Tidal rhythmites in offshore shale: A case study from the Palaeoproterozoic Chaibasa shale, eastern India and implications

Tidal rhythmites have been documented from modern continental shelves and distal offshore settings. In significant contrast to their modern counterparts, sedimentological studies of ancient tidal rhythmites formed in distal offshore settings and quantification of tidal rhythms encoded therein are, however, scarce. This paper presents sedimentological analysis of vertically accreted tidal rhythmites from the Palaeoproterozoic Chaibasa shale facies in India, and quantification of their tidal rhythms. The facies characteristics of the Chaibasa Shale coupled with harmonic analysis of the laminae thicknesses of the sandstone inter-layers corroborate a distal shelf palaeogeography for the generation of the vertically accreted tidal rhythmites. The latter are the distal counterparts of laterally accreted, tidal “bundle” deposits, well preserved within the shallow marine Chaibasa sandstones. The number of lunar days in a synodic month (∼23) estimated from the Chaibasa shale facies is, however, considerably lower than that estimated from the Chaibasa sandstone facies (∼32) suggesting that the tidal record encoded from the Chaibasa shale facies is incomplete.     

厄瓜多尔Oriente盆地南部区块沉积特征

通过构造演化和地层发育特征分析,将厄瓜多尔Oriente盆地南部区块Napo组划分为4个层序。根据岩心中的潮汐层理、羽状交错层理、冲洗交错层理、具有大量贝壳等特征,识别研究区具有潮坪沉积环境。针对其沉积坡度缓,碎屑岩和碳酸盐岩互层沉积的特点,建立了缓坡混积陆棚边缘的沉积相模式,认为Oriente盆地南部区块Napo组发育有海岸平原、潮坪、局限台地和混积陆棚相。相序的垂向组合和平面迁移受海平面升降的控制,指出潮坪砂岩主要出现在各层序的陆架边缘体系域,水下浅滩砂岩出现在海侵体系域。从沉积角度看,潮汐水道砂体是最好的储层砂体。     

福建宁德半岛沿岸泥沙运动和沉积速率研究

利用风要素计算福建宁德半岛沿岸输沙率.半岛南侧各岸段的净输沙率较小,岸滩基本处于冲淤动态平衡状态.半岛东北侧年净输沙率小于西南侧,半岛东北侧每年约有13万m~3量级的沿岸泥沙输往晴川湾顶,西南侧每年约有26万m~3量级的沿岸泥沙输往文渡湾顶.半岛及其附近海底表层和柱状沉积物粒度以及~(210)Pb沉积速率测定结果可知:海底表层沉积物单一,以细颗粒的粘土质粉砂为主,沉积速率在0.33～2.0cm/a之间,比类似海湾沉积速率较大,说明半岛沿岸和海底沉积速率分布不均.     

Coastal upwelling and downwelling events in the Seto Inland Sea

Prominent coastal upwelling and downwelling events due to Ekman transport were observed during the period from 14 to 18 August 1983 along the Misaki Peninsula in the Seto Inland Sea, Japan. The coastline of the Misaki Peninsula is aligned approximately in an ENE-WSW direction. When an ENE wind continued blowing for about two days, the warm water in the upper layer was pushed offshore and cold water in the lower layer upwelled along the peninsula. The estimated upwelling speed 3 m below the sea surface was 0.032 cm sec^–1. On the other hand, when a WSW wind continued blowing for about two days the warm water in the upper layer sank into the lower layer along the peninsula. The estimated downwelling speed 3 m below the sea surface was 0.080 cm sec^–1. The time lag between the variations of the alongshore wind and offshore current was about 0.5 days.     

论沉积强度——以南黄海为例

本文在同位素~(210)Pb测定沉积速率的基础上,提出了“沉积强度”的概念,并以南黄海为例划分了不同沉积强度区,同时探讨了其形成机制。     

High-frequency ocean radar derived characteristics of sea surface currents in the Ariake Sea,Japan

Composite analysis was conducted using high-frequency radar data obtained during 2006–2015 in order to gain a better understanding of the current field in the Ariake Sea. The seasonally averaged surface current in the Ariake Sea was directed southward in all seasons, except around river mouths during summer. Heavy rainfall enhanced the outflow along the eastern coast of the Shimabara Peninsula from Isahaya Bay to the southern area 2–5 days after heavy rainfall. Spring–neap differences were clearly seen in the southward current along the Shimabara Peninsula. Interannual variation in the M₂ tidal current amplitude was synchronized with the lunar nodal cycle.     

南黄海西北部夏季潮锋的观测和分析

根据2001-2004年逐年6月多学科综合调查资料和同期NASA的MODIS/Terra卫星遥感SST资料,对南黄海西北部夏季潮锋的不连续分布现象做了分析;并通过三维潮流数值模式计算Simpson-Hunter参数(以下简称S-H参数)分布,对不连续分布的形成机制做了讨论.层化季节南黄海西北部的苏北浅滩-海州湾外侧和山东半岛东部的成山头-石岛外海存在显著潮锋现象,而在两海域之间、青岛以东的山东半岛南部121°~122°E的近岸海域无显著潮锋持续存在;较高分辨率的潮流数值模拟的结果表明潮锋的不连续性分布主要是由潮混合和地形的共同作用而形成.潮锋不连续处海域潮混合较弱,层化现象更为显著.南黄海西北部底层锋形态较为显著,位于通过潮流模式计算的Simpson-Hunter参数1.8~2.4之间,与2.2等值线分布较为一致;表层锋则在海州湾外侧和石岛沿岸海域较为明显.潮锋不连续的分布特征对该海域的生态环境造成一定的影响,叶绿素a、中华哲水蚤、鳀鱼卵子等的数量分布都在潮锋显著的苏北浅滩-海州湾外侧和成山头-石岛外海海域形成较为密集的分布.     

Salinity Variations of the Intermediate Oyashio Waters and Their Relation with the Lunar Nodal Cycle

New oceanographic observations in the period 1990–2015 revealed significant salinity variations in the Oyashio Current. In the last 26 years, the salinity of the upper layer decreased by 0.2 PSU. The most rapid changes in salinity and temperature have been observed in the last five years. The time series of salinity measurements is characterized by the high-amplitude fluctuations synchronized with the lunar nodal cycle (18.6 years); i.e., high salinity is observed in the period of strong tidal currents. Modulation of diurnal tidal currents with the K₁ and O₁ periods in the lunar nodal cycle is significant [8, 9]. The amplitude was maximal in 1988 and 2006 and minimal in 1997 and 2015. The characteristics of tidal currents in the Oyashio Current and Sea of Okhotsk are considered based on available data of drifting buoys over the Kruzenshtern and Kashevarov banks. The amplitude of salinity variations synchronized with the lunar cycle is approximately 0.1 PSU; therefore, it has made a significant contribution to the salinity decrease in recent years.     

Sedimentation and morphological changes at Yuantuojiao Point,estuary of the North Branch,Changjiang River

The North Branch, separated by the Chongming Island, was once the main channel in the estuary of the Changjiang River. Reclamation and a decrease in runoff to the North Branch had led to the narrowing and shallowing of the channel. The Yuantuojiao Point is located at the intersecting point connecting the North Branch of the Changjiang River and the Jiangsu coastline. Erosion cliffs are developed between the typical silty-muddy tidal flat and the salt marsh occupied by Spartina alterniflorea, and this has changed rapidly over the past few years. The sediment grain size analysis results of the surficial and two core samples indicate that the Yuantuojiao Point tidal flat experienced continuous accretional processes. Based upon 137 Cs analysis results of the YT and YY Cores sampled from the tidal flat at the Yuantuojiao Point, the average sedimentation rate of the YT Core was 2.30 cm/a from 1963 to 2007, and 2.38 cm/a from 1954 to 2007 for the YY Core. The sedimentation rates of both core locations have declined since the 1960s corresponding to the seaward reclamation at the Yuantuojiao Point. The average sedimentation rates at the Yuantuojiao Point were similar to that of the silty-muddy tidal flat at the northern Jiangsu coast, but lower than that of the south of the Changjiang River Estuary. According to field morphological investigations from 2006 to 2008 on the salt marsh at the Yuantuojiao Point, cliffs retreated markedly by storm surges and disappeared gradually because of the rapid sedimentation on the silty-muddy tidal flat. The maximum annual retreat reached 10 m. The recent sedimentation and morphological changes of the Yuantuojiao Point tidal flat not only displayed the retreat of the salt marsh and the disappearance of cliffs, but also was accompanied by rapid sedimentation of the silty-muddy tidal flat and the salt marsh, indicating the responses to the tidal currents, storm surges, Spartina alterniflorea trapping sediments and large-scale reclamation. The sediment grain size and their trends, southward coastal flow, and sandspits of the longshore bars suggest that the main sediment source at the Yuantuoijao Point, estuary of the North Branch was possibly from the Changjiang River before 1958, since then, it has been from the south of the submarine radial sand ridges of the southern Huanghai Sea (Yellow Sea).     

长江三角洲泥质潮坪沉积间断的定量分析

现场观测获得了长江口开敞型泥质潮坪不同时间尺度的沉积速率及层偶保存率。每天观测结果表明，单个层偶的保存率约为46．6％。随着观测时间间隔的增大保存率迅速减小,大小潮周期内层偶保存率降为9．2％，季节性观测层偶保存率为3．7％。现代长江三角洲建造一个完整的潮坪沉积层序约需96a。百年尺度潮坪层序层偶的保存率仅为0．74％，99．26％的潮汐周期由于侵蚀或无沉积而没有纹层保存下来，形成间断。因此，沉积间断占潮坪层序的比例应为99．26％。沉积速率和沉积时间之间存在对数线性负相关，拟合直线的斜率为－0．39，由此推导出潮坪层序的完整性计算公式为C＝（t^*/t)^ 0.39。虽然对泥质潮坪沉积中沉积间断的估计有很大的不确定性，但它是从现代沉积过程观测中得到的，可以帮助我们更深入地认识古代潮坪沉积的特征及其成因，并突出沉积间断在潮坪沉积层序中的重要性。     

Influence of water-level elevation and tidal range on the sedimentation in a German tidal flat area

The nearshore region of the German Bight is characterised by a large tidal flat area of 7500km², which is a wedge of alluvial material lying in front of the coast. The elevation of a flat depends on the long-term water-level and currents. As a result of the rising water-level, the flats are migrating over an inclined Pleistocene basement. This migration depends on the balance of sedimentation versus erosion which is a function of water depth. Regular measurements of the water-level have been made since the middle of the 19th century. From the observations of the MHW it is estimated that the water-level has risen to approximately 30cm in the past hundred years. Recent investigations show that the change of the half-tide water-level is less than that of MHW. The increasing tidal range also changes the sedimentation processes over the tidal flats. The quantitative influence of the altered tidal range on the sedimentation and the morphology of the Wadden Sea is as important as that of the influence of mean water-level elevation. Changes in the elevation of the coastal plain caused by tectonic forces or subsidence cannot be determined. Extensive investigations were conducted to determine quantitatively the sedimentation processes which have taken place since 1936. The sediment budget of the Flackstrom basin (low macrotidal coast) is presented. With respect to the MHW datum plane, sedimentation of 20 × 10⁶m³ has taken place in this area. This is equivalent to a mean silting-up of 30cm over the past 46 years, an average 0.7cm/year. The sedimentation process is dependent upon the mean elevation of the flat. Most of the sedimentation has taken place above the half-tide water-level. Therefore, the flanks of the flats have risen more than the tops and the sand-ridges, which certainly reflects the very small long-term water-level elevation change of only 3cm which occurred during the period investigated (1936 to 1982). Recent investigations of the present state show a relationship between the tidal range and the height of the main sedimentation-zone. Comparisons of the Flackstrom (tidal range approximately 3.40m) and parts of the Dutch Wadden Sea (tidal range approximately 1.80m) indicate that the main sedimentation-zone moves down-shore from half-tide water-level to mean-low-water with the decrease of the tidal range, due to differences in the general course of the hypsometric curves over the tidal flat areas.     

Tides—a modern perspective

Progress in tidal science has been rapid in recent years. The advent of precision altimetry has enabled, for the very first time in tidal history, an accurate measurement of tides in most of the global oceans. This has revolutionized our knowledge of tides and tidal processes. Combined with high‐resolution numerical models of tides (and other recent advances in astronomy and geodesy), this increased knowledge is providing valuable assistance in effecting closure on many outstanding problems in this three‐centuries‐old science. For example, we now know the dissipation rate of lunar tides to be 3.17 TW to within 2%. However, there do remain some outstanding issues. While we know the rate at which tidal energy is being dissipated in the global oceans, there is still considerable uncertainty as to the mechanisms, locations, and magnitudes of various tidal energy sinks. Imminent advances in shallow‐water barotropic and deep‐water baroclinic tides hold the prospect of a better understanding of these also. Improved knowledge of oceanic tides and high‐precision satellite measurements of tides are enabling better assessment of some matters of geophysical interest, such as the anelasticity and the length‐of‐day fluctuations of the Earth's mantle. It has been possible to map long‐period lunar tides more accurately and derive their contribution to the Earth's rotation rate fluctuations and its anelasticity at these frequencies. We discuss various aspects related to tides, including tidal dissipation and its consequences, as well as several other topics such as tidal energetics, internal tides, and long‐period tides, where considerable progress has been made in the last decade. Both oceanographic and geophysical implications are mentioned.     

Sedimentology and evolution of Omaro Spit,Coromandel Peninsula

The sedimentary structures, composition, and texture of sediments from the barrier coast complex (Matarangi Beach—Omaro Spit—Whangapoua Harbour) at Whangapoua, Coromandel Peninsula, are described. Sediments are mainly fine sands, rarely muddy or silty, and most are plagioclase feldsarenites, reflecting derivation from a predominantly Tertiary volcanic hinterland. Sediments from each of the modern environments, namely nearshore, foreshore, back‐shore, frontal dunes, tidal flats, and tidal channels, are characterised by a particular combination of sedimentary structures and subtle textural parameters. Dune ridge and barrier flat paleoenvironments on Omaro Spit were successfully identified by comparing their lithologic properties with the modern sediments. ‘Surficial’ sediments of the well‐preserved dune ridge system developed immediately inland from Matarangi Beach closely resemble those in the modern frontal dunes, and the ‘in depth’ dune ridge sediments are more analogous to the present foreshore sands. The barrier flat deposits separating the dune ridge system from Whangapoua Harbour have similar characteristics to the modern tidal flat sediments in the harbour.

Omaro Spit probably began as an offshore bar across the mouth of Whangapoua Harbour, an embayment formed by the post‐glacial drowning of a Late Tertiary dislocated fault‐block. Tidal flat sedimentation within the harbour formed the ancient barrier flat deposits which rise to at least 2 m above the modern harbour flats, suggesting local sea level at the time was higher than at present. During a subsequent cyclic fall in sea level, supratidal aeolian deposition led to a succession of 15 to 18 parallel dune ridges developed on high‐tide berms. Linear regression analyses of dune ridge and swale heights and the height distribution of positive (aeolian) and negative (beach foreshore) skewness values and of contrasting sedimentary structures in dune ridgL paleosediments, together with the stages in dune soil development across the barrier, suggest initial sedimentation occurred from 4000–5000 years ago when local sea level was 2–3 m above present mean high water level. Barrier progradation was interrupted by an important period of coastal erosion during a temporary rise in sea level immediately before deposition in the dune ridge system of a layer of 2000‐year‐old sea‐rafted Leigh Pumice. Sea level probably reached its modern position at Whangapoua about 1000 years ago, since when some evidence suggests the barrier spit may have experienced minor uplift.     

朔望潮汐大小的分析

在潮差逐日变化的半个朔望月的周期里，有朔望大潮，它与月相关关。半日潮港在朔望后的二、三日，因月球引起的潮汐和太阳引起的潮汐相加，潮差最大，是为大潮。而朔和望的大潮又随着不同的年份和不同的月份而发生变化，本文通过分析引潮势的系数，采用静力潮的概念从理论上导出这种变化，并利用青岛大港验潮站１０年的资料进行验证。     

北部湾东北部潮锋的观测与分析

近海潮锋的分布与温度、盐度乃至海洋生产力的分布都存在紧密联系。基于北部湾东北部的实测数据,对比分析2016—2017年北部湾东北部海域的温度、盐度、密度等分布,并利用ROMS(Regional Ocean Model System)正压与斜压模式,计算Simpson-Hunter (S-H)参数,阐述了潮锋出现位置及其与温度、盐度和密度的关系。结果表明:北部湾东北部潮锋发生的主要区域位于雷州半岛附近,潮混合区温盐密混合较为均匀。利用ROMS模式计算所得的最大垂直平均流速来计算S-H参数,认为潮锋出现位置位于S-H参数值为2处,与实测结果较为一致,且认为正压模式比斜压模式更能准确模拟潮混合区。另外,分析观测数据发现,温度、盐度、密度锋终年存在。近岸处密度锋主要受盐度锋控制,而潮混合产生的盐度锋又容易被径流掩盖。风力较大时三种锋都易向水深更深处推进,潮混合区终年垂向混合较好。     

Numerical study on tidal currents and seawater exchange in the Benoa Bay, Bali, Indonesia

A three-dimensional （3-D） finite volume coastal ocean model （FVCOM） was used for the study of water cir culation and seawater exchange in the Benoa Bay, Bali Island. The M2 tidal component was forced in open boundary and discharge from six rivers was included in the numerical calculation. The M2 tidal elevation produced by the FVCOM has a good agreement with the observation data. The M2 tidal current is also suc cessfully calculated under the ebb tide and flood tide conditions. The non-linear M2 tidal residual current was produced by the coastline geometry, especially surrounding the narrow strait between the Serangan Is- land and the Benoa Peninsula. The tidal residual current also generated two small eddies within the bay and one small eddy in the bay mouth. The salinity distribution influenced by river discharge could be success- fully calculated, where the numerical calculation and the observation results have a good correlation （r2） of 0.75. Finally in order to examine the seawater exchange in the Benoa Bay, the Lagrangian particle tracking method and calculation of residence time are applied. The mechanism of particle transport to the flushing of seawater is depicted clearly by both methods.     

Some thoughts on the spring-neap cycle of tidal dissipation

The spring-neap cycle of global energy dissipation by ocean tides is calculated with a view to trying to explain an observed anomaly in the tidal fluctuations in the length of day. Calculations are performed in three ways: dissipation by friction linearly proportional to semidiurnal tide velocity, by quadratic friction, and by the torques of the lunar and solar tidal forces on the solar and lunar ocean tides, respectively. All methods give comparable results equivalent to an amplitude of about 0.1 μs change in the length of day with a small phase lag. These are inadequate to explain the observed anomaly of about 3 μs and 0.1 rad phase lag. Further investigations, to determine the generation of a non-equilibrium global MSf wave of equatorial amplitude 0.9 mm by nonlinear interactions in shallow seas using global tide models and observations, are suggested.     

互花米草对江苏潮滩沉积和地貌演化的影响

江苏潮滩面积大,岸滩冲淤动态变化复杂.人工引种互花米草对江苏海岸潮滩沉积地貌演化有较大影响,主要体现在影响潮滩沉积速率、物质分布及潮水沟地貌系统的发育等方面.根据定点站位不同年代的高程数据,分析Pethick-Allen模型在江苏潮滩盐沼的适用性;在现场采集柱状样并在室内进行137Cs分析,根据分析结果及前人研究结果,利用P-A模型分析计算江苏潮滩不同时期的沉积速率,结果表明互花米草的引种加快了潮滩沉积速率,它使潮滩沉积地貌演化脱离了原来的渐进函数关系.在选择的典型断面上采集表层底质样,在激光粒度仪上进行粒度分析,结果表明,互花米草易使细颗粒沉积物沉积,大米草滩和盐蒿滩表层沉积物主要来自潮水沟输送.根据野外调查并结合遥感分析,互花米草滩内潮水沟宽深比小,密度大,水道稳定,有别于光滩或大米草滩的潮水沟形态.     

Contrasting Pliocene fluvial depositional systems within the rapidly subsiding South Caspian Basin; a case study of the palaeo-Volga and palaeo-Kura river systems in the Surakhany Suite,Upper Productive Series,onshore Azerbaijan

The South Caspian Basin contains major hydrocarbon reservoirs within the largely Early Pliocene Productive Series. This paper describes and contrasts outcrops of the uppermost ∼500 m of the series (the Surakhany Suite) deposited by two of the main fluvial systems that supplied the Azeri margin of the basin. Sedimentary facies and, for the first time from the Productive Series, palynological analyses document fluvial channel belt complexes, sheetflood overbank and flood plain to flood plain lake environments. The Productive Series on the Apsheron Peninsula, Azerbaijan, was supplied predominantly from the north by the palaeo-Volga river system. It displays an overall fining-upward trend, such that the Surakhany Suite at Lokbatan is dominated by mudstone. Siltstone and coarser-grained sediments make up 28% of the section. Channel bodies are on average 1.5 m thick and form 13% of the succession. In the sub-surface of the Apsheron Peninsula, ratty wireline log responses also indicate that siltstone and sandstone bodies are predominantly thin bedded, with SP-derived net-to-gross sand ratios of ∼0.35–0.40. The succession in the Kura Basin was sourced predominantly from the west by the palaeo-Kura river system. It displays a coarsening-upward trend, such that in the middle and upper Surakhany Suite at Babazanan siltstone and coarser sediments make up 52% of the section. It is characterised by numerous stacked and laterally continuous channel sandstone bodies that are on average 5.8 m thick and comprise 42% of the outcrop. In the sub-surface of the Kura Basin, wireline log responses of the Surakhany Suite have a blocky character and indicate SP-derived net-to-gross sand ratios of 0.26–0.38. These values are similar to calculated sandstone volumes at outcrop (44%). The palynological data, including multivariate analyses, show that the main controls on palynomorph distribution are the degree of fluvial or lacustrine influence, subaerial exposure and salinity. Despite their more lithic nature, Surakhany Suite sandstones derived from the palaeo-Kura river system along the Kurovdag-Babazanan-Neftchala trend have similar or better petrophysical properties than those derived from the palaeo-Volga river on the Apsheron Peninsula and its offshore continuation. This is probably due to their coarser-grain size. This, combined with their greater sandstone body thickness, would suggest that the axis of the Kura Basin forms the most promising part of the Azeri sector of the South Caspian Basin for exploration within the uppermost part of the Productive Series.     

Morphodynamic responses to the deep water harbor development in the Caofeidian sea area,China's Bohai Bay

Vast bay-type tidal inlets can be found along the coastal zones of China. They are generally suitable for deep water channels and large harbors because of the presence of large water depth and good mooring conditions. The deep channel, in front of the head of Caofeidian Island in Bohai Bay, China, is a typical bay-type tidal inlet system. The tidal current, a type of reverse flow, makes the key contribution to maintain the deep water depth. The co-action of waves and tidal currents is the main dynamic force for sediment motion. Waves have significant influence on the sediment concentration. Based on the characteristics of waves, tidal currents, sediment and seabed evolution in Caofeidian sea area, a 2D mathematical model for sediment transport under influence of waves and tidal currents is developed to study the development schemes of the Caofeidian Harbor. The model has been verified for spring and neap tides, in winter as well as in summer of 2006. The calculated tidal stages, flow velocities, flow directions and sediment concentrations at 15 stations are in good agreement with the observations. Furthermore, the calculated data on pattern and magnitude of sedimentation and erosion in the related area agree well with the observations. This model has been used to study the effects of the reclamation scheme for Caofeidian Harbor on the hydrodynamic environment, sediment transport and morphological changes. Attentions are paid to the project inducing changes of flow velocities and morphology in the deep channel at the south side of Caofeidian foreland, in the Laolonggou channel and in various harbor basins. The conclusions can provide the important foundation for the protection and use of bay-type tidal inlets and the development of harbor industry.