Does submarine groundwater discharge contribute to summer hypoxia in the Changjiang (Yangtze) River Estuary?

The Changjiang (Yangtze) River Estuary (CJE) is one of the largest and most intense seasonal hypoxic zones in the world. Here we examine the possibility that submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) may contribute to the summer hypoxia. Spatial distributions of bottom water Rn-222 suggest a hotspot discharge area in the northern section of the CJE. SGD fluxes were estimated based on a Rn-222 mass balance model and were found to range from 0.002 +/- 0.004 to 0.022 +/- 0.011 m(3)/m(2)/day. Higher SGD fluxes were observed during summer hypoxia period. The well-developed overlap of the distribution patterns for SGD flux and dissolved oxygen (DO) implies that SGD could bean important contributor to summer hypoxia in the region off the CJE. We suggest that SGD contributes to the seasonal hypoxia either: (1) directly via discharge of anoxic groundwaters together with reducing substances: and/or (2) indirectly by delivering excess nutrients that stimulate primary productivity with consequent consumption of DO during organic matter decomposition. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.