|
|
Research on environmental impact of unusual saltwater intrusion in Pearl River Estuary |
|
|
Abstract Unusual saltwater intrusion in the Pear River Estuary in recent two decades has caused serious problem to water supply and drawn much attention. Field survey monitoring was conducted in this study to investigate impact of the unusual saltwater intrusion on surface water and groundwater quality, soil and plant ecosystem. It is found that salt water intrusion suppresses nitrification of ammonium and increases DO concentration in the waterway. Dominant plant communities in the upper reaches of the western four waterways have evolved from the autopotamic into the eurytopic due to saltwater intrusion. However, the above-mentioned impacts happen only within the main streams of the waterways, while water quality in large amount of small streams of the river net work, groundwater quality, agricultural soil and plant ecosystem outside the main streams remain uninfluenced due to the protection of dams and water gates.
|
Received: 30 June 2013
|
|
|
|
|
|
|