Flushing submarine canyons

The continental slope is a steep, narrow fringe separating the coastal zone from the deep ocean. During low sea-level stands, slides and dense, sediment-laden flows erode the outer continental shelf and the continental slope, leading to the formation of submarine canyons that funnel large volumes of sediment and organic matter from shallow regions to the deep ocean(1). During high sea-level stands, such as at present, these canyons still experience occasional sediment gravity flows(2-5), which are usually thought to be triggered by sediment failure or river flooding. Here we present observations from a submarine canyon on the Gulf of Lions margin, in the northwest Mediterranean Sea, that demonstrate that these flows can also be triggered by dense shelf water cascading (DSWC)-a type of current that is driven solely by seawater density contrast. Our results show that DSWC can transport large amounts of water and sediment, reshape submarine canyon floors and rapidly affect the deep-sea environment. This cascading is seasonal, resulting from the formation of dense water by cooling and/or evaporation, and occurs on both high- and low-latitude continental margins(6-8). DSWC may therefore transport large amounts of sediment and organic matter to the deep ocean. Furthermore, changes in the frequency and intensity of DSWC driven by future climate change may have a significant impact on the supply of organic matter to deep-sea ecosystems and on the amount of carbon stored on continental margins and in ocean basins.     

Upwelling-driven nearshore hypoxia signals ecosystem and oceanographic changes in the northeast Pacific

Seasonal development of dissolved-oxygen deficits (hypoxia) represents an acute system-level perturbation to ecological dynamics and fishery sustainability in coastal ecosystems around the globe. Whereas anthropogenic nutrient loading has increased the frequency and severity of hypoxia in estuaries and semi-enclosed seas, the occurrence of hypoxia in open-coast upwelling systems reflects ocean conditions that control the delivery of oxygen-poor and nutrient-rich deep water onto continental shelves. Upwelling systems support a large proportion of the world's fisheries, therefore understanding the links between changes in ocean climate, upwelling-driven hypoxia and ecological perturbations is critical. Here we report on the unprecedented development of severe inner-shelf (<70 m) hypoxia and resultant mass die-offs of fish and invertebrates within the California Current System. In 2002, cross-shelf transects revealed the development of abnormally low dissolved-oxygen levels as a response to anomalously strong flow of subarctic water into the California Current System. Our findings highlight the sensitivity of inner-shelf ecosystems to variation in ocean conditions, and the potential impacts of climate change on marine communities.     

Evidence for complete denitrification in a benthic foraminifer

Benthic foraminifera are unicellular eukaryotes found abundantly in many types of marine sediments. Many species survive and possibly reproduce in anoxic habitats, but sustainable anaerobic metabolism has not been previously described. Here we demonstrate that the foraminifer Globobulimina pseudospinescens accumulates intracellular nitrate stores and that these can be respired to dinitrogen gas. The amounts of nitrate detected are estimated to be sufficient to support respiration for over a month. In a Swedish fjord sediment where G. pseudospinescens is the dominant foraminifer, the intracellular nitrate pool in this species accounted for 20% of the large, cell-bound, nitrate pool present in an oxygen-free zone. Similarly high nitrate concentrations were also detected in foraminifera Nonionella cf. stella and a Stainforthia species, the two dominant benthic taxa occurring within the oxygen minimum zone of the continental shelf off Chile. Given the high abundance of foraminifera in anoxic marine environments, these new findings suggest that foraminifera may play an important role in global nitrogen cycling and indicate that our understanding of the complexity of the marine nitrogen cycle is far from complete.     

Increased marine production of N2O due to intensifying anoxia on the Indian continental shelf

Eutrophication of surface waters and hypoxia in bottom waters has been increasing in many coastal areas, leading to very large depletions of marine life in the affected regions. These areas of high surface productivity and low bottom-water oxygen concentration are caused by increasing runoff of nutrients from land. Although the local ecological and socio-economic effects have received much attention, the potential contribution of increasing hypoxia to global-change phenomena is unknown. Here we report the intensification of one of the largest low-oxygen zones in the ocean, which develops naturally over the western Indian continental shelf during late summer and autumn. We also report the highest accumulations yet observed of hydrogen sulphide (H2S) and nitrous oxide (N2O) in open coastal waters. Increased N2O production is probably caused by the addition of anthropogenic nitrate and its subsequent denitrification, which is favoured by hypoxic conditions. We suggest that a global expansion of hypoxic zones may lead to an increase in marine production and emission of N2O, which, as a potent greenhouse gas, could contribute significantly to the accumulation of radiatively active trace gases in the atmosphere.     

Of pH and Eh on release of nitrogen and phosphorus from sediments of West Lake

The effects of pH and Eh on release of nitrogen and phosphorus from sediments of West Lake under different conditions were investigated by simulation test. Results showed that the net flux of NH4^ -N re-lease from sediments increased with pH, but NO3^- -N showed negative-going release at all tested pH levels.The net flux of NH4^ -N release from sediments was higher under anaerobic or aerobic condition of the overly-ing water, but only under aerobic condition would net release of NO3^- -N occur. It was also shown that phos-phorus released was mainly in its inorganic form, higher pH and anaerobic conditions of overlying water greatly stimulated release of phosphorus. In situ measurement at several West Lake locations indicated that sediment resuspension induced by boat propeller stimulated nutrients release from sediment into overlying water.     

Organic geochemical studies of sinking particulate material in China sea area II

Conclusions We have for the first time studied the compositions of ketone, aldehyde and alcohol lipid compounds in sinking particulate materials from Yongshu Reef lagoon and the continental shelf of the East China Sea collected by sediment trap sampling apparatus. The results indicate that sinking particulate materials contain abundant isoprenoid ketone, aldehyde and alcohol lipid compounds which take part in marine chemical cycling. The compositional features of these compounds show that sinking particulate organic matter mainly comes from autochthonous marine organisms and Yongshu Reef lagoon has more submerged macrophytes-derived component, while the continental shelf of the East China Sea contains more dinoflagellate-derived constituent. The contribution of higher land plant to sinking particulate organic matter may be very small. In contrast, it is greater in Yongshu Reef lagoon than that in the continental shelf of the East China Sea. Sinking particulate organic matter in the two regions undergoes strong biochemical transformation processes before reaching the depth of 5 m to the sea floor, and its intensity is greater in Yongshu Reef lagoon than in the continental shelf of the East China Sea. These results have certain reference value to the researches of marine chemistry, marine biology and marine sedimentology in China, and reveal the importance of organic geochemistry to the study of oceanology.     

末次冰消期以来古气候演化研究进展及展望

 从盛冰期到全新世之间的末次冰消期经历了地球表层系统的一次巨变,期间发生了一系列气候突变事件,在全球不同地区以不同的方式回应着这些事件的变化过程。末次冰消期转暖的过程和机制一直是古气候研究的热点。本文综述了末次冰消期以来的古气候/季风演化研究成果,指出海陆交界敏感地带的陆架区对全球环境变化十分敏感,陆架区沉积物蕴含了丰富的气候/季风演化信息,对陆架区沉积物中古气候代用指标的提取,东亚季风演化历史及其驱动机制、季风的差异和交互作用、季风在各个时间尺度上的驱动机制等问题的分析均具有重要意义,可以为地区及全球环境变化提供科学依据。     

广西近岸海域水下平原表层沉积物中重金属分布及其积累

【目的】研究广西近岸水下平原沉积物重金属分布和积累特征,促进对重金属自河口海湾向陆架扩散规律的对比与把握。【方法】从广西近岸水下平原采集表层沉积物和岩芯,通过实验测试的手段,分析表层沉积物重金属Pb、As、Hg的分布和积累特征。【结果】广西近岸水下平原表层沉积物中Pb含量为8.0×10-6~44.7×10-6,As含量为1.6×10-6~31.4×10-6,Hg含量为0.001×10-6~0.086×10-6,变化较大;Pb、As、Hg的分布受沉积环境和沉积物类型影响,As含量在水下平原北部水动力作用强烈之处出现局部高值,与含As的母岩风化有关;Pb、As、Hg有一定的共聚性,并显示亲Ni、Zn、Ga、Zr和疏Sr的特征;Pb、As、Hg与粒度参数有线性和聚类关系,对粒级响应性即斜率k的拐点在~0.125mm至~0.063mm之间,视沉积环境和沉积物的不同而有所移动;贫有机质站位由于水动力作用强烈,以自然风化的物理过程为主,重金属含量很低,而有机质积累成因为主的站位重金属含量积累增幅区间的频率,Pb的以40%~60%最高,As和Hg的均是60%~80%最高,增幅序列均遵循单增自然对数关系,曲线分段对应不同的沉积环境。【结论】广西近岸水下平原表层沉积物质量总体较好,但相对区域本底值来看,Pb积累性比较突出,As次之。     

某些海生藻类在陆架沉积中的分布及其古环境意义

在我国陆架表层和柱状沉积中不但含有丰富的孢粉、硅藻，而且还有很多其它藻类，如刺球藻、甲藻、椭球藻等。从在沉积物中分布状况的分析，我们清楚地看到，虽然剌球藻、椭球藻在分类系统中的地位尚不清楚，但它们都是海生藻类，刺球藻的形体随着水深增大而，它们不仅可指示海相环境，而且可根据不同类型的刺球藻数量推测水深。椭球藻喜生于温带－亚热带中北部水深水于４０ｍ的海域，多甲藻在水深较大的暖水环境数量较多。它们具有重     

山东沿海海洋环境监测及灾害预警系统设计与框架研究

为了更好地利用海洋资源,减少自然灾害损失,必须对海洋环境进行监测和预报预警。本文探讨了在山东沿海建立海洋灾害监测预警系统的必要性,在完成系统总体结构设计基础上,重点阐述了海洋环境立体监测网的设计,包括锚泊浮标网、岸基海洋环境观测网、船载动态监测、航空遥感监测,研究了数据处理中心的组成和功能。系统建成后将实现业务化运行,为山东沿海经济发展提供服务保障。     

国际海洋开发态势及其对我国海洋强国建设的启示

全球气候变化和经济全球化加速了世界海洋开发进程,国际海洋经济地位稳步提升。各国政府的重视和海洋科技的突破带来了海洋产业的快速发展,但同时也造成了国际海洋资源与空间的激烈竞争和前所未有的海洋生态环境压力。实施海洋强国战略,维护国家海洋权益,推动海洋经济持续健康发展是沿海各国的基本国策。借鉴国际经验,我国应及时把握世界海洋大开发的时代机遇,明确国家海洋战略定位,在海洋权益维护、海洋资源开发、海洋科技创新、海洋环境保护、海洋综合管理等多方面齐头并进,加快我国海洋强国建设进程。     

Trend analysis of sediment grain size and sedimentary process in the central South Yellow Sea

With the method of trend analysis of sediment grain size, the sediment transport trend of the fine-grained sediments area in the central South Yellow Sea was studied. The results demonstrated that there is a sedimentation center around the point of 123.4°E, 35.1°N, and the sediments outside the center are transported to it. The patterns of sediment transportation and deposition in the Yellow Sea should be controlled by cyclonic circulation (including the Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass) and cold water gyre. The study also showed that the method of trend analysis of sediment grain size has prospective utilization in the fine-grained sediment deposited area on large-scale continental shelf.     

Ploughing the deep sea floor

Bottom trawling is a non-selective commercial fishing technique whereby heavy nets and gear are pulled along the sea floor. The direct impact of this technique on fish populations and benthic communities has received much attention, but trawling can also modify the physical properties of seafloor sediments, water–sediment chemical exchanges and sediment fluxes. Most of the studies addressing the physical disturbances of trawl gear on the seabed have been undertaken in coastal and shelf environments, however, where the capacity of trawling to modify the seafloor morphology coexists with high-energy natural processes driving sediment erosion, transport and deposition. Here we show that on upper continental slopes, the reworking of the deep sea floor by trawling gradually modifies the shape of the submarine landscape over large spatial scales. We found that trawling-induced sediment displacement and removal from fishing grounds causes the morphology of the deep sea floor to become smoother over time, reducing its original complexity as shown by high-resolution seafloor relief maps. Our results suggest that in recent decades, following the industrialization of fishing fleets, bottom trawling has become an important driver of deep seascape evolution. Given the global dimension of this type of fishery, we anticipate that the morphology of the upper continental slope in many parts of the world’s oceans could be altered by intensive bottom trawling, producing comparable effects on the deep sea floor to those generated by agricultural ploughing on land.     

N2 production by the anammox reaction in the anoxic water column of Golfo Dulce,Costa Rica

In oxygen-depleted zones of the open ocean, and in anoxic basins and fjords, denitrification (the bacterial reduction of nitrate to give N2) is recognized as the only significant process converting fixed nitrogen to gaseous N2. Primary production in the oceans is often limited by the availability of fixed nitrogen such as ammonium or nitrate, and nitrogen-removal processes consequently affect both ecosystem function and global biogeochemical cycles. It was recently discovered that the anaerobic oxidation of ammonium with nitrite--the 'anammox' reaction, performed by bacteria--was responsible for a significant fraction of N2 production in some marine sediments. Here we show that this reaction is also important in the anoxic waters of Golfo Dulce, a 200-m-deep coastal bay in Costa Rica, where it accounts for 19-35% of the total N2 formation in the water column. The water-column chemistry in Golfo Dulce is very similar to that in oxygen-depleted zones of the oceans--in which one-half to one-third of the global nitrogen removal is believed to occur. We therefore expect the anammox reaction to be a globally significant sink for oceanic nitrogen.     

Efficient export of carbon to the deep ocean through dissolved organic matter

Oceanic dissolved organic carbon (DOC) constitutes one of the largest pools of reduced carbon in the biosphere. Estimated DOC export from the surface ocean represents 20% of total organic carbon flux to the deep ocean, which constitutes a primary control on atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. DOC is the carbon component of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and an accurate quantification of DOM pools, fluxes and their controls is therefore critical to understanding oceanic carbon cycling. DOC export is directly coupled with dissolved organic nitrogen and phosphorus export. However, the C:N:P stoichiometry (by atoms) of DOM dynamics is poorly understood. Here we study the stoichiometry of the DOM pool and of DOM decomposition in continental shelf, continental slope and central ocean gyre environments. We find that DOM is remineralized and produced with a C:N:P stoichiometry of 199:20:1 that is substantially lower than for bulk pools (typically >775:54:1), but greater than for particulate organic matter (106:16:1--the Redfield ratio). Thus for a given mass of new N and P introduced into surface water, more DOC can be exported than would occur at the Redfield ratio. This may contribute to the excess respiration estimated to occur in the interior ocean. Our results place an explicit constraint on global carbon export and elemental balance via advective pathways.     

西澳大陆架深水重力流砂体富集规律及主控因素

澳大利亚西北大陆架是目前全球深水油气勘探的热点区域。针对西澳大陆架Vulcan 次盆南部Vulcan 组砂体 成因类型、沉积体系展布、富砂区控因不明确等问题,通过岩芯观察、钻测井资料和地震属性的分析,刻画了以海相三 角洲前缘滑塌体为主导的贫砂富泥型深水沉积体展布,重点研究了深水沉积砂体的分布规律和富集主控因素。认为 研究区东南部的缓坡带发育海相三角洲,在Swan 地堑边界断层下降盘发育滑塌体和浊积体,北西部的陡坡带发育水 下扇沉积。深水砂体的富集在4 个层次上受5 种因素的控制,表现为“四级五元”的控制特征,即：构造决定了沉积体 系类型,海平面的升降约束了砂体在层序中的分布层位,沉积底形控制了深水沉积体系的外观形态,断层调节带改变 了沉积体系的分布格局,深水底流对砂体进行了二次分配。该认识对研究区寻找规模储层和油气勘探都有重要作用。     

Reduced nitrogen fixation in the glacial ocean inferred from changes in marine nitrogen and phosphorus inventories.

To explain the lower atmospheric CO2 concentrations during glacial periods, it has been suggested that the productivity of marine phytoplankton was stimulated by an increased flux of iron-bearing dust to the oceans. One component of this theory is that iron-an essential element/nutrient for nitrogen-fixing organisms-will increase the rate of marine nitrogen fixation, fuelling the growth of other marine phytoplankton and increasing CO2 uptake. Here we present data that questions this hypothesis. From a sediment core off the northwestern continental margin of Mexico, we show that denitrification and phosphorite formation-processes that occur in oxygen-deficient upwelling regions, removing respectively nitrogen and phosphorus from the ocean-declined in glacial periods, thus increasing marine inventories of nitrogen and phosphorus. But increases in phosphorus were smaller and less rapid, leading to increased N/P ratios in the oceans. Acknowledging that phytoplankton require nitrogen and phosphorus in constant proportions, the Redfield ratio, and that N/P ratios greater than the Redfield ratio are likely to suppress nitrogen fixation, we suggest therefore that marine productivity did not increase in glacial periods in response to either increased nutrient inventories or greater iron supply.     

发展中国海疆地理研究

中国既是陆地大国，又是海洋大国，即有陆疆又有海疆，中国拥有18000多km的大陆岸线，500m^2以上岛屿6500多个，依照《联合国海洋法公约》中200n mile专属经济区和大陆架制度，中国可拥有约300万km^2的管辖海域，在界定了海疆的概念基础上，提出中国海疆地理研究的范围、目的、意义和内容。     

Preservation of black carbon in the shelf sediments of the East China Sea

Concentrations and carbon isotopic(14C,13C) compositions of black carbon(BC) were measured for three sediment cores collected from the Changjiang River estuary and the shelf of the East China Sea. BC concentrations ranged from 0.02 to 0.14 mg/g(dry weight) ,and accounted for 5% to 26% of the sedimentary total organic carbon(TOC) pool. Among the three sediment cores collected at each site,sediment from the Changjiang River estuary had relatively high BC contents compared with the sedi-ments from the East China Sea shelf,suggesting that the Changjiang River discharge played an im-portant role in the delivery of BC to the coastal region. Radiocarbon measurements indicate that the ages of BC are in the range of 6910 to 12250 years old B.P.(before present) ,that is in general,3700 to 9000 years older than the 14C ages of TOC in the sediments. These variable radiocarbon ages suggest that the BC preserved in the sediments was derived from the products of both biomass fire and fossil fuel combustion,as well as from ancient rock weathering. Based on an isotopic mass balance model,we calculated that fossil fuel combustion contributed most(60%―80%) of the BC preserved in these sediments and varied with depth and locations. The deposition and burial of this "slow-cycling" BC in the sediments of the East China Sea shelf represent a significant pool of carbon sink and could greatly influence carbon cycling in the region.     

Identification of the thick-layer greigite in sediments of the South Yellow Sea and its geological significances

Magnetic minerals in sediments of the continental shelf are sensitive to environmental changes. Therefore, to determine the exact phases of magnetic minerals is the prerequisite to investigate the paleoenvironmental significances. In this study, a comprehensive rock magnetic investigation, coupled with mineralogical studies, was carried out on the long core NHH01 （with a length of 125.64 m） from the central continental shelf of the South Yellow Sea. Single-domain greigite was identified as the dominant magnetic carrier in sediments between 44.90 and 51.80 m, and terrigenous magnetite is the major magnetic phase in the adjacent layers. The existence of greigite unambiguously indicates an anoxic environment. We tentatively interpreted that such an environment could be formed by the fast sea level changes, longexisting of the cold eddies during warm stages, or in a lake which might be related to locally tectonic uplifting. Therefore, the occurrence of the thicklayer greigite could supply a new perspective to paleoenvironmental or even tectonic studies.