Organic carbon and nitrogen isotopes in surface sediments from the western Arctic Ocean and their implications for sedimentary environments

Surface sediments from the Chukchi Sea and adjacent arctic deep sea were investigated for organic carbon and nitrogen isotopes （in δ13Corg and δ15Norg） as well as biogeni＇c silica （BSiO2）. δ13Corg and δ15Norg values of surface sediments in the study area fall between the end-member values of marine and terrestrial organic matter from the surrounding lands and seas, their variations reflect the changes of marine productivity and terrestrial supply in the study area. BSiO2 shows a similar distribution pattern with δ13Corg and δ15Norg, and can be used as an indicator of marine productivity. In the central-west Chukchi Sea and the Chukchi Rise, sediments have higher δ13Corg, δ15Norg and BSiO2 values, indicating the region has high marine productivity influenced by the nutrient-rich branches of the Pacific waters. In the coastal zone off northwestern Alaska, δ13Corg and δ15Norg values become lighter, indicating a weakening marine productivity and an increasing terrigenous supply due to the effects of the least nutrient-rich branch of the Pacific waters. In the north and the northeast of the study area （including the Chukchi Plateau, the Canada Basin and the Beaufort shelf）, δ13Corg, δ15Norg and BSiO2 have the lowest values, and the terrigenous organic matter becomes dominant in surface sediments because this region has the longest ice-covered duration, the least nutrient-rich seawater and the increasing supply of terrestrial materials from the Mackenzie River and the northern Alaska under the action of the clockwise Beaufort gyre. Because the subarctic Pacific waters are continuously discharged into the central basin of the Arctic Ocean through the study area, the nutrient pool in the Chukchi Sea can be considered as a typical open system, the ratio of δ15Norg to BSiO2 content show some tracers that the level of nutrient utilization is contrary to nutrient supply and marine productivity formed in seawater.

Geometries and mechanism of folds in sediments on the southern Huanghai Sea shelf

Most descriptions and studies about folds have been associated with consolidated strata; fold deformation in loosely-consolidated sediments, however, has been rarely discussed. Since the Pleistocene, tectonic activities have been intensive over the South Huanghai Sea （SHS） shelf, resulting in fold deformation features that are preserved in thick sediment layers. Four types of folds with different geometries have been identified on the basis of an analysis of single - channel seismic profiles from the SHS shelf region： （1） fault-propagation fold; （2） fault-drag fold; （3） transversal bending fold; and （4） multi-action-folding fold. Studies on the geometry and mechanism of the folds indicate that base faults and fault blocks control the folding patterns in loosely-consoli- dated sediments on the SHS shelf and a large quantity of pore water in sediments plays an important role in cansing the deformation of sediment layers. The continuity of deformations of fault-propagation fold and fault-drag fold indicates that there is a genetic relationship between these fold types. The potential of earthquakes induced by fault-propagation folding in the deformation zone should be taken into account in the assessment of the marine engineering geology conditions of the SHS shelf.