48ka以来日本海Ulleung海盆南部的海洋沉积环境演化

晚第四纪以来伴随底层水含氧量的剧烈变化,浅色和深色沉积层的交替出现是日本海半远洋沉积物的主要特征。沉积特征分析表明,日本海Ulleung海盆南部KCES1孔的沉积物具有四种不同的沉积构造:均质、纹层、纹层状和混杂构造。深色沉积层一般具有纹层和纹层状构造,并且与我国内陆的千年尺度东亚夏季风强弱变化记录有很好的对应关系,表明纹层沉积物也具有千年尺度的变化规律,从而进一步说明了冰川性海平面变化和东亚夏季风波动应该是Ulleung海盆南部底层水溶解氧含量变化的主要原因。在暖期,在东亚夏季风降水相对增强的影响下,低温、低盐的东海沿岸水对日本海表层水体的贡献要大于对马暖流的贡献,日本海水体间的交换减弱,最终造成缺氧的海底沉积环境。在冷期,夏季风强度的减弱(冬季风增强)加快了日本海西北部深层水的生成,Ulleung海盆南部的底层水含氧量高,相应地沉积了具均质构造的浅色沉积物;在末次盛冰期最低海平面时,日本海成为一个封闭的海盆,降雨量高于蒸发量,水体出现分层,底层水处于停滞缺氧状态。自距今17.5 ka(日历年,下同)以来底层水含氧量较高,对马暖流逐渐成为影响日本海海洋沉积环境的主要因素。Ulleung海盆南部底层水的含氧量在YD期间有一定程度的降低,东海沿岸水的短暂强盛制约了深层水的流通。自距今10.5 ka以来对马暖流强盛,日本海海底处于富氧的沉积环境。     

Late Quaternary chronology of the southern Black Sea basin

During New Euxinian time when sea level dropped below the sill connecting the Black and Marmara seas, the Black Sea became isolated and freshwater sediments were deposited. Now it is a semieuxinic basin with the oxic/anoxic boundary at 100–150 m. The seasonal changes in sedimentation are preserved in the form of laminated sequences. The counting of varves in southeastern Black Sea cores show the chronology of the O₂/H₂S interface. The age of the Holocene sapropel along the eastern margin ranges from 4000 to 1000 yr BP in deep water and 2500—1000 yr BP in shallower water. Sapropel formation started at 3650 yr BP at a water depth of 2200 m.     

东、黄海沉积物-水界面营养盐交换速率的研究

2000年10月和2001年5月随“东方红2号”考察船在东、黄海进行考察,在A2、E2、E4、E5、E65个站位作了培养实验,研究沉积物-水界面在氧化和还原条件下的交换通量。在东海海域,NO3-、PO43-、总磷(TDP)由水向沉积物中扩散,NH4 、SiO32-由沉积物向水中扩散,NO3-、TDP、NH4 在还原条件下的交换通量大于氧化条件下的交换通量,PO43-、SiO32-在氧化还原条件下的交换通量基本一致。在黄海海域,两站位各溶解态营养盐的迁移方向有较大差异。在距离陆地较近的海域,各溶解态营养盐多由水中向沉积物中扩散,且距离陆地越近,交换通量越大。在东、黄海海域,沉积物释放的SiO32-对初级生产力的贡献分别为13%、10%~18%,与河流输送和大气沉降相比,沉积物对黄海、东海SiO32-的贡献分别占90%、86%,说明沉积物是SiO32-的源。而在整个东、黄海海域,对于溶解无机氮(DIN)和PO43-来说,它们的交换通量为负值,即沉积物从水体中吸附溶解无机氮和磷,说明沉积物是DIN和PO43-的汇。     

Effects of fine grain size on distribution of Mn in shallow and deep water Black Sea sediments: A comparison between oxic and anoxic depositional environments

The uppermost 5–6 cm of the sediments (between 8 and 2248 m water depths) were studied to understand the effects of varying redox conditions on the Mn distribution in the recent sediments of the Black Sea. It was found that most Mn concentrations are consistent with the average abundance in crustal and/or sedimentary rocks. There exist no important differences between Mn concentrations in oxic (shallower water; <70 m) and anoxic (deeper water; 120 m) sediments. Previously reported Mn-enrichment above the Black Sea oxic/anoxic interface, due to the peculiar redox cycling, shows no significant contribution of Mn to the bottom sediments. A marked relationship between total Mn concentrations and clay/mud contents at shelf depth along the southern Black Sea margin indicates increased accumulation of Mn in association with the fine-grained particles and eastward water circulation.     

中全新世以来南黄海中部沉积过程——基于岩心粒度和有机质指标

海陆交互作用下的南黄海沉积环境复杂，其沉积机制一直是古海洋研究的重点和难点。本文以取自南黄海中部泥质区的Z1岩心为载体，对196个样品的粒度和整体有机质指标(TOC、TN、TOC/TN和δ13Corg)进行了详细分析，并对5个层位进行AMS14C年龄测定，分辨率高达11 a/cm。研究结果显示，6.1 ka BP以来南黄海中部沉积过程可分为3个阶段:(1) 6.1～5.2 ka BP，沉积物粒度较粗，以残留砂和陆源粗粒物质为主，有机质含量较低且主要为陆源输入，本阶段多受东亚季风强盛的影响，动荡海洋环境下有机质保存效率低，大量陆源输入冲淡作用显著；(2) 5.2～3.9 ka BP，沉积物粒度变细且波动较大，有机质呈增加趋势且以海源为主，主要受东亚冬季风减弱的影响，海源有机质含量增加，与黄海暖流影响增强有关；(3) 3.9～0 ka BP，沉积物粒度最细且相对稳定，有机质含量继续增加，直至1.9 ka BP趋于稳定，主要受现代环流系统和东亚冬季风影响。结果表明，南黄海粒度和整体有机质指标变化过程复杂，显示中全新世以来南黄海中部泥质区沉积环境演化的复杂性。本研究获得了南黄海高分辨率的沉积环境演化记录，不仅为沉积机制研究提供更多数据支撑，还可为区域古气候和古海洋演化提供关键的指示证据。     

东海南部内陆架泥质区S05-2孔沉积物4870a BP以来的沉积学记录及其对物源与季风演化指示*

以东海内陆架S05-2孔沉积物为研究对象, 进行了加速质谱仪(AMS)¹⁴C年龄测定、粒度测试、粘土矿物及地球化学元素含量分析。研究表明: 东海内陆架泥质区南部水动力环境强, 沉积物主要以粉砂为主; 4870a BP以来研究区的物源以台湾岛河流物质为主, 长江和黄河物质在不同阶段存在间歇物质作用。通过元素比值、敏感粒级、粘土矿物含量比等季风气候指标, 指示了研究区的季风气候自4870a BP以来存在稳定、增强、减弱、再次增强的4个季风气候强度变化期。     

末次盛冰期以来冲绳海槽中部沉积物有机碳和磷的地球化学研究

利用元素及同位素地球化学方法研究了冲绳海槽中部沉积物岩芯中有机碳及磷的地球化学特征及影响因素。结果表明，冲绳海槽沉积速率（16.5~32.5 cm/ka）变化小，不是沉积物中有机碳埋藏的重要影响因素。相对于全新世氧化性底水环境，末次盛冰期/冰消期冲绳海槽缺氧底水环境提高了沉积物对有机碳的埋藏效率。冲绳海槽沉积物中各形态磷的相对含量与其他边缘海沉积物中的相似。交换态磷（Ex-P）含量低、变化小。末次盛冰期/冰消期缺氧底水环境下铁氧化物的还原溶解导致铁结合磷（Fe-P）释放以及自生磷矿物（Au-P）的形成。全新世氧化性底水条件有利于铁氧化物的有效再生及对磷的再吸附，但不利于Au-P的保存。总有机碳（TOC）和有机磷（Org-P）之间良好的相关性表明TOC埋藏对Org-P含量的重要控制作用。冲绳海槽沉积物中碎屑磷（De-P）含量低于长江口及东海陆架沉积物中的含量，这与陆源碎屑向外海传输减弱有关。在约9.3 ka BP（岩芯200 cm深度），TOC、Fe-P、Org-P、De-P以及Fe_HR均出现的极小值可能由物质坡移造成。     

48ka以来日本海古生产力和古氧化还原环境变化的地球化学记录

通过对日本海Ulleung盆地KCES-1孔元素地球化学分析,探讨了过去48 ka以来日本海古生产力和古氧化还原环境的变化规律和影响因素。多种替代指标质量累积速率(总有机碳、CaCO3,磷、过剩钡、镉含量)显示日本海古生产力自48 ka以来发生了显著的变化。在48~18 ka低海平面和有限的水体交换导致表层水古生产力相对较低。在18~11 ka随着海平面的上升,富营养盐水团(亲潮和东海沿岸流水团)的流入导致古生产力逐渐增大,在12.6~11.5 ka古生产力达到最大值。在全新世对马暖流成为影响古生产力变化的重要因素,并且自5 ka以来古生产力保持相对稳定。古氧化还原替代指标(总有机碳、钼、铀、锰、碳与硫含量之比、自生铀、自生钼含量)显示在12~9 ka日本海底层水可能为无氧环境。古生产力高和底层水体有限的交换是诱发底层水缺氧的主要因素,而这又与全球气候变化和海平面变化有关。     

A sulfur budget for the Black Sea anoxic zone

A budget for the sulfur cycle in the Black Sea is proposed which incorporates specific biogeochemical process rates. The average sulfide production in the water column is estimated to be 30–50 Tg yr⁻¹, occurring essentially in the layer between 500 and 2000 m. About 3.2–5.2 Tg sulfide yr⁻¹ form during sulfate reduction in surface sediments of the anoxic zone. Total sulfur burial in anoxic sediments of 1 Tg yr⁻¹ consists of 10–70% (ca. 40–50% is the average) water column formed (syngenetic) component, the rest being diagenetic pyrite. As a maximum, between 3 and 5 Tg yr⁻¹ contribute sulfide to the bottom water or diffuse downward in the sediment. About 20–50 Tg yr⁻¹ sulfide is oxidized mostly at the chemocline and about 10–20% of this amount (4.4–9.2 Tg yr⁻¹) below the chemocline by the oxygen of the Lower Bosphorus Current. A model simulating the vertical distribution of sulfide in the Black Sea water column shows net consumption in the upper layers down to ca. 500 m, essentially due to oxidation at the chemocline, and net production down to the bottom. On the basis of the calculated budget anoxic conditions in the Black Sea are sustained by the balance between sulfide production in the anoxic water column and oxidation at the chemocline. On average the residence time of sulfide in the anoxic zone is about 90–150 yr, comparable to the water exchange time between oxic and anoxic zones. Hydrophysical control on the sulfur cycle appears to be the main factor regulating the extent of anoxic conditions in the Black Sea water column, rather than rates of biogeochemical processes.     

Reconstruction of the postglacial environments in the southwestern Barents Sea based on foraminiferal assemblages

Environmental changes in the surface and bottom water layers of the Ingøydjupet Basin and the history of the Atlantic Water inflow to the southwestern Barents Sea during the last 16 ka are reconstructed based on planktic and benthic foraminiferal assemblages. The multiproxy study of sediment cores PSh-5159R and PSh-5159N, including AMS ¹⁴C dating, provides a time resolution of about 200 years for the deglaciation, 100 years for the Holocene, and 25–50 years for the last 400 years. Stable polar conditions with the sea ice at the surface were typical for the Early Deglaciation period. Unstable bottom settings and the onset of ice rafting marked the Oldest Dryas. The cold Atlantic Water inflow increased notably during the Bölling-Alleröd interstadial nearby the site location and then decreased during the Younger Dryas. The initial Holocene was characterized by abrupt warming in bottom and surface water layers, especially ～9.7–7.6 ka BP. Stable conditions prevailed during the Middle Holocene. Remarkable changes in the sea-surface temperature and bottom environments occurred during the last 2.5 cal. ka BP.     

Late quaternary paleoceanographic changes in the northeastern Ulleung Basin, East Sea, inferred from variations in biogenic components

Two piston cores (DD09-ST21, DD09-ST39B) from the northeastern Ulleung Basin in the East Sea were obtained to investigate variations in the biogenic components (calcium carbonate, organic carbon) and biogeochemical processes (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N). The two cores had distinctive characteristics in terms of surface production, preservation and dissolution capacity of carbonate, and redox conditions of bottom-water. Core DD09-ST21 was characterized by an oxygen-depleted condition from 15 ka (MIS 2) to 60 ka (MIS 3). Core DD09-ST39B, on the other hand, showed oxic bottom-water conditions, possibly due to shallow water depth. These two cores with different redox condition showed opposite trends in terms of CaCO₃, TOC, and C₃₇ alkenone concentrations. CaCO₃ and C₃₇ concentrations were higher during the LGM in DD09-ST21 while lower contents were observed in DD09-ST39B in the same period. Moreover, consistently low TOC in DD09-ST39B and higher fluctuation of organic matters in DD09-ST21 may suggest difference in primary productivity, preservation capacity, or a potential dissolution effect. During the Holocene, the surface productivity of both cores increased, probably due to renewed ventilation and vertical mixing in the East Sea. Therefore, this study suggests spatial variation in production and preservation of biogenic components in the two cores since last 50 ka for DD09-ST39B and 80 ka for DD09-ST21 due to difference in environmental conditions such as water depth, bottom-water conditions, surface productivity and preservation.     

The past, present and future of the East/Japan sea in change: a simple moving-boundary box model approach

The East/Japan Sea is a mid-latitude marginal sea that has undergone dramatic changes during the last 50–60 years. One of the most prominent characteristics of these changes is a rapid decrease in the amount of dissolved oxygen in deep waters. As a consequence of these changes, some investigators have even argued that the East/Japan Sea might become an anoxic sea in the next 200 years. While the causes of these changes are still under investigation, it has been shown that they are mainly due to modifications in the mode of the deep water ventilation system in the East/Japan Sea: a slowdown and complete cessation of bottom water formation accompanied by an enhancement of upper water formation instead. A simple moving-boundary box model (MBBM) was developed in order to analyze and quantify the processes involved in such changes over the last 50–60 years. Using a MBBM, we estimated the levels of several conservative chemical tracers (CFCs, Tritium, SF₆, ¹³⁷Cs) and bioactive tracers (oxygen and phosphate) in the deep water masses of the East/Japan Sea, comparing these with the historical data available, and making predictions for the near future. The model predicts that the East/Japan Sea should remain well-oxygenated, despite recent rapid oxygen decreases in its deep waters, accompanied by such structural changes as a shrinking of its oxygen-depleted deeper waters and an expansion of its oxygen-rich upper waters over the next few decades.     

Postglacial depositional environments and sedimentation rates in the Norwegian Channel off southern Norway

Based on seismic profiles, multibeam bathymetry and sediment cores, an improved understanding of the deglaciation/postglacial history of the southern part of the Norwegian Channel has been obtained. The Norwegian Channel Ice Stream started to recede from the shelf edge ca. 15.5 ka BP (¹⁴C ages are used throughout). Approximately 500–1000 years later the ice margin was located east of the deep Skagerrak trough. At that time, the Norwegian Channel off southern Norway had become a large fjord-like embayment, surrounded by the grounded ice sheet along the northern slope and possibly stagnant ice remnants at the southern flank. The Norwegian Channel off southern Norway has been the main sediment trap of the North Sea, and south of Egersund more than 200 m of sediments have been deposited since the start of the deglaciation. Five seismic units are mapped. The oldest unit E occurs in some of the deepest troughs, and was deposited immediately after the ice became buoyant. Unit D is acoustically massive and comprises mass-movement deposits in eastern Skagerrak and south of Egersund. Unit C (in the channel southwest of Lista/Egersund) is interpreted to comprise mainly bottom current deposits derived from palaeo-rivers, e.g. Elben. During deposition of unit C (ca. 14.5–13 ka BP), there was limited inflow of Atlantic water. A change in depositional environment at ca. 13 ka BP is related to an increased inflow of saline water and more open hydrographic circulation. Widely distributed, acoustically stratified clays of unit B were deposited ca. 13–10 ka BP. The Holocene Unit A shows a depositional pattern broadly similar to that of unit B.     

Methane in the East China Sea water

Methane in the East China Sea water was determined four times at a fixed vertical section along PN line consisting of 11–14 stations, in February 1993, October 1993, June 1994 and August 1994. The mean concentration of methane in the surface water was not significantly higher than that in the open ocean. The methane concentration below the pycnocline increased during the stratified period in summer to autumn and reached to 15 nmoles/l at most in October. The concentration of methane was fairly well correlated with AOU in the layer below the pycnocline in the stratified season. This means that methane in the bottom water has only a single source, which is expected to be anoxic sediments near the coast, and that the oxidation rate of methane in the water is extremely slow in the oxic water. The high methane observed in October completely disappeared in February, indicating that the methane was escaped to the atmosphere or transported to the pelagic ocean by the Kuroshio current. The East China Sea, therefore, is not a large direct and stationary source for the atmospheric methane, but may have some role as a source by supplying it sporadically to the atmosphere in early winter or indirectly from the surface of the pelagic ocean.     

Sea surface temperature variations in the southwestern South China Sea over the past 160 ka

Sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the southwestern South China Sea have been reconstructed for the past 160 ka using the Uk37 paleothermometer from the core MD01-2392. The temperature differences between glacial times (MISs 6 and 2) and interglacial times (MISs 5.5 and 1) are 2.2~2.5 ℃. Younger Dryas event during the last deglaciation was documented in both the planktonic foraminiferal δ18O and SST records. After MIS 5.5, SSTs displayed a progressive cooling from 28.6 to 24.5 ℃, culminating at the LGM. During this gradual cooling period, warm events such as MISs 5.3, 5.1 and 3 were also clearly documented. By comparison of SST between the study core and Core 17954, a pattern of low or no meridional SST gradients during the interglacial periods and high meridional SST gradients during the glacial periods was exhibited. This pattern indicates the much stronger East Asian winter monsoon at the glacial than at the interglacial periods. Spectral analysis gives two prominent cycles: 41 and 23 ka, with the former more pronounced, suggesting that SSTs in the southern SCS varied in concert with high-latitude processes through the connection of East Asian winter monsoon.     

Phosphorus regeneration and burial in near-shore marine sediments (the Gulf of Trieste, northern Adriatic Sea)

According to bioassay studies and high dissolved nutrient N/P ratios in the seawater column, phosphorus (P) is thought to control marine productivity in the northern Adriatic Sea. P in near-shore marine sediments of the Gulf of Trieste, the northernmost part of the Adriatic Sea, was investigated using pore water P distributions, and benthic P flux studies under oxic and anoxic conditions. The data show that P regeneration is up to three-fold more extensive in sediments overlain by oxygen-depleted waters and proceeds in parallel with Fe and Mn enhanced benthic fluxes. It appears from the incubation experiments that degradation of sedimentary organic matter is the main contribution to the flux of P at the sediment–water interface, while the release of phosphate adsorbed on the iron oxide surface is of minor importance.It appears that about 50% of P in the Gulf of Trieste is retained within in the sediments, probably bonded to clay minerals and carbonate grains or precipitated as fluoroapatite. In these sediments total P (P_tot) is preserved preferentially over organic C (C_org). P regenerated from surficial sediments contributes about 1/3 of the P that is assimilated by benthic microalgae. The phytoplankton P requirement should be entirely supplied from fresh-water sources. These results suggest that oxygen depletion in coastal areas caused by eutrophication enhances P regeneration from sediments, providing the additional P necessary for increased biological productivity. The development of anoxic bottom waters in coastal areas enhances the recycling of P, exacerbating the nutrient requirement in the area. A geochemical record of P burial in a longer sedimentary sequence revealed an increasing trend of P_tot and organic P (P_org) contents occurring approximately 50 years BP (after 1950), probably due to increasing use of inorganic fertilizers and detergents in the area.     

渤海地区全新世孢粉序列及古环境演化

通过对取自黄河口外泥质区的BH-264孔的沉积孢粉进行分析,对渤海地区全新世古植被和古环境演化历史进行了恢复。在早全新世(距今9.5~7.6 ka)渤海地区气候温暖湿润,在陆缘海滨地带出现大量沼泽湿地,上面生长着莎草和香蒲等植被,在周围的山地、丘陵和平原地区植被以松属和落叶栎属为主,并伴生着桦木属、榆科、桑科等树种;在中全新世(距今7.6~5.8 ka)温度的升高和海平面上升,使BH-264孔沉积孢粉中松属占主导地位,不利于远距离传播的草本植物花粉含量降为全新世最低值;在距今5.8 ka以后东亚夏季风减弱和降雨量减少导致渤海西部陆源海滨地带植被以旱生草本藜科、蒿属和菊属为主,黄河三角洲的形成缩短了研究区的离岸距离,使这些草本植物花粉易于传播到BH-264孔中沉积。     

南海东北部下陆坡20 ka以来稀土元素沉积地球化学特征变化及其对物源的指示

本文通过对南海东北部STD235沉积柱状样品稀土元素（REE）分布模式及特征参数的分析，结合主量元素分析结果，探讨了STD235柱状样沉积物REE指示的物质来源及其纵向变化与环境之间的关系。研究结果表明:20 ka以来STD235站位的沉积物具有基本相同的物质来源，以陆源物质输入为主。通过与周边河流沉积物的对比分析发现，STD235柱状样沉积物REE上地壳标准化的配分模式及其特征参数分布与台湾东南部河流沉积物具有密切的亲缘关系，表明该站位陆源物质主要来源于台湾东南部河流输入，进一步的分析表明台西南河流沉积物对该站位也有所贡献，沉积物的搬运过程主要受到了北太平洋深海流及黑潮的影响。沉积物中REE和主量元素的纵向变化指示20 ka以来南海东北部下陆坡的沉积物源区在冰期时风化作用较弱，间冰期则相对增强。该变化与沉积物源区的气候环境变化有关，指示了20 ka以来台湾地区气候由相对冷干向暖湿转变，由此推测20 ka以来台湾岛和华南地区应该受相同环境因素的制约，东亚季风系统是控制该区域环境变化的主因。此外，在约16~13 ka BP的末次冰消期期间，STD235柱状样沉积物中的各项指标都发生了显著的变化，并都指示了风化作用的逐渐增强，代表了该阶段沉积物源区逐渐向暖湿的气候环境转变。     

Evolution of the North Atlantic Current and Barents Ice Sheet as revealed by grain size populations in the northern Norwegian Sea during the last 60 ka

The grain size distribution of bulk sediment samples was decomposed in a core to reconstruct paleoceanographic evolution over the past 60 ka in the northern Norwegian Sea. The results show that sediments consisted of 3–4 grain populations derived from the North Atlantic Current (NAC) and Barents Ice Sheet (BIS). The grain size data suggest three palaeoceanographic evolution stages: (1) an environment affected by BIS and NAC and changed with the interstadial/stadial transition in phase with the Greenland ice-core record at 60–31 ka BP, during which discharge of icebergs and the content of the coarsest population containing ice-rafted debris (IRD) in the sediments increased significantly during stadial, while the fine silt population containing volcanic glasses increased with the enhancement of NAC during the interstadial; (2) an extreme environment controlled by BIS at 31–13 ka BP. BIS reached to its maximum at about 31 ka BP and the turbid plumes that formed at the leading edge of BIS contributed to a significant increase in the clayey population in sediments. Icebergs drained into the northern Norwegian Sea with periodical calving of the BIS at 31–19 ka BP. Subsequently, the ablation of the BIS discharged massive floods with clayey sediments and icebergs into the Norwegian Sea at 19–13 ka BP, resulting in a constant increase in clay and IRD in sediments; and (3) a marine environment similar to the present one under the strong influence of NAC following the complete melting of the BIS after 13 ka BP, NAC is the dominant transport agent and no IRD occurred in sediments. The fine silt populations containing volcanic glasses transported by NAC significantly increased.     

Sulfur and iron speciation in surface sediments along the northwestern margin of the Black Sea

The speciation of sedimentary sulfur (pyrite, acid volatile sulfides (AVS), S⁰, H₂S, and sulfate) was analyzed in surface sediments recovered at different water depths from the northwestern margin of the Black Sea. Additionally, dissolved and dithionite-extractable iron were quantified, and the sulfur isotope ratios in pyrite were measured. Sulfur and iron cycling in surface sediments of the northwestern part of the Black Sea is largely influenced by (1) organic matter supply to the sediment, (2) availability of reactive iron compounds and (3) oxygen concentrations in the bottom waters. Biologically active, accumulating sediments just in front of the river deltas were characterized by high AVS contents and a fast depletion of sulfate concentration with depth, most likely due to high sulfate reduction rates (SRR). The δ³⁴S values of pyrite in these sediments were relatively heavy (−8‰ to −21‰ vs. V-CDT). On the central shelf, where benthic mineralization rates are lower, re-oxidation processes may become more important and result in pyrite extremely depleted in δ³⁴S (−39‰ to −46‰ vs. V-CDT). A high variability in δ³⁴S values of pyrite in sediments from the shelf-edge (−6‰ to −46‰ vs. V-CDT) reflects characteristic fluctuations in the oxygen concentrations of bottom waters or varying sediment accumulation rates. During periods of oxic conditions or low sediment accumulation rates, re-oxidation processes became important resulting in low AVS concentrations and light δ³⁴S values. Anoxic conditions in the bottom waters overlying shelf-edge sediments or periods of high accumulation rates are reflected in enhanced AVS contents and heavier sulfur isotope values. The sulfur and iron contents and the light and uniform pyrite isotopic composition (−37‰ to −39‰ vs. V-CDT) of sediments in the permanently anoxic deep sea (1494 m water depth) reflect the formation of pyrite in the upper part of the sulfidic water column and the anoxic surface sediment. The present study demonstrates that pyrite, which is extremely depleted in ³⁴S, can be found in the Black Sea surface sediments that are positioned both above and below the chemocline, despite differences in biogeochemical and microbial controlling factors.