Seasonal and annual variations of marine sinking particulate flux during 1993 ~ 1996 in the central South China Sea

A total of 67 samples from the upper and lower sediment traps in the central South China Sea were analyzed, which were collected during 1993 ~ 1996. It is indicated that the distribution of stable isotope values, surface primary productivity, fluxes of total particulate matter, carbonate, biogenic opal, organic carbon, planktonic foraminiferal species and their total amount exhibit obviously seasonal and annual fluctuations. High values of the fluxes occurred in the prevailing periods of the northeastern and southwestern monsoons, and the low values occurred during the periods between the two monsoons. The fluxes of some planktonic foraminiferal species （ Globigerinoides sacculifer , G. ruber , Globigerinita glutinata, Neogloboquadrina dutertrei ） and their percentages also exhibit two prominent peaks during the prevailing periods of the northeastern and southwestern monsoons respectively, while those of Globigerina bulloides, Globorotalia menardii and Pulleniatina obliquiloculata only exhibit one peak in the prevailing periods of the northeastern monsoon. In addition, fluxes and percentages of Globigerinoides sacculifer and Globorotalia menardii as well as the fluxes of carbonate and total amount of planktonic foraminifera decrease gradually from 1993 to 1996, and those of Globigerina bulloides, Globigerinita glutinata and biogenic opal increase gradually from 1993 to 1996. The fluxes of carbonate and organic carbon in the upper trap are higher than those in the lower one. The study indicates that the seasonal and annual variations of the sediment fluxes and planktonic foraminiferal species are mainly controlled by the changes of surface primary productivity and hydrological conditions related to the East Asian monsoon. The lower carbonate and organic carbon fluxes in the lower trap are related to the dissolution.

Distribution of chlorophyll a, photosynthesis and their relations to the environmental factors in the Central South China Sea

Some studies have been made on the variation of primary productivity in the Central South ChinaSea. This paper studies comprehensively the characteristics of chlorophyll a distributions in time andspace and the primary productivity, as well their relations to the environmental factors.Materals and methods During the comprehensive investigation in the Central South China Sea from September 1983 toDecember 1984, the distributions of chlorophyll a and primary productivity were studied. Figure 1shows the sampling stations and their range of investigation.

Siliceous microplankton fluxes and seasonal variations in the central South China Sea during 1993-1995: monsoon climate and ? Nino responses

Seasonal variations of radiolarian and diatom fluxes in the central South China Sea during 1993-1995 were overwhelmingly controlled by monsoon climate. Radiolarian and diatom increased obviously during the Northeast (from November to February) and Southwest (from June to September) monsoons and decreased during the periods between the monsoons. The change of circulation driven by the monsoons improved water exchange in the different areas that brought rich nutrient materials for the surface microplankton, thereby enhancing radiolarian and diatom fluxes. Variation of radiolarian flux coincided with organic carbon flux, surface primary and export productivities. High radiolarian flux corresponded to high surface primary productivity. Radiolarian and diatom fluxes raised abnormally during 1994-1995 could be attributed to the El Nino event during the period.

Characteristics of seismic reflections in central region of the South China Sea and their geological significance

More than 4 000 km 48-channel seismic reflection data from the central region of the South China Sea have been interpreted. Five seismic interfaces have been distinguished, named T1, T2, T4, T6 and Tg respectively Meanwhile, five seismic sequences numbered I - V have been divided with the ages of Quaternary and Pliocene, Later Mocene, Earlier and Middle Miocene, Oligocene and Pre- Oligocene separately. Sequences I-II overlie all parts of the area. In the continental slope and island slope, Sequences III-V are mainly found in the grabens. Sequence III is found at moot profiles of the deep-sea basin, and Sequnce IV is seen not only at the margins of the east subbasin but also at the margins of the southwest subbasin. Strong reflection from Moho is found at most profiles of the deep-sea basin. The depth of Moho varies between 10 and 12 km, with a thickness of 6- 8 km for the crust. Calculated by age-basement depth correlation formula, the age of basaltic basement in the southwest subbasin is 51-39 Ma. It is indicated that the evolution of the southwest subbasin is simultaneous with or earlier than that of the east subbasin.

Evolution of Cenozoic sedimentary architecture in Central and Southern South China Sea basins

The Central and Southern South China Sea(CSSCS) has a complex tectonic dynamic background and abundant oil and gas resources, which has always been a hot topic of academic and industrial attention.However, systematic analyses are still lacking regarding its sediment filling structure and evolution, mostly due to limited borehole penetration and poor quality of seismic reflection data for deeply buried sequences. No consensus has been reached yet on the sedimentary infilling processes, which impeded the reconstruction of the palaeogeography of Southeast Asia and the oil-and-gas exploration undertakings. Here, we illustrate the Cenozoic sedimentary evolution of the CSSCS region by synthesizing relevant data from previous literature and our own observations and displaying the evolution of depositional systems in sequential reconstructions. Besides, the controlling factors of preferred sedimentary scenarios in the CSSCS incorporate the latest interpretations of the spreading of South China Sea(SCS) as well as the demise of the hypothetical Proto-South China Sea(PSCS). The results show that there are three types of sedimentary basins in the CSSCS(foreland,strike-slip, and rift basins) with different sedimentary filling structures. The foreland basins formed a depositional pattern of ‘transition from deep water to shallow water environments', dominated by deep-water depositional systems which were formed before the Early Oligocene with submarine fans developed. Later,the foreland basins were gradually dominated by shallow-water depositional systems with deltas and shallow marine facies. The strike-slip basins showed the depositional architecture of ‘transition from lake to marine environments', i.e. the basins were dominated by lacustrine deposits during the Eocene and evolved into the marine depositional environment since Oligocene with delta developed in the western part of the basin. The depositional evolution of rift basins illustrated the characteristics of 'transition from clastic to carbonate deposits', i.e., the rift basins were dominated by Eocene-Oligocene shallow marine clastic depositional systems, while carbonate platforms started to develop since the Early Oligocene from east to west. The above-mentioned differences of depositional architecture in the CSSCS were controlled by the scissor-style closure of the PSCS and the progressive-style expansion of the SCS. Specifically, the early-period deep-water sedimentary environment of CSSCS basins was controlled by the distribution of PSCS in the Eocene. As the scissor-style closure of PSCS progressed from west to east during the Oligocene to Early Miocene, the northwest of Borneo continued to rise, providing a great number of clastic materials to the basins and gradually developing large-scale deltas from west to east. The distribution of early-period lacustrine sedimentation of strike-slip basins was affected by paleo uplift, and the basins transgressed from the northeast and gradually evolved into marine sedimentary environment due to the expansion of SCS. The expansion of SCS also controlled the sedimentary filling evolution of the rift basins, which broke away from the South China continent and drifted southward. Thus, the rift basins lacked the supply of terrigenous clastic sediments which hindered the development of large-scale deltas and formed a clear water environment conducive to the development of carbonate platforms from east to west.

Geology and hydrocarbon accumulations in the deepwater of the northwestern South China Sea——with focus on natural gas

The deepwater of the northwestern South China Sea is located in the central to southern parts of the Qiongdongnan Basin （QDN Basin）, which is a key site for hydrocarbon exploration in recent years. In this study, the authors did a comprehensive analysis of gravity-magnetic data, extensive 3D seismic survey, cores and cuttings, paleontology and geochemical indexes, proposed the mechanism of natural gas origin, identified different oil and gas systems, and established the model of hydrocarbon accumulations in the deep-water region. Our basin tectonic simulation indicates that the evolution of QDN Basin was controlled by multiple-phased tectonic movements, such as Indochina-Eurasian Plate collision, Tibetan Uplift, Red River faulting and the expansion of the South China Sea which is characterized by Paleogene rifting, Neogene depression, and Eocene intensive faulting and lacustrine deposits. The drilling results show that this region is dominated by marine- terrestrial transitional and neritic-bathyal facies from the early Oligocene. The Yacheng Formation of the early Oligocene is rich in organic matter and a main gas-source rock. According to the geological-geochemical data from the latest drilling wells, Lingshui, Baodao, Changchang Sags have good hydrocarbon-generating potentials, where two plays from the Paleogene and Neogene reservoirs were developed. Those reservoirs occur in central canyon structural-lithologic trap zone, Changchang marginal trap zone and southern fault terrace of Baodao Sag. Among them, the central canyon trap zone has a great potential for exploration because the various reservoir- forming elements are well developed, i.e., good coal-measure source rocks, sufficient reservoirs from the Neogene turbidity sandstone and submarine fan, faults connecting source rock and reservoirs, effective vertical migration, late stage aggregation and favorable structural-lithological composite trapping. These study results provide an important scientific basis for hydrocarbon exploration in this region, evidenced by the recent discovery of the significant commercial LS-A gas field in the central canyon of the Lingshui Sag.

深水中大型气田滚动勘探技术体系与成效——以琼东南盆地中央峡谷A边际气田为例

为了促进琼东南盆地中央峡谷深水A边际气田开发,引入目标搜索研究、目标评价研究、目标钻探研究等完整气田滚动勘探技术体系。A边际气田目标搜索除利用传统的区带油气潜力目标搜索技术外,提出评价过程目标搜索技术,共搜索了5个油气潜力区块,并优选A4构造进行油气目标评价。从圈闭解释与落实、圈闭烃类检测两方面对A4构造油气成藏主控因素开展研究。A4构造中部预测优势含气区具有强振幅属性、低密度、低速度、低纵波阻抗、低纵横波速度比等有利含气信息特征,总体为Ⅲ类AVO异常,且能够升级HL_0气组控制天然气地质储量,部署滚动探井A4-1井实施钻探,在黄流组钻遇气层超20 m,莺歌海组二段钻遇可疑气层近10 m,获得天然气探明地质储量近30亿立方米,钻探效果好。滚动勘探研究在深水A边际气田的应用,不仅有效地促进了A边际气田后续滚动勘探活动,而且证实了滚动勘探同样适用于深水油气勘探。

Difference in full-filled time and its controlling factors in the Central Canyon of the Qiongdongnan Basin

Based on the interpretation of high resolution 2D/3D seismic data, sedimentary filling characteristics and full- filled time of the Central Canyon in different segments in the Qiongdongnan Basin of northwestern South China Sea have been studied. The research results indicate that the initial formation age of the Central Canyon is traced back to 11.6 Ma （T40）, at which the canyon began to develop due to the scouring of turbidity currents from west to east. During the period of 11.6-8.2 Ma （T40-T31）, strong downcutting by gravity flow occurred, which led to the formation of the canyon. The canyon fillings began to form since 8.2 Ma （T31） and were dominated by turbidite deposits, which constituted of lateral migration and vertical superposition of turbidity channels during the time of 8.2-5.5 Ma. The interbeds of turbidity currents deposits and mass transport deposits （MTDs） were developed in the period of 5.5-3.8 Ma （T30-T28）. After then, the canyon fillings were primarily made up of large scale MTDs, interrupted by small scale turbidity channels and thin pelagic mudstones. The Central Canyon can be divided into three types according to the main controlling factors, geomorphology-controlled, fault-controlled and intrusion- modified canyons. Among them, the geomorphology-controlled canyon is developed at the Ledong, Lingshui, Songnan and western Baodao Depressions, situated in a confined basin center between the northern slope and the South Uplift Belt along the Central Depression Belt. The fault-controlled canyon is developed mainly along the deep-seated faults in the Changchang Depression and eastern Baodao Depression. Intrusion-modified canyon is only occurred in the Songnan Low Uplift, which is still mainly controlled by geomorphology, the intrusion just modified seabed morphology. The full-filled time of the Central Canyon differs from west to east, displaying a tendency of being successively late eastward. The geomorphology-controlled canyon was completely filled before 3.8 Ma （T28）, but that in intrusion-modified canyon was delayed to 2.4 Ma （T27） because of the uplifted southern canyon wall. To the Changchang Depression, the complete filling time was successively late eastward, and the canyon in eastern Changchang Depression is still not fully filled up to today. Difference in full-filled time in the Central Canyon is mainly governed by multiple sediment supplies and regional tectonic activities. Due to sufficient supply of turbidity currents and MTDs from west and north respectively, western segment of the Central Canyon is entirely filled up earlier. Owing to slower sediment supply rate, together with differential subsidence by deep-seated faults, the full-filled time of the canyon is put off eastwards gradually.

FEATURES OF GRAVITY AND MAGNETIC ANOMALIES IN CENTRAL AND NORTHERN PARTS OF THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND THEIR GEOLOGICAL INTERPRETATION

The gravity and magnetic survey lines of about 13,500 km were carried out in the centraland northern parts of the South China Sea from 1977 to 1978. The results obtained showthat the Bouguer gravity and magnetic anomalies have a tendency to increase gradually theirvalues from the northern continental shelf, through the slope, to the central abyssal basin of theSouth China Sea. The change in free-air gravity anomaly values coincides to a certain degreewith the undulation of the sea-bottom topography. The primary factor determining regionalvariation of the Bouguer gravity anomayl values is the Moho depth. The main factor deter-mining the magnetic anomly values is the nature of the basement rock. The high magnetieand Bouguer gravity anomaly values observed in some fault basin areas are inferred to becaused by draping the basic and ultrabasic magma extruding along the faults on the basementof the metamorphic rock,or by intrusion of the same magma into the basement.

南海中央海盆高精度地震勘探揭示的大陆漂移过程

南海的形成和演化得到了广泛研究,前人提出了超过5种成因模式,当前流行是海底扩张模式,但它难以合理解释南海洋壳上的洋中脊跳跃和南海中央海盆上的大陆残片。本文首先基于南海中央海盆中的两条高精度地震勘探剖面,在深入剖析洋壳的分层结构基础上,对这两条地震勘探剖面进行了新的构造地质解释;然后通过伸展构造的形成过程,发展了地幔上涌和陆壳重力滑移双驱动大陆漂移模型;最后深入研究了南海的形成和演化过程。结果说明,南海的形成是一种“构造挤出+主动漂移”模式。构造挤出是印度-欧亚大陆碰撞造成的欧亚东南缘微陆块大规模被动挤出,而主动漂移是微陆块在被挤出后发生了主动裂解漂移。南海中央海盆上残留的地震反射特征,是微陆块主动漂移后造成的海底被扩张现象。并进一步恢复了南海演化过程中周边陆块的运动演化历史。所提出的新模式能够合理解释南海的洋中脊跳跃现象及大陆残片的成因机制。新大陆漂移模型为板块运动提供了一个新的动力模式。

南海中东部重磁场及构造特征的研究

通过收集的重磁资料和前人研究的成果来研究本区的构造特征。首先对南海中东部的自由空间重力异常特征、磁力ΔT异常特征进行分析;然后利用滑动平均法、垂向二阶导数法和水平方向导数等方法,得到了垂向二阶导数异常、区域异常以及剩余异常;最后对异常图进行分析解释,确定研究区的主要构造特征,同时结合南海中东部的地质资料来确定研究区的断裂构造。结果表明,该地区的断裂主要有:中部以洋盆边缘断裂和洋中脊为主;东部为海沟断裂带。研究区断裂走向为NE-NEE向、SN向和近SN向。

南海中部海域渔业资源时空分布和资源量的水声学评估

2014年3月~2015年2月对南海中部12°N^15°N、111°E^117°E海域进行了4次渔业资源声学调查,其中2014年3月~4月(春季)、11月~12月(秋季)和2015年1月~2月(冬季)利用"南锋"号船载双频分裂波束科学探鱼仪系统(Simrad EK60,38 k Hz、120 k Hz,挪威)进行探测,2014年7月~8月(夏季)利用便携式分裂波束科学探鱼仪(Simrad EY60,70 k Hz,挪威)进行探测。通过鱼类目标强度现场测定,使用回波积分法获得了调查海域内渔业资源的丰度密度空间分布的季节变动特征。结合夏季调查灯光罩网采样数据,分析了调查海域内评估对象种类组成并估算资源总量。结果表明,夏季共捕获鱼类18种,头足类2种,其中鸢乌贼(Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis)为主要渔获种类,声学评估其资源量为2.36×106t,约占评估对象资源总量的73.19%。调查海域内单体目标强度均呈单峰状分布,且主要分布于-56.5^-41.5 d B,4次调查该海域范围内目标强度小于-71.5 d B的单体均分布于100 m以浅水层,而目标强度大于-20.5 d B的单体则均分布于100 m以深水层。

南海中部海域鸢乌贼耳石形态特征分析

根据2012年9月～10月于南海中部海域采集的鸢乌贼（Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis）样本90尾,对其耳石形态特征及计量学参数进行了初步研究。结果表明,耳石样本具有明显的背区、侧区、吻区和翼区结构,背区小,侧区和翼区宽大,吻区长窄。南海中部海域鸢乌贼按照耳石形态的差异可分为3个不同的群体。耳石总长（total statolith length,TSL）、翼区长（wing width,WL）、最大宽（maximum width,MW）与胴长之间呈对数函数关系（P〈0.05）,吻区长（rostrum length,RSL）、背侧区长（dorsolateral length,DLL）与胴长之间呈线性函数关系（P〈0.05）。随着胴长的增加,耳石绝对尺寸逐渐增大,相对尺寸逐渐减小,耳石的形态结构比例基本不变,即背侧区长、侧区长、吻区长、翼区长同耳石总长之比基本保持一致,分别为48.05%、60.05%、35.44%和67.59%,其中侧区长、翼区长与耳石总长的比值随胴长增大而增加的趋势较为明显。

1993～1996年南海中部海洋沉降颗粒通量的季节和年际变化

通过对南海中部1993～1996年获得的浅层和深层时间系列沉积物捕获器的样品分析，发现了稳定同位素值、颗粒总通量、碳酸盐、生物蛋白石、有机碳、表层初级生产力、浮游有孔虫总通量和属种的分布存在明显的季节性变化，其通量都是在东北季风和西南季风盛行期出现高值，在季风转向期出现低值．浮游有孔虫Globigerinoides sacculifer，G．ruber，Globigerinita glutinata，Neogloboquadrina dutertrei等种的通量和相对百分含量也是在东北季风和西南季风盛行期都出现高值，但Globigerina bulloides，Globorotalia menardii和Pulleniatina obliquiloculata等种则在东北季风盛行期出现高值，分析还发现Globigerinoides sacculifer和Globorotalia menardii等种的通量和百分含量以及有孔虫总通量和碳酸盐通量等从1993到1996年存在下降趋势，而Globigerina，bulloides和Globigerinita glutinata的通量和百分含量以及生物蛋白石通量等在该期间显示为上升趋势，浅层捕获器样品中的碳酸盐和有机碳的通量比深层的高．研究表明海洋沉降通量和浮游有孔虫属种的季节和年际变化主要受与东亚季风相关的表层初级生产力和海洋水文条件变化所控制，深层捕获器样品中的碳酸盐和有机碳的通量低应与碳酸盐溶解作用有关。

南海中部海域秋冬季中层渔业生物群落结构的初步研究

根据2014年对南海中部海域秋冬季2个航次中层拖网调查数据,分析了中层渔业生物种类组成、优势种和多样性等群落结构特征。共鉴定中层渔业生物241种,其中鱼类196种、头足类21种、甲壳类24种,冬季的渔获种类高于秋季,但单位捕捞努力量渔获量(CPUE)略低于秋季。相对重要性指数(index of relative importance,IRI)结果表明,秋季IRI≥100的优势种群有25种,其中IRI≥500的优势种有5种,包括蝰鱼(Chauliodus sloani)、尾明角灯鱼(Ceratoscopelus warmingii)、条带眶灯鱼(Diaphus brachycephalus)、日本乌鲂(Brama japonica)和条带多光鱼(Diplophos taenia);冬季IRI≥100的优势种群有26种,其中IRI≥500的优势种有3种,分别为典型刺虾(Oplphorus typus)、蝰鱼和太平洋帆乌贼(Histioteuthis pacifica)。秋冬季的IRI组成不存在显著性差异(P>0.05)。以个体数计算的中层渔业生物丰富度指数、均匀度指数和多样性指数冬季高于秋季,但优势度指数是冬季低于秋季。以生物量计算的多样性指标中,冬季中层渔业生物丰富度指数和多样性指数高于秋季,而优势度指数和均匀度指数则低于秋季。利用数量生物量比较曲线(abundance-biomass comparison curves,ABC)方法分析南海中部海域中层渔业生物群落的状况,结果显示,秋季中层渔业生物群落处于较大干扰状况,冬季群落处于中等干扰状况。

南海中部海域障碍层特征及其形成机制

南海中部海域（10°～19°N，108°～122°E）存在显著的季节变化的障碍层．障碍层发生概率夏季最大（52．8%），秋季次之（41．0%），春季最小（10．5％）．夏季（2000年8～9月）障碍层最显著，平均厚度约为14．2m；除114°E以东、吕宋岛以西海域为障碍层的多发区外，中南半岛东南海域（12°～14°N，110°～114°E）也存在显著的障碍层；春季（1998年4～6月）和秋季（1998年12月）障碍层平均厚度分别为6．8和11．2m，障碍层多位于114。E以东、吕宋岛以西海域．此外，吕宋岛以西海域（12。～16。N，116。～120。E）及中沙和西沙群岛附近（16。～18°N，110°～116°E）海域障碍层年发生几率超过20%，相对而言，其他海域障碍层年发生几率偏小．降水机制和层结机制分别是南海中部海域春、夏季和秋季障碍层形成的主要原因．其中，降水机制及东南向的Ekman平流较好的解释了春、夏季吕宋岛以西附近海域成为障碍层多发区的原因；此外，强降水是夏季中南半岛东南海域（12°～14°N，110°～114°E）障碍层产生的关键，反气旋涡（暖涡）有助于形成更强的障碍层，上升流对障碍层的影响有待进一步研究．

2011年春季南海中南部海域灯光罩网渔业渔获组成的初步分析

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