Abstract
Knowledge of tempo-spatial dynamics of water quality and its response to river flow is important for the management of lake water quality because river discharge associated with rainstorms can be an important source of pollutants to the estuary. Total phosphorus (TP), chlorophyll a (Chl-a), and total suspended matter (TSM) are important indexes of water quality and important factors influencing eutrophication and algal blooms. In this study, remote sensing was used to monitor these indexes to investigate the effects of river discharge on the estuary of Taihu Lake by the largest inflow river which is Chendong River using a total of 136 Geostationary Ocean Color Images (GOCI). In situ datasets collected during the four cruise experiments on Taihu Lake between 2011 and 2015 were used to develop the TP, Chl-a, and TSM inversion models based on simple empirical algorithms: 154 points for TP (mg/L), 114 for Chl-a (μg/L), and 181 for TSM (mg/L). The spatial and temporal changes of the concentration of the three parameters in the Chendong River estuary were analyzed by combining the GOCI data, the flow of the Chendong River, and meteorological data throughout the year in 2014. The several key findings are as follows: (1) In summer and autumn, TP, Chl-a, and TSM contents were significantly higher than in winter and spring. TP and Chl-a have a few similar distribution characteristics. And organic suspended matter in summer was the main reason for the increase of the TSM concentration. (2) The severe surface erosion in the rivers cannot be ignored; the high erodibility is an important factor in the increase of TP and TSM concentrations in the estuary. The concentration of the water quality parameter showed exponential decay with distance from the shore. The concentration decreased slowly after 12 km and then remained essentially constant. (3) TP content in the Chendong River estuary decreased under steady flow inputs and dramatically increased when the flow became large. The increase in Chl-a content was linked to higher levels of TP and good weather conditions after the rain event. Higher flow rates mainly play a dilution role for the Chl-a concentration. Erosion of the surface soil via rainfall is a major source of TSM to the estuary. This paper firstly analyzes tempo-spatial dynamics of water quality and its response to river flow in estuary of Taihu Lake, helps to further understand the impact of river input on lake water quality, and is important for lake eutrophication.
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.References
Ahn JH, Park YJ, Ryu JH, Lee B, Oh IS (2012) Development of atmospheric correction algorithm for Geostationary Ocean Color Imager (GOCI). Ocean Sci J 47:247–259
Alliksaar T, Heinsalu A, Saarse L, Salujõe J, Veski S (2005) A 700-year decadal scale record of lake response to catchment land use from annually laminated lake sediments in southern Estonia. Int Vereinigung fur Theoretische und Angewandte Limnologie Verhandlungen 29:457–460
Bowes M, Jarvie H, Halliday S, Skeffington R, Wade A, Loewenthal M, Gozzard E, Newman J, Palmer-Felgate E (2015) Characterising phosphorus and nitrate inputs to a rural river using high-frequency concentration-flow relationships. Sci Total Environ 511:608–620
Carpenter SR, Caraco NF, Correll DL, Howarth RW, Sharpley AN, Smith VH (1998) Nonpoint pollution of surface waters with phosphorus and nitrogen. Ecol Appl 8:559–568
Cerro I, Sanchez-Perez JM, Ruiz-Romera E, Antigüedad I (2014) Variability of particulate (SS, POC) and dissolved (DOC, NO3) matter during storm events in the Alegria agricultural watershed. Hydrol Process 28:2855–2867
Chang NB, Xuan ZM (2013) Monitoring nutrient concentrations in Tampa Bay with MODIS images and machine learning models. Ieee Int C Netw Sens:702–707
Chen S, Huang W, Chen W, Wang H (2011) Remote sensing analysis of rainstorm effects on sediment concentrations in Apalachicola Bay, USA. Ecol Inform 6:147–155
Chen Y, Fan C, Teubner K, Dokulil M (2003) Changes of nutrients and phytoplankton chlorophyll-a in a large shallow lake, Taihu, China: an 8-year investigation. Hydrobiologia 506:273–279
Chen Y (2006) Discussion on possible error for phytoplankton chlorophyll-a concentration analysis using hot-ethanol extraction method. J Lake Sci 18:550–552
Cheng-Gong DU, Yun-Mei LI, Wang Q, Zhu L, Heng L (2016) Inversion Model and Daily Variation of Total Phosphorus Concentrations in Taihu Lake Based on GOCI Data. Environ Sci 37(3):862–872
Edmondson WT, Anderson G, Peterson DR (1956) Artificial eutrophication of Lake Washington. Limnol Oceanogr 1:47–53
Guildford SJ, Hecky RE (2000) Total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and nutrient limitation in lakes and oceans: is there a common relationship? Limnol Oceanography 45:1213–1223
Hasler AD (1947) Eutrophication of lakes by domestic drainage. Ecology 28:383–395
Hays OE (1932): The effect of slope and rate of rainfall on runoff and soil erosion
Hu C, Lee Z, Ma R, Yu K, Li D, Shang S (2010) Moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) observations of cyanobacteria blooms in Taihu Lake. Chin J Geophys Res 115
Huang C, Guo Y, Yang H, Li Y, Zou J, Zhang M, Lyu H, Zhu A, Huang T (2015a) Using remote sensing to track variation in phosphorus and its interaction with chlorophyll-a and suspended sediment. Ieee J-Stars 8:4171–4180
Huang C, Yang H, Zhu AX, Zhang M, Lü H, Huang T, Zou J, Li Y (2015b) Evaluation of the geostationary ocean color imager (GOCI) to monitor the dynamic characteristics of suspension sediment in Taihu Lake. Int J Remote Sens 36:3859–3874
Iluz D, Yacobi YZ, Gitelson A (2003) Adaptation of an algorithm for chlorophyll-a estimation by optical data in the oligotrophic Gulf of Eilat. Int J Remote Sens 24:1157–1163
Kanoshina I, Lips U, Leppänen J-M (2003) The influence of weather conditions (temperature and wind) on cyanobacterial bloom development in the Gulf of Finland (Baltic Sea). Harmful Algae 2:29–41
Le C, Zha Y, Li Y, Sun D, Lu H, Yin B (2010) Eutrophication of lake waters in China: cost, causes, and control. Environ Manag 45:662–668
Li L, Shan B, Yin C (2012) Stormwater runoff pollution loads from an urban catchment with rainy climate in China. Front Env Sci Eng 6:672–677
Liu JM, Zhang YJ, Yuan D, Song XY (2015) Empirical estimation of total nitrogen and total phosphorus concentration of urban water bodies in China using high resolution IKONOS multispectral imagery. Water-Sui 7:6551–6573
Liu W, Qiu R (2007) Water eutrophication in China and the combating strategies. J Chem Technol Biot 82:781–786
Lloyd C, Freer J, Johnes P, Collins A (2016a) Technical note: testing an improved index for analysing storm discharge–concentration hysteresis. Hydrol Earth Syst Sc 20:625–632
Lloyd CE, Freer JE, Johnes PJ, Collins AL (2016b) Using hysteresis analysis of high-resolution water quality monitoring data, including uncertainty, to infer controls on nutrient and sediment transfer in catchments. Sci Total Environ 543:388–404
Lorenzen CJ (1967) Determination of chlorophyll and pheo-pigments: spectrophotometric equations. Limnol Oceanogr 12:343–346
Ma W, Xing Q, Chen C, Zhang Y, Yu D, Shi P (2011) Using the normalized peak area of remote sensing reflectance in the near-infrared region to estimate total suspended matter. Int J Remote Sens 32:7479–7486
Meade RH (1982) Sources, sinks, and storage of river sediment in the Atlantic drainage of the United States. J Geol 90(3):235–252
Nixon SW (1995) Coastal marine eutrophication: a definition, social causes, and future concerns. Ophelia 41:199–219
Osborne PD, Greenwood B (2010) Sediment suspension under waves and currents: time scales and vertical structure. Sedimentology 40:599–622
Paerl HW, Xu H, McCarthy MJ, Zhu G, Qin B, Li Y, Gardner WS (2011) Controlling harmful cyanobacterial blooms in a hyper-eutrophic lake (Lake Taihu, China): the need for a dual nutrient (N & P) management strategy. Water Res 45:1973–1983
Qin B (2002) Approaches to mechanisms and control of eutrophication of shallow lakes in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangze River. J Lake Sci 14:193–202
Qin B, Xu P, Wu Q, Luo L, Zhang Y (2007) Environmental issues of Lake Taihu, China. Hydrobiologia 581:3–14
Qin B, Gao G, Zhu G, Zhang Y, Song Y, Tang X, Xu H, Deng J (2012) Lake eutrophication and its ecosystem response. Chin Sci Bull 58:961–970
Rao YR, Schwab DJ (2007) Transport and mixing between the coastal and offshore waters in the great lakes: a review. J Great Lakes Res 33:202–218
Rodríguez-Blanco M, Taboada-Castro M, Taboada-Castro M (2013) Phosphorus transport into a stream draining from a mixed land use catchment in Galicia (NW Spain): significance of runoff events. J Hydrol 481:12–21
Roy ED, Nguyen NT, Bargu S, White JR (2011) Internal loading of phosphorus from sediments of Lake Pontchartrain (Louisiana, USA) with implications for eutrophication. Hydrobiologia 684:69–82
Ryu J-H, Han H-J, Cho S, Park Y-J, Ahn Y-H (2012) Overview of geostationary ocean color imager (GOCI) and GOCI data processing system (GDPS). Ocean Sci J 47:223–233
Sharpley AN, Chapra S, Wedepohl R, Sims J, Daniel TC, Reddy K (1994) Managing agricultural phosphorus for protection of surface waters: issues and options. J Environ Qual 23:437–451
Shen JY, Gan SW, Chen R, Gao Y, Qian L (2011) Analysis of influencing factors of inflow andoutflow around Taihu Lake and countermeasures. J Water Resour Prot 27(6):48–52
Smol JP (2009) Pollution of lakes and rivers: a paleoenvironmental perspective. John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken
Solorzano L, Sharp JH (1980) Determination of total dissolved phosphorus and particulate phosphorus in natural waters. Limnol Oceanogr 25:754–758
Song KS, Li L, Tedesco L, Li S, Shi K, Hall B (2014) Remote estimation of nutrients for a drinking water source through adaptive modeling. Water Resour Manag 28:2563–2581
Sun D, Hu C, Qiu Z, Cannizzaro JP, Barnes BB (2014a) Influence of a red band-based water classification approach on chlorophyll algorithms for optically complex estuaries. Remote Sens Environ 155:289–302
Sun D, Qiu Z, Li Y, Shi K, Gong S (2014b) Detection of total phosphorus concentrations of turbid inland waters using a remote sensing method. Water Air Soil Pollut 225:1953
Sun D, Hu C, Qiu Z, Shi K (2015) Estimating phycocyanin pigment concentration in productive inland waters using Landsat measurements: a case study in Lake Dianchi. Opt Express 23:3055–3074
Sun DY, Li YM, Wang Q, Lv H, Le CF, Huang CC, Gong SQ (2010) Detection of suspended-matter concentrations in the shallow subtropical Lake Taihu, China, using the SVR model based on DSFs. IEEE Geosci Remote Sens Lett 7:816–820
Waal LCD, Child LE, Wade PM, Brock JH (1994) Ecology and management of invasive riverside plants. Clin Exp Allergy 167
Wang CL, Zhang Y, Zhang NH, Qian X, Kong FX (2011a) Analysis of Meteorological Factors of Forming Feculent and Anaerobic Water Aggregation Induced by Algal Bloom in Taihu Lake. Environ Sci 2: 016
Wang M, Shi W, Tang J (2011b) Water property monitoring and assessment for China’s inland Lake Taihu from MODIS-Aqua measurements. Remote Sens Environ 115:841–854
Wang Q, Jiang X, Jin X, Xu Y (2006) Distribution of phosphorus fractions and bio-available phosphorus forms and their relationship in the sediments from different regions of Lake Taihu. J Lake Sci 18:120–126
Weihong S, Wei C, Yunxia C, Yang L, Chunhui B (2009) Overall Treatment of Water Environment for Inflow Rivers of Taihu Lake [J]. Chin Resour Compr Util 11:029
Williams GP (1989) Sediment concentration versus water discharge during single hydrologic events in rivers. J Hydrol 111:89–106
Xi Y, Xia W, Lixia P, Hongmei G, Rong D, Weiwei Z (2011) The current eutrophic state and the pollution of microcystin-LR in Dianshan Lake District. J Environ Hyg 1:5–10
Xu H, Paerl HW, Qin B, Zhu G, Hall NS, Wu Y (2015) Determining critical nutrient thresholds needed to control harmful cyanobacterial blooms in eutrophic Lake Taihu, China. Environ Sci Technol 49:1051–1059
Zhang Y, Shi K, Liu X, Zhou Y, Qin B (2014) Lake topography and wind waves determining seasonal-spatial dynamics of total suspended matter in turbid Lake Taihu, China: assessment using long-term high-resolution MERIS data. PLoS One 9:e98055
Zhang Y, Shi K, Zhou Y, Liu X, Qin B (2016) Monitoring the river plume induced by heavy rainfall events in large, shallow, Lake Taihu using MODIS 250m imagery. Remote Sens Environ 173:109–121
Zheng Z, Li Y, Guo Y, Xu Y, Liu G, Du C (2015) Landsat-based long-term monitoring of total suspended matter concentration pattern change in the wet season for Dongting Lake, China. Remote Sens-Basel 7:13975–13999
Zhou J, Zhou F, Jiang XN, Shi-Qiang WU, Xiu-Feng WU (2010) 3D numerical simulation of wind-driven flows and cohesive sediment transport in Taihu Lake. J Hohai Univ 38:489–494
Zhu W, Tian YQ, Yu Q, Becker BL (2013) Using Hyperion imagery to monitor the spatial and temporal distribution of colored dissolved organic matter in estuarine and coastal regions. Remote Sens Environ 134:342–354
Acknowledgements
This research was financially supported by the Nantional Key R&D Program of China [2017YFB0503902], the National Natural Science Foundation of China [41671340], [41501374], [41571324] and [41701412], the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangxi Province [20171BAB213024] and the Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China [LQ16D010001]. We thank the KOSC for providing the GOCI data, as well as the Jiangsu Environmental Monitoring for providing the automatic monitoring data. The authors would like to thank Xudong Wang, Simin Zhang, Shuang Wen, Shaohua Lei, Xiaolei Ding, and Shun Bi for their participation in the field sample collection and experimental analysis.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Responsible editor: Boqiang Qin
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Du, C., Li, Y., Wang, Q. et al. Tempo-spatial dynamics of water quality and its response to river flow in estuary of Taihu Lake based on GOCI imagery. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24, 28079–28101 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-0305-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-0305-7