We examine the cross-shelf variation of internal tides(ITs)west of the Dongsha Plateau in the northern South China Sea based on observations from 4 moorings deployed between August 2017 and September 2018.On the slope...We examine the cross-shelf variation of internal tides(ITs)west of the Dongsha Plateau in the northern South China Sea based on observations from 4 moorings deployed between August 2017 and September 2018.On the slope,the amplitude of diurnal baroclinic current ellipses are 5 times larger than that of barotropic currents.The baroclinic energy quickly dissipates during cross-shelf propagation,and barotropic currents become dominant on the shelf outside of the Zhujiang River Estuary,with the amplitude of semidiurnal barotropic current ellipses being 10 times larger than that of the baroclinic ones.Dynamic modal decomposition indicates the first baroclinic mode is dominant for both diurnal and semidiurnal ITs.The total horizontal kinetic energy(HKE)of the first three baroclinic modes shows spatiotemporal differences among the 4 moorings.On the slope,the HKE for diurnal ITs is stronger in summer and winter,but weaker in spring and autumn;for semidiurnal ITs there is a similar seasonal variation,but the HKE in winter is even stronger than that in summer.On the shallow shelf,both diurnal and semidiurnal ITs maintain a certain intensity in summer but almost disappear in winter.Further analysis shows that only the upper water column is affected by seasonal variation of stratification on the slope,variation of diurnal ITs is thus controlled by the semi-annual cycle of barotropic energy input from the Luzon Strait,while the incoherent baroclinic currents make a major contribution to the temporal variation of semidiurnal ITs.For the shelf region,the water column is well mixed in winter,and the baroclinic energy largely dissipates when ITs propagate to the shelf zone despite of a strong barotropic energy input from the Luzon Strait.展开更多
Internal waves(IWs)are small-scale physical processes that occur frequently in stratified marginal seas.IWs are ubiquitous and well documented in the northern South China Sea(n SCS),but few studies have explored the e...Internal waves(IWs)are small-scale physical processes that occur frequently in stratified marginal seas.IWs are ubiquitous and well documented in the northern South China Sea(n SCS),but few studies have explored the ecosystem responses to the IWs.MODISA chlorophyll-a(Chl-a)data from 2002 to 2014 were used to examine the distribution of Chl a near the Dongsha Atoll(DSA).Composite Chl a from about 40 IWs during spring and summer showed stronger response on the northern side than on the southern side of the DSA.One day after the passage of IWs,composite surface Chl a on the northern side increased from 0.11 mg/m3 to a maximum mean value of 0.18 mg/m3.It decreased to 0.13 mg/m3 after two days and maintained that level for several days after the passage of IWs.The enhanced surface Chl a likely caused subsurface Chl-a maximum and nutrients in the surface layer.Approximately 64%of the increase in surface Chl a was due to the uplift of the subsurface Chl-a maximum one day after the passage of IWs,while nutrient-induced new phytoplankton growth contributed about 18%of the increase a few days later.When the IWs occurred frequently in spring and summer,Chl-a level on the northern side was about 30%higher than that on the southern side.IW dissipation and its impact on nutrients and chlorophyll were stronger on the northern side of the DSA than on the south,which caused a north-south asymmetric distribution of Chl a in the region.展开更多
Surthce elevation is tile basic data for geo-science. It is difficult to retrieve tidal-flats' elevation from a single Re- mote Sensing (RS) image because of the complicated sediment dynanical environment and huge ...Surthce elevation is tile basic data for geo-science. It is difficult to retrieve tidal-flats' elevation from a single Re- mote Sensing (RS) image because of the complicated sediment dynanical environment and huge spatial difference in tidal-flats' moisture content. A Digital Elevation Model (DEM) construction method for inconstant inter-tidal zone based on high tempo-resolution MODIS data set in a short period is proposed in a ease study on the Dongsha Sandbank of the Jiangsu Radial Tidal Sand-ridges. In the present study, a batch-preprocessing method based on image partition to handle massive MODIS IB images is developed and applied to 8163 scenes of MODIS images. The dataset of short-period and muhi-temporal MODIS images for inter-tidal flats' DEM inversion is selected and the usability of MODIS dataset is analyzed. Shorelines of the Dongsha Sandbank are extracted by use of batch supervised classification. In accord with tidal- 0 level forecasted by the Chenjiawu Tidal Gauge Station at the overpass moment of each RS image, DEMs of inter-tidal flats in January and sutmner(Jul, Aug and Sept), 2003 are built under ArcG1S9.2. Studies show that: (1) The dataset of short-duration and muhi-phase MODIS images can be used to retrieve the historical DEM of tidal-flats at changeful tidal flats. (2) Aualysis on usability of MODIS images from Aqua and Terra indicates that there are more usable and higbquality MODIS images in spring, autumn and winter, but less in summer. Therefore, the period for building inter-tidal fiats' DEM is suggested to be one month in spring, autumn and winter and three months in summer.展开更多
Previous studies of gas hydrate in the Dongsha area mainly focused on the deep-seated gas hydrates that have a high energy potential,but cared little about the shallow gas hydrates occurrences.Shallow gas hydrates hav...Previous studies of gas hydrate in the Dongsha area mainly focused on the deep-seated gas hydrates that have a high energy potential,but cared little about the shallow gas hydrates occurrences.Shallow gas hydrates have been confirmed by drill cores at three sites(GMGS208,GMGS209 and GMGS216)during the GMGS2 cruise,which occur as veins,blocky nodules or massive layers,at 8–30 m below the seafloor.Gas chimneys and faults observed on the seismic sections are the two main fluid migration pathways.The deep-seated gas hydrate and the shallow hydrate-bearing sediments are two main seals for the migrating gas.The occurrences of shallow gas hydrates are mainly controlled by the migration of fluid along shallow faults and the presence of deep-seated gas hydrates.Active gas leakage is taking place at a relatively high-flux state through the vent structures identified on the geophysical data at the seafloor,although without resulting in gas plumes easily detectable by acoustic methods.The presence of strong reflections on the high-resolution seismic profiles and dim or chaotic layers in the subbottom profiles are most likely good indicators of shallow gas hydrates in the Dongsha area.Active cold seeps,indicated by either gas plume or seepage vent,can also be used as indicators for neighboring shallow gas hydrates and the gas hydrate system that is highly dynamic in the Dongsha area.展开更多
Coral reefs are an sensitive-to-environment complex marine ecosystem. The ecosystem of corals is rich in biodiversity. Remote sensing offers a powerful tool for categorizing coral reefs and is the most cost - effectiv...Coral reefs are an sensitive-to-environment complex marine ecosystem. The ecosystem of corals is rich in biodiversity. Remote sensing offers a powerful tool for categorizing coral reefs and is the most cost - effective approach for the large - scale reef survey. The Dongsha Atoll, more than 300 km2 with an average depth of 10 m, is located at the northern continental margin of the South China Sea. It has been abused by destructive fishing during recent decades. Three satellite imageries (Quickbird2, ETM + and SPOTS) are used to evaluate the capabilities of SPOT5 imagery to provide data that are useful for categorizing the current distribution of coral reefs therein. During the data processing, unsupervised classification functions are adopted for ETM + and SPOT5 data, while the supervised classification method is used for Quickbird2. The classes are (or not) merged into coral reef, and then will be operated by vectorization, simplification, and topological analysis. There are 1 331 coral reefs larger than 100 m2 with a detection limit of 3 × 3 pixels at the multi - band data of Quickbird2, which is taken as the comparison baseline. The results extracted from SPOT5 and ETM images are less in number and area than those from the Quickbird2 image, whereas the results from SPOT5 data are better than those of ETM data at the silty lagoon due to its higher resolution. SPOT5 XS band 2 fails to distinguish the deep substrate inside the atoll compared with ETM data because of its poor penetration capability. Only SPOT XS band 1 cannot be used to differentiate coral reef from sand bottom. Merging the SPOT5 multi - bands data with the spatial resolution of SPOT5 pan - data and referring to ETM imagery are expected to provide an optimal satellite - based approach for mapping of coral reefs.展开更多
The Dongsha area is one of the most promising target areas for gas hydrate exploration in the South China Sea(SCS).The study of pore water geochemistry has played a key role in Chinese gas hydrate exploration.Br/Cl,...The Dongsha area is one of the most promising target areas for gas hydrate exploration in the South China Sea(SCS).The study of pore water geochemistry has played a key role in Chinese gas hydrate exploration.Br/Cl,I/Cl and δ37Cl in pore water were applied here in tracing gas hydrate occurrence,chemical evolution of pore fluids and water/rock interactions in low temperature sediment environments.The samples were collected from Sites HD255 PC and HD309 PC in the Dongsha area in 2004.At Site HD255 PC,we found the elevated Br/Cl,I/Cl and decreased SO_4/Cl at the depth of 4–5 m,suggestive of a laterally migrated fluid probably generated from the gas hydrate occurrence.The range of δ37Cl is –0.54‰ to +0.96‰,and positive δ^(37)Cl at 4–5 m interval should be related with different diffusion rates between ^(35)Cl and ^(37)Cl.At Site HD309 PC,a laterally migrated fluid was also found at the depth of 3–4 m,with the Br/Cl two times to that of the seawater and decreased I/Cl,indicating the fluid has no relationship with the gas hydrate.In this site,the chlorine isotopic composition varies from –0.7‰ to+1.9‰.Extra high Br/Cl might relate with the deep generated fluid.At higher temperature and pressure,the Br/Cl of the fluid is elevated during the hydrous silicate formation,while positive δ37Cl is also associated with the same mechanism.展开更多
A statistical analysis for the morphological parameters extracted from numerous seismic profiles, and a highresolution seismic study of the southeastern slope of the Dongsha Islands(South China Sea) with water depth b...A statistical analysis for the morphological parameters extracted from numerous seismic profiles, and a highresolution seismic study of the southeastern slope of the Dongsha Islands(South China Sea) with water depth between approximately 500 and 3 100 m, has revealed the variation of morphological features due to the intrusion of igneous bodies and associated sedimentary processes. Three types of the continental slope are distinguished:(1) a rough and steep slope with multiple igneous bodies(Type 1),(2) a relatively smooth and gentle slope with the single igneous body(Type 2), and(3) a smooth and gentle slope without igneous bodies(Type 3). These igneous bodies, formed in the post-seafloor spreading of the South China Sea, are often characterized by high positive seismic amplitudes, and chaotic reflections with complex shapes. The igneous bodies in Type 1 separated the slope into two or more upper sub-sags and a lower main-sag, in which the sub-sags and main-sag could be filled with sediments transported by alongslope bottom currents at the same time. Whereas, the igneous body in Type 2 just separated the slope into an upper sub-sag and a lower main-sag, in which the sediments could be transported into the lower main-sag only after the upper sub-sag has been filled up. Type 3 represents a normal slope with common clinoform progradation. The modern slope morphologies in the study area are the results of adjustments of the continental slope due to the intrusion of igneous bodies and associated sedimentary processes. The distinctions among three types of modern slope morphologies indicate different depositional conditions and adjustments of slope morphologies.展开更多
Dongsha waters are poorly studied for gas hydrates. Previous multi-channel seismic reflection and Chirp sub- bottom profiles show that numerous submarine mounds stand up to 100 m high above the seafloor over the conti...Dongsha waters are poorly studied for gas hydrates. Previous multi-channel seismic reflection and Chirp sub- bottom profiles show that numerous submarine mounds stand up to 100 m high above the seafloor over the continental slope of the SW Dongsha Island in northern margin of the South China Sea (SCS). These mounds are characterized by hardened seabed, seafloor gas venting and folded structures, which implies the existence of active mud volcanoes. This work aims to confirm this speculation by seafloor sample dredging and to explore the potential of gas hydrates.展开更多
-The tectonic types of the Zhujiang (Pearl) River Mouth Basin in the South China Sea are epicontinental rift-depression basins. Prior to Early Cretaceous time, the Dongsha Uplift arid its surrounding depressions had b...-The tectonic types of the Zhujiang (Pearl) River Mouth Basin in the South China Sea are epicontinental rift-depression basins. Prior to Early Cretaceous time, the Dongsha Uplift arid its surrounding depressions had been combined with the Eurasia Plate in a single unit. Many ENE-trending narrow rifted basins were formed in the third episode of Yanshan orogeny (Late Laramide). The rifted basins in the Paleocene and Eocene were stretched and extended, forming Zhu 1, Zhu 2 and Zhu 3 depressions. The Dongsha Uplift is located between Zhu 1 and Zhu 2 depressions . covering an area of 28 000 Km2. Its geologic evolution can be divided into four stages:(1) Late Cretaceous - Paleocene block-faulting stage.(2) Eocene -Oligocene uplifting and eroding stage.(3) Late Oligocene - Early Miocene sustained subsiding stage.(4) Middle Miocene -Recent noncompensated subsiding stage.The Dongsha Uplift is a structural zone favourable for oil-gas accumulation.展开更多
Internal solitary waves(ISWs) are frequently observed in the area between Dongsha Island(DI) and Taiwan Island. However, there have been few in-situ observations southwest of DI. To improve our knowledge of ISWs in th...Internal solitary waves(ISWs) are frequently observed in the area between Dongsha Island(DI) and Taiwan Island. However, there have been few in-situ observations southwest of DI. To improve our knowledge of ISWs in this area, we observed the ISWs over the continental shelf(115.4°E, 20.3°N) from Aug. 29 to Oct. 10, 2011 with temperature sensors and an acoustic Doppler current profiler(ADCP). The observations showed that the a fully developed ISW produced a current whose maximum westward velocity was 0.92 m/s and maximum northward velocity was 0.47 m/s. During the 41-day observation period the ISWs appeared for three periods with about 7-day gaps between each period. During each day, two types of ISWs were observed. The first type of wave arrived regularly diurnally at the same time each day, with a similar pattern to that of the type- a wave identified by Ramp et al.(2004). The second type arrived about 12 h after the first type and was delayed about 1 hour each day; this wave type was related to the type- b wave. Thus, our observations confirmed that both type- a and type- b waves can reach the area southwest of the DI. Moreover, the waves observed by the mooring propagated toward the directions of 270°–315° clockwise from true north, indicating obvious refraction from uneven topography around DI.展开更多
Gas hydrate samples were first obtained in the Dongsha area,South China Sea(GMGS2)in 2013.High-resolution 3D seismic data in the area show various small 1andslide bodies developedas huge mass transport deposits.These ...Gas hydrate samples were first obtained in the Dongsha area,South China Sea(GMGS2)in 2013.High-resolution 3D seismic data in the area show various small 1andslide bodies developedas huge mass transport deposits.These bodies are divided into seven types on the basis of theirshapes,intermal structures and geneses(slide,collapse and deformation above BSRs,as well asthe slump wedge,lens,block and sheet below BSRs).Based on this classification,detailed studieswere conducted,including measurements of the slump body sizes and slope gradients of landslides,depiction of their three-dimensional characteristics,and research on the landslide distribution.Todetermine the genetic differences of these seven types,this study analyses the possibility of verticalflow-pattern-transformation and mechanisms of submarine landsltide formation.Results show that thedominant factor influencing the submarine landslides in the Dongsha area is the free gas emitted fromgas hydrate decomposition,with possible fransformation between flow patterns.Finally,there are twokinds of relationships between submarine landslides and BSRs since the free gas either influences thesubmarine landslide bodies below or above BSRs,resulting in two types of submarine landslide bodyassociations:Type A is characterized by submarine slide above BSRs and slump lens below BSRs,whereas Type B shows deformation above BSRs and slump blocks below BSRs.Type Ais favourablefor gas exploration because it indicates less decomposition and better sealing of gas hydrate layers.展开更多
Based on a data base of multi-channel seismic profiles covered over Dongsha plateau of the northern South China Sea margin, we found that the sea bed morphology of northern South China Sea margin had been changed dram...Based on a data base of multi-channel seismic profiles covered over Dongsha plateau of the northern South China Sea margin, we found that the sea bed morphology of northern South China Sea margin had been changed dramatically after Dongsha uplifting, that sedimentary layer since Miocene age had been eroded with maximum eroded thickness more than 1000 m, and that an erosive channel had been formed of 20 km in width and 200 km in length and several hundreds meters in depth on the outer shelf of northern South China Sea. The erosive channel is parallel to the 600 m isobath line, stretching from northeast to the southwest north of Dongsha uplift. The Kuroshio intrudes the South China Sea through Luzon Strait both in winter time and summer time, and in the northern South China Sea margin area, the intruded Kuroshio Branch takes the form of Pacific-Indian Ocean Through Flow (PITH) in winter time, while the Luzon Strait Subsurface Inflow (LSSIF) in summer time, the routes of both PITH and LSSIF coincide well with the distribution of the erosive channel. After climbing from the northern slope up to the northern shelf, and after joined by the southward flow from the middle northern shelf of South China Sea, the Kuroshio Branch is strengthened and thus is able to erode the sea floor, and the shape of the erosive channel is a result of the long-term interaction between the Kuroshio South China Sea Branch and the Dongsha outer shelf sea floor.展开更多
The Dongsha submarine canyon is a large canyon belonging to a group of canyons on the northeastern South China Sea margin. Investigation of the Dongsha canyon is important for understanding the origin of this canyon g...The Dongsha submarine canyon is a large canyon belonging to a group of canyons on the northeastern South China Sea margin. Investigation of the Dongsha canyon is important for understanding the origin of this canyon group as well as the transport mechanism of sediments on the margin, and the evolution of the Taixinan foreland basin and the associated Taiwan orogenic belt. In this study, the morphology, sedimentary characteristics, and origin of the Dongsha canyon were investigated by integrating high-resolution multi-channel seismic reflection profiles and high-precision multibeam bathymetric data. This is a slope-confined canyon that originates in the upper slope east of the Dongsha Islands, extends downslope in the SEE direction, and finally merges with the South Taiwan Shoal canyon at a water depth of 3000 m. The total length and average width of the canyon are around 190 and 10 km, respectively. Eleven seismic sequence boundaries within the canyon fills were identified and interpreted as incision surfaces of the canyon. In the canyon fills, four types of seismic facies were defined: parallel onlap fill, chaotic fill, mounded divergent facies, and migrated wavy facies. The parallel onlap fill facies is interpreted as alternating coarser turbidites or other gravity-flow deposits and fine hemipelagic sediments filling the canyon valley. The chaotic fill facies is presumed to be debrites and/or basal lag deposits filling the thalwegs. The mounded divergent and migrated wavy seismic facies can be explained as canyon levees consisting mainly of overspilled fine turbidites and sediment waves on the levees or on the canyon-mouth submarine fans. Age correlation between the sequence boundaries and the ODP Site 1144 data suggests that the Dongsha canyon was initiated at approximately 0.9 Ma in the middle Pleistocene. Mapping of the canyon indicates that the canyon originated at the upstream portion of the middle reach of the modern canyon, and has been continuously expanding both upstream and downstream by retrogressive erosion, incision, and deposition of turbidity currents and other gravity transport processes. The ages of the sequence boundaries representing major canyon incision events are in good agreement with those of global sea-level lowstands, indicating that sea-level changes may have played an important role in the canyon's development. The Dongsha canyon developed in a region with an active tectonic background characterized by the Taiwan uplifting and the development of the Taixinan foreland basin. However, no evidence suggests that the canyon formation is directly associated with local or regional faulting and magmatic activities. Turbidity currents and other gravity transport processes(including submarine slides and slumps) may have had an important influence on the formation and evolution of the canyon.展开更多
基金The Key-Area Research and Development Project of Guangdong Province under contract No.2020B1111020003the Science and Technology Plan Projects of Guangdong Province under contract No.2021B1212050025the Science and Technology Development Fund of the South China Sea Bureau,Ministry of Natural Resources under contract No.202205.
文摘We examine the cross-shelf variation of internal tides(ITs)west of the Dongsha Plateau in the northern South China Sea based on observations from 4 moorings deployed between August 2017 and September 2018.On the slope,the amplitude of diurnal baroclinic current ellipses are 5 times larger than that of barotropic currents.The baroclinic energy quickly dissipates during cross-shelf propagation,and barotropic currents become dominant on the shelf outside of the Zhujiang River Estuary,with the amplitude of semidiurnal barotropic current ellipses being 10 times larger than that of the baroclinic ones.Dynamic modal decomposition indicates the first baroclinic mode is dominant for both diurnal and semidiurnal ITs.The total horizontal kinetic energy(HKE)of the first three baroclinic modes shows spatiotemporal differences among the 4 moorings.On the slope,the HKE for diurnal ITs is stronger in summer and winter,but weaker in spring and autumn;for semidiurnal ITs there is a similar seasonal variation,but the HKE in winter is even stronger than that in summer.On the shallow shelf,both diurnal and semidiurnal ITs maintain a certain intensity in summer but almost disappear in winter.Further analysis shows that only the upper water column is affected by seasonal variation of stratification on the slope,variation of diurnal ITs is thus controlled by the semi-annual cycle of barotropic energy input from the Luzon Strait,while the incoherent baroclinic currents make a major contribution to the temporal variation of semidiurnal ITs.For the shelf region,the water column is well mixed in winter,and the baroclinic energy largely dissipates when ITs propagate to the shelf zone despite of a strong barotropic energy input from the Luzon Strait.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.31971480,41730536)the Key Special Project for Introduced Talents Team of Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory(Guangzhou)(No.GML2019ZD0303)。
文摘Internal waves(IWs)are small-scale physical processes that occur frequently in stratified marginal seas.IWs are ubiquitous and well documented in the northern South China Sea(n SCS),but few studies have explored the ecosystem responses to the IWs.MODISA chlorophyll-a(Chl-a)data from 2002 to 2014 were used to examine the distribution of Chl a near the Dongsha Atoll(DSA).Composite Chl a from about 40 IWs during spring and summer showed stronger response on the northern side than on the southern side of the DSA.One day after the passage of IWs,composite surface Chl a on the northern side increased from 0.11 mg/m3 to a maximum mean value of 0.18 mg/m3.It decreased to 0.13 mg/m3 after two days and maintained that level for several days after the passage of IWs.The enhanced surface Chl a likely caused subsurface Chl-a maximum and nutrients in the surface layer.Approximately 64%of the increase in surface Chl a was due to the uplift of the subsurface Chl-a maximum one day after the passage of IWs,while nutrient-induced new phytoplankton growth contributed about 18%of the increase a few days later.When the IWs occurred frequently in spring and summer,Chl-a level on the northern side was about 30%higher than that on the southern side.IW dissipation and its impact on nutrients and chlorophyll were stronger on the northern side of the DSA than on the south,which caused a north-south asymmetric distribution of Chl a in the region.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos .40701117 andJ0630535)
文摘Surthce elevation is tile basic data for geo-science. It is difficult to retrieve tidal-flats' elevation from a single Re- mote Sensing (RS) image because of the complicated sediment dynanical environment and huge spatial difference in tidal-flats' moisture content. A Digital Elevation Model (DEM) construction method for inconstant inter-tidal zone based on high tempo-resolution MODIS data set in a short period is proposed in a ease study on the Dongsha Sandbank of the Jiangsu Radial Tidal Sand-ridges. In the present study, a batch-preprocessing method based on image partition to handle massive MODIS IB images is developed and applied to 8163 scenes of MODIS images. The dataset of short-period and muhi-temporal MODIS images for inter-tidal flats' DEM inversion is selected and the usability of MODIS dataset is analyzed. Shorelines of the Dongsha Sandbank are extracted by use of batch supervised classification. In accord with tidal- 0 level forecasted by the Chenjiawu Tidal Gauge Station at the overpass moment of each RS image, DEMs of inter-tidal flats in January and sutmner(Jul, Aug and Sept), 2003 are built under ArcG1S9.2. Studies show that: (1) The dataset of short-duration and muhi-phase MODIS images can be used to retrieve the historical DEM of tidal-flats at changeful tidal flats. (2) Aualysis on usability of MODIS images from Aqua and Terra indicates that there are more usable and higbquality MODIS images in spring, autumn and winter, but less in summer. Therefore, the period for building inter-tidal fiats' DEM is suggested to be one month in spring, autumn and winter and three months in summer.
基金The Laboratory for Marine Mineral ResourcesQingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology under contract No.MMRKF201810+1 种基金the National Key Research&Development Program of China under contract Nos2018YFC0310000 and 2017YFC0307406the Shandong Province“Taishan Scholar”Construction Project
文摘Previous studies of gas hydrate in the Dongsha area mainly focused on the deep-seated gas hydrates that have a high energy potential,but cared little about the shallow gas hydrates occurrences.Shallow gas hydrates have been confirmed by drill cores at three sites(GMGS208,GMGS209 and GMGS216)during the GMGS2 cruise,which occur as veins,blocky nodules or massive layers,at 8–30 m below the seafloor.Gas chimneys and faults observed on the seismic sections are the two main fluid migration pathways.The deep-seated gas hydrate and the shallow hydrate-bearing sediments are two main seals for the migrating gas.The occurrences of shallow gas hydrates are mainly controlled by the migration of fluid along shallow faults and the presence of deep-seated gas hydrates.Active gas leakage is taking place at a relatively high-flux state through the vent structures identified on the geophysical data at the seafloor,although without resulting in gas plumes easily detectable by acoustic methods.The presence of strong reflections on the high-resolution seismic profiles and dim or chaotic layers in the subbottom profiles are most likely good indicators of shallow gas hydrates in the Dongsha area.Active cold seeps,indicated by either gas plume or seepage vent,can also be used as indicators for neighboring shallow gas hydrates and the gas hydrate system that is highly dynamic in the Dongsha area.
基金This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract Nos 40606040 and 40576080the Chinese 0ffshore Investigation and Assessment under contract Nos 908-01-wy(SD)and 908-01-wy03Chinese 0ffshore Investigation and Assessment(the Dongsha Islands remote sensing survey experimental project).
文摘Coral reefs are an sensitive-to-environment complex marine ecosystem. The ecosystem of corals is rich in biodiversity. Remote sensing offers a powerful tool for categorizing coral reefs and is the most cost - effective approach for the large - scale reef survey. The Dongsha Atoll, more than 300 km2 with an average depth of 10 m, is located at the northern continental margin of the South China Sea. It has been abused by destructive fishing during recent decades. Three satellite imageries (Quickbird2, ETM + and SPOTS) are used to evaluate the capabilities of SPOT5 imagery to provide data that are useful for categorizing the current distribution of coral reefs therein. During the data processing, unsupervised classification functions are adopted for ETM + and SPOT5 data, while the supervised classification method is used for Quickbird2. The classes are (or not) merged into coral reef, and then will be operated by vectorization, simplification, and topological analysis. There are 1 331 coral reefs larger than 100 m2 with a detection limit of 3 × 3 pixels at the multi - band data of Quickbird2, which is taken as the comparison baseline. The results extracted from SPOT5 and ETM images are less in number and area than those from the Quickbird2 image, whereas the results from SPOT5 data are better than those of ETM data at the silty lagoon due to its higher resolution. SPOT5 XS band 2 fails to distinguish the deep substrate inside the atoll compared with ETM data because of its poor penetration capability. Only SPOT XS band 1 cannot be used to differentiate coral reef from sand bottom. Merging the SPOT5 multi - bands data with the spatial resolution of SPOT5 pan - data and referring to ETM imagery are expected to provide an optimal satellite - based approach for mapping of coral reefs.
基金The National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract Nos 41373002,40903001 and 40903002
文摘The Dongsha area is one of the most promising target areas for gas hydrate exploration in the South China Sea(SCS).The study of pore water geochemistry has played a key role in Chinese gas hydrate exploration.Br/Cl,I/Cl and δ37Cl in pore water were applied here in tracing gas hydrate occurrence,chemical evolution of pore fluids and water/rock interactions in low temperature sediment environments.The samples were collected from Sites HD255 PC and HD309 PC in the Dongsha area in 2004.At Site HD255 PC,we found the elevated Br/Cl,I/Cl and decreased SO_4/Cl at the depth of 4–5 m,suggestive of a laterally migrated fluid probably generated from the gas hydrate occurrence.The range of δ37Cl is –0.54‰ to +0.96‰,and positive δ^(37)Cl at 4–5 m interval should be related with different diffusion rates between ^(35)Cl and ^(37)Cl.At Site HD309 PC,a laterally migrated fluid was also found at the depth of 3–4 m,with the Br/Cl two times to that of the seawater and decreased I/Cl,indicating the fluid has no relationship with the gas hydrate.In this site,the chlorine isotopic composition varies from –0.7‰ to+1.9‰.Extra high Br/Cl might relate with the deep generated fluid.At higher temperature and pressure,the Br/Cl of the fluid is elevated during the hydrous silicate formation,while positive δ37Cl is also associated with the same mechanism.
基金The National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract Nos 91528301,41702121,41606074 and41702114the National Science and Technology Major Project under contract No.2017ZX05026-005-002the Survey of Oil and Gas Resources in the Northern South China Sea and Taiwan Strait under contract No.DD20160154
文摘A statistical analysis for the morphological parameters extracted from numerous seismic profiles, and a highresolution seismic study of the southeastern slope of the Dongsha Islands(South China Sea) with water depth between approximately 500 and 3 100 m, has revealed the variation of morphological features due to the intrusion of igneous bodies and associated sedimentary processes. Three types of the continental slope are distinguished:(1) a rough and steep slope with multiple igneous bodies(Type 1),(2) a relatively smooth and gentle slope with the single igneous body(Type 2), and(3) a smooth and gentle slope without igneous bodies(Type 3). These igneous bodies, formed in the post-seafloor spreading of the South China Sea, are often characterized by high positive seismic amplitudes, and chaotic reflections with complex shapes. The igneous bodies in Type 1 separated the slope into two or more upper sub-sags and a lower main-sag, in which the sub-sags and main-sag could be filled with sediments transported by alongslope bottom currents at the same time. Whereas, the igneous body in Type 2 just separated the slope into an upper sub-sag and a lower main-sag, in which the sediments could be transported into the lower main-sag only after the upper sub-sag has been filled up. Type 3 represents a normal slope with common clinoform progradation. The modern slope morphologies in the study area are the results of adjustments of the continental slope due to the intrusion of igneous bodies and associated sedimentary processes. The distinctions among three types of modern slope morphologies indicate different depositional conditions and adjustments of slope morphologies.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(grants No.41376062,91328205,41206039)Project of the Tectonic Evolution of China Sea and its adjacent areas(grant No.GZH201100205)+1 种基金Public Science and Technology Research Funds Projects of Ocean(grant No.201405032)sponsored by NSFC and Special Fund for strategic pilot technology,CAS
文摘Dongsha waters are poorly studied for gas hydrates. Previous multi-channel seismic reflection and Chirp sub- bottom profiles show that numerous submarine mounds stand up to 100 m high above the seafloor over the continental slope of the SW Dongsha Island in northern margin of the South China Sea (SCS). These mounds are characterized by hardened seabed, seafloor gas venting and folded structures, which implies the existence of active mud volcanoes. This work aims to confirm this speculation by seafloor sample dredging and to explore the potential of gas hydrates.
文摘-The tectonic types of the Zhujiang (Pearl) River Mouth Basin in the South China Sea are epicontinental rift-depression basins. Prior to Early Cretaceous time, the Dongsha Uplift arid its surrounding depressions had been combined with the Eurasia Plate in a single unit. Many ENE-trending narrow rifted basins were formed in the third episode of Yanshan orogeny (Late Laramide). The rifted basins in the Paleocene and Eocene were stretched and extended, forming Zhu 1, Zhu 2 and Zhu 3 depressions. The Dongsha Uplift is located between Zhu 1 and Zhu 2 depressions . covering an area of 28 000 Km2. Its geologic evolution can be divided into four stages:(1) Late Cretaceous - Paleocene block-faulting stage.(2) Eocene -Oligocene uplifting and eroding stage.(3) Late Oligocene - Early Miocene sustained subsiding stage.(4) Middle Miocene -Recent noncompensated subsiding stage.The Dongsha Uplift is a structural zone favourable for oil-gas accumulation.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.41030855,U1133001,41376027)National High Technology Research and Development Program of China(863 Program)(No.2013AA09A502)
文摘Internal solitary waves(ISWs) are frequently observed in the area between Dongsha Island(DI) and Taiwan Island. However, there have been few in-situ observations southwest of DI. To improve our knowledge of ISWs in this area, we observed the ISWs over the continental shelf(115.4°E, 20.3°N) from Aug. 29 to Oct. 10, 2011 with temperature sensors and an acoustic Doppler current profiler(ADCP). The observations showed that the a fully developed ISW produced a current whose maximum westward velocity was 0.92 m/s and maximum northward velocity was 0.47 m/s. During the 41-day observation period the ISWs appeared for three periods with about 7-day gaps between each period. During each day, two types of ISWs were observed. The first type of wave arrived regularly diurnally at the same time each day, with a similar pattern to that of the type- a wave identified by Ramp et al.(2004). The second type arrived about 12 h after the first type and was delayed about 1 hour each day; this wave type was related to the type- b wave. Thus, our observations confirmed that both type- a and type- b waves can reach the area southwest of the DI. Moreover, the waves observed by the mooring propagated toward the directions of 270°–315° clockwise from true north, indicating obvious refraction from uneven topography around DI.
文摘Gas hydrate samples were first obtained in the Dongsha area,South China Sea(GMGS2)in 2013.High-resolution 3D seismic data in the area show various small 1andslide bodies developedas huge mass transport deposits.These bodies are divided into seven types on the basis of theirshapes,intermal structures and geneses(slide,collapse and deformation above BSRs,as well asthe slump wedge,lens,block and sheet below BSRs).Based on this classification,detailed studieswere conducted,including measurements of the slump body sizes and slope gradients of landslides,depiction of their three-dimensional characteristics,and research on the landslide distribution.Todetermine the genetic differences of these seven types,this study analyses the possibility of verticalflow-pattern-transformation and mechanisms of submarine landsltide formation.Results show that thedominant factor influencing the submarine landslides in the Dongsha area is the free gas emitted fromgas hydrate decomposition,with possible fransformation between flow patterns.Finally,there are twokinds of relationships between submarine landslides and BSRs since the free gas either influences thesubmarine landslide bodies below or above BSRs,resulting in two types of submarine landslide bodyassociations:Type A is characterized by submarine slide above BSRs and slump lens below BSRs,whereas Type B shows deformation above BSRs and slump blocks below BSRs.Type Ais favourablefor gas exploration because it indicates less decomposition and better sealing of gas hydrate layers.
基金supported by National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2007CB411702)
文摘Based on a data base of multi-channel seismic profiles covered over Dongsha plateau of the northern South China Sea margin, we found that the sea bed morphology of northern South China Sea margin had been changed dramatically after Dongsha uplifting, that sedimentary layer since Miocene age had been eroded with maximum eroded thickness more than 1000 m, and that an erosive channel had been formed of 20 km in width and 200 km in length and several hundreds meters in depth on the outer shelf of northern South China Sea. The erosive channel is parallel to the 600 m isobath line, stretching from northeast to the southwest north of Dongsha uplift. The Kuroshio intrudes the South China Sea through Luzon Strait both in winter time and summer time, and in the northern South China Sea margin area, the intruded Kuroshio Branch takes the form of Pacific-Indian Ocean Through Flow (PITH) in winter time, while the Luzon Strait Subsurface Inflow (LSSIF) in summer time, the routes of both PITH and LSSIF coincide well with the distribution of the erosive channel. After climbing from the northern slope up to the northern shelf, and after joined by the southward flow from the middle northern shelf of South China Sea, the Kuroshio Branch is strengthened and thus is able to erode the sea floor, and the shape of the erosive channel is a result of the long-term interaction between the Kuroshio South China Sea Branch and the Dongsha outer shelf sea floor.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.91028003,41076020)the Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey(GMGS)(Grant No.GZH2011003-05)
文摘The Dongsha submarine canyon is a large canyon belonging to a group of canyons on the northeastern South China Sea margin. Investigation of the Dongsha canyon is important for understanding the origin of this canyon group as well as the transport mechanism of sediments on the margin, and the evolution of the Taixinan foreland basin and the associated Taiwan orogenic belt. In this study, the morphology, sedimentary characteristics, and origin of the Dongsha canyon were investigated by integrating high-resolution multi-channel seismic reflection profiles and high-precision multibeam bathymetric data. This is a slope-confined canyon that originates in the upper slope east of the Dongsha Islands, extends downslope in the SEE direction, and finally merges with the South Taiwan Shoal canyon at a water depth of 3000 m. The total length and average width of the canyon are around 190 and 10 km, respectively. Eleven seismic sequence boundaries within the canyon fills were identified and interpreted as incision surfaces of the canyon. In the canyon fills, four types of seismic facies were defined: parallel onlap fill, chaotic fill, mounded divergent facies, and migrated wavy facies. The parallel onlap fill facies is interpreted as alternating coarser turbidites or other gravity-flow deposits and fine hemipelagic sediments filling the canyon valley. The chaotic fill facies is presumed to be debrites and/or basal lag deposits filling the thalwegs. The mounded divergent and migrated wavy seismic facies can be explained as canyon levees consisting mainly of overspilled fine turbidites and sediment waves on the levees or on the canyon-mouth submarine fans. Age correlation between the sequence boundaries and the ODP Site 1144 data suggests that the Dongsha canyon was initiated at approximately 0.9 Ma in the middle Pleistocene. Mapping of the canyon indicates that the canyon originated at the upstream portion of the middle reach of the modern canyon, and has been continuously expanding both upstream and downstream by retrogressive erosion, incision, and deposition of turbidity currents and other gravity transport processes. The ages of the sequence boundaries representing major canyon incision events are in good agreement with those of global sea-level lowstands, indicating that sea-level changes may have played an important role in the canyon's development. The Dongsha canyon developed in a region with an active tectonic background characterized by the Taiwan uplifting and the development of the Taixinan foreland basin. However, no evidence suggests that the canyon formation is directly associated with local or regional faulting and magmatic activities. Turbidity currents and other gravity transport processes(including submarine slides and slumps) may have had an important influence on the formation and evolution of the canyon.