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.

Sedimentary Characteristics of Relict Deposits on the Western South Yellow Sea

Integrated studies of vertical sedimentary sequences, grain sizes, and benthic foraminifera and ostracoda, in combination with AMS 14C dating, and 210Pb and 137Cs analysis were carried out in three vibracores taken from the area of relict deposits on the western South Yellow Sea. The relict sands, which are about 0.4 m thick, overlie on the Early Holocene coastal marsh or tidal flat deposits with an evident erosional interface in between. The middle and upper parts or sometimes the whole of the relict sands have been reworked under the modern dynamic environment. The sedimentation rate varies between 0.20–0.30 cm year-1. The relict sands show a bimodal grain-size distribution pattern in frequency curves, with a sharp peak in the coarse fraction between 3Φ and 4Φ and a secondary peak in the fine fraction of about 7Φ. Of the benthic foraminiferal and ostracod assemblages, the reworked relict sands are characterized by the mixing of the nearshore euryhaline shallow-water species and deeper water species. The erosional interface at the bottom of the relict sands is considered as a regional ravinement surface formed during the transgression in the Early Holocene due to shoreface retreating landwards. The relict sands were accumulated on the ravinement surface during the transgression in the deglaciation period as lag deposits after winnowing and reworking by marine dynamic processes. And the secondary peak of fine fraction in the frequency curve for the relict sands suggests the input of fine-grained sediments during the reworking process. As the conclusion, the relict sands in the study area are interpreted as a type of reworked relict sediments.

南黄海东侧陆架冰消期以来的海侵沉积特征

根据浅地层剖面、海底地貌、柱状样和对钻孔岩心的分析测试数据，论述了南黄海东侧陆架冰消期以来的沉积特征。在冰消期海侵的初期，海水对南黄海东侧陆架早期沉积物的侵蚀和改造形成了滞留砂砾层、席状砂和潮流沙脊。随着海面的上升和海侵范围的扩大，黄海暖流形成并由于它的驱动在南黄海东侧陆架的南部发育涡旋而形成厚层泥质沉积，而在北部（３５°４０至３６°３５Ｎ之间）则形成潮上带－潮坪－浅海沉积序列。中全新世后，强潮流作用在北部陆架形成潮流沙脊；在江华湾形成潮控三角洲。

南黄海东北陆架YSDP 105孔冰消期以来沉积层序的磁学特征研究

尝试对南黄海东北陆架ＹＳＤＰ１０５孔０．６０—２９．６８ｍ的沉积层序进行环境磁学的研究，测量了岩心的磁化率、非磁滞剩磁、等温剩磁、饱和等温剩磁等磁学参数。对磁学参数及其有关比值的研究发现，沉积层序以含碎屑成因的低矫顽力磁性矿物为主，另含少量高矫顽力磁性矿物。磁性矿物大部分为准单畴，少部分为单畴；其粒度受控于沉积环境：从潮间带、浅水潮下带→深水潮下带→浅海，磁性矿物的粒度依次递减，反映了沉积水动力的控制作用。自冰消期以来，沉积层序中高矫顽力磁性矿物的含量逐渐降低，表明进入黄海的风尘物质逐渐减少。

南黄海西部浅部地层地震层序及其沉积特征

南黄海陆架在第四纪具有海侵—海退交替发生、海陆相地层交互沉积的特点,沉积相及其分布主要受海平面变化与古河流及其三角洲的控制。对南黄海西部地区采集的5600km浅层地震剖面进行了层序划分与解释,得到以下认识:(1)早更新世晚期以来的南黄海地层可分为U1—U14共14个地震地层单元,组成6个地震层序,代表了6次大规模海侵-海退过程,其中氧同位素5期海相地层在该地区最发育;(2)根据全新世地层厚度变化,将该区分为6个沉积区:东部弱沉积区、中北部沉积发育区、海州湾外侵蚀区、废黄河口沉积区、射阳河口岸外侵蚀区和苏北浅滩沉积区;(3)氧同位素6期至2期,南黄海西部陆相层内发育了3期埋藏古河道:上层古河道发育于氧同位素2期,古长江水系、古黄河水系分别自南黄海南部、北部流入古黄海;中层古河道发育于氧同位素4期,仅分布于近岸地区;下层古河道发育于氧同位素6期,分布于123°E以西地区,其南部古河道应为古长江水系,规模较大,其北部古河道规模较小,分布范围有限;(4)古长江第四纪早期在古黄海入海,古黄河在氧同位素5期中后期也开始自古黄海入海,其古河道发育具有一定继承性,后期发育规模逐渐增大;(5)气候温暖的高海面时期发育于构造沉降区的早期古三角洲规模较大,气温降低后河流追随海平面下降而发育的后期三角洲规模较小。氧同位素3期至5期,古长江水系在南黄海西南部发育多期古长江三角洲,古黄河水系在南黄海北部则主要发育两期古黄河三角洲;(6)晚更新世晚期、全新世初期的海侵过程中,南黄海地区发育了古河口沙坝、古潮沟相等滨海沉积。