Organic Carbon Deposition on the Inner Shelf of the East China Sea Constrained by Sea Level and Climatic Changes Since the Last Deglaciation

The East China Sea(ECS),which is located in the transitional zone between land and ocean,is the main site for the burial of sedimentary organic carbon.Despite good constraints of the modern source to the sinking process of organic carbon,its fate in response to changes in climate and sea level since the last deglaciation remains poorly understood.We aim to fill this gap by presenting a high-resolution sedimentary record of core EC2005 to derive a better understanding of the evolution of the depositional environment and its control on the organic deposition since 17.3 kyr.Our results suggest that sedimentary organic carbon was deposited in a terrestrial environment before the seawater reached the study area around 13.1 kyr.This significant transition from a terrestrial environment to a marine environment is reflected by the decrease in TOC/TN and TOC/TS ratios,which is attributed to deglacial sea level rise.The sea level continued to rise until it reached its highstand at approximately 7.3 kyr when the mud depocenter was developed.Our results further indicate that the deposition of the sedimentary organic carbon could respond quickly to abrupt cold events,including the Heinrich stadial 1 and the Younger Dryas during the last deglaciation,as well as‘Bond events'during the Holocene.We propose that the rapid response of the organic deposition to those cold events in the northern hemisphere is linked to the East Asian winter monsoon.These new findings demonstrate that organic carbon deposition and burial on the inner shelf could effectively document sea level and climatic changes.

Response of environmental sensitive grain size group in Core FJ04 from mud area in the north of East China Sea to East Asian winter monsoon evolvement

AMS14C dating and grain-size analysis for Core FJ04, located at mud area in the North of East China Sea provide us a high-resolution grain-size distribution curve varying with depth and time. This paper got environmental sensitive grain-size group by using standard deviation method, and proved that the selected sensitive grain-size group is an important proxy which can be used to reconstruct intensity of East Asian Winter Monsoon （EAWM）. Then we got reconstruction of EAWM evolvement since 3 ka B.P., which revealed two main phases： （1） 3 - 1.15ka B.P., relative weak EAWM with middle frequency fluctuation; （2） 1.15 - 0ka B.P., really strong EAWM with high frequency fluctuation. And 1.15 ka B.P. is a distinct turning point. During the whole period, 11 intense events of EAWM were recorded and correlated well with other climate records, but the response extent was different, which showed consistency of climate change and particularity of region response.

Environmental record from the mud area on the inner continental shelf of the East China Sea since the mid-Holocene

Paleoclimate record was revealed in Core MZ01 covering the mid-Holocene in age,located in the mud area of the inner continental shelf of the East China Sea. The ancient environment featured low-energy shallow sea shelf deposition formed mainly by coastal currents. The results show that temporal variation in geochemistry corresponds with the climate changes inferred from historical record. Relatively low MgO/Al 2 O 3,CaO/K 2 O and high Al 2 O 3 /Na 2 O,K 2 O/Na 2 O,MnO/CaO values reflected a warm and humid climate in general,and vice versa. Therefore,these chemical indices could be applied to identify the variation of palaeoclimate in eastern China. The authors reconstructed the history of mid-Holocene climatic variation of the inner continental shelf of the East China Sea. From 8 300 a BP to 4 200 a BP,the climate was moderately warm and humid. From 4 200 a BP to 2 000 a BP,the climate turned cool and dry,and the regional climate frequently fluctuated in alternation of cool-dry periods（3 700 a BP,2 850 a BP and 2 400 a BP） and warm-wet periods（3 250 a BP and 2 650 a BP） . After 2 000 a BP,the climate of the study area gradually turned warm again,while the Little Ice Age,a cold event centered at around 250 a BP was indicated by those geochemical indices as mentioned above.

Distribution and Characteristics of Hazardous Geological Features in the Marine Coastal and Offshore Areas of Zhejiang Province, East China Sea

Newly acquired high-resolution shallow seismic profiles(7069 km in length) in the coastal and offshore areas of Zhejiang Province, East China Sea, China, have revealed eight marine hazardous geological features: shallow gas, sand ridges, erosion ditches, scarps, irregular bedrock features, underwater shoals, buried paleo-channels, and submarine deltas. Based on the seismic profiles, we have constructed a marine geological map of these hazardous features. Shallow gas accumulations are common and occur mainly in two separate nearshore regions that cover 4613 and 3382 km^2 respectively. There are also scattered shallow gas accumulations in the offshore area, typically accompanied by paleo-channels that occur mainly in the middle of the study area. Sand ridges, erosion ditches, scarps, and irregular bedrock features are found mainly in the northeast of the study area in association with each other. In the southeastern part of the study area, the sand ridges have a linear form and trend NW–SE, representing the western part of the linear sand ridges in the East China Sea. The maximum slope gradient is 1?, which suggests that this area is prone to landslides. These hazardous marine geological features are important to marine and engineering activities in this region.

Application of biologic silicon in modern sedimentary section to reconstruction of phytoplankton changes in the East China Sea and the Huanghai Sea during last 200 years

Biomarkers had been widely used to reconstruct phytoplankton productivity, and this method was applied in the East China Sea and the Huanghai Sea （Yellow Sea）. In this study, Biologic Silicon （BSi） was used as productivity proxy to reconstruct productivity change of phytoplankton during last 200 years. The results show that the BSi contents of surficial＇sediments were in the range of 0.018%-2.516%, averaging 0.726%, and had a similar variation trend with phytoplankton biomass. The vertical distribution profiles revealed that BSi contents were relatively stable, in accordance with the variations of the contemporary phytoplankton standing crop index. According to the stability analysis of BSi in sediments, BSi was not degradaded for the past two hundred years and remained in sediments steadily. Thus, BSi in sediments had the potential to invert paleoproductivity. To conduct further survey, the linear regression equation between BSi contents and phytoplankton biomass index could be used to calculate the phytoplankton productivity by BSi, so that paleoproduetivity may be reconstructed during last 200 years.

Late Quaternary sedimentary environmental evolution offshore of the Hangzhou Bay,East China——implications for sea level change and formation of Changjiang alongshore current

This study focuses on sedimentary environmental changes offshore of Hangzhou Bay, East China, since the Late Quaternary. AMS ^14C ages from core CJK10, lithologies, distribution of foraminifera, heavy minerals, and S and C1 elements show a fluvial terrace environment during -23.2-11.0 cal ka BP; a littoral to tidal-flat environment during 11.0-10.2 cal ka BP; and a shallow marine environment with a relatively low sedimentation rate （0.1-0.22 cm/a） since 4.3 cal ka BP. High depositional rates （-1.6 cm/a） from 10.9 to 10.2 cal ka BP resulted from sufficient accommodation space created by rapid sea level rise from -44 m to -33 m, from high sediment delivery by local rivers, and effective trapping of sediments by tidal-flat vegetation. The rate of sea level rise was variable; relatively high from 10.9 to 10.6 cal ka BP （2.1 cm/a）, and lower since 10.6 cal ka BP （1.2 cm/a）. The Changjiang alongshore current crossed the Hangzhou Bay to form the mud wedge on the inner shelf of the East China Sea later than 9.4 cal ka BP. The CJK10 site was a tide-dominated shelf environment and experienced erosion from approximately 9.4-9.2 cal ka BP to 4.3 cal ka BP. The depositional hiatus was caused by the Changjiang alongshore current, which was relatively weak during 9.4-7.5 cal ka BP and increased in strength during -7.5-4 cal ka BP. From -4.3 cal ka BP, a large amount of sediment from the Changjiang River was partly deposited on the continental shelf of Hangzhou Bay with some transported southward. Therefore, this study clarifies the history of Changjiang-derived sediment dispersal and deposition, although a detailed record of the changes in the Chang3iang alongshore current since 4.3 cal ka BP is difficult to obtain because of the scarcity of evidence.

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.

Distribution of Dissolved Inorganic Arsenic and Its Seasonal Variations in the Coastal Area of the East China Sea

Water samples were collected in the coastal area of the Changjiang Estuary on four cruises from August 2002 to May 2003. The seasonal variations of dissolved inorganic arsenic （DIAs） distributions were analyzed. The results showed that the distributions of DIAs were mainly influenced by Water （KSSW）. The concentration of the total dissolved the terrestrial input and the intrusion of the Kuroshio Subsurface inorganic arsenic （TDIAs） decreased consecutively from winter to summer, while it increased in autumn. The distributions of TDIAs showed some relationships with salinity and suspended particulate matter （SPM）. The relationships between DIAs speciation （including arsenite [ As（ Ⅲ ） ] and arsenate [ As（ Ⅴ ） ]）, biological activity and the availabilities of the phosphate were investigated in the study area for the cruise August 2002. The ratio of As （Ⅲ）/TDIAs increased with the decrease of phosphate concentrations. In the bottom water, the As（ Ⅲ ）/TDIAs ratio decreased with the increasing of N/P. The concentration of TDIAs decreased 28.7% approximately after the occurrence of harmful algal blooms （HAB） because of the uptake of arsenate by algae. Further study is needed about the arsenic source/sink relationships in their vertical or horizontal profiles and the uptake mechanism during the occurrence of harmful algal blooms.

Tidal analysis in the venturi-shaped area between Zhenhai and Shenjiamen in the East China Sea

In order to better understand the general tidal features in the venturi-shaped area between Zhenhai and Shenjiamen in the northern coastal region of Zhejiang Province in the East China Sea, the tidal data were obtained from both the three permanent tide stations of Zhenhai, Dinghai and Shenjiamen, and four temporary tide stations of Mamu, Chuanshan, Guoju and Liuheng, along with the current speed being observed at Luotou Waterway. Results from harmonic analysis show that: (1) The area was dominated by shallow water tides with irregular semi-diurnal features, and the smallest tidal range occurred in the area near a crossing line between Zhenhai and Dinghai stations, indicating that a tidal node existed in the southern Hangzhou Bay; (2) Formulae, HS2/HM2 >0.4 and gM2-(gK1+gO1)=270° (where H and g are harmonic constants), could be used as judging criteria for high and low tidal level diurnal inequalities; (3) The duration difference between ebb and flood tides could be roughly assessed by the ratio of HM4 vs. HM2; and the larger the ratio is, the bigger the duration difference is. At the same time, the duration period could be assessed by 2gM2-gM4, the epoch difference between M2 and M4 tidal constituents. If 2gM2-gM4 <180°, then the ebb duration is longer than the flood duration; if 180°< 2gM2-gM4 <360°, the result is reversed; (4) Taking Dinghai station as a center point, the highest tidal levels and the average high tidal levels, as well as the average tidal ranges at all stations became higher and larger both southeastwards and northwestwards, while the lowest tidal levels and the average low tidal levels appeared to be lower both southeastwards and northwestwards; and (5) The tidal patterns were not all in line with the tidal current patterns. As a conclusion, the smallest tidal range occurred in the narrow part of the venturi-shaped area. Along the both sides of the area, the highest tidal level and tidal range became higher and larger, while the lowest tidal level became lower with the increase of the distance from the narrow throat area. This is somehow different from the theory that the tidal level increases gradually when it moves towards the top narrow area of a V-shaped bay or estuary.

A two-year(2020–2021)observation of marine phycotoxins in phytoplankton in typical mariculture areas of East China Sea

To learn the marine phycotoxins(MPTs)contamination status in mariculture areas in the East China Sea(ECS),from May 2020 to October 2021,80 net-concentrated phytoplankton samples were collected from 12 stations in three typical areas with high incidence of red tides,namely,Gouqi Island,Sandu’ao-Lianjiang,and Zhangzhou-Dongshan Island in ECS,and MPTs of the samples were detected.Six types of toxins were detected in 24 samples from 9 stations.Lipophilic marine toxins(LMTs)were more common and diverse in these areas.Pectenotoxin 2(PTX2)was the main lipophilic marine toxin(LMT)in the concentrated phytoplankton samples and the occurrence showed seasonal differences from north to south.According to the potential risks of pectenotoxin(PTXs)to seafood safety,it is suggested to execute regular monitoring on PTXs in ECS and a mandatory standard should be formulated based on the comprehensive analysis of in-situ monitoring and lab research.Meanwhile,contamination risks of cyclic imine toxins in the north and domoic acid(DA)in the south of ECS should also be paid with attention to.Only 2 paralytic shellfish toxins(PSTs),N-sulfocarbamoyl toxin C2(C2),and decarbamoyl gonyatoxin 3(dcGTX3),were found from spring samples in the north of ECS.As the biggest mussel culture county of China,Gouqi Island showed higher toxin diversity and the toxin detection rate was higher than the other two areas.In Gouqi Island area,PSTs were a serious potential threat in spring,and LMTs instead of PSTs became the main risk in summer-autumn seasons.To ensure the safety of seafood and marine environmental health,it is recommended to conduct long-term targeted tracking and monitoring of MPTs in this and similar mariculture areas.

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.

Relationship between toxic and harmful microalgae and environmental factors in typical mariculture areas of East China Sea

Toxic and harmful algal blooms are usually more frequent in mariculture areas due to the abundant trophic conditions.To investigate the relationship between toxic and harmful microalgae and environmental factors,we set up 12 stations near three mariculture regions(Gouqi Island,Sandu Bay,and Dongshan Bay)in the East China Sea.We collected samples from all four seasons starting from May 2020 to March 2021.We identifi ed 199 species belonging to 70 genera,of which 38 species were toxic and harmful,including 24 species of Dinophyceae,13 species of Bacillariophyceae,and 1 species of Raphidophyceae.The species composition of toxic and harmful microalgae showed a predominance of diatoms in the summer(August),and dinofl agellates in the spring(May),autumn(November),and winter(March).The cell densities of toxic and harmful microalgae were higher in summer(with an average value of 15.34×10^(3) cells/L)than in other seasons,3.53×10^(3) cells/L in spring,1.82×10^(3) cells/L in winter,and 1.0×10^(3) cells/L in autumn.Pseudo-nitzschia pungens,Prorocentrum minimum,Paralia sulcata,and Prorocentrum micans were the dominant species and were available at all 12 stations in the three mariculture areas.We selected 10 toxic and harmful microalgal species with frequency>6 at the survey stations for the redundancy analysis(RDA),and the results show that NO^(-)_(3),water temperature(WT),pH,DO,and NO^(-)_(2) were the main factors on distribution of toxic and harmful microalgae.We concluded that the rich nutrient conditions in the East China Sea mariculture areas increased the potential for the risk of toxic and harmful microalgal bloom outbreaks.

Distribution of indicator dinoflagellates in the East China Sea

-The material discussed in this paper is from four cruises which were carried out in May -June, 1986 (spring), July -August, 1987(summer) .October -November, 1988(autumn)and December, 1987(winter)respectively. Identified dinoflagellates were 141 species (including varieties and forms) belonging to 18 genera.According to the distribution and ecological characteristics of dinoflagellates species, we can divide them into three groups: 1) Hyporhaline-neritic group: they are distributed only in type Ⅲ and typeⅣ water and they perform an evident function indicating continental coast water; 2) Eurythermic-euryhaline group represented by Protoperidinium depressum, Gentium fusus, etc. They are fond of perching in mixing water which character is similar to that of coast water even though they are distributed in different water systems; 3) Hyperthermic-hyperhaline group: on the basis of varying degrees to which they tolerate temperature and salinity, we can divide them into two sub-groups: euryhyperthermic-euryhyperha-line subgroup and stenohyperthermic- stenohyperhaline subgroup. The first subgroup is represented by Pyrocystis pseudoxoctiluca whose adaptability reaction occurred with the changing of hydrographic environment. The second subgroup is tropic oceanic species which can serve as a good indicator for Kuroshio in the East China Sea. Its biological boundary coincides well with the hydrographic boundary of Kuroshio water.

Surface distribution of alkalinity and specific alkalinity and their application to water mass tracing in Kuroshio area of the East China Sea

Surface distribution and seasonal variation of alkalinity and specific alkalinity in Kuroshio area of the East ChinaSea and their application to the water mass tracing are discussed in this paper. Results show a distinct seasonal variation of the alkalinity, which is concerned with the process of vertical mixing. Different specific alkalinity in various water masses has been found. On the basis of the difference of the specific alkalinity and the distribution of alkalinity, two water fronts in summer season, located at 27°-30°N and 124°-1 27°E, (Ⅰ), and at the northern waters about one latitude from the Taiwan Island, (Ⅱ); one in winter season at about one longitude from coast of mainland of China and 26°-30°N were found. In summer season, about 1-2 longitudes eastward shift of front (Ⅰ) is found by comparison of data in May and August. And the high alkalinity of the northern East China Sea in summer season may be caused by the Huanghe River runoff flowing southward along with the Huanghai Sea Coastal Current.

Transport patterns of micro nutrient elements from the continental shelf of the East China Sea to the Kuroshio area

On the basis of the in situ data of DO2, pH, SiO2. PO4-P, NO3-N and NO2-N collected in the north of the East China Sea during 1987-1988, the following points are mainly expounded.1.The inorgonic nutrients are obviously affected by continent runoff in the north of the East China Sea. Their distributions are characteristic of its distribution of terrigenous materials.2.There are three transport paths of nutrients from the shelf to the Kuroshio area. The first is mixing-diffusing-advec-tion and upwelling process, the process of biology and biochemistry belongs to the second, and the sinking process is the last one.3.The swing of the Kuroshio axis affectes both the range of the migration of substances through mixing-diffusing-advec-tion process and the upwelling degree of the subsurface Kuroshio water to the shelf.4.Most part of the substances sink as macroparticles to the deep layer before reaching the Kuroshio area.

Circulations east of Taiwan and in East China Sea and east of Ryukyu Islands during early summer 1985

A modified inverse method is used to compute the circulations east of Taiwan and in the East China Sec and east of the Ryukyu Islands with hydrographic data obtained during early summer of 1985. The computational region covers an area west of 129°E and from 21°45'N to 35°N. The computed results show that: (1 ) The net volume transport (VT ) of the Kuroshio through 21°45'N Section east of Ta Taiwan and west of 123°E is about 45 × 10￣6 m￣3/sduring early summer of 1985. The Kuroshio has. two current cores. One is located near Taiwan, and its velocity isvery large and its maximum velocity is 226 cm/s at the 100 m level, which is close to the maximum velocity of the beginning of the Kuroshio east of the Philippines. The other is located further to the east, and its maximum velocity is159 cm/s at the 100m level; (2) through a transect northwest Of Miyakojima Island and a transect southwest of Okinawa laaed the volume transports of the Kuroshio in the East China Sea both are about 25 × 10￣6 m￣3/s. The maximumvelocity of the Kuroshio at these two sections is 194 and 128 cm/s, respectively, and both are located on the shelfbreak; (3) beneath and east of the Kurohio there are the countercurrent (4) southeast of Okinawa Island there is anortheastward current, and its VT at Section HI is about 12. 6 × 10￣6 m￣3/s, and it comes from a westward flow at 129° This project was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract No. 49476278.(Second Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Hongzhou310012, China) (Institute of Oceanography, Taiwan University, Taipei, China)E Section and the recirculating gyre, and does not originate from the Kuroshio east of Taiwan during early summer of 1985. There is a southwestward abyssal current east of Okinawa Islands (5) there are several different scale eddies in this computational region. For example, there is a meso-scale strong cyclonic eddy east of Miyakojima Island.

A study on zooplankton distribution patterns and indicator species in Kuroshio upstream area and adjacent East China Sea

On the basis of the data of zooplankton biomass and three major taxa—— Copepoda, Chaetognatha andSiphonophora of May-June 1986, July-August and December 1987, the distributional patterns and the indicator species of zooplankton in the Kuroshio and adjacent waters of the East China Sea are preliminarily studied. The results are as follows:The horizontal distribution of zooplankton biomass and the abundance of copepods, chaetognaths and siphonophores arecurred in the continent area northwest of Taiwan and the south-centre section of the East China Sea continent, which are the mix front of different waters. Zooplankton in the water area inside of Ryukyu Islands presented low abundance and high diversity. There are clear seasonal variations in zooplankton biomass and abundance in the study area. The strength or weakness of different water masses and fronts is the basic reason for the variations of zooplankton biomass and abundance.The species composition of zooplankton in the study area is complex and varies, however, the tropic oceanic species predominates overwhelmingly. The distribution of different ecotype species evidences the distribution of different water masses and the state of mixture. The indicator species of each water mass are listed in the paper so as to provide grounds for the variation of currents in the Kuroshio area.The temperature and salinity of sea water are important factors affecting zooplankton distribution, composition and diversity , however the role of salinity is major. With the replacement of one season by another, the correlative levels of temperature and salinity to various zooplankton taxa are more or less significant.

Predicting sediment flux from continental shelf islands,southeastern China

Continental shelf islands are contributors of terrestrial sediment supply to shelf regions,and the sediment flux from these islands shall be quantified.We calculated the sediment flux of continental shelf islands in the southeastern China using two empirical equations under two preconditions.The first,the sediment load/yield of the islands has the same pattern as the adjacent small,mountainous rivers along the coastline;and the second,each of the islands was treated as a single catchment.The results show that the sediment supply from these islands reached an order of magnitude of 1 Mt/a,which is comparable to the supply from the local smaller rivers.A sensitivity analysis indicates that this value represents the lower limit of estimate;if the accurate amount of sub-catchments of any island is considered,then this value will be enhanced slightly.This study demonstrates that the sediment supply from continental shelf islands to oceans is an important factor affecting the regional sedimentation and,therefore,should be paid with attention.

Grain size records reveal variability of the East Asian Winter Monsoon since the Middle Holocene in the Central Yellow Sea mud area,China

Three cores （ZY-1, ZY-2 and ZY-3） retrieved from the Central Yellow Sea mud （CYSM） were analyzed in sensitive grain size and AMS J4C dating to reconstruct the history of the East Asian Winter Monsoon （EAWM） since the Middle Holocene in the study area. The results show that these data provide a continuous history of the EAWM over the past 7.2 ka and that the EAWM can be divided into three periods： strong and highly fluctuating during 7.2-4.2 ka BP; moderate and relatively stable during 4.2-1.8 ka BP; and weakened during 1.8-0 ka BP. Compared with the East Asian Summer Monsoon （EASM） recorded in the previous studies, the evolutionary history of the EAWM broadly follows the orbital-derived winter insolation with a similar long-term step-decreased trend as the EASM. At the centennial scale, however, the EAWM intensified events correlate well with the EASM weakened events and the North Atlantic climatic variations （Bond events 0 to 5） within the dating error, most likely forced by the reduction of solar irradiance through changes in the oceanic-atmospheric circulation patterns.