Century-scale high-resolution black carbon records in sediment cores from the South Yellow Sea,China

Black carbon(BC)has received increasing attention in the last 20 years because it is not only an absorbent of toxic pollutants but also a greenhouse substance,preserving fire-history records,and more importantly,acting as an indicator of biogeochemical cycles and global changes.By adopting an improved chemothermal oxidation method(WXY),this study reconstructed the century-scale high-resolution records of BC deposition from two fine-grained sediment cores collected from the Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass in the South Yellow Sea.The BC records were divided into five stages,which exhibited specific sequences with three BC peaks at approximately 1891,1921,and 2007 AD,representing times at which the first heavy storms appeared just after the termination of long-term droughts.The significant correlation between the times of the BC peaks in the cores and heavy storms in the area of the Huanghe(Yellow)River demonstrated that BC peaks could result from markedly strengthened sedimentation due to surface runof f,which augmented the atmospheric deposition.Stable carbon isotope analysis indicated that the evident increase in carbon isotope ratios of BC in Stage 5 might have resulted from the input of weathered rock-derived graphitic carbon cardinally induced by the annual anthropogenic modulation of water-borne sediment in the Huanghe River since 2005 AD.Numerical calculations demonstrated that the input fraction of graphitic carbon was 22.97% for Stage 5,whereas no graphitic carbon entered during Stages 1 and 3.The obtained data provide new and important understanding of the source-sink history of BC in the Yellow Sea.     

CHARACTERIZATION OF FINE-GRAINED TURBIDITE DEPOSITS FROM THE SOUTH CHINA SEA SEDIMENT CORES

Two depositional processes controlled the muddy sediments in the South China Sea Basin. Bathyal sediments depositional rate was 7.66 cm/la in the northern continental slope of the Basin where turbidity current was almost nonexistent. In the northern margin of the Basin, abyssal sediment depositional rate was 5.05cm/ka and turbidity current occurrence averaged 0.22 per 1000 years. Turbidite was found in the middle of the Basin. Over half of the muddy sediments in the deep sea basin were deposited by turbidity currents, and had typically graded bedding, and contents of organic matter, calcareous material and micropaleontologic species inconsistent with the environment.     

An improved method for quantitatively measuring the sequences of total organic carbon and black carbon in marine sediment cores

Understanding global carbon cycle is critical to uncover the mechanisms of global warming and remediate its adverse ef fects on human activities.Organic carbon in marine sediments is an indispensable part of the global carbon reservoir in global carbon cycling.Evaluating such a reservoir calls for quantitative studies of marine carbon burial,which closely depend on quantifying total organic carbon and black carbon in marine sediment cores and subsequently on obtaining their high-resolution temporal sequences.However,the conventional methods for detecting the contents of total organic carbon or black carbon cannot resolve the following specific difficulties,i.e.,(1)a very limited amount of each subsample versus the diverse analytical items,(2) a low and fluctuating recovery rate of total organic carbon or black carbon versus the reproducibility of carbon data,and(3)a large number of subsamples versus the rapid batch measurements.In this work,(i)adopting the customized disposable ceramic crucibles with the microporecontrolled ability,(ii)developing self-made or customized facilities for the procedures of acidification and chemothermal oxidization,and(iii)optimizing procedures and carbon-sulfur analyzer,we have built a novel Wang-Xu-Yuan method(the WXY method)for measuring the contents of total organic carbon or black carbon in marine sediment cores,which includes the procedures of pretreatment,weighing,acidification,chemothermal oxidation and quantification;and can fully meet the requirements of establishing their highresolution temporal sequences,whatever in the recovery,experimental efficiency,accuracy and reliability of the measurements,and homogeneity of samples.In particular,the usage of disposable ceramic crucibles leads to evidently simplify the experimental scenario,which further results in the very high recovery rates for total organic carbon and black carbon.This new technique may provide a significant support for revealing the mechanism of carbon burial and evaluating the capacity of marine carbon accumulation and sequestration.     

Distribution of sediment chloroplastic pigments in the Southern Yellow Sea,China

The distribution of sediment chloroplastic pigments (Chl-a, i.e. chlorophyll a and Pha-a, i.e. phaeophorbide a) in the Southern Yellow Sea of China was studied. Samples were collected from four cruises in January and June 2003, and January and June 2004. The results show that the vertical distribution of Chl-a and Pha-a in the sediment layers 0-2cm, 2-5cm and 5-8cm, follows a stable ratio, 5:3:2. The average ratio of Pha-a to Chl-a in sediment is 2.83. Spearman 2-tailed rank correlation analysis shows that Chl-a and Pha-a contents in each sediment layer have a highly significant correlation. The average contents of Chl-a and Pha-a in the sediment of the 0-8cm layer in the investigated area are 0.31 -0.47μgg-1 and 1.28-1.40 μgg-1 sediment (dry weight), respectively. The average Chl-a and Pha-a contents in sediment are higher in summer than in winter. ANOVA analysis shows that there is a highly significant variation among the Chl-a contents (P = 0.002 <0.01) of the four cruies, but this is not true for the case of Pha-a content (P = 0.766>0.05). The average Chl-a and Pha-a contents in the 2 sediment layers (0-2cm and 2-5cm) have significant or highly significant correlations with organic matter (OM), median diameter (Mdφ), silt plus clay percentage in the January 2003 cruise. In the June 2003 cruise, the average Chl-a content in the 3 sediment layers (0-2cm, 2-5cm, and 5-8cm) has a significant correlation with meiofauna biomass, and Pha-a content has highly significant correlations with water depth, bottom water temperature, OM and Mdφ The contents of Chl-a and Pha-a are lower than those in estuaries and intertidal areas, but close to those in the same area studied previously.     

The suspended sediment concentration distribution in the Bohai Sea, Yellow Sea and East China Sea

The distribution of the suspended sediment concentration (SSC) in the Bohai Sea, Yellow Sea and East China Sea (BYECS) is studied based on the observed turbidity data and model simulation results. The observed turbidity results show that (i) the highest SSC is found in the coastal areas while in the outer shelf sea areas turbid water is much more difficult to observe, (ii) the surface layer SSC is much lower than the bottom layer SSC and (iii) the winter SSC is higher than the summer SSC. The Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS) is used to simulate the SSC distribution in the BYECS. A comparison between the modeled SSC and the observed SSC in the BYECS shows that the modeled SSC can reproduce the principal features of the SSC distribution in the BYECS. The dynamic mechanisms of the sediment erosion and transport processes are studied based on the modeled results. The horizontal distribution of the SSC in the BYECS is mainly determined by the current-wave induced bottom stress and the fine-grain sediment distribution. The current-induced bottom stress is much higher than the wave-induced bottom stress, which means the tidal currents play a more significant role in the sediment resuspension than the wind waves. The vertical mixing strength is studied based on the mixed layer depth and the turbulent kinetic energy distribution in the BYECS. The strong winter time vertical mixing, which is mainly caused by the strong wind stress and surface cooling, leads to high surface layer SSC in winter. High surface layer SSC in summer is restricted in the coastal areas.     

Rates and fluxes of centennial-scale carbon storage in the fine-grained sediments from the central South Yellow Sea and Min-Zhe belt,East China Sea

The global carbon cycle has played a key role in mitigating global warming and climate change.Long-term natural and anthropogenic processes influence the composition,sources,burial rates,and fluxes of carbon in sediments on the continental shelf of China.In this study,the rates,fluxes,and amounts of carbon storage at the centennial scale were estimated and demonstrated using the case study of three fine-grained sediment cores from the central South Yellow Sea area(SYSA) and Min-Zhe belt(MZB),East China Sea.Based on the high-resolution temporal sequences of total carbon(TC)and total organic carbon(TOC)contents,we reconstructed the annual variations of historical marine carbon storage,and explored the influence of terrestrial and marine sources on carbon burial at the centennial scale.The estimated TC storage over 100 years was 1.18×10~8 t in the SYSA and 1.45×10~9 t in the MZB.The corrected TOC storage fluxes at the centennial scale ranged from 17 to 28 t/(km~2·a)in the SYSA and from 56 to 148 t/(km~2·a)in the MZB.The decrease of terrestrial materials and the increase of marine primary production suggest that the TOC buried in the sediments in the SYSA and MZB was mainly derived from the marine autogenetic source.In the MZB,two depletion events occurred in TC and TOC storage from 1985 to 1987 and 2003 to 2006,which were coeval with the water impoundment in the Gezhouba and Three Gorges dams,respectively.The high-resolution records of the carbon storage rates and fluxes in the SYSA and MZB reflect the synchronous responses to human activities and provide an important reference for assessing the carbon sequestration capacity of the marginal seas of China.     

Empirical ocean color algorithm for estimating particulate organic carbon in the South China Sea

We examined regional empirical equations for estimating the surface concentration of particulate organic carbon(POC) in the South China Sea. These algorithms are based on the direct relationships between POC and the blue-to-green band ratios of spectral remotely sensed reflectance,R rs( λ B)/ R rs(555). The best error statistics among the considered formulas were produced using the power function POC(mg/m 3)=262.173 [ R rs(443)/ R rs(555)]- 0.940. This formula resulted in a small mean bias of approximately-2.52%,a normalized root mean square error of 31.1%,and a determination coefficient of 0.91. This regional empirical equation is different to the results of similar studies in other oceanic regions. Our validation results suggest that our regional empirical formula performs better than the global algorithm,in the South China Sea. The feasibility of this band ratio algorithm is primarily due to the relationship between POC and the green-toblue ratio of the particle absorption coefficient. Colored dissolved organic matter can be an important source of noise in the band ratio formula. Finally,we applied the empirical algorithm to investigate POC changes in the southwest of Luzon Strait.     

Late Quaternary strata and carbon burial records in the Yellow River delta,China

Sediment carbon sequestration plays an essential role in mitigating atmospheric CO2 increases and the subsequently global greenhouse effect. To clarify the late Quaternary strata and carbon burial records in Yellow River delta(YRD), detailed analysis of benthic foraminifera, total carbon(TC), organic carbon(Corg), sedimentary characteristics and moisture contents of sediments, was performed on core ZK3, 30.3 m in length and obtained from YRD in 2007. Eight depositional units(designated U1-U8 in ascending order) were identified. A comprehensive analysis method of historical geography and sedimentary geology was used to determine the precise depositional ages of the modern Yellow River delta(MYRD), from which pre-MYRD ages were deduced. The results indicates that the maximum burial rates of TC, inorganic carbon(IC) and Corg occurred in the delta front(U5), and the minimum in the shallow sea(U3). Remarkable high sedimentation rates in the MYRD are responsible for burial efficiency of carbon, with an average rate of Corg burial reaching 2087±251 g(m2 yr)-1, and that of IC reaching 13741±808 g(m2 yr)-1, which are much higher than those of other regions with high contents of Corg. Therefore, YRD has a significant burial efficiency for carbon sequestration.     

Vertical flux of particulate organic carbon in the central South China Sea estimated from 234Th-238U disequilibria

^234Th-^238U disequilibria were applied to examine the particle dynamics in the euphotic zone of the central South China Sea during the spring 2002 cruise. The particulate organic carbon （POC）, ^234Th （including both dissolved and particulate） and ^238U in the water column at three stations were determined. The profiles of ^234Th/^238U activity ratio at the three stations all showed consistent ^234Th deficit as compared to ^238U in the upper 100 m water column. Based on the profiles of the dissolved and particulate ^234Th and a steady state box model, the dissolved ^234Th scavenging rates, the particulate ^234Th removal rates and their resident times were quantified. It was found that the POC downward export fluxes out of the upper 100 m euphotic zone ranged from 9.40 to 14.78 mmol·m^-2·d^-1. The results from this study provide new information for our understanding of carbon biogeochemical cycle in the South China Sea.     

Vertical flux of particulate organic carbon in the central South China Sea estimated from 234Th-238U disequilibria

234Th-238u disequilibria were applied to examine the particle dynamics in the euphotic zone of the central South China Sea during the spring 2002 cruise. The particulate organic carbon (POC), 234Th (including both dissolved and particulate) and 238U in the water column at three stations were determined. The profiles of 234Th/238U activity ratio at the three stations all showed consistent 234Th deficit as compared to 238U in the upper 100 m water column. Based on the profiles of the dissolved and particulate 234Th and a steady state box model, the dissolved 234Th scavenging rates, the particulate 234Th removal rates and their resident times were quantified. It was found that the POC downward export fluxes out of the upper 100 m euphotic zone ranged from 9.40 to 14.78 mmol.m-2.d-1. The results from this study provide new information for our understanding of carbon biogeochemical cycle in the South China Sea.     

THE EVOLUTION OF STENOLS AND STANOLS IN MARINE SEDIMENT CORE FROM BEIBU BAY, THE SOUTH CHINA SEA

Ten stenols and stanols were identified by TLC , GC and GC-MS-DS in a marine sediment core from Beibu Bay , the South China Sea .C27, C28 and C29 A5 stenols and 5a- stanols mainly come from zoopiankton, algae and phytoplankton in marine environment. C29 24-ethylcholest- 5 - en- 3B- ol is thought to indicate input of terrigenous organic matter . The increase of C27 . C28 and C29 5a-stanol /5 stenol ratios with sediment depth shows the evolution of stenols and stanols in the marine sediment core .     

DISSOLVED ORGANIC CARBON IN THE EAST CHINA SEA IN AUTUMN

ImODUcrIONThepoolofdissolvedorganicrnatter,eva1uatalasdissolvedorganiccarbonpoC),hasbostudndforrnanyycars(Med,l964,SkopintSevCtal.,l966).Continentalmar-ginshavedrihypotheSedtobeasirnPortanttothemarinecarbonbiogeochdricalCy-desasthedeepsea(Walsh,l99l),butinmostdiscussions,onlyexportofparticulateorganieswasconsidetal.HighconcentIationofDOCincoastalwatershasaspedlroleinexportingcarbonfromcontinentalmarginstotheopenocean.UndelstandingtheroleoftheoceanmarginsintheglobalcarbonCycAsdependsla…     

Cloning,expression and characterization of a novel esterase from a South China Sea sediment metagenome

Lipolytic enzymes, including esterases and lipases, represent a group of hydrolases that catalyze the cleavage and formation of ester bonds. A novel esterase gene, scsEst01, was cloned from a South China Sea sediment metagenome. The scsEst01 gene consisted of 921 bp encoding 307 amino acid residues. The predicted amino acid sequence shared less than 90% identity with other lipolytic enzymes in the NCBI nonredundant protein database. Scs Est01 was successfully co-expressed in E scherichia coli BL21(DE3) with chaperones(dnaK-dna J-grp E) to prevent the formation of inclusion bodies. The recombinant protein was purified on an immobilized metal ion affinity column containing chelating Sepharose charged with Ni2 +. The enzyme was characterized using p-nitrophenol butyrate as a substrate. Scs Est01 had the highest lipolytic activity at 35℃ and p H 8.0, indicative of a meso-thermophilic alkaline esterase. Scs Est01 was thermostable at 20℃. The lipolytic activity of scs Est01 was strongly increased by Fe2 +, Mn 2+ and 1% Tween 80 or Tween 20.     

ANISOTROPY OF MAGNETIC SUSCEPTIBILITY AND IDENTIFICATION OF TILTED SEDIMENT CORES FROM THE BOHAI SEA

Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) is a well-developed technique increaseingly used in petro-fabric determination. ItS application to two Mackereth cores JX91-2A and JX91-2B, taken from thesame site in the central Bohai Sea, revealed 3D magnetic fabrics of the sediments as expressed with susce-ptibility ellipsoids. The flat seafloor and the relatively quiet depositional environment in the semi-isolatedBohai Sea should asult in a primary fabric with horisontally obate susocptibility el1ipsoids. Mormwr,the inaxing downcore totaI anisotropy comprising mainly of magntic foliation nsulting fIrom sedimentcompaction should also lead to flat ellipsoids. Therefore, the off-pole meam dindions of minimurn axes ofaseptibility ellipsoids on stermnets must indicate that the two coas are ti]ted re1ative to the flat anfloor.Use of Fisher statisties showh the tilt angles to be 14° for JX91-2A and 23°for JX91 -2B from whichthe tna depths of the coas were dedded accordingly.     

Relocation of the Yellow River estuary in 1855 AD recorded in the sediment core from the northern Yellow Sea

Relocation of the Yellow River estuary has significant impacts on not only terrestrial environment and human activities, but also sedimentary and ecological environments in coastal seas. The responses of regional geochemical characteristics to the relocation event, however, have not been well studied. In the present study, we performed detailed geochemical elemental analyses of a sediment core from the northern Yellow Sea and studied their geochemical responses to the 1855 AD relocation of the Yellow River estuary. The results show that TOC/TN, Co/Al₂O₃, Cr/Al₂O₃, Ni/Al₂O₃ and Se/Al₂O₃ ratios all decreased abruptly after 1855 AD, and similar decreases are observed in the sediments of the mud area southwest off the Cheju Island. These abrupt changes are very likely caused by the changes in source materials due to the relocation of the Yellow River estuary from the southern Yellow Sea to the Bohai Sea, which the corresponding decreasing trends caused by the changes in main source materials from those transported by the Liaohe River, the Haihe River and the Luanhe River to those by the Yellow River. Because the events have precise ages recorded in historical archives, these obvious changes in elemental geochemistry of sediments can be used to calibrate age models of related coastal sea sediments.     

Effects of degradation succession of alpine wetland on soil organic carbon and total nitrogen in the Yellow River source zone,west China

Wetland is an important carbon pool,and the degradation of wetlands causes the loss of organic carbon and total nitrogen.This study aims to explore how wetland degradation succession affects soil organic carbon(SOC)and total nitrogen(TN)contents in alpine wetland.A field survey of 180 soilsampling profiles was conducted in an alpine wetland that has been classified into three degradation succession stages.The SOC and TN contents of soil layers from 0 to 200 cm depth were studied,including their distribution characteristics and the relationship between microtopography.The results showed that SOC and TN of different degradation succession gradients followed the ranked order of Non Degradation(ND)>Light Degradation(LD)>Heavy Degradation(HD).SWC was positively correlated with SOC and TN(p<0.05).As the degree of degradation succession worsened,SOC and TN became more sensitive to the SWC.Microtopography was closely related to the degree of wetland degradation succession,SWC,SOC and TN,especially in the topsoil(0-30 cm).This result showed that SWC was an important indicator of SOC/TN in alpine wetland.It is highly recommended to strengthen water injection into the wetland as a means of effective restoration to reverse alpine meadow back to marsh alpine wetland.     

Spatial contrast in phytoplankton,bacteria and microzooplankton grazing between the eutrophic Yellow Sea and the oligotrophic South China Sea

Three cruises were conducted to investigate the distributions of nutrients,chlorophyll a(Chla),new and regenerated primary production,bacterial abundance and production,and microzooplankton grazing rates in the Yellow Sea(YS)and the South China Sea(SCS)during March and May.As the water column moved from low to high temperature,weak to strong stratification and high to low nutrients from the YS to the SCS,Chl-a,primary production and bacterial biomass decreased.In contrast,bacterial production,microzooplankton grazing and size preference increased from the YS to the SCS.The increasing grazing activity and decreasing f-ratio from the YS to the SCS suggest roles of regenerated nutrients in the supporting the community increased and more bacteria played important roles in the carbon flow in the oligotrophic SCS than in the eutrophic YS.These variabilities force the classical food chain dominated community in the eutrophic waters into the microbial loop,which is dominant in oligotrophic waters.As nutrients decrease,temperature and grazing activity increase from the YS to the SCS.The increasing ratio of integrated bacterial production to integrated primary production indicates that communities change from autotrophy to heterotrophy and waters change from a carbon sink to a carbon source.     

The burial of biogenic silica,organic carbon and organic nitrogen in the sediments of the East China Sea

We sampled the sediments of the East China Sea during 2005 and 2006, and analysed the contents of the biogenic mat-ters: biogenic silica, organic carbon, and organic nitrogen. From the surface distribu...     

Mineral distributions in surface sediments of the western South Yellow Sea: implications for sediment provenance and transportation

The South Yellow Sea(SYS) is strongly influenced by the substantial sediment loads of the Huanghe(Yellow)(including the modern Huanghe and abandoned old Huanghe subaqueous delta) and Changjiang(Yangtze) Rivers. However,the dispersal patterns of these sediments,especially in the western SYS,have not been clearly illustrated. In this study,we have analyzed clay minerals,detrital minerals,and grain sizes for 245 surface sediment samples(0–5 cm) collected from the western SYS. The clay minerals,on average,consist of 67% illite,14% smectite,11% chlorite,and 8% kaolinite. Clay minerals,detrital minerals,and grain size analyses of surface sediments,combined with water mass hydrology analysis,reveal that sediments in the western SYS are mainly derived from the modern Huanghe River,the abandoned subaqueous delta of the old Huanghe River,some material from the Changjiang,and coastal erosion. The clay minerals(especially illite and smectite) and quartz/feldspar ratio distribution patterns,reveal that the influence of modern Huanghe sediments can reach 35°N in the northwestern part of the study area,an influence that can be enhanced especially in winter owing to northerly winds. Conversely,sediments along the Jiangsu coast are mixed,in summer,with material from the Changjiang arriving via northward flow of Changjiang Diluted Water. The Subei Coastal Current carries the refreshed sediments northward into the western SYS. Sediment distribution and transport in the western SYS are mainly controlled by the oceanic circulation system that is primarily related to the monsoon.