Target Deployment and Retrieval Using JIAOLONG Manned Submersible in the Depth of 6600 m in Mariana Trench

China＇s 7000 m manned submersible JIAOLONG carried out an exploration cruise at the Mariana Trench from June to July 2016. The submersible completed nine manned dives on the north and south area of the Mariana Trench from the depth of 5500 to 6700 m, to investigate the geological, biological and chemical characteristics in the hadal area. During the cruise, JIAOLONG deployed a gas-tight serial sampler to collect the water near the sea bottom regularly. Five days later, the sub located the sampler in another dive and retrieved it successfully from the same location, which is the first time that scientists and engineers finished the high accuracy in-situ deployment and retrieval using a manned submersible with Ultra-Short Base Line （USBL） positioning system at the depth more than 6600 m. In this task, we used not only the USBL system of the manned submersible but also a compound strategy, including five position marks, the sea floor terrain, the depth contour, and the heading of the sub. This paper introduces the compound strategy of the target deployment and retrieval with the practical diving experience of JIAOLONG, and provides a promising technique for other underwater vehicles such as manned submersible or Remote Operated Vehicle （ROV） under similar conditions.

Positive selection analysis reveals the deep-sea adaptation of a hadal sea cucumber ( Paelopatides sp.) to the Mariana Trench

The Mariana Trench,the deepest trench on the earth,is ideal for deep-sea adaptation research due to its unique characters,such as the highest hydrostatic pressure on the Earth,constant ice-cold temperature,and eternal darkness.In this study,tissues of a the hadal holothurian(Paelopatides sp.)were fi xed with RNA later in situ at~6501-m depth in the Mariana Trench,which,to our knowledge,is the deepest in-situ fi xed animal sample.A high-quality transcript was obtained by de-novo transcriptome assembly.A maximum likelihood tree was constructed based on the single copy orthologs across nine species with their available omics data.To investigate deep-sea adaptation,113 positively selected genes(PSGs)were identifi ed in Paelopatides sp.Some PSGs such as microphthalmia-associated transcription factor(MITF)may contribute to the distinct phenotype of Paelopatides sp.,including its translucent white body and degenerated ossicles.At least eight PSGs(transcription factor 7-like 2[TCF7L2],ETS-related transcription factor Elf-2-like[ELF2],PERQ amino acid-rich with GYF domain-containing protein[GIGYF],cytochrome c oxidase subunit 7a,[COX7A],type I thyroxine 5′-deiodinase[DIO1],translation factor GUF1[GUF1],SWI/SNF related-matrix-associated actin-dependent regulator of chromatin subfamily C and subfamily E,member 1[SMARCC]and[SMARCE1])might be related to cold adaptation.In addition,at least nine PSGs(cell cycle checkpoint control protein[RAD9A],replication factor A3[RPA3],DNA-directed RNA polymerases I/II/III subunit RPABC1[POLR2E],putative TAR DNA-binding protein 43 isoform X2[TARDBP],ribonucleoside-diphosphate reductase subunit M1[RRM1],putative serine/threonine-protein kinase[SMG1],transcriptional regulator[ATRX],alkylated DNA repair protein alkB homolog 6[ALKBH6],and PLAC8 motif-containing protein[PLAC8])may facilitate the repair of DNA damage induced by the high hydrostatic pressure,coldness,and high concentration of cadmium in the upper Mariana Trench.

Composition and origin of lipid biomarkers in the surface sediments from the southern Challenger Deep, Mariana Trench

The surface sediments collected from the southern Mariana Trench at water depths between ca.4900 m and 7068 m were studied using lipid biomarker analyses to reveal the origin and distribution of organic matters. For all samples, an unresolved complex mixture(UCM) was present in the hydrocarbon fractions, wherein resistant component tricyclic terpanes were detected but C_(27)-C _(29) regular steranes and hopanes indicative of a higher molecular weight range of petroleum were almost absent.This biomarker distribution patterns suggested that the UCM and tricyclic terpanes may be introduced by contamination of diesel fuels or shipping activities and oil seepage elsewhere. The well-developed faults and strike-slip faults in the Mariana subduction zone may serve as passages for the petroleum hydrocarbons. In addition, the relative high contents of even n-alkanes and low Carbon Preference Indices indicated that the n-alkanes were mainly derived from bacteria or algae. For GDGTs, the predominance of GDGT-0 and crenarchaeol, together with low GDGT-0/Crenarchaeol ratios(ranging from0.86 to 1.64), suggests that the GDGTs in samples from the southern Mariana Trench were mainly derived from planktic Thaumarchaeota. However, the high GDGT-0/crenarchaeol ratio(10.5) in sample BC07 suggests that the GDGTs probably were introduced by methanogens in a more anoxic environment. Furthermore, the n-alkanes C_(19)-C_(22) and the n-fatty acids C_(20:0)-C_(22:0) were depleted in^(13)C by 3‰ compared to n-alkanes C_(16)-C_(18) and the n-fatty acids C_(14:0)-C_(18:0), respectively, which was interpreted to result from the preferential reaction of fatty acid fragments with carbon "lighter" terminal carboxyl groups during carbon chain elongation from the precursors to products. The abundance of total alkanes, carboxylic acids, alcohols and total lipids were generally increased along the down-going seaward plate, suggesting the lateral organic matter inputs play an important role in organic matter accumulation in hadal trenches. The extremely high contents of biomarkers in sample BC11 were most likely related to trench topography and current dynamics, since the lower steepness caused by graben texture and proximity to the trench axis may result in higher sedimentation rate. This paper, for the first time, showed the biomarker patterns in surface sediments of the Mariana Trench and shed light on biogeochemistry of the hardly reached trench environment.

Microbial diversity in the sediments of the southern Mariana Trench

Microbial diversity in the abyssal sediments beneath the seafloor of 30,94,and 151cm near the southern end of the Mariana Trench was analyzed in the Illumina HiSeq 2500 platform.Results show that the microbial populations were dominated by bacteria but merely no archaea were identifi ed at the three depths.In the bacterial community,Proteobacteria and Firmicutes dominated the total taxon tags,followed by Bacteroidetes,Actinobacteria,Planctomycetes,Cyanobacteria,and Chloroflexi,which together account for over 99%of the total population.Similar to that in the seawater in the trench,the operational taxonomic units(OTUs)belonging to Gammaproteobacteria from the sediment samples showed high abundance.However,common bacterial OTUs in the water of the trench including Nitrospirae and Marinimicrobia were hardly found in the sediments from the southern Mariana Trench or the hadal region.Therefore,this study documented for the first time the compositions of microbial diversity in the trench sediments,revealed the difference in microbial diversity in water and sediment of the trench and will enrich the knowledge on the microbial diversity in the abyssal areas.

A unique subseafloor microbiosphere in the Mariana Trench driven by episodic sedimentation

Hadal trenches are characterized by enhanced and infrequent high-rate episodic sedimentation events that likely introduce not only labile organic carbon and key nutrients but also new microbes that significantly alter the subseafloor microbiosphere.Currently,the role of high-rate episodic sedimentation in controlling the composition of the hadal subseafloor microbiosphere is unknown.Here,analyses of carbon isotope composition in a~750 cm long sediment core from the Challenger Deep revealed noncontinuous deposition,with anomalous ^(14)C ages likely caused by seismically driven mass transport and the funneling effect of trench geomorphology.Microbial community composition and diverse enzyme activities in the upper~27 cm differed from those at lower depths,probably due to sudden sediment deposition and differences in redox condition and organic matter availability.At lower depths,microbial population numbers,and composition remained relatively constant,except at some discrete depths with altered enzyme activity and microbial phyla abundance,possibly due to additional sudden sedimentation events of different magnitude.Evidence is provided of a unique role for high-rate episodic sedimentation events in controlling the subsurface microbiosphere in Earth’s deepest ocean floor and highlight the need to perform thorough analysis over a large depth range to characterize hadal benthic populations.Such depositional processes are likely crucial in shaping deep-water geochemical environments and thereby the deep subseafloor biosphere.

Terrain matching localization for hybrid underwater vehicle in the Challenger Deep of the Mariana Trench

The maximum ocean depth so far reported is about 11000 m,and is located in the Mariana Trench in the Western Pacific Ocean.The hybrid unmanned underwater vehicle,Haidou,is developed to perform scientific survey at the deepest parts of the Earth oceans.For vehicles working at the full-ocean depth,acoustic positioning is the most effective and popular method.The 11000 m class acoustic positioning system is relatively massive and complex,and it requires specialized research vessels equipped with compatible acoustic instruments.As a compact testbed platform,it is impractical for Haidou to carry an LBL/USBL beacon with its large volume and weight.During the descent to about 11000 m,horizontal drift could not be eliminated because of the hydrodynamics and uncertain ocean currents in the sea trials.The maximum depth recorded by Haidou is 10905 m,and determining the precise location of the deepest point is challenging.With the bathymetric map produced by a multibeam sonar,the terrain contour matching(TERCOM)method is adopted for terrain matching localization.TERCOM is stable in providing an accurate position because of its insensitivity to the initial position errors.The final matching results show the best estimate of location in the reference terrain map.

Diversity of culturable heterotrophic bacteria from the Mariana Trench and their ability to degrade macromolecules

The Mariana Trench is the deepest location on earth and harbors unique microbial communities as evidenced by 16S rRNA gene amplicon and metagenomic sequencing.Obtaining culturable microorganisms from the Mariana Trench will contribute to a further understanding of hadal biogeochemical processes and act as a unique microbial reservoir with potential applications.Here,825 bacterial strains,identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing,were isolated from 12 water depths(0-10,400 m)of the Mariana Trench with 2216E and R2A media at 4℃ or 28℃ on four cruises during 2015-2017.These bacteria belong to four phyla,nine classes,27 orders,45 families and 108 genera.Alphaproteobacteria,Gammaproteobacteria,Actinobacteria_c,Bacilli and Flavobacteriia were the most abundant classes,accounting for 37.9%,33.0%,11.8%,8.6%and 8.0%of the total bacterial isolates,respectively.2216E and R2A media were found to have a better selectivity to Bacilli and Flavobacteriia,respectively.Fifty strains were potential novel bacterial species with a 16S rRNA gene similarity<98.65%,and a higher percentage of novel strains were obtained from R2A than 2216E medium.Additionally,301(150 species)out of 354 strains(178 species)selected from each depth could degrade at least one of the ten kinds of macromolecules tested.These results indicate that there is a high diversity of culturable bacteria in the Mariana Trench and they can produce a variety of extracellular enzymes.Our study provides a valuable resource of microorganisms for investigating their biogeochemical roles in the Mariana Trench and for industrial applications.

马里亚纳海沟挑战者深渊南坡JL7KBC03短柱样硅质软泥沉积的物源、沉积环境和碳储库效应

海斗深渊是影响地球系统演化的关键一环,但由于超深水深导致的样品匮乏,对其沉积过程的精细研究仅见零星报道。本研究基于马里亚纳海沟挑战者深渊南坡JL7KBC03插管柱样系统的微体古生物、沉积学、矿物学研究,对该区沉积档案的物源、沉积环境记录进行解读。结果显示:(1)沉积物以第四纪硅藻软泥为主,其中大筛盘藻(Ethmodiscus rex)含量达99%以上。大筛盘藻的激发,可能为晚更新世冰期时段南极中层水入侵西北太平洋期间,南极“硅溢漏”效应对低纬水体溶解硅的补充,以及冰期风尘铁元素的激发所致。(2)沉积柱样中夹杂的数层暗色薄层,指示了研究区频繁的火山、热液活动。沉积物矿物、元素地球化学物源分析结果表明:研究区非生物组分物质与九州-帕劳海脊和马里亚纳海槽物质相近,陆源风尘和太平洋热液物质的贡献则相对较小。(3)海斗深渊独特的地形特征与水动力条件,利于有机质的快速沉降与埋藏,以硅藻软泥等形式将大量有机碳封存在深渊底部,动态调节着海洋碳储库与岩石圈碳储库之间的相互转化,是研究全球碳循环和碳封存的重要组成部分。

马里亚纳海沟“挑战者”深渊沉积物地球化学特征及成因机制

【目的】为探究马里亚纳海沟“挑战者”深渊沉积物的主要类型、地球化学特征和成因机制。【方法】以马里亚纳海沟“挑战者”深渊从北坡(上覆板块)、轴部到南坡(俯冲板块)16个站位的沉积物和蚀变基岩开展矿物学及地球化学分析。【结果与结论】“挑战者”深渊沉积物分为褐红色深海黏土质沉积物、硅质生物软泥、自生沉积物(富锰微结核)和钙质生物软泥四种主要类型。其中,褐红色深海黏土质沉积物为深渊沉积物的主要类型,对深渊沉积物的成分贡献最大,其主量、微量元素地球化学特征与洋壳蚀变基岩具有相似性。提出了褐红色深海黏土质沉积物成因主要源于俯冲板块和上覆板块玄武质基岩蚀变的观点。此外,深渊底部活跃的有机质早期成岩作用,对沉积物地球化学性质产生了重要影响,是导致“挑战者”深渊沉积物相比邻近深海沉积物具有较低稀土元素含量和富集微锰结核的主要原因。

基于残差神经网络的马里亚纳海沟地形反演

为提高利用重力异常数据反演马里亚纳海沟地形的精度,基于残差深度神经网络(residual deep neural network,RDNN)方法和重力异常等数据反演了马里亚纳海沟的1′×1′海底地形,通过实测检核点水深对RDNN模型的精度进行评估,并和重力地质法(gravity-geology method,GGM)模型结果进行对比。结果表明RDNN较GGM对马里亚纳海沟地形反演更为精细,实测水深检核表明RDNN模型均方根误差为128.98 m,优于GGM模型的150.14 m,且RDNN与船测检核水深也有更好一致性,RDNN深度学习模型为利用重力异常数据反演高精度海底地形提供了参考和依据。

马里亚纳海沟柱状沉积物稀土地球化学特征及其指示意义

对我国载人潜器＂蛟龙号＂首次在马里亚纳海沟南部获取的沉积物柱状样（JL7KGC01A）进行了涂片观察、粒度、黏土矿物和稀土元素组成分析。结果表明：沉积物为典型深海黏土沉积。根据沉积物的粒度、黏土组分和稀土元素含量变化以及不同程度的δCe和δEu异常将该沉积物柱状剖面分为明显的上下两个沉积层段,即：1.8～2.41m段与0.03～1.8m两个层段。下部层段（1.8～2.41m）相比上部层段（0.03～1.8m）,沉积物平均粒径较粗,蒙脱石/伊利石比值较高,稀土元素含量低且具有弱的Ce负异常和Eu正异常,表明该段沉积物受到较多的火山物质的影响。结合年代学分析认为研究区沉积物在2.2 Ma发生明显转变,2.2 Ma之前沉积物物源以附近火山物质为主,2.2 Ma之后物源仍以火山物质为主,但陆源物质供应逐渐增加。物源的转变暗示着本区在2.2 Ma之前火山活动较为频繁。

马里亚纳海沟俯冲带深地震现状对马尼拉海沟俯冲带的研究启示

综述了马里亚纳海沟俯冲带二维（2D）和三维（3D）深地震探测的研究进展, 要点如下： 1）伊豆-小笠原岛弧下方玄武质火山岩的物质成分基本一致, 中地壳的速度特征与陆壳相似, 岛弧底部镁铁质到超镁铁质的壳幔过渡层（crustmantle transition layer, CMTL）通过拆沉（delamination）等作用返回地幔, 实现由岛弧到陆壳的演化; 2）不同年龄的洋内岛弧具有不同的速度结构特征, 说明它们的地壳密度不同, 可用不同的模型来解释; 3）岛弧体系中速度结构及演化历史在时间和空间上的特征变化, 揭示了俯冲开始时洋壳和地幔的属性以及俯冲开始的原因.马尼拉海沟与马里亚纳海沟相比, 虽然地质背景不同, 但研究方法可以借鉴.今后的马尼拉海沟俯冲带探测的重点包括海底地震仪2D/3D 联合探测、海底电磁探测, 以及天然地震的长期观测等.马尼拉海沟项目的实施将加深对俯冲带运行机制的认识.

马里亚纳海沟挑战者深渊南部7000m水深处发现硅藻化石软泥

在马里亚纳海沟"蛟龙号"载人深潜器海试区约7000m水深的海底,发现了硅藻化石软泥沉积物,为中国首次在此大深度船载采集到硅藻化石软泥。室内硅藻化石分析显示,重力柱状样顶部约10cm厚的软泥为大筛盘藻Ethmodiscus rex硅藻软泥。化石主要由大筛盘藻组成,呈碎片状,数量巨大,并伴生有Azpeitia等热带远洋浮游种类。硅藻化石软泥发育表明,本区曾发生过E.rex勃发事件,具有重要的古海洋学和古生物学研究意义。

深渊着陆器技术研究及马里亚纳海沟科考应用

海斗深渊是指海洋中深度超过6 000 m的区域,占据了海洋底部45%的深度范围,是海洋生态系统的重要组成部分,海斗深渊科学代表着当前海洋研究最新的前沿领域。面向海斗深渊科学近海底长时探测与采样应用需求,介绍了我国自主研制的7 000 m级"天涯"号、"海角"号深渊着陆器系统,针对深渊着陆器的装备特点,重点研究了生物原位观测、微生物富集与固定、生物诱捕及沉积物取样等技术。描述了深渊着陆器在马里亚纳海沟开展的试验和科考应用,验证了着陆器及采样技术的可行性、有效性及其对深渊科考的适用性,并取得了多项科考成果。

马里亚纳海沟“挑战者深渊”最深点水深探测

摘要：2011～2012年，海洋六号船采用EMl22多波束测深系统在马里亚纳海沟最深海域“挑战者深渊”进行的多波束水深测量，通过对测深资料进行分析处理，获得了高精度海底地形图，揭示了马里亚纳海沟挑战者深渊附近海底地形呈近东西向延伸，有西部、中部和东部三个洼地，它们由10800m等深线圈闭，长轴方向与海沟方向一致。洼地底部水深大于10900m，地形较为平坦。三个洼地最深区域分别由10916m、10904m和10915m等深线圈闭。三个洼地最大水深为10917m（误差小于20m），位于西部洼地内，中心位置为142°12．14’E，11°19．92’N°该处也是马里亚纳海沟最深点。

马里亚纳海沟表层沉积物物理性质与微观结构初探

针对取样于141°48.700 8'E,11°11.698 8'N,深度为8 638 m的马里亚纳海沟海底表层沉积物,考虑该沉积物中的孔隙水为海水,提出一种测定其基本物理性质指标的修正方法,并测定其相关的物理性质指标,最后通过扫描电子显微镜观察其微观结构。研究结果表明:本次取样处的深海海底表层沉积物具有极高的含水率、高孔隙率、低密度、低比重、高饱和度等特性。考虑海水中盐分影响的修正后,该土样的含水率比修正前提高了11.68%,比重比修正前降低了7.66%。该沉积物显微结构以絮凝结构为主,中间夹杂着大量多孔隙的硅藻碎片和生物体的空壳,这使得该沉积物中的孔隙数量增多。研究结果将有助于了解马里亚纳海沟地区的深海沉积环境和历史,为深海集矿车的设计提供参考。

马里亚纳海沟挑战者深渊初期多金属氧化物的矿物学、地球化学特征及其成因环境研究

对大洋27航次在西太平洋马里亚纳海沟挑战者深渊获取的3个多金属氧化物样品进行了X射线矿物衍射分析、穆斯堡尔谱分析及地球化学元素分析,研究其矿物、地球化学特征差异。结果表明,所取样品处于多金属氧化物发育的初始阶段,具有独特的矿物地球化学特征:(1)相较于太平洋CC区及中太平洋海盆获取的多金属结核样品,本研究样品的矿物组成中含有异常高的石英、斜长石以及黏土矿物,而水羟锰矿和钙锰矿含量较低。(2)样品中铁相矿物主要为正方针铁矿(91.6%),另含少量纤铁矿(8.4%),推测是纤铁矿向更加稳定的正方针铁矿衍变的结果。(3)由于样品中深海黏土组分以及氧化物核心物质的混入,加上吸附金属氧化物时间较短,导致SiO2和Al2O3含量均高于正常结核,而Fe、Mn、Cu、Co、Ni等其余金属元素含量较低。(4)由于形成时间较短,样品中稀土元素含量相对较低,ΣREE仅约为0.4×10-3(一般太平洋CC区及中太平洋结核中稀土含量均大于1.0×10-3);加之海水氧化还原作用的降低以及研究区海底热液活动的影响,Ce元素未表现出多金属结核中常见的正异常。

马里亚纳海沟水深探测及“挑战者深渊”海底地形特征

"海洋六号"综合调查船先后于2011、2012年,利用EM122多波束测深系统在马里亚纳海沟最深海域"挑战者深渊"进行了全覆盖水深测量,获得了区域内详细的海底地形资料,揭示了马里亚纳海沟在区内呈近东西向延伸以及海沟两侧斜坡地形迥异、不对称的特点,南北两侧不同的地形地貌特征反映了马里亚纳海沟形成过程中两侧不同的次生构造活动影响。"挑战者深渊"区内有西部、中部和东部3个洼地,其中,西部洼地较深,其中心位置(142°12.14′E,11°19.92′N)水深10917m,是马里亚纳海沟的最深点。

冲绳海槽至马里亚纳海沟重力异常和地壳结构的初步研究

根据我们实测的水深、重力连续剖面资料,计算了自东海至北斐济盆地的地壳厚度。本文旨在对冲绳海槽至马里亚纳海沟的重力异常和地壳结构进行初步的研究。该地段位于太平洋板块俯冲带以西,构造活动十分复杂、剧烈,并含有多种类型的地壳结构。

Tritonia iocasica sp.nov.,a new tritoniid species from a seamount in the tropical Western Pacific(Heterobranchia:Nudibranchia)

During an expedition to a seamount at Caroline Plate in the tropical Western Pacific,a new species of Tritonia was sampled from the upper bathyal zone at depth of 970-1262 m.This new species,Tritonia iocasica sp.nov.,represents the first tritoniid nudibranch known to feed on octocoral of the family Melithaeidae.The species is up to 120 mm in length,pinkish in color;with the rhinophoral sheath divided into several petaliform extensions;veil with,about 18 elongate digitiform processes;notal margin with17-19 pairs of secondary gills;anus located below the 5th and 6th secondary gills,and the genitalia below the 3rd secondary gill on the right side of the body.Based on these external features,T.iocasica sp.nov.can be dearly distinguished from all previously described members of the genus.Phylogenetic analyses of two mitochondrial(COI,16 S rRNA)and a nuclear(H3)genes using Bayesian inference,maximum likelihood,and species delimitation analysis also support the separation of T.iocasica sp.nov.from its congeners.