OCEAN BOTTOM SEISMOMETER AND ONSHOREOFFSHORE SEISMIC EXPERIMENT IN NORTHEASTERN SOUTH CHINA SEA

Three-component Ocean Bottom Seismometers, portable land stations and marine air gun seismic sources were used to carry out an onshore-offshore deep seismic profile in northeastern South China Sea. This profile, orientated in NNW-SSE, was as long as 500 km and perpendicular to the strike of regional tectonics. The offshore data were processed in Taiwan Ocean University using a number of available software and the onshore data were analyzed in South China Sea Institute of Oceanology by new-written programs and public software. Preliminary results show that the seismic data are in good quality and contain rich information of deep structure. Seismic phases, e.g. Pg, PmP and Pn, are identified in the offset range 5～220 kin, which will provide an important dataset for the deep crustal structure and oil-gas basin evolution studies of this region.

Focal mechanism solutions and its tectonic significance in the trench of the eastern South China Sea

According to the activity of earthquakes and volcanoes along the Manila trench and its adjacent region, combined with analysis of focal mechanism solutions and geophysics data, the Manila trench is still being downward subduction in the depth of 200 km. Deep earthquakes mainly concentrate between 12°N and 14°N, the concentrated region is divided into different sections, and the focal depth is gradually deep from the north to the south. From the focal mechanism solution data, the maximum principal stress direction (P axis) varies from the northern region of Philippine fault to the southern region of the fault. In the north P axes directions are mainly NW, however in the south there is the complex displaying and P axes have NW, NE and approximately NS directions. These results show the characteristics of press-thrust in the northern region of the Philippine fault and the clockwise rotation in the southern region of the fault. The stress caused by the Philippine plate, which moved upon the South China Sea sub-plate, is adjusted by the oblique subduction of the Manila trench, the sinistral strike-slip of the Philippine fault and the sinistral strike-slip of the Mindoro fault.

CHARACTERISTICS OF CRUST-MANTLE TRANSITION ZONE AND ITS TECTONIC SIGNIFICANCE IN THE CONTINENT OF CHINA

The crust-mantle transition zone (CMTZ) is an important site for mass and energy exchange between the lower crust and upper mantle. Several kinds of CMTZ exist beneath the continent of China, which show different seismic reflection characteristics and are composed of different rock associations. In this paper, we identify three types of CMTZ in the continent of China. (a) The CMTZ beneath the Tibet Plateau exhibits a grid-shaped seismic reflection characterized by random and reticular high and low seismic velocity lamellae. It is about 30 km thick, comprising both mafic granulites of lower crust and ultramafic rocks of upper mantle. Such lithological association and seismic velocity structure were inherited from the crustal overthrust and overlapping during the Cenozoic collision between the Indian and Euro-Asian continents; The corresponding crust movement is still very intense in this region. (b) The CMTZ underneath North China Block is usually composed of a thinner strong positive velocity gradient layer with dual properties in the rock associations. This suggests that the crust is still active in the North China Block after significant lithospheric thinning and thermal accretion. (c) The CMTZ in the remaining platform basins of China is characterized by a relatively sharp seismic discontinuity and a clear lithological boundary between the low crust and upper mantle. Such features of the CMTZ beneath Ordos basin correspond to weak crustal movement after a long period of isolation from thermo-tectonic overprinting.

Radiolarian biogeography in surface sediments of the Northwest Pacific marginal seas

Overall abundance and species composition of radiolarian faunas were analyzed in surface sediment samples from representative areas of South China Sea, East China Sea, Sea of Japan, Sea of Okhotsk, Bering Sea, Philippine Sea, and the western boundary current regions of the North Pacific, in order to understand the biogeographic distribution ofradiolarians in the Northwest Pacific and explore its relationship with the main environmental factors and the North Pacific circulation. The results showed that radiolarians in the Northwest Pacific surface sediments can be divided into two large biogeographic provinces---cluster A and cluster B. Cluster A is characterized by the dominance of warm-water species and distributed primarily in tropical and subtropical seas with high radiolarian abundance and diversity; whereas cluster B is predominated by cold water species and distributed mainly in the Arctic and subarctic seas with comparably low abundance and diversity. Cluster A is further divided into five subclusters, AI to A5, which correspond to East China Sea, Philippine Sea, South China Sea, Sea of Japan, and Kuroshio Current, respectively; cluster B is divided into three subclusters, B1 to B3, which correspond to Sea of Okhotsk, Bering Sea, and subarctic gyre area, respectively. Based on the relationships between radiolarian faunas and major environment parameters in different biogeographic provinces, we suggest that the sea surface temperature （SST） and sea surface salinity （SSS） are primary factors that influence productivity, composition, and distribution pattern of the radiolarian fauna in the Northwest Pacific regions, while water depth is likely responsible for regional differences in the radiolarian fauna in each marginal sea. In addition, according to the distribution and abundance patterns of common radiolarian species in different areas, we identified five special radiolarian assemblages, which may be used as indicators for main Kuroshio Current, Kuroshio-East China Sea Branch, Kuroshio-South China Sea Branch, Tsushima Current, and Oyashio Current water masses.

Nitrate δ^(15)N and δ^(18)O evidence for active biological transformation in the Changjiang Estuary and the adjacent East China Sea

The Changjiang Estuary has been considered as one of the most polluted estuaries in the world due to high nitrate （NO3） input, especially in spring and summer. In this study, 6~5N and t^180 of NO3, along with other chemical parameters in this area, were measured in spring to evaluate NO3 biogeochemical processes. A simple two end-members mixing model was used to examine the relative contribution of the Changjiang River Diluted Water and marine water to NO~ sources in the Changjiang Estuary and the adjacent East Chi- na Sea. The isotopic signals show that NO3 behaved relatively and conservatively in Transect F and Transect P where assimilation was weak possibly due to vertical mixing, while active assimilation and weak nitrifi- cation occurred in Transect D. Spatial difference in assimilation was indicated by the ~ 1：1 enrichment of S 15N and 6180 in the three transects, while spatial difference in nitrification was reflected by deviations of 15N and 6180 from assimilation line. Our results suggest that the input of the Changjiang River Diluted Wa- ter promoted NO3 assimilation possibly by stratifying the water column which favored the phytoplankton growth.

Deep Structure and Dynamics of Passive Continental Margin from Shelf to Ocean of the Northern South China Sea

To study the deep dynamic mechanism leading to the difference in rifting pattern and basin structure from shelf to oceanic basin in passive continental margin, we constructed long geological sections across the shelf, slope and oceanic basin using new seismic data. Integrated gravity-magnetic inversion and interpretation of these sections were made with the advanced dissection method. Results show that the basement composition changes from intermediate-acid intrusive rocks in the shelf to intermediate-basic rocks in the slope. The Moho surface shoals gradually from 31 km in the shelf to 22.5 km in the uplift and then 19 km in the slope and finally to 13 km in the oceanic basin. The crust thickness also decreases gradually from 30 km in the northern fault belt to 9 km in the oceanic basin. The crustal stretching factor increases from the shelf toward the oceanic basin, with the strongest extension under the sags and the oceanic basin. The intensity of mantle upwelling controlled the style of basin structures from shelf to oceanic basin. In the Zhu 1 depression on the shelf, the crust is nearly normal, the brittle and cold upper crust mainly controlled the fault development; so the combinative grabens with single symmetric graben are characteristic. In the slope, the crust thinned with a large stretching factor, affected by the mantle upwelling. The ductile deformation controlled the faults, so there developed an asymmetric complex graben in the Baiyun （白云） sag.

Seismic phases from the Moho and its implication on the ultraslow spreading ridge

The Moho interface provides critical evidence for crustal thickness and the mode of oceanic crust accretion. The seismic Moho interface has not been identified yet at the magma-rich segments （46°-52°E） of the ultra- slow spreading Southwestern Indian Ridge （SWIR）. This paper firstly deduces the characteristics and do- mains of seismic phases based on a theoretical oceanic crust model. Then, topographic correction is carried out for the OBS record sections along Profile Y3Y4 using the latest OBS data acquired from the detailed 3D seismic survey at the SWIR in 2010. Seismic phases are identified and analyzed, especially for the reflected and refracted seismic phases from the Moho. A 2D crustal model is finally established using the ray tracing and travel-time simulation method. The presence of reflected seismic phases at Segment 28 shows that the crustal rocks have been separated from the mantle by cooling and the Moho interface has already formed at zero age. The 2D seismic velocity structure across the axis of Segment 28 indicates that detachment faults play a key role during the processes of asymmetric oceanic crust accretion.

Influence of water flow on gas hydrate accumulation at cold vents

A cold vent is an area where methane-rich fluid seepage occurs. This seepage may alter the local temperature, salinity, and subsequent accumulation of the gas hydrate. Using a kinetic gas hydrate formation model and in situ measurement of tempera- ture, salinity and fluid flux at the southern summit of Hydrate Ridge, we simuIate the gas hydrate accumulation at three distinct fluid sites： clam, bacterial mat, and gas discharge sites. At the clam sites （pore water flux 〈 20 kg m-2 yr-1）, pore water advec- tion has little influence on temperature and salinity. However, the salinity and temperature are increased （peak salinity 〉 0.8 tool kg-1） by the formation of gas hydrate causing the base of the hydrate stability zone to move gradually from -115 to -70 meters below seafloor （mbsf）. The gas hydrate saturation at the clam sites is relatively high. The water flux at the bacterial mat sites ranges from 100 to 2500 kg m-2 yr-1. The water flow suppresses the increase in salinity resulting in a salinity close to or slightly higher than that of seawater （〈 0.65 mol kg-l）. Heat advection by water flow increases temperature significantly, shifting the base of the hydrate stability zone to above 50 or even 3 mbsf. The gas hydrate saturation is relatively low at the bacterial mat site. At the gas discharge sites, the pore water flux could reach 10^10 kg m-2 yr-1, and the temperature could reach that of the source area in 9 min. There is no gas hydrate formation at the gas discharge sites. Our simulative analysis therefore reveals that a lower pore water flux would result in lower salinity, higher temperature, and a shallower base of the hydrate sta- bility zone. This in turn induces a lower gas hydrate formation rate, lower hydrate saturation, and eventually less gas hydrate resources.

Crustal Structure and Extension from Slope to Deepsea Basin in the Northern South China Sea

The newly acquired long-cable multi-channel seismic （MCS） lines were used to study the crustal structure and extension in an NW-SE elongated 150 km by 260 km strip from the slope to the deepsea basin in the northern South China Sea （SCS）. These profiles are of good penetration that Moho is recognizable in -70% length of the lines. Seismostratigraphic interpretation and time-depth conversion were conducted. A power function D = ath ＋ c was used in the time-depth conversion, which avoided the under- or over-estimation of the depths of deep-seated interfaces by cubic or quadratic polynomial functions. Contour maps of basement depth, Moho depth, crustal thickness, and crustal stretching factor were obtained for the study area. In the dip direction, the Mobo depth decreases stepwisely from 28 km in the outer shelf southwards to 19, 15, and 12 km in the deepsea basin, with ramps at the shelf break, lower slope, and the continent ocean boundary （COB）, respectively. Accordingly, the crustal thickness decreased southwards from 25 to 15, 13, and 7 km, respectively. Under the center of the Baiyun （白云） sag, the crust thins significantly to 〈 7 km. The crustal stretching factor βc was calculated by assuming the original crust thickness of 30 km. In the centers of the Baiyun sag, βc exceeds 5. Tertiary and Quaternary volcanic activities show a general trend of intensifying towards the COB. An important finding of this study is the along-strike variation of the crustal structure. A Moho rise extends from the COB NW-ward until the shelf break, about 170 km long and 50-100 km wide, with Moho depth 〈 20 km. This is called the Baiyun Moho Nose, which is bounded to the east, west, and north by belts of high Moho gradients indicative of crustal or even lithospheric faults. The doming of Moho in the nose area might be the cause of the W-E segmentation of the crustal and geological structures along the slope of the northern South China Sea, and the cause of the strong crustal stretching in the Baiyun and Liwan （荔湾） sags.