Automatic tracing of the foot of the continental slope

The UNCLOS III (Article 76, Section 4(b)) defines the foot of the continental slope as the point of maximum change in the gradient at its base. It is impossible to locate so defined afoot and thus to trace the foot‐line objectively by eye. In this study we show a method designed automatically to detect and trace the foot‐line of the continental slope from an irregular array of bathymetrical data. Our algorithm first transforms the bathymetric surface to a maximum curvature surface. On this new surface, the foot‐line corresponds to one of the ridges; instead of tracing the foot‐line on the bathymetric surface, we now can trace the ridges on the maximum curvature surface. The tracing of the ridges can be done automatically and objectively and the foot‐line is identified as being one of these ridges. We devote particular attention to the case when the ridge‐line is not defined, i.e., to the case when the point of maximum gradient change becomes a region of maximum gradient change.     

桑沟湾筏式海带养殖对潮流垂直结构的影响

利用桑沟湾海带播苗前和成熟期的海流剖面资料,对最显著的M₂分潮流椭圆四要素(最大流速、椭圆率、最大流速方向和最大流速出现时间)的垂直分布特征进行对比分析,结果表明筏式海带养殖对潮流垂直结构有显著影响,由海带播苗前的单一海底边界层,变为海带成熟期的海表和海底双重边界层。海带播苗前,M₂分潮流椭圆要素在垂向上变化不大;而在海带成熟期,从中层向海面和海底,最大流速迅速减小、椭圆率逐渐增大、最大流速方向左偏、最大流速出现时间提前。湾口中部的最大流速方向从海带播苗前的南北方向转为海带成熟期的西北—东南方向,这是由水位梯度的变化造成的。     

大陆坡脚确定原则与方法

大陆坡脚是大陆边缘的一个重要地形特征,是沿海国扩展其大陆架权利和划定其200海里以外大陆架外部界限的基础,也是大陆架界限委员会审议沿海国划界案时特别关注的重要技术参数。《联合国海洋法公约》第76条大陆架制度的制定源于典型的被动大陆边缘。但由于全球大陆边缘的多样性和复杂性,特别是后期构造活动、沉积作用对大陆边缘的改造与影响,海底地形地貌异常复杂多变,导致大陆坡脚的识别非常困难。加上各沿海国为获得最大范围的外大陆架,对大陆坡脚的相关规定进行有利于自己的解释,使得大陆坡脚的确定成了外大陆架划界中一个颇具争议的热点问题。本文基于对《联合国海洋法公约》和《大陆架界限委员会科学和技术准则》对大陆坡脚的规定,结合不同类型大陆边缘的地质特征和各沿海国划界实践,对陆坡基部区的确定、坡度变化最大之点的选取以及相反证明规则的适用性等问题进行了探讨。     

Surface current field and seasonal variability in the Kuroshio and adjacent regions derived from satellite-tracked drifter data

The muhiyear averaged surface current field and seasonal variability in the Kuroshio and adjacent regions are studied. The data used are trajectories and （1/4） ° latitude by （1/4） ° longitude mean currents derived from 323 Argos drifters deployed by Chinese institutions and world ocean circulation experiment from 1979 to 2003. The results show that the Kuroshio surface path adapts well to the western boundary topography and exhibits six great turnings. The branching occurs frequently near anticyclonic turnings rather than near cyclonic ones. In the Luzon Strait, the surface water intrusion into the South China Sea occurs only in fall and winter. The Kuroshio surface path east of Taiwan, China appears nearly as straight lines in summer, fall, and winter, when anticyclonic eddies coexist on its right side; while the path may cyclonically turning in spring when no eddy exists. The Kuroshio intrusion northeast of Taiwan often occurs in fall and winter, but not in summer. The running direction, width and velocity of the middle segment of the Kuroshio surface currents in the East China Sea vary seasonally. The northward intrusion of the Kuroshio surface water southwest of Kyushu occurs in spring and fall, but not in summer. The northmost position of the Kuroshio surface path southwest of Kyushu occurs in fall, but never goes beyond 31 °N. The northward surface current east of the Ryukyu Islands exists only along Okinawa-Amami Islands from spring to fall. In particular, it appears as an arm of an anti- cyclonic eddy in fall.     

利用漂流浮标资料对黑潮及其邻近海域表层流场及其季节分布特征的分析研究

利用1987年以来WOCE项目及我国自行投放或进入黑潮及其邻近海域(15°~36°N,114°~135°E)的共计323个卫星跟踪海表面漂流浮标资料,得到全年平均及季节平均的浮标轨迹及(1/4)°×(1/4)°格点平均的表层流矢量结果。分析认为:对于全年平均的表层流场,黑潮表层流路主要表现了对大洋西边界地形的适应,并呈现出6个较大的弯曲,其中在反气旋型弯曲处都发生分支或入侵现象、气旋型弯曲处这种现象却不明显。对于季节平均的表层流场,黑潮表层不同流段分别表现出各自显著的季节差异:吕宋海峡附近海域,表层水向南海的入侵只发生在秋、冬两季,而春、夏两季却不发生;在台湾以东海域,黑潮表层流路与黑潮右侧反气旋涡的存在与否密切相关,春季没有涡旋存在时,黑潮表层流路常出现气旋式大弯曲,其他三个季节反气旋涡存在时,黑潮表层流路相对平直;在台湾东北海域,黑潮表层水向东海南部陆架区的入侵以秋、冬季最强,春季次之,而夏季几乎不发生;在赤尾屿以北的东海黑潮中段,黑潮流动比较稳定,其表层平均流径走向由偏北到偏东依次约为冬(北偏东30°)、春(北偏东33°)、秋(北偏东38°)、夏(北偏东45°);流路宽度由宽至窄依次约为秋(90 km)、春(80 km)、冬(70 km)、夏(60 km),而流速由大至小依次为夏、春、秋、冬,且各季节都表现出北段流速大于南段的现象;在九州西南海域,春、秋两季黑潮表层水发生明显的向北入侵,入侵的黑潮水与东海外陆架水共同成为对马暖流的一部分来源,而夏季这种现象不明显,九州西南海域黑潮表层流路北界的位置以秋季最为偏北(但最北不超过31°N)、流路也最宽;在琉球群岛外缘海域,南半部基本没有北上的表层流存在,只有在冲绳群岛-奄美群岛以东海区,秋、夏、春三季表层反气旋涡旋都比较活跃,在涡旋的西侧有顺着冲绳群岛-奄美群岛的东北向流,其中秋季最为明显。这些结果可以为黑潮及其邻近海域的深入研究提供较为客观、直接的参考。     

南海中北部中新世陆坡凹陷沉积充填与古陆坡形态演变

对中德合作“南海地球科学联合研究”和“中国边缘海的形成演化及重大资源的关键问题”的有关航次获得的地震资料进行层序地层和沉积相解释,并结合前人的研究成果,对南海中北部陆坡凹陷的构造和沉积特征进行了研究.研究结果表明,南海中北部陆坡区凹陷的构造演化经历了裂陷期、裂陷-坳陷过渡期和坳陷期三个阶段,沉积环境经历了河流-湖泊、浅海和深海的演化过程,不同演化阶段形成不同的地形形态.南海中北部地形演变可分为三个阶段,即早第三纪、早中新世-中中新世中期和中中新世中期-现在,其中早中新世中期-中中新世中期的沉积充填使陆坡形态发生了重要的转变,这次转变基本上奠定了现代意义上的陆架-陆坡-海盆的格局.     

青岛附近夏季风和海面坡度对沿岸流的影响

根据1999—2001年月平均海面高度资料讨论了青岛和胶州湾附近海面高度的年变化。结果表明：各验潮点夏季的海面高度普遍高于冬季的海面高度,具有明显的季节变化。此外,夏季胶州湾口外的海面高度低于胶州湾内的海面高度,表现为由北向南下倾的海面坡度。同时说明了形成这利海面坡度的原因。文章还利用动力学原理探讨了夏季风和海面坡度的动力作用,及其对月平均海流的影响,强调指出了夏季风和海面坡度所产生的压强梯度力的重要性。     

东山湾潮流动力特征研究

东山湾是福建重要的天然良港．根据2008年8月的3个潮次11个测站实测潮流资料结合历史调查资料分析东山湾的潮流性质、运动形式、涨落潮流特性、余流等特征．结果表明,东山湾主要属于往复式的规则半日潮流,潮流作用较强,其口门处和湾内水道上的实测最大流速一般大于100cm／s．持续时间较长的风对东山湾的余流较大的影响,大潮期间湾内存在明显的反时针的水平余环流系统．     

Summer Monsoon and Annual Variability of Sea Surface Slope and Their Effects on Alongshore Current near Qingdao

Based on the monthly mean sea level data obtained from 3 years‘ (1999--2001) tide-gauge measurements, the annual variability of the sea level near Qingdao and Jiaozhou Bay is studied and discussed in this paper. Results show that the sea surface height at all the tide gauges becomes higher in summer than that in winter,with an obvious seasonal variability. Furthermore the sea surface height measured at a short distance outside the bay is lower than that in the bay, showing a sea surface slope downward from north to south. The reasons for the formation of the slope are explained as well. The dynamic action of the summer monsoon and the sea surface slope, and their effects on the monthly mean current are studied by means of dynamics principles. The importance of the summer monsoon and the pressure gradient generated by the sea surface slope, with their effects on the alongshore current, is pointed out and emphasized in this paper.     

Measurement of the current and spectral analysis on the continental shelf in the East China Sea

Direct measurements of current velocity and water temperature were undertaken at the mooring Sta. M (125°29.38' N, 31°49.70' E) on the continental shelf area in the East China Sea in June 1999 by R/V Xiangyanghong 14. The relationship between various time series of oceanic fluctuations is calculated by spectral analysis. The major results are as follows: (1) an average (u,v) of (6.9,-3.0 cm/s) at the 30 m depth is obtained during the 9-day observation, and that at the 45 m depth is (3.7,-1.1 cm/s), i. e., the mean flows are southeastward at both the 30 and 45 m depths;the currents become stronger gradually during the observation period; this may be mainly attributed to the transition of the tidal currents from neap to spring; (2)semidiurnal fluctuation is the most dominant in the current fluctuations, and rotates mainly clockwise; in the next place, there is also diurnal fluctuation;the local inertial period is close to the period of diurnal fluctuation, and an inertial motion is clockwise; thus, loca     

Measurement of the current and spectral analysis on the continental shelf in the East China Sea

Direct measurements of current velocity and water temperature were undertaken at the mooring Sta. M (125°29.38' N,31°49.70'E) on the continental shelf area in the East China Sea in June 1999 by R/V Xiangyanghong 14. The relationship between various time series of oceanic fluctuations is calculated by spectral analysis. The major results are as follows: (1) an average (u,v) of (6.9,-3.0 cm/s) at the 30 m depth is obtained during the 9-day observation, and that at the 45 m depth is (3.7,-1.1 cm/s), I. E., the mean flows are southeastward at both the 30 and 45 m depths;the currents become stronger gradually during the observation period; this may be mainly attributed to the transition of the tidal currents from neap to spring; (2)semidiurnal fluctuation is the most dominant in the current fluctuations, and rotates mainly clockwise; in the next place, there is also diurnal fluctuation;the local inertial period is close to the period of diurnal fluctuation, and an inertial motion is clockwise; thus, local inertial motion combines with diurnal fluctuation, and makes the spectral peaks in clockwise components much higher than those in counterclockwise ones;except for the fluctuations of above main periods, there is also the peak at 3 d period for counterclockwise components in the upper and lower layers; (3) the calculation of cross spectra between two time series of current velocities at the 30 and 45 m depths shows that both the current fluctuations at the 30 and 45 m depths are much alike, I. E.,they are synchro; this shows that the flow field here is rather vertically homogeneous; (4)power spectra of temperature time series at both the 30 and 45 m depths show that the semidiurnal peak is the most predominant, and the second highest peak is the diurnal period; besides spectral peaks at above periods, there are also obvious spectral peaks at 6.8 h and 2 d; (5)plots of temperature time series at 16,30,35,45 and 50 m depths show that the temporal variations of temperature at these depths are synchro, which are like those in the velocity field; temperature records also show a gradual rise in temperature, which are also like those in the velocity field.     

Diversity patterns in macrobenthos across a continental slope in the NE Atlantic

Different estimates were used to assess the diversity of the total macrofauna and its major taxonomic groups separately from a broad bathymetric range at a site in the NE Atlantic. In the Goban Spur region, a transect was sampled from the shelf to the abyssal plain over a depth range from 200 to 4500 m and in the Porcupine Sea Bight two stations were sampled (at 3670 m and 4115 m). Species diversity (the number of species per number of individuals) increased with increasing water depth, both when expressed as Hurlbert's E(S_n) and as Shannon's H′log e. The expected number of species in a 100-individual sample E(S₁₀₀) of total macrofauna increased from 30 on the shelf to 68 on the abyssal plain. Evenness (the proportional abundance of species), estimated with Shannon's J′, also increased with water depth from 0.66 to 0.91, whereas dominance (Simpson's D) decreased from 0.09 to 0.01. Species richness (the number of species per unit of area), however, showed a parabolic pattern with a peak at the upper slope. The largest number of species was found at the slope station at 1425 m (232 species within 0.66 m²). It is argued that species richness is not a synonym of species diversity, but that species richness depends both on species density (which decreases with increasing water depth) and on species diversity. Across the whole bathymetric range (200 to 4500 m) a total of 696 species within 8327 specimens in a total sampled area of 4.12 m² were counted, yielding mean values of 12 individuals per species and 169 species per m². Different communities were found to exist on the shelf, slope and abyss. It is suggested that this could have been caused by different selection processes. Differences in life-history strategies and organic-matter supply could (at least partly) explain the different community structures and diversity patterns found along the depth gradient.     

Role of environment and hydrography in determining the picoplankton community structure of Sagami Bay,Japan

Seasonal variations in the picoplankton community were investigated from June 2002 to March 2004 within the photic zone of Sagami Bay, Japan. The study area was mostly dominated by coastal waters during the warm period (mixed layer water temperature ≥ 18°C). During the cold period (mixed layer water temperature ≤ 18°C), the water mass was characterized by low temperature and high saline waters indicative of the North Pacific Subtropical Mode Water (NPSTMW). Occasionally, a third type of water mass characterized by high temperature and low saline properties was observed, which could be evidence of the intrusion of warm Kuroshio waters. Synechococcus was the dominant picophytoplankton (5−28 × 10¹¹ cells m⁻²) followed by Prochlorococcus (1−5 × 10¹¹ cells m⁻²) and picoeukaryotes during the warm period. Heterotrophic bacteria dominated the picoplankton community throughout the year, especially in the warm period. During the Kuroshio Current advection, cyanobacterial abundance was high whereas that of picoeukaryotes and heterotrophic bacteria was low. During the cold period, homogeneously distributed, lower picophytoplankton cell densities were observed. The dominance of Synechococcus in the warm period reflects the importance of high temperature, low salinity and high Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) on its distribution. Cyanobacterial and heterotrophic bacterial abundance showed a positive correlation with temperature. Prochlorococcus and picoeukaryotes showed a positive correlation with nutrients. Picoeukaryotes were the major contributors to the picophytoplankton carbon biomass. The annual picophytoplankton contribution to the photosynthetic biomass was 32 ± 4%. These observations suggest that the environmental conditions, combined with the seasonal variability in the source of the water mass, determines the community structure of picoplankton, which contributes substantially to the phytoplankton biomass and can play a very important role in the food web dynamics of Sagami Bay.     

南海北部陆坡中尺度涡的演化及传播规律分析

The continental slope in the northern South China Sea(SCS) is rich in mesoscale eddies which play an important role in transport and retention of nutrients and biota. In this study, we investigate the statistical properties of eddy distributions and propagation in a period of 24 years between 1993 and 2016 by using the altimeter data. A total of 147 eddies are found in the continental slope region(CSR), including 70 cyclonic eddies(CEs) and 77 anticyclonic eddies(ACEs). For those eddies that appear in the CSR, the surrounding areas of Dongsha Islands(DS) and southwest of Taiwan(SWT) are considered as the primary sources, where eddies generated contribute more than 60% of the total. According to the spatial distribution of eddy relative vorticity, eddies are weakening as propagating westward. Although both CEs and ACEs roughly propagate along the slope isobaths, there are discrepancies between CEs and ACEs. The ACEs move slightly faster in the zonal direction, while the CEs tend to cross the isobaths with large bottom depth change. The ACEs generally move further into the basin areas after leaving the CSR while CEs remain around the CSR. The eddy propagation on the continental slope is likely to be associated with mean flow at a certain degree because the eddy trajectories have notable seasonal signals that are consistent with the seasonal cycle of geostrophic current. The results indicate that the eddy translation speed is statistically consistent with geostrophic velocity in both magnitude and direction.     

南极普里兹湾暖水涌升陆架过程及在陆架上的时空分布特征分析

Hydrographic observations collected by conductivity-temperature-depth(CTD) and instrumented elephant seals on the Prydz Bay continental shelf during 2012 and 2013 are used to characterize the intrusion of modified circumpolar deep water.As a regular occurrence,modified circumpolar deep water(MCDW) intrudes onto the shelf mainly between 150–300 m layer of 73°–75°E and then turns southeast affected by the cyclonic gyre of the Prydz Bay.The southernmost point of the warm water signal is captured on the east front of Amery Ice Shelf during March 2012.In terms of vertical distribution,MCDW occupies the central layer of 200 m with about 100 m thickness in the austral summer,but when to winter transition,the layer of MCDW deepens with time on the central shelf.     

南海珠江口盆地陆坡稳定性评价

In nature, a slope stability is determined by the ratio of a sliding resistance to a slide force. The slide force of a marine deep-water continental slope is mainly affected by sediment mechanics properties, a topography, and a marine seismic. However, the sliding resistance is mainly affected by sedimentary patterns and a sedimentary stress history. Both of these are different from case to case, and their impact can be addressed when the data are organized in a geographic information system（GIS）. The study area on the continental slope in Zhujiang River Mouth Basin in South China Sea provides an excellent opportunity to apply GIS spatial analysis technology for the evaluation of the slope stability. In this area, a continental slope topography and a three-dimension（3-D） topography mapping show a sea-floor morphology and the distribution of a slope steepness in good detail, and the sediment analysis of seabed samples and an indoor appraisal reveals the variability of a sediment density near the sea-floor surface. On the basis of the results of nine geotechnical studies of submarine study areas, it has worked out that an equivalent cyclic shear stress ratio is roughly between 0.158 and 0.933, which is mainly depending on the initial water content of sediment. A regional density, slope and level of anticipated seismic shaking information are combined in a GIS framework to yield a map that illustrates a continental slope stability zoning under the influencing factors in Zhujiang River Mouth Basin in the South China Sea. The continental slope stability evaluation can contribute to north resources development in the South China Sea, the marine functional zoning, the marine engineering construction and adjust measures to local conditions, at the same time also can provide references for other deep-water slope stability analysis.     

南沙群岛西南大陆斜坡海域浮游动物的垂直分布

浮游动物是海洋生态系统物质和能量转移的关键环节,也是渔业资源的重要饵料,其种类组成和数量分布均有明显的垂直分层现象。利用2011年4月在南沙群岛西南大陆斜坡海域开展的18个站点90份样品的调查数据,对该海域浮游动物的垂直分布进行了研究,表明:(1)该海域浮游动物种类组成丰富,共出现18个类群580种(类);(2)浮游动物种类组成垂直变化明显,特定水层出现的种类数占总种数的43.6%,各水层均出现的种类仅占总种数的15.8%;(3)优势种组成复杂,垂直变化明显,单一种类的优势度不高;(4)浮游动物平均密度和湿重生物量分别为206.27ind/m3、94.03mg/m3,密度和生物量均以0~2m层和30~75m层较高,沿水深梯度的变化呈明显的双峰型;(5)浮游动物数量的垂直变化主要受温跃层影响,温跃层内浮游动物数量最高,温跃层上方和下方的水层内数量较低;(6)南沙西南大陆斜坡区浮游动物生产力水平较高,表明该海域渔业资源有一定的开发潜力。     

北部湾潮汐潮流的数值模拟

基于正交曲线坐标的ECOMSED三维水动力模式,对北部湾的潮汐潮流进行数值模拟。选用不同的海底摩擦系数、海底粗糙度系数以及水平湍流摩擦系数进行数值试验。试验结果表明,当海底摩擦系数取2×10-3～3×10-3,海底粗糙度系数取1×10-3～2×10-3m,而水平湍流摩擦系数取1×102～5×103m2/s时,模拟所得潮汐、潮流结果与实测数据吻合较好;并由此对北部湾的潮汐、潮流和潮余流等特征进行了分析。还给出了垂直湍流黏滞系数呈抛物型的分布特征。对该海域的水动力状况有了进一步的了解,为该海域的环境保护规划提供了科学依据。     

南海东北部陆坡区中上层浮游动物的垂直分布*

根据2016年3月和9月南海东北部陆坡区浮游动物垂直分层采样, 比较浮游动物种类组成、丰度和生物量的垂直分布和季节变化, 探讨影响其差异的原因。文中共鉴定浮游动物225种, 其中3月和9月分别出现150种和169种; 桡足类种数达132种, 其次是毛颚类和管水母类, 各18种; 浮游动物种数在50~100m水层最高, 一般随水深增加而减少。浮游动物丰度和生物量主要集中在0~100m, 二者在100m以深水层随深度增加而降低, 而水柱生物量在100~1000m占总水柱生物量的60%以上。浮游动物优势种季节和垂直变化明显, 3月近海种如普通波水蚤(Undinula vulgaris)和微刺哲水蚤(Canthocalanus pauper)等在100m以上水层丰度较高; 9月外海种如达氏筛哲水蚤(Cosmocalanus darwinii)和黄角光水蚤(Lucicutia flavicornis)等在100m以浅水层相对于3月丰度增加; 隆线似哲水蚤(Calanoides carinatus)在3月丰度和平均体长高于9月, 并且体长较大者主要分布在深层。浮游动物可分0~100m、100~400m和400~1000m三个群落, 因不同水层种类组成和丰度差异引起。浮游动物丰度和生物量的垂直变化与温度、叶绿素a质量浓度等因子呈显著正相关。南海东北部陆坡浮游动物季节和垂直变化受季风、沿岸流和中尺度涡的影响。     

基于FVCOM的泉州湾海域三维潮汐与潮流数值模拟

基于FVCOM海洋数值模式,采用非结构的三角形网格和有限体积法,建立了泉州湾海域高分辨率(26 m)的三维潮汐、潮流数值模型。模拟结果同2个验潮站和3个连续测流站的观测资料符合良好,较好地反映了泉州湾内潮汐、潮流运动的变化状况和分布特征,给出了M₂、S₂、K₁、O₁ 4个主要分潮的同潮图、表层潮流椭圆分布,以及模拟区域内最大可能潮差、表层最大可能潮流流速和潮余流分布。分析表明,4个分潮的最大潮汐振幅和迟角差分别为219 cm和19°,85 cm和25°,26 cm和12°,26 cm和9°;石湖港以东海域的潮波为逆时针旋转的驻波,以西海域为前进波;最大可能潮差由湾口的8.0m向湾内增加至8.8 m。湾内潮流类型为规则半日潮流,落潮最大流速大于涨潮最大流速,北乌礁水道为强流区,表层最大可能潮流流速为2.4 m/s;湾口潮流运动以逆时针方向的旋转流形式为主,湾内的潮流运动以往复流形式为主,长轴走向主要沿着水道方向,与等深线和海岸线平行;四个分潮流表层最大流速分别为1.4 m/s,0.58 m/s,0.12 m/s,0.10 m/s。余流流速大小与潮流强弱有密切的联系,表、中、底层最大余流流速分别为26 cm/s,20 cm/s,16 cm/s,三者在水平方向基本呈北进南出的分布形态。