Carbon Storage Dynamics in Lower Shimentan Formation of the Qiantang Sag, East China Sea Shelf Basin: Stratigraphy, Reservoir ‒ Cap Analysis, and Source ‒ Sink Compatibility

Excessive carbon emissions have resulted in the greenhouse effect, causing considerable global climate change. Marine carbon storage has emerged as a crucial approach to addressing climate change. The Qiantang Sag(QTS) in the East China Sea Shelf Basin, characterized by its extensive area, thick sedimentary strata, and optimal depth, presents distinct geological advantages for carbon dioxide(CO_(2)) storage. Focusing on the lower section of the Shimentan Formation in the Upper Cretaceous of the QTS, this study integrates seismic interpretation and drilling data with core and thin-section analysis. We reveal the vertical variation characteristics of the strata by providing a detailed stratigraphic description. We use petrophysical data to reveal the development characteristics of high-quality carbon-storage layers and favorable reservoircaprock combinations, thereby evaluating the geological conditions for CO_(2) storage in various stratigraphic sections. We identify Layer B of the lower Shimentan Formation as the most advantageous stratum for marine CO_(2) storage. Furthermore, we analyze the carbon emission trends in the adjacent Yangtze River Delta region. Considering the characteristics of the source and sink areas, we suggest a strong correlation between the carbon emission sources of the Yangtze River Delta and the CO_(2) storage area of the QTS, making the latter a priority area for conducting experiments on marine CO_(2) storage.

Differences in hydrocarbon accumulation and controlling factors of slope belt in graben basin: A case study of Pinghu Slope Belt in the Xihu sag of the east China Sea Shelf basin(ECSSB)

The Pinghu slope belt in the Xihu sag of the East China Sea Shelf Basin(ECSSB) is a crucial hydrocarbon production area in eastern China. However, due to the complex geological conditions, publications have lacked comprehensive research on the spatial-temporal coupling relationships of primary factors that impact hydrocarbon accumulation in the Pinghu slope belt. Furthermore, the hydrocarbon distribution patterns and the controlling factors across different study areas within the same slope belt are not yet fully understood. This study extensively utilized three-dimensional seismic data, well logging data,geochemical analysis, fluorescence analysis, and oil testing and production data to address these issues.Following a “stratification and differentiation” approach, the study identified seven distinct hydrocarbon migration and accumulation units(HMAU) in the Pinghu slope area based on the structural morphology characteristics, hydrocarbon source-reservoir-cap rock patterns, hydrocarbon migration pathways, and hydrocarbon supply range. Detailed analysis was conducted to examine the hydrocarbon distribution patterns and controlling factors within each migration and accumulation unit across different structural units, including high, medium, and low structural components. All data sources support a “southern-northern sub-area division, eastern-western sub-belt division, and variations in hydrocarbon accumulation” pattern in the Pinghu slope belt. The degree of hydrocarbon accumulation is controlled by the factors of structural morphology, hydrocarbon generation potential of source rocks, the spatial position of source slopes, fault sealing capacity, and sand body distribution. Furthermore, different coupling patterns of faults and sand bodies play a pivotal role in governing hydrocarbon enrichment systems across various migration and accumulation units. These observations indicate that three hydrocarbon accumulation patterns have been established within the slope belt, including near-source to far-source gentle slope with multiple hydrocarbon kitchens in the XP1-XP4 zones, near-source to middle-source gentle slope with dual-hydrocarbon kitchens in the XP5 zone, and near-source steep slope with a single hydrocarbon kitchen in the XP6-XP7 zones. These findings contribute to enhancing the theoretical system of hydrocarbon accumulation in the slope belt.

Sedimentary systems of the Oligocene Huagang Formation in the central anticline zone of the Xihu Depression,East China Sea Shelf Basin

The Xihu Depression is the largest hydrocarbon-bearing depression of the East China Sea Shelf Basin(also referred to as the ECSSB).However,the depositional systems and reservoir distribution of the Oligocene Huagang Formation in the Xihu Depression are still controversial.Under the guidance of sedimentology and stratigraphy,this study documented a marine-terrestrial transitional environment in the restricted bay setting of the Oligocene Huagang Formation through core description,well logging,and seismic data analysis.This study also revealed that the Oligocene Huagang Formation is dominated by tidal delta,estuary,and gravity flow deposits in the central anticline zone of the Xihu Depression.The new understanding of the sedimentary systems and the discovery of the transgressive gap in the eastern Diaoyu Islands uplift explain the origin of fine-grained sediments and the EW-trending sand bodies in the central depression and the sand bodies parallel to shoreline in the west slope belt,which cannot be explained by previous study results,such as southern transgression or fluvial deltas and even lacustrine deposition.Moreover,the tidal channels,tidal sand flats,and gravity flow sand bodies formed by the transgressive tides are high-quality reservoirs.The study will provide a basis for well placement and serve as guidance for the selection of favorable hydrocarbon exploration areas in the Xihu Depression.

The Mesozoic Basin-Mountain Coupling Process of the Southern East China Sea Shelf Basin and its Adjacent Land Area

Basin-mountain coupling is a key issue for basin formation and evolution. The analysis of basin-mountain coupling process, as well as quantitative or semiquantitative restoration of prototype basin and the evolution of continental margin, can be used to interpret the geological process of basin-range conversion and reconstruct early prototype basins, which is a difficult and leadin~ scientific oroblem of basin research.

Tectonics and Petroleum Potential of the East China Sea Shelf Rift Basin

There are two Cenozoic sedimentary basins in the East China Sea. They are the East China Sea shelf basin and the Okinawa Trough basin. The former can be divided into a western and an eastern rift region. The development of the shelf basin underwent continental-margin fault depression, post-rift and then tectonic inversion stages. Available exploration results show that the distribution of source rocks is controlled by the basin architecture and its tectonic evolution. In the Xihu depression, mudstones and coals are the main source rocks. The eastern rift region has good geological conditions for the formation of large oil and gas fields.

Diagenesis and Diagenetic Evolution of Deltaic and Neritic Gas-Bearing Sandstones in the Lower Mingyuefeng Formation of Paleogene, Lishui Sag, East China Sea Shelf Basin: Implications for Depositional Environments and Sequence Stratigraphy Controls

Gas-bearing deposits in the Lower Mingyuefeng Formation of Paleogene, Lishui Sag, East China Sea Shelf Basin consist of shoreface sandstones of the highstand systems tract（HST） and transgressive systems tract（TST）, and deltaic sandstones of the lowstand systems tract（LST） and falling stage systems tract（FSST）.Detailed petrographic observations suggest that the diagenetic features and related evolution of these deposits cannot be simply characterized and demonstrated in the depth domain.However, the occurrence of diagenetic minerals systematically depends on the studied interval within the HST, TST, LST, and FSST; therefore, diagenesis in this region can be better constrained when studied in the context of the depositional environments and sequence stratigraphic framework.The eogenetic processes in such settings include：（1） microcrystalline siderite precipitated as concretions in almost all environments and systems tracts, which inhibited further mechanical compaction;（2） grain dissolution and kaolinitization occurred in shoreface HST sandstones and deltaic LST and FSST sandstones;（3） glaucony was locally observed, which did not clearly reflect the controls of facies or sequence stratigraphy; and（4） cementation by pyrite aggregates occurred in the shoreface HST sandstones and deltaic LST sandstones.The mesogenetic diagenesis includes：（1） partial conversion of kaolinite into dickite in deltaic LST sandstones, and minor chlorite cementation in deltaic FSST sandstones;（2） transformation of kaolinite into illite and quartz cementation in deltaic LST and FSST sandstones;（3） frequent precipitation of ankerite and ferroan calcite in shoreface TST sandstones and early HST sandstones, forming baffles and barriers for fluid flow, with common calcite in shoreface HST sandstones as a late diagenetic cement; and（4） formation of dawsonite in the deltaic LST and FSST sandstones, which is interpreted to be a product of the invasion of a CO2-rich fluid, and acts as a good indicator of CO2-bearing reservoirs.This study has thus constructed a reliable conceptual model to describe the spatial and temporal distribution of diagenetic alterations.The results may provide an entirely new conceptual framework and methodology for successful gas exploration in the continental margins of offshore China, thus allowing us to predict and unravel the distribution and quality evolution of clastic reservoirs at a more detailed and reliable scale.

Depositional Responding to Tectonic Evolution of East China Sea Shelf Basin

? The East China Sea Shelf basin is a large marginal rift basin occurred in backarc area of west Pacific. Three main regional unconformities and eleven sequence boundary isochronous surfaces (hiatuses) were developed within the basin filling, which are separared the fill succession into three tectonic sequences and fourteen sequences. The depositional response of every tectonic sequence indicates the different phases in the evolution of basin and a specific filling process or filling pattern.

New interpretation on the provenance changes of the upper Pinghu–lower Huagang Formation within Xihu Depression,East China Sea Shelf Basin

Both Pinghu and Huagang formations are important hydrocarbon reservoirs of the Xihu Depression in the East China Sea Shelf Basin.Clarifying the source suppliers and restoring source-to-sink transport routes are of great significance to the future petroleum and gas undertakings.Previous researchers were largely confined by either limitation of geological records,highly dependence on a singular method or low-precision dating techniques.Our study integrated heavy mineral assemblages,geochemical analyses and detrital zircon U-Pb dating to reconstruct multiple source-to-sink pathways,and to provide a better understanding on the provenance evolution for the upper Pinghu–lower Huagang depositions of the Xihu Depression.At least three major provenances have been confirmed and systematically investigated for their separate compositional features.The Hupijiao Uplift(or even farther northern area)was dominated by a major Paleoproterozoic population peaked at ca.1830 Ma along with minor Mesozoic clusters.The Haijiao Uplift to the west and the Yushan Low Uplift to the southwest,on the other hand,generate opposite U-Pb age spectra with apparently larger peaks of Indosinian and Yanshanian-aged zircons.To be noted,both Indosinian and Paleoproterozoic peaks are almost identical in proportion for the Haijiao Uplift.The overall sedimentary pattern of late Eocene-early Oligocene was featured by both spatial and temporal distinction.The Hupijiao Uplift was likely to cast limited impact during the late Eocene,whereas the broad southern Xihu Depression was transported by a large abundance of materials from the nearby Haijiao and Yushan Low Uplifts.The northern source substantially extended its influence to the farther south during the early Oligocene by delivering plentiful sediments of higher-degree metamorphic parent rocks.Combined with the proximal western and southwestern suppliers,the overall Xihu Depression was under control from both distant and local provenances.

Application of seismic sedimentology in characterization of fluvial-deltaic reservoirs in Xihu sag, East China Sea shelf basin

The fluvial-deltaic reservoirs of the Oligocene Huagang Formation in the Xihu sag of the East China Sea shelf basin reflect rapid lateral change in sedimentary facies and poor morphology of conventional slice attributes,which bring difficulties to the reservoir prediction for subsequent exploration and development of lithologic reservoirs.The traditional seismic sedimentology technology is optimized by applying the characteristic technologies such as frequency-boosting interpretation,inversion-conventional–90°phase shift joint construction of seismic lithologic bodies,nonlinear slices,paleogeomorphology restoration,and multi-attribute fusion,to obtain typical slice attributes,which are conducive to geological form description and sedimentary interpretation.The Huagang Formation developed three types of sedimentary bodies:braided river,meandering river and shallow water delta,and the vertical sedimentary evolution was controlled by the mid-term base-level cycle and paleogeomorphology.In the early–middle stage of the mid-term base-level ascending cycle,braided channel deposits were dominant,and vertical superimposed sand bodies were developed.In the late stage of the ascending half-cycle and the early stage of the descending half-cycle,meandering river deposits were dominant,and isolated sand bodies were developed.In the middle–late stage of the descending half-cycle,shallow-water delta deposits were dominant,and migratory medium–thick sand bodies were developed.Restricted paleogeomorphology controlled the sand body distribution,while non-restricted paleogeomorphology had little effect on the sand body distribution.Based on reservoir characterization,the fault sealing type and reservoir updip pinch-out type structural lithological traps are proposed as the main directions for future exploration and development in the Xihu sag.

Origin of hydrocarbon fluids and discussion of abnormal carbon isotopic compositions in the Lishui-Jiaojiang Sag,East China Sea Shelf Basin

The hydrocarbon gases in the L1 gas field of the Lishui-Jiaojiang Sag have been commonly interpreted to be an accumulation of pure sapropelic-type thermogenic gas.In this study,chemical components,stable isotopic compositions,and light hydrocarbons were utilized to shed light on the origins of the hydrocarbon fluids in the L1gas pool.The hydrocarbon fluids in the L1 gas pool are proposed to be a mixture of three unique components:mid-maturity oil from the middle Paleocene coastal marine Lingfeng source rock,oil-associated(late oil window)gas generated from the lower Paleocene lacustrine Yueguifeng source rock,and primary microbial gas from the paralic deposits of the upper Paleocene Mingyuefeng source rock.Here,for the first time,the hydrocarbon gases in the L1 gas pool are diagnosed as mixed oil-associated sapropelic-type gas and microbial gas via four pieces of principal evidence:(1)The abnormal carbon isotopic distributions of all methane homologues from C_(1)(CH_(4)or methane)to C_(5)(C_(5)H_(12)or pentane)shown in the Chung plot;(2)the diagnostic~(13)C-depleted C_(1)compared with the thermogenic sapropelic-type gas model,whileδ^(13)C_(2)(C_(2)H_(6)or ethane)andδ^(13)C_(3)(C_(3)H_(8)or propane)both fit perfectly;(3)the excellent agreement of the calculated carbon isotopic compositions of the pure thermogenic gas with the results of the thermal simulated gas from the type-II1 kerogen-rich Yueguifeng source rock;and(4)the oil-associated gas inferred from various binary genetic diagrams with an abnormally elevated gas oil ratio.Overall,the natural gases of the L1 gas pool were quantified in this study to comprise approximately 13%microbial gas,nearly 48%oil-associated sapropelic-type gas,and 39%of nonhydrocarbon gas.The microbial gas is interpreted to have been codeposited and entrained in the humic-kerogen-rich Mingyuefeng Formation under favorable lowtemperature conditions during the late Paleocene-middle Eocene.The microbial gas subsequently leaked into the structurally and stratigraphically complex L1 trap with oil-associated sapropelic-type gas from the Yueguifeng source rock during the late Eocene-Oligocene uplifting event.A small amount of humic-kerogen-generated oil in the L1 gas pool is most likely to be derived from the underlying Lingfeng source rock.The detailed geological and geochemical considerations of source rocks are discussed to explain the accumulation history of hydrocarbon fluids in the L1 gas pool.This paper,therefore,represents an effort to increase the awareness of the pitfalls of various genetic diagrams,and an integrated geochemical and geological approach is required for hydrocarbonsource correlation.

Discovery of Late Cretaceous-Paleocene faulted basins developed on the Yandang Low Uplift, East China Sea Shelf Basin

1.Objective The East China Sea Shelf Basin (ECSSB) is a typical Meso-Cenozoic superimposed basin which consists several tectonic units including the Changjiang Sag, Oujiang Sag, Hupijiao Uplift, Haijiao Uplift, Yandang Low Uplift (YDLU), Minjiang Sag, Taipei Low Uplift, Xihu Sag, Jilong Sag and so on.

Nutrient dynamics and cross shelf transport in the East China Sea

To understand the temporal and spatial variations in nutrient dynamics,as well as the potential cross-shelf transport of nutrients between the East China Sea(ECS)shelf and the northwestern Pacific Ocean,six field observations covering the ECS were conducted in spring,summer,and autumn in 2011 and 2013.Nutrient dynamics in the ECS and nutrient exchange between shelf water and the open ocean were examined.High concentrations of dissolved inorganic nutrients were detected in the nearshore surface layer and offshore bottom layer in different seasons,and the concentrations of dissolved inorganic nutrients in surface seawater were lower in summer and autumn than in spring.The concentrations of dissolved organic nutrients in Kuroshio surface water were slightly lower in summer than in spring,but the concentrations in Kuroshio subsurface water were slightly higher in summer than in spring.There were abundant nutrient reservoirs in the euphotic zone of the ECS,which explained the high primary productivity.The evaluation of cross-shelf transport indicated that nutrients from shelf water were transported out across the 200 m isobath through the surface layer with the density(σ)less than 23.0 kg/m^(3) in spring.The flux of dissolved inorganic nitrogen transported from the ECS shelf to the Northwest Pacific Ocean in spring was equivalent to 21%of the atmospheric nitrogen deposition in the Northwest Pacific Ocean.In summer,the onshore flux in the surface and bottom layers accounted for 80%of the total flux,and the transportation of nutrients along the surface layer to the continental shelf contributed to the nutrient storage and primary productivity of the euphotic zone in the ECS shelf in summer.

Geochemical and isotopic characteristics of volcanic rocks from the northern East China Sea shelf margin and the Okinawa Trough

Volcanic rocks both from the northern East China Sea （NECS） shelf margin and the northern Okinawa Trough are subalkaline less aluminous,and lower in High Field Strength Elements （HFSE）.These rocks are higher in Large Ion Lithophile Elements （LILE）,thorium and uranium contents,positive lead anomalies,negative Nb-Ta anomalies,and enrichment in Light Rare Earth Elements （LREE）.Basalts from the NECS shelf margin are akin to Indian Ocean Mid-Ocean Ridge Basalt （MORB）,and rhyolites from the northern Okinawa Trough have the highest 207 Pb/ 204 Pb and 208 Pb/ 204 Pb ratios.The NECS shelf margin basalts have lower 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios,ε N d and σ 18 O than the northern Okinawa Trough silicic rocks.According to 40 K– 40 Ar isotopic ages of basalts from the NECS shelf margin,rifting of the Okinawa Trough may have been active since at least 3.65–3.86 Ma.The origin of the NECS shelf margin basalt can be explained by the interaction of melt derived from Indian Ocean MORB-like mantle with enriched subcontinental lithosphere.The basalts from both sides of the Okinawa Trough may have a similar origin during the initial rifting of the Okinawa Trough,and the formation of basaltic magmas closely relates to the thinning of continental crust.The source of the formation of the northern Okinawa Trough silicic rocks was different from that of the middle Okinawa Trough,which could have been generated by the interaction of basaltic melt with an enriched crustal component.From the Ryukyu island arc to East China,the Cenozoic basalts have apparently increasing trends of MgO contents and ratios of LREE to Heavy Rare Earth Elements （HREE）,suggesting that the trace element variabilities of basalts may have been influenced by the subduction of the Philippine Sea plate,and that the effects of subduction of the Philippine Sea plate on the chemical composition of basaltic melts have had a decreasing effect from the Ryukyu island arc to East China.

Seasonal Variations of Several Main Water Masses in the Southern Yellow Sea and East China Sea in 2011

The seasonal variations of several main water masses in the southern Yellow Sea (SYS) and East China Sea (ECS) in 2011 were analyzed using the in-situ data collected on four cruises.There was something special in the observations for the Yellow Sea Warm Current (YSWC) ,the Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass (YSCWM) and the Changjiang Diluted Water (CDW) during that year.The YSWC was confirmed to be a seasonal current and its source was closely associated with the Kuroshio onshore intrusion and the northerly wind.It was also found that the YSCWM in the summer of 2011 occupied a more extensive area in comparison with the climatologically-mean case due to the abnormally powerful wind prevailing in the winter of 2010 and decaying gradually thereafter.Resulting from the reduced Changjiang River discharge,the CDW spreading toward the Cheju Island in the summer of 2011 was weaker than the long-term mean and was confined to flow southward in the other seasons.The other water masses seemed normal without noticeable anomalies in 2011.The Yellow Sea Coastal Current (YSCC) water,driven by the northerly wind,flowed southeastward as a whole except for its northeastward surface layer in summer.The Taiwan Warm Current (TWC) was the strongest in summer and the weakest in winter in its northward movement.The Kuroshio water with an enhanced onshore intrusion in autumn was stable in hydrographic features apart from the seasonal variation of its surface layer.

Facies Architecture Model of the Shimentan Formation Pyroclastic Rocks in the Block-T Units, Xihu Sag, East China Sea Basin, and its Exploration Significance

A gas field consisting of volcanic reservoir rocks was discovered in the block-T units of the Xihu Sag,East China Sea Basin.The lithology of the volcanic rocks is dominated by tuff and reworked tuff.The lithofacies are dominated by base surge deposits of explosive facies.As the architecture model of volcanic facies is still uncertain,it has restricted the exploration and development of mineral resources in this area.Using core and cuttings data,the lithology,lithofacies,geochemistry as well as grain size characteristics of volcanic rocks were analyzed.Based on these analyses,the volcanic rocks in the well section are divided into three eruptive stages.The transport direction of each volcanic eruption is analyzed using crystal fragment size analysis.The facies architecture of the block-T units was established based on the reconstruction results of paleo-geomorphology.The results show that the drilling reveals proximal facies(PF)and distal facies(DF)of the volcanic edifices.However,the crater-near crater facies(CNCF)are not revealed.Compared with the reservoirs of the Songliao Basin,it is shown that the volcanic rocks in the Xihu Sag have good exploration potential;a favorable target area is the CNCF near the contemporaneous fault.

Tertiary Sea Level Changes and Sequence Stratigraphic Framework in East China Sea Shelf Basin

The East China Sea shelf basin is a key area for setting up the sea level changes of Cenozoic in the West Pacific. Based upon the characteristics of seismic reflection, the analysis of sequence stratigraphy and depositional system, the high resolution chronostratigraphic framework has been set up by using the data of micropaleontologic biozone fossils. The relative sea level change curve has been set up by combining analysis of paleoecology, genetic facies, specific sedimentary structures and on lap recognized from the seismic profiles with study of geochemical characteristics. There are 4 2nd order basin cycles showing the long term sea level changes, and 22 3rd order cycles showing short term ones with relative changing ranges of 0-150 m. Transgression and regression showing long term sea level changes bear asymmetric feature, which indicates that the speed of transgression is faster than that of regression. There are a lot of differences when compared with Haq ’s curve. The sequence stratigraphic framework has also been set up and 3 tectonic sequences, 7 supersequences and 19 sequences have been subdivided for Tertiary in the East China Sea shelf basin. On the basis of detailed analysis of genetic facies and log facies, 9 sedimentary systems, 20 depositional assemblages and many genetic facies have also been recognized and investigated. Based on the studies mentioned above, the favorable source and reservoir facies of gas and petroleum are indicated.

Distributions and sea-to-air fluxes of volatile halocarbons in the southern Yellow Sea and the East China Sea

Distributions and sea-to-air fluxes of five kinds of volatile halocarbons（VHCs） were studied in the southern Yellow Sea（SYS） and the East China Sea（ECS） in November 2007. The results showed that the concentrations of 1,1,1-trichloroethane（C2H3Cl3）, 1,1-dichloroethene（C2H2Cl2）, 1,1,2-trichloroethene（C2HCl3）, trichloromethane（CHCl3） and tetrachloromethane（CCl4） in the surface water were 0.31–4.81, 2.75–21.3, 1.21–17.1, 5.02–233 and 0.045–4.47 pmol/L, respectively, with the average values of 1.89, 12.20, 6.93, 60.90 and 0.33 pmol/L. On the whole, the horizontal distributions of C2H3Cl3, C2H2Cl2 and CCl4 were affected mainly by anthropogenic activities, while C2HCl3 and CHCl3 were influenced by biological factors as well as anthropogenic activities. In the study area, the concentrations of VHCs（except C2HCl3） exhibited a decreasing trend from inshore to offshore sites, with the higher values occurring in the coastal waters. The sea-to-air fluxes of C2H3Cl3, C2HCl3, CHCl3 and CCl4 were calculated to be-56.00–（-5.68）,-7.31–123.42, 148.00–1 309.31 and-83.32–（-1.53） nmol/（m2·d）, respectively, with the average values of-6.77, 17.14, 183.38 and-21.27 nmol/（m2·d）. Our data showed that the SYS and ECS in autumn was a sink for C2H3Cl3 and CCl4, while it was a source for C2HCl3 and CHCl3 in the atmosphere.

Variability of the circulation in the southern Huanghai Sea and East China Sea during the two investigative cruises in June 1999

On the basis of the hydrographic data obtained from June 17 to 25, 1999 on board R/V Eardo , Korea (hereafter'the second cruise'), the circulation in the southern Huanghai Sea and East China Sea is computed by using the modified inverse method. The comparison between the two computed results in the first cruise, which was carried out from June 4 to 19, 1999 on board R/V Xiangyanghong 14, China, and in the second cruise is made. The following results have been obtained. (1) Part of the Kuroshio flows northward through the eastern part of Section E, and its volume transport(VT) is about 6.2×106 m3/s,and its maximum velocity is about 93 cm/s.This shows that most of the Kuroshio flows northward through the region east of Section E.The VT of the offshore branch of Taiwan Warm Current west of the Kuroshio through Section E is about 0.4×106 m3/s. (2) There is the following variability between these two cruises, whose time difference is about two weeks:① The position of the Kuroshio in the second cruise is slightly more east than that in the first cruise; ②The high-density water (HDW) with a cold water occurs in the region south of Cheju Island between 125°30' and 127°E at Sections D and C. The circulation in the region of HDW is cyclonic. Comparing the position of HDW during the second cruise with that during the first cruise,it is found that its position in the second cruise moves slightly northward.(3) The cold and uniform mixing layer occurs in the layer from the 30 m level to the bottom of the middle part of Section A and in the layer from the 20 m level to the bottom of the middle part of Section B,respectively.They are both the southern part of the Huanghai Sea Cold Water Mass (HSCWM). (4) There are higher temperature and lower density with a weaker anticyclonic circulation in the southwestern part of the computed region.Its center is located at the westernmost point of Section E.

Measurement of the current and spectral analysis on the continental shelf in the East China Sea

Direct measurements of current velocity and water temperature were undertaken at the mooring Sta. M (125°29.38' N, 31°49.70' E) on the continental shelf area in the East China Sea in June 1999 by R/V Xiangyanghong 14. The relationship between various time series of oceanic fluctuations is calculated by spectral analysis. The major results are as follows: (1) an average (u,v) of (6.9,-3.0 cm/s) at the 30 m depth is obtained during the 9-day observation, and that at the 45 m depth is (3.7,-1.1 cm/s), i. e., the mean flows are southeastward at both the 30 and 45 m depths;the currents become stronger gradually during the observation period; this may be mainly attributed to the transition of the tidal currents from neap to spring; (2)semidiurnal fluctuation is the most dominant in the current fluctuations, and rotates mainly clockwise; in the next place, there is also diurnal fluctuation;the local inertial period is close to the period of diurnal fluctuation, and an inertial motion is clockwise; thus, local inertial motion combines with diurnal fluctuation, and makes the spectral peaks in clockwise components much higher than those in counterclockwise ones; except for the fluctuations of above main periods, there is also the peak at 3 d period for counterclockwise compo-nents in the upper and lower layers; (3) the calculation of cross spectra between two time series of current velocities at the 30 and 45 m depths shows that both the current fluctuations at the 30 and 45 m depths are much alike, i. e., they are synchro; this shows that the flow field here is rather vertically homogeneous; (4)power spectra of tempera-ture time series at both the 30 and 45 m depths show that the semidiurnal peak is the most predominant, and the second highest peak is the diurnal period; besides spectral peaks at above periods, there are also obvious spectral peaks at 6.8 h and 2 d; (5)plots of temperature time series at 16 , 30 , 35 , 45 and 50 m depths show that the temporal variations of temperature at these depths are synchro, which are like those in the velocity field; temperature records also show a gradual rise in temperature, which are also like those in the velocity field.

TRANSPORT OF SUSPENDED MATTER FROM THE CHANGJIANG RIVER TO THE EAST CHINA SEA SHELF

Suspended matter (SM) in the East China Sea (ECS) shelf seawater was investigated during Oct. 1993, Apr. and Oct. 1994. Results showed that the high total suspended matter(TSM) region (>7200)mg/L) was limted to near the estuary and reduced rapidly to <10 mg/L at 122 °30’E. The high TSM contour extended mainly NE in surface water but SE in near bottom Water,i. e., SM transport from the Changjiang River was characterized by "stratification and different transport directions in different layers’. TSM distribution on sections showed that the up-climbing Kuroshio water prevents Changjiang River SM in middle and bottom water from transporting to the Okinawa Trough. Vertical distributions of the TSM showed a suspended-cline that appeared in the inner and middle shelf TSM below it was dense and formed a turbid water laper, TSM above it was less dense, so the water was reatively clear. Formation of the suspended-cline correlated with high density current and resuspension of bottom sediment.