Seasonal and regional patterns in egg production of Calanus glacialis/marshallae in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas during spring and summer, 2002

Understanding the physical and biogeochemical processes that control the exchange of biogenic carbon within and between the arctic shelves, slopes, and deep basins is a key objective of the Western Arctic Shelf-Basin Interaction program (SBI). Here, egg production (EP) of the dominant copepod Calanus glacialis/marshallae was used as an indicator of food limitation for the mesozooplankton community in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas in spring and summer, 2002. Both C. glacialis and C. marshallae may occur in this region but the two cannot easily be differentiated visually. Four oceanographic regions were objectively identified that roughly corresponded to the different pathways in circulation of nutrient-rich Pacific water. A ‘transition’ region characterized by ‘older’ Pacific water was located at the shelfbreak and separated the nutrient-rich shelf water and the low-nutrient waters of the deep basin. The observed spatial pattern in EP in C. glacialis/marshallae in spring and summer resulted both from the different water mass environments and from the reproductive cycle of the species. EP was greater on the shelf than in the basin, corresponding to differences in body size and nitrogen condition factor (NCF) in females, while the egg viability was generally high throughout the study area. EP showed no relationship with low-chlorophyll a biomass under heavy ice-cover in spring, while a significant relationship was observed in the more open water in summer. Adult female carbon condition factor (CCF) was much higher in summer, reflecting the accumulation of lipids during the growth season. Small animals with a markedly greater NCF dominated on the shelf. The shelfbreak region contained a mixture of females from the shelf and the basin with intermediate sizes, conditions, and EP rates. The occurrence of water typical of the ‘transition’ shelfbreak region and elevated EP in C. glacialis/marshallae offshore on the Barrow Canyon and East Barrow sections indicated offshore transport of productive shelf water and the associated plankton community. The input of nutrient-rich Pacific water and accompanying elevated production to the northern Chukchi Sea and the Chukchi-Beaufort shelfbreak region may contribute to the reproductive success of C. glacialis/marshallae in this region.     

Sediment deposition in the northern basins of the North Atlantic and characteristic variations in shelf sedimentation along the East Greenland margin

New seismic data off East Greenland were acquired in the summer of 2002, between 77°N and 81°N, north of the Greenland Fracture zone. The data were combined with results from the Greenland Basin and ODP site 909, and indicate a pronounced middle Miocene unconformity within the deep sea basins between 72°N and 81°N. Seismic unit NA-1 consists of sediments older than middle Miocene age and unit NA-2 contains sediments younger than the middle Miocene. Classification of a thinly bedded succession in the Molloy Basin resulted in a subdivision into four units (unit I, unit II, unit IIIA and unit IIIB). A comparison of volume estimations and sediment thickness maps between 72°N and 81°N indicates differences in sediment accumulation in the Greenland, Boreas and Molloy basins. Important controls on the variation of accumulation included different opening times of the basins, as well as tectonic conditions and varying sources of sediment transport.Due to prominent basement structures and the varying reflection character of the sediments along the entire East Greenland margin, we defined an age model of shelf sediments on the basis of similar sediment deposit geometry and known results from other regions. The seismic sequences on the shelf up to an age of middle Miocene are divided into three sub-units along the East Greenland margin: middle Miocene–middle late Miocene (SU-3), middle late Miocene–Pleistocene (SU-2), Pleistocene (SU-1). The differences in the geometry of the sequences show more ice stream related sedimentation between 72°N and 77°N and more ice sheet related sedimentation north of 78°N. The region south of 68°N is dominated by more aggradational sedimentary strata so that a glacio-fluvial drainage seems the main transport mechanism. Due to the Greenland Inland–ice borderlines, we assume the glaciers between the Scoresby Sund and 68°N did not reach the shelf break. A first comparison of the sediment structure of the Northeast Greenland margin with the Southeast Greenland margin made it possible to demonstrate significant differences in sedimentation along this margin.     

北冰洋楚科奇边缘地的地球物理场与构造格局

利用高分辨率水深、重力、地磁和多道反射地震数据,综合分析了楚科奇边缘地及其周边区域的地形地貌和地球物理场特征,划分了区域构造单元。研究表明,楚科奇边缘地不仅是楚科奇大陆架外缘独特的地形单元,也是一个相对独立的构造单元,与周边的加拿大洋盆、阿尔法-门捷列夫大火山岩省、北楚科奇陆架盆地和阿拉斯加被动陆缘等构造单元在地球物理场和区域构造上具有截然不同的特征。楚科奇边缘地是一个地壳减薄的微陆块,新生代早、中期发生了大规模的E-W向构造拉伸作用,基底断块的差异性升降塑造了当前的地形地貌和沉积层的发育。边缘地可能形成于北楚科奇盆地侏罗纪-早白垩纪的张裂作用,而内部盆-脊相间排列的构造格局则可能与加拿大海盆相边缘地俯冲作用停止后的均衡调整有关。     

应用木质素示踪楚科奇海表层沉积物中有机碳的来源和降解程度

埋藏在海洋沉积物中的有机碳是大气二氧化碳的净汇,而埋藏过程主要发生在陆架区。北冰洋拥有全球最大的陆架,接收大量来自河流和沿岸侵蚀输运的陆源有机碳,楚科奇海作为北冰洋的边缘海,是有机碳埋藏的重要海区之一。本研究选用楚科奇海和海台的表层沉积物（陆架区33~82.69 m,陆坡区164.63~3 763 m）,通过木质素,结合粒度、比表面积、有机碳百分含量（OC%）、有机碳稳定同位素（δ13C）等指标来示踪楚科奇海沉积物有机碳的来源和降解程度。结果表明,有机碳载荷从陆架到陆坡有明显的降低趋势;δ13C的范围指示有机碳可能来自苔藓、草本裸子植被、浮游植物和冰藻等;木质素丁香基酚（S）与香草基酚（V）的比值（S/V）和肉桂基酚（C）与香草基酚（V）的比值（C/V）表明裸子植物的草本组织贡献了更多的陆源有机碳;此外,较高含量的C9DA二酸（干酪根氧化产物）表明干酪根也可能是楚科奇海表层沉积物中有机质来源的重要组成。指示降解的参数[（Ad/Al） s、（Ad/Al） v、（Ad/Al） p、3,5-Bd/V]在陆架和陆坡沉积物中的差异表明陆坡沉积物中有机质的降解过程受到水动力分选以及原位降解等因素的影响更为明显。     

北冰洋太平洋扇区碳循环过程对环境变化响应的研究进展与展望

全球碳增汇需求高涨,海冰消退后的北冰洋被期待是一个主要的潜在碳增汇区。北冰洋太平洋扇区因受控于楚科奇海及其邻近海域较高的海洋固碳效率和碳深海封存量,在整个北冰洋碳循环中起着举足轻重的作用。开展该海域碳循环过程对环境快速变化的响应机制研究是实现北冰洋碳汇精准预测的基础。本文重点阐述了楚科奇海及其邻近海域碳循环过程（即海洋对大气二氧化碳的吸收、生物固碳、太平洋入流携带碳经陆架生物地化过程后向深海输出封存的陆架泵）对北冰洋环境快速变化的响应,并提出未来研究需要聚焦的关键科学问题。     

2008年夏季西北冰洋观测区叶绿素a和初级生产力粒级结构

对2008年夏季在西北冰洋172°～143.6°W的楚科奇海及其北部海区对粒度分级叶绿素a和初级生产力现场观测资料,对观测区的空间分布特征进行了研究.结果表明,观测海区表层叶绿素a浓度为0.013～19.367 μg/dm3,平均值为0.677士2.2661 μg/dm3,次表层水叶绿素a浓度高于其它水层.水柱叶绿素a...     

Spatio-temporal distribution of dissolved inorganic carbon and net community production in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas

As part of the 2002 Western Arctic Shelf–Basin Interactions (SBI) project, spatio-temporal variability of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) was employed to determine rates of net community production (NCP) for the Chukchi and western Beaufort Sea shelf and slope, and Canada Basin of the Arctic Ocean. Seasonal and spatial distributions of DIC were characterized for all water masses (e.g., mixed layer, halocline waters, Atlantic layer, and deep Arctic Ocean) of the Chukchi Sea region during field investigations in spring (5 May–15 June 2002) and summer (15 July–25 August 2002). Between these periods, high rates of phytoplankton production resulted in large drawdown of inorganic nutrients and DIC in the Polar Mixed Layer (PML) and in the shallow depths of the Upper Halocline Layer (UHL). The highest rates of NCP (1000–2850 mg C m⁻² d⁻¹) occurred on the shelf in the Barrow Canyon region of the Chukchi Sea and east of Barrow in the western Beaufort Sea. A total NCP rate of 8.9–17.8×10¹² g for the growing season was estimated for the eastern Chukchi Sea shelf and slope region. Very low inorganic nutrient concentrations and low rates of NCP (<15–25 mg C m⁻² d⁻¹) estimated for the mixed layer of the adjacent Arctic Ocean basin indicate that this area is perennially oligotrophic.     

Distribution of Pacific-origin water in the region of the Chukchi Plateau in the Arctic Ocean in the summer of 2003

1Introduction Besidestheprecipitationandriverdischarges,the watersinthePacificOceanandtheAtlanticOceanare thesourcesoftheArcticOceanwater.TheAtlantic waterenterstheArcticOceanviatheFramStraitand theBarentsSea.Foritsdenserfeatureduetohigh salinity,mostofitsinkstothenorthofSvaldbardand circulatesinallthedeepbasinsintheArcticOcean, formingthedeepandbottomwatersoftheArcticO- cean(Aagaardetal.,1985;Rudelsetal.,1999).The BeringStraitistheonlychannelforthePacificwater toflowintotheArcticOce…     

Modern sedimentary processes in the Santa Monica,California continental margin: sediment accumulation,mixing and budget

Sediment input to SMB appears to be associated with at least two point sources on the shelf, with Malibu Creek and the Hyperion sewage outfall being the most significant. Sediment contributions are sufficient to support apparent mass accumulation rates near these sources up to approximately 1.8 g/cm(2) year, which with distance decrease to approximately 0.5 g/cm(2) year near the shelf break (approximately 80-100 m water depth). Sequestering of material on the shelf and decreasing sediment supply to the slope is evident as rates decrease between 100 and 200 m water depths to less than 0.2 g/cm(2) year. Below 100-200 m water depth, rates are relatively slow throughout a broad region of the slope (0.07-0.14 g/cm(2) year). These slower rates are in general agreement with rates determined on the flanks of the California Borderland basins. Sediment texture fines from approximately 3.5 phi to approximately 7 phi with distance offshore. Texture does not exhibit significant changes from surficial values with depth in the seabed at any given site or between sites on the slope. This similarity in rates and downcore texture over such a broad extent suggests that hemiplegic sedimentation is the dominant mechanism of sediment delivery in water depths >200 m. Seabed distributions of radionuclides suggest that apparent accumulation rates in SMB may be twice the actual accumulation rates. A sediment budget documents that over the past century at least, SMB has served as a sink for 50-100% of the natural and anthropogenic inputs to the coastal ocean.     

西北冰洋中太平洋入流水营养盐的变化特征

利用1999,2003和2008年夏季(7-9月)三次中国北极科学考察数据资料,分析和讨论太平洋入流水营养盐的分布和楚科奇海关键生物地球化学过程对太平洋水化学性质的改造.结果表明,2003和2008年在白令海峡南部64.3°N纬向断面(BS断面)由于水团性质差异显著,营养盐呈西高、东低的分布趋势.2003年BS断面水柱...     

2003年夏季西北冰洋浮游动物群落结构和地理分布研究

根据西北冰洋43个调查站位的浮游动物种类组成和数量资料,分析了浮游动物的群落结构和地理分布特征,探讨了浮游动物群落与环境因子的关系.结果表明,在调查区域存在三种不同的浮游动物群落类型:楚科奇海台和加拿大海盆地区的高纬度深海群落;楚科奇海中部的陆架群落;阿拉斯加沿岸和楚科奇海北部的沿岸过渡群落.深海群落浮游动物数量较少,...     

Sources and transport of organic carbon to shelf,slope, and basin surface sediments of the Arctic Ocean

Lipids in surface sediment transects across the Arctic Ocean were identified to define the sources of organic carbon and the transport of material in the ocean basin. Sterols representing diatoms (24-methylcholesta-5,24(28)-dien-3β-ol, 24-methylcholesta-5,22-dien-3β-ol) and dinoflagellates (4α,23,24-trimethylcholest-22-en-3β-ol) together with algal polyunsaturated fatty acids (20:5, 22:6) demonstrated the importance of primary production to organic matter inputs on the Chukchi Shelf. The presence of terrestrial biomarkers including long-chain n-alkanes and mono- and dicarboxylic acids in shelf sediments indicated that while the fraction of terrestrial biomarkers was small compared to marine material, the transport of allochthonous material impacts carbon cycling on the shelf. Algal biomarkers were found in all surficial sediments from the central Arctic basins, demonstrating that some fraction of primary production reached bottom sediments despite ice cover and light limitation. Marine markers represented a small fraction of the total lipids in central basin sediments. This implies that the basins are less productive than shallow waters, significant degradation occurs before the organic matter reaches the sediment–water interface, and substantial amounts of vascular plant material are exported to the central Arctic. Circulation and topographical features, such as the Transpolar Drift and the Lomonosov Ridge, appear to have an important influence on the transport and focusing of terrestrial material in the Arctic Ocean basins.     

Deep structure of the crust beneath the Sea of Okhotsk inferred from 3D seismic density modeling

Potential field anomalies of the Sea of Okhotsk region are analyzed for compiling a map of the basement’s tectonic structures. A 3D density model of the Earth’s crust is constructed using seismogeological and experimental-petrophysical data, which made it possible to obtain a visual image of main structures of the region reflecting the observable geophysical anomalies. The obtained data allow a domain located in the central part of the Sea of Okhotsk beyond the limits of the exclusive economic zone of the Russian Federation to be considered as a natural continuation of the continental shelf since the latter is structurally similar to western Kamchatka. The deep structural boundaries rise beneath the large sedimentary Deryugin and Tinro basins, which is characteristic of petroliferous basins.     

Circulation on the north central Chukchi Sea shelf

Mooring and shipboard data collected between 1992 and 1995 delineate the circulation over the north central Chukchi shelf. Previous studies indicated that Pacific waters crossed the Chukchi shelf through Herald Valley (in the west) and Barrow Canyon (in the east). We find a third branch (through the Central Channel) onto the outer shelf. The Central Channel transport varies seasonally in phase with Bering Strait transport, and is 0.2 Sv on average, although some of this might include water entrained from the outflow through Herald Valley. A portion of the Central Channel outflow moves eastward and converges with the Alaskan Coastal Current at the head of Barrow Canyon. The remainder appears to continue northeastward over the central outer shelf toward the shelfbreak, joined by outflow from Herald Valley. The mean flow opposes the prevailing winds and is primarily forced by the sea-level slope between the Pacific and Arctic oceans. Current variations are mainly wind forced, but baroclinic forcing, associated with upstream dense-water formation in coastal polynyas might occasionally be important.Winter water-mass modification depends crucially on the fall and winter winds, which control seasonal ice development. An extensive fall ice cover delays cooling, limits new ice formation, and results in little salinization. In such years, Bering shelf waters cross the Chukchi shelf with little modification. In contrast, extensive open water in fall leads to early and rapid cooling, and if accompanied by vigorous ice production within coastal polynyas, results in the production of high-salinity (>33) shelf waters. Such interannual variability likely affects slope processes and the transport of Pacific waters into the Arctic Ocean interior.     

楚科奇海与白令海表层沉积中的钙质和硅质微体化石研究

通过对北冰洋楚科奇海和令海41个表层沉积样品中的有孔虫、介形类等钙质微体化石和硅藻、放射虫、海绵骨针等硅质微体化石的定量分析，发现表层沉积中浮游有孔虫几乎缺失，这可能与该区表层生产力相对低、碳酸盐溶解作用较强有关，而底栖有孔虫和硅质微体化石的丰度分布则明显受表层沉积物类型、表层初级生物生产力和碳酸盐溶解作用所控制。其中，北冰洋楚科奇海陆架区有孔虫丰度和分异度低，含少量浅水介形类，放射虫在陆架浅水区缺失，但含有较多硅藻和海绵骨针等其它硅质微体化石，反映该区由于海冰、表层海水温度较冷而导致表歧初级生产力相对低。白令海陆坡区底栖有孔虫丰度比较科奇海高一个数量级，底栖有孔虫分异度也相对高，硅藻、放射虫、海绵骨针等硅质微体化石的丰度与钙质化石一样，其丰度比楚科奇海明显高，反映表层初级生产力相对高。根据白令海陆坡区底栖有孔虫和硅质微体化石丰度、底栖有孔虫胶结质壳比值的水深变化，推测该区碳酸盐溶跃层和补偿深度（CCD）相对浅，分别位于水深2000m和3800m处。     

Transport of plankton and particles between the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas during summer 2002, described using a Video Plankton Recorder

A key goal of the Western Arctic Shelf Basin Interactions program is to understand how physical and biological processes together impact shelf–basin exchange of biological, chemical, and physical properties. High-resolution vertical distributions of plankton and particles were obtained using an Auto Video Plankton Recorder from 29 locations on the Chukchi Shelf, in the deep Beaufort Sea, and across the Beaufort–Chukchi Shelf-break during a cruise on the USCGC Healy in July–August, 2002. Coincident velocity estimates were collected using hull-mounted acoustic Doppler current profilers. Images of plankton and particles were extracted automatically and identified manually to taxa and type. Copepods, diatom chains, decaying diatoms, marine snow, and radiolarians were the most abundant categories observed. Distinct regional differences in abundance were observed that were associated with different oceanographic regimes and with the prevailing circulation in the region. Vertical distributions were closely associated with the physical structure of the water column. A sharp horizontal discontinuity in abundance of all categories between shelf and basin was observed, located over the shelf break and potentially established and maintained by transport of plankton and particles along-shelf to the east rather than northwards towards the basin. Barrow Canyon and the shelf and shelf-break east of Barrow Canyon had very high concentrations of plankton and particles, especially marine snow, that may have resulted from elevated production on the eastern Chukchi Shelf that subsequently was advected out of Barrow Canyon and to the east. Comparisons of downward flux, estimated from particle sinking rates based on individual marine snow particle size, and horizontal velocities suggested that much of the marine snow carbon was sinking to the benthos of the Chukchi Sea prior to being advected off-shelf. Velocities and plankton concentrations together indicated that little off-shelf flux of plankton or particles to the basin was occurring except in an eddy located off of the Beaufort Shelf.     

楚科奇和西伯利亚陆架颗粒有机物的来源：碳、氮同位素的线索

The stable isotopic composition(δ~(13)C and δ~(15)N) and carbon/nitrogen ratio(C/N) of particulate organic matter(POM) in the Chukchi and East Siberian shelves from July to September, 2016 were measured to evaluate the spatial variability and origin of POM. The δ~(13)C_(POC) values were in the range of -29.5‰ to-17.5‰ with an average of -25.9‰±2.0‰, and the δ~(15)N_(PN) values ranged from 3.9‰ to 13.1‰ with an average of 8.0‰±1.6‰. The C/N ratios in the East Siberian shelf were generally higher than those in the Chukchi shelf, while the δ~(13)C and δ~(15)N values were just the opposite. Abnormally low C/N ratios(4), low δ~(13)C_(POC)(almost-28‰) and high δ~(15)N_(PN)(10‰) values were observed in the Wrangel Island polynya, which was attributed to the early bloom of small phytoplankton. The contributions of terrestrial POM, bloom-produced POM and non-bloom marine POM were estimated using a three end-member mixing model. The spatial distribution of terrestrial POM showed a high fraction in the East Siberian shelf and decreased eastward, indicating the influence of Russian rivers. The distribution of non-bloom marine POM showed a high fraction in the Chukchi shelf with the highest fraction occurring in the Bering Strait and decreased westward, suggesting the stimulation of biological production by the Pacific inflow in the Chukchi shelf. The fractions of bloom-produced POM were highest in the winter polynya and gradually decreased toward the periphery. A negative relationship between the bloom-produced POM and the sea ice meltwater inventory was observed, indicating that the net sea ice loss promotes early bloom in the polynya.Given the high fraction of bloom-produced POM, the early bloom of phytoplankton in the polynyas may play an important role on marine production and POM export in the Arctic shelves.     

Late Pleistocene to Holocene sedimentation and hydrocarbon seeps on the continental shelf of a steep,tectonically active margin,southern California,USA

Small, steep, uplifting coastal watersheds are prolific sediment producers that contribute significantly to the global marine sediment budget. This study illustrates how sedimentation evolves in one such system where the continental shelf is largely sediment-starved, with most terrestrial sediment bypassing the shelf in favor of deposition in deeper basins. The Santa Barbara–Ventura coast of southern California, USA, is considered a classic area for the study of active tectonics and of Tertiary and Quaternary climatic evolution, interpretations of which depend upon an understanding of sedimentation patterns. High-resolution seismic-reflection data over >570 km² of this shelf show that sediment production is concentrated in a few drainage basins, with the Ventura and Santa Clara River deltas containing most of the upper Pleistocene to Holocene sediment on the shelf. Away from those deltas, the major factor controlling shelf sedimentation is the interaction of wave energy with coastline geometry. Depocenters containing sediment 5–20 m thick exist opposite broad coastal embayments, whereas relict material (bedrock below a regional unconformity) is exposed at the sea floor in areas of the shelf opposite coastal headlands. Locally, natural hydrocarbon seeps interact with sediment deposition either to produce elevated tar-and-sediment mounds or as gas plumes that hinder sediment settling. As much as 80% of fluvial sediment delivered by the Ventura and Santa Clara Rivers is transported off the shelf (some into the Santa Barbara Basin and some into the Santa Monica Basin via Hueneme Canyon), leaving a shelf with relatively little recent sediment accumulation. Understanding factors that control large-scale sediment dispersal along a rapidly uplifting coast that produces substantial quantities of sediment has implications for interpreting the ancient stratigraphic record of active and transform continental margins, and for inferring the distribution of hydrocarbon resources in relict shelf deposits.     

Phytoplankton of the western Arctic in the spring and summer of 2002: Structure and seasonal changes

We analyzed the taxonomic structure and spatial variability of phytoplankton abundance and biomass in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas during spring and summer seasons of the SBI program. Phytoplankton samples were collected during two surveys from May 10 to June 13 and from July 19 to August 21 of 2002. In May and June, ice cover exceeded 80% over most of the study area and there was no vertical stratification, indicating that the successional state of the phytoplankton corresponded to the end of the winter biological season. The phytoplankton abundance ranged from a few tens to a few thousands of cells per liter, while biomass varied from 0.1 to 3.0 mg C m⁻³. Small areas of high phytoplankton abundance (0.13–1.3×10⁶ cells L⁻¹) and biomass (22–536 mg C m⁻³), dominated by early spring diatoms Pauliella taeniata and Fragilariopsis oceanica in the surface waters, which indicated the beginning of the spring bloom, were observed only in the southeastern part of the Chukchi shelf and off Point Barrow. In July and August summer period, more than a half of the study area had <50% ice cover and the water column was stratified by temperature and salinity. Over the Chukchi shelf and continental slope of the Beaufort Sea, the phytoplankton abundance and biomass were an order of magnitude higher in July–August than in May–June. The taxonomic diversity of algae also increased due to the appearance of late-spring and summer diatoms, dinoflagellates, and coccolithophorids (Emiliania huxleyi). Interestingly, the seasonal differences between phytoplankton abundance and taxonomic composition in the spring and summer periods varied the least over the Chukchi Sea slope and in the deep-water area of the Arctic Ocean. High algae concentrations in summer were located in the lower layers of the euphotic zone, suggesting that the spring bloom on both the Chukchi shelf and in the western part of the Beaufort Sea occurred in late June/early July. In the spring and summer, the microalgal community was characterized by a high abundance of 4–10 μm flagellates, which exceeded the abundance of all other taxonomic groups. In both seasons studied, phytoplankton reached its maximum abundance within restricted areas in the southern part of the Chukchi Sea southwest of Point Hope, in the northern part of the Chukchi shelf between the 50- and 100-m isobaths, on the shelf northwest of Point Barrow, and over the continental slope in the Beaufort Sea. The pronounced spatial difference in the seasonal state was a characteristic feature of the phytoplankton community in the western Arctic.     

Detailed seafloor geomorphology of the western region of the North Yellow Sea,China: The result of Holocene erosional and depositional processes sculpting the offshore continental shelf

High-resolution multi-beam/single-beam bathymetric data and seismic profiling data from the latest surveys are used to map and interpret the detailed seafloor geomorphology of the western region of the North Yellow Sea (NYS), China. The mapping area covers 156 410 km2, and incorporates a flat shelf plain, subaqueous accumulation shoals, tidal scouring troughs, and tidal sand ridge groups. Offshore areas with water depths less than 50 m in the western region of the NYS are mainly covered by thick, loose sediments, forming wide spread accumulation geomorphological features; these include the Liaodong Peninsula subaqueous accumulation system containing shoals and rugged scouring troughs, and the large mud wedge of the Shandong Peninsula. In the central part of the NYS, there is a relatively flat residual shelf plain with coarser sediment deposits. This flat shelf plain has a water depth larger than 50 m and a thin layer of sediment, on which there is a large pockmark field caused by seafloor seepage. These geomorphological structures indicate that modern sedimentary processes are the main driving force controlling the sculpture of the current seafloor surface landform. Extensive strong tidal current systems and abundant sediment sources provide the critical external forces and essential conditions for the formation of seafloor geomorphology. The tectonic basement controls the macroscopic morphological shape of the NYS, but is reflected very little in the seafloor geomorphic elements. Our results provide a detailed seafloor geomorphological map of the western region of the NYS, an area that has not previously mapped and also provide a scientific framework for further research into offshore seafloor geomorphology, shelf sedimentary processes, and submarine engineering construction in this region.