Quantifying the Role of the Eddy Transfer Coefficient in Simulating the Response of the Southern Ocean Meridional Overturning Circulation to Enhanced Westerlies in a Coarse-resolution Model

This study assesses the capability of a coarse-resolution ocean model to replicate the response of the Southern Ocean Meridional Overturning Circulation(MOC) to intensified westerlies,focusing on the role of the eddy transfer coefficient(κ).κ is a parameter commonly used to represent the velocities induced by unresolved eddies.Our findings reveal that a stratification-dependent κ,incorporating spatiotemporal variability,leads to the most robust eddy-induced MOC response,capturing 82% of the reference eddy-resolving simulation.Decomposing the eddy-induced velocity into its vertical variation(VV) and spatial structure(SS) components unveils that the enhanced eddy compensation response primarily stems from an augmented SS term,while the introduced VV term weakens the response.Furthermore,the temporal variability of the stratification-dependent κ emerges as a key factor in enhancing the eddy compensation response to intensified westerlies.The experiment with stratification-dependent κ exhibits a more potent eddy compensation response compared to the constant κ,attributed to the structure of κ and the vertical variation of the density slope.These results underscore the critical role of accurately representing κ in capturing the response of the Southern Ocean MOC and emphasize the significance of the isopycnal slope in modulating the eddy compensation mechanism.

Distribution of chromophytic phytoplankton in the Western Subarctic Gyre of Pacific Ocean revealed by morphological observation and rbc L gene sequences

Western Subarctic Gyre(WSG),which possesses distinctive differences in oceanographic and biogeochemical processes,is situated in the northwest subarctic Pacific.The WSG is characterized by high nutrient and low chlorophyll.We carried out a field investigation in this area in summer 2020 and performed microscopic observation,cytometric counting,and RuBisCO large subunit(rbc L)gene analysis to understand the community structure and spatial distribution of chromophytic phytoplankton better.Microscopic method revealed that total phytoplankton(>10μm,including Bacillariophyta,Dinoflagellata,Ochrophyta,and Chlorophyta)abundances ranged(0.6×10^(3))-(167.4×10^(3))cells/L with an increasing trend from south to north.Dinoflagellates and Pennatae diatoms dominated the phytoplankton assemblages in the southern and northern stations,respectively.Major chromophytic phytoplankton groups derived from rbc L genes included Haptophyta,Ochrophyta,Bacillariophyta,as well as rarely occurring groups,such as Xanthophyta,Cyanobacteria,Dinoflagellata,Rhodophyta,and Cryptophyta.At the phylum level,Haptophyta was the most abundant phylum,accounting for approximately 30.80%of the total obtained operational taxonomic units in all samples.Ochrophyta and Bacillariophyta were the second and third most abundant phylum,and their relative abundance was 20.26% and 19.60%,respectively.Further,redundancy analysis showed that high proportion of diatoms(e.g.,microscopic and rbc L methods)was positively correlated with nutrients(e.g.,dissolved inorganic nitrogen(DIN),dissolved inorganic phosphorous,and dissolved silicate(DSi))and negatively correlated with temperature and salinity.The proportion of Ochrophyta,Rhodophyta,and Cyanobateria identified by rbc L genes was positively correlated with salinity and temperature and showed negative correlation to nutrients.This work is the first molecular study of phytoplankton accomplished in the WSG,and our results show some discrepancies between morphological observation and rbc L gene sequences,which highlight the necessity of combining the microscopic and molecular methods to reveal the diversity of phytoplankton in marine environment.

Study of the Lift Force Induced by An Interceptor on A High-Speed Mono-Hull:The Affecting Factors and Estimation Formula

To find a better way to estimate the lift force induced by an interceptor on a high-speed mono-hull ship,a series of high-speed mono-hull ship models are designed and investigated under different conditions.Different lift forces are obtained by numerical calculations and validated by a model test in a towing tank.The factors that influence the force are the interceptor height,velocity,draft,and deadrise angle.The relationship between each factor and the induced lift force is investigated and obtained.We found that the induced lift mainly depends on the interceptor height and advancing velocity,and is proportional to the square of the interceptor height and velocity.The results also showed that the effects of the draft and deadrise angle are relatively less important,and the relationship between the induced lift and these two factors is generally linear.Based on the results,a formula including the combined effect of all factors used to estimate the lift force induced by the interceptor is developed based on systematic analysis.The proposed formula could be used to estimate the lift force induced by interceptors,especially under high-speed condition.

Environmental concentration of ammonia nitrogen induced marked changes in proteome of clam Ruditapes philippinarum in dose-and time-dependent manner

Previous studies have revealed that ammonia nitrogen has several adverse effects on clam Ruditapes philippinarum.However,knowledge is lacking regarding the related proteins involved in the toxicological responses,which is vital to elucidate the underlying mechanism of ammonia nitrogen.In this study,clams R.philippinarum were exposed to ammonia nitrogen for 21 d at two environmentally relevant concentrations.The tandem mass tags approach(TMT)was applied to assay the differentially expressed proteins(DEPs)in clam gill tissues on the 3 rd and 21 st day.Finally,a total of 7263 proteins were identified.Bioinformatics analyses revealed that clam protein profiles changed in dose-and time dependent manner after ammonia nitrogen exposure.We inferred that the clams may face heavy challenges after ammonia exposure,such as unbalanced gender ratio,lysosomal disease,energy lack,neurological disorders,altered glutamine metabolism,increased lipid synthesis,and impaired immunity.Variation profiles of enzyme activities of glutaminase and glutamine synthase provided direct evidence to verify the related inference from proteome data.Most of the inferred toxic effects merit further study.This study identified important proteins related to ammonia nitrogen toxicity in the clam and indicated the severe stress of marine ammonia pollution on the healthy development of mollusc aquaculture.

Linkage between precipitation isotopes and water vapor sources in the monsoon margin:Evidence from arid areas of Northwest China

The isotope composition in precipitation has been widely considered as a tracer of monsoon activity.Compared with the coastal region,the monsoon margin usually has limited precipitation with large fluctuation and is usually sensitive to climate change.The water resource management in the monsoon margin should be better planned by understanding the composition of precipitation isotope and its influencing factors.In this study,the precipitation samples were collected at five sampling sites(Baiyin City,Kongtong District,Maqu County,Wudu District,and Yinchuan City)of the monsoon margin in the northwest of China in 2022 to analyze the characteristics of stable hydrogen(δD)and oxygen(δ18O)isotopes.We analyzed the impact of meteorological factors(temperature,precipitation,and relative humidity)on the composition of precipitation isotope at daily level by regression analysis,utilized the Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory(HYSPLIT)-based backward trajectory model to simulate the air mass trajectory of precipitation events,and adopted the potential source contribution function(PSCF)and concentration weighted trajectory(CWT)to analyze the water vapor sources.The results showed that compared with the global meteoric water line(GMWL),the slope of the local meteoric water line(LMWL;δD=7.34δ^(18)O-1.16)was lower,indicating the existence of strong regional evaporation in the study area.Temperature significantly contributed toδ18O value,while relative humidity had a significant negative effect onδ18O value.Through the backward trajectory analysis,we found eight primary locations that were responsible for the water vapor sources of precipitation in the study area,of which moisture from the Indian Ocean to South China Sea(ITSC)and the western continental(CW)had the greatest influence on precipitation in the study area.The hydrogen and oxygen isotopes in precipitation are significantly influenced by the sources and transportation paths of air mass.In addition,the results of PSCF and CWT analysis showed that the water vapor source areas were primarily distributed in the south and northwest direction of the study area.

Changes in Sediment Sources in the Southern Muddy Area of Weihai,China,Since the Late Pleistocene:A Record from Rare Earth Elements

The small muddy areas developed in the southern Shandong Peninsula have attracted increasing attention from researchers because of complex changes in sediment sources driven by sea-level fluctuations and land-sea interactions since the late Pleistocene.This study investigates the evolution of sediment sources and their responses to environmental changes since the late Pleistocene,using core WHZK01 collected from the nearshore muddy area in southern Weihai for rare earth element(REE)analysis.In doing so,this work highlights the changing patterns of material sources and the primary control factors.The results reveal that the sedimentary deposits in core WHZK01 exhibit distinct terrestrial characteristics.Discriminant function analysis(F_(D))and source discrimination dia-grams both suggest that the primary sources of these deposits are the Yellow River and adjacent small and medium-sized rivers,although the sources vary among different sedimentary units.Furthermore,the DU3 layer(17.82-25.10 m)displays typical riverine sedimentation,dominated by terrestrial detrital input,primarily from the local rivers,namely the Huanglei and Muzhu Rivers.The material in the DU2 layer(14.91-17.82 m)is mainly influenced by a mixture of the Qinglong and Yellow Rivers.The DU1 layer(0-14.91 m)is influenced by sea-level changes during the Holocene,with the Yellow River being the primary source,although there is also some input from local rivers.The changes in sea level during the Holocene and the input of Yellow River material carried by the coastal currents of the Yellow Sea are identified as the main controlling factors for the changes in material sources in the study area since the late Pleistocene,with small and mediumsized rivers also exerting some influence on the material sources.The above mentioned findings not only contribute to a better understanding of the source-sink systems of the Yellow River and adjacent small and mediumsized rivers but also deepen our understanding of the late Quaternary land-sea interactions in the Shandong Peninsula.

Wmic-GMTS and Wmic-GMERR criteria for micron-scale crack propagation in red-bed soft rocks under hydraulic action

Micron-scale crack propagation in red-bed soft rocks under hydraulic action is a common cause of engineering disasters due to damage to the hard rockesoft rockewater interface.Previous studies have not provided a theoretical analysis of the length,inclination angle,and propagation angle of micron-scale cracks,nor have they established appropriate criteria to describe the crack propagation process.The propagation mechanism of micron-scale cracks in red-bed soft rocks under hydraulic action is not yet fully understood,which makes it challenging to prevent engineering disasters in these types of rocks.To address this issue,we have used the existing generalized maximum tangential stress(GMTS)and generalized maximum energy release rate(GMERR)criteria as the basis and introduced parameters related to micron-scale crack propagation and water action.The GMTS and GMERR criteria for micronscale crack propagation in red-bed soft rocks under hydraulic action(abbreviated as the Wmic-GMTS and Wmic-GMERR criteria,respectively)were established to evaluate micron-scale crack propagation in redbed soft rocks under hydraulic action.The influence of the parameters was also described.The process of micron-scale crack propagation under hydraulic action was monitored using uniaxial compression tests(UCTs)based on digital image correlation(DIC)technology.The study analyzed the length,propagation and inclination angles,and mechanical parameters of micron-scale crack propagation to confirm the reliability of the established criteria.The findings suggest that the Wmic-GMTS and Wmic-GMERR criteria are effective in describing the micron-scale crack propagation in red-bed soft rocks under hydraulic action.This study discusses the mechanism of micron-scale crack propagation and its effect on engineering disasters under hydraulic action.It covers topics such as the internal-external weakening of nano-scale particles,lateral propagation of micron-scale cracks,weakening of the mechanical properties of millimeter-scale soft rocks,and resulting interface damage at the engineering scale.The study provides a theoretical basis for the mechanism of disasters in red-bed soft-rock engineering under hydraulic action.

Feasibility Study on Recovering Human-Occupied Vehicle with An Offshore Crane

Launching and recovering human-occupied vehicles(HOVs)has always been a challenging problem.The current recovery process requires staff to manually complete the tethering task,which is inefficient and endangers the lives of staff.This paper suggests moving the recovery position from the surface to underwater at approximately half the wavelength of the water depth(30−50 m underwater),where the HOV experiences less environmental disturbance.An ROV equipped with a ultra-short baseline beacon(USBL)and a manipulator was used to complete the tethering operation.Additionally,a shackle customized to the shape of the manipulator’s gripper is fitted to the end of the cable to simplify the tethering process.To investigate the dynamic response of recovering the HOV using this suggested method,a comprehensive numerical model is developed in this research.The effects of wind,surface waves,ocean currents,and nonlinear interaction between the installation vessel and the HOV are quantitatively examined.The results show that the proposed recovery method can reduce the motion amplitude of the HOV and that the wave has the greatest influence on the dynamic response of the HOV during the recovery process.This model provides better insight into the proposed HOV recovery method and confirms the effectiveness of the heave compensation system.The proposed approach aims to enhance safety and operational efficiency by reducing direct human involvement in the recovery process and mitigating potential dangers.This finding holds particular significance,especially in environmentally sensitive areas,where reducing the impact on the surrounding ecosystem is crucial.

Ice-Induced Vibrational Response of Single-Pile Offshore Wind-Turbine Foundations

Important challenges must be addressed to make wind turbines sustainable renewable energy sources.A typical problem concerns the design of the foundation.If the pile diameter is larger than that of the jacket platform,traditional mechanical models cannot be used.In this study,relying on the seabed soil data of an offshore wind farm,the m-method and the equivalent embedded method are used to address the single-pile wind turbine foundation problem for different pile diameters.An approach to determine the equivalent pile length is also proposed accordingly.The results provide evidence for the effectiveness and reliability of the model based on the equivalent embedded method.

Morphological and Sulfur-Isotopic Characteristics of Pyrites in the Deep Sediments from Xisha Trough,South China Sea

Pyrite is one of the common authigenic minerals in marine sediments.Previous studies have shown that the morphological and isotopic characteristics of pyrite are closely related to the geochemical environment where it is formed.To better understand the for-mation mechanism of authigenic pyrite,we analyzed the isotopic composition,morphology,and distribution of pyrite in the sediment at 500m below the seafloor from Xisha Trough,South China Sea.Mineral morphologies were observed by scanning electron micros-copy and Raman spectrography.X-Ray computed tomography was applied to measure the particle size of pyrite.The size of pyrite crystals in the matrix sediment mainly ranged between 25 and 65µm(av.ca.40µm),although crystals were larger(av.ca.50μm)in the veins.The pyrites had a fine-grained truncated octahedral shape with occasionally well-developed growth steps,which implies the low growth rate and weak anaerobic oxidation of methane-sulfate reduction when pyrite was formed.Theδ^(34)S values of pyrites ranged from+20.8‰Vienna-defined Canyon Diablo Troilite(V-CDT)to+33.2‰V-CDT and from+44.8‰V-CDT to+48.9‰,which suggest two growth stages.In the first stage,with the continuous low methane flux,the pyrite possibly formed in an environment with good access to seawater.In the second stage,the pyrites mainly developed in sediment fractures and appeared in veins,probably due to the limited availability of sulfate.The less exposure of pyrite to the environment in the second stage was probably caused by sediment accumulation or perturbation.In this study,an episodic pyritization process was identified,and the paleoenvironment was reconstructed for the sediment investigated.

Distribution and influencing factors of acoustic characteristics of seafloor sediment in the Sunda Shelf

To understand the acoustic and physical properties of piston core samples collected from the Sunda continental shelf and analyze their distribution patterns,the samples were analyzed in laboratory,from which three provinces were divided in sound speed,sound speed ratio,porosity,wet bulk density,and maximum shear strength.ProvinceⅠhad lower sound speed and sound speed ratio(<1.04),high porosity,and low wet bulk density.ProvinceⅡhad higher sound speed and sound speed ratio(>1.04),low porosity,and high wet bulk density.ProvinceⅢhad the lowest sound speed and sound speed ratio(0.99),highest porosity(81%),and lowest wet bulk density(1.34 g/cm^(3)).The distribution pattern indicates that sediment movement,sediment source,topography,and hydrodynamic conditions influenced the distribution of acoustic and physical properties.Furthermore,we investigated the relationship of the maximum shear strength to the porosity and wet bulk density,and found that the maximum shear strength was proportional to both the porosity and wet bulk density.This finding has significant implications for ocean engineering applications.

Extreme Responses of An Integrated System with A Semi-Submersible Wind Turbine and Four Torus-Shaped Wave Energy Converters in Different Survival Modes

Offshore wind power is a kind of important clean renewable energy and has attracted increasing attention due to the rapid consumption of non-renewable energy.To reduce the high cost of energy,a possible try is to utilize the combination of wind and wave energy considering their natural correlation.A combined concept consisting of a semi-submersible wind turbine and four torus-shaped wave energy converters was proposed and numerically studied under normal operating conditions.However,the dynamic behavior of the integrated system under extreme sea conditions has not been studied yet.In the present work,extreme responses of the integrated system under two different survival modes are evaluated.Fully coupled time-domain simulations with consideration of interactions between the semi-submersible wind turbine and the torus-shaped wave energy converters are performed to investigate dynamic responses of the integrated system,including mooring tensions,tower bending moments,end stop forces,and contact forces at the Column-Torus interface.It is found that the addition of four tori will reduce the mean motions of the yaw,pitch and surge.When the tori are locked at the still water line,the whole integrated system is more suitable for the survival modes.

MAVEN observation of magnetosonic waves in the Martian magnetotail region

Magnetosonic waves are an important medium for energy transfer in collisionless space plasma.Magnetosonic waves have been widely investigated in the upstream of the bow shock at Mars.These waves are believed to originate from pickup ions or reflected particles.By utilizing MAVEN spacecraft data,we have observed the occurrence of quasi-perpendicularly propagating magnetosonic emissions near the proton gyrofrequency in the Martian magnetotail region.These plasma waves are associated with a significant enhancement of proton and oxygen flux.The excited magnetosonic waves could possibly heat the protons through resonance and facilitate the ionospheric plasma escape.Our results could be helpful to better understand the Mars’magnetospheric dynamics and offer insights into possible energy redistribution between waves and plasma in the Martian nightside magnetosphere.

Innovation and Practice of Teaching Methods in Digital and Adaptive Learning:Taking Communication Engineering Major as an Example

This paper proposes teaching reforms in communication engineering majors,emphasizing the implementation of digital and adaptive teaching methodologies,integrating emerging technologies,breaking free from the constraints of traditional education,and fostering high-caliber talents.The reform measures encompass fundamental data collection,recognition of individual characteristics,recommendation of adaptive learning resources,process-oriented teaching management,adaptive student guidance and early warning systems,personalized evaluation,and the construction of an integrated service platform.These measures,when combined,form a comprehensive system that is expected to enhance teaching quality and efficiency,and facilitate student development.

Mantle melting factors and amagmatic crustal accretion of the Gakkel ridge, Arctic Ocean

Spreading rate is a primary factor of mantle melting and tectonic behavior of the global mid-ocean ridges. The spreading rate of the Gakkel ridge decreases gradually from west to east. However, the Gakkel ridge can be divided into four thick-and-thin zones with varying crustal thicknesses along ridge axis. This phenomenon indicates that mantle melting of the Gakkel ridge is not a simple function of spreading rate. Mantle temperature, water content, mantle composition, and other factors are important in crustal accretion processes. Based on gravity-derived crustal thickness and wet melting model, we estimate that the mantle potential temperatures of the four zones are 1 270, 1 220, 1 280, and 1 280℃ （assuming that mantle water content equals to global average value）, with corresponding mantle water contents of 210, 0, 340, and 280 mg/kg （assuming that mantle potential temperature is 1 260℃）, respectivly. The western thinned crust zone is best modeled with low mantle temperature, whereas the other zones are mainly controlled by the enhanced conduction caused by the slower spreading rate. Along the Gakkel ridge, the crustal thickness is consistent with rock samples types. Predominated serpentinized peridotite and basalt are found in the area with crustal thickness 〈1.5 km and 〉2.5 km, respectively. The rock samples are including from basalt to peridotite in the area with crustal thickness between 1.5 and 2.5 km. Based on this consistency, the traditional magmatic accretion zone accounted for only 44% and amagmatic accretion accounted for 29% of the Gakkel ridge. The amagmatic accretion is a significant characteristic of the ultra-slow spreading ridge.

Observations of contrasted glacial-interglacial dissolution of foraminifera above the lysocline in the Bay of Bengal,northeastern Indian Ocean

Site U1446(19°50’N,85°44’E,at water depth 1430 m)was drilled during Expedition 353(Indian monsoon rainfall)of the International Ocean Discovery Program(IODP).It is located in the Mahanadi offshore basin,on the northern Bay of Bengal.Sedimentation rates and contents of biocarbonates are high at this relatively shallow site.Using a micropaleontological approach,we examined planktonic and benthic foraminifera in the upper around 40 m of this site,spanning the last around 190 ka.A striking feature of the foraminiferal record is the occurrence of strong but varying dissolution although the site is located well above the modern lysocline.Such strong dissolution has never been reported in this area.We estimated the flux of foraminifera and quantified the ratio of benthic foraminifera over total foraminifera(benthic/total foraminifera)along with the foraminifer fragmentation index in order to characterize past changes in this above-lysocline dissolution.This study reveals a clear glacialinterglacial contrast,with a stronger dissolution during marine isotope stages(MISs)1 and 5 than during MISs 2–4 and 6.Such a difference in preservation is likely to have a strong impact on geochemical proxies measured on foraminifera.Our new observations call for an in-depth study of the causes of such above-lysocline dissolution in the region,and an evaluation of its impact on the foraminifera-based proxies used for paleoenvironmental reconstruction.

Obtaining accurate measurements of the sea surface height from a GPS buoy

A dedicated GPS buoy is designed for calibration and validation(Cal/Val)of satellite altimeters since 2014.In order to evaluate the accuracy of the sea surface height(SSH)measured by the GPS buoy,twelve campaigns have been done within China sea area between 2014 and 2021.In six of these campaigns,two static Global Navigation Satellite System stations were installed at distances of<1 km and 19 km from the buoy to assess how the baseline length influenced the derived SSH from the buoy solutions.The GPS buoy data was processed using the GAMIT/GLOBK software+TRACK module and CSRS-PPP tool to achieve the SSH.The SSH was compared with conventionally tide gauge(TG)data to evaluate the accuracy of the buoy with the standard deviation of the height element.The results showed that the difference in the standard deviation of the SSH from the buoy and the TG was less than 16 mm.The SSHs processed with different ephemeris(Ultra-Rapid,Rapid,Final)were not significantly different.When the baseline length was 19 km,the SSH solution of the GPS buoy performed well,with standard bias of less than 26 mm between the heights measured by the buoy and TG,meaning that the buoy could be used for Cal/Val of altimeters.The bias between the Canadian Spatial Reference System-precise point positioning tool and the TRACK varied a lot,and some of them were over 130 mm.This deemed too high to be useful for Cal/Val of satellite altimeters.Moreover,the GPS buoy solutions processed by GAMIT/GLOBK software+TRACK module were used for in-orbit Cal/Val of HY-2B/C satellites in ten campaigns.The SSH and significant wave height of the altimeters showed good agreements with the GPS buoy solutions.

Modeling impact of culture facilities on hydrodynamics and solute transport in marine aquaculture waters of North Yellow Sea

An increasing number of marine aquaculture facilities have been placed in shallow bays and open sea,which might significantly affect hydrodynamic and solute transport processes in marine aquaculture waters.In this study,a coupled hydrodynamic and solute transport model was developed with high-resolution schemes in marine aquaculture waters based on depth-averaged shallow water equations.A new expression of drag force was incorporated into the momentum equations to express the resistance of suspended culture cages.The coupled model was used to simulate the effect of suspended structures on tidal currents and the movement of a contaminant cloud in the marine aquaculture of the North Yellow Sea,China.The simulation results showed a low-velocity area appearing inside the aquaculture cage area,with a maximum reduction rate of velocity close to 45%under high-density culture.The results also showed that tidal currents were sensitive to the density of suspended cages,the length of cages,and the drag coefficients of cages.The transport processes of pollutants inside aquaculture facilities were inhibited away from the vicinity of the culture cage area because of the diminished tidal currents.Therefore,the suspended cages significantly affected the transport processes of pollutants in the coastal aquaculture waters.Furthermore,the reduced horizontal velocity significantly decreased the food supply for the aquaculture areas from the surrounding sea.

Fault Diagnosis of Power Electronic Circuits Based on Adaptive Simulated Annealing Particle Swarm Optimization

In the field of energy conversion,the increasing attention on power electronic equipment is fault detection and diagnosis.A power electronic circuit is an essential part of a power electronic system.The state of its internal components affects the performance of the system.The stability and reliability of an energy system can be improved by studying the fault diagnosis of power electronic circuits.Therefore,an algorithm based on adaptive simulated annealing particle swarm optimization(ASAPSO)was used in the present study to optimize a backpropagation(BP)neural network employed for the online fault diagnosis of a power electronic circuit.We built a circuit simulation model in MATLAB to obtain its DC output voltage.Using Fourier analysis,we extracted fault features.These were normalized as training samples and input to an unoptimized BP neural network and BP neural networks optimized by particle swarm optimization(PSO)and the ASAPSO algorithm.The accuracy of fault diagnosis was compared for the three networks.The simulation results demonstrate that a BP neural network optimized with the ASAPSO algorithm has higher fault diagnosis accuracy,better reliability,and adaptability and can more effectively diagnose and locate faults in power electronic circuits.

Differential tectonic evolution and formation mechanism of three subsags in Wenchang Sag of Pearl River Mouth Basin,South China Sea

Notable differences in the structural characteristics and evolution of three adjacent sub-sags,i.e.,the Wenchang sub-sags A,B,and C,on the downthrown side of the Zhu IlI South Fault in the Wenchang Sag,are significant as they affect the formation and distribution of the oil and gas in these three sub-sags.However,the differences in their tectonic evolutions and formation mechanisms have not yet been adequately explained.In this paper,stress analysis,equilibrium profiles,and paleogeomorphic restora-tion,are used to investigate the dynamic settings,formation mechanisms,and influencing factors of the structural deformation related to the formation of the Wenchang Sag based on interpretation of seismic data.The results of the stress analysis suggest clockwise deflection of the regional tensile stress direction from a WNW-ESE trend during the Early Paleocene to NW-SE and NNW-SSE trends during the Eocene,to a nearly N-S trend during the Oligocene,and finally to a NNE-SSW trend during the Miocene.This clockwise rotation of the regional tensile stress direction led to the formation of a dextral strike-slip stress component parallel to the NE-trending Zhu I South Fault.This strike-slip stress component formed a releasing bend in sub-sag A,and may be associated with the continuous subsidence of a thick sedimentary layer in sub-sag A.It also created a restraining bend in sub-sag B,which underwent multiple structural inversions during its extension and subsidence and has a relatively s mall sedimentary thick-ness.The double restraining bend in sub-sag C is considered to have been strongly uplifted and eroded in response to this strike-slip stress component.Four obvious structural inversions in sub-sag B are iden-tified in this paper.These structural inversions correspond to the last four regional tectonic movements.This interpretation suggests that the formation of the structural inversions was likely related to the strong tensile stress and the small intersection angle between the direction of the regional tensile stress and the pre-existing boundary fault.The rotation of the tensile stress direction was responsible for the strike-slip movement on the pre-existing boundary fault and the formation of the releasing bend and restraining bend,which controlled the structural evolutions of the sub-sags.This reasonably explains the differential tectonic evolution of these three sub-sags in the Wenchang Sag,and provides a crucial idea forstructuralanalysisof similarbasins.