Study on Salinity Stratification and Distribution in Lingding Yang Estuary

Ling Ding Yang (LDY) estuary is one of the main parts of the whole Zhujiang estuary, which lies in the south sea, China. It is about 60km wide from Hong Kong in the east to Macao in the west and the water areas are approximately 2110 km². The mixing process of salt water and fresh water in the estuary is influenced by many factors, such as the estuarine geometry, tidal range and ravine flows, etc. In this paper, based on the data from the tidal gauge stations and synchronously surveyed data during July 2003, a study on the temporal and spatial distribution characteristics of salinity was made. According to the observation data, in wet season, the fresh water and salt water mixes with the N parameter between 0.21 and 1.63. The distribution of salinity concentration in the east part of LDY is due to coriolis’ force. The salinity concentration decreases from the sea to the estuary, and there exists apparent division point, Nei Lingding Island. To the south of Nei Lingding Island, it is almost partially mixed, and to the north of Nei Lingding Island, it belongs to highly stratification. At the same time, the stratification parameter and the vertical mean velocity in wet season are compared. The N parameter changes with the velocity of tide flow in a tidal cycle. The value of N in a flood tide is usually larger than that is in an ebb tide. That is to say, the mix intensity is much bigger in the flood tide.