Modeling the Yellow River sediment flux and its deposition patterns under climatological conditions

A numerical sediment transport model was embedded into a coupled wave-tide-circulation model to quantitatively estimate the suspended sediment fluxes (SSF) and distribution in different areas for the Yellow River derived sediment. The model is validated by comparing model simulated sediment deposition rates with those from observations. Simulated results show that the SSF of the Yellow River across two major sections (the Bohai Strait and the 37° N section) are highest during September and October, whereas for the 32° N section the flux is negligibly small (less than 0.1 kg/s). We demonstrate that the sediment flux is primarily driven by the buoyancy forcing of the Yellow River freshwater discharge and modulated by the wind-driven surface wave and circulation patterns in this region. The SSF across the Bohai Strait is about 30 % of the Yellow River discharge, while across the 37° N section it is 15.8 %. Therefore, about 70 % of the total discharged Yellow River sediments are deposited in the Bohai Sea, 14.1 % in the North Yellow Sea, and 13.9 % in the South Yellow Sea. There are two deposition branches in the Yellow Sea. The primary one is located off the eastern tip of the Shandong Peninsula and extends to the southwest off the coastline, which is consistent with the observed “Ω”-shape deposition pattern. This simulated tongue shape deposition pattern is isolated from the north by the strong resuspension off the eastern tip of Shandong Peninsula. The secondary branch extends to the middle of the South Yellow Sea and has been strengthened by resuspension process. The two deposition branches are separated by the wintertime Yellow Sea Warm Current in the bottom layer.     

黄海的地壳速度结构与中朝—扬子块体拼合边界

利用中国、韩国和ISC台站的地震走时数据反演了黄海地区的地壳P波速度结构,对比重力异常和断裂体系、Pn波速度及其各向异性,分析了不同地球物理异常的相互关系以及黄海东部和西部的结构差异,为厘定黄海东部断裂暨中朝—扬子块体的拼合边界提供了新的信息.反演结果表明,北黄海和南黄海西部具有沉积盆地的地壳结构特征,P波速度明显偏低且深度较大,说明盆地内部沉积层较厚、沉降幅度较大,以北黄海、南黄海海州湾和苏北—南黄盆地最为突出.南黄海中部、胶东半岛、辽东半岛和朝鲜半岛显示出构造隆起区的地壳速度特征,其中南黄海中部的高速异常具有北东方向的伸展痕迹,与胶东地区的区域构造走向趋于一致,但是与朝鲜半岛的高速异常并不相连,其间存在明显的分界.据此推测南黄海与朝鲜半岛之间可能存在一个近南北方向的深断裂——黄海东部断裂,至于该断裂是否可以作为中朝—扬子块体在海区的拼合边界,尚需获取黄海东部及朝鲜半岛更详细的相关资料提供依据.     

Biomarker evidence for changes in terrestrial organic matter input into the Yellow Sea mud area during the Holocene

We present lipid biomarker records of two cores(ZY1 and ZY3) from the central South Yellow Sea mud area to investigate the changes in sources and transport processes of the sedimentary organic matter(OM) throughout the Holocene. Based on the analysis of marine biomarker content(SPB(Phytoplankton Biomarker, total content of brassicasterol, dinosterol and C_(37)-alkenones) and crenarchaeol), and terrestrial biomarkers(Sn-alkanols and br GDGTs) as well as TMBR′ and BIT index values, the marine organic matter(MOM) and terrestrial organic matter(TOM) deposition history was reconstructed. Changes in TOM and MOM were related to variations in land vegetation density and marine productivity, as well as transport processes dominated by the oceanic circulation system. The marine biomarker contents from the South Yellow Sea have generally increased throughout the Holocene, indicating that the increased MOM contents were mainly controlled by the strengthening of the circulation system. The terrestrial biomarkers, on the other hand, were more variable, indicating more complex influence of TOM burial in the Yellow Sea. During the Early Holocene(7200–6000 cal yr BP), the moderate TOM input revealed by the terrestrial proxy records may result from abundant land source supply by strong river transport despite the lack of transport via circulation system. The Mid-Holocene(6000–3000 cal yr BP) was characterized by decreased terrestrial biomarker contents. The balance between the decrease in land source supply and increase of transportation by the current system of the TOM resulted in the lower but stable contents of TOM. During the Late Holocene(3000 cal yr BP to present), the TOM deposition in the South Yellow Sea increased as the current system was further enhanced and thus transported more TOM to the central South Yellow Sea, although the land supply of TOM was further reduced.     

A 3-D numerical study of salinity variations in the Bohai Sea during the recent years

Salinity is an important component of the marine system. Previous studies indicated that the mean salinity in the Bohai Sea had increased by 2.0 psu in the second half of the 20th century, mainly due to a sharp decrease in the Yellow River runoff, and also the effects of large-scale climatic variations and the intrusions of the North Yellow Sea Water (NYSW). Since 2002, the Yellow River Conservancy Commission has carried out the flow regulation at the beginning of every flood season, resulting in more discharge of the Yellow River freshwater into the Bohai Sea. In this study, the variations of salinity in the Bohai Sea during the recent years are investigated using a well-established three-dimensional baroclinic model, HAMburg Shelf Ocean Model (HAMSOM). The simulation results show that the Yellow River diluted water was mainly discharged into the Laizhou Bay, so the remarkable increase in the Yellow River runoff after 2002 led to a regime shift of salinity in the Laizhou Bay. However, in other parts of the Bohai Sea, salinity variation was influenced by the surrounding rivers or the intrusions of NYSW, and has little relation with the Yellow River runoff. As a whole, advection is more important than diffusion in the salinity distribution, and seasonal oscillation is the main feature of salinity variation. Via several case studies, evaporation and precipitation rates are found to be important in the long-term simulation of salinity.     

Use of aliphatic hydrocarbons to infer terrestrial organic matter in coastal marine sediments off China

Sediment samples from the marine systems along the coast of China, covering Yellow Sea, inner shelf of the East China Sea (ECS) and the South China Sea (SCS), were analyzed for n-alkanes and organic carbon. The concentrations of Σn-C(15-35) were 120-1680ngg(-1) dry weight with an average of 560ngg(-1). Short-chain n-alkanes (C(21)) were mainly derived from terrestrial higher plants. Organic carbon deposited into Yellow Sea and Southeast Hainan within the SCS was mainly of terrestrial (13-110%; mean: 58%) and marine (48-110%; mean: 86%) sources, respectively. On the other hand, organic carbon accumulated in the SCS adjacent to the Pearl River Estuary was derived from both terrestrial and marine sources.     

黄海及其邻近地区的Pn波速度与各向异性

利用中国东部地震台网和ISC 报告1980~2004年的地震走时数据,反演了黄海及其邻近地区的Pn波速度和各向异性,根据岩石层地幔的横向非均匀性分析了区域地质构造的深部特点.Pn波速度的变化与区域地质构造有一定的对应关系,黄海地区上地幔顶部的P波平均速度较高,没有发现明显的低速异常,表明上地幔顶部不存在大范围的地幔扰动.速度异常的分布表明,南黄海东部和西部有可能分属于不同的构造块体,其间的分界大致对应于南北走向的黄海东部断裂带,具有相对较低的Pn波速度.边界东、西两侧的Pn波各向异性存在明显的差异：南黄海西部Pn波的快波方向以北东—北北东方向为主,反映了海区内部扬子块体向北运动产生的构造变形;南黄海东部Pn波的快波方向为南北方向,与黄海东部断裂带的走向基本一致,说明黄海东部和西部之间存在一个深达岩石层地幔的南北向转换边界.结合相关资料估计黄海东部断裂带在中生代时期发生了右旋走滑运动,以响应中国东部郯庐断裂带的大规模左旋剪切以及南黄海扬子块体的向北嵌入.     

钻探揭示的黄河断裂北段活动性和滑动速率

黄河断裂是银川盆地内展布最长、切割最深的一条深大断裂,也是银川盆地的东边界。由于其北段呈隐伏状,因此,该段的活动性和滑动速率长期未知,影响了对盆地演化和地震危险性的认识。文中选择具有石油地震勘探基础的陶乐镇为研究场点,以人工浅层地震勘探结果为依据,在黄河断裂北段布设了一排钻孔联合剖面,并对标志层进行年代测试,获得了断裂的活动时代和滑动速率。结果表明,黄河断裂北段在晚更新世末期或全新世有过活动,在（28.16±0.12）ka BP 以来的累积位移为0.96m,晚第四纪以来的平均滑动速率为0.04mm/a,该值明显低于南段灵武断层（0.24mm/a）;尽管向下切割了莫霍面,黄河断裂晚第四纪活动强度和发震能力均要低于切割相对浅的贺兰山东麓断裂;黄河断裂可能在新生代之前已经强烈活动并深切莫霍面,新生代以来,银川盆地的构造活动迁移分解到以贺兰山东麓断裂为主的多条断裂之上,地壳双层伸展模型可解释银川盆地现今深浅部构造活动间的联系。     

End member inversion of surface sediment grain size in the South Yellow Sea and its implications for dynamic sedimentary environments

Four end members were inverted from surface sediment grain size data from the South Yellow Sea by using the end member (EM) model. The sediment provenance and hydrodynamic meanings of each EM were discussed based on the frequency and spatial distributions of the EMs. EM1 and EM2 reflect the dynamic transport and sorting processes of the terrigenous sediment, and EM3 and EM4 reflect the modification of relic sand. The ocean front mainly affected transport of relatively coarse terrigenous sediment in the South Yellow Sea, and the fine terrigenous sediments were generally unaffected by the ocean front. Fine sediment could pass through the ocean front and deposit in the central South Yellow Sea under weak tidal condition to form most part of the Central Yellow Sea Mud (CYSM). The CYSM extended toward northwest and southwest. The sediment in the north part of the CYSM mainly consisted of sediment from the Yellow River (Huanghe) in the northwest, and the sediment in the southwest part of CYSM mainly consisted of Subei coastal sediments from both the Yangtze River (Changjiang) and the Yellow River. Compared to the traditional method of sediment grain size analysis, the EM model can determine the EMs and provide better explanations of the sediment provenance and dynamic regional sedimentary environment in the study area.     

巢湖柱状沉积物中甘油二烷基甘油四醚脂(GDGTs)的组成特征

甘油二烷基甘油四醚脂(GDGTs)是目前生物地球化学研究的热点之一.与GDGTs有关的指标已成功地应用在海洋环境中有关来源判识和古环境古气候重建的研究,但是在湖泊环境中的应用目前还比较有限.通过开展巢湖柱状沉积物中GDGTs的组成测定,为GDGTs类脂分子标志物在湖泊系统中的应用提供依据.研究表明由柱状沉积物中支链GDGTs参数计算得到的量化结果与巢湖周围流域的环境温度、pH等历史记录能较好地吻合;柱状沉积物中类异戊二烯类GDGTs来源的不确定性可能是造成TEX_(86)指标的量化结果和实际的水体温度出现较大偏差的重要原因.另外,沉积物中GDGTs指标和TOC、C/N、δ~(13)C_(org)、δ~(15)N等传统湖泊总体有机质参数以及其它分子标志物指标相比,具有高分辨性和抗干扰等特点.因此,湖泊中GDGTs有望成为湖泊古气候和古环境重建的重要指标.     

The distribution and transportation of fine-grained sediments on the inner continental shelf off the Keum River estuary,Korea

A study of suspended particulate matter in the Keum estuary and the adjacent continental shelf, southeastern Yellow Sea, showed that most of the suspended matter (average amount of2.7 × 10⁴ tons in October 1980) is derived from the Keum River and the major dispersal directions are westward and southwestward. Associated investigations of the clay mineral and trace element of the bottom sediment in the same study area confirmed that the bulk of fine-grained sediments derived from the Keum River and its estuary probably is dispersed essentially to the southwest, but indicated that less significant amounts are dispersed to the west or northwest.     

Quantitatively distinguishing sediments from the Yangtze River and the Yellow River using δ Eu<Subscript>N</Subscript>-ΣREEs plot

Sediment samples were collected from the lower channel of the Yangtze River and the Yellow River and the contents of rare earth elements (REEs) were measured. In addition, some historical REEs data were collected from published literatures. Based on the δ Eu_N-ΣREEs plot, a clear boundary was found between the sediments from the two rivers. The boundary can be described as an orthogonal polynomial equation by ordinary linear regression with sediments from the Yangtze River located above the curve and sediments from the Yellow River located below the curve. To validate this method, the REEs contents of sediments collected from the estuaries of the Yangtze River and the Yellow River were measured. In addition, the REEs data of sediment Core 255 from the Yangtze River and Core YA01 from the Yellow River were collected. Results show that the samples from the Yangtze River estuary and Core 255 almost are above the curve and most samples from the Yellow River estuary and Core YA01 are below the curve in the δEu_N-ΣREEs plot. The plot and the regression equation can be used to distinguish sediments from the Yangtze River and the Yellow River intuitively and quantitatively, and to trace the sediment provenance of the eastern seas of China. The difference between the sediments from two rivers in the δEu_N-ΣREEs plot is caused by different mineral compositions and regional climate patterns of the source areas. The relationship between δEu_N and ΣREEs is changed little during the transport from the source area to the river, and from river to the sea. Thus the original information on mineral compositions and climate of the source area was preserved. Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 40506016, 40576032, and 90411014)     

RE-COGNITION OF THE NEOTECTONICS AND ACTIVITIES OF THE YINGKOU-WEIFANG FAULT ZONE

The Yingkou-Weifang fault zone (YWFZ) is the part of the Tanlu fault zone across the Bohai Sea, and is also an important part of the tectonics of the eastern Bohai Bay Basin. Many studies have been carried out on the neo-tectonics and activities of the YWFZ in recent years. In this paper, the neo-tectonics and activities of the YWFZ, and other related issues were studied again, based on our previous work and results of other researchers. The neo-tectonic movement in the Bohai Sea area began in the late Miocene (12~10Ma BP), which originated from the local crust horizontal movement, the tectonic stress field is characterized by NEE-SWW and near E-W horizontal compression. The neo-tectonics of the YWFZ is represented mainly by Neogene-Quaternary deformation, due to rejuvenation of Paleogene faults. Many faults have developed. The neo-tectonics and activities of YWFZ have characteristics of segmentation and weakening, because of the development of the NE-trending Northwest Miao Island-the Yellow River Estuary fault zone, which crosses the YWFZ. Earthquakes in the east of Bohai Sea are distributed along the Northwest Miao Island-the Yellow River Estuary fault zone, only few and small earthquakes along the Liaodong Bay and the Laizhou Bay section of the YWFZ. We made a preliminary analysis of the mechanics for this phenomenon.     

1518年6月22日韩国首尔以西海域——南黄海大震

1518年6月22日韩国首尔以西海域——南黄海发生大震。地震波及朝鲜半岛全境,并在韩国首尔等沿海地区造成破坏,首尔的烈度为Ⅷ度,余震持续一个多月。地震还影响到中国东部地区。震级定为M7?级。此次地震可能与朝鲜半岛西缘断裂带（南黄海东缘断裂带）的活动有关。震中定于该断裂带附近（36.5°N,125.2°E）。     

Relocation of the Yellow River as revealed by sedimentary isotopic and elemental signals in the East China Sea

The Yellow River (YR) supplies a large amount of nutrients and fresh water to the northern Chinese marginal seas, and greatly influences the ecosystem and current patterns. The relocation of the YR outlet from the southern Yellow Sea (YS) to the Bohai Sea in 1855 was demonstrated using northern East China Sea (ECS) sediment characteristics. Both isotopic (δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N) signals and C/N ratios in the organic matter (OM) indicate that prior to 1750, the predominant source of OM to the sediments was terrestrial. The terrestrial influences continuously weakened until 1855, when the YR estuary moved; after 1855, the OM was characterized by oceanic sources. Major elements (Al, Ti, Fe, Mn) and trace elements (Ni, Cr, Cu, Pb) had a much closer association with Malan loess prior to 1855, as >90% of the YR sediment was loess-derived. These results reveal that the relocation of the YR induced significant changes in the current patterns of the northern China Seas in the last 250 years; however, more studies are needed to further examine these linkages.     

The Consequences of the Oder Flood in 1997 on the Distribution of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Oder River Estuary

Changes in the levels and spatial distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as a consequence of the Oder flood in the summer of 1997 were investigated in surface water samples and fluffy layer material from the Oder Lagoon and the Pomeranian Bight. The measurements of the contaminants were complemented by satellite data to describe the spreading of the Oder flood discharge including the distribution of the particulate material. During the flood elevated levels of PAHs were discussed in the surface water and fluffy layer material of the Oder River Estuary in comparison to the average values in this region. These increased concentrations were attributed to flooding of municipal and industrial waste disposal areas in the drainage area of the Oder River. The meteorological conditions during the sampling period were characterized by predominant easterly winds, which guided the river plume along the German coast into the Arkona Sea, as verified by satellite observations. The highest concentrations of PAHs were observed near the mouth of the Swina and along the main direction of the river plume. Elevated concentrations of PAHs were also found in fluffy layer samples taken from the Oder Lagoon in late August. As derived from satellite data the eastern and the western parts of the lagoon differed in their SPM load during the entire flood period. The eastern part was covered by Oder water, while the western part contained a mixture of Oder Lagoon water. The highest concentrations of PAHs were not observed in the western part with the highest suspended matter values, but in the eastern part where the flood water entered the lagoon. Despite the significantly increased PAH levels measured during the flood, all measured concentrations were below the values that are considered to pose a risk to the ecosystem.     

A convection-conduction model for analysis of the freeze-thaw conditions in the surrounding rock wall of a tunnel in permafrost regions

The results of simulated tidal current field, wave field and storm-induced current field are employed to interpret the depositional dynamic mechanism of formation and evolution of the radial sand ridges on the Yellow Sea door. The anticlockwise rotary tidal wave to the south of Shandong Peninsula meets the following progressive tidal wave from the South Yellow Sea, forming a radial current field outside Jianggang. This current field provides a necessary dynamic condition for the formation and existence of the radial sand ridges on the Yellow Sea seafloor. The results of simulated “old current field (holocene)” show that there existed a convergent-divergent tidal zone just outside the palaeo-Yangtze River estuary where a palaeo-underwater accumulation was developed. The calculated results from wave models indicate that the wave impact on the topography, under the condition of high water level and strong winds, is significant. The storm current induced by typhoons landing in the Yangtze River estuary and turning away to the sea can have an obvious influence, too, on the sand ridges. The depmitional dynamic mechanism of formation and evolution of the radial sand ridges on the Yellow Sea seafloor is “tidal current-induced formation—storm-induced chang—tidal current-induced recovery”. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 49236120).     

Sediment discharge of the Yellow River (China) and its effect on the sedimentation of the Bohai and the Yellow Sea

The Yellow River is noted for its small water discharge and huge sediment load, which amounts to about11 × 10⁸ tons every year, contributing 17% of the world's fluvial sediment discharge to the ocean. This has a profound effect on the sedimentation of the Bohai and the Yellow Sea. Changes of the outlet in the modern delta every 10 y result in frequent changes in the recession and progradation of the deltaic coastline both in space and time, and is the main reason why the Yellow River has not succeeded in building a bird-foot delta like the Mississippi. Owing to the huge sediment input from the Yellow River, the sedimentation rate of the Bohai is very high, about 0.6 m ka⁻¹, but it is unlikely that the Bohai will be filled up in a few thousand years. In the late Quaternary period, the Yellow River extended its course across the Yellow Sea at least 4 times and probably discharged its heavy load into the Okinawa Trough during the last glacial maximum (15,000 B.P.).     

银川断陷盆地地壳结构与构造的地震学证据

通过跨银川断陷盆地,完成了一条长68.9 km的高分辨深地震反射探测剖面,首次获得了银川盆地地壳精细结构、地堑型断陷盆地深部断裂系（黄河断裂、银川断裂、贺兰山东麓断裂）特征及深浅构造关系.结果表明：银川断陷盆地上地壳为双程走时8 s（深度约20 km）反射面以上的区域,上地壳上部地层层位丰富,地层分段连续性较好,上地壳下部地层分层特征不明显,地质构造简单;下地壳(8～13 s)反射能量较弱,反射同相轴不明显;下地壳下部壳幔过渡带（13 s附近）由一组能量较强、持续时间较长（1.5 s）的反射波组组成,厚度约4.5 km.芦花台断裂、银川断裂分别于12～12.5 km、18～19 km深处交汇于贺兰山东麓断裂,贺兰山东麓断裂于28～29 km深处交汇于黄河断裂,黄河断裂为错断Moho面的深大断裂,银川地堑为以黄河断裂为主,其他断裂为辅组合而成的负花状构造.根据贺兰山东麓断裂和银川断裂的相互关系,认为贺兰山东麓断裂对1739年平罗—银川8级地震起主要控制作用.     

REE geochemistry of surface sediments in the Chukchi Sea

Rare earth elements (including the lanthanides and Y) have analogical chemical properties and low solubility, and they are not easy to transfer and take inter-element fractionation during geological processes such as weathering, disintegration, transporta…     

Determination of transport rates in the Yellow River–Bohai Sea mixing zone via natural geochemical tracers

In light of the current problems facing the Yellow River and surrounding areas (e.g., periods of zero river discharge, increasing nitrate concentrations of the Bohai Sea), we examined the coastal mixing dynamics around the mouth of the Yellow River. Naturally occurring radium isotopes (²²³Ra, ²²⁴Ra, ²²⁶Ra, and ²²⁸Ra) and other geochemical tracers (Ba, Si, and salinity) were employed to determine river plume transport scales and rates. Barium and radium exhibit elevated concentrations within the salinity gradient where they are desorbed from particles via ion-exchange. Once they are added to the system, they decrease offshore from dilution with lower concentration Bohai Sea water, and in the case of ²²⁴Ra and ²²³Ra, by radioactive decay. Using radium “ages” to assess the dissolved material transport scales and rates proved to be a useful tool in this environment. The ages based on the ²²⁴Ra/²²⁸Ra activity ratio increased gradually until salinities reached ∼25 when they rapidly increased due to decreased mixing at higher salinities. Integrated net transport rates through the salinity front ranged from 1.4 to 1.6 cm/s and did not vary significantly with river discharge. Thus, tidal mixing appears to dominate in this system, at least over the range of discharges investigated (80–600 m³/s). Determining the temporal scale of flow across the coastal zone in this region is a valuable first step toward examining whether the Yellow River is contributing to the increasing inorganic nitrogen concentrations in the central Bohai Sea.