Hydrodynamic Tracking of the Massive Spring 1998 Red Tide in Hong Kong

Abstract

In subtropical coastal waters around Hong Kong, algal blooms and red tides have been frequently observed over the past two decades. In particular, in March–April 1998, a massive red tide invaded the northeastern and southern coastal waters of Hong Kong. The devastating red tide resulted in the worst fish kill in Hong Kong’s history, the most significant impacts being at the Lo Tik Wan and Sok Kwu Wan fish culture zones on Lamma Island. This work reports the first scientific investigation of the cause of this massive red tide. A calibrated three-dimensional (3D) hydrodynamic model for the Pearl River Estuary,