Impacts of Ice-Ocean Stress on the Subpolar Southern Ocean:Role of the Ocean Surface Current

The mechanical influences involved in the interaction between the Antarctic sea ice and ocean surface current(OSC)on the subpolar Southern Ocean have been systematically investigated for the first time by conducting two simulations that include and exclude the OSC in the calculation of the ice-ocean stress(IOS), using an eddy-permitting coupled ocean-sea ice global model. By comparing the results of these two experiments, significant increases of 5%, 27%, and 24%, were found in the subpolar Southern Ocean when excluding the OSC in the IOS calculation for the ocean surface stress,upwelling, and downwelling, respectively. Excluding the OSC in the IOS calculation also visibly strengthens the total mechanical energy input to the OSC by about 16%, and increases the eddy kinetic energy and mean kinetic energy by about38% and 12%, respectively. Moreover, the response of the meridional overturning circulation in the Southern Ocean yields respective increases of about 16% and 15% for the upper and lower branches;and the subpolar gyres are also found to considerably intensify, by about 12%, 11%, and 11% in the Weddell Gyre, the Ross Gyre, and the Australian-Antarctic Gyre, respectively. The strengthened ocean circulations and Ekman pumping result in a warmer sea surface temperature(SST), and hence an incremental surface heat loss. The increased sea ice drift and warm SST lead to an expansion of the sea ice area and a reduction of sea ice volume. These results emphasize the importance of OSCs in the air-sea-ice interactions on the global ocean circulations and the mass balance of Antarctic ice shelves, and this component may become more significant as the rapid change of Antarctic sea ice.

Study on the interannual variability of the Kerama Gap transport and its relation to the Kuroshio/Ryukyu Current system

An analysis of a 68-year monthly hindcast output from an eddy-resolving ocean general circulation model reveals the relationship between the interannual variability of the Kerama Gap transport(KGT)and the Kuroshio/Ryukyu Current system.The study found a significant difference in the interannual variability of the upstream and downstream transports of the East China Sea-(ECS-)Kuroshio and the Ryukyu Current.The interannual variability of the KGT was found to be of paramount importance in causing the differences between the upstream and downstream ECS-Kuroshio.Additionally,it contributed approximately 37%to the variability of the Ryukyu Current.The interannual variability of the KGT was well described by a two-layer rotating hydraulic theory.It was dominated by its subsurface-intensified flow core,and the upper layer transport made a weaker negative contribution to the total KGT.The subsurface flow core was found to be mainly driven by the subsurface pressure head across the Kerama Gap,and the pressure head was further dominated by the subsurface density anomalies on the Pacific side.These density anomalies could be traced back to the eastern open ocean,and their propagation speed was estimated to be about 7.4 km/d,which is consistent with the speed of the local first-order baroclinic Rossby wave.When the negative(positive)density anomaly signal reached the southern region of the Kerama Gap,it triggered the increase(decrease)of the KGT towards the Pacific side and the formation of an anticyclonic(cyclonic)vortex by baroclinic adjustment.Meanwhile,there is an increase(decrease)in the upstream transport of the entire Kuroshio/Ryukyu Current system and an offshore flow that decreases(increases)the downstream Ryukyu Current.

Supplementation of alanine improves biomass accumulation and lipid production of Chlorella pyrenoidosa by increasing the respiratory and metabolic processes

The function of exogenous alanine(Ala)in regulating biomass accumulation,lipid production,photosynthesis,and respiration in Chlorella pyrenoidosa was studied.Result shows that the supplementation of Ala increased C.pyrenoidosa biomass and lipid production in an 8-d batch culture.The concentration of 10 mmol/L of Ala was optimum and increased the microalgal cell biomass and lipid content by 39.3%and 21.4%,respectively,compared with that in the control(0-mmol/L Ala).Ala supplementation reduced photosynthetic activity while boosting respiratory activity and pyruvate levels,indicating that C.pyrenoidosa used exogenous Ala for biomass accumulation through the respiratory metabolic process.The accelerated respiratory metabolism due to Ala supplementation elevated the substrate pool and improved the lipogenic gene expression,promoting lipid production at last.This study provided a novel method for increasing biomass accumulation and lipid production and elucidated the role of Ala in regulating lipid production.

Deformation Characteristics of Hydrate-Bearing Sediments

The safe and efficient development of natural gas hydrate requires a deep understanding of the deformation behaviors of reservoirs.In this study,a series of triaxial shearing tests are carried out to investigate the deformation properties of hydrate-bearing sediments.Variations of volumetric and lateral strains versus hydrate saturation are analyzed comprehensively.Results indicate that the sediments with high hydrate saturation show dilative behaviors,which lead to strain-softening characteristics during shearing.The volumetric strain curves have a tendency to transform gradually from dilatation to compression with the increase in effective confining pressure.An easy prediction model is proposed to describe the relationship between volumetric and axial strains.The model coefficientβis the key dominating factor for the shape of volumetric strain curves and can be determined by the hydrate saturation and stress state.Moreover,a modified model is established for the calculation of lateral strain.The corresponding determination method is provided for the easy estimation of model coefficients for medium sand sediments containing hydrate.This study provides a theoretical and experimental reference for deformation estimation in natural gas hydrate development.

Another Year of Record Heat for the Oceans

Changes in ocean heat content(OHC), salinity, and stratification provide critical indicators for changes in Earth’s energy and water cycles. These cycles have been profoundly altered due to the emission of greenhouse gasses and other anthropogenic substances by human activities, driving pervasive changes in Earth’s climate system. In 2022, the world’s oceans, as given by OHC, were again the hottest in the historical record and exceeded the previous 2021 record maximum.According to IAP/CAS data, the 0–2000 m OHC in 2022 exceeded that of 2021 by 10.9 ± 8.3 ZJ(1 Zetta Joules = 1021Joules);and according to NCEI/NOAA data, by 9.1 ± 8.7 ZJ. Among seven regions, four basins(the North Pacific, North Atlantic, the Mediterranean Sea, and southern oceans) recorded their highest OHC since the 1950s. The salinity-contrast index, a quantification of the “salty gets saltier–fresh gets fresher” pattern, also reached its highest level on record in 2022,implying continued amplification of the global hydrological cycle. Regional OHC and salinity changes in 2022 were dominated by a strong La Ni?a event. Global upper-ocean stratification continued its increasing trend and was among the top seven in 2022.

An Interdecadal Change in the Influence of the NAO on Atlantic-Induced Arctic Daily Warming around the Mid-1980s

After approaching 0℃owing to an Atlantic storm at the end of 2015,the Arctic temperature approached freezing again in 2022,indicating that Arctic daily warming events remain a concern.The NCEP/NCAR Reanalysis dataset was used to investigate the influence of the NAO on the Arctic winter daily warming events induced by Atlantic storms,known as the Atlantic pattern-Arctic Rapid Tropospheric Daily Warming(Atlantic-RTDW)event.Atlantic-RTDW events are triggered by Atlantic storms that transport warm and humid air masses moving into the Arctic.Furthermore,an interdecadal change in the influence of NAO on Atlantic-RTDW-event frequency was observed around the mid-1980s.Specifically,before the mid-1980s(pre-transition period),500-hPa southerly(northerly)wind anomalies occupied the North Atlantic(NA)in the positive(negative)phase of NAO,which increased(decreased)the Atlantic-RTDW events occurrence by steering Atlantic storms into(away from)the Arctic;thus,the NAO could potentially influence the Atlantic-RTDW-event frequency.However,the relationship between the NAO and the Atlantic-RTDW-event frequency has weakened since the mid-1980s(post-transition period).In the post-transition period,such 500-hPa southerly(northerly)wind anomalies over the NA hardly existed in the positive(negative)phase of NAO,which was attributed to a stronger Atlantic Storm Track(AST)activity intensity than that in the pre-transition period.During this period,the strong AST induced an enhanced NAOrelated cyclone via transient eddy-mean flow interactions,resulting in the disappearance of southerly and northerly wind anomalies over the NA.

Distribution pattern of macrobenthic assemblages along a salinity gradient in the Hangzhou Bay and its adjacent waters

It is widely acknowledged that the distribution of macrobenthos is affected by salinity, but the degree of influence varies in different areas. To explore the distribution pattern of macrobenthic assemblages in the Hangzhou Bay,12 stations were sampled to collect macrobenthos and the corresponding bottom water. Changes in the general characteristics of macrobenthos along the salinity gradient in the Hangzhou Bay and its adjacent waters were considered. Three dominant species were identified, including the polychaetes Sternaspis chinensis, the crustacea Oratosquilla oratoria and the echinoderm Ophiuroglypha kinbergi. And the macrobenthic assemblages showed a zonal distribution along with the salinity change. The correlation analyses showed that salinity, depth,temperature, suspended solids and dissolved oxygen had concurrent significant correlations with carnivorous group, Margalef species richness(d), Brillouin index(H) and Shannon-Wiener diversity index(H'). In light of the strong correlation between salinity and Changjiang River diluted water, which produces considerable disturbances by freshwater inflows, the deposition of suspended solids and the resuspension of seabed sediments,the combined environmental disturbances, instead of salinity alone, should be adopted to explain the zonation distribution pattern of macrobenthic assemblages.

New Record Ocean Temperatures and Related Climate Indicators in 2023

The global physical and biogeochemical environment has been substantially altered in response to increased atmospheric greenhouse gases from human activities.In 2023,the sea surface temperature(SST)and upper 2000 m ocean heat content(OHC)reached record highs.The 0–2000 m OHC in 2023 exceeded that of 2022 by 15±10 ZJ(1 Zetta Joules=1021 Joules)(updated IAP/CAS data);9±5 ZJ(NCEI/NOAA data).The Tropical Atlantic Ocean,the Mediterranean Sea,and southern oceans recorded their highest OHC observed since the 1950s.Associated with the onset of a strong El Niño,the global SST reached its record high in 2023 with an annual mean of~0.23℃ higher than 2022 and an astounding>0.3℃ above 2022 values for the second half of 2023.The density stratification and spatial temperature inhomogeneity indexes reached their highest values in 2023.

Tectonic evolution of the West Kunlun Orogenic Belt along the northern margin of the Tibetan Plateau:Implications for the assembly of the Tarim terrane to Gondwana

The West Kunlun orogenic belt(WKOB) along the northern margin of the Tibetan Plateau is important for understanding the evolution of the Proto-and Paleo-Tethys oceans. Previous investigations have focused on the igneous rocks and ophiolites distributed mostly along the Xinjiang-Tibet road and the China-Pakistan road, and have constructed a preliminary tectonic model for this orogenic belt. However, few studies have focused on the so-called Precambrian basement in this area. As a result, the tectonic affinity of the individual terranes of the WKOB and their detailed evolution process are uncertain. Here we report new field observations, zircon and monazite U-Pb ages of the "Precambrian basement" of the South Kunlun terrane(SKT) and the Tianshuihai terrane(TSHT), two major terranes in the WKOB. Based on new zircon U-Pb age data, the amphibolite-facies metamorphosed volcanosedimentary sequence within SKT was deposited during the late Neoproterozoic to Cambrian(600-500 Ma), and the flysch-affinity Tianshuihai Group, as the basement of the TSHT, was deposited during the late Neoproterozoic rather than Mesoproterozoic. The rock association of the volcano-sedimentary sequence within SKT suggests a large early Paleozoic accretionary wedge formed by the long-term lowangle southward subduction of the Proto-Tethys Ocean between Tarim and TSHT. The amphibolitefacies metamorphism in SKT occurred at ca. 440 Ma. This ca. 440 Ma metamorphism is genetically related to the closure of the Proto-Tethys Ocean between Tarim and the Tianshuihai terrane, which led to the assembly of Tarim to Eastern Gondwana and the final formation of the Gondwana. Since the late Paleozoic to early Mesozoic, the northward subduction of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean along the HongshihuQiaoertianshan belt produced the voluminous early Mesozoic arc-signature granites along the southern part of NKT-TSHT. The Paleo-Tethys ocean between TSHT and Karakorum closed at ca. 200 Ma, as demonstrated by the monazite age of the paragneiss in the Kangxiwa Group. Our study does not favor the existence of a Precambrian basement in SKT.

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.

Evaluation on monthly sea surface wind speed of four reanalysis data sets over the China seas after 1988

This study investigates the long-term changes of monthly sea surface wind speeds over the China seas from 1988 to 2015. The 10-meter wind speeds products from four major global reanalysis datasets with high resolution are used: Cross-Calibrated Multi-Platform data set(CCMP), NCEP climate forecast system reanalysis data set(CFSR),ERA-interim reanalysis data set(ERA-int) and Japanese 55-year reanalysis data set(JRA55). The monthly sea surface wind speeds of four major reanalysis data sets have been investigated through comparisons with the longterm and homogeneous observation wind speeds data recorded at ten stations. The results reveal that(1) the wind speeds bias of CCMP, CFSR, ERA-int and JRA55 are 0.91 m/s, 1.22 m/s, 0.62 m/s and 0.22 m/s, respectively.The wind speeds RMSE of CCMP, CFSR, ERA-int and JRA55 are 1.38 m/s, 1.59 m/s, 1.01 m/s and 0.96 m/s,respectively;(2) JRA55 and ERA-int provides a realistic representation of monthly wind speeds, while CCMP and CFSR tend to overestimate observed wind speeds. And all the four data sets tend to underestimate observed wind speeds in Bohai Sea and Yellow Sea;(3) Comparing the annual wind speeds trends between observation and the four data sets at ten stations for 1988-1997, 1988–2007 and 1988–2015, the result show that ERA-int is superior to represent homogeneity monthly wind speeds over the China seaes.

Impacts of High-Frequency Atmospheric Forcing on Southern OceanCirculation and Antarctic Sea Ice

The relative contributions of atmospheric fluctuations on 6 h?2 d,2?8 d,and 8 d?1 month time scales to the changes in the air?sea fluxes,the SO circulation,and Antarctic sea ice are investigated.It was found that the imposed forcing variability on the three time scales creates a significant increase in wind power input,and hence an increase of about 50%,97%,and 5%of eddy kinetic energy relative to the simulation driven by monthly forcing,respectively.Also,SO circulation and the strength of the upper cell of meridional overturning circulation become strengthened.These results indicate more dominant effects of atmospheric variability on the 2?8 d time scale on the SO circulation.Meanwhile,the 6 h?2 d(2?8 d)atmospheric variability causes an increase in the total sea-ice extent,area,and volume,by about 33%,30%,and 19%(17%,20%,and 25%),respectively,relative to those in the experiment forced by monthly atmospheric variables.Such significant sea-ice increases are caused by a cooler ocean surface and stronger sea-ice transports owing to the enhanced heat losses and air-ice stresses induced by the atmospheric variability at 6 h?2 d and 2?8 d,while the effects of the variability at 8 d?1 month are rather weak.The influences of atmospheric variability found here mainly result from wind fluctuations.Our findings in this study indicate the importance of properly resolving high-frequency atmospheric variability in modeling studies.

Numerical simulations of rip currents off arc-shaped coastlines

The rip currents induced by waves off arc-shaped coastlines are seriously harmful to humans, but understanding of their characteristics is lacking. In this study, the FUNWAVE model was used to calculate the wave-induced currents in the Haller experiment and the ideal arc-shaped coast similar to Sanya Dadonghai, Hainan Province,China. The results showed that the FUNWAVE model has considerable ability to simulate the rip currents, and it was used to further simulate rip currents off arc-shaped coastlines to investigate their characteristics. The rip currents were found to be stronger as the curvature of arc-shaped coastline increased. Coastal beach slope exerts a significant influence on rip currents; in particular, an overly steep or overly mild slope is not conducive to creating rip currents. Furthermore, the rip currents were found to become weaker as the size of arc-shaped coast decreased. When the height and period of waves increase, the strength of rip currents also increases, and, in some cases, wave heights of 0.4 m may produce dangerous rip currents.

Paleozoic post-collisional magmatism and high-temperature granulite-facies metamorphism coupling with lithospheric delamination of the East Kunlun Orogenic Belt,NW China

Lithosphere extension and upwelling of asthenosphere at post-collisional stage of an orogenic cycle generally induce diverse magmatism and/or associated high-temperature metamorphism. Nevertheless, the intimate coexistence of post-collisional magmatic activity and high-temperature metamorphism is rare.In this contribution, a lithological assemblage composing of diverse magmatic rocks deriving from distinct magma sources and coeval high-temperature metamorphism was identified in eastern Kunlun.Petrography, ages, mineral chemistry and whole-rock geochemistry demonstrated that those intimately coexistent diverse rocks were genetically related to post-collisional extension. The garnet-bearing mafic granulites in Jinshuikou area interior of the East Kunlun Orogenic Belt are mainly composed of garnet,orthopyroxene, and plagioclase, with peak metamorphic P–T conditions of ~ 701–756 ℃and 5.6–7.0 kbar,representing a granulite-facies metamorphism at 409.7 ± 1.7 Ma. The diverse contemporaneous magmatic rocks including hornblendites, gabbros and granites yield zircon U–Pb ages of 408.6 ± 2.5 Ma,413.4 ± 4.6 Ma, and 387–407 Ma, respectively. The hornblendites show N-MORB-like REE patterns with(La/Sm)Nvalues of 0.85–0.94. They have positive zircon εHf(t) values of 0.1–4.9 and whole-rock εNd(t) values of 3.9–4.7 but relatively high(^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr)_(i)values of 0.7081 to 0.7088. These features demonstrate that the hornblendites derived from a depleted asthenospheric mantle source with minor continental crustal materials in source. As for the gabbros, they exhibit arc-like elemental signatures, low zircon εHf(t) values(-4.3 to 2.5) and variable whole-rock εNd(t) values(-4.9 to 1.2) as well as high(^(87)Sr/86 Sr)ivalues(0.7068 to 0.7126), arguing for that they were originated from partial melting of heterogeneous lithospheric mantle anteriorly metasomatized by subducted-sediment released melts. Geochemistry of the granites defines their strongly peraluminous S-type signatures. Zircons from the granites yield a large range of εHf(t) values ranging from -30.8 to -5.1, while the whole-rock samples yield consistent(^(87)Sr/86 Sr)ivalues(0.7301 to 0.7342) and negative εNd(t) values(-10.1 to -12.4). These features indicate that the S-type granites could be generated by reworking of an ancient crust. Taken together, the penecontemporaneous magmatism and metamorphic event, demonstrated the early-middle Devonian transition from crustal thickening to extensional collapse. The post-collisional mantle-derived magmas serve as an essential driving force for the high-temperature granulite-facies metamorphism and anataxis of the crust associated with formation of S-type granite. This study not only constructs a more detail Proto-Tethys evolution process of the eastern Kunlun, but also sheds new light on better understanding the intimate relationship between magmatism and metamorphism during post-collisional extensional collapse.

Sedimentary Facies, Provenance and Geochronology of the Heshangzhen Group: Implications for the Tectonic Evolution of the Eastern Jiangnan Orogen, South China

The Neoproterozoic Jiangnan orogen plays an important role in the study of the Precambrian tectonic evolution of South China. The tectonic nature of the Neoproterozoic sedimentary basins is still controversial, due to poor understanding of the sedimentary sequences and the lack of geochronological data. Here, we present sedimentological, provenance and geochronological data from the Heshangzhen Group in the eastern Jiangnan orogen. Sedimentological analysis shows that the Luojiamen Formation was deposited in a submarine fan, and the overlying Hongchicun Formation was deposited in front of a fan delta. The youngest detrital zircons constrain the lower Luojiamen and Hongchicun formations with ages of 827.3 ± 8.4 Ma and 825 ± 12 Ma, respectively. The sandstones of the Luojiamen Formation are characterized by a large number of intermediate to felsic volcanic grains, suggesting a volcanic arc source. In contrast, quartz and sedimentary lithic grains increase in the Hongchicun Formation, showing a new input from a collisional orogenic source. Detrital zircon from six sandstone samples in the Luojiamen and Hongchicun formations yield similar age spectra of 930–820 Ma with a peak at ca. 845–860 Ma, with one main cluster at 930–820 Ma. Detrital zircons of 930–845 Ma show a positive value of εHf(t)(+2.4 to +11, mean +7.6), which is similar to the volcanic arc of the nearby Shuangxiwu Group. There are a minor group of zircons with U-Pb ages ranging from 820 Ma to 845 Ma from the middle part of the Luojiamen Formation and Hongchicun Formation, with εHf(t) values between-20 to +2.4, which are consistent with the characteristics of the Shuangqiaoshan Group. within light of the bidirectional paleocurrents in the Luojiamen Formation, it is speculated that the zircons of 820–845 Ma were recycled from the Shuangqiaoshan Group, which is derived from a continental arc to the northwest. Our data suggests that the Luojiamen Formation was formed in an inter-arc basin, while the Hongchicun Formation was formed in an accretionary wedge-top basin. When juxtaposed with the conglomeratic characteristics at the bottom of the Luojiamen Formation, it is believed that the unconformity represented by the ‘Shen Gong Movement' reflects the rapid erosion and accumulation process of island arc volcanic material. The disconformity between the Luojiamen and Hongchicun formations is the imprint of transition from inter-arc basin to accretionary wedge-top basin,which represents the collision between the Shuangxiwu arc and the Yangtze Plate.

Trends of sea surface temperature and sea surface temperature fronts in the South China Sea during 2003–2017

The trends of the sea surface temperature(SST) and SST fronts in the South China Sea(SCS) are analyzed during2003–2017 using high-resolution satellite data. The linear trend of the basin averaged SST is 0.31°C per decade,with the strongest warming identified in southeastern Vietnam. Although the rate of warming is comparable in summer and winter for the entire basin, the corresponding spatial patterns of the linear trend are substantially different between them. The SST trend to the west of the Luzon Strait is characterized by rapid warming in summer, exceeding approximately 0.6°C per decade, but the trend is insignificant in winter. The strongest warming trend occurs in the southeast of Vietnam in winter, with much less pronounced warming in summer. A positive trend of SST fronts is identified for the coast of China and is associated with increasing wind stress. The increasing trend of SST fronts is also found in the east of Vietnam. Large-scale circulation, such as El Ni?o, can influence the trends of the SST and SST fronts. A significant correlation is found between the SST anomaly and Ni?o3.4 index, and the ENSO signal leads by eight months. The basin averaged SST linear trends increase after the El Ni?o event(2009–2010), which is, at least, due to the rapid warming rate causing by the enhanced northeasterly wind. Peaks of positive anomalous SST and negatively anomalous SST fronts are found to co-occur with the strong El Ni?o events.

Seesaw Pattern of Rainfall Anomalies between the Tropical Western North Pacific and Central Southern China during Late Summer

It is well known that suppressed convection in the tropical western North Pacific(WNP) induces an anticyclonic anomaly,and this anticyclonic anomaly results in more rainfall along the East Asian rain band through more water vapor transport during summer, as well as early and middle summer. However, the present results indicate that during late summer(from mid-August to the beginning of September), the anomalous anticyclone leads to more rainfall over central southern China(CSC), a region quite different from preceding periods. The uniqueness of late summer is found to be related to the dramatic change in climatological monsoon flows: southerlies over southern China during early and middle summer but easterlies during late summer. Therefore, the anomalous anticyclone, which shows a southerly anomaly over southern China, enhances monsoonal southerlies and induces more rainfall along the rain band during early and middle summer. During late summer,however, the anomalous anticyclone reflects a complicated change in monsoon flows: it changes the path, rather than the intensity, of monsoon flows. Specifically, during late summers of suppressed convection in the tropical WNP, southerlies dominate from the South China Sea to southern China, and during late summers of enhanced convection, northeasterlies dominate from the East China Sea to southern China, causing more and less rainfall in CSC, respectively.

Geochronology and Geochemistry of the Granite Xenolith within the Lamprophyre at the Zhenyuan Gold Deposit(Yunnan Province, SW China)

The xenoliths in host rocks of hydrothermal gold deposits can generally provide much geochemical information of the deep rocks, which may have an implication for the sources of ore-forming materials. Geochronology and geochemical characteristics are reported for a granite xenolith, which is enclosed by the lamprophyre in the Zhenyuan gold deposit(Yunnan Province, SW China). This granite xenolith mainly consists of K-feldspar, quartz, and plagioclase with trace amounts of magnetite, titanite, apatite, zircon, and sulfides. Zircons from the granite xenolith yield a weighted average U-Pb age of 281.1 ± 1.3 Ma(MSWD = 2.1), which could represent the crystallization age of this granite xenolith. The Ti-in-zircon geothermometer and the Mn concentration in apatite calculate that this granite xenolith formed at 685 ± 43℃ with the logf_(O2) values ranging from NNO + 3.7 to NNO + 6.4. The zircons in the granite xenolith have a restricted range of positive ε_(Hf)(t) values ranging from +9.4 to +10.8, and the corresponding Hf TDM2 model ages range from 588 to 678 Ma. The zircon U-Pb age and the Hf isotopic compositions indicate this granite xenolith within the lamprophyre is mainly derived from partial melting of juvenile crustal rocks before the completed closure of the Ailaoshan Ocean. The pyrites in the granite xenolith have higher Bi concentrations, and lower As, Sb, and Tl concentrations than the gold-bearing pyrites of the ores in the Zhenyuan gold deposit. The low Au concentrations of the pyrites together with the ore-forming age of the Zhenyuan gold deposit(Oligocene) indicate the granite xenolith may have limited contribution to the gold mineralization of the Zhenyuan gold deposit.

Dynamical analysis of submesoscale fronts associated with wind-forced offshore jet in the western South China Sea

This study investigates the submesoscale fronts and their dynamic effects on the mean flow due to frontal instabilities in the wind-driven summer offshore jet of the western South China Sea(WSCS),using satellite observations,a 500 m-resolution numerical simulation,and diagnostic analysis.Both satellite measurements and simulation results show that the submesoscale fronts occupying a typical lateral scale of O(~10)km are characterized with one order of Rossby(Ro)and Richardson(Ri)numbers in the WSCS.This result implies that both geostrophic and ageostrophic motions feature in these submesoscale fronts.The diagnostic results indicate that a net cross-frontal Ekman transport driven by down-front wind forcing effectively advects cold water over warm water.By this way,the weakened local stratification and strong lateral buoyancy gradients are conducive to a negative Ertel potential vorticity(PV)and triggering frontal symmetric instability(SI)at the submesoscale density front.The cross-front ageostrophic secondary circulation caused by frontal instabilities is found to drive an enhanced vertical velocity reaching O(100)m/d.Additionally,the estimate of the down-front wind forcing the Ekman buoyancy flux(EBF)is found to be scaled with the geostrophic shear production(GSP)and buoyancy flux(BFLUX),which are the two primary energy sources for submesoscale turbulence.The large values of GSP and BFLUX at the fronts suggest an efficient downscale energy transfer from larger-scale geostrophic flows to the submesoscale turbulence owing to down-front wind forcing and frontal instabilities.In this content,submesoscale fronts and their instabilities substantially enhance the local vertical exchanges and geostrophic energy cascade towards smaller-scale.These active submesoscale processes associated density fronts and filaments likely provide new physical interpretations for the filamentary high chlorophyll concentration and frontal downscale energy transfer in the WSCS.

The model of tracing drift targets and its application in the South China Sea

A Leeway-Trace model was established for the traceability analysis of drifting objects at sea.The model was based on the Leeway model which is a Monte Carlo-based ensemble trajectory model,and a method of realistic traceability analysis was proposed in this study by using virtual spatiotemporal drift trajectory prediction.Here,measured data from a drifting buoy observation experiment in the northern South China Sea in April 2019,combined with surface current data obtained from the finite volume community ocean model(FVCOM),were used for the traceability analysis of humanoid buoys.The results were basically consistent with the observations,and the assimilation of measured current data can significantly improve the accuracy of the traceability analysis.Several sensitive experiments were designed to discuss the effects of wind and tide on the traceability analysis,and their results showed that the wind-driven current and the wind-induced leeway drift are both important to the traceability analysis.The effect of tidal currents on traceability could not be ignored even though they were much weaker than the residual currents in the experimental area of the northern South China Sea.