Persistent eutrophication and hypoxia in the coastal ocean

• DOI: 10.1017/cft.2023.7
• Publication Date: 2023-02-23T08:24:00Z
• Authors: Minhan Dai; Yangyang Zhao; Fei Chai; Mingru Chen; Nengwang Chen; Yimin Chen; Danyang Cheng; Jianping Gan; Dabo Guan; Yuanyuan Hong; Jialu Huang; Yanting Lee; Kenneth Mei Yee L...; Phaik Eem Lim; Senjie Lin; Xin Lin; Xin Liu; Zhiqiang Liu; Ya-Wei Luo; Feifei Meng; Chalermrat Sangmanee; Yuan Shen; Khanittha Uthaipan; Wan Izatul Asma W...; Xianhui Sean Wan; Cong Wang; Dazhi Wang; Guizhi Wang; Shanlin Wang; Yanmin Wang; Yuntao Wang; Zhe Wang; Zhixuan Wang; Yanping Xu; Jin-Yu Terence Yang; Yan Yang; Moriaki Yasuhara; Dan Yu; Jianmin Yu; Liuqian Yu; Zengkai Zhang; Zhouling Zhang
• Keywords: Hypoxia; Environmental degradation

Abstract Coastal eutrophication and hypoxia remain a persistent environmental crisis despite the great efforts to reduce nutrient loading mitigate associated damages. Symptoms of this have appeared spread rapidly, reaching developing countries in Asia with emergences Southern America Africa. The pace changes underlying drivers not so clear. To address gap, we review up-to-date status mechanisms global coastal oceans, upon which examine trajectories over 40 years or longer six model systems varying socio-economic development statuses different levels histories eutrophication. Although these share common features eutrophication, site-specific characteristics are also substantial, depending on regional setting level social-economic along policy implementation management. Nevertheless, ecosystem recovery generally needs greater reduction pressures compared that initiated degradation becomes less feasible achieve past norms time anthropogenic ecosystems. While qualitative causality between consequences is well established, quantitative attribution remains difficult especially when consider social economic because ecosystems subject multiple influences cause–effect relationship often non-linear. Such relationships further complicated by climate been accelerating few decades. knowledge gaps limit our mechanistic understanding human-coastal ocean nexus identified, essential for science-based making. Recognizing lessons from management practices, advocate better, more efficient indexing system an advanced earth modeling framework optimal modules human dimensions facilitate evaluation effective restoration actions.