High-resolution seismic imaging of gas accumulations and seepage in the sediments of the Ria de Aveiro barrier lagoon (Portugal)

Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas and an important energy source. The global significance and impact in coastal zones of methane gas accumulation and seepage in sediments from coastal lagoon environments are still largely unknown. This paper presents results from four high-resolution seismic surveys carried out in the Ria de Aveiro barrier lagoon (Portugal) in 1999, 2002 and 2003. These comprise three chirp surveys (RIAV99, RIAV02, RIAV02A) and one boomer survey (RIAV03). Evidence of extensive gas accumulation and seepage in tidal channel sediments from the Ria de Aveiro barrier lagoon is presented here for the first time. This evidence includes: acoustic turbidity, enhanced reflections, acoustic blanking, domes, and acoustic plumes in the water column (flares). The stratigraphy and structural framework control the distribution and extent of gas accumulations and seepage in the study area. In these shallow systems, however, tidal altitude variations have a significant impact on gas detection using acoustic methods, by changing the raw amplitude of the enhanced seismic reflections, acoustic turbidity, and acoustic blanking in gas-prone areas. Direct evidence of gas escape from drill holes in the surrounding area has shown that the gas present in the Ria de Aveiro consists of biogenic methane. Most of the gas in the study area was probably generated mainly in Holocene lagoon sediments. Evidence of faults affecting the Mesozoic limestones and clays underlying some of the shallow gas occurrences, and the presence of high-amplitude reflections in these deeper units raise the possibility that some of this gas could have been generated in deeper sedimentary layers, and then migrated upward through the fractured Mesozoic strata.     

Tidal transport and dispersal of marine toxic microalgae in a shallow, temperate coastal lagoon

A numerical model was used to predict toxic microalgal transport and dispersion in Ria de Aveiro in Portugal. A previously developed Lagrangean particle tracking model coupled to a calibrated two-dimensional hydrodynamic model of Ria de Aveiro was used. Microalgae were regarded as passive particles and the methodology used allowed the determination of their trajectories, as induced by the tidal currents predicted by the hydrodynamic model. The model assumes Ria de Aveiro as vertically homogeneous and does not take into account the vertical distribution patterns of microalgae. Simulations were carried out during extreme spring and neap tides, with microalgal released at the mouth of the lagoon at the local flood. The maximum and minimum areas affected during the occurrence of toxic microalgal blooms were estimated to evaluate the suitability of the distribution of the sampling stations included in the local monitoring program. It was found that the tidal currents greatly determine the microalgal horizontal distribution and dispersal in the lagoon. The results confirmed that the locations of water and bivalve shellfish sampling stations, postulated by INIAP/IPIMAR, in the context of the local harmful algal bloom (HAB) program, were appropriate, although some possible refinements were identified.     

Nutrient retention in the sediments and the submerged aquatic vegetation of the coastal lagoon of the Ria de Aveiro,Portugal

A decrease in the areas covered by seagrasses within the Ria de Aveiro, Portugal, has been observed over the past five decades, resulting in a corresponding increase of the areas of uncovered sediment supporting the growth of sparse macroalgae populations only. Presently, several macroalgae (Ulva spp., Gracilaria sp.) and one seagrass species (Nanozostera noltii (Hornem.) Toml. & Posl.) comprise the submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) adapted to this shallow, high-energy environment, characterised by fast tidal currents and turbid waters and in which large areas of the bed are exposed during low tide. This study shows that there is a strong inter-relation between the SAV and the surface sediment in intertidal areas. The sediment covered by N. noltii was finer (median grain size 95 µm) and had a high percentage of organic matter (mean value 7.6%), compared with the sediment colonised by macroalgae (median grain size 239 µm; mean organic content 3.2%). The concentrations of both total nitrogen and phosphorous were significantly greater (P < 0.001) in surface sediments covered by N. noltii. Thus, sediments within N. noltii appear to act as a large reservoir of N and P by accumulating greater concentrations of fine sediment particles (silt and clay) and organic matter when compared with the coarser sediment covered with macroalgae only. Hence, the reduction in the area covered by seagrasses will likely result in a gradual loss of nutrients and fine sediment from the Ria de Aveiro channels.     

Single-beam acoustic ground discrimination of shallow water habitats: 50 kHz or 200 kHz frequency survey?

The single-beam acoustic ground discrimination system QTC View, Series V, was used in the Bay of Cadiz, Southwest Spain, for the identification and mapping of the bottom acoustic diversity. The acoustic data were obtained through two successive surveys, each conducted with one of the following echo sounder frequencies: 50 kHz and 200 kHz. The performance of each survey frequency for the identification of the sedimentary gradients was analyzed. The surveys were conducted during high tide given that the majority of the surveyed area is shallower than 5 m, although depth may occasionally reach 20 m in specific areas located in a navigation channel. The acoustic data obtained at the two different frequencies were, individually, submitted to manual clustering and a final solution consisting of three acoustic classes was reached for both datasets. However, only the geographical distribution of the acoustic classes obtained with 50 kHz echo sounder frequency was coincident with the spatial distribution of the superficial sediment groups (silty medium sand, very silty fine sand and mud), identified through multivariate analysis of the grain-size data of ground-truth sediment samples. The results obtained with the 200 kHz echo sounder frequency did not match the sedimentary gradients obtained for the area surveyed, not even the separation of muddy and sandy areas.     

潮流场对渤、黄、东海陆架底质分布的控制作用

运用二维潮流数学模型，模拟了渤、黄、东海陆架的M2潮汐、潮流。结果表明，渤、黄、东海陆架的潮流有强弱之分以及往复流和旋转汉之别。在此基础上，计算了8种粒径沙的湖平均悬移输沙率、潮平均推移输沙以及相应的输沙率散度。根据输沙率散度的正负，划分了海底冲刷区与淤积区。根据不同粒径泥沙输沙率散度的相对大小，确定出海底的主要底质类型为砂质沉积、粉砂质泥沉积和以粉砂为主的混合沉积。计算结果表明，海底3种主要底负类型的分布格局与海底的冲淤格局以及与输沙率矢量的发散和聚合状况基本一致。在渤、黄、东海陆架，沙脊主要在强往复流区形成，沙席主要在强或较强的旋转流区形成，泥质沉积主要在弱潮流区形成。砂质沉积、泥质沉积以及混合沉积这3种主要底质类型并非孤立存在，而是受渤、黄、东海陆架潮流场控制而形成的一个完整的潮流沉积体系。渤、黄、东海陆架的砂质沉积与泥质沉积并非残留沉积，而是潮流沉积。在没有冷涡的情况下，黄、东海陆架的典型泥质沉积在弱潮流环境中同样可以形成，因此，认为冷涡并非黄、东海陆架典型泥质沉积形成的必要条件。     

铁山港湾水下动力地貌特征及其成因

探讨了铁山港湾的潮间浅滩、潮流冲刷深槽、潮流沙脊、水下拦门浅滩、水下岸坡和海底平原等水下动力地貌的形态特征及其成因,并结合沉积物的粒度、碎屑重矿物的分布特征,阐述了泥沙来源及运移趋势。     

Storm Enhanced Bottom Shear Stress and Associated Sediment Entrainment in a Moderate Energetic Estuary

Several important mechanisms for storm-induced entrainment of estuarine cohesive sediments are analyzed using field measurements collected in a moderately energetic estuary, central Long Island Sound, U.S.A. The sediment concentration and hydrographic data were obtained by an array of sensors mounted at 1 m above the bottom. The bottom sediment in the study site composed mostly of silt and silty sand. The study showed that the bottom shear stress, computed using a wave-current interaction model, increased significantly during the episodic wind events. A large resuspension event was triggered by a frontal passage when strong wind-driven currents augmented the tidal currents. The timing of storm waves with respect to the tidal phase also was a critical factor. Based on the changes of suspended sediment concentration, the bottom appeared to respond to the shear stress in two phases: the tidal resuspension and the storm-induced erosion. During each tidal cycle, entrainment was associated with resuspension of high water content, loosely consolidated material. During episodic events, a thin layer of more consolidated bed below the sediment-water interface was eroded by the enhanced bottom stress.     

Hydrological characterisation of Ria de Aveiro,Portugal, in early summer

The hydrological features of Ria de Aveiro, a coastal lagoon on the northwest Atlantic coast of Portugal, were investigated in two sampling surveys carried out between 3/6 and 24/6/97 and between 29/6 and 7/7/97, respectively. There was a significant freshwater inflow into the lagoon during the first survey, especially in the first days, due to the recent rainfalls. Records concerning water level, salinity, temperature and current velocity were performed at several stations located along the four main channels of the lagoon. The type of tide at the mouth was determined and was observed that astronomical tide is the main forcing agent driving water circulation in Ria de Aveiro. The tide at the mouth is semidiurnal and the tidal wave propagation in the lagoon has the characteristics of a damped progressive wave. Typical estuarine longitudinal salinity and temperature gradients connected with the distance to the mouth were identified, whereas vertical and transverse gradients were found unimportant, except in the frontal zone between oceanic and fresh water masses. According to the results, even though Ria de Aveiro should be considered as vertically homogeneous, some channels may reveal characteristics of a partially mixed estuary, depending on the freshwater input.     

厦门湾口外近岸陆架区海底沙波发育特征

利用2014–2017年在台湾海峡西部采集的多波束、单道地震剖面、沉积物粒度样品及海流监测资料,在厦门湾近岸陆架区识别出一系列海底沙波,并对沙波的形态特征、分布规律和沉积物组成特征进行分析,探讨水动力条件及其对沙波发育的影响.结果表明沙波发育区水深一般为10～60 m,地形较平缓开阔,坡度一般为0°～1°;平面上沙波区...     

Formation of sand banks due to tidal vortices around straits

Sand banks around straits are used as a commercial fishing ground. In order to clarify the mechanism of sand bank formation, the Lagrangian method was used to measure currents and turbidity around the banks in the Neko Seto Sea in the Seto Inland Sea of Japan. A neutrally buoyant float released in the Neko Seto Strait at the maximum tidal flow stage was engulfed in a pair of tidal vortices and moved around one of the sand banks. The vertical distribution of turbidity, which was measured by the vessel moving with the neutral float, showed an extremely high turbidity in the bottom layer of this bank area. According to the analysis of these observational data, the process of sand bank formation around straits is as follows. The tidal vortex transports water mass with suspended materials (including sand) which are whirled up at the bottom by the tidal jet. In the decaying stage of the vortex, the materials in the bottom layer are gathered in the central part of the vortex by the secondary convergent flow in the vortex. Among these materials, a large-size sand particle with a high critical erosion velocity accumulates at the bottom and forms banks. The distribution of bottom sediment and the thickness of alluvium support this result.     

射阳港区双导堤建设前后冲淤变化及成因研究

基于近年来射阳港区水下地形数据和定点全潮水文观测资料,分析了双导堤建设前后冲淤变化特征,并对其成因进行了初步探讨。研究结果表明,研究区近6年来总体上以淤积为主,净淤积量约为65.23×106m3,年均净淤积速率约为7.9 cm/a;淤积区域主要分布于导堤两侧浅水区,侵蚀区域主要分布于导堤口附近。2008-2013年间研究区冲刷、淤积和相对稳定区域面积分别占15%、55%和30%。堤口东侧的SSW02站实测最大流速为1.54 m/s,北堤北部的SSW01站为1.4 m/s,无论是涨潮还是落潮,堤口均大于导堤北侧;导堤产生了沿堤水流和口门回流,改变了导堤两侧附近海域潮流方向并增大了口门处的沉积动力。研究区泥沙运动方式主要表现为波浪掀沙、潮流输沙;区域海流泥沙的沿程落淤和导堤挡流效应导致导堤两侧出现淤积,导堤产生的回流促使堤口冲刷和堤内泥沙回淤。导堤引起的局部流场变化是海底冲淤格局重新分布的主因。     

Sediment and hydrodynamics of the Tauranga entrance to Tauranga harbour

To relate the textural characteristics of the bottom sediments of a tidal inlet to hydrodynamics, 45 sediment samples from the Tauranga Entrance to Tauranga Harbour were analysed for textural parameters, and tidal currents and waves were monitored. Tidal currents dominate sediment transport processes near the Tauranga Entrance although swell waves are significant on the ebb tidal delta, and wind waves may influence intertidal sediments within the harbour. The bulk of the sediment is probably derived from marine sand from the Bay of Plenty continental shelf, but tidal currents and waves have changed its textural character. In areas of swift tidal currents, particularly in the inlet channel itself, sediment is coarser, more poorly sorted, and more coarsely skewed than that in areas of slower currents.     

Internal tides and sediment movement on Horizon Guyot,Mid-Pacific Mountains

Internal tidal currents are the likely cause of erosional features such as current ripples, sand waves, and truncated bedding horizons on the sediment cap of Horizon Guyot. Current meter data obtained over a 9 month period in 1983–1984 at about 213 m above the guyot show that the tidal currents are anomalously strong for mid-oceanic depths, probably the result of topographically induced generation of internal tidal waves. An analysis of the initiation of motion of the foraminiferal sand by the internal tidal currents indicates that these currents, particularly during the months of March–May, are likely to transport the surficial sediment and generate the observed bedforms.     

杭州湾的沉积结构与沉积环境分析

漏斗状的地形、强劲的潮流和长江入海泥沙的输入是制约杭州湾沉积作用的主要因素。根据沉积结构特征可将杭州湾划分为五种不同的沉积环境:东部湾底、西部湾底、庵东浅滩、近岸深槽和水下沙脊。杭州湾内潮流脊发育不好的原因在于没有足够的粗屑物质。     

Tidal bedforms in eastern part of the Bohai Sea

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Along channel flow and sediment dynamics at North Inlet, South Carolina

In May of 2005, an observational program was carried out to investigate the along channel hydrodynamics and suspended sediment transport patterns at North Inlet, South Carolina. Along channel variability, which is important in establishing sediment transport pathways, has not been characterized for this system. Measurements of water column currents, salinity, bed sediment, suspended sediment concentration, and particle size distribution were obtained over a complete tidal cycle along the thalweg of the inlet entrance. Along channel currents, shear stress and bed sediment distributions vary significantly in space and time along a 3 km section bracketing the inlet throat. Most of the variability is consistent with geomorphic controls such as bed elevation variability and channel width. The highest velocities, shear stresses, suspended sediment concentration and bed sediment grain size are observed in the narrowest section of the inlet throat. Magnitudes systematically decrease along the channel toward the marsh as changes in channel geometry and branching reduces flow energy. Due to tidal asymmetry, the ebb phase contains significantly higher currents and associated sediment transport. Over the complete tidal cycle, depth integrated transport is directed towards the marsh landward of the intersection of Town and Debidue Creek. In contrast, net transport is out of the inlet seaward of this intersection. Sediment grain size distributions show 35% more material less than 63 μm on flood, suggesting net landward transport of fines.     

黄河口新口门海域流场分析

1996年9月在黄河口新口门附近海域设置3个断面9个站位,对海流、水温、盐度和含沙量进行了连续2个潮周期多层次同步观测。结果表明：新口门属不正规的半日潮型。流速口门前大于两侧,左侧最小,深水区大于浅水区,流速垂向分布呈不均匀现象,表层大于底层频率最高。含沙量垂向分布为上小下大,泥沙输移方向口门处与径流方向一致,其它部位与潮汐相对应。泥沙扩散范围达500km^2。     

日照港西部海域海底地形与表层沉积特征

利用单波束测深仪和蚌式取样器进行了日照石臼港扩建码头西侧约50km~2海域1:2 000~1:10 000的水深地形测绘和底质分析工作。调查结果表明,日照港西部海域可分4个水深区,其地形和沉积特征如下:1)航道区,浅水航道区等深线平行于码头岸线,水深11m,经过疏浚已形成向南倾斜的四级阶梯地形,疏浚中心处水深24m。航道区底质以分选中等的砾砂为主;2)港池区,水深6 m,等深线与港池岸线平行,水深向南渐增,海底地形平坦,坡降比3‰。底质以分选较好的粉砂和砂质粉砂为主,近岸有少量分选较差的泥质砂质砾;3)涛雒-付疃河口区,水下三角洲地形明显,5m以浅等深线呈弧形向东南方向凸出,坡降比最大可达14.2‰,底质类型为分选极好的砂和粉砂质砂;4)浅海区,海底地形平坦,平均坡降比1.9‰,6~10m等深线呈NE-SW向平行向外海增大,近南扩码头端向东偏转,底质类型为分选好的砂质粉砂和粉砂,并呈平行于海岸线向深水区呈粗-细-粗的带状分布。底质类型分布与水深条件基本吻合,但深水区出现的底质粗化现象,分析认为可能与南扩码头的挑流作用有关,海底沉积物呈向南运移趋势。     

基于三维调和分离的同安湾口门断面冬季潮流和余流特征的分析

利用同安湾口门断面走航ADCP观测数据,采用基于高斯基函数的Candela空间插值方法,对海流进行空间三维的调和分离,并对分离的各分潮流与余流进行流场的回归检验分析,F(α=0.01)检验显示流场的回归效果显著.观测期间同安湾口门断面平均潮差为5.15 m,最小潮差4.38m,最大潮差5.98 m,断面上涨落潮最大流速分别为92.3、80.3 cm/s,潮流特征分析表明,同安湾口门断面的潮流运动形式为往复流,以半日潮流为主,约占70%潮流信息,潮流流速从海表面向海底递减.余流最大值为12.5 cm/s,空间分布上将同安湾口门断面一分为二形成北进南出的余流进出通道,这与以往余流格局的认识相符.     

胶州湾口海底沙波的类型、特征及发育影响因素

采用多波束资料对胶州湾口的海底沙波类型、特征进行了研究,发现研究区主要有线性沙波(二维)、沙丘(三维)2种沙波类型。结合水流流速、海底构造和表层沉积物综合分析发现:海底沙波缓坡朝向与优势流向不完全一致,为强流作用的产物,在涨、落潮作用下均可形成;沉积物的多寡是研究区海底沙波类型分布的决定因素,海底松散沉积物较为丰富的地区形成二维沙波。在水动力强大的胶州湾口,沉积物多分布在构造低洼地带,使二维线性沙波的分布与海底断裂延伸方向一致。