The evolution and morphodynamic characteristics of shoals and troughs in Lingdingyang Bay of the Pearl River Estuary
Shoals and troughs are the fundamental geomorphological units of estuarine systems. However, their definition and morphodynamic characteristics, influenced by the complex dynamic environment, remain a critical challenge. This work introduces a depth–area spatial function as a quantitative criterion...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Marine Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2025.1525805/full |
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| author | Linxi Fu Linxi Fu Yuhang Zhong Yuhang Zhong Ping Zhang Ping Zhang Lixia Niu Lixia Niu Xiaohe Zhang Xiaohe Zhang Jianliang Lin Jianliang Lin Huayang Cai Huayang Cai Qingshu Yang Qingshu Yang |
| author_facet | Linxi Fu Linxi Fu Yuhang Zhong Yuhang Zhong Ping Zhang Ping Zhang Lixia Niu Lixia Niu Xiaohe Zhang Xiaohe Zhang Jianliang Lin Jianliang Lin Huayang Cai Huayang Cai Qingshu Yang Qingshu Yang |
| author_sort | Linxi Fu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Shoals and troughs are the fundamental geomorphological units of estuarine systems. However, their definition and morphodynamic characteristics, influenced by the complex dynamic environment, remain a critical challenge. This work introduces a depth–area spatial function as a quantitative criterion for the definition of shoals and troughs, while simultaneously elucidating their geodynamic implications. The Lingdingyang Bay (LDB) of the Pearl River Estuary serves as a case study. From 1901 to 2018, the LDB consisted of the West Shoal, Middle Shoal, and East Shoal and the West Trough and East Trough. The threshold depth of the LDB shifted from −5.75 m in 1901 to −4.75 m between 1964 and 2018. The depth–area distribution curve of the LDB exhibits two dominant peak depths (approximately 0 m and −2 m) within the shoal stable state, which categorizes shallow areas into high, medium and low tidal flats. The shoal–trough area ratio in the LDB, relative to the threshold depths, increased from 1901 to 1998, followed by a decline between 2008 and 2018, and culminated in a restoration to the level seen in 1901 (65% shoals and 35% troughs). Regional variations in dominant forces influencing shoal formation and evolution were observed by the vertical classification of the shoal state. The West Shoal is river dominated, the East Shoal is tide dominated, and the Middle Shoal reflects an interaction between riverine inflows and tides. Stabilized curves observed between 2008 and 2018 indicate that this estuary is progressively achieving new equilibrium states. The depth–area spatial function is useful for identifying shoals and troughs within various estuaries, which also provides a geomorphological framework for understanding the estuarine evolution and sediment dynamics. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8cc3616a0f334774a3e95f0cea7b6bb2 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2296-7745 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-8cc3616a0f334774a3e95f0cea7b6bb22025-01-24T05:21:20ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Marine Science2296-77452025-01-011210.3389/fmars.2025.15258051525805The evolution and morphodynamic characteristics of shoals and troughs in Lingdingyang Bay of the Pearl River EstuaryLinxi Fu0Linxi Fu1Yuhang Zhong2Yuhang Zhong3Ping Zhang4Ping Zhang5Lixia Niu6Lixia Niu7Xiaohe Zhang8Xiaohe Zhang9Jianliang Lin10Jianliang Lin11Huayang Cai12Huayang Cai13Qingshu Yang14Qingshu Yang15School of Ocean Engineering and Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou/Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhuhai, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Coasts, Islands and Reefs, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, ChinaSchool of Ocean Engineering and Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou/Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhuhai, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Coasts, Islands and Reefs, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, ChinaSchool of Ocean Engineering and Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou/Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhuhai, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Coasts, Islands and Reefs, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, ChinaSchool of Ocean Engineering and Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou/Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhuhai, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Coasts, Islands and Reefs, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, ChinaSchool of Ocean Engineering and Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou/Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhuhai, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Coasts, Islands and Reefs, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, ChinaSchool of Ocean Engineering and Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou/Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhuhai, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Coasts, Islands and Reefs, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, ChinaSchool of Ocean Engineering and Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou/Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhuhai, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Coasts, Islands and Reefs, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, ChinaSchool of Ocean Engineering and Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou/Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhuhai, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Coasts, Islands and Reefs, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, ChinaShoals and troughs are the fundamental geomorphological units of estuarine systems. However, their definition and morphodynamic characteristics, influenced by the complex dynamic environment, remain a critical challenge. This work introduces a depth–area spatial function as a quantitative criterion for the definition of shoals and troughs, while simultaneously elucidating their geodynamic implications. The Lingdingyang Bay (LDB) of the Pearl River Estuary serves as a case study. From 1901 to 2018, the LDB consisted of the West Shoal, Middle Shoal, and East Shoal and the West Trough and East Trough. The threshold depth of the LDB shifted from −5.75 m in 1901 to −4.75 m between 1964 and 2018. The depth–area distribution curve of the LDB exhibits two dominant peak depths (approximately 0 m and −2 m) within the shoal stable state, which categorizes shallow areas into high, medium and low tidal flats. The shoal–trough area ratio in the LDB, relative to the threshold depths, increased from 1901 to 1998, followed by a decline between 2008 and 2018, and culminated in a restoration to the level seen in 1901 (65% shoals and 35% troughs). Regional variations in dominant forces influencing shoal formation and evolution were observed by the vertical classification of the shoal state. The West Shoal is river dominated, the East Shoal is tide dominated, and the Middle Shoal reflects an interaction between riverine inflows and tides. Stabilized curves observed between 2008 and 2018 indicate that this estuary is progressively achieving new equilibrium states. The depth–area spatial function is useful for identifying shoals and troughs within various estuaries, which also provides a geomorphological framework for understanding the estuarine evolution and sediment dynamics.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2025.1525805/fullshoal-trough divisionestuarine bayhuman activitiesevolutionLingdingyang |
| spellingShingle | Linxi Fu Linxi Fu Yuhang Zhong Yuhang Zhong Ping Zhang Ping Zhang Lixia Niu Lixia Niu Xiaohe Zhang Xiaohe Zhang Jianliang Lin Jianliang Lin Huayang Cai Huayang Cai Qingshu Yang Qingshu Yang The evolution and morphodynamic characteristics of shoals and troughs in Lingdingyang Bay of the Pearl River Estuary Frontiers in Marine Science shoal-trough division estuarine bay human activities evolution Lingdingyang |
| title | The evolution and morphodynamic characteristics of shoals and troughs in Lingdingyang Bay of the Pearl River Estuary |
| title_full | The evolution and morphodynamic characteristics of shoals and troughs in Lingdingyang Bay of the Pearl River Estuary |
| title_fullStr | The evolution and morphodynamic characteristics of shoals and troughs in Lingdingyang Bay of the Pearl River Estuary |
| title_full_unstemmed | The evolution and morphodynamic characteristics of shoals and troughs in Lingdingyang Bay of the Pearl River Estuary |
| title_short | The evolution and morphodynamic characteristics of shoals and troughs in Lingdingyang Bay of the Pearl River Estuary |
| title_sort | evolution and morphodynamic characteristics of shoals and troughs in lingdingyang bay of the pearl river estuary |
| topic | shoal-trough division estuarine bay human activities evolution Lingdingyang |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2025.1525805/full |
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