Variations in the thermal conductivities of surface sediments in the Nankai subduction zone off Tokai, central Japan

We investigated the relationship between variations in the thermal conductivity of surface sediments and the topography in the Nankai subduction zone off Tokai, central Japan, the easternmost part of the Nankai subduction zone, which has an accretionary prism with varied topography. We analyzed sediment thermal conductivity data obtained from the trough floor and accretionary prism. Variations in the thermal conductivity of sediments were related to the topographic features formed by accretionary prism development. Thermal conductivities of 1.1?W/m?K were measured on the trough floor where thick terrigenous turbidites have been deposited. The thermal conductivity of Nankai Trough floor sediments decreases from northeast to southwest along the trough, probably because of the decreased grain size and/or changes in sediment mineral composition. High thermal conductivities (??1.0?W/m?K) were measured in fault scarps on the accretionary prism. A landward increase in these values on the prism may be explained by decreased porosity of the sediments attributable to tectonic deformation during accretionary prism development. At the base of the fault scarp of the frontal thrust, low thermal conductivities (<0.9?W/m?K) were measured, likely reflecting the high porosity of the talus deposits. Low thermal conductivity (0.9?W/m?K) was also measured in slope basins on the accretionary prism, likely also related to the high porosity of the sediments. Our results demonstrate that, for accurate heat flow measurement in an area of varied topography, the geothermal gradient and the thermal conductivity of the sediments must be measured within regions with similar topographic features.     

Toward a quantitative near-bottom seismic profiler

This paper describes the development and application of a system for quantitative near-bottom seismic profiling at 4 kHz. Developed as part of the Deep Tow Instrumentation System of the Marine Physical Laboratory, this system represents a capability which is relatively unique in terms of lateral resolution. This capability was developed in order to observe small-scale horizontal variations in acoustic reflectivity of the sea floor as well as similar properties for shallow, layered structures in bottom sediments. The system provides real time computer processing and quantitative displays of processed data in several forms. These displays include a high resolution grey scale display of equivalent plane wave pressure (compensating for Fish altitude), a three-dimensional contourogram display of equivalent intensity, and a plot of integrated equivalent energy for travel-time sections (typically corresponding to 0–5 and 5–55 m into the bottom). These quantitative displays provide a real-time capability for mapping reflectivity of the sea floor and sub-bottom reflectors within a survey area and for estimating acoustic attenuation in marine sediments from observations of layer reflectivity as a function of depth of burial. Such determinations of attenuation can be made directly from the composite computer display which is produced on a facsimile recorder. The data from this system suggest that small scale variations are common to many areas of the sea floor, with poorly explained variations of up to 10 dB over lateral distances of less than 50 m. Values of effective attenuation determined by this system show good agreement with values measured directly in the San Diego Trough, and suggest unusually low values for highly calcareous sediments on the Carnegie Ridge.     

Simultaneous measurement of P & S wave velocities during conventional laboratory soil testing procedures

Abstract

Foundations for offshore structures present a design problem resulting from two primary sources. First, the normally consolidated sea‐floor sediments are often weak and compressible compared to relatively competent terrestrial soils. Second, the technical difficulties of either obtaining relatively undisturbed sea‐floor samples or of performing in situ mechanical tests can be more problematic than with terrestrial soils. Any technique that might improve the assessment of sediment behavior is worthy of investigation.

This paper describes some preliminary experiments which measure P and S velocities during conventional soil testing procedures. Computed static and dynamic moduli, measured from tests with different strain levels, have been compared, revealing that although two orders of magnitude separate the moduli, there are similarities in the way certain moduli change with increasing stress levels. It is suggested that the use of a “frame‐wave”; velocity in the calculation of dynamic moduli may reduce drastically the differences that exist between the static and dynamic moduli for saturated sediments. In this way it is thought that results from tests, such as those described in this paper, not only provide empirical correlative data for a given sediment, but may also contribute to a clearer understanding of its behavior under loading conditions.     

应力-应变过程中海底沉积物微结构变化对其声速的影响

阐述了对海底沉积物样品在应力-应变过程中进行同步声学测量的实验工具及方法,分析了采自南海45个站位的海底沉积物样品的实验数据资料,结果表明,沉积物颗粒越粗、孔隙越小、无侧限抗压强度越大,声速越高.沉积物样品在受力应变过程中,声速具有明显的随应力而变化的特征.进一步探讨了不同应变阶段沉积物的声学特征以及应力所导致沉积物微结构变化对其声速的影响过程,这一研究将在石油地质测井和海底工程基底稳定性评价等方面具有重要应用意义.     

基于PXRF的西南印度洋脊硫化物表层沉积物地球化学找矿研究

海底热液喷发形成的热液羽状流中富含成矿物质,并沉淀在距离热液喷口不等的范围内。对西南印度洋中脊热液喷口附近、距离喷口中等距离、远离喷口的六个表层沉积物样品开展了不同粒度沉积物的便携式XRF（PXRF）分析。结果表明,PXRF可以有效获得的洋中脊钙质沉积物中成矿元素的富集特征。>40目的沉积物样品具有较高的Cu、Zn、Fe、Mn等元素含量,40目以下沉积物中则相对稳定,可能与粗粒沉积物中玄武岩碎屑/玻璃含量较高有关,与镜下鉴定结果一致。以热液喷口为中心,表层沉积物中表现出Cu、Zn、As、Fe、Mn的元素分带,靠近喷口的沉积物中具有较高的成矿元素的含量,并具有较高的Cu/Fe、Zn/Fe比值或者Cu/Mn与Zn/Mn比值。上述结论表明,洋中脊沉积物中成矿元素的含量主要受与喷口的距离的影响,而与粒度的关系不大,洋中脊沉积物地球化学找矿应采用40目以下粒径沉积物作为分析样品。通过PXRF获得的Cu、Zn、As、Fe、Mn等元素含量及其比值特征可以作为海底多金属硫化物沉积物地球化学找矿的指标,该方法满足快速有效识别洋中脊沉积物中地球化学异常的要求。     

Acoustic backscatter and sediment textural properties of inner shelf sands,northeastern Gulf of Mexico

The relationship between spatial variations of the properties of sea-floor sediments and acoustic backscatter from the surface of the sea floor on the continental shelf off of Panama City, Florida, USA, is investigated using surficial sediment grab samples and digital side-scan sonar data. Acoustic backscatter strength has a high, direct correlation with the mean grain size of the sediments. Acoustic backscatter strength also correlates directly with the carbonate content of the sediments, particularly in medium-and coarse-sand facies, because large, irregularly shaped, carbonate particles affect both the mean grain size of the sediments and the roughness of the surface of the sea floor.     

南黄海近岸沉积物的某些地球化学特征

本文分析了南黄海近岸沉积物中P_2O_5,CaCO_3、有机碳及一些金属元素的地球化学特征;探讨了这些特征与沉积物类型、水动力状况、入海河流、生物活动及沉积环境的关系。     

海底沉积物声速-压力特性测试系统的设计与实验

文中设计基于可编程逻辑控制器(PLC)的测控平台、伺服加压控制、步进推动控制、多传感器测量、触摸屏交互等功能的温压可控声学测量系统,实现海底沉积物样品的孔隙水自动可控加压,通过声学测量功能单元测量海底沉积物在各个压力下的声速,模拟海底沉积物处于大陆坡2 000 m以浅海底表层任何深度变化时的声学特性测量,得到海底沉积物声速-压力特性,为校正实验室测量数据还原到海底原位测量数据提供一种方法。     

SW Barents Sea continental margin heat flow and Håkon Mosby Mud Volcano

The high thermal gradient and heat flow >1000?mW?m^-2 on Håkon Mosby Mud Volcano are ascribed to rapid transport of pore water, mud, and gas in a narrow, deep conduit within a 3.1-km-thick glacial sediment unit. The instability is caused by rapid loading of dense glacial sediments on less dense oozes. Changes in pressure–temperature conditions by sudden, large-scale downslope mass movement may induce structural deformation, opening transient pathways from the base of the glacial sediments to the sea floor. This model may also explain slope maxima elsewhere on the margin.     

High-resolution acoustic mapping of shallow gas in unconsolidated sediments beneath the strait of Georgia,British Columbia

Gassy sediments are detectable acoustically in subbottom profiles of Canada's Fraser Delta slope and prodelta areas. Interstitial gas is typically represented by zones of acoustic turbidity on high-resolution seismic profiles and by gas brightening on air-gun profiles. The top of the acoustically turbid zone is generally highest within the sediment column closest to the river mouths and lies within 10 ms (two-way travel time) of the sea floor in a nearly continuous area that covers over 530 km². Most of the gas is believed to be biogenic in origin, although thermogenic gas derived from underlying Tertiary sedimentary rocks may be present in places.     

Fossil Foraminifera from four active mud volcanoes in the Gulf of Mexico

Samples were collected for foraminiferal studies by the Johnson Sea-Link I and II manned submersibles on the Louisiana continental slope. This paper documents that the mud, extruded onto the sea floor from depth by four mud volcanoes, ranges in age from Miocene to Pleistocene based on studies of the planktonic foraminiferal fauna. The vents are in water depths ranging from 300 to 690 m located in Garden Banks Block 382, Green Canyon Blocks 143 and 272, and Mississippi Canyon Block 929. Two mud volcanoes in GB 382 and MC 929 also have rich fossil foraminiferal microfaunas. We suggest that the extrusion of fossil sediments onto the sea floor during the Quaternary is a reasonable explanation for frequent occurrences of displaced fossil microfaunas encountered at depth in wells drilling on the flanks of salt diapirs in the slope environment. Results of this study have important implications for age dating subsurface sediments in bathyal locations.     

Ocean bottom refraction seismograph (OBRS)

This paper describes a pop-up ocean bottom seismograph designed primarily for refraction surveys both on the continental shelf and in deep sea. Its development is the extension of our system based on seismic detectors located on the sea floor with radio transmission of seismic signals and used for seismic refraction studies on the continental shelf. The seismic detectors (vertical geophone or hydrophone and two orthogonally mounted horizontal geophones) are located outside of the pressure vessel on the main frame. Optionally, the seismic sensors may be decoupled from the main frame assembly. This decoupling is performed by a mobile arm positioning the separate three component sensor package on the sea floor.Contribution No. 455 of the Département Scientifique, Centre Océanologique de Bretagne.     

In situ velocity profiles in gassy sediments: Kiel Bay

Acoustic behavior of gas-bearing sediments is significantly different from that of gas-free sediments. In situ velocity profiles and acoustic signal characteristics in gas-bearing sediments of the upper several meters of the sea floor in Kiel Bay are presented in this study. Observed velocities in gas-bearing sediments are both higher and lower than those of the gas-free sediments. Small amounts of gas appear to cause signal reverberation without much attenuation. whereas large amounts of gas cause substantial attenuation.     

强冲刷侵蚀岸段水深地形变化成因分析

海底地形变化是海洋动力变化的直接表征之一,强冲刷侵蚀岸段水深地形变化,主要是由于风暴潮等恶劣天气而形成的波浪扰动起海底表层物质成分,并由海流和风完成了对悬沙的运移所致.风暴潮引起海浪在海岸浅水处破碎,卷破波的水舌向下冲击时,在海底形成很大的旋涡,把泥沙掀动起来,在风流潮和的作用下,致使侵蚀冲刷快速的呈现,造成了水深地形的变化.一般情况下,水深地形变化较大地段由于泥沙的自然盈亏影响较小,人为的因素改变了自然平衡发生变化是重要因素.而冲刷侵蚀岸段的水深地形变化与海洋动力紧密相关,因此,研究分析海洋动力与水深地形变化的成因,对海岸工程及其防护至关重要.     

The potential influence of shallow gas and gas hydrates on sea floor erosion of Rock Garden, an uplifted ridge offshore of New Zealand

Regional erosion of the Rock Garden ridge top, a bathymetric high within New Zealand’s Hikurangi Subduction Margin, is likely associated with its gas hydrate system. Seismic data reveal gas pockets that appear partially trapped beneath the shallow base of gas hydrate stability. Steady-state fluid flow simulations, conducted on detailed two-dimensional geological models, reveal that anomalous fluid pressure can develop close to the sea floor in response to lower-permeability hydrate-bearing sediments and underlying gas pockets. Transient simulations indicate that large-scale cycling of fluid overpressure may occur on time scales of a few to tens of years. We predict intense regions of hydro-fracturing to preferentially develop beneath the ridge top rather than beneath the flanks, due to more pronounced overpressure generation and gas migration through hydrate-bearing sediments. Results suggest that sediment weakening and erosion of the ridge top by hydro-fracturing could be owed to fluid dynamics of the shallow gas hydrate system.     

Advective pore water input of nutrients to the Satilla River Estuary,Georgia, USA

In situ benthic flux measurements, pore water nutrient profiles, water column nutrient distributions, sediment grain size distributions and side-scan sonar observations suggest that advective transport of pore waters may be a major input pathway of nutrients into the Satilla River Estuary (coastal Georgia, USA). In situ benthic chamber incubations demonstrate the occurrence of highly variable, but occasionally very large sea floor fluxes of silicate, phosphate, and ammonium. Locally occurring benthic microbial mineralization of organic matter, as estimated by S³⁵-sulphate reduction rate measurements, is insufficient to support these large fluxes. We hypothesize that the observed interlayering of permeable, sandy sediments with fine-grained, organic-rich sediments in the estuary provides conduits for advective transport of pore water constituents out of the sediments. Because permeable layers may extend significant distances beneath the salt marsh, the large fluxes observed may be supported by remineralization occurring over large areas adjacent to the estuary. Advective transport may be induced by pressure gradients generated by a variety of processes, including landward recharge by meteoric or rain waters if sand layers extend far enough into the maritime coastal lands. Alternatively, tidal variations across the salt marsh sediment surface may hydraulically pump water through the sediment system. Because these fluxes appear to be concentrated into small layers, this source may be a significant input of nutrients to the estuary even if permeable, sandy layers comprise a very small proportion of the seabed.     

Acoustic-Physical Properties of Calcareous Seafloor Soils and Their Significance in Engineering Geology

—The basic features and acoustic-physical properties of calcareous seafloor soils in the tropicsea area are obviously different from those of sediments mainly composed of terrigenous materials in theSouth China Sea.Generally.calcareous soils.composed of carbonate particles of marine organism re-mains.have the characteristics of high water content.high porosity.low wet density.high sound velocityand greatly varied compressive strength Recogni/ing the differences between calcareous soils andterrigenous sediments and engineering geologic significance of calcareous soils is crucial for seafloorgeologic research and geotechnical survey for pile jacket platform foundation design.     

Transport processes deduced from geochemistry and the void ratio of surface core samples, deep sea Sagami Bay, central Japan

Sagami Bay is a deep-water foreland basin with an average sedimentary rate of approximately 0.1 g/cm²/year. It is an appropriate area to study for better understanding of sedimentary processes in a setting with a high sedimentation rate. Seven multiple core samples, 30-50 cm thick, were obtained from Sagami Bay. Four of the core samples were taken from the Tokyo submarine fan system (Tokyo canyon floor, Tokyo fan valley and its levee, the distal fan margin). Two samples were obtained from the Sakawa fan delta and the adjacent topographic high. The remaining one was from an escarpment of the Sagami submarine fault. Variations in chemical composition can be recognized at every coring site. They show two different sediment sources: the sediments of the Tokyo submarine fan system and those from Sakawa fan delta. Further, there are differences in chemical composition between canyon floor and levees even within the Tokyo submarine fan system. The results suggest that the sedimentary process is strongly controlled not by vertical particle settling but by a hyperpycnal flow process. The proxies obtained from the core samples do not reflect conditions in the water column immediately overlying the sea floor. Rather, they are controlled by conditions on the adjacent continental shelf or/and shallow basins, which are the areas of primary accumulation.     

First measurements from a deep-tow transient electromagnetic sounding system

An electromagnetic sounding system has been developed to map the shallow electrical conductivity structure of the deep sea floor. The instrument consists of a magnetic source and several colinear magnetic receivers forming an array which is towed along the seafloor. The source generates a time varying magnetic field; the shape of the resulting magnetic field waveform at the receivers depends on the electrical conductivity below the seafloor between the receivers and the source. The instrument can be towed systematically over a study area under acoustic transponder or GPS navigation to construct a map of the electrical conductivity. Towing speeds of greater than 1 m s^–1 (2 knots) can be achieved without adversely effecting data quality. The instrument is sufficiently robust to survive continual contact with thinly sedimented, abrasive basalt. We present the first results from a deployment in August, 1990 near the Cleft Segment of the Juan de Fuca Ridge along an 8 km track to the west of the spreading center. Unforeseen problems with the instrument restricted the utility of the measurements for constructing detailed vertical conductivity profiles, but the measurements were adequate to determine an average conductivity in the upper 25 m, at more than 70 stations. The conductivity was found to vary from 0.1 to 0.4 S/m along the track.     

Warped temperature profiles observed in the sediment of geothermally active areas in the Japan Sea— A hypothesis of double diffusive sinking

Some temperature profiles observed in sea floor sediments of the Japan Sea, west of the northern part of Honshu, show distinct gradients changing with depth, for which we use the term warping. Using a simplified model, this warping can be attributed to an abrupt temperature change in the bottom water just above the sediment. The bottom water temperature change might be explained by the hypothesis that warm and salt surface water in the region sank to the sea bottom, through colder and less saline water, maintaining a relatively warmer temperature than the bottom water which originates from ordinary lateral intrusion.