Analysis of Pollutant Diffusion and Nitrogen Source Contribution in a Semi-Enclosed Bay—A Case Study of Laizhou Bay
摘要
Laizhou Bay, a typical semi-enclosed bay in China, has been impacted by both human activities and natural changes, leading to increased nitrogen nutrients and signs of acidification in its southern waters. The ‘Bay Management System (BMS)’ environmental protection policy was introduced in 2017 to mitigate land-based pollution. This study examines nutrient salt changes from six rivers between 2017 and 2020. The results indicate that following the implementation of the BMS, pollutant concentrations in most rivers exhibited an overall declining trend; however, the total nitrogen (TN) concentrations in the Mi-River (MR), Di-River (DR), and Wei-Rivers (WR) showed a continued increase. In 2022, a detailed study in the southern bay revealed that MR contributed 50.72% of the TN, with high nitrate inputs from Xiao-Qing-River (XQR) and MR, and the influence of Weifang Port, creating a ‘high west to low east’ nitrogen distribution. This research provides valuable insights for managing river pollution in coastal regions facing similar environmental issues.