Planktonic Foraminifera in the Continental Slope of the Northern South China Sea during the Last 130,000 Years and Their Paleo-Oceanographic Implications

Core V36-06-3, approximately 12m long, was raised from the lower part of the continental slope of the continental South China Sea from a water depth of 2,809 m. Analyses of planktonic foraminifera, CaCO_3 content and oxygen isotopes(δ~(18)O) in shells of Globigerinoides sacculifer show that the trend of the sea surfacetemperature change at this site over the last 130,000 years is consistent with that in other oceans, while the expression of the dissolution cycles of calcium carbonates here is contrary to that in the Pacific Ocean but consistent with that in the Atlantic Ocean, which means that the dissolution was intense and the CaCO_3 content was slightly low during the glacial ages, but the reverse was true for the interglacial ages. The reason for this is that during the glacial ages large quantity of terrigenous detrital materials were brought into the abyssal and bathyal Zones, thus diluting the calcium carbonate deposits and intensifying their dissolution.     

Structure and Composition of the Holocene–Pleistocene Sediments in the Northern Barents Sea

Lithology and Mineral Resources - Signs of extensive migration of gas-bearing fluids from the sedimentary cover into the water column were identified in the northern Barents Sea during Cruises 25...     

Comparative Analysis of Phytoplankton Composition and Abundance over a Two-Decade Period at the Land–Ocean Boundary of a Tropical Mangrove Ecosystem

Inter-annual variations of phytoplankton abundance and community organization were observed over a two-decade period along with the ancillary parameters at the land–ocean boundary associated with the Sundarban mangrove forest (21°32′ and 22°40′ N and 88°05′ and 89° E), along the NE Coast of the Bay of Bengal. The number of definable Bacillariophyceae species exceeded Dinophyceae taxa, and the total number of bloom-forming species declined from a maximum of ten in 2000 and a minimum of two in 2007. Blooms of the diatom Coscinodiscus radiatus were common in 2000 and 2007. Tide cycles and the onset of the monsoon season played important roles in diurnal and seasonal variability of phytoplankton. Phytoplankton biovolume showed seasonality, with the highest levels during post-monsoon periods and lowest levels during the monsoon period. Phytoplankton abundance was correlated to rainfall patterns, which may be altered by long-term changes in climate.     

Magmatic Source Composition and Magmatism of the Volcanic Rocks in the Area of Kuruktag, Southern Xinjiang

1. Geological setting The terrane of Kuruktag lies in the north-eastern margin of the Tarim Basin and is a faulted marginal uplift of the basin. In the terrane, there occur extensively Dagelagebulake Group and Xinditage Group of Archaean-Paleoprotozoic metamorphic sequences overlain by Sinian-Cambrian sequences (Geological and mineral bureau of Xingjiang ulger atonomous region, 1993). The sedimentology of the Sinian-Cambrian strata have been studied (South Xinjiang petrollum exploratio…     

Framvaren and the Black Sea – Similarities and Differences

The following determinations in the Norwegian fjord Framvaren and the Black Sea have been compared: carbon-14, carbon-13, alkalinity, total dissolved inorganic carbon, sulfide, tritium (HTO), trace metals, silica, ammonium and phosphate. The historical development of the two anoxic basins is quite different. The carbon-14 age of the total inorganic dissolved carbonate in the deep water is 2000 years in the Black Sea, but only 1600 in Framvaren. The fresh water supply and composition are different. The rivers entering the Black Sea have a high alkalinity, but the river input and runoff to Framvaren has a very low alkalinity. The alkalinity, carbonate and sulfide concentrations in the anoxic waters below the chemoclines are much higher in Framvaren. This is mainly an effect of the different surface to volume ratios. The difference in carbon-13 (-8 for the Black Sea deep water, -19 in the Framvaren bottom water) is mainly due to the smaller imprint of the decomposition of organic matter on the Black Sea deep water.The concentration of trace metals in the particulate form are about the same in the deep water. About 76% of the molybdate in seawater is lost in the sulfidic water of Framvaren, and about 82–96% of the molybdate carried into the Black Sea by the Bosporus undercurrent is lost in the deep water. The relation between silica, ammonium and phosphate can be understood if part of the ammonium is being removed by denitrification, a process that most likely has been going on for thousands of years.     

Deep Structure and Geodynamics of the Black Sea–Caspian Region

Geotectonics - New data on the crust structure of the Black Sea?Caspian region, including the Scythian and Anatolian plate margins, the Caucasus, Black Sea and Southern Caspian structures are...     

An Outline of Mesozoic to Paleogene SequenceStratigraphy and Sea－Level Changes in Northern Himalayas，Southern Xizang

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Helgoland Roads,North Sea: 45 Years of Change

The Helgoland Roads time series is one of the richest temporal marine data sets available. Running since 1962, it documents changes for phytoplankton, salinity, Secchi disc depths and macronutrients. Uniquely, the data have been carefully quality controlled and linked to relevant meta-data, and the pelagic time series is further augmented by zooplankton, intertidal macroalgae, macro-zoobenthos and bacterioplankton data. Data analyses have shown changes in hydrography and biota around Helgoland. In the late 1970s, water inflows from the south-west to the German Bight increased with a corresponding increase in flushing rates. Salinity and annual mean temperature have also increased since 1962 and the latter by an average of 1.67°C. This has influenced seasonal phytoplankton growth causing significant shifts in diatom densities and the numbers of large diatoms (e. g. Coscinodiscus wailesii). Changes in zooplankton diversity have included the appearance of the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi. The macroalgal community also showed an increase in green algal and a decrease in brown algal species after 1959. Over 30 benthic macrofaunal species have been newly recorded at Helgoland over the last 20 years, with a distinct shift towards southern species. These detailed data provide the basis for long-term analyses of changes on many trophic levels at Helgoland Roads.     

Changes in Phytoplankton Biomass in the Western Scheldt Estuary During the Period 1978–2006

We investigated whether climate change results in long-term changes in phytoplankton biomass and phenology in a turbid eutrophic coastal plain estuary. Changes in annual mean chlorophyll a (chla) concentrations were studied for the period 1978–2006 in the eutrophic and turbid macro-tidal Western Scheldt estuary. Three stations were investigated: WS1, at the mouth of the estuary; station WS6, halfway up the estuary; and station WS11, near the Dutch–Belgian border near the upstream end of the estuary. No significant long-term changes in yearly averaged chla concentrations were observed in WS1 and WS6, but in WS11 the phytoplankton biomass decreased considerably. This is most likely due to an increase in grazing pressure as a result of an improvement in the dissolved oxygen concentrations. Spectral analyses revealed a possible periodicity of 7 years in the mean chla which was related to periodicity in river discharge. We also observed strong phenological responses in the timing of the spring/summer bloom which were related to a well-documented increase in the temperature in the estuary. The fulcrum, the center of gravity or the day at which 50% of the cumulative chla was reached during the year, advanced by 1–2 days/year. A similar trend was observed for the month in which the maximum bloom was observed, with the exception of station WS1. All stations showed an earlier initiation of the bloom, whereas the day at which the phytoplankton bloom was terminated also moved forward in time excepted for WS11. As a result, the bloom length decreased at station WS1, remained the same at station WS6, and increased at WS11. This complicated pattern in bloom phenology demonstrates the complex nature of ecosystem functioning in estuaries.     

Structural–Geodynamic Systems of the Basement of the Black Sea–Caspian Sea Region: Evolution in the Late Paleozoic‒Cenozoic

Geotectonics - Structural-cartographic geological and geophysical materials were analyzed in order to construct a series of models of structural–geodynamic systems of the basement of the...     

Tectonic Uplift of the Yili Basin during the Last Stage of the Late Pleistocene: Evidence from ESR and OSL Dating of Sediments in the Huocheng Area, Xinjiang

The Quaternary sediments in the Yili Basin can serve as archives for studying the Cenozoic basin–mountain relationship. In this study, based on typical natural sections and boreholes, the surficial sediments of the Huocheng area were studied, and their sedimentary ages were obtained using the optically stimulated luminescence(OSL) and electron spin resonance(ESR) dating methods. These dates, combined with changes in the sedimentary facies, provided details of the neotectonic movement in the Yili Basin and adjacent areas. By dating sediments from five sections and three boreholes, we determined that the surficial sediments of the Huocheng area were mainly formed in the Late Pleistocene, with scattered instances of Holocene sediments. The surficial sediments mainly consisted of alluvial fan facies, fluvial facies, lacustrine facies, and desert facies. Based on the activity on the Hongshanzui fault and the northern margin fault of the Wusun Mountains, the Huocheng area was uplifted synchronously with the Tianshan Mountains during the last stage of the Late Pleistocene, causing the desert facies sediments to be superimposed on the former paleo–lake sediments.     

The Sedimentary Sequence and Palaeogeographic Changes of the South Yellow Sea Since the Olduvai Subchron

According to the alternation of terrestrial beds and transgressive beds, the sedimentary sequence of the South Yellow Sea since the Olduvai subchron can be divided into 15 stratigraphical intervals. According to the facies analysis, there are 7 transgressive beds and one bed with transgression marks, and classical transgressive-regressive facies sequence also appears in the major transgressive beds.Palaeogeographic evolution in the shelf area involved 4 periods: (1) 1.70-0.5 Ma B. P. was the stage for the development of the Palaeo-Yangtze River alluvial plain and delta. Tide influenced -river channel sediments formed during the Olduvai have been found in borehole QC2. The river mouth was located near 124°E and during the transgressive stage from 0.97-0.73 Ma B.P. to the east of 122.2°E, a large-scale undersea delta was formed. In the regressive stage, the shelf area became an alluvial plain. (2) 0.50-0.75 Ma B.P. was a multi-transgressive fluctuation stage during which 3 transgressive beds (HVI, HV, H     

Historical Trends of Benthic Invertebrate Biodiversity Spanning 182 Years in a Southern New England Estuary

Benthic invertebrates support numerous ecosystem functions and services including shellfish production, energy flow to fishes, and biogeochemical cycles. The decline of marine biodiversity worldwide has raised concerns about effects on ecosystems. To examine biodiversity trends of Narragansett Bay over time, a list was compiled of all benthic invertebrate species collected from the bay since 1834. The list covers 104 studies spanning 182 years and currently holds 1214 unique taxa from 21 phyla, the majority of all animal phyla on Earth. A permuted estimator of number of species suggested there are about 300 more yet to be discovered. Widely varying sampling gear and sieve mesh sizes precluded the use of abundance data. Instead, multidimensional scaling and taxonomic distinctness were used with presence-absence data to examine biodiversity trends. The changes in community composition and decline of benthic biodiversity (p?<?0.01) since 1855 are what would be expected of a community that gradually deteriorated in the face of increasing anthropogenic stressors. Taxonomic distinctness had negative correlations (p?<?0.05) with human population in the watershed, total nitrogen inputs, and inputs of metals. This loss of benthic biodiversity has implications for ecosystem functions and services. As some of the stressors waned in the last two or three decades, following passage of environmental legislation in the 1970s, biodiversity appeared to show a partial recovery. An inventory of species, how it has changed over time, and understanding what caused those changes are important for assessing whether remediation programs are achieving improved water quality and ecosystem health.     

Rapid Shrinking of Glaciers in the Middle Qilian Mountain Region of Northwest China during the Last ～50 Years

During the past five decades, fluctuations of glaciers were reconstructed from historical documents, aerial photographs, and remote sensing data. From 1956 to 2003, 910 glaciers investigated had reduced in area by 21.7% of the 1956 value, with a mean reduction for the individual glacier of 0.10 km2. The relative area reductions of small glaciers were usually higher than those of large ones, which exhibited larger absolute loss, indicating that the small glaciers were more sensitive to climate change than la...     

Modern Geodynamic Processes and Their Impact on Replenishment of Hydrocarbon Resources in the Black Sea–Caspian Region

Geotectonics - Recent studies of the stress state of the Earth’s crust and rates of plate movement of the Caucasian fold system with respect to the Eurasian continent, analysis of sources of...     

Sequence Boundary and Sea Level Changes in Western Margin of Upper Yangtze Platform during Permian and Triassic

TECTONICac~ac~~RA~m~NERGoorU~YANG~~oafNdsreof~actTheho~ofUPperYangtzePlatformwascpetallizedandconsolidatedinthekiaogUanhernovernentofMeSoproterocoic(ca.1700mp.ItconstituteSthestableCentralSichuanconiinelhalnucleusandthecratonakin.Therearetabtabofcontinental~ionsurroUndingtheCentralSichuanconti~alnuCleusduring1700--800the.ThebordersofthecontinentalaCCretionareconcordantacthebordersof~nicandPalcogngnphy,andalsofo~theboundarybet~basin~formationS.InPaloocoic,tab~nicCycleScormspond…     

Lower Cambrian Black Rock Series and Associated Stratiform Deposits in Southern China

Widespread in more than ten provinces of southern China are the Lower Cambrian black argillaceous-arenaceous rock series consisting of black carbonaceous shales,black carbonaceousargillo-siliceous rocks,black carbonaceous silicolite and black silicolite and black carbonaceous argillaceous siltstone.The Ni,Mo,V,Cu,U,Ba,Ag,P contents of these series are usually several to tens of times higher than their average values in shales.As viewed from lithological sequence,element association and evolution,these black series can be diveided into two types.There occur a variety of deposits in the black rock series,such as phosphorite deposits,Ni-Mo-V polymetal deposits and “Stone coal“ seams.According to ore composition,texture and structure,the phosphorite deposits fall into three types,i.e.,thick-bedded,lenticular and nodular,The Ni-Mo-V polymetal deposits,V deposits and reworked sedimentary CU-U-Cd polymetal deposits in terms of their element assiciation and ore genesis.As for the stratiform deposits in the black rock series,three mineralization stages have been recognized,i.e.,the formation of phosphorite deposits,of Ni-Mo polymetal deposits and of V-Cu-U-Cd polymetal deposits as well as of “:stone coal“ seams.Evidence strongly suggests that lower organisms have played an important role in mineralization. Our studies indicate that the Lower Cambrian black argillaceous-arenaceous rock series in southern China and their associated stratiform deposits occur generally in the basal parts of a big sedimentary cycle,i.e.,the initial period of a transgression,or in the fine detrital-siliceous formation between two carbonate formatons,formed in a humid climatic zone between two arid ones.As for the environment of deposition,it is suggested that the Lower Cambrian black argillaceous-arenaceous rock series and associated stratiform deposits(excluding thick-bedded phosphorite deposits)were formed mainly in a restricted and poorly-fed sea basin of stagnant shallow water containing abundant lower or ganisms and organic matter under statically hydrodynamic conditions.     

Types and Distribution of Geological Hazards in the South China Sea

Various types of geological hazards exist in the South China Sea. In dynamics sense, they can be categorized into 5 principal genetic types related to effects of hydraulic dynamics, gaseous activity, soil mechanics, gravity and tectonism, respectively. Integrated analyses indicate that the geological hazards associated with volcanoes, earthquakes and fractures are mainly distributed in tectonically active regions, whereas those resulting from mudflows, landslides and diapirs are usually concentrated in the region of slope, that shallow gas, high pressure gas pockets and soft intercalations are major potential geological hazards in the inner shelf, and that strong hydraulic dynamics, especially storm tide, is one of the major causes of geological hazards in the littoral areas. The geological hazards that occurred in the South China Sea are also characterized by periodicity, succession and, to a certain extent, unpredictability in addition to regionalization.     

Phytoplankton,protozooplankton and nutrient dynamics in the Bornholm Basin (Baltic Sea) in 2002–2003 during the German GLOBEC Project

From March 2002 to until April 2003 we investigated the seasonal nutrient and phytoplankton dynamics in the central Bornholm Basin (Baltic Sea) within the framework of the German GLOBEC Project. We choose a nested approach consisting of vertical fluorescence profiles, phytoplankton counts and nutrient analyses. The Fluoroprobe (MultiProbe, BBE Moldaenke) is capable of distinguishing four algal groups (Cryptophyceae, Cyanophyceae, Chlorophyceae, Bacillariophyceae + Dinophyceae). Winter nutrient concentrations were about 5 μM NO₃ and 0.5 μM PO₄ in the central Basin. The spring phytoplankton bloom was dominated by the diatom Skeletonema sp. and reached a maximum of about 270 μg C/l before the onset of the seasonal stratification. Protozooplankton was dominated by the Mesodinium rubrum (a phototrophic ciliate = Myrionecta rubra) and reached a maximum biomass of about 200–300 μg C/l about 2 weeks after the demise of the diatom spring bloom. During summer, the water column was stratified and a subsurface maximum developed near the thermocline consisting of Bacillariophyceae, Cryptophycea and other phototrophic flagellates. Phytoplankton and protozooplankton biomass was generally low. Nutrient concentrations point towards a nitrogen limitation during this period. The stratification period ended during September and surface nutrient concentrations increased again. Protozooplankton reached a second maximum during September. With the Fluoroprobe small scale structures in the plankton community could be detected like a subsurface Cryptophyceae maximum near the thermocline that however, could not be confirmed by cell counts. The chlorophyll a estimate of the Fluoroprobe was in good agreement with the phytoplankton biomass estimated from counts. We conclude that only by combining modern sensing technology with microscopy, the small-scale dynamics and taxonomic spectrum of the plankton can be fully captured.     

Sequence Stratigraphy and Relative Sea Level Changes in Sinian System of Yichang, Hubei Province

TheSinianseCtionintheYangtZeGorges,YichangisthestfstotypesectionfortheNeoproterozoicofChina.Manydetailedresearchesonbiostratigraphyandlithostratigraphyhavebeendonethere.ThedetailedolltcropsequencestratigraphyisoneofthemainworkinsyntheSizedstratigraphy.Inthispaper,somenewprogressachievedinthisseCtionisintroduced.~NAGorsrviXNsvInordertosetupanewstratigraphicsyStembelowCambrianintheglobalstratigraphicframework,anintensiveresearchontheSilvanSyStemhasbeenconductedinChinasincethe1970s,andas…