The Ebro Deep-Sea Fan system

The Ebro Fan System consists of en echelon channel-levee complexes, 50×20 km in area and 200-m thick. A few strong reflectors in a generally transparent seismic facies identify the sand-rich channel floors and levee crests. Numerous continuous acoustic reflectors characterize overbank turbidites and hemipelagites that blanket abandoned channel-levee complexes. The interlobe areas between channel complexes fill with homogeneous mud and sand from mass flow and overbank deposition; these exhibit a transparent seismic character. The steep continental rise and sediment “drainage” of Valencia Trough at the end of the channel-levee complexes prevent the development of distributary channels and midfan lobe deposits.     

Rhone Deep-Sea Fan: A review

The Rhone Fan is a large Plio-Pleistocene turbidite deposit in the western Mediterranean Sea. The fan is fed from the broad Rhone River delta, but only one canyon, the Petit-Rhone, has fed most of the major turbidite depositional sequences that have been mapped. Slumping of sediment from intercanyon areas on the delta slope also has provided much sediment for the fan. The lack of Recent turbidite deposition on the fan suggests that turbidite sedimentation dominates during glacial low stands of sea level, building major leveed valley sequences, while surficial slumping of the valley levee deposits and pelagic sedimentation seem to mark high stands of sea level during interglacial periods.     

Rhone Deep-Sea Fan: A review

The Rhone Fan is a large Plio-Pleistocene turbidite deposit in the western Mediterranean Sea. The fan is fed from the broad Rhone River delta, but only one canyon, the Petit-Rhone, has fed most of the major turbidite depositional sequences that have been mapped. Slumping of sediment from intercanyon areas on the delta slope also has provided much sediment for the fan. The lack of Recent turbidite deposition on the fan suggests that turbidite sedimentation dominates during glacial low stands of sea level, building major leveed valley sequences, while surficial slumping of the valley levee deposits and pelagic sedimentation seem to mark high stands of sea level during interglacial periods. Margin setting represents fan and/or source area     

The Deep-Sea Fan deposits of the miocene Marnoso-Arenacea formation,northern Apennines

Submarine fans of different sizes, geometry, and petrology were built in the Marnoso-arenacea Basin, a migrating foredeep within an active continental margin. In an initial depositional stage, a well-developed basin plain received sediment from flows that by-passed restricted fan systems, now buried, located near the north end of an elongated basin. Minor fans grew near the steeper, tectonically deformed side of the basin. In the later stage, turbidite deposition was stopped in the former basin plain. Sediment sources and feeder channels shifted and fed fan lobes that prograded in a narrower trough and were distored (choked). The tectonic control on development of megasequence and sand bodies is stressed here in contrast with previous emphasis on “inner” or “autocyclic” mechanisms.     

The Deep-Sea Fan deposits of the miocene Marnoso-arenacea formation, northern Apennines

Submarine fans of different sizes, geometry, and petrology were built in the Marnoso-arenacea Basin, a migrating foredeep within an active continental margin. In an initial depositional stage, a well-developed basin plain received sediment from flows that by-passed restricted fan systems, now buried, located near the north end of an elongated basin. Minor fans grew near the steeper, tectonically deformed side of the basin. In the later stage, turbidite deposition was stopped in the former basin plain. Sediment sources and feeder channels shifted and fed fan lobes that prograded in a narrower trough and were distored (choked). The tectonic control on development of megasequence and sand bodies is stressed here in contrast with previous emphasis on “inner” or “autocyclic” mechanisms. Margin setting represents fan and/or source area     

Morphology,sedimentation processes,and growth pattern of the Amazon Deep-Sea Fan

The Amazon Deep-Sea Fan began to form in the Early Miocene and is characterized by a highly meandering distributary channel system. On the middle fan, these leveed channels coalesce to form two broad levee complexes. Older, now buried levee complexes are also observed within the fan. These levee complexes grow through channel migration, branching, and avulsion. Probably only one or two channels are active at any given time. Sediments reach the fan only during glacio-eustatic low stands of sea level. Coarse sediments largely by-pass the upper and middle fan via the channels and are deposited on the lower fan.     

Morphology, sedimentation processes, and growth pattern of the Amazon Deep-Sea Fan

The Amazon Deep-Sea Fan began to form in the Early Miocene and is characterized by a highly meandering distributary channel system. On the middle fan, these leveed channels coalesce to form two broad levee complexes. Older, now buried levee complexes are also observed within the fan. These levee complexes grow through channel migration, branching, and avulsion. Probably only one or two channels are active at any given time. Sediments reach the fan only during glacio-eustatic low stands of sea level. Coarse sediments largely by-pass the upper and middle fan via the channels and are deposited on the lower fan. Margin setting represents fan and/or source area     

深海内波空间啁啾的演变研究

根据基于两层流体推导的深海内波弱非线性薛定谔(Nonlinear Schrodinger,简称NLS)方程,引进空间啁啾的思想,研究深海区频散效应和非线性效应的作用。文中推导出了频散效应和非线性效应所致啁啾的表达式,采用数值计算方法计算了综合效应产生的总啁啾。分析了频散和非线性以及综合效应所致啁啾在深海内波传播中的演变规律。从空间啁啾的角度,解释中国南海东沙群岛附近深海区内波演变的机理。     

深海声学释放器释放过程的动力学分析

深海释放器是海洋观测仪器、海洋工程中关键设备。研究考虑海流、释放器部件碰撞等因素的深海释放器释放过程的动力学情况,采用多体动力方法建立某深海释放机构的动力学模型,模拟释放机构的释放过程中各构件的运动情况和运动轨迹,计算释放机构在释放过程各组成构件的运动参数,该方法可以用于模拟深海释放器释放过程状况,分析释放器失效的原因和指导释放机构的设计。     

Accumulator-Based Deep-Sea Microbe Gastight Sampling Technique

1.IntroductionPlenty of microbes exist in deep sea(Jiang,2000).They can survive and propagate under theconditions of extraordinary cold or heat and high pressure(Liu,2001).Studies on deep-sea microbesshowthat they have the function of decomposing petroleu…     

Deep-Sea Nodules and Co-rich Mn Crusts

The mining of deep-sea manganese nodules has been a topic of interest since J.L. Mero undertook his preliminary studies in the 1960s to evaluate the prospects for mining deep-sea nodules. Despite the great deal of investment in deep-sea mining over more than 40 years, there has still been no successful attempt to mine the deep-sea nodules on a commercial scale. One of the major problems is that the nodules cannot be brought to the surface with the necessary amounts of recoverable nickel, cobalt and zinc to warrant the initial high investment necessary for this operation. It therefore appears that in the short term, deep-sea manganese and Co-rich Mn crusts will not be mined on a commercial scale in the foreseeable future. Nonetheless, investigations of deep-sea mineral deposits by a number of nations will continue and enable us to understand the deep-sea environment in increasing detail, which is necessary in view of the great extent of the deep oceans which cover an area of about 66% of the Earth's surface.     

大深度声遥测触底指示仪测高计换能器的研制

本文介绍利用表观弹性法,设计纵向振动与径向振动相耦合的朗芝万型换能器,该换能器用于大深度声遥测触底指示仪上,实验表明,理论计算值与实验值相符合,计算方法简单、方便。     

Physiography and deposition on a distal deep-sea system: The Valencia Fan (Northwestern Mediterranean)

The Valencia Fan developed as the distal fill of a deep-sea valley, detached from the continental slope and the main sedimentary source. A survey of side-scan sonar, Sea Beam and reflection seismics shows that the sediment is largely fed through the Valencia Valley. The upper fan comprises large channels with low-relief levees, and the middle fan has sinuous distributary channels. Depositional bedforms predominate on the valley floor and levees, and erosional bedforms are common in the valley walls. A change to slope on the fan apex and the presence of volcanoes on the upper fan are the main factors influencing fan-growth pattern.     

Nutrient flux and budget in the Ebro estuary

The Ebro river flows to the Mediterranean coast of Spain. During its final stretch, the Ebro behaves in a similar way to a highly stratified estuary. This paper describes the transport of nutrients to the Ebro estuary, evaluates the general movement of nutrients in the estuarine region, using a mass balance approach, and estimates the amounts of nutrients discharged to the coastal environment. Given the strong saline stratification, this study only includes the surface layer that contains the continental freshwater. The annual nutrient budget for the Ebro estuary shows a net excess for nitrogen and phosphorus, while silicate almost attains equilibrium between addition and removal. There are several reasons for gains in nitrogen and phosphorous: a contribution of dissolved and particulate compounds in the freshwater (some of which are mineralized); a lower uptake of phytoplankton indicated by chlorophyll reduction in the estuary; an entrainment of the nutrient-rich upper part of the salt wedge; and, to a lesser extent, the impact of wastewater and agricultural water use. The biggest load discharged into the Mediterranean Sea by the Ebro is nitrogen, followed by silicate with over 10 000 tons of each deposited annually. Phosphorus is discharged at relatively low concentrations and with an annual load of about 200 t yr⁻¹.     

Environment and Deep-Sea Mining: A Perspective

Abstract

As the quest for deep-sea mineral resources is gaining momentum, environment and ocean mining have become important aspects of study. Because many of these deposits occur in international waters, the concern for environmental conservation in view of the effects of deep-sea mining is resulting in these effects being studied in different oceans, and efforts to develop regulations governing this exploitation are also underway at national and international levels. The impact assessment of deep-sea mining needs to encompass a variety of subjects, including environmental, socioeconomic, technological, and legal aspects. At the same time, effects of in situ environmental conditions on mining activities also need to be considered for effecient performance by the mining system. Differences in the degree of impact have been noticed during the mining simulation experiments by different investigating agencies. Therefore, interparameter comparisons, standardization of methods, and improvement in mining design are important considerations for proper utilization of resources, conservation of environment, and cost efficiency of the mining operations.     

Deep-Sea Chemoautosynthesis-Based Communities in the Northwestern Pacific

I review chemoautosynthesis-based faunal communities which have been discovered in the deep-sea areas in the Northwestern Pacific. Fauna of each community and further biological studies are summarized. Zoogeographical and evolutionary status of communities in the Northwestern Pacific is discussed. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The Laurentian Fan: Sohm Abyssal Plain

The 0.5- to 2-km thick Quaternary Laurentian Fan is built over Tertiary and Mesozoic sediments that rest on oceanic crust. Two 400-km long fan valleys, with asymmetric levees up to 700-m high, lead to an equally long, sandy, lobate basin plain (northern Sohm Abyssal Plain). The muddy distal Sohm Abyssal Plain is a further 400-km long. The sediment supplied to the fan is glacial in origin, and in part results from seismically triggered slumping on the upper continental slope. Sandy turbidity currents, such as the 1929 Grand Banks earthquake event, probably erode the fan-valley floors; but thick muddy turbidity currents build up the high levees. Margin setting represents fan and/or source area     

Deep-Sea Impact Experiments and their Future Requirements

In recent years, several experiments to assess the potential impacts due to deep-sea mining in the Pacific as well as the Indian Oceans have indicated the immediate changes and restoration patterns of environmental conditions in the marine ecosystem. The large volume of sediment(~ 500 × 10⁷ m³ per year) estimated to be resuspended would be the major influencing factor in environmental impact in the mining area, leading to changes in availability of certain nutrients and composition of biomass, followed by gradual restoration. Important results have been obtained from these experiments, but in order to have a better understanding of the impacts and restoration processes, it will be necessary to improvise future experiments to resemble actual deep-sea mining in terms of scale and methodology.