Seasonal variations in the nitrogen isotopic composition of dissolved nitrate （δ15NO3） were investigated in the surface waters of the Changjiang River estuary in 2009 and 2010. δ15NO3 varied between -4.6‰ and 8.9%0 with changes in temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen concentrations, and the composition of the dissolved inorganic nitrogen pool. In February, biological processes decreased because of low temperature, and the mean δ15NO3 near the river mouth was 2.4%0. In May, δ15NO3 was the highest in the surface waters among all seasons. Analysis on the conservative mixing revealed assimilation, and this finding is supported by positive relationship between Chl a and δ15NO3. The fractionation factor of assimilation was estimated to be 2.0‰ by the Rayleigh equation. Nitrification was supported based on the mixing behaviors in November 2010 and the low δ15NO3 values in May and November 2009. The high ammonium concentrations in the adjacent marine area and positive relationships between total organic nitrogen and δ15NO3 in November 2010 indicated that mineralization was taking place.
To solve nutrient flux and budget among waters with distinct salinity difference for water-salt- nutrient budget, a traditional method is to build a stoichiometrically linked steady state model. However, the traditional way cannot cope appropriately with those without distinct salinity difference that parallel to coastline or in a complex current system, as the results would be highly affected by box division in time and space, such as the Changjiang （Yangtze） River estuary （CRE） and adjacent waters （30.75°-31.75°N, 122°10′-123°20′E）. Therefore, we developed a hydrodynamic box model based on the traditional way and the regional oceanic modeling system model （ROMS）. Using data from four cruises in 2005, horizontal, vertical and boundary nutrient fluxes were calculated in the hydrodynamic box model, in which flux fields and the major controlling factors were studied. Results show that the nutrient flux varied greatly in season and space. Water flux outweighs the nutrient concentration in horizontal flux, and upwelling flux outweighs upward diffusion flux in vertical direction （upwelling flux and upward diffusion flux regions overlap largely all the year）. Vertical flux in spring and summer are much greater than that in autumn and winter. The maximum vertical flux for DIP （dissolved inorganic phosphate） occurs in summer. Additional to the fluxes of the ChanNiang River discharge, coastal currents, the Taiwan Warm Current, and the upwelling, nutrient flux inflow from the southern Yellow Sea and outflow southward are found crucial to nutrient budgets of the study area. Horizontal nutrient flux is controlled by physical dilution and confined to coastal waters with a little into the open seas. The study area acts as a conveyer transferring nutrients from the Yellow Sea to the East China Sea in the whole year. In addition, vertical nutrient flux in spring and summer is a main source of DIP. Therefore, the hydrodynamic ROMS-based box model is superior to the traditional one in estimating nut
In this study, we conducted investigations in the Changjiang （Yangtze） River estuary and adjacent waters （CREAW） in June and November of 2014. We collected water samples from different depths to analyze the nitrogen isotopic compositions of nitrate, nutrient concentrations （including inorganic N, P, and Si）, and other physical and biological parameters, along with the vertical distribution and seasonal variations of these parameters. The compositions of nitrogen isotope in nitrate were measured with the denitrifier method. Results show that the Changjiang River diluted water （CDW） was the main factor affecting the shallow waters （above 10 m） of the CREAW, and CDW tended to influence the northern areas in June and the southern areas in November. 615Nrqo~ values in CDW ranged from 3.21%o-3.55%o. In contrast, the deep waters （below 30 m） were affected by the subsurface water of the Kuroshio Current, which intruded into the waters near 3 I^N in June. The ~iI^NNo3 values of these waters were 6.03%0-7.6%0, slightly higher than the values of the Kuroshio Current. Nitrate assimilation by phytoplankton in the shallow waters of the study area varied seasonally. Because of the favorable temperature and nutrient conditions in June, abundant phytoplankton growth resulted in harmful algae blooms （HABs）. Therefore, nitrate assimilation was strong in June and weak in November. The ~15NNo3 fractionations caused by assimilation of phytoplankton were 4.57%0 and 4.41%o in the shallow waters in June and November, respectively. These results are consistent with previous laboratory cultures and in situ investigations. Nitrification processes were observed in some deep waters of the study area, and they were more apparent in November than in June. The fractionation values of nitrification ranged from 24%0-25%o, which agrees with results for Nitrosospira tenuis reported by previous studies.
