Middle Holocene Organic Carbon and Biomarker Records from the South Yellow Sea: Relationship to the East Asian Monsoon

The East Asian monsoon system influences the sedimentation and transport of organic matter in East Asian marginal seas that is derived from both terrestrial and marine sources. In this study, we determined organic carbon(OC) isotope values, concentrations of marine biomarkers, and levels of OC and total nitrogen(TN) in core YSC-1 from the central South Yellow Sea(SYS). Our objectives were to trace the sources of OC and variations in palaeoproductivity since the middle Holocene, and their relationships with the East Asian monsoon system. The relative contributions of terrestrial versus marine organic matter in core sediments were estimated using a two-end-member mixing model of OC isotopes. Results show that marine organic matter has been the main sediment constituent since the middle Holocene. The variation of terrestrial organic carbon concentration(OCter) is similar to the EASM history. However, the variation of marine organic carbon concentration(OCmar) is opposite to that of the EASM curve, suggesting OCmar is distinctly influenced by terrestrial material input. Inputs of terrestrial nutrients into the SYS occur in the form of fluvial and aeolian dust, while concentrations of nutrients in surface water are derived mainly from bottom water via the Yellow Sea circulation system, which is controlled by the East Asian winter monsoon(EAWM). Variations in palaeoproductivity represented by marine organic matter and biomarker records are, in general, consistent with the recent EAWM intensity studies, thus, compared with EASM, EAWM may play the main role to control the marine productivity variations in the SYS.

Biomarker evidence for changes in terrestrial organic matter input into the Yellow Sea mud area during the Holocene

We present lipid biomarker records of two cores(ZY1 and ZY3) from the central South Yellow Sea mud area to investigate the changes in sources and transport processes of the sedimentary organic matter(OM) throughout the Holocene. Based on the analysis of marine biomarker content(SPB(Phytoplankton Biomarker, total content of brassicasterol, dinosterol and C_(37)-alkenones) and crenarchaeol), and terrestrial biomarkers(Sn-alkanols and br GDGTs) as well as TMBR′ and BIT index values, the marine organic matter(MOM) and terrestrial organic matter(TOM) deposition history was reconstructed. Changes in TOM and MOM were related to variations in land vegetation density and marine productivity, as well as transport processes dominated by the oceanic circulation system. The marine biomarker contents from the South Yellow Sea have generally increased throughout the Holocene, indicating that the increased MOM contents were mainly controlled by the strengthening of the circulation system. The terrestrial biomarkers, on the other hand, were more variable, indicating more complex influence of TOM burial in the Yellow Sea. During the Early Holocene(7200–6000 cal yr BP), the moderate TOM input revealed by the terrestrial proxy records may result from abundant land source supply by strong river transport despite the lack of transport via circulation system. The Mid-Holocene(6000–3000 cal yr BP) was characterized by decreased terrestrial biomarker contents. The balance between the decrease in land source supply and increase of transportation by the current system of the TOM resulted in the lower but stable contents of TOM. During the Late Holocene(3000 cal yr BP to present), the TOM deposition in the South Yellow Sea increased as the current system was further enhanced and thus transported more TOM to the central South Yellow Sea, although the land supply of TOM was further reduced.

南黄海表层沉积物中正构烷烃的组成特征、分布及其对沉积有机质来源的指示意义

黄海是1个重要的碳汇,其沉积物有机质来源复杂多样,而且在碳循环中的作用不同。边缘海有机质来源的定量估算是碳循环研究中的1个重要内容。正构烷烃是1种常用的指示有机质来源的生物标志物。本文对南黄海63个表层沉积物中正构烷烃的分布及其组成特征进行分析,并与其它生物标志物指标进行对比。结果显示,南黄海区域表层沉积物中正构烷烃多呈现双峰群分布,前峰群短链烷烃无明显奇偶碳数优势,主要来自海洋浮游藻类和细菌;后峰群长链烷烃具有奇碳数优势,主要来自于陆地高等植物,其中草本植物和木本植物来源所占比例相近。短链和长链正构烷烃在黄海中部都有高值分布,主要受中部细颗粒沉积物的吸附作用及较低的沉积速率影响。陆源海源烷烃含量比(∑T/∑M)和陆源海源优势烷烃含量比(TAR)对沉积有机质来源的指示是一致的,北部和近苏北沿岸处有高比值分布,指示有较高的陆源输入;低比值区分布于中南部,指示陆源输入较少。∑T/∑M(以及TAR)与生物标志物指标(∑T/1.5∑B)的分布趋势相似,只是北部高值区相对明显程度有所差别,可能与北部细菌作用较强、水深较大导致短链正构烷烃降解程度较大有关。

珠江口和邻近海域沉积有机质的来源及其沉积通量的时空变化

分析了珠江口和邻近海域沉积有机质（OM）的总有机碳（TOC）、总氮（TN）及稳定碳同位素组成[δ（13C）]等地球化学差数，并对有机质的来源和沉积通量进行了研究．结果表明，珠江口沉积有机质来自大陆（52％）和水生（48％）混合来源；而邻逝海域沉积有机质主要为水生来源（93％）．珠江121陆源有机质含量（W（T-oc）为5．4mg／g]远远高于邻近海域（0．49mg／g），近每来珠江口TOC和陆源有机质（T-Oc）的平均沉积通量分别为5．57和2．2～3．6mg／（cm^2·a），说明珠江河口接受了大量的陆溺有机物的输入，这是由于自20世纪后期的几十年以来，华南地区经济快速增长造成大量土地开垦，以及工农业生产和生活壮水的排放所致．珠江口和邻近海域的水生有机质沉积通量在近年均呈增加趋势，在珠江口达到最大值3．6mg／（cm^2·a），说缈大量的营养物质导致水体的富营养化，从而促使水域初级生产力的增长．

南黄海北部表层沉积物中生物标志物的组成特征及其地球化学意义

通过对南黄海北部14个站位的19个表层沉积物样品进行了粒度、有机碳、GC-FID和GC-MS-MS测定,探讨沉积物有机质中生物标志物组成特征及地球化学意义。研究区表明,沉积物有机碳含量较高,正构烷烃呈双峰分布,具有明显奇偶优势、平均L/H为0.36,说明沉积物中陆源高等植物贡献占优,分析对比表明其沉积物可能主要来自古黄河输入。类异戊二烯烃Pr/Ph均值0.46,表明有机质沉积于强还原环境;Pr/C_(17)和Ph/C_(18)值均小于1,并且随深度有减小的趋势,反映了研究区微生物的降解作用。甾类化合物C_(29)豆甾烷>C_((?))胆甾烷>C_(28)麦角甾烷,说明萜类化合物和甾类化合物主要为陆相输入。较高OEP值、高丰度的藿烯和莫烷及甾烷S构型含量均反映了现代沉积物中有机质未熟-低熟特征,但由于原始母质影响和微生物发育,Ts/Tm和C_(31)αβS/(S+R)、C_(32)αβS/(S+R)、C_(33)αβS/(S+R)和C_(29)αββ/(ααα+αββ)值较高。

过去一百年济州岛西南泥质区有机质来源变化的多参数指标研究

C/N是一种传统的区分海洋沉积有机质来源的指标,基于总有机碳与总有机氮的比值。BIT(Branched andIsoprenoid Tetraether index)和TMBR(Terrestrial and Marine Biomarker Ratio)是近年提出的用于指示陆源有机质相对贡献的新指标,二者具有明确的陆源及海源端元值。BIT指标是基于陆地土壤厌氧细菌生标Branched GDGTs与泉古菌生标Crenarchaeol的比值,TMBR指标是基于陆源高等植物生标和海源藻类生标的比值。本文利用C/N、BIT和TMBR指标,对济州岛西南泥质区DH11站位过去一百年以来陆源有机质和海源有机质的相对贡献进行了定量评估。总有机碳(TOC)、陆源和海源生物标志物的分析结果显示:近50a来,该站位的总有机质、海源有机质和陆源有机质的沉积通量(Mass Accumulation Rates,MARs)一直在增加。C/N指标通过二元混合模型的计算结果显示陆源有机质占总沉积有机质的比例在0.22～0.30之间,BIT与TMBR指示的陆源有机质贡献分别在0.05～0.11,0.08～0.22之间,所得相对贡献的差异主要是由不同指标的指示意义不同造成的。3种指标的结果表明该研究海域海源有机质在沉积有机质中占据主导地位。另外,从1950s开始陆源有机质的相对贡献呈现下降趋势,这说明海源有机质沉积通量增加的比例大于陆源有机质,这可能是由东亚季风、黑潮、河流输入、大气沉降和人类活动等多重因素引起的。