Tectonic Evolution and Geological Characteristics of Hydrocarbon Reservoirs in Marine Mesozoic-Paleozoic Strata in the South Yellow Sea Basin

The South Yellow Sea Basin is the main body of the lower Yangtze area in which marine Mesozoic–Paleozoic strata are widely distributed.The latest geophysical data were used to overcome the limitation of previous poor-quality deep data.Meanwhile,the geological characteristics of hydrocarbon reservoirs in the marine Mesozoic–Paleozoic strata in the South Yellow Sea Basin were analyzed by comparing the source rocks and the reservoir and utilizing drilling and outcrop data.It is believed that the South Yellow Sea Basin roughly underwent six evolutionary stages:plate spreading,plate convergence,stable platform development,foreland basin development,faulted basin development,and depression basin development.The South Yellow Sea Basin has characteristics of a composite platform-fault depression geological structure,with a half-graben geological structure and with a ‘sandwich structure' in the vertical direction.Four sets of hydrocarbon source rocks developed – the upper Permian Longtan–Dalong formation,the lower Permian Qixia formation,the lower Silurian Gaojiabian formation,and the lower Cambrian Hetang formation/Mufushan formation,giving the South Yellow Sea Basin relatively good hydrocarbon potential.The carbonate is the main reservoir rock type in the South Yellow Sea area,and there are four carbonate reservoir types:porous dolomitic,reef-bank,weathered crust,and fractured.There are reservoir-forming horizons similar to the typical hydrocarbon reservoirs in the Yangtze land area developed in the South Yellow Sea,and there are three sets of complete source-reservoir-cap rock assemblages developed in the marine strata,with very good hydrocarbon potential.

Prospective prediction and exploration situation of marine Mesozoic-Paleozoic oil and gas in the South Yellow Sea

The South Yellow Sea Basin is a large sedimentary basin superimposed by the Mesozoic-Paleozoic marine sedimentary basin and the Mesozoic-Cenozoic terrestrial sedimentary basin, where no oil and gas fields have been discovered after exploration for 58 years. After the failure of oil and gas exploration in terrestrial basins, the exploration target of the South Yellow Sea Basin turned to the marine Mesozoic- Paleozoic strata. After more than ten years' investigation and research, a lot of achievements have been obtained. The latest exploration obtained effective seismic reflection data of deep marine facies by the application of seismic exploration technology characterized by high coverage, abundant low-frequency components and strong energy source for the deep South Yellow Sea Basin. In addition, some wells drilled the Middle-Upper Paleozoic strata, with obvious oil and gas shows discovered in some horizons. The recent petroleum geological research on the South Yellow Sea Basin shows that the structure zoning of the marine residual basin has been redetermined, the basin structure has been defined, and 3 seismic reflection marker layers are traceable and correlatable in the residual thick Middle-Paleozoic strata below the continental Meso-Cenozoic strata in the South Yellow Sea Basin. Based on these, the seismic sequence of the marine sedimentary strata was established. According to the avaliable oil and gas exploration and research, the marine Mesozoic-Paleozoic oil and gas prospects of the South Yellow Sea were predicted as follows.(1) The South Yellow Sea Basin has the same sedimentary formation and evolution history during the sedimentary period of the Middle-Paleozoic marine basin with the Sichuan Basin.(2) There are 3 regional high-quality source rocks.(3) The carbonate and clastic reservoirs are developed in the Mesozoic- Paleozoic strata.(4) The three source-reservoir-cap assemblages are relatively intact.(5) The Laoshan Uplift is a prospect area for the Lower Paleozoic oil and gas, and the Wunansha Uplift is one for the marine Upper Paleozoic oil and gas.(6) The Gaoshi stable zone in the Laoshan Uplift is a favorable zone.(7) The marine Mesozoic-Paleozoic strata in the South Yellow Sea Basin has the geological conditions required to form large oil and gas fields, with remarkable oil and gas resources prospect. An urgent problem to be addressed now within the South Yellow Sea Basin is to drill parametric wells for the Lower Paleozoic strata as the target, to establish the complete stratigraphic sequence since the Paleozoic period, to obtain resource evaluation parameters, and to realize the strategic discovery and achieve breakthrough in oil and gas exploration understanding.

Velocity structure in the South Yellow Sea basin based on first-arrival tomography of wide-angle seismic data and its geological implications

The South Yellow Sea basin is filled with Mesozoic-Cenozoic continental sediments overlying pre-Palaeozoic and Mesozoic-Palaeozoic marine sediments.Conventional multi-channel seismic data cannot describe the velocity structure of the marine residual basin in detail,leading to the lack of a deeper understanding of the distribution and lithology owing to strong energy shielding on the top interface of marine sediments.In this study,we present seismic tomography data from ocean bottom seismographs that describe the NEE-trending velocity distributions of the basin.The results indicate that strong velocity variations occur at shallow crustal levels.Horizontal velocity bodies show good correlation with surface geological features,and multi-layer features exist in the vertical velocity framework(depth:0–10 km).The analyses of the velocity model,gravity data,magnetic data,multichannel seismic profiles,and drilling data showed that high-velocity anomalies(>6.5 km/s)of small(thickness:1–2 km)and large(thickness:>5 km)scales were caused by igneous complexes in the multi-layer structure,which were active during the Palaeogene.Possible locations of good Mesozoic and Palaeozoic marine strata are limited to the Central Uplift and the western part of the Northern Depression along the wide-angle ocean bottom seismograph array.Following the Indosinian movement,a strong compression existed in the Northern Depression during the extensional phase that caused the formation of folds in the middle of the survey line.This study is useful for reconstructing the regional tectonic evolution and delineating the distribution of the marine residual basin in the South Yellow Sea basin.

Role of Resuspended Sediments as Sources of Dissolved Inorganic Phosphorus Along Different Dimensions in the Subei Shoal, South Yellow Sea, China

Several studies have documented that during‘green tide’events,comprising green macroalgae blooms in aquatic ecosystems,dissolved inorganic phosphorus(DIP)levels remain relatively steady despite the absorption of a large amount of DIP.In this study,surface sediment samples and a sediment core were extracted using a modified sequential extraction scheme,and water and surface sediment samples were analyzed in April 2017 to better understand phosphorus(P)cycling and replenishment in Subei shoal.We used a simple model on equilibrium of adsorption-desorption to present the buffering capacity of phosphate.The total P(TP)in the surface sediments ranged from 12.2 to 28.4μmol g^(-1)(average 15.5μmol g^(-1))and was dominated by inorganic P.TP,exchangeable P,reactive and reductive Fe/Al bound P,and authigenic apatite P significantly decreased northward and eastward from Subei shoal,contrary to the detrital P and organic P results.Dissolved and particulate inorganic P in the water samples ranged from 0.01 to 0.54μmol L^(-1)(average 0.19μmol L^(-1))and 0.9 to 19.6μmol g^(-1)(average 4.9μmol g^(-1)),respectively.The applied model showed that suspended particulate matter is an important regulator of DIP behavior.Thus,modification of SPM can alter the DIP buffering capacity.The calculated buffering capacity in the surface layer of the sea water was>60 within Subei shoal and always>10 along the path of floating Ulva prolifera,providing a reasonable explanation for the steady concentration of DIP and its replenishment during the blooming of this green macroalgae.

Organic geochemical characteristics and significance of Permian Gufeng formation siliceous shale in well CSDP-2 of South Yellow Sea central uplift

In order to understand the hydrocarbon generation potential of the siliceous shale in the Permian Gufeng Formation of the South Yellow Sea,the organic geochemistry and organic petrology of the siliceous shale in the Gufeng Formation of the CSDP-2 well were studied and analyzed.It is found that the TOC of the samples is mainly between 9%and 12%,and Tmaxis mainly distributed between 510 and 540℃.The value of the organic microscopic type index(TI)is between 25.71 and 31.00,which is a set of II_(2)high-quality source rocks with high organic matter abundance in the over mature stage of largescale gas generation.According to the distribution characteristics of Molecular fossils in siliceous shale of Gufeng Formation of well CSDP-2,bacterial organic matter is the main hydrocarbon generating parent material,and aquatic animal organic matter is an important hydrocarbon generating parent material.The siliceous shale in Gufeng Formation of CSDP-2 well is in the stage of large-scale gas generation;Therefore,the Gufeng Formation in the central uplift of the South Yellow Sea has the material basis for the formation of large-scale shale gas reservoirs.At the same time,the siliceous metasomatism of the siliceous shale reservoir of Gufeng Formation is not conducive to the primary migration of oil,and there is much oil and gas remaining in the reservoir.

Prediction of Petroleum Prospect in the South Yellow Sea Basin Using Satellite Remote Sensing

Using satellite remote sensing to measure the sea surface temperature of the East China Sea Shelf Basin can serve the purpose of predicting the petroleum prospect in the South Yellow Sea Basin. The satellite thermal infrared temperature anomaly area always repeats in the same position as the proved oil prospect area in the East China Sea Shelf Basin, and coincides well with both the CH4 content curve at the water-atmosphere interface and the seafloor geochemical anomaly. The sea surface temperature anomaly areas of the South Yellow Sea Basin in the satellite remote sensing image go banded along 123030, in the S-N direction, and naturally follow the aeromagnetically interpreted eastern nose-type uplift that shows a S-N strike. The north and south ends of the eastern nose are considered as good oil prospect areas because temperature anomaly often occurs there.

Hydrocarbon Geological Conditions and Exploration Potential of Mesozoic–Paleozoic Marine Strata in the South Yellow Sea Basin

No substantial breakthroughs have been made in hydrocarbon exploration of the South Yellow Sea Basin.It is believed that the Mesozoic-Paleozoic marine sedimentary formation in the South Yellow Sea Basin is similar to that in the Sichuan Basin.Therefore,outcrop,drilling,and seismic data were determined and compared with the research results on petroleum geological conditions in the Yangtze land area,and the hydrocarbon geological conditions were analyzed comprehensively from multiple aspects,such as basin evolution and main source rocks,reservoir characteristics,preservation conditions,and structural traps.The results show that two main stages in the South Yellow Sea Basin(the stable evolution stage of the Mesozoic-Paleozoic marine basin and the Mesozoic-Cenozoic tectonic reformation and basin formation stage)were important for the development and evolution of four sets of main source rocks.Reservoirs dominated by carbonate rocks,three sets of capping beds with good sealing capability,relatively weak magmatic activity,and multiple types of structural traps jointly constituted relatively good hydrocarbon-reservoir-forming conditions.There were four sets of main source-reservoir-cap assemblages and three possible hydrocarbon reservoir types(primary residual-type hydrocarbon reservoir,shallow reformed-type hydrocarbon reservoir,and composite-type hydrocarbon reservoir)developed in the marine strata.It is concluded that the marine strata in the South Yellow Sea Basin have relatively good hydrocarbon potential.The Laoshan Uplift is characterized by stable structure,complete preserved source reservoir cap assemblage,and large structural traps,and thus it is the preferred prospect zone for marine Paleozoic hydrocarbon exploration in this area.

Characteristics of Meso-Cenozoic Igneous Complexes in the South Yellow Sea Basin,Lower Yangtze Craton of Eastern China and the Tectonic Setting

The South Yellow Sea Basin is partially surrounded by the East Asian continental Meso- Cenozoic widespread igneous rocks belt. Magnetic anomaly and multi-channel seismic data both reveal the prevalent occurrence of igneous rocks. We preliminarily defined the coupling relation between magnetic anomalies and igneous rock bodies. Some igneous complexes were also recognized by using multi-channel seismic and drilling data. We identified various intrusive and extrusive igneous rock bodies, such as stocks, sills, dikes, laccoliths and volcanic edifice relics through seismic facies analysis. We also forecasted the distribution characteristics of igneous complexes. More than fifty hypabyssal intrusions and volcanic relics were delineated based on the interpretation of magnetic anomaly and dense intersecting multi-channel seismic data. It is an important supplement to regional geology and basin evolution research. Spatial matching relations between igneous rock belts and fractures document that extensional N-E and N-NE-trending deep fractures may be effective pathways for magma intrusion. These fractures formed under the influence of regional extension during the Meso- Cenozoic after the Indosinian movement. Isotopic ages and crosscutting relations between igneous rock bodies and the surrounding bedded sedimentary strata both indicate that igneous activities might have initiated during the Late Jurassic, peaked in the Early Cretaceous, gradually weakened in the Late Cretaceous, and continued until the Miocene. Combined with previous studies, it is considered that the Meso-Cenozoic igneous activities, especially the intensive igneous activity of the Early Cretaceous, are closely associated with the subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Plate.

Basin modeling in the initial stage of exploration： a case study from the North Subbasin of the South Yellow Sea Basin

Basin modeling has become an important tool for analyzing sedimentary basins. The North Subbasin of the South Yellow Sea Basin is filled with thick Meso-Cenozoic terrigenous deposits during the rift evolution stage. The accumulation of data and achievements of geological investigations in recent years have provided the preconditions for basin modeling. The necessary parameters and geological elements for simulations are collated and summarized. Modeling of tectono-thermal evolution is performed and the related trend in heat flow is reconstructed and calibrated. The heat flow value commences from an average level of 61 m W/m2during MiddleLate Jurassic, rises to about 80 m W/m2from circa 145 Ma to circa 74 Ma, and then undergoes a gradual decline to65 m W/m2until the end of Oligocene.Three evolutionary phases, namely, the initial rifting phase, syn-rifting phase, and post-rifting phase, have been identified. The modeling results show that the North Subbasin generally enters into a stage of strong rifting during Cretaceous and undergoes rapid subsidence until the Late Cretaceous,then follows by a stage of moderate rifting during the Paleogene. The input and general workflow involved in 3-D modeling are introduced. Reconstruction of the petroleum system in the North Subbasin reveals that the threshold depth of hydrocarbon generation is located near the top of the Paleogene Funing formation, and the underlying Jurassic and Cretaceous source rocks have reached or exceeded peak oil generation and have almost completed the generation and expulsion of hydrocarbons. The main generation and expulsion in the Jurassic source rocks take place during the syn-rifting and post-rifting phases, whereas the peak generation and expulsion in the Cretaceous and Paleogene source rocks take place during the post-rifting phase. Although the study area is still a relatively less explored sedimentary basin, the results of modeling can provide valuable information for exploration. A preliminary discussion of the main uncertainty factors is also presented.

Numerical study on effect of tidal phase on storm surge in the South Yellow Sea

Because of the special topography and large tidal range in the South Yellow Sea,the dynamic process of tide and storm surge is very complicated.The shallow water circulation model Advanced Circulation(ADCIRC)was used to simulate the storm surge process during typhoon Winnie,Prapiroon,and Damrey,which represents three types of tracks attacking the South Yellow Sea,which are,moving northward after landing,no landing but active in offshore areas,and landing straightly to the coastline.Numerical experiments were carried out to investigate the effects of tidal phase on the tide-surge interaction as well as storm surge.The results show that the peak surge caused by Winnie and Prapiroon occurs 2-5 h before the high tide and its occurring time relative to high tide has little change with tidal phase variations.On the contrary,under the action of Damrey,the occurring time of the peak surge relative to high tide varies with tidal phase.The variation of tide-surge interaction is about 0.06-0.37 m,and the amplitude variations of interaction are smooth when tidal phase changes for Typhoon Winnie and Prapiroon.While the interaction is about 0.07-0.69 m,and great differences exists among the stations for Typhoon Damrey.It can be concluded that the tide-surge interaction of the former is dominated by the tidal phase modulation,and the time of surge peak is insensitive to the tidal phase variation.While the interaction of the latter is dominated by storm surge modulation due to the water depth varying with tide,the time of surge peak is significantly affected by tidal phase.Therefore,influence of tidal phase on storm surge is related to typhoon tracks which may provide very useful information at the design stage of coastal protection systems.

Mineral distributions in surface sediments of the western South Yellow Sea:implications for sediment provenance and transportation

The South Yellow Sea(SYS) is strongly influenced by the substantial sediment loads of the Huanghe(Yellow)(including the modern Huanghe and abandoned old Huanghe subaqueous delta) and Changjiang(Yangtze) Rivers. However,the dispersal patterns of these sediments,especially in the western SYS,have not been clearly illustrated. In this study,we have analyzed clay minerals,detrital minerals,and grain sizes for 245 surface sediment samples(0–5 cm) collected from the western SYS. The clay minerals,on average,consist of 67% illite,14% smectite,11% chlorite,and 8% kaolinite. Clay minerals,detrital minerals,and grain size analyses of surface sediments,combined with water mass hydrology analysis,reveal that sediments in the western SYS are mainly derived from the modern Huanghe River,the abandoned subaqueous delta of the old Huanghe River,some material from the Changjiang,and coastal erosion. The clay minerals(especially illite and smectite) and quartz/feldspar ratio distribution patterns,reveal that the influence of modern Huanghe sediments can reach 35°N in the northwestern part of the study area,an influence that can be enhanced especially in winter owing to northerly winds. Conversely,sediments along the Jiangsu coast are mixed,in summer,with material from the Changjiang arriving via northward flow of Changjiang Diluted Water. The Subei Coastal Current carries the refreshed sediments northward into the western SYS. Sediment distribution and transport in the western SYS are mainly controlled by the oceanic circulation system that is primarily related to the monsoon.

An N-shape thermal front in the western South Yellow Sea in winter

An N-shape thermal front in the western South Yellow Sea （YS） in winter was detected using Advanced Very High Resolution Radiation （AVHRR） Sea Surface Temperature data and in-situ observations with a merged front-detecting method. The front, which exists from late October through early March, consists of western and eastern wings extending roughly along the northeast-southwest isobaths with a southeastward middle segment across the 20--50 m isobaths. There are north and south inflexions connecting the middle segment with the western and eastern wings, respectively. The middle segment gradually moves southwestward from November through February with its length increasing from 62 km to 107 km and the southern inflexion moving from 36.2°N to 35.3°N. A cold tongue is found to coexist with the N-shape front, and is carried by the coastal jet penetrating southward from the tip of the Shandong Peninsula into the western South YS as revealed by a numerical simulation. After departing from the coast, the jet flows as an anti-cyclonic recirculation below 10 m depth, trapping warmer water originally carried by the compensating Yellow Sea Warm Current （YSWC）. A northwestward fowing branch of the YSWC is also found on the lowest level south of the front. The N-shape front initially forms between the cold tongue and warm water involved in the subsurface anti-cyclonical recirculation and extends upwards to the surface through vertical advection and mixing. Correlation analyses reveal that northerly and easterly winds tend to be favorable to the formation and extension of the N-shape front probably through strengthening of the coastal jet and shifting the YSWC pathway eastward, respectively.

Geochemistry Characteristics of Sediment and Provenance Relations of Sediments in Core NT1 of the South Yellow Sea

The contribution of substance from Yellow River, Yangtze River, and Korean rivers to the sedimentation of Yellow Sea is studied through geochemical analysis and through characterization of the source of the substance about sediment from Core NT1 among the lutaceous area in Central South Yellow Sea. The research finds out that the sediment in Core NT1 mainly comes from Yangtze River and Yellow River, the sediment between 0-7.70 m in upper Core NT1 mainly belongs to Yangtze River source; the sediments between 7.70-16.60 m and 42.0-54.80 m in middle Core NT1 are mainly from Yellow River, the 26 m thick sediment interlayer in it mainly comes from Yangtze River; and the sediment between 54.80-69.76 m in the bottom of Core NT1 is mainly from Yangtze River. The results demonstrate that Yangtze River has been playing a main role in the lutaceous area in the Central South Yellow Sea since early Late Pleistocene, and Yellow River started to influence the continental sedimentation of Yellow Sea from early Warm Glaciation of late Late Pleistocene.

Effects of topography on the sub-tidal circulation in the southwestern Huanghai Sea(Yellow Sea)in summer

A nested circulation model system based on the Princeton ocean model （POM） is set up to simulate the currentmeter data from a bottom-mounted Acoustic Doppler Profiler （ADP） deployed at the 30 m depth in the Lunan（South Shandong Province, China） Trough south of the Shandong Peninsula in the summer of 2008, and to study the dynamics of the circulation in the southwestern Huanghai Sea （Yellow Sea）. The model has reproduced well the observed subtidal current at the mooring site. The results of the model simulation suggest that the bottom topography has strong steering effects on the regional circulation in summer. The model simulation shows that the Subei （North Jiangsu Province, China）coastal current flows north- ward in summer, in contrast to the southeastward current in the center of the Lunan Trough measured by the moored currentmeter. The analyses of the model results suggest that the southeastward current at the mooring site in the Lunan Trough is forced by the westward wind-driven current along the Lunan coast, which meets the northward Subei coastal current at the head of the Haizhou Bay to flow along an offshore path in the southeastward direction in the Lunan Trough. Analysis suggests that the Subei coastal current, the Lunan coastal current, and the circulation in the Lunan Trough are independent current systems con- trolled by different dynamics. Therefore, the current measurements in the Lunan Trough cannot be used to represent the Subei coastal current in general.

Spatial contrast in phytoplankton, bacteria and microzooplankton grazing between the eutrophic Yellow Sea and the oligotrophic South China Sea

Three cruises were conducted to investigate the distributions of nutrients,chlorophyll a(Chla),new and regenerated primary production,bacterial abundance and production,and microzooplankton grazing rates in the Yellow Sea(YS)and the South China Sea(SCS)during March and May.As the water column moved from low to high temperature,weak to strong stratification and high to low nutrients from the YS to the SCS,Chl-a,primary production and bacterial biomass decreased.In contrast,bacterial production,microzooplankton grazing and size preference increased from the YS to the SCS.The increasing grazing activity and decreasing f-ratio from the YS to the SCS suggest roles of regenerated nutrients in the supporting the community increased and more bacteria played important roles in the carbon flow in the oligotrophic SCS than in the eutrophic YS.These variabilities force the classical food chain dominated community in the eutrophic waters into the microbial loop,which is dominant in oligotrophic waters.As nutrients decrease,temperature and grazing activity increase from the YS to the SCS.The increasing ratio of integrated bacterial production to integrated primary production indicates that communities change from autotrophy to heterotrophy and waters change from a carbon sink to a carbon source.

Sedimentary system characteristics and depositional filling model of Upper Permian——Lower Triassic in South Yellow Sea Basin

In the South Yellow Sea Basin,Mesozoic–Paleozoic marine strata are generally well developed with large thickness,and no substantial breakthroughs have been made in hydrocarbon exploration.Through research,it is believed that the Upper Permian–Lower Triassic can be regarded as a long-term base-level cycle.Based on drilling data,characteristics of the lithology–electric property combination cyclicity,and the special lithology,the long-term base-level cycle was divided into five medium-term base-level cycles(MC1–MC5).On this basis,the Permian–Triassic sedimentary systems and their filling model were analyzed in accordance with the change of base-level cycle and transition of sedimentary environment,as well as characteristics of the drilling sedimentary facies and seismic facies.The results show that there were six sedimentary systems(fluvial,delta,tidal flat,open platform,restricted platform,and continental shelf)developed in the Upper Permian–Lower Triassic,the sedimentary systems were distributed such that the water was deep in the northwest and shallow in the southeast,and there were two base-level cycle filling models(a relatively stable tidal flat facies and a rapidly transgressive continental shelf facies to stable platform facies)developed in the Upper Permian–Lower Triassic.These models can provide a basis for evaluation of the Mesozoic–Paleozoic hydrocarbon geology in the South Yellow Sea Basin.

Spatiotemporal variability of physical-biogeochemical processes and intrinsic correlations in the semi-enclosed South Yellow Sea

Investigating the spatiotemporal variability of biogeochemical processes and ecological responses under multiple physical controls in shelf seas is of great importance for obtaining an in-depth understanding of marine ecosystem.Based on a compiled data set of historical observations and remote sensing data,the spatiotemporal variability and heterogeneity of physical-biogeochemical processes in the semi-enclosed South Yellow Sea(SYS)are investigated,and the intrinsic connectivity among different subregions and the associated mechanisms are examined.The results show that the seasonal alternation between southward transport in cold seasons and upwelling-induced vertical delivery in warm seasons is the primary physical control of the biogeochemical processes and primary production off Shidao and in the area adjacent to the Haizhou Bay.The northeastward expansion of coastal waters in the Subei Shoal constitutes an important physical driver for the offshore transport of Ulva prolifera in summer.Stratification significantly affects the biogeochemical processes in the Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass(YSCWM)-dominated area during warm seasons,and nutrients can accumulate in bottom waters from spring to autumn,making the Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass(YSCWM)be an important nutrient pool.Upwelling around the YSCWM boundary in the stratified season leads to consistency among the high chlorophyll a(Chl a)area,high primary productivity region and low-temperature upwelling zone.During cold seasons,the interactions of the southward cold waters in the western nearshore area and the northward warm waters in the central region lead to an“S”-shaped front in the SYS.In summer,upwelling can extract nutrients from the YSCWM;thus,the biogeochemical-ecological processes inside the cold-water mass and in the frontal zone are well connected via upwelling,and three typical physical-biogeochemical coupling regions are generated,namely,the Shidao coast,the area beyond the Haizhou Bay and the area off the Subei Shoal.This work refines and integrates studies on regional oceanography in the SYS and provides a comprehensive and systematic framework of physical-biogeochemical-ecological processes.

Rates and fluxes of centennial-scale carbon storage in the fine-grained sediments from the central South Yellow Sea and Min-Zhe belt, East China Sea

The global carbon cycle has played a key role in mitigating global warming and climate change.Long-term natural and anthropogenic processes influence the composition,sources,burial rates,and fluxes of carbon in sediments on the continental shelf of China.In this study,the rates,fluxes,and amounts of carbon storage at the centennial scale were estimated and demonstrated using the case study of three fine-grained sediment cores from the central South Yellow Sea area(SYSA) and Min-Zhe belt(MZB),East China Sea.Based on the high-resolution temporal sequences of total carbon(TC)and total organic carbon(TOC)contents,we reconstructed the annual variations of historical marine carbon storage,and explored the influence of terrestrial and marine sources on carbon burial at the centennial scale.The estimated TC storage over 100 years was 1.18×10~8 t in the SYSA and 1.45×10~9 t in the MZB.The corrected TOC storage fluxes at the centennial scale ranged from 17 to 28 t/(km^2·a)in the SYSA and from 56 to 148 t/(km^2·a)in the MZB.The decrease of terrestrial materials and the increase of marine primary production suggest that the TOC buried in the sediments in the SYSA and MZB was mainly derived from the marine autogenetic source.In the MZB,two depletion events occurred in TC and TOC storage from 1985 to 1987 and 2003 to 2006,which were coeval with the water impoundment in the Gezhouba and Three Gorges dams,respectively.The high-resolution records of the carbon storage rates and fluxes in the SYSA and MZB reflect the synchronous responses to human activities and provide an important reference for assessing the carbon sequestration capacity of the marginal seas of China.

Community structure changes of macrobenthos in the South Yellow Sea

The ecological environment in the Yellow Sea has changed greatly from the 1950s to 1990s and this has had significant impact on marine organisms. In this study, data on soft-sediment macrobenthos occurring in depths from 25 m to 81 m in the South Yellow Sea were used to compare changes in community structure. The agglomerative classification (CLUSTER) and multidimensional scaling (MDS) methods were applied. Five communities were recognized by cluster analysis: 1. The Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass community dominated by cold water species, which changed slightly in species composition since the 1950s; 2. The mixed community with the coexistence of cold water species and warm water species, as had been reported previously; 3. The polychaete-dominated eurythermal community in which the composition changed considerably as some dominant species disappeared or decreased; 4. The Changjiang (Yangtze) River Estuarine community, with some typical estuarine species; 5. The community affected by the Yellow Sea Warm Current. The greatest change occurred in the coastal area, which indicated that the change may be caused by human activities. Macrobenthos in the central region remained almost unchanged, particularly the cold water species shielded by the Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass. The depth, temperature and median grain size of sediments were important factors affecting the distributions of macrobenthos in the South Yellow Sea.

A Multilayer Study of pCO2 in the Surface Waters of the Yellow and South China Seas in Spring and the Sea-Air Carbon Dioxide Flux

A multilayer study of pCO2 for the Yellow and South China Seas in the surface waters was conducted based on data from four cruises sponsored by the China SOLAS Project in 2005 and 2006,including data for the surface microlayer(SML) ,subsurface layer(SSL) and surface layer(SL) . The carbon fluxes across the air-sea interface were calculated. The results showed that the pCO2 values in the surface waters of the study area decreased in the following order:pCO2 SML> pCO2 SSL> pCO2 SL. The highest values were found in March for all SML,SSL and SL,followed by those in April,and the lowest were in May. The pCO2 values had a significant positive correlation with temperature or salinity. While there was no relationship between pCO2 and longitude,there was a significant negative correlation between it and latitude,i.e.,'high latitude low pCO2'. By using four calculation models,the carbon dioxide fluxes(FC O2) in spring in the Yellow and South China Seas,which were found to act as a 'sink' of atmospheric CO2,were preliminarily estimated on the basis of the pCO2 data in the SML to be -7.00×106 t C and -22.35×106 t C,respectively. It is suggested that the FC O2calculated on the basis of pCO2 data in the SML is more reliable than that calculated on the basis of those in the SL.