Hydrodynamics in the Yellow River Estuary via radium isotopes: Ecological perspectives

We used radium isotopes as tracers to characterize coastal hydrodynamics and submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) in the Yellow River Estuary in order to assess the ecological effects in one of the most turbid estuaries in the world. Based on apparent water ages calculated by 224Ra/223Ra activity ratios, we found that the river plume flowed mainly southeast at a flow rate of 5–7kmd−1, while a small portion of the river plume was diverted northeast to the central Bohai Sea at a flow rate of less than 2kmd−1. We estimate that with this flow regime, nutrients would be consumed within about two weeks mostly by microplankton and nanoplankton near shore, and picoplankton further offshore to support an average primary production of 0.14gCm−2d−1. We then used a 226Ra mass balance model to quantify the SGD flux in the study area. The estimated SGD flux was 1.3×109m3d−1 with a range of 2.8×108–3.0×109m3d−1. Even the minimum SGD value was about 3 times higher than the Yellow River discharge at that time. The SGD input of dissolved nutrients was shown to be very important to the estuarine nutrient budget, at least 5 times higher than river input. Sediment regeneration of nutrients proved to be very small relative to the SGD flux in this region. •Hydrodynamics and SGD were determined.•Ecological influence of water flushing was assessed.•Nutrient budget was valued.