Articles | Volume 18, issue 18
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-5247-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-5247-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Long-term spatiotemporal variations in and expansion of low-oxygen conditions in the Pearl River estuary: a study synthesizing observations during 1976–2017
Jiatang Hu
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Guangzhou, 510275, China
Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, 519000, China
Zhongren Zhang
School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
Department of Oceanography, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4R2, Canada
Jia Huang
Zhongshan Research Institute of Environmental Protection Science Corporation Limited, Zhongshan, 528400, China
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34 citations as recorded by crossref.
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Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 17 Jun 2026
Short summary
In situ observations over 42 years were used to explore the long-term changes to low-oxygen conditions in the Pearl River estuary. Apparent expansion of the low-oxygen conditions in summer was identified, primarily due to the combined effects of increased anthropogenic inputs and decreased sediment load. Large areas of severe low-oxygen events were also observed in early autumn and were formed by distinct mechanisms. The estuary seems to be growing into a seasonal, estuary-wide hypoxic zone.
In situ observations over 42 years were used to explore the long-term changes to low-oxygen...
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