Changes of Water Temperature and Harmful Algal Bloom in the Daya Bay in the Northern South China Sea.

Abstract

Economic development around the Daya Bay, China has profoundly affected the marine environment in the bay area in recent years, particularly since the operation of Daya Bay Nuclear Power Station (DNPS) in 1994. This study analyzed the changes of water temperature and harmful algal blooms (HABs) for two periods: 1983-1993 and 1994-2004, using in situ and satellite data. Results showed that yearly mean surface water temperature (SWT) and Chl-a concentration (Chl-a) increased by 1.1 ℃ and 1.9 mg/m3, respectively, after 1994. The monthly occurrence of HAB was found to have increased also. HABs appeared only in spring and autumn before 1994, but occurred all the year round after 1994. SWT, Chl-a and HABs all increased significantly in May. Those changes were associated with environmental changes in this area, such as thermal discharge from the DNPS and enhancement of eutrophication from human activities around the Daya Bay.