concentrations of potential bioavailable phosphorus (BAP) ranged from 0.035–0.08 mg L−1, significantly higher than the limiting concentration for eutrophication. Therefore, the increasing temporal trends of TP concentration and high bioavailability of TP appear to support more frequent algal blooms in receiving East China Sea coastal waters in recent years. Hence, the underestimate of TPP transport by large rivers may also underestimate the biogeochemical cycling of other associated nutrients, such as nitrogen and carbon.