Last Glacial - Holocene stratigraphic development at the Marmara Sea exit of the Bosphorus Strait,Turkey

High resolution Chirp and Sparker data allowed definition and mapping of distinct seismic units in the shallow sediment record (~100 ms) acquired from the southern exit of the Bosphorus Strait; a dynamic depositional environment. The bottommost unit observed in the Chirp data (unit-3) is made up of marine-lacustrine sediments thinning seaward and onlaps the basement rocks which are represented by folded strata in the Sparker data, possibly lower to middle Pleistocene age. It is overlain by a series of prograding deposits along the shelf (unit-2) referring to sediment input from the northern sector depending on the water levels of the paleo Marmara lake’s during MIS 3. The uppermost deposits (unit-1) close to the Bosphorus Strait were represented by three separate subunits, unlike to relatively thin drape of sediments observed at the other places in the surrounding regions. The detailed definition of these subunits deduced from the closely-spaced reflection profiles and available radiocarbon ages helped to explain the history of the latest stratigraphic development depending on the connections between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara. In addition to the previously proposed major conduits, which controlled the sedimentary deposition at the southern exit of the Bosphorus, namely the Bosphorus Strait and Kurba?al?dere River, another submarine sedimentary pathway at the eastern bank of the strait’s channel seems to have delivered sediments directly into the basin.     

Variation in the occurrence of marine birds at fronts in the Bering Sea

Topographically-induced flow gradients can concentrate seabird prey in several different ways, and are potentially important to marine birds in shelf ecosystems such as the south-eastern Bering Sea. We tested the hypothesis that attendance by seabirds was greater at fronts maintained by strong surface flow gradients than at fronts maintained by weak or intermittent surface flow gradients. An analysis of 62 crossings of flow gradients identified from temperature and salinity gradients showed that local increase in attendance was greater in areas of strong surface flow gradient than in an area of weak surface flow gradients. Attendance by marine birds depended on the strength of a flow gradient rather than on the presence or absence of a front.     

Geotechnical properties of deep oceanic sediments recovered from the hydrate occurrence regions in the Ulleung Basin, East Sea, offshore Korea

This study presents comprehensive geotechnical data of the natural marine sediments cored from the hydrate occurrence regions during the Ulleung Basin Gas Hydrate Expedition 1 (UBGH1), East Sea, offshore Korea in 2007. Geotechnical soil index properties of the Ulleung Basin sediments, including grain size distribution, porosity, water content, Atterberg limits, specific gravity, and specific surface area, were experimentally determined. These soil index properties were correlated to geotechnical engineering parameters (e.g., shear strength and friction angle) by using well-known empirical relationships. By performing standard consolidation tests on both undisturbed specimens (as recovered from the original core liner after hydrate dissociation) and remolded specimens, stress-dependent mechanical and hydraulic properties (e.g., compressibility and hydraulic conductivity) were measured. The experimental results provide important engineering parameters, and demonstrate the effect of hydrate presence and consequential dissociation to index properties, engineering parameters, and innate sediment structures.     

渤海、黄海沿岸几种经济贝类及其生存环境中的异养细菌

报道渤海、黄海6个重点沿岸海域(吕四、青岛、北戴河、盘锦、大连、庄河)海水和沉积物及经济贝类样品中的异养细菌总数检测结果.结果表明,整个渤海、黄海沿岸海域经济贝类体内异养细菌总数的变化范围为2.0×103～1.6×106cfu/g湿重,平均值为2.7×105cfu/g湿重,其中异养细菌总数最高的样品是在吕四沿岸3号站采集的四角蛤蜊(1.6×106cfu/g湿重),其次分别在北戴河沿岸2号站采集的杂色蛤(1.2×106cfu/g湿重)和毛蚶(1.1×106cfu/g湿重),而异养细菌总数最低样品是在青岛沿岸采集的镜蛤(2.0×103cfu/g湿重)和在大连沿岸采集的太平洋牡蛎、紫贻贝和皱纹盘鲍(≤5.0×103cfu/g湿重).该海区表层海水中异养细菌总数变化范围为2.5×105～1.0×108cfu/dm3,全海域平均值为1.2×107cfu/dm3.表层沉积物中异养细菌数量变化范围为2.8×103～7.5×105cfu/g干重,全海域平均值为1.3×105cfu/g干重.根据上述结果和欧共体委员会(93/51/EEC)指令要求,对各海区贝类卫生质量进行了初步评价.这在国内尚属首次.     

Tectonics related to the North Anatolian Fault in the Sea of Marmara: evidence from seismic reflection data

The North Anatolian Fault crosses the Sea of Marmara from east to west. Tectonic features of the Sea of Marmara were studied using multi-channel deep seismic reflection data. The northern branch of the North Anatolian Fault is active as a right lateral strike-slip fault zone and indicates both negative and positive flower structures. The North Anatolian Fault splays into two faults at the Sea of Marmara as a northern branch and north segment of the southern branch. The northern branch named the Main Marmara Fault extends in a complicated manner from the north of the Kapıdağı Peninsula to westward in the Sea of Marmara. The north segment of southern branch extends between the Gemlik and Bandırma gulfs in the south of the Sea of Marmara. In addition, uplift areas arose by compression and a push-up style in between the Kapıdağı Peninsula and the Main Marmara Fault. The North Anatolian Fault is characterized by a negative flower structure in basins and push-up style in uplift areas in the Sea of Marmara. An uplift area arose between the north segment of the southern branch and the northern branch of the North Anatolian Fault. The north segment of the southern branch of the North Anatolian Fault is a strike-slip fault and displays a pull-apart style in the seismic reflection data.     

黄海冷水团附近沉积物中的趋磁细菌及磁小体的特性研究

对黄海冷水团附近海域的沉积物进行了富集、荧光显微镜观察、电镜观察,并对其中大小均匀、形状规则的高密度颗粒进行了能谱分析。结果显示,在黄海冷水团附近有趋磁细菌和磁小体的存在。     

The occurrence of some metals in mesozooplankton taken from the southern Baltic

The determination of Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Cu, Co, Zn, Cd, K and Na was carried out in the mesozooplankton caught in the southern Baltic in July 1980. The species structure of mesozooplankton was characterized on the basis of mean numbers of particular components and their percentage. The chemical analyses of the samples of mesozooplankton show a wide range of values, although they were within the ranges published for zooplankton from other aquatic regions of the world. Both concentration factors and selectivity factors for Zn, Cd, Pb and Cu in the organisms analysed were calculated. The significant cross-correlation coefficients calculated for all possible pairs of metals showed the following associations: CuPbNiMnFe, MnZn and NaZn.     

Phylogenetic diversity of bacteria associated with the marine sponge Agelas robusta from South China Sea

It is well known that marine sponges harbor large numbers of bacteria, some of which have been proved to be sponge-specific. The diversity of bacteria in marine sponges distributed along the coast of South China Sea has been previously studied but that of bacteria in sponges inhabiting the open sea has been rarely investigated. In this report, the diversity of bacteria associated with the marine sponge Agelas robusta from a remote coral reef in the South China Sea was documented employing 16S rDNA library construction, amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) and phylogenetic analysis. A total of 32 phylotypes were finally categorized in nine phyla including Cyanobacteria, Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, Planctomycetes, Bacteroidetes and Gemmatimonadetes. The dominant phylum was Proteobacteria whereas the dominant genus was Synechococcus in Cyanobacteria. Some spongespecific bacteria were also found in the bacteria population, but the proportion (5 OTUs/32 OTUs) was much lower than other sponges. This study reveals the phylogenetic diversity of bacteria in A. robusta and confirms the presence of some sponge-specific bacteria in the South China Sea. Understanding the diversity of sponge-associated bacteria in China assists to exploit the bacteria resources for biotechnology.     

Late glacial to Holocene sea-level changes in the Sea of Marmara: new evidence from high-resolution seismics and core studies

The late glacial to Holocene sedimentary record of the northern shelf of the Sea of Marmara (SoM) has been documented by detailed seismo-, chrono-, and biostratigraphic analyses using sub-bottom (Chirp) profiles and sediment cores. During MIS 3 and the main part of MIS 2 (60–15 ¹⁴C ka b.p.), disconnection from the Mediterranean and Black seas together with a dry climate resulted in a regression in the SoM, when the Sea was transformed into a brackish lake. The river incisions below 105 m water depth along the northern shelf took place during the last glacial maximum, when the lake level was modulated by stillstands at −98 and −93 m. The post-glacial freshwater transgressive stage of the Marmara ‘Lake’ occurred between 15 and 13.5 ¹⁴C ka b.p., leading to a rise in water level to −85 m by 13.0 ¹⁴C ka b.p., as evidenced by broad wave-cut terraces along the northern shelf. Since 12 ¹⁴C ka b.p., high-frequency sea-level fluctuations have been identified at the SoM entrance to the Strait of İstanbul (SoI). Thus, wave-cut terraces have been recorded at water depths of −76 and −71 m that, according to an age model for core MD04-2750, have ages of 11.5 and 10.5 ¹⁴C ka b.p., respectively. Ancient shoreline at −65 m along the northern shelf presumably formed soon after the Younger Dryas (YD) at ca. 10.1 ¹⁴C ka b.p. Moreover, there is compelling evidence of Holocene outflow from the Sea of Marmara to the Black Sea. At the SoM entrance to the SoI, the existence of bioherms on the reflector surface together with abundant Brizalina spathulata and Protoglobulimina pupoides in a core suggests a return to higher salinities due to strong Mediterranean water incursion into the SoM at ∼8.8 ¹⁴C ka b.p. This finding is consistent with earlier suggestions that, after the YD, the Black Sea was flooded by outflow from the SoM as a result of global sea-level rise.     

Contributions expected from marine geodesy to the study of tsunamis in the Mediterranean Sea

Abstract

In the Mediterranean Sea, tsunamigenic sources may be found in several areas in the belt running from Gibraltar up to the Black Sea, but they are concentrated mainly around Italy and Greece. Most of the sources are located close to the coasts and excite tsunamis reaching the coasts soon after the generation time. Tsunami research and tsunami mitigation programs are only in a very initial stage in the Mediterranean area. The present activities are focused chiefly to tsunami potential evaluation and on tsunami propagation modeling. The establishment of efficient observational networks, centers for data management and services, and systems for issuing tsunami warnings are some of the most urgent needs. In this context, the envisaged contribution of marine geodesy is twofold. First, monitoring of submarine active faults and submarine volcanic areas by means of systems capable of detecting seafloor deformation may contribute in identifying periods in which the probability of tsunami generation increases beyond a threshold value, especially in those tsunamigenic zones where geodetic observations on land are insufficient (for example, eastern Sicily in Italy and the Hellenic Arc in southern Greece). Second, since most of the active sources are close to the coastline, computations of tsunami propagation and run‐up may be significantly enhanced by a better knowledge of the bathymetry of the seabelt facing the coasts.     

The response of marine bacteria to mine tailings in ecosystem enclosures

The response of marine bacteria to mine tailings was studied in three marine ecosystem enclosures of 60 m~3, one control and two treated with 10 and 100 ppm (dry) respectively of dredged mine tailings from Alice Arm, B. C., Canada. Determination of bacterial biomass was conducted by epi-fluorescence and bacterial productivity by ~3H-thymidine uptake. During the sixteen days of the experiment, two peaks in both bacterial biomass     

Distribution and texture of the bottom sediments in a semi-enclosed coastal inlet, the Izmit Bay from the eastern sea of Marmara (Turkey)

Thirty-one surficial sediment samples were collected from the floor of Izmit Bay with a grab onboard the R/V Bilim in summer 1987 and analysed for their grain size, total carbonate, and organic carbon distribution.Low calcareous-terrigenous mud (2–45% CaCO₃) with a relatively high silt percentage was the principal sediment type found on the floor of Izmit Bay. Sediments rich in sand and gravel usually occur in the narrow and shoal areas of the bay, where biogenic and topography-related hydrodynamic conditions are dominant factors controlling the nature of bottom deposits. The carbonates are made up almost entirely of the remains of calcareous organisms. Organic carbon concentrations of the sediments (0·35-1·62%) are probably associated with the high primary production rates in this region. Thus, the rates of sedimentation in the Izmit Bay calculated from the organic carbon and primary productivity data are estimated to be up to 70 cm/1000 years.     

南黄海部分典型海域沉积物粒度特征

为了研究南黄海不同典型海域沉积物的粒度特征及其对沉积环境和水动力条件的响应特征,对南黄海海域6个柱状样沉积物进行了激光粒度测试,得到样品的粒度概率分布曲线、平均粒径、分选系数、偏度和峰度等粒度参数,初步探讨了南黄海不同海域特征水动力条件下粒度的响应特征.结果表明,山东半岛东侧海域具有沿岸流水动力条件强,黄河物质输入量大,导致沉积物具有粒径较粗、极正偏和单峰分布的粒度特征;在山东半岛更靠东的海域,水动力条件减弱,受沿岸流和冷水团的共同作用,沉积物具有粒径较细及双峰分布的粒度特征;靠近冷水团中心的沉积物主要受冷水团的作用,沉积物具有垂向均匀且较细、负偏及单峰分布的粒度特征,与此处非常弱且单一的水动力条件相关联;老黄河口外的水下三角洲主要受到沿岸流的侵蚀与改造作用,在一定范围内,改造作用的强度随离岸距离的增加而随之增强,沉积物粒度也由细变粗;以沿岸流侵蚀作用为主的南黄海西部海域,沉积物粒度较粗,概率分布曲线呈粗端多峰分布.因此,沉积物的粒度特征很好地记录了南黄海不同的典型沉积环境中的水动力条件状态和特征.     

Peculiarities of the formation of the cold intermediate layer in Black Sea regions with various dynamic conditions

Hydrological surveys made in 1984–1985 are analysed. In most of the water area the core of the cold intermediate layer (CIL) lies below the critical depth of convection. This reveals the advective nature of the CIL in these regions. Non-linear one-dimensional models provided values of the depth and temperature of the CIL which are close to the real values only in regions of maximum cooling. The hydrodynamic model of the temperature anomaly evolution which can arise in the cyclonic circulation zone confirms the local nature of the anomaly effect. During the last decades, the CIL depth was shallower, but this effect exists only in the outlying areas of the sea.UDK 551.465.41(262.5).Translated by Mikhail M. Trufanov.     

Mean multiannual temperature regime of the surface water layer in the near-shore regions of the White Sea

The mean multiannual temperature regime of the surface water layer in the near-shore regions of the White Sea is analyzed from the data obtained at the VNIIGMI-MTsD (Obninsk). A function describing the seasonal temperature trend in the surface layer was found by the method previously used for an analysis of the Onega and Ladoga lakes. The method is based on the nonlinear approximation of the field observations by a function composed of a combination of exponents with coefficients to be calculated. Explicit seasonal dependences of the mean temperature of the surface water layer in the White Sea were obtained for nine near-shore stations. The root-mean-square deviations of the measured values of the water temperature were estimated.     

北冰洋水体对格陵兰海混合增密对流的可能影响分析

格陵兰海内发生的等密度混合后产生的增密对流是重要的对流现象之一。北冰洋正在发生快速变化,其内水团变性以及环流系统的改变都将使格陵兰海等密度混合对流发生明显变化,继而对全球气候变化产生影响。以往关于等密度混合对流的研究很少,大都集中在对流发生海域。由于等密度混合的主体是大西洋回流水与北冰洋流出水体,本文目的是探讨北极内部不同海域的水体会对混合增密对流造成的可能影响。文中定义了有效对流速度,强调水平温度梯度和垂向层化强度是影响有效对流速度的决定性因素;水平温度差越大,垂向层化越弱,产生的对流越强。发生在东格陵兰极锋处的有效对流都是大西洋的水体,一部分是在格陵兰海回流的大西洋回流水;一部分是在北冰洋潜沉并回流的北极大西洋水,该水体在北冰洋循环的时间越长,温度差越大,产生的有效对流越强。而横越北冰洋的太平洋水因密度过低而不能参与等密度混合对流,加拿大海盆主盐跃层之上的水体也都不能参与对流。北冰洋几个海盆深层水的温度差异明显,有可能与格陵兰海深层水形成有效对流;但是,由于深层水流速低、湍流混合弱、水平温度梯度小,是否可以产生有效对流尚不清楚。     

Studies on the role of marine bacteria in the upwelling ecosystem——Ⅰ.Bacterial biomass in the upwelling regions

-Six cruises were carried out off the south bank of Fujian - Taiwan during the period of December 21, 1987 to November 15, 1988 to estimate the contribution of bacterial biomass carbon (BBC) to the totai particulate organic pools using epifluorescent microscopic technique. The results show that the standing crop of bacteria fluctuated from 0. 95 to 66. 60 mg /m3 (dry weight). Upwelling phenomena appeared in the region around Nanpeng Island in summer while in the region of Waixie in all seasons. The average value of BBC was 27. 60(±6. 08)mg/m3and 21. 32 (±2. 34) mg/m3 respectively. The seasonal and spatial distribution is discussed in relation to environmental factors as well as upwelling phenomena. The role of bacteria in the flow of material and energy in the upwelling ecosystem is emphasized.     

Vertical distribution of various elements in sediment cores from the Japan Sea

Deep-sea sediment cores ranging up to 30,000–80,000 yrs in age were taken from a southern region of the Japan Sea and subjected to analyses for 5 major and 11 trace elements by means of instrumental photon activation analysis with 30 MeV bremsstrahlung. These elements were Ca, Fe, Mg, Na, Ti, Ba, Ce, Co, Cr, Mn, Nb, Ni, Rb, Sr, Y and Zr. Additionally, Al was determined spectrophotometrically. Distribution patterns of these elements with depth in the sediment columns were derived. Enrichments of Ca and Sr by biogenous process were observed; these Ca maxima are well correlated with Mn maxima. Below the Holocene—Pleistocene boundary, continuous transportation of poorly degraded continental debris, which was low in metallic constituents, was noted. A distinct enrichment of the top layer of the sediments in Mn was observed. This is the result of post-depositional upward migration of Mn. Fe, Co and Ni were also enriched in the top layers. In the central part of the basin, the oxidized post-glacial zone appears to be a typical pelagic sediment.