Variability of Yellow River turbid plume detected with satellite remote sensing during water-sediment regulation

- Transport of freshwater and sediment illustrated with MODIS and GOCI data.
- Inter-day and intraday plume variation interpreted with transport mechanisms.
- Tidal current dominates intra-day dispersal of freshwater and sediment plume.
- Anticyclonic turning of buoyant plume and downstream transport to Laizhou Bay.

Water Sediment Regulations (WSRs) of the Yellow River (YR) have fundamentally altered the dynamics of freshwater and sediment transport in YR estuary and might profoundly affect water quality and ecosystem of the adjacent Bohai Sea. In this study, empirical algorithms were established to infer sea surface salinity and turbidity of YR plume using on surface reflectance products of MODIS and GOCI satellites in combination with observations from hydrographic surveys during the 2014 WSR event. Inter- and intraday variability of salinity and turbidity were quantitatively assessed and correlated with external forces including river discharge, tides, Coriolis force, and wind-driven circulation. The results revealed the enhanced offshore extension of turbid plume as WSR drastically increased freshwater and sediment discharge to river mouth. During WSR event, the area of low salinity plume (<25 psu) increased to 267 km2, while sediment plume (SR645 >0.12sr−1) occupied a maximum area of 162 km2. Intraday variation observed from geostationary GOCI data clearly illustrated the dominance of tidal current on short term dispersal pattern of freshwater and sediment plume. In comparison, wind field dominated the seasonal variation in flume transport but had insignificant impact on short term river plume dynamic during WSR. Overall, this study demonstrated that the spatial and temporal dynamic of YR plume was successfully captured by satellite remote sensing, which provided an effective tool for evaluating the environmental and ecological impact of WSRs.