南海西北次海盆地壳结构：海底广角地震实验结果

利用完整穿越南海西北次海盆及其两侧大陆边缘的海底广角反射/折射地震测线,反演了该地区的地壳结构.该测线总长484km,共投放海底地震仪（OBS）14台,台站间距30km,组合枪阵激发总容量5160in3（1in3=16.3871cm3）.结合同测线多道地震资料,通过OBS数据的精细处理和初始建模,利用射线追踪正反演技术,获得了西北次海盆地壳速度结构模型.结果表明,地壳厚度从上陆坡的21km减薄至下陆坡的14km,在西北次海盆为7.7km;莫霍面埋深从上陆坡的21km上升到海盆中央的11km.西北次海盆和东部次海盆的地壳速度结构相似,都为大洋地壳,但不同的是层1（沉积层）增厚,层2减薄,该特点在东部次海盆尤其明显.西北次海盆及其两侧边缘构造形态和速度结构对称分布,存在共轭关系,其陆缘张裂机制属纯剪切模式.模型中的西北次海盆北侧陆缘下地壳没有发现高速层,这为南海北部陆缘西部非火山型地壳性质提供了新的证据.西北次海盆海底扩张规模小、时间短,且层2可能经历了玄武岩岩浆的不对称溢流,这可能导致西北次海盆磁条带异常的模糊化.     

海底地震仪远震记录接收函数反演——以南海西南次海盆为例

由于海底环境和海底地震仪(OBS)结构的特殊性,用OBS远震记录进行接收函数岩石圈反演研究因为存在一定的困难,所以还很少见.在深入分析问题的基础上,以国产I-4C型宽频带OBS在南海西南次海盆记录的天然地震为实例,我们将傅里叶变换和小波变换相结合以压制海底地震仪记录中的非平稳干扰,获得了信噪比较高、震相清晰的地震记录,进而成功开展了远震记录的岩石圈结构接收函数反演.主要结论是:(1)OBS接收函数的求取是可行的,关键是压制非平稳干扰.(2)西南次海盆的Moho面埋深为海底下10~12km(地壳厚6~8km),沉积物厚度为1~2km,浅部地壳存在低速区,与沉积物和海底扩张停止后的岩浆喷发产生的岩石碎屑和裂隙有关.(3)在扩张脊中央Moho面上方6~12km存在S波低速区,推测扩张中心可能存在下地壳熔融或岩浆房,在17~30km区间S波速度呈负梯度,我们认为扩张中心更深的地方存在热物质的供给.     

南海中部地球物理特征与地壳结构

自20世纪50年代以来,南海地区的地质构造一直为地学界所关注.本文根据南海的地球物理场特征,讨论了南海中部的基底岩相类型,并将它划分为5个基底岩相区.在中央海盆,分析了高精度磁测异常和卫星测高重力资料,并使用海底扩张磁条带异常相关分析方法,鉴别出扩张脊、转换断层和各磁条带地层的年代,揭示出许多有意义的而过去显示不清楚的特征.进一步提取深部地球物理信息,包括磁性、密度、层速,以及一些界面的深度值,如基底面深度、居里面深度、莫霍面深度等,综合分析并探讨了南海中部的地壳深部地质.认为南海经历了长期地质演变形成了过渡性地壳结构.     

南海新生代海底扩张的构造演化模式:来自高分辨率地球物理数据的新认识

根据高分辨率重、磁测网数据的分析,结合多波束海底地貌的构造解释,南海海盆新生代经历了两期不同动力特征的海底扩张,25 Ma的沉积-构造事件是其重要分界.早期扩张从约33.5 Ma开始至25 Ma停止,在东部海盆南、北两侧和西北海盆形成了具有近E-W向或NEE向磁条带的老洋壳,是近NNW-SSE向扩张的产物;晚期扩张从2...     

穿越南沙礼乐滩的海底地震仪广角地震试验

本文对穿越礼乐滩东北部向西北方向延伸进入中央海盆长369 km的广角地震剖面OBS973-2进行了反演研究,以期了解南海南部陆缘的地壳结构,同时探讨南、北陆缘的共轭问题.结果表明OBS973-2剖面的速度模型中三个沉积层的速度分别为1.8～2.0 km/s、2.0～2.7 km/s和3.5～4.0 km/s;沿剖面沉积...     

南海海盆三维重力约束反演莫霍面深度及其特征

利用南海海盆及周边最新的重力,经过海底地形、沉积层的重力效应改正,并采用岩石圈减薄模型的温度场公式,校正了从张裂边缘到扩张海盆的热扰动重力效应.通过研究区的地震剖面和少量声呐数据得到的莫霍面深度点作为约束,采用基于"起伏界面初始模型"的深度修正量反演迭代公式,反演、计算了研究区的莫霍面深度及地壳厚度.结果表明,海盆区莫霍面深度在8~14 km之间,地壳厚度在3~9 km之间;东部海盆和西南海盆残留扩张中心沿NNE向展布向西南延伸至112°E,莫霍面深度超过12 km,地壳厚度在6 km以上,而西北海盆没有明显的增厚扩张中心;在西南海盆北缘的中沙地块南侧,存在一个近EW向地壳减薄带,地壳厚度在9~10 km;莫霍面深度14 km的等深线和地壳厚度9 km的等值线可指示洋陆边界位置.     

南海西北次海盆深部热岩石圈结构及其对浅部构造演化的控制

西北次海盆是南海扩张早期形成的一个特殊的构造单元,其周边被西沙海槽、中沙海台、珠江海谷等裂谷和地块所围限,演化出一系列海山和断裂带等复杂地质构造,其深部构造伸展和岩浆活动均与岩石圈结构及其变形密切相关,但目前对其深部岩石圈结构的了解还较少.文章通过收集西北次海盆及其周边地区的声纳浮标、双船扩展剖面(ESP)、海底地震仪(OBS)、多波束和海陆联测等地震调查数据,详细获得其水深、基底、莫霍面的深度数据.根据热重力均衡方法精细计算得到南海西北次海盆及其周边地区的岩石圈基底埋深,结果表明其深度范围在25～110km之间,在海盆区最浅埋深为25～60km,陆缘增加至60～110km.其中,西沙海槽的南、北两侧的岩石圈结构明显对称,展现出具有夭折裂谷特点的岩石圈深部结构和热状态.中沙海槽和中沙海台的岩石圈基底埋深从60km向西南方向增加到70km,与地表形态一致.珠江海谷西侧岩石圈基底埋深在60～80km,该区岩石圈厚度的减薄与断层、凹陷的分布和岩浆活动有关.西北次海盆和东部次海盆岩石圈基底埋深均小于60km,最薄小于46km.结合大洋钻探、地震探测和浅部地形表明,南海西北次海盆的成熟洋盆范围位于岩石圈基底埋深在46km等深线以内的区域,海盆周围的裂谷和离散地块的演化过程,同时受到浅部构造运动和深部热物质活动的控制,其岩石圈结构表现出强烈不均一性.     

南海地区地震背景噪声成像与壳幔深部结构

利用南海地区28个陆地地震台站和2个布设于太平岛和东沙岛的新增海岛地震台站2011—2016年间的连续地震背景噪声波形数据,使用互相关方法计算得到了台站间的互相关函数,并提取出Rayleigh面波群速度和相速度频散曲线.采用快速行进和子空间方法反演获得了南海及周边地区12～40s周期的Rayleigh面波群速度和相速度图像,并联合反演得到了研究区深至60km的三维S波速度结构.考虑到南海数千米厚海水层对于面波频散反演的严重影响,本文在反演模型中加入了水层,显著提高了反演结果的可靠性.成像结果表明:南海及周边地区地壳上地幔顶部S波速度结构存在显著的横向不均匀性,并与这一区域的主要构造单元具有较好的空间对应关系.在5～10km深度,莺歌海—宋红盆地区的低速异常特征可能与盆地较厚的沉积层有关.在5～15km深度,海域高速异常区与海盆空间位置具有高度一致性,推测与海盆区地壳厚度相对陆缘区明显偏薄有关.当深度从20km增加至30km,海盆区的高速特征扩展至了陆缘地区,反映了地壳厚度从海盆至陆缘逐渐增厚的趋势,与OBS(海底地震仪)深地震剖面给出的地壳精细结构结果一致.至35～60km深度,海盆的高速异常特征依然明显,且速度值随深度增加整体呈现上升的趋势,推测南海海盆区的岩石圈厚度应该大于60km.     

由高密度磁异常测量数据分析南海海盆的扩张年龄与扩张模式

南海是西太平洋最大的边缘海,地处欧亚板块、太平洋板块和印度洋板块的交汇处.过去通过磁异常条带对比分析南海扩张年龄的研究很多,但是所依赖的资料有限.本文对南海海盆高密度大批量磁异常测量数据进行了系统分析,实现了平面2D磁异常数据的带通滤波处理,消除了短波长噪音和由深部下地壳和上地幔顶部磁源体引起的长波长背景信息,因此突出了海底扩张所引起的磁异常条带.利用CK95地磁倒转模型和Talwani磁异常正演方法,对南海东部和西南次海盆内的重点磁异常测线进行了正演分析.通过对不同测线之间、不同海盆之间以及同一条测线中的正演磁异常与实测磁异常之间进行对比分析,进一步验证了南海东部次海盆的扩张年龄为32～16.5 Ma;西南次海盆可能的扩张年龄仍具有较大不确定性,可能为42～33 Ma或者24～16 Ma.不同的时间模型所依赖的扩张速率的变化情况不同,全扩张速率随时间变化明显,但主要在40～80 km/Ma之间.单纯根据目前的磁异常资料很难确定西南次海盆与东部次海盆之间的扩张次序.单期次扩张模式很难解释中南断裂两侧的构造物理差异,这种差异可能主要受控于其基底岩石成分、岩石磁化率、岩浆活动、扩张速率以及深部物质冷却磁化的影响,基底深度的变化也对观测磁异常的强度有所影响.相对地,大部分扩张后玄武岩海山的存在对观测的磁异常的影响不明显,针对目前磁异常解释中不可避免的多解性问题,需要运用其他不同的手段和方法,譬如大洋钻探和深拖高分辨率磁异常测量等,来实现对南海不同次海盆扩张年龄的精确估计.我们目前的工作是通向对深拖高分辨率磁异常、船测和航测磁异常、以及卫星磁异常综合解释的第一步.     

西沙地块地壳结构及其构造属性

西沙地块作为在南海形成演化过程中形成的微陆块,记录了南海演化历史的重要信息,其地壳结构、物质组成及构造属性是探讨南海形成演化的关键.基于采集到的OBS2013-3测线海底地震仪数据,用射线追踪和正演走时拟合方法,获得了西沙地块的二维纵波速度模型.模型显示沉积层速度为2.2~3.2km·s-1,厚度为0.8~3.0km,局部基底面起伏较大,上地壳顶部速度为5.0~5.5km·s-1,下地壳底部速度为6.9km·s-1,上地幔顶部速度为8.0km·s-1.西沙地块的地壳厚度平均为23km,上地壳厚度约为9km,下地壳厚度约为14km,莫霍面埋深为23~27km.从穿过西沙地块的纵、横两条大剖面推算,块体大小约为9.2×105 km3,与华南陆缘相比,表现为整体减薄的陆壳特征.西沙地块与南沙地块垂直于西南次海盆扩张脊分布,根据二者地壳结构的特征对比,二者互为共轭关系.     

Morpho-tectonic study on late-stage spreading of the Eastern Subbasin of South China Sea

Three NE-trending linear structural zones with different strikes are present in the Eastern Subbasin of the South China Sea. They are distributed in the 350-km-wide central region of both sides of the Scarborough seamount chain, representing a morphological indication of the basement faulting. These three zones correspond respectively to three spreading episodes: the magnetic anomalies 6c -6a (24-21 Ma), 6a - 5e (21 - 19 Ma) and 5e - 5d (5c) (19 - 16 Ma). Instability, subsection and asymmetry characterize the seafloor spreading of the subbasin. The spreading directions change in a continuous way in each of the zones, but abrupt changes by 3°-5° occur when crossing the boundary between the zones, reflecting that the spreading direction has evolutionary characteristics of both gradual and sudden changes. NW-trending transform faults of the spreading become progressively densely distributed from the east to the west, cutting the NE-trending zones into several segments, between which the strikes of the NE-trending zones have marked changes. Such features indicate that the spreading axis is associated with subsection along the strike. Around 21 Ma (magnetic anomaly 6a), there was an important event of spreading acceleration, with the full rate rapidly increasing from 30.54 km/Ma to 42.88 km/Ma. This rate increment event corresponds to the sudden changes in the spreading characteristics of basement faulting, sedimentation, volcano activities, etc. The asymmetry of spreading over the eastern part of the Eastern Subbasin is generally larger than that over the western part, and the spreading rate is markedly larger on the southern side than on the northern side. As a result, the oceanic basin is wide in the east and narrow in the west, forming a significantly asymmetric pattern.     

The Sinai subplate and tectonic evolution of the northern Red Sea region

Although the precise boundaries and kinematics of the Sinai subplate are still doubtful, it has a significant role in the tectonic evolution of the northern Red Sea region. On the basis of earthquake distribution, the Sinai region can be considered as a subplate partially separated from the African plate by the Suez rift. The relative motion between Africa, Sinai and Arabia is the main source generating the present-day earthquake activity in the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba regions.According to geological observations, the southern segment of the Dead Sea fault system can be characterized by a left-lateral displacement of about 107km since the Middle Miocene, in contrast to the northern segment where only 25 to 35km offset can be inferred. We think that along the southern segment the total displacement was 72km until the late Miocene (10Ma). The earthquake activity is strongly reduced along the northern segment of the Dead Sea fault segment. Therefore, we suggest that the northern part (Yammouneh fault) evolves through initial cracking of the crust due to build-up of stress since the Pliocene time (5Ma) and propagates northward into Lebanon and Syria. This last 5 million years is the period when the southern and northern segments became linked and formed a single fault system with a new displacement of 35km.According to the proposed model the predicted opening pole of the Red Sea is near 34.0oN, 22.0oE with an angle of total rotation of 3.4o since the early miocene, providing a 0.82cm/a opening rate in the northern Red Sea. We suggest that the Dead Sea strike-slip fault was active since Middle Miocene time (15Ma) with a slip rate of 0.72cm/a to provide a total displacement of about 107km. This strike slip motion occured about an Euler pole near 33.0oN, 21.0oE with a rotation angle of about 3.0o. It can be inferred from the proximity of the pole and angle of rotations for the Red Sea and Dead Sea fault that more than 85% of the motion has been accommodated on the Gulf of Aqaba and the Dead Sea fault and less than 15% in the Gulf of Suez.This model predicts a normal extensional motion in the Gulf of Suez with a minor left-lateral strike-slip component. We expect the pole of this motion to be at 31.0oN, 29.0oE, offshore of Alamein city about 320 km west of the Nile Delta. The rate of motion through the last 15Ma (Middle Miocene) is about 0.1 cm/a and the angle of rotation is 0.9o. During this period the total opening of the Suez rift is 15 km while the rest of the motion (45 km) occured mainly through the first phase of the development before the Middle Miocene.     

The Mid-Atlantic Ridge between 29°N and 31°30′N in the last 10 Ma

The segmentation of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between 29°N and 31°30′ N during the last 10 Ma was studied. Within our survey area the spreading center is segmented at a scale of 25–100 km by non-transform discontinuities and by the 70 km offset Atlantis Transform. The morphology of the spreading center differs north and south of the Atlantis Transform. The spreading axis between 30°30′N and 31°30′N consists of enéchelon volcanic ridges, located within a rift valley with a regional trend of 040°. South of the transform, the spreading center is associated with a well-defined rift valley trending 015°. Magnetic anomalies and the bathymetric traces left by non-transform discontinuities on the flanks of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge provide a record of the evolution of this slow-spreading center over the last 10 Ma. Migration of non-transform offsets was predominantly to the south, except perhaps in the last 2 Ma. The discontinuity traces and the pattern of crustal thickness variations calculated from gravity data suggest that focused mantle upwelling has been maintained for at least 10 Ma south of 30°30′ N. In contrast, north of 30°30′N, the present segmentation configuration and the mantle upwelling centers inferred from gravity data appear to have been established more recently. The orientation of the bathymetric traces suggests that the migration of non-transform offsets is not controlled by the motion of the ridge axis with respect to the mantle. The evolution of the spreading center and the pattern of segmentation is influenced by relative plate motion changes, and by local processes, perhaps related to the amount of melt delivered to spreading segments. Relative plate motion changes over the last 10 Ma in our survey area have included a decrease in spreading rate from 32 mm a⁻¹ to 24 mm a⁻¹, as well as a clockwise change in spreading direction of 13° between anomalies 5 and 4, followed by a counterclockwise change of 4° between anomaly 4 and the present. Interpretation of magnetic anomalies indicates that there are significant variations in spreading asymmetry and rate within and between segments for a given anomaly time. These differences, as well as variations in crustal thickness inferred from gravity data on the flanks of spreading segments, indicate that magmatic and tectonic activity are, in general, not coordinated between adjacent spreading segments.     

Average slip-rate and recent large earthquake ruptures along the Garzê-Yushu fault

Our field investigation obtains new evidence of the later Quaternary activity and recent large earthquake ruptures of the Garzê-Yushu fault. The average left-lateral slip-rate along the fault is determined to be (12 ± 2) mm/a for the last 50000 years from both offset landforms and ages of the correlative sediments. This result is very close to the estimated average left-lateral slip-rate for the Xianshuihe fault, suggesting that the horizontal movement along the northern boundary of the Sichuan-Yunnan active tectonic block and the northeastern boundary of the Qiangtang active tectonic block has been basically harmonious during the later Quaternary period. Remains of ground ruptures of recent large earthquakes have been discovered along all 3 segments of the fault, of which, the 1896 rupture on the northwestern segment is at least 70 km long, and its corresponding earthquake could be of moment magnitude 7.3. The latest rupture on the middle segment of the fault has a length of about 180 km, and was produced by an unknown-age large earthquake that could have a moment magnitude of about 7.7. Along the southeastern segment of the fault, the latest unknown-age rupture is about 65 km long and has a maximum left-lateral coseismic displacement of 5.3 m, and its corresponding earthquake is estimated to be as large as about 7.3 of moment magnitude. Based on relevant investigation, an inference has been drawn that the later two large earthquakes probably occurred in 1854 and 1866, respectively. These demonstrate that the individual segments of the studied Garzê-Yushu fault are all able to produce large earthquakes.     

Average slip-rate and recent large earthquake ruptures along the Garzê-Yushu fault

Our field investigation obtains new evidence of the later Quaternary activity and recent large earthquake ruptures of the Garzê-Yushu fault. The average left-lateral slip-rate along the fault is determined to be (12±2) mm/a for the last 50000 years from both offset landforms and ages of the correlative sediments. This result is very close to the estimated average left-lateral slip-rate for the Xianshuihe fault, suggesting that the horizontal movement along the northern boundary of the Sichuan-Yunnan active tectonic block and the northeastern boundary of the Qiangtang active tectonic block has been basically harmonious during the later Quaternary period. Remains of ground ruptures of recent large earthquakes have been discovered along all 3 segments of the fault, of which, the 1896 rupture on the northwestern segment is at least 70 km long, and its corresponding earthquake could be of moment magnitude 7.3. The latest rupture on the middle segment of the fault has a length of about 180 km, and was produced by an unknown-age large earthquake that could have a moment magnitude of about 7.7. Along the southeastern segment of the fault, the latest unknown-age rupture is about 65 km long and has a maximum left-lateral coseismic displacement of 5.3 m, and its corresponding earthquake is estimated to be as large as about 7.3 of moment magnitude. Based on relevant investigation, an inference has been drawn that the later two large earthquakes probably occurred in 1854 and 1866, respectively. These demonstrate that the individual segments of the studied Garzê-Yushu fault are all able to produce large earthquakes.

     

New constraints on the tectonic evolution of the eastern Indian Ocean

From marine magnetic anomaly studies, a fossil spreading ridge is identified beneath the Nicobar Fan in the northwestern Wharton Basin. Several north-south-trending transform faults offset this ridge left-laterally east of the 86°E transform fault. Our findings show that this ridge, which was part of the plate boundary between the Indian and Australian plates, ceased its spreading shortly after formation of magnetic anomaly 20 (～ 45.6m.y. B.P.). Since the breakup of Australia and Antarctica probably occurred sometime between 110 and 90 m.y. B.P., we suggest that the Indian, Australian, and Antarctic plates were moving relative to one another from about 90 to 45 m.y. B.P. A triple junction would have existed in the southeastern Indian Ocean during that period of time. At anomaly 19 time (～ 45m.y. B.P.), the junction became inactive, and Australia and India became a single plate. The northwest-southeast-trending Southeast Indian Ridge was formed by connecting the India-Antarctica spreading center with the Australia-Antarctica spreading center. Its activity has continued to the present time.     

南海北部磁异常特征及对前新生代构造的指示

为了研究南海北部前新生代构造,利用新近的船载磁力测量数据,对磁异常进行变纬度化极,并反演计算视磁化强度和磁源重力异常,以及对三条OBS剖面进行重磁拟合.结果认为东沙隆起高磁异常带是浙闽沿海火山岩带向西的延续,其间被NW向古老的转换边界断裂F10错断;NE向的F2断裂是高磁异常带的南界,并限制了底侵活动的北界;F3断裂在...     

Preliminary analysis of the Knipovich Ridge segmentation: influence of focused magmatism and ridge obliquity on an ultraslow spreading system

Bathymetry, gravity and deep-tow sonar image data are used to define the segmentation of a 400 km long portion of the ultraslow-spreading Knipovich Ridge in the Norwegian-Greenland Sea, Northeast Atlantic Ocean. Discrete volcanic centers marked by large volcanic constructions and accompanying short wavelength mantle Bouguer anomaly (MBA) lows generally resemble those of the Gakkel Ridge and the easternmost Southwest Indian Ridge. These magmatically robust segment centers are regularly spaced about 85-100 km apart along the ridge, and are characterized by accumulated hummocky terrain, high relief, off-axis seamount chains and significant MBA lows. We suggest that these eruptive centers correspond to areas of enhanced magma flux, and that their spacing reflects the geometry of underlying mantle upwelling cells. The large-scale thermal structure of the mantle primarily controls discrete and focused magmatism, and the relatively wide spacing of these segments may reflect cool mantle beneath the ridge. Segment centers along the southern Knipovich Ridge are characterized by lower relief and smaller MBA anomalies than along the northern section of the ridge. This suggests that ridge obliquity is a secondary control on ridge construction on the Knipovich Ridge, as the obliquity changes from 35° to 49° from north to south, respectively, while spreading rate and axial depth remain approximately constant. The increased obliquity may contribute to decreased effective spreading rates, lower upwelling magma velocity and melt formation, and limited horizontal dike propagation near the surface. We also identify small, magmatically weaker segments with low relief, little or no MBA anomaly, and no off-axis expression. We suggest that these segments are either fed by lateral melt migration from adjacent magmatically stronger segments or represent smaller, discrete mantle upwelling centers with short-lived melt supply.