Characteristics and distribution patterns of reef complexes on the carbonate platform margin in deep water areas: the western South China Sea

As a potential oil and gas reservoir, reef complexes have been a research focus from petroleum geologists for a long time. There are favorable conditions for the development of reef complexes in the South China Sea; however, their internal structures, evolution and distribution are still poorly understood. Based on 2D and 3D seismic data, the internal structures and evolution patterns of the reef complexes on the carbonate platform margin in the deep water areas over the western South China Sea were studied in detail. The result shows that two types of reef complexes, i.e., fault controlling platform margin reef complexes and ramp reef complexes have been developed in the study area. The reef complexes have independent or continuous mound or lenticular seismic reflections, with three internal structures (i.e., aggrading, prograding and retrograding structures). There are different growth rates during the evolution of the reef complexes, resulting in the formation of catch-up reefs, keep-up reefs and quick step reefs. The study also reveals that different platform margin reef complexes have different internal structures and distributions, because of the different platform types. These results may be applied to the exploration and prediction of carbonate platform margin reef complexes in other areas that are similar to the study area.     

Sedimentary iron inputs stimulate seagrass (Posidonia oceanica) population growth in carbonate sediments

The relationship between sedimentary Fe inputs and net seagrass population growth across a range of Posidonia oceanica meadows growing in carbonate Mediterranean sediments (Balearic Islands, Spain; SE Iberian Peninsula, Spain; Limassol, Cyprus; Sounion, Greece) was examined using comparative analysis. Sedimentary Fe inputs were measured using benthic sediment traps and the net population growth of P. oceanica meadows was assessed using direct census of tagged plants. The meadows examined ranged from meadows undergoing a severe decline to expanding meadows (specific net population growth, from −0.14 yr⁻¹ to 0.05 yr⁻¹). Similarly, Fe inputs to the meadows ranged almost an order of magnitude across meadows (8.6–69.1 mg Fe m⁻² d⁻¹). There was a significant, positive relationship between sedimentary iron inputs and seagrass net population growth, accounting for 36% of the variability in population growth across meadows. The relationship obtained suggested that seagrass meadows receiving Fe inputs below 43 mg Fe m⁻² d⁻¹ are vulnerable and in risk of decline, confirming the pivotal role of Fe in the control of growth and the stability of seagrass meadows in carbonate sediments.     

西沙海区碳酸盐台地地震反射特征及沉积模式

随着南海海盆的持续扩张,西沙海区整体沉降,从早中新世起西沙碳酸盐台地开始发育,而且在台地之上生长了不同类型的生物礁。通过地震识别认为,西沙海区生物礁在地震剖面上表现为顶底强振幅的丘形连续反射、内部弱振幅杂乱反射;碳酸盐台地表现为顶部强振幅连续平行反射、底部界面局部模糊、内部强弱相间亚平行连续反射。通过对西沙海区地层层序的分析以及大量地震资料的解释认为,在西沙碳酸盐台地的发育早期它受基底构造的控制,而在后期主要受多期海平面变化的影响,其发育演化经历了初始生长—加积—出露—二次生长—淹没等一系列阶段,复杂的演化过程也使西沙碳酸盐岩具有较好的储集条件和油气远景。     

Mixed carbonate-siliciclastic infilling of a Neogene carbonate shelf-valley system: Tampa Bay, West-Central Florida

The shelf-valley system underlying Tampa Bay, Florida’s largest estuary, is situated in the middle of the Neogene carbonate Florida Platform. Compared to well-studied fluvially incised coastal plain valley systems, this shelf-valley system is unique in its karstic origin and its alternating carbonate-siliciclastic infill. A complex record of sea-level changes, paleo-fluvial variability and marine processes have controlled the timing and mechanisms of this ‘compound’ shelf-valley infill. A dense grid of high-resolution, single-channel seismic data were collected at the mouth of Tampa Bay, in an attempt to define this stratigraphy, determine the controls on deposition, and define the underlying structure of this shelf-valley system. The seismic data were correlated with nearby wells and boreholes for lithologic and age control. Sequence stratigraphic methods were incorporated in order to develop an integrated chronostratigraphy for the depositional infilling of the shelf-valley system. Five seismic sequences were identified. Sequence boundaries generally show erosional truncation and karstification, with downlap of overlying sequences. Structure contour and isopach maps indicate that the Tampa Bay shelf-valley system has remained in essentially the same location since its formation in the early Miocene, although the provenance of sedimentary infill has changed. This change is due to increasing amounts of siliciclastic material during the Neogene. Seismic facies interpretations indicate lower-energy, northward prograding deposition dominated by predominantly carbonate sediments within the lowest Sequence A. Higher energy, siliciclastic fluvio-deltaic deposition within sequences B and C originates to the east and northeast of the shelf-valley system related to a Pliocene pulse of sedimentation onto the Florida Platform. Finally, marine processes (longshore transport, ebb-tidal delta formation) dominate the upper two sequences (D and E), reworking these siliciclastic sediments into a spatially mixed carbonate-siliciclastic depositional setting.     

基于多度格局模型的游泳动物群落结构研究

为进一步了解游泳动物群落结构,探究群落结构变动的生态过程,本研究利用生态位优先模型（NPM）、分割线段模型（BSM）、生态位重叠模型（ONM）、优势优先模型（DPM）和随机分配模型（RAM）共5种多度格局模型分析闽南海域游泳动物的群落结构特征。结果显示:闽南海域游泳动物共192种,其中鱼类132种,蟹类31种,虾类13种,头足类10种,口足类6种;NPM拟合游泳动物多度分布的效果较好,ONM的拟合效果较差,闽南海域游泳动物群落结构具有优势种占较大优势、物种生态位之间不重叠的特点;由外海到近岸的渔区,游泳动物多度分布格局由DPM向NPM 转变,NPM的拟合效果渐差,BSM的拟合效果越来越好,群落结构呈现优势种的地位下降、物种数增多、个体数目分配趋均匀的趋势;从低纬度到高纬度,在水深较深的渔区,DPM拟合游泳动物多度分布的效果渐好,优势种的优势地位逐渐升高,种类数变少,物种多度分布越来越不均匀。而在水深较浅的渔区,DPM的拟合效果渐差,优势种的优势地位逐渐下降,种类数变多,物种多度分布越来越均匀。因此,生态位优先模型比较适合闽南海域游泳动物多度分布格局的研究。     

The Cabo Frio upwelling overrides geographical patterns in the population dynamics of the shrimp Artemesia longinaris Spence Bate, 1888 (Decapoda: Penaeidae)

Upwelling areas are among the most productive ecosystems on the planet, influencing the biology of marine organisms. This study investigated the population dynamics of the shrimp Artemesia longinaris in two regions in southeastern Brazil, one inside (Macaé—Rio de Janeiro State) and one outside (Ubatuba—State of São Paulo) the Cabo Frio upwelling area. The aim was to verify the influence of the upwelling phenomenon on the abundance, growth, longevity, size of sexual maturity, and reproductive period of the species. In total, 188,902 individuals were captured at Macaé and 3,461 at Ubatuba. Individuals captured at Macaé showed larger maximum size, higher longevity, and slower growth rate, besides reaching sexual maturity at larger sizes than at Ubatuba. Continuous reproduction was observed in both regions, with juvenile recruitment peaks in spring and summer. Local conditions observed at Macaé were influenced by the Cabo Frio upwelling zone, characterized by productive and cooler waters that are around 20°C during most of the year. The upwelling phenomenon is probably the main factor influencing the population parameters studied here, changing the geographic patterns previously observed for the variation of these parameters in A. longinaris.     

Stratigraphic framework of sediment-starved sand ridges on a mixed siliciclastic/carbonate inner shelf; west-central Florida

Seismic reflection profiles and vibracores have revealed that an inner shelf, sand-ridge field has developed over the past few thousand years situated on an elevated, broad bedrock terrace. This terrace extends seaward of a major headland associated with the modern barrier-island coastline of west-central Florida. The overall geologic setting is a low-energy, sediment-starved, mixed siliciclastic/carbonate inner continental shelf supporting a thin sedimentary veneer. This veneer is arranged in a series of subparallel, shore-oblique, and to a minor extent, shore-parallel sand ridges. Seven major facies are present beneath the ridges, including a basal Neogene limestone gravel facies and a blue-green clay facies indicative of dominantly authigenic sedimentation. A major sequence boundary separates these older units from Holocene age, organic-rich mud facies (marsh), which grades upward into a muddy sand facies (lagoon or shallow open shelf/seagrass meadows). Cores reveal that the muddy shelf facies is either in sharp contact or grades upward into a shelly sand facies (ravinement or sudden termination of seagrass meadows). The shelly sand facies grades upward to a mixed siliciclastic/carbonate facies, which forms the sand ridges themselves. This mixed siliciclastic/carbonate facies differs from the sediment on the beach and shoreface, suggesting insignificant sediment exchange between the offshore ridges and the modern coastline. Additionally, the lack of early Holocene, pre-ridge facies in the troughs between the ridges suggests that the ridges themselves do not migrate laterally extensively. Radiocarbon dating has indicated that these sand ridges can form relatively quickly (1.3 ka) on relatively low-energy inner shelves once open-marine conditions are available, and that frequent, high-energy, storm-dominated conditions are not necessarily required. We suggest that the two inner shelf depositional models presented (open-shelf vs. migrating barrier-island) may have co-existed spatially and/or temporally to explain the distribution of facies and vertical facies contacts.     

海气交换与呼吸作用调控下杭州湾碳酸盐体系的特征

杭州湾作为典型的高浑浊度海湾,对其水体碳酸盐体系分布特征的研究相对较少。本文基于两个夏季航次(2018年和2019年)获取的调查资料,阐述夏季杭州湾水体中碳酸盐体系参数的空间分布特征,并进一步分析影响溶解无机碳偏离保守混合作用的主要过程及相对贡献。数据结果表明,杭州湾内表层溶解无机碳浓度与总碱度的变化范围分别为1 553～1 964 μmol/kg和1 577～2 101 μmol/kg,略低于长江口(1 407～2 110 μmol/kg和1 752～2 274 μmol/kg),溶解无机碳浓度和总碱度的空间分布受控于淡水与外海水混合的影响,在潮汐作用下,总体呈现出湾内低,向湾外逐渐升高的趋势。影响表层溶解无机碳非保守混合分布的主要过程中,海−气交换降低溶解无机碳浓度,呼吸作用增加溶解无机碳浓度,两个过程对溶解无机碳浓度变化量的贡献分别为(−42.3±11.7)%与(34.2±14.3)%,净效应呈现为相对平衡的状态。通过计算获得表层海水pCO₂的平均值为799 μatm (675～932 μatm),海湾总体表现为大气CO₂的源。此外,湾内海水碳酸盐缓冲因子的范围为12.8～23.8,对CO₂的缓冲能力弱于邻近东海海水(缓冲因子平均值约为11.9),指示其与外部水体的交换可能会降低附近海域的酸化缓冲能力。相对其他河口/海湾而言,杭州湾内高浊度与强潮汐的特点使其湾内水体的碳酸盐体系分布特征具有区域特殊性。     

南海半封闭边缘海碳酸盐台地兴衰史

南海发育了广泛的碳酸盐台地,具有分布面积广和时空变化大的特点。南海碳酸盐台地的生命演化史总体上经历了萌生期、扩展期、繁盛期、淹没期和残留期等演化阶段。根据近年来国内外关于南海地质地球物理研究进展,发现南海碳酸盐台地是伴随着华南陆缘张裂、陆海巨变而萌生,台地基底往往发育在两个共轭陆缘伸展地块的伸展断块构造高地。随着大陆岩石圈进一步伸展、减薄和地幔剥露等过程,台地经历了晚渐新世末至早中新世初的萌生,到中中新世的勃发。此外,张裂和扩张期的岩浆构造也成为台地发育的重要控制因素,比如构造沉降提供了台地生长的可容纳空间,构造掀斜作用、断裂作用和前陆盆地前沿挤压褶皱的迁移控制了台地各单元厚度、沉积相和地震反射终止特征在横向上的变化,构造控制的相对海平面控制了不同级序生物礁碳酸盐台地的沉积旋回,而晚中新世构造作用导致半封闭边缘海的形成和大量碳酸盐台地淹没。最后,10.5Ma半封闭边缘海的形成,造成南海海盆古海洋环境的巨大变化,限制了台地的广泛发育,仅残留了数量少、面积小的现代孤立碳酸盐台地。     

Global parameter estimation of the Cochlodinium polykrikoides model using bioassay data

Cochlodinium polykrikoides is a notoriously harmful algal species that inflicts severe damage on the aquacultures of the coastal seas of Korea and Japan. Information on their expected movement tracks and boundaries of influence is very useful and important for the effective establishment of a reduction plan. In general, the information is supported by a red-tide(a.k.a algal bloom) model. The performance of the model is highly dependent on the accuracy of parameters, which are the coefficients of functions approximating the biological growth and loss patterns of the C. polykrikoides. These parameters have been estimated using the bioassay data composed of growth-limiting factor and net growth rate value pairs. In the case of the C. polykrikoides, the parameters are different from each other in accordance with the used data because the bioassay data are sufficient compared to the other algal species. The parameters estimated by one specific dataset can be viewed as locally-optimized because they are adjusted only by that dataset. In cases where the other one data set is used, the estimation error might be considerable. In this study, the parameters are estimated by all available data sets without the use of only one specific data set and thus can be considered globally optimized. The cost function for the optimization is defined as the integrated mean squared estimation error, i.e., the difference between the values of the experimental and estimated rates. Based on quantitative error analysis, the root-mean squared errors of the global parameters show smaller values, approximately 25%–50%, than the values of the local parameters. In addition, bias is removed completely in the case of the globally estimated parameters. The parameter sets can be used as the reference default values of a red-tide model because they are optimal and representative. However, additional tuning of the parameters using the in-situ monitoring data is highly required.As opposed to the bioassay data, it is necessary because the bioassay data have limitations in terms of the in-situ coastal conditions.     

基于z坐标海洋模式的全球正压潮波数值模拟研究

The performance of a z-level ocean model, the Modular Ocean Model Version 4(MOM4), is evaluated in terms of simulating the global tide with different horizontal resolutions commonly used by climate models. The performance using various sets of model topography is evaluated. The results show that the optimum filter radius can improve the simulated co-tidal phase and that better topography quality can lead to smaller rootmean square(RMS) error in simulated tides. Sensitivity experiments are conducted to test the impact of spatial resolutions. It is shown that the model results are sensitive to horizontal resolutions. The calculated absolute mean errors of the co-tidal phase show that simulations with horizontal resolutions of 0.5° and 0.25° have about 35.5% higher performance compared that with 1° model resolution. An internal tide drag parameterization is adopted to reduce large system errors in the tidal amplitude. The RMS error of the best tuned 0.25° model compared with the satellite-altimetry-constrained model TPXO7.2 is 8.5 cm for M_2. The tidal energy fluxes of M_2 and K_1 are calculated and their patterns are in good agreement with those from the TPXO7.2. The correlation coefficients of the tidal energy fluxes can be used as an important index to evaluate a model skill.     

Experimental validation of a CFD model using a narrow wave flume

Induced swell is characterized in an experimental wave flume that is used to validate the corresponding computational model. The experiments and the numerical simulations are performed in water at several depths (h [m] of 0.2, 0.1, and 0.07), using a piston-type wave maker at set amplitudes (0.015 < A_p [m] < 0.15), accelerations-decelerations (0.3 < a_p < 1.0) and average velocities (0.03 < U [m/s] < 0.3) that control the propagation velocity, the period and the wavelength of the waves. The physical effects are modelled with a 2D computational model (STAR-CCM + v11.02) with a mesh of around 630,000 cells of different adaptive sizes, depending on the region under consideration. The physical model is based on a two-phase Eulerian “Volume of Fluid” unsteady model, accounting for gravity and surface tension, that characterizes turbulence with a k-ε model. A user-defined function, based on the period and the amplitude of the vertical paddle in the wave maker, describes the cyclic motion of the linear induction motor. Both the experimental and the computational results are analyzed taking the validity limits of various wave theories as a reference (Le Méhauté). As a result, the experiments are classified within the intermediate water depth regime that corresponds to the second-order Stokes’ wave theory. In addition, both the wave propagation velocity and the period are represented as a function of the wavelength and compared with the analytical solutions from the wave theories. The experimental and the computational test campaign yielded results that confirmed the validity of the computational model and that defined the most appropriate conditions for a high-quality CFD simulation.     

Data assimilation for a coastal area morphodynamic model: Morecambe Bay

This paper investigates the use of data assimilation in coastal area morphodynamic modelling using Morecambe Bay as a study site. A simple model of the bay has been enhanced with a data assimilation scheme to better predict large-scale changes in bathymetry observed in the bay over a 3-year period. The 2DH decoupled morphodynamic model developed for the work is described, as is the optimal interpolation scheme used to assimilate waterline observations into the model run. Each waterline was acquired from a SAR satellite image and is essentially a contour of the bathymetry at some level within the inter-tidal zone of the bay. For model parameters calibrated against validation observations, model performance is good, even without data assimilation. However the use of data assimilation successfully compensates for a particular failing of the model, and helps to keep the model bathymetry on track. It also improves the ability of the model to predict future bathymetry. Although the benefits of data assimilation are demonstrated using waterline observations, any observations of morphology could potentially be used. These results suggest that data assimilation should be considered for use in future coastal area morphodynamic models.     

Growth history of a cold-water coral covered carbonate mound — Galway Mound, Porcupine Seabight, NE-Atlantic

During the past decade, knowledge about the ecology and the environment of giant carbonate mounds has been growing continuously. However, still little is known about their growth dynamics. Three gravity cores from Galway Mound, Belgica Mound Province in the Porcupine Seabight off Ireland, were investigated for their sedimentological, geophysical and geochemical properties to get insight into the long-term development of this cold-water coral covered carbonate mound. These data were supplemented by radiometric age determinations on planktonic foraminifera and coral skeletons. The records from three different settings on Galway Mound reveal a coherent growth history that in general is similar to what is known from other carbonate mounds at the Irish margin. However, whereas other cores are often disturbed by numerous and not correlateable hiatuses, Galway Mound, in contrast, appears to be characterised by only one major hiatus representing a time gap of ~ 250 kyr. Several mechanisms are discussed in this study as possible causes for the observed stratigraphic record at Galway Mound. The most likely explanation is that the hiatus has its origin in a major mass wasting event on an instable, possibly glacial, unit that could have acted as a slip plane. The overall Late Quaternary growth history of Galway Mound fits well into existing cyclical mound development models, pointing to Galway Mound being an ‘actively growing’ mound (“coral bank stage”) at present.     

A field test of a linear stability model for crescentic bars

A morphodynamical linear stability analysis is used to predict the natural development of crescentic bed patterns and rip channels. The purpose is to investigate whether this technique, which is useful for understanding the physics of emerging bed-forms, can be used to make quantitative predictions in the field, which may then be of use for coastal engineers.     

The barnacle Balanus amphitrite as a bioindicator for Cd: Development and application of a simulation model

The efficacy of the barnacle Balanus amphitrite as a bioindicator for Cd in the environment was investigated through simulation exercises in an ecotoxicological simulation model based on field data. The study showed in general that B. amphitrite is a good bioindicator to record mean trends of the Cd bioavailability in the environment. The model correct reflected differences between high and low patterns of Cd concentrations in the barnacle in the field, but it did not accurately reflect short-term temporal variations. A model investigation pointed out three issues that must be taken into account when using B. amphitrite as bioindicator for Cd bioavailability in the environment: (1) variations in the mean weight of the sampled population may affect the barnacle's Cd concentration determination, specially if a size effect for the metal concentration in the organism is not detected; (2) a sampling effort approximately 5 times greater than that of usually applied in such studies would be required to detect an environmental change that caused a realistic increase in the main source of Cd to the barnacle; and (3) barnacle tissue better responds to long-term changes in the Cd level of its sources.     

基于空间自相关模型的西北太平洋日本鲭渔场时空变动研究

日本鲭（Scomber japonicus）是西北太平洋渔业捕捞的主要种类,了解其渔场变动对探究日本鲭种群分布、资源评估、开发利用和管理等意义重大。为获知其渔场的时空变动特征,本研究根据中国2014−2019年西北太平洋公海灯光围网渔业统计资料,运用全局莫兰指数、局部热点分析、重心迁移轨迹模型和标准差椭圆模型对西北太平洋日本鲭渔场时空分布模式、特征和变动趋势进行了研究。结果显示：（1）日本鲭渔获量主要集中在39°～44°N,147°～155°E范围内,地理上分布不均;年间产量先增后降,年间CPUE逐年降低;月间产量先增后降,其中6−10月均维持在较高水平,CPUE逐月增加;捕捞网次核密度显示,核密度高值发生区域与产量高值具有高度一致性;（2）日本鲭年间、月间渔获量均存在空间自相关并呈现显著聚集分布模式,月间空间自相关性比年间强;（3）年间、月间日本鲭渔获量分布的热点区和冷点区均表现出一定空间集聚特征,但是不同年份、月份的热点区和冷点区的分布区域、面积均存在较大差异;（4）日本鲭渔场重心年间移动轨迹呈右转约90°的扁“W”形状,总体上往西北移动;月间变化显示,从4月份开始逐渐向东北移动,8月到达东北端后向西南折返;（5）日本鲭渔场年间、月间变动方向一致,呈西南−东北格局,且方向性、向心力均较强,日本鲭渔场具有较高的聚集性。该研究引进了空间自相关模型及相关地理空间分析方法,为探讨西北太平洋日本鲭渔场变动特征提供了一种新思路。