Current methods for obtaining,logging and splitting marine sediment cores

The main types of deep-sea sediment coring devices are described and their relative merits and drawbacks are discussed. These devices include box corers, gravity corers, piston corers, giant piston corers and vibrocorers. Recent utilisations of kevlar and polyester coring warps are also discussed, since these are the only warps capable of handling the large weights associated with the larger devices. Recent developments in wholecore logging, including P wave, density and magnetic susceptibility, are described as are methods of subcoring and core splitting to obtain the maximum amount of detail on the split surfaces. The wholecore logs together with a good colour photograph of the recently split sediment surface provide a lasting unambiguous record of the core.     

An automated full waveform logging system for high-resolution P-wave profiles in marine sediments

An automated, PC-based logging system has been developed to investigate marine sediment cores by full waveform transmission seismograms. High-resolution P-wave velocity and amplitude attenuation profiles are simultaneously derived from the transmission data to characterize the acoustic properties of the sediment column.A pair of ultrasonic, piezoelectric wheel probes is used to generate and record the transmission signals travelling radially through the sediment core. Both unsplit and split cores are allowed. Mounted in a carriage driven by a stepping motor via a shaft the probes automatically move along the core liner, stopping at equidistant spacings to provide a quasi-continuous inspection of the core by the transmission data. The axial travel distance and the core diameter are determined by digital measuring tools.First arrivals are picked automatically from the transmission seismograms using either a threshold in the seismogram's envelope or a cross-correlation algorithm taking the zero-offset signal of both wheel probes into account. Combined with the core diameter these first arrivals lead to a P-wave velocity profile with a relative precision of 1 to 2 m s^–1. Simultaneously, the maximum peak-to-peak amplitudes of the transmission seismograms are evaluated to get a first idea on the amplitude attenuation along the sediment core.Two examples of gravity cores taken during a recent cruise of R.V. METEOR in the Western Equatorial Atlantic are presented. They yield that the P-wave profiles can be used for locating strong and fine-scale lithological changes, e.g. turbidite layers and slight variations in the sand, silt or clay content. In addition, the transmission seismograms and their amplitude spectra obviously seem to reveal a correlation between the relative amount of low-frequency spectral components and the sediment grain size, and thus provide a tool for the determination of additional, related physical or sedimentological parameters in future investigations.     

SCOPIX: A new X-ray imaging system for core analysis

SCOPIX is a new digital X-ray imaging system for core analysis that uses an X-ray source coupled to a high-energy brightness amplifier and a CCD camera. SCOPIX’s numerical files are images in 256 gray levels equal in value to X-ray densities. Possible data processing approaches include: core logging using grayscale profiles to define the characteristics of sedimentary sequences and image processing to define and quantify lithologic facies and the geometry of physical and biological structures. Applications are: recognition of facies and sedimentary processes, study of sedimentary rhythms and geological cycles, and study of biological and geochemical processes.     

SCOPIX: A new X-ray imaging system for core analysis

 SCOPIX is a new digital X-ray imaging system for core analysis that uses an X-ray source coupled to a high-energy brightness amplifier and a CCD camera. SCOPIX’s numerical files are images in 256 gray levels equal in value to X-ray densities. Possible data processing approaches include: core logging using grayscale profiles to define the characteristics of sedimentary sequences and image processing to define and quantify lithologic facies and the geometry of physical and biological structures. Applications are: recognition of facies and sedimentary processes, study of sedimentary rhythms and geological cycles, and study of biological and geochemical processes. Received: 31 March 1998 / Revision received: 25 June 1998     

A new instrument system to investigate sediment dynamics on continental shelves

A new instrumented tripod, the GEOPROBE system, has been constructed and used to collect time-series data on physical and geological parameters that are important in bottom sediment dynamics on continental shelves. Simultaneous in situ digital recording of pressure, temperature, light scattering, and light transmission, in combination with current velocity profiles measured with a near-bottom vertical array of electromagnetic current meters, is used to correlate bottom shear generated by a variety of oceanic processes (waves, tides, mean flow, etc.) with incipient movement and resuspension of bottom sediment. A bottom camera system that is activated when current speeds exceed preset threshold values provides a unique method to identify initial sediment motion and bed form development.

Data from a twenty day deployment of the GEOPROBE system in Norton Sound, Alaska, during the period September 24 – October 14, 1976 show that threshold conditions for sediment movement are commonly exceeded, even in calm weather periods, due to the additive effects of tidal currents, mean circulation, and surface waves.     

LEADAT: a MATLAB-based program for lead-210 data analysis of sediment cores

1Introduction Tracking the history of man s impact on the en-vironment, it is clear that in many places the periodof greatest impact and most dramatic transformationlies within the last 150 a (Oldfield and Appleby,1984). Many aspects of this impact can be…     

A new formula for the total longshore sediment transport rate

A new predictive formula for the total longshore sediment transport (LST) rate was developed from principles of sediment transport physics assuming that breaking waves mobilize the sediment, which is subsequently moved by a mean current. Six high-quality data sets on hydrodynamics and sediment transport collected during both field and laboratory conditions were employed to evaluate the predictive capability of the new formula. The main parameter of the formula (a transport coefficient), which represents the efficiency of the waves in keeping sand grains in suspension, was expressed through a Dean number based on dimensional analysis. The new formula yields predictions that lie within a factor of 0.5 to 2 of the measured values for 62% of the data points, which is higher than other commonly employed formulas for the LST rate such as the CERC equation or the formulas developed by Inman–Bagnold and Kamphuis, respectively. The new formula is well suited for practical applications in coastal areas, as well as for numerical modeling of sediment transport and shoreline change in the nearshore.     

A novel high resolution model without open boundary conditions applied to the China Seas: first investigation on tides

We developed a Global Ocean Circulation and Tide Model (GOCTM) with coarse grids in the open deep ocean degrading ‘smoothly’ into the highly resolved China Seas (CS) of refined grids to study the tides and circulation there.GOCTM is based on the framework of the Finite Volume approach for better mass conservation through improved transports across the discrete individual control volume.It also takes a full advantage of the geometric flexibility of unstructured mesh using a realistic global topography including the Arctic Ocean.The CS are given a special focus by refining the unstructured grids,but they are embedded into global domain naturally.Furthermore,GOCTM not only successfully avoids the treatment of the open boundaries,but also optimizes the trade-off between computational cost and model accuracy.Meanwhile,GOCTM is driven by the astronomical tide-generating potential and the secondary tide-generating potential directly,together with the wind stress and heat flux.GOCTM succeeds in reproducing the global eight principal tidal harmonic constants.Particularly,the simulated tidal results in the CS are improved compared to some other regional models with the discrepancy of 3.9 cm for M 2 tide.This idea of GOCTM can also be referred for other regional ocean study.     

Technical foundation research on high resolution remote sensing system of China’s coastal zone

1IntroductionCoastalzoneisthemostdynamicpartoftheearthsystem,andalsotheveryvulnerablere-gionofecosystembalance.Forthisreason,theChinesegovernmentattachesgreatimportancetotheproblemssuchaseco-environment,itsex-ploitationandutilization,aswellassustainabledevelopment.Asweknown,thelengthofcoast-lineofChinais18000kmintotal,andthenum-berofislandslargerthan500km2 isabout6500.Sincethemid-1980s,greateffortshavebeenmadebyChinatocarryoutregularnationwideinvestigationsofthetidal-flatresourcesofcoastalzo…     

Technical foundation research on high resolution remote sensing system of China''s coastal zone

China‘s coastal zone is a region with a highly developed economy that contrasts clearly with the slow paced regular investigation on its natural environment, which cannot keep pace with the requirement of economic development and modem management.Laying a theoretical foundation for the modem management of China‘s costal zone is aimed at.This research focuses on the following processing and analyzing technologies for coastal zone high-resolution remote sensing data: organization and management of large amounts of high-resolution remote sensing data, quick and precise spatial positioning system,algorithms for image fusion in feature level and coastal zone feature extraction. They will form a technical foundation of the system. And, if combined with other research results such as coastal zone remote sensing classification system and its mapping subsystem, an advanced technical frame for remote sensing investigation of coastal zone resource will be constructed.     

全覆盖高分辨率SST融合方法概述

现有各种SST观测资料均有各自的优缺点,为了得到接近实际分布的全覆盖高分辨率的SST场,就必须合理地融合所有SST观测资料.本文综述了海冰资料换算、卫星SST资料偏差校正以及各种融合方法,其中融合方法包括逐步订正法、混合分析、最优插值(Optimum Interpolation, OI)分析、三维变分同化(3-Dimensional Variational Assimilation, 3DVAR)分析、统计最优估计以及使用截断滤波窗的变分分析.通过总结对比各融合方法优缺点,探讨了在SST融合中需要注意以及需要进一步改进的各方面问题.     

Magnetic fabric results from DSDP Holes 380A (Black Sea) and 524 (South Atlantic) sediment cores: A case study for the comparison between low and high field torque magnetometer measurements

Magnetic fabric (anisotropy) measurements have been made on samples of Quaternary sediments from DSDP Hole 380A (Black Sea) and Tertiary and Cretaceous nannofossil oozes, marls and volcanoclastic sandstones from the Southeast flank of the Walvis Ridge at Hole 524, recovered during Legs 42B and 73 of the International Program of Ocean Drilling (IPOD). The fabric was determined by means of both a low field and a high field torque magnetometer.The overall results from the low field measurements are similar to those from the high field measurements. The results from both sets of measurements indicate the existence of a NE-SW lineation at Hole 380A and a NW-SE lineation at Hole 524. For Hole 380A some of the individual parameters show slight differences in values for the low field and high field torque measurements while for Hole 524 these individual parameters compare favourably and indicate an approximately one-to-one correspondence. In general the fabric is better defined at Hole 524 than at Hole 380A. Anisotropy measurements sometimes were found to be greatly affected by the shape of the sample. This apparent shape-effect appears to be more prevalent in the high field than in the low field measurements. In addition, for Holes 380A and 524 some samples show deformational-style fabric characteristics on one instrument and depositional-style characteristics on the other. The reasons for these differences and how the effects on the anisotropy data can be removed or minimised are described in this paper.     

波、流共同作用下的泥沙起动

对波、流共存时的床面剪切力及摩阻系数等作了探讨,根据泥沙起动试验,建立了泥沙起动Shields曲线,导出了波、流共同作用下层流和紊流时的泥沙起动公式和起动波高、起动水深.     

A new box corer design for the investigation of manganese-nodule distribution in a sediment column

A new, inexpensive and easy-to-handle box corer (47 × 47 × 114 cm³) is described. It is found to be extremely handy when operated from ships equipped with piston coring devices. The box corer uses the same piston core-head (～1000 kg) and the same trigger mechanism as used in piston coring. The whole operation is similar to that of piston coring. At three sites in the nodule-rich abyssal-hill province in the northwest Atlantic, the vertical distributions of the manganese nodules were obtained from the box cores. More than 75% of the nodules by weight is present in the top 10 cm of the sediment; 16–24% is present in the 10–20 cm interval and about 1% in the 20–30 cm interval. Very few nodules are found below 30 cm.     

Normalization to lithium for the assessment of metal contamination in coastal sediment cores from the Aegean Sea, Greece

Sediment cores from the harbour and the coastal zone of Mytilene, island of Lesvos, Greece, were used to study the metal contamination caused by the discharge of untreated urban effluents into the sea. In the harbour. the upper layers were highly enriched in Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn, while no metal enrichment was recorded in the cores from the wider coastal zone. The metal data were normalized to Li (conservative element) to compensate for the natural textural and mineralogical variability. It was found that only the upper 18 cm of the core collected from the harbour of Mytilene could be reported as metal contaminated. Also, through the normalization procedure, it was found that the surface layers of coastal sediments assumed 'clean' were enriched in Pb, probably as a result of atmospheric transportation of the metal from the nearby town.     

The stabilisation of wet sediment cores by means of a polyethylene glycol/freeze-drying treatment for display and permanent storage

A reversible method is presented to transform waterlogged sediment cores into dry and stable specimens which can go on exhibition or into permanent storage, needing no special precautions. Wet sediment core segments are bath-impregnated with polyethylene glycol of molecular weight 3,350 (PEG 3,350) dissolved in water. The samples are then subjected to a freeze-drying process, during which the PEG forms a stabilising and bonding porous network structure in the capillary system of the sediment. Standard sediment cores at least 1 m long become strong enough to stand upright. Sediment types ranging from muddy deep-sea sediments to very coarse littoral Halimeda sand were successfully stabilised. For standard cores of 10-cm diameters split length-wise, impregnation times vary from 2 weeks for coarse sand to 6–10 weeks for more compacted sediments. With regard to the stability of the samples and the visual clarity of detail, best results were obtained by impregnation with 25 to 60% solutions of PEG 3,350, coarse sediments needing more PEG than finer ones. Colour changes are systematic – the processed samples are lighter in appearance and the contrasts are enhanced, but there is no serious shift in colour tones. The PEG can easily be re-dissolved and washed out of the sediments. Display specimens can thus be made available for research again.     

The stabilisation of wet sediment cores by means of a polyethylene glycol/freeze-drying treatment for display and permanent storage

A reversible method is presented to transform waterlogged sediment cores into dry and stable specimens which can go on exhibition or into permanent storage, needing no special precautions. Wet sediment core segments are bath-impregnated with polyethylene glycol of molecular weight 3,350 (PEG 3,350) dissolved in water. The samples are then subjected to a freeze-drying process, during which the PEG forms a stabilising and bonding porous network structure in the capillary system of the sediment. Standard sediment cores at least 1 m long become strong enough to stand upright. Sediment types ranging from muddy deep-sea sediments to very coarse littoral Halimeda sand were successfully stabilised. For standard cores of 10-cm diameters split length-wise, impregnation times vary from 2 weeks for coarse sand to 6–10 weeks for more compacted sediments. With regard to the stability of the samples and the visual clarity of detail, best results were obtained by impregnation with 25 to 60% solutions of PEG 3,350, coarse sediments needing more PEG than finer ones. Colour changes are systematic – the processed samples are lighter in appearance and the contrasts are enhanced, but there is no serious shift in colour tones. The PEG can easily be re-dissolved and washed out of the sediments. Display specimens can thus be made available for research again.     

新型深水钻井隔水管悬挂系统设计

南海海域台风频发,对于深水浮式钻井平台,常规避台模式要求回收所有隔水管,但是在深水、超深水海域,这种应对台风的方案有其局限性。据测算,水深超过1 500 m时,台风准备时间(回收所有隔水管、处理井口的作业时间)超过4天,而目前天气预报的水平只能提前4～5天,因此常规避台难度极大,经常会遭遇到还没有起完隔水管,台风已经逼近平台位置的情况,悬挂隔水管成为一种不得不面对的防台避台方案。硬悬挂和软悬挂是目前悬挂隔水管两种常见的模式,由于软悬挂能够补偿和缓解钻井船升沉施加在悬挂隔水管上的动态载荷,因此业内普遍认为软悬挂模式在提高悬挂隔水管对海洋环境的适应能力方面具有一定的优势,但是常规的软悬挂模式作业程序复杂,而且实施过程中存在伸缩节、张力器液缸等相关设备冲程超标的风险。通过对隔水管悬挂状态下横向和轴向的动力响应进行分析,确定了限制隔水管悬挂安全的主要因素,针对隔水管应力超标和转角过大、干涉等风险,设计了一种具有加装扶正器的锥形悬挂短节;针对悬挂隔水管的轴向压缩风险,研制了一种具有补偿功能的隔水管悬挂装置,降低了悬挂隔水管动态载荷产生轴向压缩和动态应力超标的风险。定量评估表明使用新型隔水管悬挂系统,可以将常规的悬挂窗口由不足10年一遇波流环境条件提高到满足100年一遇的波流环境条件,大大提高了悬挂隔水管的安全性。     

海洋管理办公自动化系统的功能及发展趋势

本文较为系统地分析了海洋管理办公自动化系统的功能和发展趋势。主要介绍了海洋管理办公系统的主要功能、办公自动化系统的发展过程以及海洋管理办公自动化所处阶段及其发展趋势。     

A new active gyrostabiliser system for ride control of marine vehicles

A new gyroscopic method of active ride control on marine vehicles is presented. Gyroscopic stabilisation is selected because it acts entirely within the hull of the vessel while not requiring sufficient movable weight to generate control moments. The new approach is capable of generating greater stabilising moments than existing gyroscopic systems. Physical experiments, using a modulation theory approach, on a ship model practically demonstrate that the specified system is capable of providing levels of ride control comparable with existing systems. Theoretical estimates of the system on full-scale vessels demonstrate its practical feasibility for application on small and medium sized vessels.