Seasonal variations of transport time of freshwater exchanges between Changjiang Estuary and its adjacent regions

Seasonal variations of transport time of freshwater between the Changjiang Estuary (CJE) and its adjacent regions, Hangzhou Bay (HZB) and Jiangsu Coast (JSC), are investigated. The freshwater exchange between the CJE and HZB is controlled by the strength of the secondary plume, which initiates from the South Passage of the southernmost waterway of CJE. The transport time varies seasonally and is modulated by spring-neap tides. The water exchange between CJE and HZB exhibits a high spatial variation. A large water age is observed in the region near the southern coast of the HZB, which corresponds to high pollutant deposition and low water quality conditions observed in the field. A large exchange occurs in summer between CJE and HZB. The freshwater transported into the HZB is accumulated in the deep channel near the western shoreline of the HZB and weak horizontal exchange occurs in the southern region near the southern shoreline, resulting in an increase of water age in the southern region. Due to the increase of northerly and northwesterly winds in winter and fall, more horizontal exchange occurs, resulting in a decrease of water age. The transport time from Xuliujing to the Hangzhou Bay ranges from 30 to 60 days near Jinshanwei, and ranges from 100 to 140 days in the southern region. The advective transport is the dominant transport mechanism to move water out of the HZB, while shear-induced exchange flow transports freshwater into the HZB. Net flux is out of HZB in winter and fall, but into the HZB in summer when Changjiang discharge is high. A weak transport of freshwater between the CJE and Subei Coast exists. A portion of a freshwater plume transports freshwater northward during summer and fall. It takes approximately 60–140 days for the freshwater from Xuliujing to be transported to the Subei Coast.