- Project Details:
| Project Code: | T21-602/16-R |
| Project Title: | Diagnosis and Prognosis of Intensifying Eutrophication, Hypoxia and the Ecosystem Consequences around Hong Kong Waters: Coupled Physical-biogeochemical-pollution Studies |
| Project Coordinator: | Professor Jianping GAN |
| Coordinating Institution: | The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology |
| Participating Institution(s): | The University of Hong Kong City University of Hong Kong The Hong Kong Polytechnic University The Chinese University of Hong Kong Xiamen University Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences |
- Abstract
| Eutrophication/hypoxia (oxygen concentration<2 mg/L) in the bottom has been a hazard to the ecosystem and our living environment in Hong Kong and other coastal waters for decades. The oceanic waters in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area are affected by persistent and increasing eutrophication/hypoxia, which could offset the environmental improvements achieved through the costly Harbour Area Treatment Scheme (HATS) over the last 10 years. This OCEAN_HK project (https://ocean.ust.hk/), for the first time, holistically provides scientific evidence to explain how, where, and when this marine hazard occurs, predicts its long-term trend, and offers novel mitigation and management schemes to tackle this serious marine environmental challenge we are facing. |
- Research Impact
| • OCEAN_HK unveiled the formation mechanism of hypoxia, developed oceanographic research capability, and provided much needed information to stakeholders and governments. • The project has launched the first Online Marine Environmental Visualization Platform in the region (WavyOcean, https://ocean.ust.hk:8443/SiteMapApi/new/index.jsp), which offers a “onestop shop” for sharing scientific knowledge and data that can help policymakers strike a balance between marine conservation and social development (e.g. the Lantau Tomorrow Vision project). WavyOcean records about 100 visits and data downloads a day, and the mobile app has been downloaded >3000 times. Both OCEAN_HK and WavyOcean have attracted great attention from mainstream media and the broader community in Hong Kong and the Mainland China. • The scientific output from the OCEAN-HK project is being considered as a case study in a Special Policy Study on Global Ocean Governance and Ecological Civilization (2017–2019) sponsored by China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development. • OCEAN-HK is an integral part of COASTAL-SOS which is a project endorsed by the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030). |