Sequence stratigraphy based on high-resolution seismic profiles in the late Pleistocene and Holocene deposits of the Venice area

The sequence-stratigraphic investigation by Very High-Resolution (VHR) seismic profiles allowed recognition of the detailed architecture of the late Pleistocene and Holocene succession of the Venice area. In this way deposits previously known by the analyses of scattered cores, mainly taken along the lagoon margin and the littoral strips, have been correlated at regional scale including the near offshore sector and the result has pointed out the lateral variability of the stratal architecture. Late Pleistocene deposits consist of an aggrading floodplain and fluvial channel fills accumulated during decreasing eustatic sea level, and they are coeval with offlapping forced regressive marine wedges in the Central Adriatic basin. The Holocene sequence is composed of three main seismic units separated by major stratal surfaces. Unit 1 (up to 9 m thick) is formed by channelized deposits separated by areas showing sub-horizontal and hummocky reflectors, and is bounded at the base by a surface that records prolonged conditions of subaerial exposure and at the top by a flatter surface resulting from erosion by marine processes. Deposits of Unit 1 are interpreted as estuarine and distributary channel fills, and back-barrier strata. Unit 2 is well distinguishable from Unit 1 only in the offshore area and at the barrier island bounding the Venice Lagoon, and is composed of a prograding marine wedge (up to 10 m thick) that interacts laterally with ebb tidal deltas. Unit 3 consists of a tidal channel complex and inlet deposits, which testify the evolution of the lagoon area. Tidal channels are entrenched in the lagoon mud flat (coeval with Units 1–2) and cut the Pleistocene–Holocene boundary in several places.Following current sequence-stratigraphic concepts, the Holocene sequence is composed of a paralic transgressive systems tract (TST) (Unit 1) overlying a sequence boundary (the Pleistocene–Holocene boundary) and overlain by a marine highstand systems tract (HST) (Unit 2) in seaward locations and by highstand lagoonal deposits landwards. TST and HST are separated by a downlap surface that is amalgamated with a wave ravinement surface in several places. Unit 3 is coeval with the upper part of Unit 2, and its development has been favoured by human interventions, which led to a transgression limited to the lagoon area.Local factors during the deposition, i.e. subsidence, sediment supply, physiography, and current/wave regimes, led to a significant lateral variability in the architecture of the Holocene sequence, as evidenced by the extreme thickness variation of the TST along both depositional strike and dip. The HST, instead, shows less pronounced strike variations in the stratal architecture. Also, present data clearly evidence that the human impact has a great relevance in influencing the late Holocene sedimentation.     

Depositional architecture and sequence stratigraphy of the Karoo basin floor to shelf edge succession, Laingsburg depocentre, South Africa

The Laingsburg depocentre of the SW Karoo Basin, South Africa preserves a well-exposed 1200 m thick succession of upper Permian strata that record the early filling of a basin during an icehouse climate. Uniformly fine-grained sandstones were derived from far-field granitic sources, possibly in Patagonia, although the coeval staging and delivery systems are not preserved. Early condensed shallow marine deposits are overlain by distal basin plain siltstone-prone turbidites and volcanic ashes. An order of magnitude increase in siliciclastic input to the basin plain is represented by up to 270 m of siltstone with thin sandstone turbidites (Vischkuil Formation). The upper Vischkuil Formation comprises three depositional sequences, each bounded by a regionally developed zone of soft sediment deformation and associated 20-45 m thick debrite that represent the initiation of a major sand delivery system. The overlying 300 m thick sandy basin-floor fan system (Unit A) is divisible into three composite sequences arranged in a progradational-aggradational-retrogradational stacking pattern, followed by up to 40 m of basin-wide hemipelagic claystone. This claystone contains Interfan A/B, a distributive lobe system that lies 10 m beneath Unit B, a sandstone-dominated succession that averages 150 m thickness and is interpreted to represent a toe of slope channelized lobe system. Unit B and the A/B interfan together comprise 4 depositional sequences in a composite sequence with an overall basinward-stepping stacking pattern, overlain by 30 m of hemipelagic claystone. The overlying 400 m thick submarine slope succession (Fort Brown Formation) is characterized by 10-120 m thick sand-prone to heterolithic packages separated by 30-70 m thick claystone units. On the largest scale the slope stratigraphy is defined by two major cycles interpreted as composite sequence sets. The lower cycle comprises lithostratigraphic Units B/C, C and D while the upper cycle includes lithostratigraphic Units D/E, E and F. In each case a sandy basal composite sequence is represented by an intraslope lobe (Units B/C and D/E respectively). The second composite sequence in each cycle (Units C and E respectively) is characterized by slope channel-levee systems with distributive lobes 20-30 km down dip. The uppermost composite sequence in each cycle (Units D and F respectively) are characterised by deeply entrenched slope valley systems. Most composite sequences comprise three sequences separated by thin (<5 m thick) claystones. Architectural style is similar at individual sequence scale for comparable positions within each composite sequence set and each composite sequence. The main control on stratigraphic development is interpreted as late icehouse glacio-eustasy but along-strike changes associated with changing shelf edge delivery systems and variable bathymetry due to differential substrate compaction complicate the resultant stratigraphy.     

中国陆架潮流沉积体系和模式

在1991年中法合作渤海潮流沉积研究的基础上,查阅了国内外有关研究成果,分析了中国陆架的水深地形、沉积地貌与潮流动力的关系,认为潮流对中国陆架的海底地貌和沉积的形成发育起了主导作用。当潮流流速大于3节时,潮流的侵蚀作用是主要的,往复潮流多形成冲刷深槽,大大刷深了海峡或水道。当潮流流速1－3节时,潮流的沉积作用是主要的,多形成浅滩,即潮流沙脊和潮流沙席。以M2分潮椭率绝对值0．4为界,大于0．久者意味着潮流旋转性强,多形成潮流沙席;小于0．4者意味着潮流往复性强,多形成潮流沙脊。提出了我国邻近陆架发育了5个现代潮流沉积地貌体系：（1）黄海东部潮流沉积体系,它由西朝鲜湾潮流沙脊和其南部的沙席两者组成;（2）渤海东部潮流沉积体系,它由老铁山水道冲刷槽,辽东浅滩沙脊和渤中浅滩沙席三者组成;（3）长江口外潮流沉积体系,它由江苏滨外潮流沙脊和长江口浅滩潮流沙席组成;（4）台湾滨外潮流沉积体系,它由台湾海峡冲刷槽、台湾浅滩沙脊、澎湖水道冲刷槽和台中浅滩沙席四者组成;（5）琼州海峡潮流沉积体系,它由琼州海峡冲刷槽、东浅滩沙脊和西浅滩沙脊三者组成。此外,在东海陆架上还有冰后期海侵早期形成的残留潮流沉积体系。全新世陆架浅海潮流沉积模式可分海峡一浅     

Identifying late Quaternary coastal deposits in Kyonggi Bay, Korea, by their geotechnical properties

Based on cone penetration tests with pore pressure measurements (CPTUs) and standard penetration tests (SPTs), the geotechnical properties of five lithostratigraphic units were determined during the construction of Incheon international airport on reclaimed macrotidal flats in Kyonggi Bay, Korea. Two late Pleistocene non-marine units (unit V and unit IV) display largest N values (cf. number of blows required to achieve a standard penetration), reflecting coarse-grained and overconsolidated sediments. Tidal channel and tidal flat facies (unit IIIb) consist of unweathered late Pleistocene tidal sand and mud. The tidal channel facies is characterized by upward-decreasing cone resistance (q _t) and sleeve friction (f _s) with negative pore pressures (u _bt), reflecting a fining-upward textural trend. The tidal flat facies, by contrast, is represented by uniformly low q _t and f _s values with high friction ratios (FRs), suggesting homogeneous muddy deposits. Two overconsolidated units, a weathered late Pleistocene tidal mud (unit IIIa) and an early Holocene organic-rich non-marine mud (unit II), are characterized by high q _t, f _s, FRs and N values, unit IIIa being much more consolidated than unit II. Holocene tidal sands and muds (unit I) show the smallest q _t and f _s values with positive u _bt. These are slightly more consolidated than the tidal flat facies of unit IIIb. Two unconformable boundaries (a sequence boundary and a transgressive surface) have also been identified on some CPTU and SPT profiles. The boundaries are indicated by gradual but sharp increases in q _t, f _s and N values with an abrupt drop of u _bt, which indicates the contact between two units showing contrasting rigidity. The regional pattern produced by the unconformable boundaries indicates the presence of late Pleistocene valleys which pass through the middle of study area. The location of the valleys seems to be controlled by the antecedent basement morphology.     

江苏中部海岸西洋潮流通道区域晚更新世古地貌与沉积体系研究

南黄海曾是长江和黄河两大河流输送的陆源沉积物重要的汇,其沉积记录含有河流演化的丰富信息。江苏海岸中部、南黄海西侧、辐射沙脊群西北的西洋潮流通道及其邻区受到古黄河与古长江的交互影响,其古地貌与沉积地层等研究尚显不足。利用该区多次采集获得的长约380 km的浅层地震剖面数据,结合钻孔资料,分析了西洋浅部地震层序,探讨了其沉积环境特征。研究结果表明,西洋潮流通道区域在平均海面以下33~49 m处,存在一个强振幅、中频率、高连续性的区域性反射界面,与对比钻孔中滨岸沼泽沉积的顶面相对应,代表一个不整合的古地貌面;该界面深度的空间插值结果反演的古地貌面与下伏的沟槽状切割-充填反射结构,揭示了数条沿NE方向延伸的古水道,并集中分布于古地貌面北部相对低洼的区域,为南黄海内陆架晚更新世某古水系的一部分;该古地貌面系末次冰消期的海侵冲刷面,其上覆是全新世滨浅海沉积,下伏是晚更新世末期的洪泛平原或滨岸沼泽或充填下切古河道或古潮道等沉积。对该区域性反射界面的深入研究有助于弄清南黄海西部晚更新世以来的沉积体系演化历史,提升对辐射沙脊群形成演化的认识。     

晚更新世末期南黄海中部陆架古地貌特征

晚更新世末期(12000-25000a BP)为玉木冰期最盛时期,气候寒冷而干燥,极地冰流的扩展使世界海面大幅度下降,我国东部沿海海面下降约130-160m,黄海、东海陆架裸露成陆。在寒冷干燥的气候条件下,陆架沉积物不仅受到强烈的机械风化作用,而且受到来自北方强大干冷气流的吹扬作用,陆架沉积物在这些外力因素的作用下破坏解体,形成一系列的风沙地貌和风沙沉积,反映出晚更新世末期南黄海陆架沙漠化景观。根据本区浅地层测量断面分析研究的结果,并结合柱状岩芯及钻孔资料,初步揭示了本地区晚更新世末期的古地貌特征。     

南黄海江苏岸外潮流沙脊远端沉积与演化

SYS-0702孔位于南黄海江苏岸外潮流沙脊的远端(水深32 m),其最顶部18.64 m岩心对应于潮流沙脊沉积.根据对潮流沙脊沉积物的岩性特征、粒度分析、AMS 14C测年资料和210Pb测试分析,结合通过该孔位的高分辨率浅地层剖面,揭示了该远端沙脊的沉积特征、形成时间以及老黄河从江苏入海(1128-1855年)对沙...     

南黄海辐射状沙脊成因的沉积动力学研究

自南黄海辐射状沙脊被发现，尤其是江苏省海岸带和海涂资源综合调查揭示了其全貌，并同时测得辐射状沙脊区存在辐射状潮流场(任美愕，1986)以来，对南黄海辐射状沙脊的成因，主要包括其形成的水动力条件、物质来源、形成机理与形成过程等，本领域学术界一直存在争论1)(李从先等，1979；任美锷，1986；李成治等，1981；周长振等，1981；万延森，1982；刘振夏，1983；刘振夏等，1983，1995；耿秀山等，1983；夏东兴等，1984；夏综万等，1984；杨长恕，1985；黄易畅等，1987；张光威，1991；赵松龄，1991；朱大奎等，1993；杨治家等，1995；朱玉荣等，1995，1997；张东生等，1996；李从先等，1997)。 南黄海辐射状沙脊的形成机理及形成过程是与其形成的水动力条件、物质来源紧密联系在一起的。持该区的辐射状潮流场是受海底地形与(或)局部弶港海湾形态控制而形成观点的学者，多认为辐射状潮流场形成的同时或之后会反作用于海底地形，逐渐将海底地形改造成辐射状沙脊1)(任美锷，1986；李成治等，1981；万延森，1982；张光威，1991)，并且认为辐射状沙脊的形成需要几千年的时间1)，或是一个历史过程(李成治等，1981)，或经过最近一百多年的改造而形成(万延森，1982)，或形成于距今4000年前以来(张光威，1991)。这种观点的本质在于认为辐射状沙脊的辐射状形态是由海底地形的初始辐射状形态决定的，辐射状潮流场的作用在于使具初始辐射状形态的海底地形的辐射状形式更好，即认为辐射状潮流场对辐射状沙脊辐射状形态的形成不起决定作用。认为辐射状潮流场是由东海传入黄海的前进潮波与山东半岛南部的旋转潮波相交汇而形成，并且认为辐射状潮流场有可能自全新世海侵影响本区，或自7000年前以来就一直存在(对古海岸时辐射状潮流场存在的认识只是推测，尚缺乏证据)的学者，多认为辐射状沙脊的辐射状形态是由该区潮流场的辐射状形态决定的(周长振等，1981；刘振夏,1983；夏综万等,1984；杨长恕,1985；黄易畅等，1987；朱大奎等,1993；朱玉荣等，1995，1997),即认为辐射状潮流场对辐射状沙脊的辐射状形态起决定作用。这两种观点根本对立。     

Tidal sedimentation preserved in volcaniclastic deposits filling a peripheral seaway embayment (early Miocene,Sardinian Graben)

The Sardinian Graben System was a part of a NE-SW-oriented extensional basin, rotated counter-clockwise into a N-S-elongate basin, as consequence of the eastward migration of the Apennine orogenic front, in the western Mediterranean during the Neogene.Starting from the early Miocene, the Sardinian Graben was inundated by marine waters, turning progressively into a seaway, characterized by a tidal circulation as consequence of the connection between the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Paratethys Ocean to the east.In this work, we investigate an area located marginally to the mid-seaway, whose well-exposed volcaniclastic deposits record the local expression of a tidal amplification occurring in a coastal peripheral embayment of the wider Sardinian Seaway.The studied succession is ca. 140 m thick and includes three main units: (i) the 20-m-thick lowermost unit consists of fluvio-lacustrine sandstones and conglomerates belonging to lower delta-plain and delta-platform environments; (ii) the second unit is 60–70 m thick and includes heterolithic sandstones and mudstones, exhibiting a variety of tidal sedimentary structures, and lies on the previous deposits through a tidal ravinement surface; these two units are mostly volcaniclastic in composition, reflecting the dominance of a magmatic source over other extrabasinal components; (iii) the uppermost unit is ca. 50 m thick, erosionally overlies the previous deposits and is made up of shoreface sandstones and open-shelf mudstones, whose composition indicates even less volcaniclastic elements and the prevalence of other clastic alongshore-derived components.Based on the results of the facies analysis, the study succession is interpreted as the infill of an incised valley along the southern flank of a structural high. The valley was excavated during a phase of relative sea-level lowstand (Aquitanian?) preceding a subsequent stage of major transgression (Burdigalian). Initially, a fluvial system impinged the valley from the west favoring the progradation of a deltaic system in a shallow-marine embayment. During an early stage of transgression, the isolation of a part of this coastal area generated by the building of a barrier island, produced the onset of a tidal-flat sedimentation over the previous deposits. A late transgression occurred through the inundation of this coastal area by marine waters and the consequent back-stepping of beach-barrier and open-shelf strata.The sedimentological features of this stratigraphic succession indicate as this valley was filled in a tectonic setting with a high rate of accommodation, where the tidal influence progressively increased during sediment accumulation, possibly due to the marginal position respect to a wider tide-dominated marine conduit.The present paper thus: (i) documents for the first time a tidal signature in the lower Miocene strata of Sardinia; (ii) indicates new possible relationships with other, coeval seaway successions of the western and northern Mediterranean area; (iii) suggests constrains for palaeogeographic reconstructions; (iv) and throws the basis for future researches on the Sardinian Seaway.     

Holocene sedimentation of a wave-dominated barrierisland shoreline: Cape Lookout, North Carolina

The sedimentary record of 130 km of microtidal (0.9 m tidal range) high wave energy (1.5 m average wave height) barrier island shoreline of the Cape Lookout cuspate foreland has been evaluated through examination of 3136 m of subsurface samples from closely spaced drill holes. Holocene sedimentation and coastal evolution has been a function of five major depositional processes: (1) eustatic sea-level rise and barrier-shoreline transgression; (2) lateral tidal inlet migration and reworking of barrier island deposits; (3) shoreface sedimentation and local barrier progradation; (4) storm washover deposition with infilling of shallow lagoons; and (5) flood-tidal delta sedimentation in back-barrier environments.

Twenty-five radiocarbon dates of subsurface peat and shell material from the Cape Lookout area are the basis for a late Holocene sea-level curve. From 9000 to 4000 B.P. eustatic sea level rose rapidly, resulting in landward migration of both barrier limbs of the cuspate foreland. A decline in the rate of sea-level rise since 4000 B.P. resulted in relative shoreline stabilization and deposition of contrasting coastal sedimentary sequences. The higher energy, storm-dominated northeast barrier limb (Core and Portsmouth Banks) has migrated landward producing a transgressive sequence of coarse-grained, horizontally bedded washover sands overlying burrowed to laminated back-barrier and lagoonal silty sands. Locally, ephemeral tidal inlets have reworked the transgressive barrier sequence depositing fining-upward spit platform and channel-fill sequences of cross-bedded, pebble gravel to fine sand and shell. Shoreface sedimentation along a portion of the lower energy, northwest barrier limb (Bogue Banks) has resulted in shoreline progradation and deposition of a coarsening-up sequence of burrowed to cross-bedded and laminated, fine-grained shoreface and foreshore sands. In contrast, the adjacent barrier island (Shackleford Banks) consists almost totally of inlet-fill sediments deposited by lateral tidal inlet migration. Holocene sediments in the shallow lagoons behind the barriers are 5–8 m thick fining-up sequences of interbedded burrowed, rooted and laminated flood-tidal delta, salt marsh, and washover sands, silts and clays.

While barrier island sequences are generally 10 m in thickness, inlet-fill sequences may be as much as 25 m thick and comprise an average of 35% of the Holocene sedimentary deposits. Tidal inlet-fill, back-barrier (including flood-tidal delta) and shoreface deposits are the most highly preservable facies in the wave-dominated barrier-shoreline setting. In the Cape Lookout cuspate foreland, these three facies account for over 80% of the sedimentary deposits preserved beneath the barriers. Foreshore, spit platform and overwash facies account for the remaining 20%.     

南黄海辐射沙脊群西洋潮流通道的浅部沉积层序及其形成演化再认识

晚第四纪以来,黄河、长江都曾经江苏中部海岸注入南黄海,河海交互作用形成一系列沉积,全新世海侵后发育岸外辐射沙脊群。沙脊群西北部、由岸滩与沙脊所夹持的西洋潮流通道,位于北侧废黄河三角洲和南侧长江三角洲两大地貌单元间的过渡区,成为揭示不同大河交互作用下的海岸、陆架晚第四纪沉积层序模式的重要窗口。最近通过更多晚第四纪钻孔对比和浅层地震剖面集成研究发现：① 由于混乱的测年结果和陆相硬黏土层对比不当,造成之前基于07SR01孔和Y1孔构建的辐射沙脊群西洋潮流通道浅部沉积（标高−60 m以内）的年代框架有误,其主体应是晚更新世沉积且发育两个沉积旋回,末次冰盛期硬黏土层多被潮流侵蚀而缺失,表层全新世沉积厚度在水下沙脊处基本不足10 m,其余普遍不足5 m,甚至缺失;② 仅在西洋西北段稳定分布的浅层地震单元U3指示了MIS 3古黄河三角洲的南缘,自晚更新世以来西洋所在的江苏中部海岸可能深受古黄河物源的影响,这尚需在西洋西北段的关键位置钻取新孔,并结合已有浅层地震剖面和东南段钻孔来进一步研究证实。提出下一步工作将基于层序地层学方法,通过对已有控制性浅层地震剖面进行地震层序格架的三维可视化、提取地震单元和反射界面的空间分布特征,结合已有及新增控制性钻孔的沉积学和年代学研究,构建可靠年代框架、判识大河物源,并参考邻区钻孔资料,来探明西洋潮流通道的浅部沉积层序,反演其形成演化。     

夏季南黄海悬浮体粒度分布及其影响因素

南黄海是东亚海区陆源物质向西太平洋扩散的重要通道,阐明该海区悬浮体粒度特征及其分布规律对于深入揭示中国东部陆架海区源汇沉积体系形成机制具有重要意义。利用2012年夏季在南黄海调查获取的水文环境资料和悬浮体现场粒度（LISST）观测数据,分析悬浮体粒度分布特征及其影响因素,探讨其在南黄海中部泥质区成因机制中的作用。结果表明：夏季,南黄海悬浮颗粒中≤128 μm的细颗粒主要是由无机矿物颗粒组成,而＞128 μm的粗颗粒则由有机颗粒主导。无机颗粒主要分布在混合作用较强的近岸浅水区以及远岸的近底水层,有机颗粒在水体层化较强海域的密度跃层处占据主导地位。再悬浮的海底表层沉积物是海水中无机颗粒的主要来源,潮混合过程是引起再悬浮作用的主要动力因素。潮混合锋阻挡了近岸高浓度无机悬浮颗粒物沿近底层向远岸扩散,但跨锋面的表层离岸流可以将近岸区的部分无机细颗粒物输运至南黄海中部。密度跃层阻碍了冷水团内营养盐进一步向海表扩散,导致浮游植物在密度跃层处富集;大量浮游生物及其分泌物与细小的无机颗粒相结合形成絮集体是海水中＞128 μm粗颗粒的主要来源。絮集体的形成促进了表层无机细颗粒向海底沉降,促进了泥质区的形成。     

Hemipelagic deposits on the Mendeleev and northwestern Alpha submarine Ridges in the Arctic Ocean: acoustic stratigraphy,depositional environment and an inter-ridge correlation calibrated by the ACEX results

The first high resolution multichannel seismic data from the Mendeleev and Alpha Ridges in the Arctic Ocean have been used to investigate the depositional history, and compare acoustic stratigraphies of the three main sub-marine ridges (Mendeleev, Alpha and Lomonosov) in the polar ocean. Acoustic basement on the Mendeleev Ridge is covered by a ~0.6–0.8 s thick sediment drape over highs and up to 1.8 s within grabens. A pronounced angular discordance at 0.18–0.23 s below the seafloor along the middle to upper slopes divides the succession into an upper, undisturbed, uniformly thick, hemipelagic drape (Unit M1) and a partially truncated lower unit (Unit M2) characterized by strong reflection bands. Unit M2 is thicker in intra-ridge grabens and includes three sub-units with abundant debris flows in the uppermost subunit (M2a). The discordance between Units M1 and M2 most likely relates to instability along the middle to upper slopes and mass wasting, triggered by tectonic activity. The scars were further smoothed by bottom current erosion. We observe comparable acoustic stratigraphy and discordant relationships on the investigated northwestern part of Alpha Ridge. Similarly, on the central Lomonosov Ridge, Paleocene and younger sediments sampled by scientific drilling include an uppermost ~0.2 s thick drape overlying, highly reflective deposits with an angular unconformity confined to the upper slope on both sides of the ridge. Sediment instability on the three main ridges was most likely generated by a brief phase of tectonic activity (~14.5–22 Ma), coinciding with enhanced bottom circulation. These events are coeval with the initial opening of the Fram Strait. The age of the oldest sediments above acoustic basement on the Mendeleev- and west-central Alpha Ridges is estimated to be 70–75 Ma.     

苏北射阳河口NTCJ1钻孔沉积序列与年代再认识

射阳河口位于苏北粉砂淤泥质海岸上,处在苏北废黄河三角洲侵蚀岸段与江苏中部淤积岸段之间的过渡区域,是淤蚀交替地带,系现代海岸地貌演变的节点处,同时也是晚第四纪古黄河古长江交互作用的关键区域之一。为了深入研究不同大河交互作用下的海岸、陆架晚第四纪沉积层序模式,最近就苏北射阳河口NTCJ1孔沉积序列和年代,根据该孔的岩性、粒度、介形虫、有孔虫、黏土矿物、地球化学元素和ESR测年等结果,并结合邻近其他钻孔和浅层地震剖面资料进行再研究和再认识,主要得到以下两点新认识：① NTCJ1孔22.00 m岩芯记录了MIS 5以来的沉积环境演化过程,可能缺失形成于MIS 4—2的第一陆相沉积层,MIS 1海相沉积层直接上覆于MIS 5海相沉积层,且尚未钻及形成于MIS 6的第二陆相沉积层;② NTCJ1孔中上部0～17.95 m颗粒较细,以粉砂质为主和暗黄色为基调,明显上粗下细,基本为AD 1128—1855年间形成的废黄河三角洲沉积,为一进积序列,底部可能含有少量全新世滨浅海沉积,但目前尚难以甄别;下部17.95～22.00 m颗粒较粗,以细砂质为主和深灰色为基调,尚未钻穿,是受到古黄河明显影响的MIS 5潮汐河口的水道充填沉积。     

A review of sediment dynamical processes in the west coast of Korea,eastern Yellow Sea

Sediment dynamical processes began to be systematically monitored in the west coast of Korea facing the eastern Yellow Sea in the 1990s. The early investigations were largely conducted aboard vessels that provided results where the resolution was highly restricted in both temporal and spatial aspects. However, full-fledged autonomous instruments introduced early in the 2000s allowed for a quantum leap in the level of this sub-field of sedimentology. The investigated sites include various environments such as estuaries, bays, tidal flats, beaches, and offshore deposits. Among them, a total of seven sites were selected for the review: Han estuary, Daeho tidal flats, Garolim Bay, Saemangeum Region, Byunsan Beach, Gomso Bay, and Huksan Mud Belt. The major results from each site were briefly summarized. The summary clearly demonstrates that wind-generated currents and waves particularly during winter should be carefully considered in interpreting sedimentary environments. This is because winter-season processes interrupt or actively displace much of the sediments worked by tidal currents in the remaining seasons. The summary hence suggests that seasonal investigations of sediment dynamics are necessary to understand shallow-water sedimentation in the west coast of Korea that is governed complicatedly by two major forcing agents: waves and tidal currents.     

东海海底末次冰期埋藏风尘黄土地层初步研究

大量海底调查及钻孔岩芯资料揭示,东海海底全新世疏松沉积物之下,往往埋藏着一层厚度不大的黄褐色、暗绿色硬质粘土层。类似的硬土层在长江三角洲东部平原地层中普遍存在。作者曾对苏北、苏南平原地层中该硬土层与下蜀黄土地层进行对比研究工作,并在野外地层剖面上发现两者为连续延伸地层,认为该硬土层为末次冰期风尘黄土沉积物经埋藏后的次生成土作用演变而成。 本文通过对东海海底硬土层岩芯地层综合分析研究,以及与长江三角洲东部平原区硬土层和下蜀黄土地层沉积物特征对比,认为东海海底硬土层为末次冰期低海面期间,干、冷气候条件下的风尘黄土堆积物,后经埋藏后的次生变化而形成。而在绝大部分海底,由于受到全新世海进作用的强烈冲蚀而缺失,只在局部地区仍有保留。     

Current titles in marine geology

The asymmetrical Astoria Fan (110 × 180 km) developed off the Columbia River and Astoria submarine canyon during the Pleistocene. Morphology, stratigraphy, and lithology have been outlined for a Pleistocene turbidite, and a Holocene hemipelagic sedimentary regime to generate geologically significant criteria for comparison with ancient equivalent deposits. Both gray silty clay of the Late Pleistocene and olive-gray clay of the Early Holocene are interrupted by turbidites. The few deeply incised fan valleys of the more steeply sloping upper fan contain thick, muddy and very poorly sorted sand and gravel beds that usually have poorly developed internal sedimentary structures. The numerous shallower fan valleys and distributaries of the flatter middle and lower fan contain thick, clean, and moderately sorted medium to fine sands that are vertically graded in texture, composition and well-developed internal sedimentary structures. Tuffaceous turbidites (containing Mazama ash, 6600 B.P.) can be traced as thick deposits (ca. 30–40 cm) throughout the Astoria Channel system and as thin correlative interbeds (ca. 1–2 cm) in interchannel areas. Similarly, sand/shale ratios are high throughout the fan valleys and the middle and lower fan areas of distributaries, but are low in the upper-fan interchannel areas.These depositional trends indicate that high-density turbidity currents carry coarse traction loads that remain confined in upper but not lower fan valleys. Fine debris selectively sorts out from channelized flows into overbank suspension flows that spread over the fan and deposit clayey silt. A high content of mica, plant fragments, and glass shards (if present) characterizes deposits of the overbank flows, a major process in the building of upper fan levees and interchannel areas.In the Late Pleistocene, turbidity currents funneled most coarse-grained debris through upper channels to depositional sites in middle and lower fan distributaries that periodically shifted, anastomosed and braided to spread sand layers throughout the area. At this time, depositional rates were many times greater (>50 cm/1000 years) than in the Holocene (8 cm/1000 years).During the Holocene rise of sea level, the shoreline shifted, the Columbia River sediment was trapped, and turbidity-current activity slackened from one major event per 6 years in the Late Pleistocene, to one per 1000 years in the Early Holocene, to none since the Mt. Mazama eruption (ca. 6600 B.P.). Turbidites became muddier and deposited as thick beds within main channels, in part explaining Holocene deposition rates three times greater there (25 cm/1000 years) than in interchannel regions. Turbid-layer debris, funneled through channel systems and trapped from flows off the continental terrace, also contributed to rapid sedimentation in valleys; however, less than 2% of the suspended sediment load of the Columbia River has been trapped in fan valleys during the Holocene.By the Late Holocene, continuous particle-by-particle deposition of hemipelagic clay with a biogenous coarse fraction was the predominant process on the fan. These hemipelagites contain progressively more clay size and less terrigenous debris offshore, and are finer grained, richer in planktonic tests and dominated by radiolarians compared to the foraminiferal-rich Pleistocene clays. The hemipelagic sedimentation of interglacial times, however, is insignificant compared to turbidite deposition of glacial times.     

Evolution of late Quaternary mud deposits and recent sediment budget in the southeastern Yellow Sea

Analysis of high-resolution seismic reflection profiles and sediment samples has revealed the evolution and sediment budget of the southeastern Yellow Sea mud belt (SEYSM) along the southwestern Korean Peninsula. The SEYSM, up to 50 m thick, over 250 km long and 20–55 km wide, can be divided into three stratigraphic units (A1, A2, and B, from oldest to youngest). Unit A1, overlying the acoustic basement, comprises the northern part of the SEYSM. Unit A2 comprises the southern part of the SEYSM; much of unit A2 is exposed at the seafloor. Unit B completely covers unit A1 and pinches out southward.

¹⁴C data suggest that evolution of each unit is closely related to the postglacial sea-level changes. Unit A1 consists of estuarine/deltaic or shallow-water muds deposited during the early to middle stage of postglacial sea-level rise (ca. 14,000–7000 yr B.P.). Unit A2 corresponds to relict muds deposited during the last, deceleration stage of sea-level rise (ca. 7000–3.500 yr B.P.). Unit B consists of shelf muds deposited during the recent sea-level highstand (ca. <3500 yr B.P.).

Very low background activities of ²¹⁰Pb of the surface sediment of unit A2 suggest that the present-day sediment accumulation is negligible in the southern SEYSM. On the other hand, ²¹⁰Pb excess activity profiles in unit B yield an average sediment accumulation rate of 3.9 mm/yr, indicating active sediment accumulation in the northern SEYSM. The annual sink (3.0×10⁷ tons/yr) of fine-grained sediment in unit B is about an order of magnitude greater than can be explained by the sediment input from the Korean rivers alone. We propose that reworking of unit A2 has provided large volumes of muds to unit B, resulting in excessive sediment accumulation in the northern SEYSM. Much of unit A2, in turn, is likely to have originated from erosion of unit A1 in the north. This rather unique erosional/depositional regime of the SEYSM is probably owing to the tidal and regional currents characteristic in the southeastern Yellow Sea.     

末次冰消期以来渤、黄、东海陆架潮汐、潮流演变过程模拟研究

末次盛冰期结束、海侵开始后渤、黄、东海陆架潮汐、潮流的演变对该区泥沙的输运与沉积 ,以及海底地貌的形成、分布以及演变等具有深刻影响。文中数值模拟末次冰消期以来 4个特定时期 ,即比现在海面低 80 m、5 2 m、30 m海面以及全新世最大海侵时渤、黄、东海陆架的潮汐、潮流。根据不同时期的潮汐、潮流分布特征得出 ,末次冰消期以来渤、黄、东海陆架潮汐、潮流的演变过程大致以全新世最大海侵为界划分为两个阶段 :1全新世最大海侵前为渤、黄、东海陆架潮汐、潮流基本分布格局的形成阶段 ;2全新世最大海侵后 ,为基本分布格局的局部调整阶段。末次冰消期以来基本海岸轮廓的变迁是渤、黄、东海陆架区潮汐、潮流演变的主要控制因素     

夏季黄海表面冷水对大气边界层及海雾的影响

海表面温度(SST)是海气界面上的1个物理量,受到海洋潮汐、海底地形等因素影响,并对海洋大气边界层有着重要的影响.夏季的黄海,由于黄海冷水团的存在和陆架锋的影响,或是潮汐混合的作用导致海水的垂直混合,使海表面温度的分布产生复杂的结构.通过对卫星观测的海表面温度数据分析,发现在夏季黄海有几个SST冷中心的存在:辽东半岛以及山东半岛的顶端、朝鲜半岛的西侧、山东半岛南侧、江苏外海和黄海南部等.本文利用一系列船舶观测资料、卫星遥感数据、再分析数据分析等,并运用数值模拟研究黄海的冷中心对其上大气的影响.在冷区之上,大气稳定度增加,抑制了近海面大气的垂直混合,使海表面风速减弱.通过对船测数据的分析,在冷区位置有海雾多发区的存在,黄海南部冷区上的海雾发生频率达到15％以上.Weather Research and Forecasting(WRF)模式的数值模拟表明,冷中心降低上空的温度,使海表面风速减弱,形成厚度达500m的逆温层,为海雾的形成创造了有利的条件.与船测数据结果所不同的是黄海南部冷中心之上的海雾发生频率可以达到30％,去掉冷区影响的试验表明冷区较冷的海表面温度最多可以使海雾的发生频率增加15％以上.