南海北部陆坡海底峡谷形成机制探讨

通过对南海北部地震剖面的解释,并结合地貌以及区域地质特征等,对发育于南海北部陆坡区的珠江口外、台湾浅滩南以及澎湖海底峡谷的地貌和构造特征进行分析和对比,并对其形成机制进行探讨。研究结果显示,各海底峡谷具有相似的走向,并均具有转向的特征,但是其形成机制却各不相同,由此形成的地貌特征也各不同:珠江口外海底峡谷的形成与珠江带来的大量陆上沉积物的搬运相关,形成了喇叭型的水道;台湾浅滩南海底峡谷的形成受到NW向断裂构造的控制,这些断裂构造形成了薄弱带,经过沉积流的侵蚀而形成狭长的水道,当进入下陆坡后由于海山的阻隔作用而转为近EW向;澎湖海底峡谷带的上段主要是由陆坡沉积流的下向侵蚀、崩塌和滑移形成的,而其下段则主要具有沿马尼拉海沟北向延伸段发育的特征。     

南海北部外陆架和上陆坡海底滑坡稳定性研究

海洋工程地质调查发现，在南海北部外陆架和上陆坡海底，有大片滑坡，其水深范围约在１８０－６５０ｍ之间，它们沿着陆架外缘坡折处呈北东－南西方向分布，其具体位置往往与古三角洲前缘的海底陡坎及古海岸线位置密切相关，大量浅层地震，旁侧声纳，底质取样分析和土体力学理论计算表明，本区滑坡主要是由于地形坡度，沉积物特性，土体自身重力，它们是区内海底很不稳定的地带，是一种重要的地灾害因素，在海洋工程地质设计和实施时     

南海北部陆坡一统峡谷群地貌特征及控制因素分析

基于最新的高分辨率多波束全覆盖测深数据、单道地震和多道地震剖面数据,对南海北部陆坡一统峡谷群9条峡谷的地形地貌及沉积特征进行了分析：峡谷群自陆坡向深海盆方向呈聚敛型,横断面主要呈“V”型,谷壁对称发育,坡度较陡; 研究区海底地层受多条断裂控制,呈典型阶梯状发育,海底断陷、重力滑塌面和小型滑坡体等海底不稳定地质灾害高度发育,说明峡谷群海底环境处于极不稳定状态。在研究区海底峡谷群地貌演化过程中,西沙海槽区域沉降等新生代构造运动控制着峡谷群地貌格局的形成; 来自北部陆架的充足沉积碎屑物质的输入往往伴随着高密度浊流、海底滑坡、坍塌等海底灾害的发生,控制着峡谷群的进一步发育; 相对海平面变化直接改变了研究区的沉积环境,为陆源碎屑物质的搬运提供了更加直接的通道,这也是诱发陆坡海底失稳、塑造峡谷群地貌特征的重要因素之一。     

南海陆坡海底峡谷地形复杂度分析方法

地形复杂度指数是描述地形变化程度的综合指标,本文基于南海陆坡北港隆起区的水深网格数据,采用均值变点分析法确定地形起伏度的最佳统计单元,建立计算海底地形复杂度的模型,融合研究区坡度、地形起伏度、地表切割深度和高程变异系数4种地形因子,分析研究区的地形特征和地形复杂度。结果表明,研究区地形起伏度最佳分析窗口大小为19×19网格,最佳统计窗口面积为1.768 9 km2;研究区北部及南部区域地形平坦,地形复杂程度较低,复杂度指数<2.35;中部区域存在规模不同的峡谷,地形复杂程度较高,复杂度指数平均>3.37,其中,中部偏东区域因海底峡谷最为发育,地形复杂度指数可达7.77。研究区地形复杂度的定量分析结果与海蚀作用的强弱程度呈现出较好的正相关性,这对系统开展南海海底峡谷形态特征及演化过程研究、维护海洋工程设施安全等具有重要借鉴意义。     

南海北部陆坡深水区沉积物细菌多样性调查

采用分子生物学手段,调查南海北部陆坡深水区沉积物细菌多样性.分析表明其细菌分成5个类群,变形细菌门(Proteotmcteria),厚壁菌门(Firmicutes),浮霉菌门(Planctomycetes),拟杆菌门(Cytophaga/Flexi-bacteria/Bacteroides,简称CFB)及脱铁杆菌门(Deferribacteres).分别占总体的34%,38%,18%,4%,6%.其中60%以上的克隆子与硫代谢相关,20%克隆子最相近序列来自于油污染环境,说明硫代谢是该区域物质代谢的重要组成,同时该区域有油气渗透的烃类物质存在并影响着该区域的微生物群落结构.     

全球海底峡谷成因及演化研究

海底峡谷广泛发育于全球大陆边缘,在地形上表现为深切于大陆边缘的凹槽,是海陆边界处最为显著的地貌之一。海底峡谷是陆缘碎屑物质由陆至深海运移的重要通道,是研究区域源—汇体系、海平面升降、构造演化的重要场所,也是海底油气资源形成与储集的重要区域,是国内外在海洋领域研究的热点之一。针对海底峡谷的成因及演化过程,进行了系统性的研究与划分,首先介绍了国内外海底峡谷研究的关键成果,其次概述了两大世界典型峡谷区南海北部海底峡谷区和蒙特利海底峡谷区的区域构造及成因,最后依据海底峡谷形成演化的主控因素,将其成因分为3种类型：强侵蚀性、河流侵蚀型、构造作用及溯源侵蚀型。通过对峡谷成因演化的研究,有助于为海底峡谷的分类提供新的思路,为海底峡谷区域的资源勘探、古气候与构造演化模式方面提供新的突破点。     

南海北部陆坡区海底峡谷地貌、沉积特征及控制因素

南海北部陆坡发育众多海底峡谷,其形成、发育、演化过程都存在较大差异。本文选取南海北部陆坡典型的珠江口外海底峡谷群、东沙海底峡谷、台湾浅滩南海底峡谷和澎湖海底峡谷进行研究,通过高分辨率多道地震数据和多波束测深数据,结合前人研究成果,对4条典型海底峡谷的形态特征、沉积充填特征及结构、形成发育过程及控制因素进行研究。结果表明,南海北部陆缘各个海底峡谷的形成受多个控制因素的影响,其影响程度及方式都有差别。构造活动、海平面变化及沉积物重力流与海底峡谷的演化密切相关,而陆地河流和局部构造因素也以不同方式影响着海底峡谷的发育。对于发育在主动大陆边缘的台湾岛东南侧的澎湖海底峡谷,其板块运动和岩浆活动活跃,其上发育的海底峡谷的控制因素以内营力地质作用为主。而具有被动大陆边缘属性的其他3条峡谷,由于构造运动较少或停止,其上发育的海底峡谷的控制因素以外营力地质作用为主。     

基于Chirp数据和Biot-Stoll模型反演南海北部陆坡海底表层沉积物物理性质

浅地层剖面是基于声学信号(频率在几百至几千赫兹)在沉积物中的传播得到可反映沉积地层结构的数据,海底反射系数与沉积物物理性质密切相关。Biot-Stoll声波传播理论模型可以预测海底沉积物的物理性质,构建反射系数等声学参数与物理参数之间的关系,但在不同的海域采用不同的参数所获得的效果不同。为此,本文基于南海北部陆坡海底表层沉积物的实测物理参数,利用BiotStoll模型建立研究区海底反射系数和沉积物物理性质之间的关系,结果表明模型计算值与样品实测值吻合度总体较好,偏差在0.1%～4.9%之间,并建立了频率3.5 kHz时海底反射系数与沉积物孔隙度、密度、平均粒径之间的关系方程,且方程拟合度较高,可决系数R2均大于0.99。在对典型Chirp剖面数据计算其海底反射系数的基础上,反演了海底表层沉积物的孔隙度、密度、颗粒平均粒径等物理性质,其中反演孔隙度、密度、平均粒径与实测孔隙度、密度、平均粒径相对误差均小于5%,结果与实测值基本相符,表明该反演方法在南海北部陆坡区的应用是可行的。     

南海北部陆坡深水区沉积物输送模式探讨

南海北部陆坡深水区沉积物输送模式复杂多样,研究发现主要有碎屑流、浊流、砂质碎屑流、碳酸盐岩重力流、块体搬运、河流搬运、深水水道搬运7种类型,它们共同影响着南海北部陆坡沉积物类型和储层分布。其中(砂质)碎屑流沉积、块体搬运沉积、河流供给、深水水道砂是南海北部深水储层的主要成因,而纯粹的浊积岩在该地区发育不广泛。珠江口盆地的深水储层受到河流的供给和后期流体改造的影响,并且存在碳酸盐岩重力流沉积物薄层,证明该地区水动力条件较强;琼东南盆地深水储层分布受到了碎屑流控制和深水水道的影响,相对浅水区来看可能存在分选较好、干净的砂体储层,具有良好的勘探潜力。     

南海北部白云深水区东北部小型峡谷内的块体搬运

The process of mass movements and their consequent turbidity currents in large submarine canyons has been widely reported, however, little attention was paid to that in small canyons. In this paper, we document mass movements in small submarine canyons in the northeast of Baiyun deepwater area, north of the South China Sea(SCS), and their strong effects on the evolution of the canyons based on geophysical data. Submarine canyons in the study area arrange closely below the shelf break zone which was at the depth of –500 m. Within submarine canyons, seabed surface was covered with amounts of failure scars resulted from past small-sized landslides. A complex process of mass transportation in the canyons is indicated by three directions of mass movements.Recent mass movement deposits in the canyons exhibit translucent reflections or parallel reflections which represent the brittle deformation and the plastic deformation, respectively. The area of most landslides in the canyons is less than 3 km2. The trigger mechanisms for mass movements in the study area are gravitational overloading, slope angle and weak properties of soil. Geophysical data indicate that the genesis of submarine canyons is the erosion of mass movements and consequent turbidity currents. The significant effects of mass movements on canyon are incision and sediment transportation at the erosion phases and fillings supply at the fill phases. This research will be helpful for the geological risk assessments and understanding the sediment transportation in the northern margin of the SCS.     

南海东北部峡谷体系的地貌特征与发育控制因素

海底峡谷在全球陆缘广泛分布,是浅海沉积物向深海运移的主要通道,对于理解深海浊流触发机制、深海沉积物的搬运模式、深海扇的发育历史和深海油气资源勘探等均具有重要意义。本文基于高分辨率高精度的多波束测深数据,首次对南海东北部海底峡谷体系进行了研究,精细刻画了高屏海底峡谷、澎湖海底峡谷、台湾浅滩南海底峡谷和东沙海底峡谷等4条大型海底峡谷的地貌特征并分析其发育控制因素。海底坡度、构造运动、海山与海丘是影响南海东北部峡谷群走向与特征的重要因素,其中,海底坡度对于峡谷上游多分支与“V”字特征有显著的控制作用;构造运动是控制高屏海底峡谷走向的因素,澎湖海底峡谷的走向则与菲律宾海板块与欧亚板块碰撞有关,东沙海底峡谷的走向则与东沙运动相关,台湾浅滩南海底峡谷上段受NW向断裂构造的控制;海山的阻挡作用造成峡谷局部走向和特征改变。海底峡谷群输送大量陆源沉积物到深海盆并形成大面积的沉积物波,海山和沉积物波的发育导致东沙海底峡谷下段“回春”和转向。     

Characteristics and occurrence of submarine canyon-associated landslides in the middle of the northern continental slope,South China Sea

High-resolution and high-density 2-D multichannel seismic data, combined with high-precision multibeam bathymetric map, are utilized to investigate the characteristics and distribution of submarine landslides in the middle of the northern continental slope, South China Sea. In the region, a series of 19 downslope-extending submarine canyons are developed. The canyons are kilometers apart, and separated by inter-canyon sedimentary ridges. Numerous submarine landslides, bounded by headscarps and basal glide surfaces, are identified on the seismic profiles by their distorted to chaotic reflections. Listric faults and rotational blocks in head areas and compressional folds and inverse faults at the toes of the landslides are possibly developed. Three types of submarine landslides, i.e., creeps, slumps, and landslide complexes, are recognized. These landslides are mostly distributed in the head areas and on the flanks of the canyons. As the most widespread landslides in the region, creeps are usually composed of multiple laterally-coalesced creep bodies, in which the boundaries of singular component creep bodies are difficult to delineate. In addition, a total of 77 landslides are defined, including 61 singular slumps and 16 landslide complexes that consist of two or more component landslides. Statistics show that most landslides are of a small dimension (0.53–18.09 km² in area) and a short runout distance (less than 3.5 km). Regional and local slope gradients and rheological behavior of the displaced materials might play important roles in the generation and distribution of the submarine landslides. A conceptual model for the co-evolution of the canyons and the associated landslides in the study area is presented. In the model it is assumed that the canyons are initiated from gullies created by landslides on steeper sites of the continental slope. The nascent canyons would then experience successive retrogressive landsliding events to extend upslope; at the same time canyon downcutting or incision would steepen the canyon walls to induce more landslides.     

南海北部深水区表层沉积物工程性质的统计特征分析

针对从中国南海北部海域某深水区采集的表层沉积物柱状样,进行了沉积物微观结构的扫描电镜测试、矿物成分的X射线衍射试验以及物理和力学性质的统计学分析。结果表明,该深水区海底表层沉积物通常为有机质软黏土,具有高含水率、低密度、高孔隙比、高液限、高可塑性、低强度等典型特征。统计分析和假设检验表明,沉积物的物理和力学指标均呈现变异性,且后者普遍高于前者。相对密度、含水率、液塑限和塑性指数服从正态分布;容重、碳酸盐含量、不排水抗剪强度、灵敏度接近假设检验结果,近似服从正态分布。研究结果可为深水海底工程结构设计的海床土性参数取值提供参考。     

A buried submarine canyon in the northwest South China Sea:architecture,development processes and implications for hydrocarbon exploration

High-resolution multichannel seismic data enables the discovery of a previous, undocumented submarine canyon(Huaguang Canyon) in the Qiongdongnan Basin, northwest South China Sea. The Huaguang Canyon with a NW orientation is 140 km in length, and 2.5 km to 5 km in width in its upper reach and 4.6 km to 9.5 km in width in its lower reach. The head of the Huaguang Canyon is close to the Xisha carbonate platform and its tail is adjacent to the central canyon. This buried submarine canyon is formed by gravity flows from the Xisha carbonate platform when the sea level dropped in the early stage of the late Miocene(～10.5 Ma). The internal architecture of the Huaguang Canyon is mainly characterized by high amplitude reflections, indicating that this ancient submarine canyon was filled with coarse-grained sediments. The sediment was principally scourced from the Xisha carbonate platform. In contrast to other buried large-scale submarine canyons(central canyon and Zhongjian Canyon) in the Qiongdongnan Basin, the Huaguang Canyon displays later formation time, smaller width and length, and single sediment supply. The coarse-grained deposits within Huaguang Canyon provide a good environment for reserving oil and gas, and the muddy fillings in Huaguang Canyon have been identified as regional caps. Therefore, Huaguang Canyon is potential area for future hydrocarbon exploration in the northwest South China Sea. Our results may contribute to a better understanding of the evolution of submarine canyons formed in carbonate environment.     

A buried submarine canyon in the northwestern South China Sea: architecture,development processes and implications for hydrocarbon exploration

High-resolution multichannel seismic data enables the discovery of a previous, undocumented submarine canyon(Huaguang Canyon) in the Qiongdongnan Basin, northwestern South China Sea. The Huaguang Canyon with a NW orientation is 140 km in length, and 2.5 km to 5 km in width in its upper reach and 4.6 km to 9.5 km in width in its lower reach. The head of the Huaguang Canyon is close to the Xisha carbonate platform and its tail is adjacent to the Central Canyon. This buried submarine canyon is formed by gravity flows from the Xisha carbonate platform when the sea level dropped in the early stage of the late Miocene(around 10.5 Ma). The internal architecture of the Huaguang Canyon is mainly characterized by high amplitude reflections, indicating that this ancient submarine canyon was filled with coarse-grained sediments. The sediment was principally scourced from the Xisha carbonate platform. In contrast to other buried large-scale submarine canyons(Central Canyon and Zhongjian Canyon) in the Qiongdongnan Basin, the Huaguang Canyon displays later formation time,smaller width and length, and single sediment supply. The coarse-grained deposits within the Huaguang Canyon provide a good environment for reserving oil and gas, and the muddy fillings in the Huaguang Canyon have been identified as regional caps. Therefore, the Huaguang Canyon is a potential area for future hydrocarbon exploration in the northwestern South China Sea. The result of this paper may contribute to a better understanding of the evolution of submarine canyons formed in carbonate environment.     

南海北部东沙海域天然气水合物分解事件及其与海底滑塌的关系

东沙海域是南海北部一个重要的天然气水合物成藏区, 其陆坡广泛发育滑塌构造。文章对采自东沙陆坡中部973-4柱样和下部平坦区973-5柱样开展了沉积学粒度、底栖有孔虫种属特征和稳定同位素等的综合分析。研究结果表明: 两个柱样中底栖有孔虫的δ¹³C在末次冰期均出现明显负偏现象, 同时δ¹⁸O增高, 指示该时期东沙海域存在持续的天然气水合物分解事件; 末次冰消期以来, δ¹³C负偏现象逐渐消失, δ¹⁸O值降低, 可能是由于海平面上升阻止了天然气水合物分解。973-4柱样仅在末次盛冰期对应层位440~600cm段存在明显的滑塌沉积, 且该层段对应的特征底栖有孔虫Uvigerina spp.和Bulimina spp.的数量突增, 推测该区的海底滑塌可能是由于末次盛冰期海平面大幅度下降引起天然气水合物大量分解诱发所致; 973-5柱样同样记录到了海底滑塌现象, 但其滑塌沉积晚于973-4柱样的滑塌时间, 且其规模较小。     

南海北部深水区新生代岩浆岩分布规律及其与海底地质灾害的相关性

前人对南海北部新生代陆缘盆地结构、构造样式和期次等做了大量的研究工作,但对于具体体现内动力过程的岩浆活动关注较少,尤其是北部深水区的研究鲜有涉及。本文基于二维地震剖面的解译分析,将南海北部新生代岩浆岩划分为3个集中分布区:琼东南-西沙区、神狐区和东沙区。各区域岩浆岩的产出状态有所差异,其中琼东南-西沙区岩浆岩的平面展布规律性极强,主要受右行右阶的走滑断裂控制;神狐区岩浆岩位于NW向与NE向断裂的交汇处,侵位空间受先存断裂制约;东沙区岩浆岩的产生与东沙运动期间区域伸展过程有直接关系。作为内动力的表征,岩浆作用对于海底地形地貌具有重要的改造作用,与活动断裂、海底滑坡、浅层气等海底地质灾害也具有成因上的关联。     

Large-scale seafloor stability evaluation of the northern continental slope of South China Sea

Abstract

With the continuous expansion of energy demand, the deep-water continental slope in the northern South China Sea has become one of the significant offshore oil and gas exploration regions. The frequent occurrence of marine geological hazards in this region, especially submarine landslides, can cause serious damage to engineering facilities. However, there have been few studies on the stability of the northern continental slope of the South China Sea; these studies mainly focused on a specific submarine slope or small-range evaluation, resulting in a lack of large-scale and quantitative understanding. Hence, considering the variation in the physical and mechanical properties of marine soils with depth, formulas for calculating the safety factor of submarine slopes by an infinite sliding model are established, and the factors affecting slope stability such as soil properties, slope gradient and horizontal seismic action are systematically investigated. Using GIS techniques, the terrain slope gradients and a historical seismic database of the northern South China Sea are obtained. Combined with soil mechanical parameters, a regional stability evaluation of the northern continental slope is carried out. Furthermore, the distribution of risk zones is given. On the whole, under strong seismic action, large-scale submarine slope instability occurs and must be highly considered when assessing risk. This achievement is of great significance to engineering sites, route selection and engineering risk assessment.     

吕宋海峡及南海北部海域的水团分析

根据1992年3月和1994年9月台湾海峡两岸科学家对南海北部两次协同调查的CTD资料以及由此计算的重力势资料,对吕宋海峡及南海北部400m以上海水的温盐性质进行分析。结果发现,调查海区基本可划分为两种水团,即黑潮水和南海水。黑潮水主要从吕宋海峡中部和北部进入南海,侵入的黑潮水向西北方向扩展,受到台湾海峡海底地形的阻挡而大部分集中于台湾西南海域,向西的范围基本不超过119°E。虽然两次观测所处的季节不同（分别为春初和夏末）,但黑潮入侵南海的差异并不明显。另外,在二次调查的部分层次上,南海北部陆坡边缘都发现有一团水平尺度约百公里的黑潮性质水。配合重力势的水平分布形式,可以用地转流场的结构解释水团分析的结果。