The Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences

2027 Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences

January 12-15, 2027

A numerical study on pCO2 and air-sea CO2 flux of the China Great Bay Area based on a land-estuarine-coastal ocean continuum model
ID:1192 Poster Presentation

2027-01-15 16:00 (China Standard Time)

Session:Session 81 - Nitrogen and Carbon Fluxes at the Land Ocean Aquatic Continum (LOAC) Interfaces: Advances in Remote Sensing and Numerical Modeling

Abstract
In this study, a land-estuarine-ocean biogeochemical modeling system has been developed for the Pearl River Estuary and the adjacent Northern South China Sea in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (China-GBA) to investigate the spatiotemporal variability and mechanisms controlling pCO2 and sea-air CO2 fluxes in key oceanic regions. Sensitivity experiments were conducted to isolate the effects of changes in (1) biological activities; (2) riverine material loadings; and (3) atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels. The results indicate that (1) Lingding Bay (LDB) and the Annual Plume Zone (APZ) act as sources of atmospheric CO₂, while the Summer Plume Zone (SPZ) and the Yuedong Upwelling Zone (YUZ) performed as sinks. This is attributed to biological respiration in LDB and APZ exceeding primary production, as high suspended sediment concentrations hinder light penetration; (2) Compared to the historical period, changes in terrestrial material input over the past 60 years have  significantly increased CO₂ emissions from LDB and APZ, primarily through increases in total alkalinity (TA), whereas the impact  on SPZ and YUZ  was negligible; (3) The increase in atmospheric CO₂ concentration reduces CO₂ emissions in LDB and APZ while converting SPZ and UPZ from carbon sources into carbon sinks, mainly by regulating dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC). This study reveals the spatial heterogeneity of carbon source/sink in the key oceanic areas of China-GBA due to internal (biological activities) and external drivers (human activities and climate change) providing a significant theoretical foundation for implementing effective marine carbon dioxide removal strategies (e.g. wastewater alkalinity addition) under the framework of the ONCE program.
Speaker
Shuwei Zhang South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Author
Shuwei Zhang South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

    Important Dates

    • Jan 30

      2026

      Session / Event proposals open

    • Mar 31

      2026

      Session / Event proposals close
      (Extended to April 7)

    • Apr 30

      2026

      Session acceptance notifications

    • Apr 30

      2026

      Abstract submissions & registration open

    • Jun 30

      2026

      Abstract submissions close
      (Extended to July 21)

    • Aug 31

      2026

      Abstract acceptance notifications

    • Sep 15

      2026

      Scientific program released

    • Oct 15

      2026

      Early bird registration closes

    • Jan 12–15

      2027

      XMAS 2027