Biogeochemistry of sedimentary organic matter in the Yongjiang River estuary in the southern part of Hangzhou Bay,China,since the Late Pleistocene

A sediment core(YJK19-02)collected from the southern outlet of Hangzhou Bay near the Yongjiang River estuary in East China was analyzed for grain size,lignin,bulk elemental composition,stable carbon isotope,and rare earth elements(REEs)to determine the sources and diagenesis of sedimentary organic matter(OM)of the estuary and adjacent areas since the Late Pleistocene.δ^(13)C values(-24.80‰–-23.60‰),total organic carbon/total nitrogen(TOC/TN)molar ratios(8.00–12.14),and light rare earth element/heavy rare earth element ratios(LREE/HREE=8.34–8.91)revealed the predominance of terrestrial sources of OM,mainly from the Changjiang(Yangtze)River.The lignin parameters of syringyl/vanillyl(S/V=0.20–0.73)and cinnamyl/vanillyl(C/V=0.03–0.19)ratios indicate the predominance of nonwoody angiosperms,and the vanillic acid/vanillin ratios[(Ad/Al)_(V)=0.32–1.57]indicate medium to high degrees of lignin degradation.An increasing trend ofΛ(total lignin in mg/100-mg OC)values from ca.14500 a BP to ca.11000 a BP reflected the increase in temperature during the Late Pleistocene.However,a time lag effect of temperature on vegetation abundance was also revealed.The relatively higher and stableΛvalues correspond to the higher temperature during the mid-Holocene from ca.8500 a BP to ca.4500 a BP.Λvalues decreased from ca.4000 a BP to the present,corresponding to historical temperature fluctuations during this time.Our results show that the vegetation abundance in the Yongjiang River Basin since the Late Pleistocene was related to the temperature fluctuation duo to climate change.

Tracing nitrate sources in one of the world's largest eutrophicated bays(Hangzhou Bay):insights from nitrogen and oxygen isotopes

Eutrophication caused by inputs of excess nitrogen(N) has become a serious environmental problem in Hangzhou Bay(China),but the sources of this nitrogen are not well understood.In this study,the August 2019 distributions of salinity,nutrients [nitrate(NO_(3)^(-)),nitrite,ammonium,and phosphate],and the stable isotopic composition of NO_(3)^(-)(δ^(15)N and δ^(18)O) were used to investigate sources of dissolved inorganic nitrogen(DIN) to Hangzhou B ay.Spatial distributions of nitrate,salinity,and nitrate δ^(18)O indicate that the Qiantang River,the Changjiang River,and nearshore coastal waters may all contribute nitrate to the bay.Based on the isotopic compositions of nitrate in these potential source waters and conservative mixing of nitrate in our study area,we suggest that the NO_(3)^(- )in Hangzhou B ay was likely derived mainly from soils,synthetic N fertilizer,and manure and sewage.End-member modeling indicates that in the upper half of the bay,the Qiantang River was a very important DIN source,possibly contributing more than 50% of DIN in the bay head area.In the lower half of the bay,DIN was sourced mainly from strongly intruding coastal water.DIN coming directly from the Changjiang River made a relatively small contribution to Hangzhou Bay DIN in August 2019.

Application of an optical nitrate profiler to high-and low-turbidity coastal shelf waters

Here,we report the results of high-resolution nitrate measurements using an optical nitrate profiler(in situ ultraviolet spectrophotometer,ISUS)along transect across a high-turbidity shelf(East China Sea)and a low-turbidity shelf(Chukchi Sea).The ISUS-measured nitrate concentrations closely reproduced the results measured by conventional bottle methods in low-turbidity waters.However,for high-turbidity waters of the East China Sea(salinity<30),a correction factor of 1.19 was required to match the standard bottle measurements.The high-resolution ISUS data revealed subtle spatial variability(e.g.,a subsurface nitrate minimum)that may have been missed if based solely on bottle results.Four main structures of the nitracline on the East China Sea are apparent from the ISUS nitrate profile.High-resolution nitrate data are important for studying nitrate budgets and nutrient dynamics on continental shelves.

Sources and degradation of organic matter in the surface sediments of the Chukchi Sea:insights from amino acids

In the context of global warming and rapid environment change in the Arctic,the supply of organic matter(OM)has increased significantly and a large amount of OM are buried on the Arctic shelf.Studying the fate of OM in Arctic shelf sediments is crucial to understanding the global carbon sink.As a marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean,the Chukchi Sea is one of the most critical areas where OM is buried.Based on the surface sediment samples collected during the sixth Chinese National Arctic Research Expedition in the summer of 2014 and the SinoRussian joint Arctic Research Expedition in the summer of 2016,this study takes amino acids(AAs)as the primary tool to explore the source and degradation of OM in the surface sediments of the Chukchi Sea.This study shows that total hydrolyzable amino acid(THAA)concentrations(dry weight)are high,with a mean value of(32.7±15.8)μmol/g.Their spatial distribution is related to primary productivity,hydrodynamic conditions,sediment properties and other factors.The source of OM in the surface sediments of the Chukchi Sea is dominated by diatom-dominated marine productivity,with some input from terrestrial sources.Bacteria,as the main source of the D-enantiomer of AA(D-AA),not only have transforming effect on OM,but their cell walls and remnants likewise supply the OM pool.Based on a series of diagenetic indicators,we conclude that the OM in the surface sediments of the Chukchi Sea has undergone extensive degradation[DI(degradation index)=-0.59±0.44],and the degradation degree in the slope is higher than that in the shelf.This study uses AA to explore the sources and degradation of OM in the sediments of the Chukchi Sea,which facilitates our understanding of OM transport and transformation on the Arctic shelf.

The Variability of Partial Pressure of Carbon Dioxide (pCO2) in a River-Influenced Coastal Upwelling System: A Case of the Northeast Pacific Coast

The Northeast Pacific coastal ocean, as a typical river-influenced coastal upwelling system, is characterized by significant variability of sea surface partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2, <200 to >1000 μatm). This study reviewed the pCO2 variability and its underlying controlling mechanism in this highly dynamic region by bringing together previous scientific findings and historical data. The large pCO2 variability reflects the complex interactions between physical processes (riverine input and coastal upwelling) and the biological responses to the nutrient transportation associated with these physical processes, while temperature and air-sea gas exchange play a minor role in affecting pCO2. Both the river water and upwelled subsurface water are characterized by higher concentrations of pCO2 and nutrients when compared to the coastal surface water. The presence of high chlorophyll-a and low pCO2 in river plumes and areas adjacent to upwelling locations showed the intense biological CO2 uptake. The influences of riverine input and coastal upwelling thus mainly depend on the competing effect of high background pCO2 of river water and upwelled subsurface water vs. the biological dropdown of pCO2 resulting from the riverine- and upwelling-associated nutrient supplies. The strength of upwelling-favorable wind plays an important role in the pCO2 variability by affecting the intensity of coastal upwelling, with stronger wind speed causing more intense upwelling. The long-term pCO2 increasing rate in the Northeast Pacific coast is observed to be lower than that in the North Pacific open ocean.

Wheel Setting Error Modeling and Compensation for Arc Envelope Grinding of Large-Aperture Aspherical Optics

Precision grinding is a key process for realizing the use of large-aperture aspherical optical elements in laser nuclear fusion devices,large-aperture astronomical telescopes,and high-resolution space cameras.In this study,the arc envelope grinding process of large-aperture aspherical optics is investigated using a CM1500 precision grinding machine with a maximum machinable diameter ofΦ1500 mm.The form error of the aspherical workpiece induced by wheel setting errors is analytically modeled for both parallel and cross grinding.Results show that the form error is more sensitive to the wheel setting error along the feed direction than that along the lateral direction.It is a bilinear function of the feed-direction wheel setting error and the distance to the optical axis.Based on the error function above,a method to determine the wheel setting error is proposed.Subsequently,grinding tests are performed with the wheels aligned accurately.Using a newly proposed partial error compensation method with an appropriate compensation factor,a form error of 3.4μm peak-to-valley(PV)for aΦ400 mm elliptical K9 glass surface is achieved.

Vertical distribution of nutrient tracers in the western Arctic Ocean and its relationship to water structure and biogeochemical processes

During the 3rd Chinese National Arctic Research Expedition cruise in the summer of 2008,nutrients(NO3^-,NO2^-,SiO3^2-,and PO4^3-)and dissolved oxygen were measured in the western Arctic Ocean,to derive the vertical distribution of nutrient tracers and its relationship to water structure and biogeochemical processes.The nutrient data show that surface waters had the lowest NO3^-/PO4^3-(mean of 0.5)and SiO3^2-/PO3^-(mean of 2.8)values in the water column,suggesting an excess of phosphate.Winter Bering Shelf water(wBSW)had high Si^*(16.7μmol/L;Si^*=[Si(OH)4]–[NO3^-])with negative N^*(−11.7μmol/L;N^*=[PO4^3-]−16[PO4^3-]+3.5μmol/L)in the water column,indicating nitrate deficiency.The warm Atlantic layer had positive N^*(0.8μmol/L)and negative Si^*(−5.4μmol/L)compared with Pacific source water.The vertical distribution of nutrients indicates that wBSW can be characterized by N^* minimum and Si^* maximum.In contrast,minima of Si^* and SiO3^2-/PO4^3- below 200 m indicate the distribution of Atlantic warm water.

SUPPRESSION OF SIDELOBES IN SINGLE-PHOTON 4PI CONFOCAL MICROSCOPY BY FORSTER RESONANT ENERGY TRANSFER

Recently,we theoretically demonstrate that utilization of silica nanobeads co-doped with Cy3 and Cy5 molecules instead of single dye molecules asfluorescent labels can enable optical resolutions far beyond the diffraction-limit.Here,we show that by combining the 4Pi microscopy and the novelfluorescent label,it is possible to completely suppress the sidelobes in 4Pi focal spot and significantly enhance the optical resolution in the axial direction.

Potassium isotopic signatures of modern offshore detrital sediments from different climatic regimes and the implications

Potassium isotopes are a novel tracer for continental weathering.Previous K isotope studies on chemical weathering generally targeted weathering profiles under a particular climate region,yet the effects of chemical weathering on K isotopes under different climatic backgrounds remain unclear.Moreover,little is known about the K isotope signatures of modern unconsolidated detrital sediments.Here,we report K isotopic data of surficial seafloor sediments from continental shelves along the east coast of China(ECC),as well as those around the tropical Hainan island in the northern South China Sea.The ECC sediments have a relatively narrow distribution ofδ^(41)K(with reference to NIST3141a)values,which range from(-0.40±0.01)‰to(-0.57±0.04)‰,with an average of(-0.51±0.09)‰.By contrast,δ^(41)K values of Hainan offshore sediments display a larger variation,ranging from(-0.28±0.07)‰to(-0.67±0.02)‰.Theδ^(41)K values of Hainan offshore sediments exhibit negative correlations with the chemical index of alteration(CIA),Al/K,Ti/K,and total iron(FeT),which underlines the control of chemical weathering on K isotopic signatures of detritus inputs into oceans.We also measured Mg isotope compositions for the same samples;interestingly,the variability inδ^(26)Mg of the samples is small(~0.24‰)for all ECC and Hainan offshore sediments,andδ^(26)Mg values do not show clear correlations with indexes of chemical weathering.Our study demonstrates the link between K isotopic variability of detrital sediments and climatic conditions including rainfall intensity,which indicates that K isotopes of the detrital component of marine sediments could be applied to study Earth’s climate in deep time.Theδ^(41)K values of the offshore detrital sediments are significantly less variable than those of pelagic marine sediments,highlighting the importance of distinguishing the effects of diagenesis and neoformation of clay minerals from continental weathering in attempts to study deep-time climate-weathering link by K isotopes in detrital sedimentary records.

Sources and distribution of sedimentary organic matter along the northern Bering and Chukchi Seas

In this study, lignin-derived phenols were used to determine the sources and distribution of sedimentary organic matter along the northern Bering Sea and Chukchi Sea of the Arctic Ocean. The lignin parameter syringyl/vanillyl（S/V） and cinnamyl/vanillyl（C/V） ratios are used to indicate vegetation sources; and the ratios of vanillic acid/vanillin,（Ad/Al）v and syringic acid/syringaldehyde,（Ad/Al）s are used as indicators of lignin diagenesis. Results showed the predominance of woody gymnosperm signal at the easternmost location in the northern Bering Sea, a mixture of refractory non-woody angiosperm and fresher gymnosperm tissues in the Chukchi Sea, and signal of fresher woody gymnosperm tissues in the northernmost locations in the Chukchi Sea. The lignin materials showed gradual increase in decomposition stage during transport along the northern Bering Sea. Hydrodynamic sorting process, which is the retention of coarser materials nearshore and transportation of finer particles farther offshore, most probably occurred along the east coast of the northern Bering Sea. In Chukchi Sea, the non-woody angiosperm tissues could have originated from the Canadian Arctic and gymnosperm tissues could be from the Russian Arctic side. The fresher materials in the northernmost Chukchi Sea could have been transported here via the ice-rafting process.Detection of fresh lignin materials and the occurrence of lignin decomposition mean that this region could be sensitive to the impact of climate change.

Bio-Organic Geochemistry research in China: Advances,opportunities and challenges

The discipline of "Bio-Organic Geochemistry" is a cross research field between biogeochemistry and traditional organic geochemistry, which focuses on geochemical processes related to the biosynthesis of organic molecules(particularly lipids) by(micro) organisms, organic matter production by primary producers, degradation of organic matter by microbial processes recorded by retainable lipid biomarkers, and organic proxies for studies of paleo-climate, paleo-environments, paleoecology and Earth evolution. This field aims to go beyond the traditional petroleum-oriented Organic Geochemistry by integrating with biogeochemical concepts concerned mostly with biomolecules from cellular material such as DNA and lipids. A formal Chinese organization in Bio-Organic Geochemistry was established in 2012 when the first conference was held in Guangzhou. This organization has witnessed rapid growth over the past six years with focused research addressing organic proxies in paleoclimate and paleoenvironmental applications, with particular rapid development in glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers-derived proxies. Most progresses in China so far are made following or paralleling the international trend in biogeochemical studies. Things have begun to change with China's ambitious initiatives in several bio-geo programs such as the Ocean Deep Drilling Program of China, the Microbial Hydrosphere Program, the Deep Carbon Observatory, and the Microbiome Program. Looking forward in the 21 st Century, the growing Chinese research community in Bio-Organic Geochemistry faces grand opportunities and challenges as Chinese scientists propel themselves toward global research frontiers.

Sidelobe suppression in light-sheet fluorescence microscopy with Bessel beam plane illumination using subtractive imaging

The fluorescence from the out-of-focus region excited by the sidelobes of a Bessel beam is the major concern for light-sheet fluorescence microscopy （LSFM） with Bessel beam plane illumination. Here, we propose a method of applying the subtractive imaging to overcome the limitation of the conventional LSFM with Bessel beam plane illumination. In the proposed method, the sample is imaged twice by line scanning using the extended solid Bessel beam and the ring-like Bessel beam. By subtracting between the two images with similar out-of-focus blur, the improved image quality with the suppression of the Bessel beam sidelobes and enhanced sectioning ability with improved contrast are demonstrated.

Overlooked contribution of the biological pump to the Pacific Arctic nitrogen deficit

The nutrient-rich Pacific Ocean seawater that flows through the Bering Strait into the Chukchi Sea is generally considered to be the most important source of nutrients to the Arctic euphotic zone.The inflow is characterized by nitrogen deficit and low nitrate/phosphate(N/P)ratios;this is ascribed to sedimentary denitrification on the Chukchi shelf by preoccupant opinions.However,the Chukchi Sea also has high primary production,which raises the question of whether the biological pump may also significantly modulate nutrient properties of the throughflow.Here,we show that nitrate concentrations of the Pacific inflow gradually decrease northward in association with notable biological utilization.The phytoplankton N/P uptake ratio was 8.8±2.27,higher than the N/P ratio of Pacific inflow water(5-6).This uptake ratio,in combination with efficient vertical nitrogen export,serves to preferentially remove nitrogen(relative to phosphorus)from upper waters,thereby further intensifying the Arctic nitrogen deficit.Accordingly,as large as about 111.7×10^(9)mol N yr^(−1)of nitrate was extra consumed,according to the real N/P uptake ratio rather than the ratio of the Pacific inflow,which may be as great as half the nitrogen loss ascribed to sedimentary denitrification.Our findings suggest that besides sedimentary denitrification,biological disproportionate utilization of nutrients in the Chukchi Sea upper water is another important contributor to the nitrogen limitation and excess phosphorus in the upper Arctic Ocean.In the rapid Arctic change era,the predicted reinforced biological carbon pump could further impact the nutrient dynamics and biogeochemical process of the Arctic Ocean.

Estimations of primary production and export production in the South China Sea based on sediment trap experiments

The results of time series sediment trap experiments in the South China Sea show that particulate organic carbon (POC) fluxes are influenced by the monsoons. The increase of productivity in the northern South China Sea is mainly due to northeast monsoon while in the central South China Sea the influence of southwest monsoon becomes more prominent. The annual primary production and export production calculated based on POC fluxes are 53 0-63 4 and 10 32-12 93 gC·m -2·a -1, respectively. The enhancement of POC flux during monsoon period suggest that higher palaeoproductivity or organic carbon accumulation rate in glacial age in the South China Sea might be the result of strengthening of the monsoons.