Sedimentary facies of the subaqueous Changjiang River delta since the late Pleistocene

The sedimentary facies of the subaqueous Changjiang(Yangtze) River delta since the late Pleistocene was studied based on lithology and foraminifera analysis for two boreholes,CJK07 and CJK11,along with14C dating.Four sedimentary facies were identified,namely fluvial,tidal flat,offshore,and prodelta facies.The fluvial sedimentary facies is comprised of fluvial channel lag deposits,fluvial point bar deposits,and floodplain deposits,showing a fining-upward sequence in general with no benthic foraminifera.A layer of stiff clay overlies the fluvial deposits in core CJK07,indicating a long-term exposure environment during the Last Glacial Maximum(LGM).During the postglacial sea-level rise around 13-7.5 cal ka BP,the tidal flat facies was deposited in core CJK11,characterized by abundant silt-clay couplets.Euryhaline species dominate the subtidal flat foraminiferal assemblages,while almost no foraminifera was found in the intertidal flat.The offshore environment was the major sedimentary environment when the sea level reached its highest level around 7.5 cal ka BP,with a maximum accumulation rate of 10 mm/a found in core CJK11.Prodelta sediments have been deposited in core CJK11 since ~3 cal ka BP,after the formation of the Changjiang River delta.The difference in sedimentary facies between core CJK07 and CJK11 is due to their location: core CJK07 was in an interfluve while core CJK11 was in an incised valley during the LGM.Furthermore,AMS14C dating of core CJK07 shows poor chronological order,indicating that the sediments were reworked by strong tidal currents and that sediment deposited since ~7.7 cal ka BP in core CJK07 was eroded away by modern hydrodynamic forces caused by the southward shift of the Changjiang River delta depocenter.     

Foraminiferal Changes and Response to the Channel Diversion and Discharge Fluctuation of the Yellow River in the North Yellow Sea During the Past Century

Diversion of the Yellow River is a unique geological event in offshore China, causing changes of the sedimentary environment in eastern China Seas. The last diversion took place in AD 1855, with the estuary diverted from the Yellow Sea into the Bohai Sea. The identification of the river diversion events in the shelf sediments would not only provide the definite ages for the sediments, but also give a clue for better understanding of the sedimentation in that area. In this study, 210 Pb, grain size, geochemical element, and foraminiferal data in core H205 from the north Yellow Sea were systematically investigated. A high-resolution sedimentary record was established, which was coupled with the Yellow River diversion and runoff changes. The results show that the foraminiferal composition and foraminiferal abundance of the sediments from the north Yellow Sea had good response to the Yellow River diversion in 1855. Before the change, shallow water assemblages dominated the foraminifera, and the abundance of each foraminiferal species was very low. After the diversion event, the abundance of most foraminifera increased sharply, with a maximum increase of 16 times, and the assemblage was still dominated by shallow water species. Furthermore, the changes in foraminiferal abundance in the core sediments corresponded well with the discharge fluctuation of the Yellow River since 1855. When the Yellow River began entering the Bohai Sea, the Yellow River water, which is rich in nutrients, along with the coastal currents affected the north Yellow Sea, increased the primary productivity in the north Yellow Sea, which is the main reason for the abrupt increase and fluctuation of foraminiferal abundance in this area. At the meantime, the East Asian winter monsoon could also promote the development of nearshore foraminiferal species by enhancing the coastal currents.     

Heavy mineral stratigraphy of sediments from the southern outer shelf of the East China Sea since the last glaciation using fuzzy C-means cluster method

Correspondence analysis and fuzzy C-means cluster methods were used to divide the stratigraphy of heavy mineral assemblages, and the sediment sources and depositional dynamics of the environment reconstructed. The assemblages were taken from marine sediments from the late Pleistocene to the Holocene in Core Q43 situated on the outer shelf of the East China Sea. Based on the variable boundaries of the mineral assemblage at 63 and 228 cmbsf (cm below sea floor), the core might have previously been divided into three sediment strata marked with units I, II and III, which would be consistent with the divided sediment stratum of the core using minor element geochemistry. The downcore distribution of heavy minerals divided the sedimentary sequence into three major units, which were further subdivided into four subunits. The interval between 0 and 63 cmbsf of the core (unit I), which spans the Holocene and the uppermost late Pleistocene, is characterized by a hornblende-epidote-pyroxene assemblage, and contains relatively a smaller amount of schistic mineral and authigenic pyrite. In comparison, the interval between 63 and 228 cmbsf (unit II), is representative of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), and features a hornblende-epidote-magnetite-ilmenite assemblage containing the highest concentrations of heavy minerals and opaque minerals. However, the interval between 228 and 309 cmbsf (unit III), which spans the subinterglacial period, is characterized by a hornblende-authigenic-pyrite-mica assemblage. Relative ratios of some heavy minerals can be used as tracers of clastic sediment sources. The lower part of the sediment core shows the highest magnetite/ilmenite ratio and relatively high hornblende/augite and hornblende/epidote ratios. The middle core shows the highest hornblende/augite and hornblende/epidote ratios, and the lowest magnetite/ilmenite ratio. The upper part exhibits a slightly higher magnetite/ilmenite ratio, and also the lowest hornblende/augite and hornblende/epidote ratios. The distribution of the mineral ratio is consistent with stratigraphic division in heavy mineral data using correspondence analysis and fuzzy C-means clustering. Variations in heavy mineral association and mineral ratio in core Q43 revealed changes in provenance and depositional environment of the southern outer shelf of the East China Sea since the late Pleistocene, well corresponding to interglacial and glacial cycles.     

Heavy mineral stratigraphy of sediments from the southern outer shelf of the East China Sea since the last glaciation using fuzzy C-means cluster method

Correspondence analysis and fuzzy C-means cluster methods were used to divide the stratigraphy of heavy mineral assemblages,and the sediment sources and depositional dynamics of the environment reconstructed.The assemblages were taken from marine sediments from the late Pleistocene to the Holocene in Core Q43 situated on the outer shelf of the East China Sea.Based on the variable boundaries of the mineral assemblage at 63 and 228 cmbsf (cm below sea floor),the core might have previously been divided into th...     

冰后期长江河口段古河谷地层层序特征

末次盛冰期,由于基面大幅度下降,长江河口段形成了深切古河谷。河流携带的部分粗砂砾在河床上形成滞留沉积。冰后期海平面上升引发的海侵造成了长江古河谷的充填和河床相、河漫滩河口湾相和部分河口湾浅海相的形成。尔后的进积产生了部分河口湾浅海相及三角洲相。根据钻孔资料绘制的古河谷地质剖面图显示,冰后期海侵旋回出现在三角洲顶点到现在河口口门地区,溯河而上受海洋影响的程度逐渐减弱。古河谷的中部,靠近主泓线附近,沉积层序完整。古河谷的边缘地带,往往缺失底部的河床相砂砾层。底部的厚层河床相砂砾层是由河床滞留沉积和溯源加积堆积形成的,在古河谷沉积层序中存在着多种沉积间断。     

DISTRIBUTION AND ORIGIN OF SEDIMENTS ON THE NORTHERN SUNDA SHELF, SOUTH CHINA SEA

ＩＮＴＲＯＤＵＣＴＩＯＮＯｎｅｏｆｔｈｅｍｏｓｔｅｘｔｅｎｓｉｖｅｓｈｅｌｖｅｓｏｆｔｈｅｗｏｒｌｄｌｙｉｎｇｗｉｔｈｉｎｔｈｅｓｏｕｔｈｅｒｎｐａｒｔｏｆｔｈｅＳｏｕｔｈＣｈｉｎａＳｅａｉｓｔｈｅ1850000ｋｍ2ＳｕｎｄａＳｈｅｌｆｌｏｃａｔｅｄｂｅｔｗｅｅｎｔｈｅｔｈｒｅｅｌａｒｇｅｉｓｌａｎｄｓｏｆＳｕｍａｔｒａ,Ｂｏｒｎｅｏ,ＪａｖａａｎｄｍａｉｎｌａｎｄＡｓｉａ(ＬａＦｏｎｄ,1966).ＴｈｅｎｏｒｔｈｅｒｎｐａｒｔｏｆｔｈｅＳｕｎｄａＳｈｅｌｆｉｓｓｅｐａｒａｔｅｄｆｒｏｍｔｈｅＪａｖａＳｅａｓ…     

Three Gorges Dam controls sediment coarsening of the mud patch on the inner East China Sea shelf

The well-known Three Gorges Dam(TGD) within the Yangtze catchment launched its operation in 2003. The effect of the TGD operation on the sediment size on the East China Sea shelf is rarely known. High resolution(0.5 cm sampling) grain size analysis and 137 Cs and 210 Pb dating of the DH8-1 core were conducted with core collected from the distal part of a main sink for the modern Yangtze sediment entering the sea, the Min-Zhe Coastal Mud Deposits(MZCMD) on the inner East China Sea shelf. The 137 Cs dating results show that the core DH8-1 formed during 1946–2012 with a mean deposition rate of 0.65 cm yr~(-1), indicating that the 0.5 cm sampling for grain size analysis in this local area could reflect environmental changes generally on a one-year time scale. The mean grain size of DH8-1 core sediment that deposited after 2003 is significantly larger than that deposited during 1988–2002. After ruling out other possible factors, we infer that the sediment coarsening of DH8-1 core after 2003 is attributed to the TGD operation which causes the erosion of the Yangtze subaqueous delta. Specifically, the TGD operation significantly intensifies the declining trend of the Yangtze sediment loads to the sea despite no decreased water discharge, which results in extensive erosion of the Yangtze subaqueous delta. The relatively coarse sediment of the subaqueous delta is eroded and resuspended by ocean dynamics and then transported by coastal current, finally depositing on the MZCMD area. In addition, the general sediment fining of core DH8-1 that deposited during 1988–2002, comparing with 1946–1987, is mainly caused by dam construction and soil and water conservation within the Yangtze catchment. Our findings are helpful for better understanding the effects of such a huge dam as the TGD on a sediment sink like the MZCMD of such a large river as the Yangtze River.     

柴北缘冷湖地区古近系路乐河组成岩作用及有利成岩相研究

通过钻井岩心、铸体薄片、扫描电镜及测录井资料,对柴达木盆地北缘冷湖地区古近系路乐河组的成岩作用特征、成岩相类型及其有利成岩相进行了系统研究。结果表明:研究区储层成分成熟度和结构成熟度均较低,成岩作用类型复杂多样,主要发育压实作用、胶结作用、交代作用和溶蚀作用,成岩演化主体进入中成岩阶段B期。综合考虑各种成岩现象及特征、孔隙类型及沉积微相特征,将研究区储层成岩相划分为强压实致密成岩相、碳酸盐胶结成岩相、绿泥石薄膜胶结-粒间孔成岩相、不稳定组分溶蚀-次生孔成岩相4类。优质储集层的分布与成岩相类型关系密切,压实致密成岩相和碳酸盐胶结成岩相的储层物性普遍较差,多为致密储层,集中分布于扇三角洲平原河道翼、扇三角洲水下分流河道边部,而主要发育于扇三角洲前缘水下分流河道、河口坝中上部较厚砂体中的绿泥石薄膜胶结-粒间孔成岩相和不稳定组分溶蚀-次生孔成岩相的原生孔隙或次生孔隙发育,储层物性较好,利于油气富集,为研究区储层的有利成岩相。      

沾化-车镇地区古近纪东营组沉积相特征及沉积演化

综合钻井、测井和古生物等资料,依据沉积学基本原理和方法,对济阳坳陷沾车地区古近纪东营组沉积相特征及空间展布进行研究。结果表明:沾车地区东营组发育冲积扇相、曲流河相、三角洲相、扇三角洲相、辫状河三角洲相、湖泊相、滩坝和湖底扇8种沉积相,以湖泊相为主。东营组三段盆地持续下陷,深湖相、滨-浅湖相发育,沉积范围广。东营组二段湖盆重新开始抬升,湖水收缩,沉积范围缩小,沉积相以滨浅湖相为主,伴有小规模的扇三角洲及滩坝沉积。东营组一段湖盆继续抬升,沉积范围进一步缩小,主要为冲积扇-河流沉积,凸起边缘发育一系列的冲积扇。     

黔北镇远地区三丘田剖面寒武系明心寺组上段滨岸相沉积特征及其地质意义

沉积环境分析是古地理重建的核心内容,黔北地区寒武系明心寺组沉积环境研究存在较大争议,以致对中上扬子地区明心寺组沉积期古地理格局的认识不能统一。选取寒武系明心寺组发育齐全、出露良好的黔北镇远地区三丘田剖面为研究对象,通过野外剖面观察、室内薄片鉴定及碎屑岩粒度分析等方法对三丘田剖面明心寺组岩石学特征、沉积构造、沉积演化序列、沉积相类型进行了详细分析。结果表明:黔北镇远地区三丘田剖面寒武系明心寺组上段发育大套的石英粉-细砂岩,沉积构造以低角度冲洗交错层理为主,碎屑颗粒的成分和结构成熟度均较高;三丘田剖面明心寺组上段砂岩以双次跳跃组分为主,悬浮组分含量较少,纵向剖面自下而上显示为浅水陆棚→临滨→前滨→后滨演化序列,呈典型的陆棚相向滨岸相变化。综上所述,黔北镇远地区三丘田剖面寒武系明心寺组上段的沉积相为滨岸相。黔北镇远地区明心寺组滨岸相沉积的出现,指示了黔北地区区域上重新认识明心寺组沉积相的必要性,将直接影响对黔北地区乃至中上扬子地区寒武纪古地理格局及其大地构造背景的认识。     

Change in Sediment Provenance Near the Current Estuary of Yellow River Since the Holocene Transgression

Sedimentary sequence and sediment provenance are important factors when it comes to the studies on marine sedimentation. This paper studies grain size distribution, lithological characteristics, major and rare earth elemental compositions, micropaleontological features and ~(14)C ages in order to examine sedimentary sequence and sediment provenance of the core BH6 drilled at the mouth of the Yellow River in Bohai Sea. According to the grain size and the micropaleontological compositions, 4 sedimentary units have been identified. Unit 1(0–8.08 mbsf) is of the delta sedimentary facies, Unit 2(8.08–12.08 mbsf) is of the neritic shelf facies, Unit 3(12.08–23.85 mbsf) is of near-estuary beach-tidal facies, and Unit 4(23.85 mbsf–) is of the continental lake facies. The deposits from Unit 1 to Unit 3 have been found to be marine strata formed after the Holocene transgression at about 10 ka BP, while Unit 4 is continental lacustrine deposit formed before 10 ka BP. The provenances of core BH6 sediments show properties of the continental crust and vary in different sedimentary periods. For Unit 4 sediments, the source regions are dispersed while the main provenance is not clear, although the parent rock characteristics of a few samples are similar to the Luanhe River sediments. For Unit 3, sediments at 21.1–23.85 mbsf have been mainly transported from the Liaohe River, while sediments above 21.1 mbsf are mainly from the Yellow River and partially from the Liaohe River. For Unit 2, the sediments have been mainly transported from the Yellow River, with a small amount from other rivers. For Unit 1, the provenance is mainly the Yellow River catchment. These results help in better understanding the evolution of the Yellow River Delta.     

远源细粒辫状河心滩坝演化与河流分叉的交互沉积过程:现代沉积启示与数值模拟分析

远源细粒辫状河广泛发育于河流的中下游，其形成的致密储层是深入挖潜油气面临的挑战。结合现代远源细粒辫状河演变的遥感记录影像，运用基于泥沙水动力学的沉积过程数值模拟软件Delft3D正演远源细粒辫状河的生长演化过程，并探讨物源供给对远源细粒辫状河形态的影响，深入剖析和解释远源细粒辫状河心滩坝演化与河流分叉的交互作用和沉积过程，并进行了现代沉积验证。研究表明:①河道沿下游方向由窄变宽是触发远源细粒辫状河形成的主要地形条件。河流流速和河岸牢固程度是决定河流宽度的重要因素。②远源细粒辫状河心滩坝演化与河流分叉的交互沉积过程是心滩坝泥沙与河流流水交互作用的沉积演化过程。心滩坝泥沙与河流流水交互作用具体包括泥沙在河流中的沉积作用和河流对泥沙的侵蚀作用。③远源细粒辫状河心滩坝演化与河流分叉的交互沉积过程包括3种:河道内心滩坝加积导致河流分叉、心滩坝与河岸分离导致河流分叉、心滩坝的局部冲裂分解导致河流分叉。该研究丰富了远源细粒辫状河沉积理论，并且有助于分析远源细粒辫状河沉积相的储层空间展布规律并应用于油气的深入勘探开发。      

松辽盆地东南缘西丁家地区营城组沉积相分析

松辽盆地东南缘深层沉积相研究程度较浅,以西丁家地区营城组为例,利用岩心观察描述结果,结合测井、地震资料,以及区域构造演化和沉积相分析结果,研究松辽盆地东南缘深层地层沉积相.结果表明:营城组(K1y)主要发育扇三角洲、辫状河三角洲、湖底扇和湖泊4种相类型,其中辫状河三角洲相和湖泊相最为发育;西丁家地区营城组主要表现为"广盆浅水"沉积特征,西南陡坡带发育扇三角洲沉积体系,北部斜坡带发育辫状河三角洲沉积体系,垂向上地层叠加样式表现为由进积向加积演变.该研究结论对西丁家地区深层地层下一步勘探开发及资源评价具有指导意义.     

Paleoproductivity evolution in the West Philippine Sea during the last 700 ka

In order to reconstruct the paleoproductivity evolution history of the West Philippine Sea during the last 700 ka,the vertical gradient of δ 13 C in dissolved inorganic carbon(δ 13 C between those of foraminifera Pulleniatina obliquiloculata and Cibicidoides wuellerstorfi) and planktonic foraminiferal assemblages were analysed in piston Core MD06-3047 retrieved from the Benham Rise(east of the Luzon Island).Paleoproductivity evolution in the West Philippine Sea during the last 700 ka is closely related to glacial-interglacial cycles and precession-controlled insolation.Controlling factors of paleoproductivity could have been both thermocline fluctuations related with ENSO-like processes and eolian input associated with East Asian winter monsoon,and the former could have been the primary factor.A higher productivity and a shallower thermocline coeval with the occurrence of low CO 2 concentrations in the EPICA Dome C ice core might indicate that biological export production in the low-latitude could act as a significant sink in the global carbon cycle,and modify atmospheric CO 2 concentrations.Spectral analysis further reveals that the paleoproductivity is mainly controlled by thermocline fluctuations subjected to ENSO processes responding to processional variability of insolation.High coherences in eccentricity,obliquity and precession periods further revealing the close link between thermocline fluctuations,paleoproductivity and atmospheric CO 2 levels.     

An assessment of variations in mercury deposition to Antarctica over the past 34,000 years

We performed a comparison analysis of the variations .in Mercury ( Hg) concentrations and the precipitation proxies ( e. g. , 18 O values and 10 Be concentrations) in the Dome C ice core. The results showed that there were significant correlations between Hg and δ 10O values, 10Be concentrations, indicating that the accumulation rate in Dome C is one of the key factors controlling the variations of Hg concentrations in the past 34 ,000 years, and implying that Hg concentrations in ice core can be used as another reliable proxy of precipitation rate in Antarctica. Based upon the high-resolution δ 18O values, we estimated the variations in mercury deposition flux to Antarctica over the past 34,000 years. The highest mercury deposition flux is about 3. 80 pg cm-2 yr-1 during the Last Glacial Maxium (LGM) as high as 3. 5 times of the mercury deposition flux ( about 1. 08 pg cm -2 yr -1) in Holocene due to the fluctuations in natural mercury emissions such as the oceanic biological emissions.     

毛塞几比盆地外陆架-陆坡区阿尔比阶-土伦阶沉积特征及成藏体系

近几年来,多个大型油气发现使得毛塞几比盆地成为国际油气勘探的热点区域。基于地震资料和钻测井资料系统开展了沉积相以及沉积模式研究、储层物性分析、烃源岩评价以及成藏体系分析工作。研究结果表明:①盆地中南部外陆架广泛发育多期强制海退三角洲沉积体系,受基准面旋回控制,强制海退三角洲顶积层遭受剥蚀,砂体被搬运到三角洲前部,形成强制海退砂,砂体在陆架边缘附近广泛分布;陆坡类型控制了深水扇差异分布模式,南部断控型陆坡控制了深水扇的分布,深水扇主体发育在陆坡坡脚,距离陆架边缘较近,北部平缓型陆坡下重力流搬运较远,深水扇主体远离陆架边缘,据此建立了南部断控型陆坡控砂模式和北部缓坡型陆坡富砂模式。②外陆架强制海退三角洲和北部缓坡型深水扇储层条件好,测试产能高,受胶结作用和滑塌碎屑影响,南部陡坡型深水扇储层物性差。③油源对比表明,油气主要来自下白垩统阿普第阶-阿尔比阶与上白垩统赛诺曼阶-土伦阶海相烃源岩,阿普第阶-阿尔比阶烃源岩以Ⅱ₂型干酪根为主,主要生气;赛诺曼阶-土伦阶海相烃源岩以Ⅰ型干酪根为主,主要生油。④研究区发育3套有利成藏体系,分别为阿尔比阶陆架边缘成藏体系、阿尔比阶-土伦阶陆坡坡脚成藏体系以及赛诺曼阶陆坡远端成藏体系,其中陆架边缘成藏体系与陆坡远端成藏体系勘探潜力更大,是下一步勘探的重点。      

Microbiostratigraphy and depositional environment of Eocene Shahbazan deposits at Chenareh section,southwest of Iran

The Shahbazan Formation was deposited in the foreland basin in southwestern Iran( Lorestan Basin). In this research,microbiostratigraphy and depositional environmental implications related to the Shahbazan Formation at the northern flank of Chenaerh anticline are discussed. Carbonate sequences of the Shahbazan Formation consist mainly of large benthic foraminifera along with other skeletal and non-skeletal components.Two biozones have been recognized by distribution of large foraminifera in the studied area that indicate middle Eocene age( Lutetian). Based on analysis of large benthic foraminiferal assemblages and microfacies features,7 different microfacies have been recognized,which can be grouped into three depositional environments: inner,middle and outer ramps.     

Dynamics of loose granular flow and its subsequent deposition in a narrow mountainous river

A large amount of loose debris materials were deposited on the slope of mountainous areas after the 2008 Ms 8.0 Wenchuan earthquake. During and after the earthquake, these loose debris deposits collapsed and slide into valleys or rivers, changing river sediment supply condition and channel morphology. To investigate the mechanisms of granular flow and deposition, the dynamics of slope failure and sediment transportation in typical mountainous rivers of different intersection angles were analyzed with a coupling model of Computational Fluid Dynamics and Discrete Element Method(CFD-DEM). The numerical results show that the change of intersection angle between the granular flow flume and the river channel can affect the deposit geometry and the fluid flow field significantly. As the intersection angle increases, the granular velocity perpendicular to the river channel increases, while the granular velocity parallel to the river channel decreases gradually. Compared to the test of dry granular flow, the CFD-DEM coupling tests show much higher granular velocity and larger volume of sediments entrained in the river. Due to the river flow, particles located at the edge of the deposition will move downstream gradually and the main section of sediments deposition moves from the center to the edge of the river channel. As a result, sediment supply in the downstream river will distribute unevenly. Under the erosion of fluid flow, the proportion of fine particles increases, while the proportion of coarse particles decreases gradually in the sediment deposition. The build-up of accumulated sediment mass will cause a significant increase in water level in the river channel, thus creating serious flooding hazard in mountainous rivers.     

Response of the distributary channel of the Huanghe River estuary to water and sediment discharge regulation in 2007

The water and sediment discharge regulation (WSDR) project, which has been performed since 2002 before flood season every year, is of great significance to the river management in China. Until 2007, six experiments have been fulfilled to evaluate the effect of the project on the natural environment. To fill the gap of investigations, a study on flood and suspended sediment transportation and channel changing along the distributary channel of the Huanghe (Yellow) River was conducted during the WSDR project period in 2007. The lower channel was scoured rapidly and the channel became unobstructed gradually several days after the flood peak water was discharged from the Xiaolangdi Reservoir. Within four days after the flood peak at 3 000 m³/s entered the distributary, the channel in the river mouth area was eroded quickly. Both the mean values of area and depth of the main channel were tripled, and the maximum flood carrying capacity increased to 5 500 m³/s or more. Then, the river channel was silted anew in a very short time after completion of the WSDR. Favored by the WSDR project, the river status in April 2008 became better than that of the year before. The adjustment ranges of main channel parameters were about 30%, 10%, and 10% at sections C2, Q4, and Q7, respectively. The process of rapid erosion-deposition was more active 15 km away in the channel from the river mouth due to the marine influence. It is reasonable for discharging sediment at concentration peak from Xiaolangdi Reservoir at the end of the flood peak. As a result, the sediment peak reached the river mouth about two days later than that of the water current. In addition, the WSDR project has improved the development of the estuarine wetland. Wetland vegetation planted along the river banks restrained the water flow as a strainer and improved the main channel stability. It is suggested to draw water at mean rate of 150 m³/s from the Huanghe River during flood periods, because at the rate the water in the wetland would be stored and replenished in balance. Moreover, we believe that cropland on the river shoal of the lower Huanghe River should be replaced by wetland. These activities should achieve the Huanghe River management strategy of “To concentrate flow to scour sediment, stabilize the main channel, and regulate water and sediment”.     

Stratigraphy of late Quaternary deposits in the mid-western North Yellow Sea

The North Yellow Sea(NYS) is characterized by strong land-sea interaction and paleoenvironmental changes with sea-level fluctuations during the late Quaternary. However, large-time scale depositional stratigraphy in this area and its relationship with sea-level changes remain unresolved. Highresolution seismic profiles from NYS were subdivided into eleven seismic units(U1 to U11 in descending order). A 70.6-m-long borehole(DLC70-2) from localities on seismic profiles, analyzed for lithology, microfossil assemblages and geochronology, comprises eleven sedimentary units(D1 to D11 in descending order), which were clearly correlated with the eleven seismic units. These units constitute four distinctive sequences(SQ1 to SQ4 from top to bottom) bounded by three sequence boundaries(S3, S5 and S10) with obvious depositional hiatus, correlated with sea-level lowstands of MIS2, MIS4 and MIS6, respectively. The lowermost SQ4 below S10, has been identified only upper part of transgressive systems tract(TST)(D11, tidal flat facies in early MIS6). SQ3 overlying S10 consists of a set of lowstand systems tracts(LST)(D10, fluvial to incised-channel filling facies in late MIS6), TST and highstand systems tracts(HST)(D9 to D6, interactive deposits of neritic and littoral facies in MIS5 and early MIS4). SQ2 above S5 is composed of LST(D5, channel-filling facies in late MIS4) and TST(D4, littoral to estuary facies in early-middle MIS3), but lack of HST resulting from subaerial exposure and channel incising during the Last Glacial Maximum(LGM). The uppermost SQ1 overlying S3 comprises LST(D3, channel-filling to flooding plain or marsh facies in MIS2), Holocene TST(D2, littoral and tidal sand ridge facies) and HST(D1, neritic facies). The unusual depositional stratigraphy was largely dominated by sea-level fluctuations and the Bohai Strait topography. This study confirms that TSTs are relative continuous and widely distributed, while LSTs vary considerably in thickness and lateral extent since MIS6 in NYS.