Physical drivers of bio-optical properties in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area during the winter dry season
Understanding the variability of bio-optical properties in coastal seas is essential to assessing the impact of natural and anthropogenic activities on the quality of the coastal environments and their resources. This study investigated the vertical distribution of bio-optical properties and their p...
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| Language: | English |
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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.2024.1523111/full |
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| author | Wenlong Xu Shuibo Hu Alex Hayward Zuomin Wang Shuaiwei Liu |
| author_facet | Wenlong Xu Shuibo Hu Alex Hayward Zuomin Wang Shuaiwei Liu |
| author_sort | Wenlong Xu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Understanding the variability of bio-optical properties in coastal seas is essential to assessing the impact of natural and anthropogenic activities on the quality of the coastal environments and their resources. This study investigated the vertical distribution of bio-optical properties and their potential driving forces in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) using a bio-optical dataset collected during the winter dry season. The hydrographic and biogeochemical properties observed across the GBA exhibited significant spatial variability, allowing the classification of the waters into three distinct regions: estuarine diluted water (EDW), Guangdong coastal current water (GCCW), and dense shelf water (DSW). Our findings show that EDW exhibited beam attenuation and optical backscatter coefficients an order of magnitude greater compared to the other two regions, which was attributed to factors such as higher concentrations of suspended particulate matter and organic material from estuarine sources. In contrast, the GCCW was characterized by lower salinity, temperature, and suspended particulate matter and displayed reduced turbidity near the coast, whereas nutrient-rich GCCW waters transported to the mid-shelf region supported increased phytoplankton biomass and a greater abundance of micro-phytoplankton. By exploring the bio-optical characteristics and their underlying processes in the GBA, this study enhances our understanding of the complex dynamics shaping the optical properties of coastal waters in this heavily urbanized region. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d43313712857459e8874a31a00ffa826 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2296-7745 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-d43313712857459e8874a31a00ffa8262025-01-22T05:19:50ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Marine Science2296-77452025-01-011110.3389/fmars.2024.15231111523111Physical drivers of bio-optical properties in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area during the winter dry seasonWenlong Xu0Shuibo Hu1Alex Hayward2Zuomin Wang3Shuaiwei Liu4Ocean College, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, ChinaShenzhen Institute for Advanced Study, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Shenzhen, ChinaNational Centre for Climate Research (NCKF), Danish Meteorological Institute, Copenhagen, DenmarkNavigation College, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian, ChinaShenzhen Key Laboratory of Spatial Smart Sensing and Services, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, ChinaUnderstanding the variability of bio-optical properties in coastal seas is essential to assessing the impact of natural and anthropogenic activities on the quality of the coastal environments and their resources. This study investigated the vertical distribution of bio-optical properties and their potential driving forces in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) using a bio-optical dataset collected during the winter dry season. The hydrographic and biogeochemical properties observed across the GBA exhibited significant spatial variability, allowing the classification of the waters into three distinct regions: estuarine diluted water (EDW), Guangdong coastal current water (GCCW), and dense shelf water (DSW). Our findings show that EDW exhibited beam attenuation and optical backscatter coefficients an order of magnitude greater compared to the other two regions, which was attributed to factors such as higher concentrations of suspended particulate matter and organic material from estuarine sources. In contrast, the GCCW was characterized by lower salinity, temperature, and suspended particulate matter and displayed reduced turbidity near the coast, whereas nutrient-rich GCCW waters transported to the mid-shelf region supported increased phytoplankton biomass and a greater abundance of micro-phytoplankton. By exploring the bio-optical characteristics and their underlying processes in the GBA, this study enhances our understanding of the complex dynamics shaping the optical properties of coastal waters in this heavily urbanized region.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2024.1523111/fullbio-optical propertiesGuangdong coastal currentPearl River EstuaryGuangdong-Hong Kong-Macao greater bay area (GBA)phytoplankton |
| spellingShingle | Wenlong Xu Shuibo Hu Alex Hayward Zuomin Wang Shuaiwei Liu Physical drivers of bio-optical properties in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area during the winter dry season Frontiers in Marine Science bio-optical properties Guangdong coastal current Pearl River Estuary Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao greater bay area (GBA) phytoplankton |
| title | Physical drivers of bio-optical properties in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area during the winter dry season |
| title_full | Physical drivers of bio-optical properties in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area during the winter dry season |
| title_fullStr | Physical drivers of bio-optical properties in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area during the winter dry season |
| title_full_unstemmed | Physical drivers of bio-optical properties in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area during the winter dry season |
| title_short | Physical drivers of bio-optical properties in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area during the winter dry season |
| title_sort | physical drivers of bio optical properties in the guangdong hong kong macao greater bay area during the winter dry season |
| topic | bio-optical properties Guangdong coastal current Pearl River Estuary Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao greater bay area (GBA) phytoplankton |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2024.1523111/full |
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