Ages of Liangshan Paleolithic sites in Hanzhong Basin,central China

Thermally transferred optically stimulated luminescence (TT-OSL) dating extends the age range beyond current limits of OSL dating in Chinese loess. In this study, we use a single-aliquot regenerative-dose procedure for TT-OSL protocol to date Yaochangwan and Hejialiang localities of loess-covered Liangshan Paleolithic sites in Hanzhong Basin, which is an important area for the study of Paleolithic industries during the middle Pleistocene in central China. The results suggest that buried culture layer at the Hejialiang locality is correlated with the last interglacial paleosol S1 in Chinese Loess Plateau, it is dated at 86.3 ± 6.4 ka. The Yaochangwan locality spans from approximate 600–100 ka and correlates with S5–S1 in the typical Chinese loess–paleosol sequences, respectively. These ages suggest that hominins already occupied the Hanzhong Basin since approximately 600 ka ago.     

Pleistocene magnetochronology of the fauna and Paleolithic sites in the Nihewan Basin: Significance for environmental and hominin evolution in North China

The fluvio-lacustrine sequences in the Nihewan Basin of North China (known as the Nihewan Formation) are rich sources of Early Pleistocene Paleolithic sites and mammalian fossils (known as the Nihewan Fauna sensu lato), which offer an excellent opportunity to investigate the evolution of early humans and land mammals in East Asia. Also abundant mammalian fossils provide clues about the general environmental and climatic setting of early humans. Among the Nihewan Fauna (sensu lato), the Daodi Fauna is one of the most complete and oldest in the eastern Nihewan Basin: seven mammalian fossil-bearing layers in the Nihewan Formation have been described. Except for a biostratigraphy, however, precise age control on the Daodi Fauna has remained unavailable. Here we report a new magnetostratigraphic record that stringently constrains its age. The seven fossil-rich layers span an age range of ca 2.5–1.8 Ma between the Gauss–Matuyama boundary and the termination of the Olduvai polarity subchron. Combining our new and recently published paleomagnetic data, we further establish a Pleistocene magnetochronology of the fauna and Paleolithic sites in the Nihewan Basin. Age ranges of about 2.5–0.5 Ma for the faunas and 1.7–0.3 Ma for the Paleolithic sites are deduced, which span most of the Pleistocene. The chronological framework and calculated proportions of mammals that were adapted to different environments indicate that mixed settings of dominant grasslands and subordinate forests continued at least from 2.5 to 0.5 Ma for early human occupation in the basin, similar to the mixed open savannah and woodland habitats of early humans in Africa. The Nihewan hominins consistently adopted a simple Oldowan-like technology (i.e., Mode 1 core and flake technologies) from at least ca 1.7 to 0.3 Ma. A more advanced Acheulean technology (Mode 2) has not been found in the Nihewan Basin, although it started to emerge in the Bose Basin of South China at ca 0.8 Ma. This implies that multiple groups of hominins distinguished by differential stone-tool-making capabilities may have coexisted in China after 0.8 Ma.     

Geochronology and geochemistry of the Heihe mafic pillow lavas in the Qinling Mountains, China

The Qinling Mountains in central China are the joint orogenic zone between the Sino-Korean (or North China) and the Yangtze craton blocks. The age and genesis of the Danfeng mafic volcanics in the north of the Shangzhou-Danfeng fault zone, i.e. the main suture zone in the Qinling orogenic belt, have been controverted for a long time because their age is closely related to the converged time of two blocks. The ages and the geochemical data of the Heihe pillow lavas for the Danfeng mafic volcanics in the Heihe River area in the Qinling orogen are reported in this paper. The obtained isochron age by the Sm-Nd isotopic data of the 13 whole-rock samples for the mafic pillow lavas is 963±130 (2σ) Ma, corresponding to I_Nd = 0.51173±16 (2σ),ɛ _Nd(T)= +6.6, MSWD0.57. However, the Rb-Sr isotopic analytical results for the same samples as the Sm-Nd whole-rock ones are disperse. For the Sm-Nd isotopic systems were interfered during the later geological functions, the Sm-Nd isochron age for the whole-rock sample (Q9511WR) and the mineral phenocrystal samples: amphiboles (Hb) and plagioclases (Plag) presents the better uncertainty, whereas isochron ages of 930 Ma and 437 Ma are given if the WR-Plag and WR-Hb are calculated respectively, and their Rb-Sr isochron age is 268±47(2σ) Ma, I_sr = 0.70475±11 (2σ), MSWD0.96. The major and trace elements for the lavas show that they were formed in the quasi-N-MORB setting.     

The microtine distribution and its environmental significance since the Middle Pleistocene in Zhangping Caves of the Qinling Mountains

Three microtine species are recovered from the Zhangping Caves of the Qingling Mountains, namely Microtus oeconomus, Caryomys inez and Caryomys eva. They are climate-sensitive ones with different ecological habits, therefore their distribution well corresponds to environmental variations. Statistical comparison of the distribution of fossil microtines and their counterparts nowadays displays that the climate variation of the studied area and its contiguity since the middle Pleistocene are: warm and humid at 493 ka ago, cool and humid at 259 ka ago―cold and humid at 205 ka ago―cool and humid at 28 ka ago, and warm and dry at present.     

Metamorphic evolution of garnet–clinopyroxene–amphibole rocks from the Proterozoic Songshugou mafic–ultramafic complex, Qinling Mountains, central China

Garnet–clinopyroxene–amphibole rocks from the Songshugou mafic–ultramafic complex ( ca 1029 Ma) in the Qinling Mountains, central China, occur in a metabasite unit that is situated structurally beneath the peridotite body. These rocks have many records testifying to a multistage metamorphic history for the metabasites. Through petrographic and mineralogic investigations, at least three metamorphic stages were recognized: (i) a pre-eclogite stage of the amphibolite-facies condition as inferred from inclusions in garnet; (ii) an eclogite-facies stage as inferred from Pl-Cpx symplectites and from their reconstructed omphacite compositions (Jd_17–35); and (iii) a post-eclogite stage characterized by various reaction textures such as coronas and reaction zones around garnets, clinopyroxenes and fine-grained mineral aggregates after garnets and clinopyroxenes. A textural relationship observed in the field and thin-section scales indicates that a breakdown of the Grt–Cpx–Amp assemblage led to the Grt-free and the Cpx-free assemblages, that is, Amp + Pl assemblage at the end. The eclogite-facies metamorphism of the metabasites, discussed in the present report, was related to subduction at the age intervening between ca 983 and ca 1029 Ma. Regional geologic data indicate that the eclogite-related subduction took place during the opening of the Kuanping marginal basin in the southern margin of the North China craton, and slightly before the formation of the Danfeng magmatic arc ( ca 984 Ma). The exhumation and emplacement of the eclogite-facies domain probably resulted from a collision between the Danfeng magmatic arc terrain and a fragment of the North China craton (i.e. the Qinling Complex) during 790–890 Ma.     

Granitoid magmatism in the Qinling orogen,central China and its bearing on orogenic evolution

The Qinling orogen is a typical composite orogen for understanding multi-stages of magmatism and orogenic processes. Many studies have been carried out on the magmatic rocks in the Qinling orogen but their petrogenesis is still controversial. This paper presents a review of all granitoid rocks based on previous and new studies of geochronology and geochemistry. Four distinct periods of granitoid magmatism, Neoproterozoic(979–711 Ma), Paleozoic(507–400 Ma), Early Mesozoic(250–185 Ma) and Late Mesozoic(160–100 Ma), have been recognized from the Qinling orogen according to zircon U-Pb ages, intrusion associations and deformation, as well as regional geology. The Neoproterozoic granitic rocks consist of three stages at 979–911, 894–815 and 759–711 Ma, respectively, corresponding to strongly deformed S-type, weakly deformed I-type and A-type granitoids. They can be interpreted as magmatic occurrences in syn-collisional, post-collisional and extensional settings, respectively, in response to old continental terranes of the Neoproterozoic tectonomagmatic events in the old continents of China, such as South China and Tarim cratons. Although this continental terrane would be involved in the Phanerozoic Qinling orogeny, the Neoproterozoic magmatic rocks are not the products of the Qinling orogenic processes. The Paleozoic magmatic rocks can be classified into three stages at 507–470, 460–422 and 415–400 Ma, respectively. The first-stage magmatism is temporally associated with ultra-high pressure metamorphism in the North Qinling terrane. These magmatic rocks are interpreted as magmatic occurrences in subductional, syn-collisional and post-collisional settings, respectively. The Early Mesozoic magmatic rocks occur in two stages at 252–185 and 225–200 Ma, respectively. The first-stage granitoids are mainly represented by I-type quartz diorites and granodiorites, and the second stage by granodiorites and monzogranites with the I- to A-type characteristics and some with rapakivi textures. Their emplacement ages and geochemical parameters such as A/CNK, K2O/Na2 O ratios and εNd(t) values do not show any polarity change in perpendicular to subduction/collision zone. Therefore, all these Early Mesozoic granitoids are unlikely the product of continental subduction as some researchers suggested. Instead, they are plausibly related to the subduction of the Mianlue Ocean and the subsequent collision between the South China Craton and the South Qinling terrane. The Late Mesozoic granitoids were emplaced mainly at two stages of 160–130 and 120–100 Ma, and characterized by the evolution from I- to I-A- and A-type granitoids. These characteristics are consistent with the granitoid magmatic evolution from contractional to extensional settings during the Jurassic/Cretaceous in eastern China. Accordingly, the Late Mesozoic granitoid rocks in the Qinling orogen probably have a similar petrogenetic mechanism to those of the huge magmatic belt along the western Pacific margin, i.e., intra-continent magmatism related to a far-field effect of the subduction of Paleo-Pacific plate.     

Radiocarbon and luminescence dating of the Wulanmulun site in Ordos,and its implication for the chronology of Paleolithic sites in China

After the Salawusu and Shuidonggou sites, the Wulanmulun site found in 2011 is another important Paleolithic site in Ordos, China, due to its numerous stone artifacts and animal fossils. Here, we carry out a combined luminescence and radiocarbon dating of the site. The luminescence dating was done on coarse-grained quartz from 24 sediment samples using a single-aliquot regenerative-dose (SAR) protocol. The radiocarbon dating was performed on ten charcoal samples and one bone sample using acid-base-acid (ABA) and acid–base-wet oxidation-stepped combustion (ABOx-SC) pretreatments. The results showed that: (i) although some samples show relative large (>20%) overdispersion in De distribution (small aliquots), the quartz grains are considered to be sufficiently bleached before burial; (ii) the quartz OSL ages of ∼4–65 ka obtained for the samples are generally stratigraphically consistent and reliable; (iii) the radiocarbon ages obtained using the ABA pretreatment procedure are much younger than the corresponding OSL ages, and the radiocarbon ages obtained using the ABOx-SC method are beyond or close to the laboratory background. The radiocarbon ages obtained using the ABA treatment were considered to be underestimated. This implication is that caution must be taken for dating Chinese Paleolithic (>25 ka) using the ABA pretreatment procedure on carbon samples. Finally, the cultural layers from the Wulanmulun site are deduced to be between 50 and 65 ka.     

Petrogenesis of impure dolomitic marble from the Dabie Mountains, central China

Petrogeneses of impure dolomitic marble and enclosed eclogite from the Xinyan area, Dabie ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphic terrane, central China were investigated with a special focus on fluid characteristics. Identified carbonate-bearing UHP assemblages are Dol + Coe ± Arg (or Mgs) ± Ap, Dol + Omp ± Coe ± Ap ± Arg (or Mgs), Phen + Omp + Coe + Dol ± Arg and Dol + Coe + Phen + Rt ± Omp ± Arg ± Ap. Retrograde assemblages are characterized by symplectitic replacement of Tr–Ab and Di–Ab after omphacite, and Phl–Pl symplectite after phengite. The P–T conditions of UHP metamorphism were estimated to be P > 2.7 GPa and T > 670 °C by the occurrence of coesite inclusions in garnet in enclosed eclogite and garnet–clinopyroxene geothermometer. The P–T conditions of initial amphibolitization were estimated to be 620 < T < 670 °C and 1.1 < P < 1.3 GPa by calcite–dolomite solvus thermometer and mineral parageneses. Phase relations in P–T– X CO ₂ space in the systems NaAl–CMSCH and KCMASCH were calculated in order to constrain fluid compositions. Compositions and parageneses of UHP-stage minerals suggest the presence of fluid in UHP and exhumation stages. Occurrence of retrograde low-variance assemblages indicates that fluid composition during amphibolitization was buffered. A metastable persistence of magnesite and very restricted occurrence of calcite, magnesite and dolomite suggest a low fluid content in the post-amphibolitization stage.     

Zircon U-Pb and geochemical analyses for leucocratic intrusive rocks in pillow lavas in the Danfeng Group,north Qinling Mountains,China

Field observation showed that there are many irregular leucocratic intrusive rocks in pillow lavas in the Danfeng Group in the Xiaowangjian area, north Qinling orogenic belt. Photomicrographs indicated that the protoliths of those altered leucocratic intrusive rocks are dioritic rocks. Geochemical analyses showed that pillow lavas have a range of SiO2 from 47.35% to 51.20%, low abundance of TiO2 from 0.97% to 1.72%, and percentages of MgO (MgO#=41―49). Chondrite-normalized REE patterns of pillow lavas are even, indicative of a weak differentiation between LREE and HREE (La/YbN=1.52―0.99). N-MORB-normalized trace element abundances showed that pillow lavas are enriched in incompatible elements (e.g., K, Rb, and Ba). Leucocratic intrusive rocks in pillow lavas have a wide range of SiO2 from 53.85%―67.20%, low abundances of TiO2 from 0.51%―1.10%, and MgO (MgO#=40―51), and higher percentages of Al2O3 (13.32%―16.62%) and concentration of Sr (342-539 μg/g), ratios of Na2O/K2O (2―7) and Sr/Y (17―28). Chondrite-normalized REE patterns of leucocratic intrusive rocks showed highly differentiation between LREE and HREE (La/YbN=12.26―19.41). N-MORB-normalized trace element abundances showed that leucocratic intrusive rocks are enriched in incompatible elements (e.g., K, Rb, and Ba), and significantly depleted in HFSE (e.g., Nb, Ta, Zr and Ti), indicative of a relationship to subduction. Isotopically, leucocratic intrusive rocks have a similar εNd(t) ( 7.45― 13.14) to that of MORB ( 8.8― 9.7), which indicates that those leucocratic intrusive rocks sourced from depleted mantle most likely. SHRIMP U-Pb analyses for zircon showed that those leucocratic intrusive rocks were formed at 442±7 Ma, yielding an age of subduction in the early Paleozoic in the north Qinling orogenic belt.     

A discontinuity in the late Pleistocene alluvial deposits,Hwacheon‐ri,Gyeongju, Korea: Occurrences and paleoenvironmental implication

A sedimentary discontinuity is present in the late Pleistocene alluvial deposits exposed along the cliff in stream side, Gyeongju, Korea. Sedimentological study, Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) age dating, and X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and X‐ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF) analyses were conducted in order to interpret the origin of the discontinuity surface. Based on the sedimentological study, these deposits can be divided into three distinct stages, in ascending order: (Stage 1) development of a braided stream flowing from south to north and deposition by debris flows from the mountain aside the stream during and/or after deposition of the braided stream; (Stage 2) deposition by intermittent events during a state of stagnation after the abandonment or migration of the previously existed braided stream; and (Stage 3) deposition of gravels from debris flows from the mountain aside the stream. Hornfelsic gravels are common in Stage 1, whereas andesitic gravels are predominant in Stage 3, suggesting the provenance change from Stage 1 to Stage 3. The discontinuity surface is laterally extensive and marked by a distinct carbonaceous dark grey horizon between Stage 2 and Stage 3. It is characteristic that rootlets mineralized by vivianite are present, and iron‐oxide crusts are cutting across irregularly below the discontinuity surface. It is thus interpreted that the shift of depositional environment from an alluvial plain (Stage 2) (125 ka) to an alluvial fan (Stage 3) (94–55 ka) was an alluvial response to sea level change from the interglacial to the glacial. The development of iron‐oxide crusts and diagenetic vivianite in the discontinuity surface suggests humid condition persisted during the paleoclimatic shift from the last interglacial to the last glacial stages.     

Structure of the crust and uppermost mantle from broadband seismic array in the western Dabie Mountains,east central China

A broadband seismic array of 7 stations was set up in the western Dabie Mountains (31°20′-31°50′N, 114°30′-115°E). Teleseismic events from May 2001 to November 2001 were collected and analyzed by radial receiver function to determine the S-wave velocity structure of the crust and uppermost mantle. The crustal thickness is 32-38 km beneath the array. The crust-mantle boundary appears as a gently north-dipping velocity discontinuity, but turns to be a velocity gradient beneath a station near the Qiliping shea...     

Paleomagnetic dating of the Cenjiawan Paleolithic site in the Nihewan Basin, northern China

It draws much attention of scientists how early hu- mans occupy and adapt to the rigorous climate and environment at high northern latitudes in East Asia after they stepped out of Africa, passed West Asia and finally arrived in East Asia[1-4]. Reliable age determi- nations of Paleolithic sites from northeastern Asia not only help to find out the earliest occupation of early humans in this region, but also relate to the founda- tion of the overall framework of human origin and migration[1-8]…     

中秦岭地带重力异常特征及地壳结构的探榷

对陕西榆林—重庆鱼泉综合地球物理大断面中在陕西户县经中秦岭至镇巴测段的重力场给以分析和探讨.文中给出了中秦岭造山带（或中秦岭块体） 的地壳密度结构、Moho界面深度与山根构造特征.并重点分析研究了本测段的重力异常在其地壳结构与构造解释中所明显反应的断裂构造（带）.即中秦岭北侧断裂构造带;中秦岭中部断裂构造系;中秦岭南侧的宁陕断裂构造带;安康（石泉西南）断裂构造带;芭蕉口断裂构造;城口断裂构造带北延段;镇巴断裂构造带;鱼渡断裂构造和铁溪断裂构造.并对各断裂构造带对应的重力异常段计算其水平方向导数Vxz,给出了断裂构造的分布位置、形态、倾向等要素.最后从重力学角度对中秦岭造山带的地壳结构与断裂构造具有的衔接与过渡特征作了相应的探搉.     

Impact of the Yellow River capture on the paleoenvironmental changes of Hongze Lake,China

The Yellow River(YR) capture of the Huai River had a profound effect on the landscape evolution,ecology, and social development in China, disrupting the evolution of some vital shallow floodplain lakes.Because of the absence of lacustrine sediment provenance analysis, previous studies were inadequate in distinguishing the influence of YR capture on paleoenvironmental changes in these lakes, especially on landscape evolution, redox conditions, lake level changes, and organic productivity. The cur...     

Fire occurrence in relation to bamboo dominance in the Qinling Mountains of China: Evidence from phytolith and charcoal records in Holocene sediments

The internal genetic clock of semelparous mast-flowering bamboo species creates gregarious regions of flowering and death, thus leading to fuel-load accumulation that potentially promotes fire(Fire-Cycle Hypothesis). Higher abundance of bamboo could be expected to provide greater fuel loads after flowering. Here, we investigated the possible link between bamboo dominance and fire occurrence. As the main food source for the giant panda in the Qinling Mountains of China, Bashania fargesii(Farges Canebrake) and Fargesia qinlingensis(Arrow Bamboo) dominate lower(1000–1900 m) and higher elevations(1800–2700 m), respectively. Four soil profiles(elevation ranging from 1240 to 2170 m) in areas of known recent bamboo flowering events(~1980) and adjacent non-flowering sites were assessed for phytoliths and charcoal. Characteristic phytoliths were chosen to describe bamboo dynamics, and charcoal particles were extracted from the soil to reconstruct fire history. Carbon 14 dating of soil charcoal samples was conducted using an accelerator mass spectrometry technique. In addition, we chose two depths(28–52 and 90–100 cm) in one Bashania profile(B. fargesii forest) and one Fargesia profile(F. qinlingensis forest) for phytolith dating. Our findings indicate that bamboo has been a dominant component of these ecosystems almost for the entire profile; some 6400 yrs for Bashania and ca. 10000 yrs for the Fargesia. It is also clear from the charcoal and phytolith data that bamboo abundance and recent mast flowering were significantly related to fire occurrence for lower elevation Bashania while the higher elevation Fargesia was not. One of the four profiles had chronological charcoal records throughout and the oldest charcoal aged was ~1410 yr BP, suggesting an anthropogenic origin. The mixing of phytolith and charcoal made it unrealistic to describe temporal dynamics of bamboo and fire events, and thus our interpretation is cognizant of the dating discrepancies and conservative(less-speculative). Due to the long history of bamboo and much shorter history of fire within the profile, our data lend little evidence to the Fire-Cycle Hypothesis.     

Chrome-rich clinopyroxene in orthopyroxenite from Maowu, Dabie Mountains, central China: A second record and its implications for petrogenesis

A second occurrence of chrome-rich clinopyroxene has been discovered as inclusions in orthopyroxene in orthopyroxenite from Maowu, the Dabie Mountains, Central China. The average formula for chrome-rich clinopyroxene can be expressed as (Na_0.39Ca_0.54)_0.93(Mg_0.57Fe²⁺_0.06Fe³⁺_0.01Cr_0.24Al_0.15)_1.03Si_2.02O₆, with a maximum amount of kosmochlor component of 28.52 mol%. The unit cell parameters obtained from a single-crystal are a  = 9.614 Å, b  = 8.800 Å, c =  5.240 Å, β = 106.59°, space group C2 / c . The indices of refraction are α = 1.697, β = 1.704, γ = 1.726. Chrome-rich clinopyroxene, which coexists with chromite, chromian rutile and chromian pyrope, crystallized at a temperature of 1025 °C and very high pressure, and therefore represents a mantle relic. Together with the appearance of low-pressure inclusion mineral assemblage and the estimation of physical–chemical conditions for matrix minerals, the Maowu eclogite–ultramafic complex is considered to be formed during ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism from the mantle-derived protolith.     

Control of favorable lithology on Jinlongshan micro-fine disseminated gold deposits, southern Qinling Mountains

Jinlongshan gold orebelt, a newly discovered one in sedimentary rock region in southern Qinling Mountains, is mainly located in upper Devonian and lower Carboniferous calcareous siltstone and argillic silty limestone of later Paleozoic era. Typical disseminated gold mineralization occurred in calcareous siltstone, which is major host rock and mainly composed of silt (SiO₂ mostly varies from 38% to 73%) and calcite (CaO mostly varies from 10% to 25%). Pyrite created by living beings in Nanyangshan formation may be poor in gold. Faults and favorable layers jointly control disseminated gold mineralization. The significance of this opinion is very great for gold exploration.     

山西襄汾大柴更新统剖面划分的新观点

对山西襄汾丁村文化遗址群内大柴剖面进行的磁性地层学研究表明,松山与布容的极性界线（M/B）出现在距剖面顶部45 m处;磁化率对比结果显示,此位置正好与S8上部对应.由这种极性和磁化率的对应结果可推断,下、中更新统（Q1/Q2）的地层分界也应在距剖面顶部45 m处的S8上部,而不是传统上认为的Q1/Q2的地层分界,在距剖面顶部80 m处.这种以古地磁学为基础的新的划分方案,对丁村遗址群的对比以及丁村遗址年代的最终确定都有重要的指示意义.根据其沉积环境和地层特征推断,采样部位下部的磁化率低值带应为水成黄土.而岩石磁学研究结果显示,磁铁矿、赤铁矿和热不稳定性磁赤铁矿是大柴剖面沉积物中主要的磁性矿物;磁铁矿和赤铁矿同为高温稳定性磁性载体.     

Age model, physical properties and paleoceanographic implications of the middle Pleistocene core sediments in the Choshi area, central Japan

Abstract   A continuous, well-preserved core was obtained from the Choshi area, on the Pacific side of Japan, to investigate paleoceanographic and paleoclimatic changes around the northwestern Pacific region during the middle Pleistocene. Siliciclastic sequences in the core are divided into five formations – the Obama, Yokone, Kurahashi and Toyosato Formations in the Inubo Group and the Katori Formation, in ascending order. Examination of calcareous nannofossils and magnetic polarities detected four datums in the core sediments of the Inubo Group: the top of Reticulofenestra asanoi , the base of Helicosphaera inversa , the top of Pseudoemiliania lacunosa and the Brunhes–Matuyama boundary. Fourteen marine isotope stages (MIS24–MIS11) were identified in the δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C records based on detected datums and the graphic correlation with the standard stack oxygen isotope curve. Magnetic susceptibility and gamma-ray attenuation porosity evaluator density were also measured and low values characterize the glacial intervals. Biogenic sedimentation by primary production may be larger during the glacial periods because of invasions of nutrient-rich northern surface-waters related to the southward shift of the Kuroshio front in the Choshi area.