福尔摩沙海脊冷泉区海底表征规模及其分布规律

福尔摩沙海脊冷泉系统是我国南海北部陆坡最活跃的冷泉系统之一,也是我国冷泉系统研究的重要场所。通过综合利用水深数据以及连续3年的近海底影像资料,对该冷泉区的海底表征表现形式、规模和分布特征等做了描述。该冷泉系统发育了形态各异的自生碳酸盐岩、繁茂的化能自养生物群落、活动的流体喷口等特征性的海底冷泉系统表征。分析表明,自生碳酸盐岩的广泛发育与出露于海底导致了该区异常的地形特征。研究区内生物群落的分布主要受控于海底流体逸出海底的位置及其活跃程度,因此主要沿裂隙等海底流体优势通道发育。这些优势通道的发育能够有效疏导和汇聚露体运移至海底以维持化能自养生物群落,而化能自养生物群落对甲烷等有效成分的消耗促进了海底流体向海底运移。简言之,冷泉系统的海底表征是海底流体的重要产物,而海底表征亦可反作用于海底流体,主要影响其运移路径和有效通量。     

基于“发现”号ROV的近海底综合声学调查系统及其在台西南冷泉调查中的应用

随着海洋调查技术的发展和海洋研究的深入,基于深潜器平台的近海底调查在海洋调查与研究中的综合应用日趋常态。基于这一背景,本文介绍了搭载于"发现"号缆控水下机器人(remotely operatedvehicle,ROV)的近海底综合声学调查系统及其在台西南冷泉区的应用实例。基于"发现"号ROV平台的近海底综合声学调查系统主要由R2Sonic2024多波束测深系统,模块一体化的侧扫声纳-浅地层剖面系统和水下综合定位与导航系统构成。该系统的配置极大地扩展和完善了"发现"号ROV的近海底调查能力,实现了近海底多波束、侧扫和浅剖等声学数据的同步采集和快速融合处理。基于本套系统在南海冷泉区的综合应用,本文对其工作流程进行了介绍,并对所获得一系列成果进行了初步分析。结果表明,近海底综合探测系统的应用为南海冷泉区的识别、海底地形地貌特征分析以及空间规模量化研究等内容提供了不可或缺的基础资料。本套系统的配置和成功应用,有效地提高了我国的近海底调查和作业能力。     

水下激光扫描成像系统及其在冷泉研究中的应用

利用深潜器及其搭载光学设备获得重点调查区的高分辨率影像资料是深远海调查的重要内容,对于研究冷泉、热液等特殊海底环境及其生态系统的组成、空间规模、分布特征以及演化规律具有重要意义。主要介绍了搭载于"发现"ROV的4 500m级L1000型图像和激光扫描系统及其应用实例。利用该系统拍摄并带有位置信息的海底高清照片,首次获得了台西南冷泉区的高清全幅海底拼接图像,并根据该拼接图像对台西南冷泉区的海底特征、空间分布规律和规模进行了直观分析和量化研究,有效地提高了我国深远海近海底测绘的能力。     

SeaBeam 3030多波束系统在南海冷泉调查中的应用

在冷泉调查研究中,多波束系统因其快速高效、成本较低的特点被广泛应用.本文靶定南海北部陆坡琼东南盆地冷泉发育区,介绍了SeaBeam 3030多波束系统在冷泉发育区中的调查应用实例.通过分析多波束水深数据和水体数据,确定了调查区海底地形地貌以及水体羽状流特征,同时对该冷泉区开展综合调查的必要性进行了初步分析.研究表明,调...     

基于ROV的近海底地形测量及其在马努斯盆地热液区的应用

针对重点的特殊深海研究区（如热液冷泉、洋中脊区域）,在船载多波束数据获得研究区大面积地形资料的基础上,有必要选取典型深海小靶区进行高分辨率地形测量为进一步深入研究提供保障。根据船载多波束实测数据选取PACMANUS热液区作为靶区,基于长基线定位,利用“发现”ROV搭载多波束系统进行近海底全覆盖地形测量。结果表明,依托于船动力定位系统及差分GPS,长基线为ROV提供了可靠的高精度定位,使得近海底测量的地形数据分辨率数倍优于船载多波束测得的地形数据的分辨率。高分辨率地形清晰的显示了PACMANUS热液区锥形丘体等特殊微地形,与已发现的热液点和火山区有很好的对应。进一步分析发现,该区域活动的热液区主要发育于坡度大于30°斜坡上的地形突变区,其成因仍需深入研究。利用ROV搭载多波束近底测量是获取深海小靶区高分辨率地形的可靠途径和方法,有利于提高深海海底研究的针对性,将促进我国深海科学研究的发展。     

南海冷泉分布特征及油气地质意义

在系统收集和分析南海海底冷泉资料基础上,应用浅剖和多波束水体影像技术识别海底冷泉,结合地质条件综合研究南海冷泉分布特征,进而分析探讨其油气地质意义。研究结果表明,南海冷泉分布广泛,神狐、东沙西南部、东沙东北部、琼东南、西沙海槽、南沙南部和越南沿岸等海域均发现冷泉,冷泉分布水深为200~3 000m。海底冷泉与深部油气乃至浅层天然气水合物资源有着密切的成因联系。冷泉及其伴生物(冷泉碳酸盐岩)的探测与识别对海洋油气勘探,尤其是天然气水合物勘查的指示作用明显。浅剖和多波束水体影像技术不仅可以探测和识别冷泉,而且两者结合可实现低成本、高效率的海底地质异常体(冷泉碳酸盐岩、泥底辟及气烟囱等)的声学异常探测,极大地提高了海洋油气勘探及天然气水合物勘查的成功率。     

海底甲烷冷泉特征与冷泉生态系统的群落结构

海底冷泉及冷泉生态系统是现代海洋地质学和生物学研究的前沿领域,它提升了人类对深海资源的认识和利用,拓展了深海极端环境下生命的潜在界线。综述了海底甲烷冷泉的成因、冷泉喷发的类型及其特征,海底冷泉分布、形成的主要阶段(150—100Ma BP,42—28Ma BP和12Ma BP以来)以及指示海底冷泉系统的简要特征;综述了冷泉化能自养生态系统及其食物链构成和特征,专性种、潜在专性种和非专性种的生物组成及其特征,冷泉环境中有孔虫和轻小型底栖动物的主要变化;最后划分了我国近海的冷泉区(点)并简要介绍它们的分布和特征,为开展我国近海冷泉及其冷泉生物群落的调查和研究提供了基础资料。     

北印度洋海底冷泉流体活动研究进展

冷泉是继洋中脊热液之后,在海底发现的又一种流体渗漏类型,是20世纪80年代以来海洋地质领域最引人注目的发现之一。北印度洋欧亚大陆边缘构造活跃,印度东西两侧发育巨厚沉积层,极易孕育冷泉活动。目前,已在莫克兰和孟加拉湾地区海底观测到多处活动冷泉,对它们的研究为深入了解海底冷泉流体活动的资源环境效应打开了新的窗口。文章以北印度洋典型冷泉区——莫克兰和孟加拉湾地区为例,综述了该区海底冷泉流体来源、相关沉积环境和触发机制,着重阐述了:1)莫克兰地区最小含氧带内外冷泉活动的沉积记录和地震触发冷泉的机制及环境响应;2)孟加拉湾地区海底天然气水合物分解在碳酸盐岩中的记录。进一步指出了北印度洋海底冷泉活动研究中遇到的挑战和未来工作中需给予重视的科学问题。     

卡罗琳M4平顶海山区地貌特征与地质过程研究

卡罗琳M4平顶海山位于卡罗琳海脊与马里亚纳海沟交界处,对其地貌与地质过程的研究有利于深入理解地球动力及环境背景与该地区海山演化的关系。基于“科学”号实测的全覆盖多波束水深数据与“发现”号遥控无人潜水器(remote operated vehicle, ROV)多次下潜获取的近海底影像资料,描述了卡罗琳M4平顶海山及附近区域的地形地貌特征,并对影响海山演化的主要地质过程进行了分析。线性喷发中心等火山地貌指示了研究区内沿线性喷口的裂隙式喷发活动。“C”字型的弯曲形态与陡崖说明山顶平台边缘经历过多次崩塌与破坏,滑坡痕与沉积块体/碎屑组成了块体搬运体系,并在中下段斜坡转变为浊流形成冲沟与水道。M4海山顶部还发育有较为完整的残留环礁地貌,其被淹没的机制可能是由于上升流输入的丰富营养物质影响了底栖环境的光照,从而抑制了珊瑚生长。     

JFR 海底热液区多波束声纳数据处理与分析

基于收集到的东太平洋海隆北段Juan de Fuca Ridge热液活动区的高精度多波束声纳数据,应用加权移动平均算法, 生成典型的高精度海底DTM;应用声纳图像处理技术,生成高分辨率海底声纳镶嵌图,并对其海底地形及海底声学图像进行 处理和分析。通过处理与分析,对JFR热液区海底地形地貌特征有了初步认识,对于我国大洋调查和海底热液区探测具有一 定的借鉴作用。     

济州岛南部海域海底声呐图像分析与声学底质分类

东海北部外陆架靠近济州岛南部海域,是黄海槽向冲绳海槽延伸的部分,属于黑潮分支黄海暖流的通道入口,分布着脊槽相间的海底底形,对其海底声呐图像的处理分析及声学底质分类的分析研究,有助于了解该通道海底底形表层纹理特征及沉积物分布规律。基于在济州岛南部海域获取的多波束声呐数据,应用图像处理技术和方法,对数据进行了处理,获得了海底声呐影像图,并对其表层纹理特征进行了描述和分析;同时,基于多波束反向散射强度数据,结合19组海底地质取样数据,建立研究区海底反向散射强度与沉积物粒度特征之间的统计关系模型,并以改进的学习向量量化神经网络方法,实现对海底粉砂质砂、黏土质砂以及砂-粉砂-黏土3种底质类型的快速自动分类识别。     

Seismic imaging of the Formosa Ridge cold seep site offshore of southwestern Taiwan

Multi-scale reflection seismic data, from deep-penetration to high-resolution, have been analyzed and integrated with near-surface geophysical and geochemical data to investigate the structures and gas hydrate system of the Formosa Ridge offshore of southwestern Taiwan. In 2007, dense and large chemosynthetic communities were discovered on top of the Formosa Ridge at water depth of 1125 m by the ROV Hyper-Dolphin. A continuous and strong BSR has been observed on seismic profiles from 300 to 500 ms two-way-travel-time below the seafloor of this ridge. Sedimentary strata of the Formosa Ridge are generally flat lying which suggests that this ridge was formed by submarine erosion processes of down-slope canyon development. In addition, some sediment waves and mass wasting features are present on the ridge. Beneath the cold seep site, a vertical blanking zone, or seismic chimney, is clearly observed on seismic profiles, and it is interpreted to be a fluid conduit. A thick low velocity zone beneath BSR suggests the presence of a gas reservoir there. This “gas reservoir” is shallower than the surrounding canyon floors along the ridge; therefore as warm methane-rich fluids inside the ridge migrate upward, sulfate carried by cold sea water can flow into the fluid system from both flanks of the ridge. This process may drive a fluid circulation system and the active cold seep site which emits both hydrogen sulfide and methane to feed the chemosynthetic communities.     

基于改进BP神经网络的海底底质分类

通过采用遗传算法优化神经网络初始权值的方法,将GA算法与BP神经网络有机结合,应用于海底底质分类。基于多波束测深系统获取的反向散射强度数据,应用改进的BP神经网络分类方法,实现对海底基岩、砾石、砂、细砂和泥等底质类型的快速、准确识别。通过实验比较,GA-BP神经网络分类精度明显高于BP神经网络,证明了该方法的有效性和可靠性。     

浅水多波束换能器声学性能检测方法研究

浅水多波束换能器主要声学指标能够直接或间接地反映系统性能指标,因此利用水池试验对系统换能器声学性能指标进行检测,不但能够初步掌握系统的性能,而且可以降低湖试或海试的风险。通过概括多波束测深系统核心性能与换能器声学指标的对应关系,按照水声计量检定规程和方法,论述了主要声学指标的计算方法,研究了自由场条件下声学指标的检测方法和注意事项,并结合国产多波束系统水池试验,验证了方法的可行性。     

基于经验模态分解削弱多波束残余误差的方法

针对多波束水深数据中存在的系统性残余误差,提出了基于经验模态分解方法来削弱残余误差的方法:首先利用经验模态分解方法对多波束测深数据作一维分解,将非线性、非平稳的多波束测深数据分解成准线性子波,然后构建水深数据趋势项与残余项,利用中央波束趋势项建立整体数据趋势项,最后加以水深数据残余项还原海底地形,削弱残余误差影响。通过实测多波束测深数据验证方法的有效性。     

莱州湾东部沙波地貌分布特征及其形成演化

由2009年海底地形地貌调查资料,对莱州湾东部海底沙波的分布和形成进行探讨研究。结果发现：该地区发育大面积海底沙波地形,沙波主要为二维直线型沙波,陡峭度为0．001,对称指数为1．2,对称指数较好。沙波的形成和海底坡度以及水深有密切关系,在平坦海底易于形成,且与水深有一定的负相关关系。莱州湾东部沙波是10m等深线的古海...     

Shallow-water imaging multibeam sonars: A new tool for investigating seafloor processes in the coastal zone and on the continental shelf

Hydrographic quality bathymetry and quantitative acoustic backscatter data are now being acquired in shallow water on a routine basis using high frequency multibeam sonars. The data provided by these systems produce hitherto unobtainable information about geomorphology and seafloor geologic processes in the coastal zone and on the continental shelf.Before one can use the multibeam data for hydrography or quantitative acoustic backscatter studies, however, it is essential to be able to correct for systematic errors in the data. For bathymetric data, artifacts common to deep-water systems (roll, refraction, positioning) need to be corrected. In addition, the potentially far greater effects of tides, heave, vessel lift/squat, antenna motion and internal time delays become of increasing importance in shallower water. Such artifacts now cause greater errors in hydrographic data quality than bottom detection. Many of these artifacts are a result of imperfect motion sensing, however, new methods such as differential GPS hold great potential for resolving such limitations. For backscatter data, while the system response is well characterised, significant post processing is required to remove residual effects of imaging geometry, gain adjustments and water column effects. With the removal of these system artifacts and the establishment of a calibrated test site in intertidal regions (where the seabed may be intimately examined by eye) one can build up a sediment classification scheme for routine regional seafloor identification.When properly processed, high frequency multibeam sonar data can provide a view of seafloor geology and geomorphology at resolutions of as little as a few decimetres. Specific applications include quantitative estimation of sediment transport rates in large-scale sediment waves, volume effects of iceberg scouring, extent and style of seafloor mass-wasting and delineation of structural trends in bedrock. In addition, the imagery potentially provides a means of quantitative classification of seafloor lithology, allowing sedimentologists the ability to examine spatial distributions of seabed sediment type without resorting to subjective estimation or prohibitively expensive bottom-sampling programs. Using Simrad EM100 and EM1000 sonars as an example, this paper illustrates the nature and scale of possible artifacts, the necessary post-processing steps and shows specific applications of these sonars.     

Extensive methane-derived authigenic carbonates in the Irish Sea

Extensive areas of methane-derived authigenic carbonate (MDAC) have been mapped in the Irish Sea. In the Irish Sector, 23 seabed mounds associated with the Codling Fault Zone were identified by multi-beam echo sounder mapping. Inspection by ROV-mounted video showed that these mounds are rocky features rising 5–10 m above the normal seabed; sampling showed that they are comprised of quartz grains bound together by carbonate cement, probably MDAC. Two separate locations have been mapped in the UK Sector. At Texel 11, seabed mounds and a 6–8 m high cliff were mapped geophysically (MBES, SSS and seismic profiler surveys). Video surveys showed that both the mounds and the cliff are rocky reefs colonised by a prolific fauna. Samples proved to be carbonate-cemented sediments, and carbon isotope analysis (δ¹³C −41 to −46% PDB) showed that the cement was MDAC. Similar surveys of the Holden’s Reefs area proved the presence of similar rocky reefs which are also cemented by MDAC. The total area covered by these two MDAC occurrences is estimated to be >500,000 m². These MDAC occurrences are comparable in nature and formation to the ‘bubbling reefs’ of the Kattegat. As the bubbling reefs are “seabed features formed by leaking gas”, one of the marine habitats identified by the European Commission’s Habitats Directive as being sensitive and worthy of protection, it is suggested that the Irish Sea carbonate reefs should also be considered as special habitats.     

A new method for weakening the combined effect of residual errors on multibeam bathymetric data

Multibeam bathymetric system (MBS) has been widely applied in the marine surveying for providing high-resolution seabed topography. However, some factors degrade the precision of bathymetry, including the sound velocity, the vessel attitude, the misalignment angle of the transducer and so on. Although these factors have been corrected strictly in bathymetric data processing, the final bathymetric result is still affected by their residual errors. In deep water, the result usually cannot meet the requirements of high-precision seabed topography. The combined effect of these residual errors is systematic, and it’s difficult to separate and weaken the effect using traditional single-error correction methods. Therefore, the paper puts forward a new method for weakening the effect of residual errors based on the frequency-spectrum characteristics of seabed topography and multibeam bathymetric data. Four steps, namely the separation of the low-frequency and the high-frequency part of bathymetric data, the reconstruction of the trend of actual seabed topography, the merging of the actual trend and the extracted microtopography, and the accuracy evaluation, are involved in the method. Experiment results prove that the proposed method could weaken the combined effect of residual errors on multibeam bathymetric data and efficiently improve the accuracy of the final post-processing results. We suggest that the method should be widely applied to MBS data processing in deep water.