Evaluation of shelf–basin interaction in the western Arctic by use of short-lived radium isotopes: The importance of mesoscale processes

Shelf–basin exchange in the western Arctic was evaluated by use of water-column analyses of ²²⁸Ra/²²⁶Ra ratios and the first measurements of the short-lived ²²⁴Ra (T_1/2=3.64 d) in the Arctic. During the 2002 shelf–basin interaction (SBI) program, excess ²²⁴Ra was detected over the shelf but was not found seaward of the shelf-break. Similarly, the ²²⁸Ra/²²⁶Ra ratio dropped rapidly from the shelf across the shelf-break. Consequently, the model age gradient (elapsed time since shelf residence) northward across the Chukchi Shelf increased from 1–5 years nearshore to approximately 14 years in surface waters sampled off shelf at the southern margin of the Beaufort Gyre. This steep gradient is consistent with very slow exchange between the Chukchi Shelf and the Beaufort Gyre, whereby Bering Strait inflow is constrained by the Earth's rotation to follow local isobaths and does not easily move into deeper water. The strong dynamic control inhibiting water that enters the system through Bering Strait from flowing north across isobaths also would lead to a long recirculation time of river water emptied into the Beaufort Gyre. Possible mechanisms that can generate cross-shelf currents that break the topographic constraint to follow isobaths, and thereby transport water (and associated properties) off the shelves include wind-induced upwelling/downwelling, meandering jets, and eddies. Evidence of such a process was found during the ICEX project in the Beaufort Sea in April 2003 when excess ²²⁴Ra was measured over 200 km from any shelf source. This required an NE offshore flow of 40 cm s⁻¹ assuming that the source water derives from the mouth of Barrow Canyon. A weak northeastward flow was measured using an LADCP within the upper 300 m of the ocean, but was of lower speed than required by the ²²⁴Ra_xs at the time of the ICEX occupation.     

白令海及西北冰洋有机质来源与新鲜程度的脂肪酸指示

白令海、西北冰洋等高生产力海域在北冰洋"生物泵"中起到重要作用;海水升温、海冰消退等北极快速变化,将强烈影响该海域"生物泵"的结构与规模,并在沉积物中有机质的来源与新鲜程度上有所体现,可用脂肪酸加以指征。对第五次、第六次中国北极科学考察在以上海域采集的表层沉积物进行脂肪酸含量(以沉积物干重计)及组成分析,结果显示楚科奇海陆架总脂肪酸含量非常高((97.15±55.31)μg/g),白令海盆最低((15.00±1.30)μg/g),加拿大海盆、楚科奇海陆坡、白令海陆架居中(分别为(88.65±3.52)μg/g,(70.35±11.32)μg/g与(38.28±14.89)μg/g)。海源脂肪酸占总脂肪酸比例最高(86.82%±7.08%),陆源次之(8.45%±6.62%),细菌最低(4.63%±2.24%);硅藻指数(16:1ω9/16:0)在楚科奇海陆架(> 0.82)、白令海陆架边缘(> 0.65)较高,其他区域均较低。脂肪酸结果表明:(1)该海域沉积有机质主要来自海源,陆源贡献小;在北部、南部楚科奇海陆架、白令海陆架边缘,硅藻生物量占主要优势;细菌脂肪酸比例显著低于...     

北冰洋西部沉积物有机碳、氮同位素特征及其环境指示意义

通过对楚科奇海及邻近的北冰洋深水区表层沉积物中有机碳同位素含量(δ13C)、氮同位素含量(δ15N)及生物成因SiO₂(BSiO₂)含量分析,结果表明海源和陆源有机质的分布受海区环流结构和营养盐结构所制约.楚科奇海中西部和楚科奇海台受太平洋富营养盐海水的影响,海洋生产力高,沉积物中海源有机质和BSiO₂含量高;靠阿拉斯加一侧海域海水的营养盐含量和生产力都偏低,沉积物中陆源有机质比重增加;在研究区北部和东北部的楚科奇高地和加拿大海盆,冰封时间较长,营养盐供应少,海洋生产力低,但来自马更些河和阿拉斯加北部的陆源有机质增多,沉积物中BSiO₂含量小于5%,海源有机质百分含量小于40%.由于亚北极太平洋水通过楚科奇海向北冰洋海盆输送,研究区营养盐池表现为开放系统,营养盐的利用率与它的供应成反比,与海洋生产力成反比.     

Organic carbon and nitrogen isotopes in surface sediments from the western Arctic Ocean and their implications for sedimentary environments

1 IntroductionFor several reasons, the Arctic Ocean and itsmarginal seas are key areas for understanding ocean-ic circulation and global climate system ( Clark,1982; Hansen et al., 1983; Walsh et al., 1996;Overpeck et al., 1997). First, the Arctic Ocean i…     

北冰洋楚科奇海陆架到陆坡表层沉积物有机碳载荷的变化

沉积物单位表面积上吸附的有机碳被广泛用于示踪有机碳载荷的变化。本文研究了北冰洋典型边缘海——楚科奇海表层沉积物的有机碳载荷。研究发现陆架区沉积物的有机碳载荷高于陆坡区。相比于已报道的东西伯利亚海和马更些河,楚科奇海陆坡区沉积物的有机碳载荷也较低。这种有机碳载荷的变化可能和陆坡区的初级生产力较低,以及沉积物在传输过程中经历的氧化降解有关。沉积物的有机碳含量和比表面积呈线性相关,在有机碳轴上有正截距,表明一部分有机碳来自于岩石的贡献。此外,陆架区低有机碳载荷的沉积物含有的岩石有机碳更高。本研究的数据有助于深刻理解楚科奇海区域的碳循环问题。     

白令海和西北冰洋表层沉积物磁化率特征初步研究

为了准确解释环境磁学参数记录的极地古气候环境变化信息,本研究对白令海和西北冰洋61个站位的表层沉积物进行了高、低频质量磁化率(χ)、非磁滞磁化率(χARM)和磁化率-温度(k-T)分析,以探明该区沉积物中磁性矿物的种类、来源与搬运路径。结果显示,样品的χ具有明显的地域分布特征。白令海的χ值整体高于楚科奇海,并在育空河口外侧和圣劳伦斯岛南侧较高,向北和向西南方向逐渐减小。楚科奇海中东部陆架上表层沉积χ值高于阿拉斯加沿岸,而西北冰洋深海平原和洋脊区的χ值最低。χARM的变化趋势与质量磁化率相似,但频率磁化率的变化趋势与质量磁化率正好相反。k-T分析结果显示阿留申海盆沉积物中的铁磁性矿物以磁赤铁矿占主导,白令海陆架育空河口外侧和圣劳伦斯岛南北两侧为磁铁矿,白令海陆架西部和楚科奇海陆架中东部为磁赤铁矿和磁铁矿,楚科奇海阿拉斯加沿岸为黄铁矿,而西北冰洋陆坡、深海平原和洋脊区为胶黄铁矿和黄铁矿,但高纬度区沉积物中的胶黄铁矿含量更高。沉积物中磁性矿物的区域性分布受沉积物来源、洋流和底质环境等因素的控制。白令海和楚科奇海陆架磁赤铁矿来源于亚洲大陆,白令海陆架东部的磁铁矿来自育空河流域,阿拉斯加沿岸沉积物中的黄铁矿,应为阿拉斯加西北部陆源侵蚀来源的或早期成岩作用形成的,西北冰洋深海盆区的胶黄铁矿,为自生成因的。     

Tracing the inputs and fate of marine and terrigenous organic matter in Arctic Ocean sediments: A multivariate analysis of lipid biomarkers

An understanding of the carbon cycle within arctic sediments requires discrimination between the terrigenous and marine components of organic carbon, insight into the removal mechanisms for labile carbon during burial and appreciation of shelf-to-basin processes. Using a large data set of multiple molecular organic markers (alkanes, alkanols, sterols, saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, dicarboxylic acids), we apply (1) principal components analysis (PCA) to obtain a robust comparison of biomarker compositions in Arctic Ocean sediments, (2) geometric mean (GM) linear regression of the PCA variables to estimate the relative contributions of labile/marine and stable/terrigenous sources to each biomarker and (3) the slope of the GM regression of each biomarker with TOC to provide a novel measure of the removal rate of each biomarker relative to phytol. The PCA- and TOC-based indices generally increase together: biomarkers with very high TOC-based removal rates such as the saturated and unsaturated n-alkanoic acids generally have a high labile/marine content from PCA, while the sterols have low removal rates, but exhibit a range of labile/marine content values and the n-alkanes and n-alkanols have low values for both. A dominant feature of all PCA models examined is a progressive decrease in the autochthonous/marine biomarkers with each increase in sediment core depth, which points to a universal diagenetic alteration of organic carbon with depth in the cores. The PCA model also displays a shelf to basin trend that is non-diagenetic and implies the ongoing (centuries or more) delivery of long-chain n-alkanes, n-alcohols and n-alkanoic acids in a matrix that is pre-formed and well-preserved within the sediments. Terrigenous biomarker distributions within the PCA model suggest that atmospheric transport of plant waxes in aerosols and the water borne transport of very fine plant macerals likely have significant roles in the export of these vascular plant biomarkers to the basins. Biomarker ratios and profiles of the PCA-based labile/marine content with core depth indicate that the PCA model is more strongly influenced by the biomarker lability than the marine content, while increases in the marine content are largely responsible for the shifts in composition for near-surface core sections.     

西北冰洋表层沉积物黏土矿物分布特征及物质来源

西北冰洋表层沉积物黏土矿物分析结果显示其黏土矿物组成的区域分布和变化具有明显的规律性:从楚科奇海到北冰洋深水区,随着水深的增加,蒙皂石和高岭石含量增高,绿泥石和伊利石含量降低。自西往东,伊利石结晶度值降低,化学指数升高。根据Q型聚类分析获得的黏土矿物组合特征,结合周缘陆地的地质背景、河流及洋流情况,对研究区进行了黏土矿物组合分区,讨论了其黏土矿物来源。楚科奇海表层沉积物黏土矿物组合在靠近阿拉斯加一侧海域以Ⅰ类为主,靠东西伯利亚海一侧主要有Ⅱ类、Ⅲ类和Ⅳ类,中部主要为Ⅵ类,主要是西伯利亚和阿拉斯加的火山岩、变质岩以及一些含高岭石的沉积物以及古土壤等,经风化、河流搬运入海,在北太平洋的3股洋流及西伯利亚沿岸流的作用下沉积形成的。西北冰洋深水区表层沉积物的黏土矿物组合以Ⅰ类和Ⅴ类为主,表明其沉积物来源为欧亚陆架和加拿大北极群岛周缘海域的海冰沉积和大西洋水体的搬运以及加拿大马更些河的河流物质输入。     

Interaction of an anticyclonic eddy with sea ice in the western Arctic Ocean: an eddy-resolving model study

The dramatic decline of summer sea ice extent and thickness has been witnessed in the western Arctic Ocean in recent decades, which hasmotivated scientists to search for possible factors driving the sea ice variability. An eddy-resolving, ice-ocean coupled model covering the entire Arctic Ocean is implemented, with focus on the western Arctic Ocean. Special attention is paid to the summer Alaskan coastal current (ACC), which has a high temperature (up to 5℃ ormore) in the upper layer due to the solar radiation over the open water at the lower latitude. Downstream of the ACC after Barrow Point, a surface-intensified anticyclonic eddy is frequently generated and propagate towards the Canada Basin during the summer season when sea ice has retreated away from the coast. Such an eddy has a warm core, and its source is high-temperature ACC water. A typical warm-core eddy is traced. It is trapped just below summer sea ice melt water and has a thickness about 60 m. Temperature in the eddy core reaches 2-3℃, and most water inside the eddy has a temperature over 1℃. With a definition of the eddy boundary, an eddy heat is calculated, which can melt 1 600 km² of 1mthick sea ice under extreme conditions.     

西北冰洋中更新世以来黏土矿物变化特征及其反映的洋流和冰盖演化

本文通过对中国第七次北极考察在西北冰洋阿尔法脊南部钻取的ARC7-LIC岩芯沉积物的XRF Ca/Al比值、冰筏碎屑和黏土矿物等研究,重建了中更新世以来研究区沉积物源和周边冰盖的演化历史。ARC7-LIC岩芯黏土矿物组合类型变化显示：深海氧同位素(MIS)29～13期黏土矿物组合主要以西伯利亚物源区为主,而MIS 12期以来以北美物源为主。黏土矿物组合的变化,反映中布容期前后洋流模式的改变。同时,MIS 12期高含量的蒙脱石可能来自北美物源。物源指标对比显示,劳伦冰盖在MIS 16期首次向西北冰洋大规模排泄冰山,并且从MIS 12期开始,西北冰洋周围冰盖的进退幅度增大。在MIS 6期、4期和3期,Ca/Al和高岭石含量的不协同变化指示北美冰盖的发育具有区域差异性,位于阿拉斯加北部和麦肯齐河流域的冰盖较班克斯岛−维多利亚岛一侧更发育,崩解的冰山能将高岭石带到研究区沉积下来。     

Past glacial and interglacial conditions in the Arctic Ocean and marginal seas – a review

Past changes in the Arctic Ocean and its marginal seas have been profound, even during the last 10,000 years. Understanding these changes, such as those occurring during the transition from glacial to interglacial climates, are important for research on modern processes, because this knowledge provides a framework and unique perspective in which to view the modern physical and biological processes. This paper discusses our current understanding of past environmental change and processes relative to those currently in progress. Special emphasis is placed on the most recent transition from a glacial state to the modern interglacial conditions.     

On the future navigability of Arctic sea routes: High-resolution projections of the Arctic Ocean and sea ice

The rapid Arctic summer sea ice reduction in the last decade has lead to debates in the maritime industries on the possibility of an increase in cargo transportation in the region. Average sailing times on the North Sea Route along the Siberian Coast have fallen from 20 days in the 1990s to 11 days in 2012–2013, attributed to easing sea ice conditions along the Siberian coast. However, the economic risk of exploiting the Arctic shipping routes is substantial. Here a detailed high-resolution projection of ocean and sea ice to the end of the 21st century forced with the RCP8.5 IPCC emission scenario is used to examine navigability of the Arctic sea routes. In summer, opening of large areas of the Arctic Ocean previously covered by pack ice to the wind and surface waves leads to Arctic pack ice cover evolving into the Marginal Ice Zone. The emerging state of the Arctic Ocean features more fragmented thinner sea ice, stronger winds, ocean currents and waves. By the mid 21st century, summer season sailing times along the route via the North Pole are estimated to be 13–17 days, which could make this route as fast as the North Sea Route.     

Black shale formation in the late Paleocene/early Eocene Arctic Ocean and paleoenvironmental conditions: New results from a detailed organic petrological study

The study of particulate organic matter (OM) in Arctic Ocean sediments from the late Cretaceous to the Eocene (IODP Expedition 302) has revealed detailed information about the aquatic/marine OM fluxes, biological sources, preservation and export of terrestrial material. Here, we present detailed data from maceral analysis, vitrinite reflectance measurements and organic geochemistry.     

350ka以来北冰洋波弗特环流演变及其沉积响应

波弗特环流(Beaufort Gyre)是 决定北冰洋海冰运移方向和滞留时间的主要因素。依据沉积物的颜色旋回、Mn元素含量和有孔虫丰度,本文建立了阿尔法洋脊(Alpha Ridge)B85-D孔轨道尺度上的年龄框架,并深入分析了该孔晚第四纪以来冰筏碎屑(IRD>154 μm)含量、组分及其源区的变化特点。结果表明,350ka以来最显著的变化发生在末次冰期(MIS2~4期),期间沉积物中Ca元素和白云石含量都接近于零,大部分来自班克斯岛、维多利亚岛和麦肯齐地区的碳酸盐岩碎屑没有在阿尔法洋脊沉积;随着波弗特环流的消亡,搬运陆源碎屑的海冰很可能沿着北美海岸线直接进入了欧亚海盆。而在末次间冰期(MIS5期),波弗特环流却十分流畅,并将大量碳酸盐岩碎屑限制在美亚海盆内,导致阿尔法洋脊沉积物中Ca元素含量急剧升高,与之对应的白云石含量高达16.4%。通过类比可知,在MIS6期波弗特环流的状态可能与MIS2~4期相似,而在MIS8和MIS10这两大冰期,波弗特环流却类似于MIS5期。显然,波弗特环流的存在与否并不严格遵循“冰期-间冰期”旋回,这种变化很可能是风场强度和海冰浓度双重作用的结果。     

西北冰洋表层沉积物中重金属的赋存形态研究

用连续提取法对选自西北冰洋的32个表层沉积物进行分析,测定了Cr、Cu、Pb在全样中及其在P1-2、P3、P4、P5中的含量.结果表明随着离岸距离增加,水深加深,Cr、Cu、Pb含量呈增高的趋势.研究区陆架沉积物中Cr、Cu、Pb含量分别为60.66、14.77、16.65μg/g;深海沉积物中Cr、Cu、Pb的含量分别为80.40、41.70、25.62μg/g.元素赋存形态分析表明,Cr、Cu、Pb主要赋存在残渣态,残渣态中三元素的含量平均值分别为64.97、19.67、17.56μg/g,占元素总量的比例分别为93.58%、75.02%和83.76%.三元素在各赋存形态中的含量分布是:Cu为残渣态>有机质和硫化物态>铁锰氧化态>可交换及碳酸盐态;Pb和Cr则为残渣态>铁锰氧化物态>有机质硫化物态>可交换态及碳酸盐态.研究区重金属元素在不同赋存形态中的含量分布与北太平洋深海沉积物中类似.     

北极海洋沉积物中持久性有机污染物分布特征及分子地层学记录的研究

持久性有机污染物(POPs)普遍存在于各种环境介质中,其中有机氯农药(OCPs)和多氯联苯(PCBs)化学性质稳定,在环境中能持久残留.它们经食物链浓缩并在生物体内累积,大多数具有致癌、致畸、致突变效应,构成对人类和生态系统的潜在危害,成为世界公认的全球性环境公害.     

北冰洋浮游生物空间分布及其季节变化的模拟

低营养级浮游生物生态动力过程对环境变化的响应非常敏感。随着全球气候变化加剧,北冰洋正在经历快速的环境变化。厘清北冰洋低营养级浮游生物季节分布与变化特征是探究北冰洋生态系统对环境快速变化响应的前提,也是评估北极海区固碳能力的重要依据。基于此,本文构建了海洋–海冰–生物地球化学循环模型,并对北冰洋叶绿素浓度以及浮游生物结构的时空变化特征进行了模拟,结果表明:(1)北冰洋表层叶绿素浓度的峰值主要出现在5月,且太平洋一侧叶绿素浓度高于大西洋一侧;随着海水层化,表层受营养盐限制的海区呈现次表层叶绿素浓度最大值现象,且由陆架向海盆,次表层叶绿素浓度最大值层逐渐加深;9月,叶绿素浓度高值重回水体上层,太平洋一侧海区表层叶绿素浓度呈现较为明显的次峰值。(2)由于太平洋和大西洋入流营养盐浓度及结构的不同,北冰洋表层浮游生物群落结构存在明显空间差异。太平洋一侧,硅藻和中型浮游动物占优,硅藻在5月和9月出现生物量峰值,微型浮游植物在3月、5月和6月维持相对较高生物量;而大西洋一侧,在早春－春末夏初－夏秋经历了微型浮游植物－硅藻－微型浮游植物的演替,总体而言,微型浮游植物和微型浮游动物占优。此外,两侧海区浮游动物浓度峰值相较浮游植物滞后约半月。     

Spatial patterns of primary production on the shelf, slope and basin of the Western Arctic in 2002

In the spring and summer of 2002 primary production in the Chukchi Sea was measured, using ¹⁴C uptake experiments. Our cruise track encompassed the shelf and continental slope area of the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas progressing into deep water over the Canada Basin. The study area experienced upwards of 90% ice cover during the spring, with ice retreating into the basin during the summer. Production in the spring was light-limited due to ice cover, with average euphotic zone production rates of <0.3 g C m⁻² d⁻¹. Values of 8 g C m⁻² d⁻¹ were observed in association with surface bloom conditions during the initial ice breakup. Considerable nutrient reduction in the surface waters took place between the spring and summer cruise, and although not observed, this was attributed to a spring bloom. Decreased ice cover and increased clarity of surface waters in the summer allowed greater light penetration. The highest rates of production during the second cruise were found at 25–30 m, coincident with the top of the nutricline. Daily euphotic zone productivity in the summer averaged 0.78 g C m⁻² d⁻¹ on the shelf and 0.32 g C m⁻² d⁻¹ on the edge of the Canada basin. These data provide an estimated annual production of 90 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹ in the study area.     

Accumulation of organic and inorganic carbon in Pliocene–Pleistocene sediments along the SW African margin

The Ocean Drilling Program Leg 175 recovered a unique series of stratigraphically continuous sedimentary sections along the SW African margin, an area which is presently affected by active coastal upwelling. The accumulation rates of organic and inorganic carbon are a major component of this record. Four Leg 175 sites (1082, 1084, 1085, 1087) are chosen as part of a latitudinal transect from the present northern to southern boundaries of the Benguela Current upwelling system, to decipher the Pliocene–Pleistocene history of biogenic production and its relationship with global and local changes in oceanic circulation and climate. The pattern of CaCO₃ and C_org mass accumulation rates (MARs) over 0.25-Myr intervals indicates that the evolution of carbon burial is highly variable between the northern and the southern Benguela regions, as well as between sites that have similar hydrological conditions. This, as well as the presence over most locations of high-amplitude, rapid changes of carbon burial, reflect the partitioning of biogenic production and patterns of sedimentation into local compartments over the Benguela margin. The combined mapping of CaCO₃ and C_org MARs at the study locations suggests four distinct evolutionary periods, which are essentially linked with major steps in global climate change: the early Pliocene, the mid-Pliocene warm event, a late Pliocene intensification of northern hemisphere glaciation and the Pleistocene. The early Pliocene spatially heterogeneous patterns of carbon burial are thought to reflect the occurrence of mass-gravitational movements over the Benguela slope which resulted in disruption of the recorded biogenic production. This was followed (3.5–3 Ma) by an episode of peak carbonate accumulation over the whole margin and, subsequently, by the onset of Benguela provincialism into a northern and a southern sedimentary regime near 2 Ma. This mid and late Pliocene evolution is interpreted as a direct response to changes in the ventilation of bottom and intermediate waters, as well as to dynamics of the subtropical gyral circulation and associated wind stress.     

西北冰洋表-底层碳动力学耦合作用的同位素(13C,234Th)指示

The coupling of upper ocean-benthic carbon dynamics in the ice-free western Arctic Ocean(the Chukchi Sea and the Canada Basin) was evaluated during the late July–early September 2003 using natural stable(13C) and radioactive(238U-234Th) isotope tracers. POC export flux estimated from 234Th/238 U disequilibria and dissolved CO2 concentration([CO2(aq)]) pointed out that the strengthened biological pump in the Chukchi Shelf have significantly lowered [CO2(aq)] and altered the magnitude of isotopic(12C/13C) fractionation during carbon fixation in the surface ocean. Further, d13 C signatures of surface sediments(d13Csed) are positively correlated to those of weighted d13 CPOC in upper ocean(d13Csed =13.64+1.56×d13CPOC, r2=0.73, p0.01), suggesting that the POC isotopic signals from upper ocean have been recorded in the sediments, partly due to the rapid export of particles as evidenced by low residence times of the highly particle-reactive 234 Th from the upper water column. It is suggested that there probably exists an upper ocean-benthic coupling of carbon dynamics, which likely assures the sedimentary d13 C record an indicator of paleo-CO2 in the western Arctic Ocean.