冲绳海槽陆源碎屑峡谷通道搬运与海底扇沉积

应用“向阳红16号”1992年地质调查和“向阳红9号”1995年地球物理调查的实际资料，并参照80年代以来有关研究成果，对冲绳海槽沉积物类型、陆源组分的堆积形式、沉积速率、物质通量以及沉积环境状况等进行了研究，结果表明，冲强海槽陆源碎屑主要集中在海底峡谷口外，形成海底扇沉积，海底扇以其与峡谷伴生而地势和缘、陆源组分含量高、沉积通量大、沉积物楔入体复合叠置为标志，揭示出海底峡谷在陆源碎屑向海槽输送过程中的通道作用；提出陆架潮流与海底峡谷内波、内潮汐的联合作用是陆源碎屑经峡谷通道向海槽持续搬运的主要动力因素，而黑潮摆动及其涡旋分支对峡谷上游沉积物的供给具有积极作用。     

海底边界层水流结构及底移质搬运研究进展

海底边界层包括从底底至受其显著影响的水体之间的水层厚度,对海底动力过程,尤其是沉积物搬运及近海底化学物质输运有重要影响,不同的水动力（潮流、波浪及浪流共同作用）形成完全不同的边界层。边界层厚度与水流周期有关,但目前对其理解及计算公式并不统一,边界层内的流带分布与摩阻流速的床底糙率有关,目前已经发展了多种估算这两个参数的方法,对于边界层内的沉积物搬运率的计算,关键在于弄清沉积物在边界层内的沉降、起动     

构造活动对海底峡谷地貌形态的影响

海底峡谷是大陆边缘最重要的地貌形态之一,是沉积物和陆源有机质向深海搬运的主要通道,在深海重力流沉积、全球碳循环、生物多样性、油气-水合物资源勘探及海底工程设施安全运营等方面的研究中具有重要意义。大量研究发现,海底峡谷常发育于构造活动较强烈的地区,其形成和演化与构造变形之间存在密切的关联。在文献调研基础上,着重就构造活动对海底峡谷地貌的控制作用进行综述。总结了5种与构造变形有关的海底峡谷平面分布端元模式,分别为限制型、转向型、偏转型、阻挡型及横向切穿型海底峡谷。分析了局部坡度变化对峡谷内部地貌特征的影响：构造变形引起的局部地形坡度增大会导致海底峡谷内部侵蚀作用的加剧与裂点的形成;局部地形坡度减小容易引起天然堤和决口扇的形成;坡度的变化还会引起峡谷弯曲度的动态响应。     

南海西沙海域永乐海底峡谷形成演化过程分析

远海孤立碳酸盐台地周缘发育了碳酸盐岩峡谷,对其开展研究有助于深刻理解碳酸盐碎屑沉积物的“源-汇”体系及深水油气成藏等方面。文章利用多波束测深、高分辨率二维多道地震等数据,精细刻画南海西沙海域永乐海底峡谷的地貌形态及内部充填特征,揭示该峡谷沉积演化过程,分析峡谷成因控制因素及稳定性。永乐海底峡谷形成演化可分为萌芽、汇聚和拓展3个阶段,随着演化过程的发展,峡谷规模及对沉积物输运作用增加。永乐海底峡谷形成及演化主要受古地貌隆起形成的负地形和沉积物重力流侵蚀作用影响。峡谷在第四纪以后仍有较明显的活动迹象。分析显示永乐海底峡谷是西北次海盆的重要物质输送通道,其沉积演化过程及稳定性对研究碳酸盐台地沉积物输运等深水沉积过程及岛礁工程建设具有一定参考意义。     

南海北部陆坡区海底峡谷地貌、沉积特征及控制因素

南海北部陆坡发育众多海底峡谷,其形成、发育、演化过程都存在较大差异。本文选取南海北部陆坡典型的珠江口外海底峡谷群、东沙海底峡谷、台湾浅滩南海底峡谷和澎湖海底峡谷进行研究,通过高分辨率多道地震数据和多波束测深数据,结合前人研究成果,对4条典型海底峡谷的形态特征、沉积充填特征及结构、形成发育过程及控制因素进行研究。结果表明,南海北部陆缘各个海底峡谷的形成受多个控制因素的影响,其影响程度及方式都有差别。构造活动、海平面变化及沉积物重力流与海底峡谷的演化密切相关,而陆地河流和局部构造因素也以不同方式影响着海底峡谷的发育。对于发育在主动大陆边缘的台湾岛东南侧的澎湖海底峡谷,其板块运动和岩浆活动活跃,其上发育的海底峡谷的控制因素以内营力地质作用为主。而具有被动大陆边缘属性的其他3条峡谷,由于构造运动较少或停止,其上发育的海底峡谷的控制因素以外营力地质作用为主。     

南海北部陆坡神狐海域SH-CL38站位的粒度特征及沉积记录

南海北部陆坡神狐海域发育众多海底峡谷,其物质来源、地貌形态、水动力条件、沉积过程复杂,海底滑坡和浊流频发。虽然通过地球物理（多波束和反射地震等）能够识别出数米至百米的滑坡体,但对于浅层海底重力流、浊流和异重流等沉积体系的高分辨率识别还受到很多限制。本研究以南海北部陆坡海底峡谷群12号峡谷脊部下游的SH-CL38站位岩芯沉积物为研究对象,通过粒度测试和浮游有孔虫氧同位素组成分析,将该站位岩芯划分为3个层段：第Ⅰ层段（0～285 cm）、第Ⅱ层段（285～615 cm）以及第Ⅲ层段（615～800 cm）。其中第Ⅱ层段的粒度参数、有孔虫的氧同位素组成明显不同于其他层段,这表明该层段形成时的水动力条件、沉积环境发生了突变。而且第II层段的285～505 cm和505～615 cm具有明显不同的概率累积曲线特征,粒度数据也分布在C-M图上不同的区域。基于此,我们认为该站位的异常沉积层是受深水沉积作用和末次冰期海平面变化的影响,285～505 cm层段发育浊流沉积,而505～615 cm层段可能是浊流或重力流引发的沉积物失稳。     

南海北部陆坡海底峡谷形成机制探讨

通过对南海北部地震剖面的解释,并结合地貌以及区域地质特征等,对发育于南海北部陆坡区的珠江口外、台湾浅滩南以及澎湖海底峡谷的地貌和构造特征进行分析和对比,并对其形成机制进行探讨。研究结果显示,各海底峡谷具有相似的走向,并均具有转向的特征,但是其形成机制却各不相同,由此形成的地貌特征也各不同:珠江口外海底峡谷的形成与珠江带来的大量陆上沉积物的搬运相关,形成了喇叭型的水道;台湾浅滩南海底峡谷的形成受到NW向断裂构造的控制,这些断裂构造形成了薄弱带,经过沉积流的侵蚀而形成狭长的水道,当进入下陆坡后由于海山的阻隔作用而转为近EW向;澎湖海底峡谷带的上段主要是由陆坡沉积流的下向侵蚀、崩塌和滑移形成的,而其下段则主要具有沿马尼拉海沟北向延伸段发育的特征。     

南海北部陵水陆坡重力流沉积调查与分析

深水沉积环境复杂、浅层沉积物土质差异明显、重力流沉积多样,对深水海洋工程水下设施的设计、施工和运营安全提出了新的挑战。通过二维/三维数字地震等方式能够识别出数百米的滑坡体,但是对于海洋工程上所关注的浅层海底的重力流沉积体系,其分析能力有限。以南海北部陵水区块为例,通过船载多波束的后向散射成果、自主水下航行器（AUV）搭载的浅地层剖面资料,结合重力活塞取样器（JPC）取样和碳14测年（AMS14C）等资料综合分析,对深水海底浅层重力流沉积的形成和分布模式进行探讨。研究表明,船载多波束后向散射图能够较为准确地识别区域性重力流沉积区域,以及表层沉积物的变化,AUV搭载的浅地层剖面能够精确地识别地层的纵向差异,JPC取样能够获取重力流沉积样品及其物理力学参数,以上资料的综合分析,是准确识别、研究和认识现代重力流沉积体系的重要方法。研究区内最近的2期重力流沉积分别发生于5.5 kaBP左右和45 kaBP前,重力流的发生一般都是由上陆坡区海底峡谷的活动引起的。最近的一期重力流事件中,先后发生了浊流沉积和块状搬运体（MTDs）沉积,MTDs沉积过程中会对下伏地层产生明显的冲蚀现象。在重力流沉积区进行水下结构物设计和施工时,应特别关注重力流沉积引起的地形坡度变化,以及地层中土质成分的差异,可能对水下结构物的安装和维护产生的影响。     

海底管线作用下的泥沙休止角的试验研究

由于海底水动力环境的复杂性,海底管线破坏等问题日益突出,而海床的冲刷是管线破坏的一个重要原因。本文经对单向恒定流作用下的海底管线冲刷坑内泥沙动水休止角这一特征参数的理论分析和试验研究,得到其相关关系和变化规律,对进一步研究海底管线的防护技术有一定参考价值。     

南海北部陆坡一统峡谷群地貌特征及控制因素分析

基于最新的高分辨率多波束全覆盖测深数据、单道地震和多道地震剖面数据,对南海北部陆坡一统峡谷群9条峡谷的地形地貌及沉积特征进行了分析：峡谷群自陆坡向深海盆方向呈聚敛型,横断面主要呈“V”型,谷壁对称发育,坡度较陡; 研究区海底地层受多条断裂控制,呈典型阶梯状发育,海底断陷、重力滑塌面和小型滑坡体等海底不稳定地质灾害高度发育,说明峡谷群海底环境处于极不稳定状态。在研究区海底峡谷群地貌演化过程中,西沙海槽区域沉降等新生代构造运动控制着峡谷群地貌格局的形成; 来自北部陆架的充足沉积碎屑物质的输入往往伴随着高密度浊流、海底滑坡、坍塌等海底灾害的发生,控制着峡谷群的进一步发育; 相对海平面变化直接改变了研究区的沉积环境,为陆源碎屑物质的搬运提供了更加直接的通道,这也是诱发陆坡海底失稳、塑造峡谷群地貌特征的重要因素之一。     

南海东北部峡谷体系的地貌特征与发育控制因素

海底峡谷在全球陆缘广泛分布,是浅海沉积物向深海运移的主要通道,对于理解深海浊流触发机制、深海沉积物的搬运模式、深海扇的发育历史和深海油气资源勘探等均具有重要意义。本文基于高分辨率高精度的多波束测深数据,首次对南海东北部海底峡谷体系进行了研究,精细刻画了高屏海底峡谷、澎湖海底峡谷、台湾浅滩南海底峡谷和东沙海底峡谷等4条大型海底峡谷的地貌特征并分析其发育控制因素。海底坡度、构造运动、海山与海丘是影响南海东北部峡谷群走向与特征的重要因素,其中,海底坡度对于峡谷上游多分支与“V”字特征有显著的控制作用;构造运动是控制高屏海底峡谷走向的因素,澎湖海底峡谷的走向则与菲律宾海板块与欧亚板块碰撞有关,东沙海底峡谷的走向则与东沙运动相关,台湾浅滩南海底峡谷上段受NW向断裂构造的控制;海山的阻挡作用造成峡谷局部走向和特征改变。海底峡谷群输送大量陆源沉积物到深海盆并形成大面积的沉积物波,海山和沉积物波的发育导致东沙海底峡谷下段“回春”和转向。     

The effect of a submarine canyon on the river sediment dispersal and inner shelf sediment movements in southern Taiwan

This study examines the influence of a submarine canyon on the dispersal of sediments discharged by a nearby river and on the sediment movement on the inner shelf. The study area includes the head region of the Kao-ping Submarine Canyon whose landward terminus is located approximately 1 km seaward from the mouth of the Kao-ping River in southern Taiwan. Within the study area 143 surficial sediment samples were taken from the seafloor. Six hydrographic surveys along the axis of the submarine canyon were also conducted over the span of 1 yr. Three different approaches were used in the analysis of grain-size distribution pattern. They include (1) a combination of ‘filtering’ and the empirical orthogonal (eigen) function (EOF) analysis technique, (2) the McLaren Model, and (3) the ‘transport vector’ technique. The results of the three methods not only agree with one another, they also complement one another. This study reveals that the Kao-ping Submarine Canyon is relatively a stratified and statically stable environment. The hydrographic characteristics of the canyon display seasonal variability controlled primarily by the temperature field and the effluent of the Kao-ping River. The hydrographic condition and the bottom topography in the canyon suggest the propagation of internal tides during the flood season (summer) of the Kao-ping River. The submarine canyon acts as a trap and conduit for mud exchange between the Kao-ping River and offshore. Near the head of the canyon there is a region of sediment transport convergence. This region is also characterized by high mud abundance on the seafloor that coincides with the presence of high suspended sediment concentration (SSC) spots in the bottom nepheloid layer. Outside the submarine canyon on the shelf where the evidence of wave reworking is strong, the northwestward alongshore transport dominates over the southeastward transport, which is a common theme on the west coast in southern Taiwan.     

Evidence of sediment gravity flows induced by trawling in the Palamós (Fonera) submarine canyon (northwestern Mediterranean)

Three mooring arrays were deployed in the Palamós Canyon axis with sediment traps, current meters and turbidimeters installed near the bottom and in intermediate waters. Frequent sharp and fast turbidity peaks along with current speed increases were recorded, particularly at 1200 m depth in spring and summer. During these events, near-bottom water turbidity increased by up to more than one order of magnitude, current velocity by two to four times and horizontal sediment fluxes by one to three orders of magnitude. When these events occurred, 9–11 days integrated downward particle fluxes collected by the near-bottom sediment trap increased by two to three times. These events were identified as sediment gravity flows triggered by trawling activities along the northern canyon wall. Sediment eroded by the trawling nets at 400–750 m depth on this wall seems to be channeled through a gully and transported downslope towards the canyon axis, where the 1200 m mooring was located. The sediment gravity flows recorded at the 1200 m site were not detected at deeper instrumented sites along the canyon axis, suggesting that they affect local areas of the canyon without traveling long distances downcanyon. These observations indicate that trawling can generate frequent sediment gravity flows and increase sediment fluxes locally in submarine canyons. Furthermore, in addition to the various natural processes currently causing sediment gravity flows and other sediment transport events, human activities such as trawling must be taken into account in modern submarine canyon sediment dynamics studies.     

A buried submarine canyon in the northwest South China Sea:architecture,development processes and implications for hydrocarbon exploration

High-resolution multichannel seismic data enables the discovery of a previous, undocumented submarine canyon(Huaguang Canyon) in the Qiongdongnan Basin, northwest South China Sea. The Huaguang Canyon with a NW orientation is 140 km in length, and 2.5 km to 5 km in width in its upper reach and 4.6 km to 9.5 km in width in its lower reach. The head of the Huaguang Canyon is close to the Xisha carbonate platform and its tail is adjacent to the central canyon. This buried submarine canyon is formed by gravity flows from the Xisha carbonate platform when the sea level dropped in the early stage of the late Miocene(～10.5 Ma). The internal architecture of the Huaguang Canyon is mainly characterized by high amplitude reflections, indicating that this ancient submarine canyon was filled with coarse-grained sediments. The sediment was principally scourced from the Xisha carbonate platform. In contrast to other buried large-scale submarine canyons(central canyon and Zhongjian Canyon) in the Qiongdongnan Basin, the Huaguang Canyon displays later formation time, smaller width and length, and single sediment supply. The coarse-grained deposits within Huaguang Canyon provide a good environment for reserving oil and gas, and the muddy fillings in Huaguang Canyon have been identified as regional caps. Therefore, Huaguang Canyon is potential area for future hydrocarbon exploration in the northwest South China Sea. Our results may contribute to a better understanding of the evolution of submarine canyons formed in carbonate environment.     

Seismic features and origin of sediment waves in the Qiongdongnan Basin, northern South China Sea

Sediment waves have been documented around the world for several decades, and their origins are still debated because of their various characteristics in different settings. Based on numerous high-resolution seismic profiles and two boreholes, sediment waves are identified in deepwater areas of the eastern Qiongdongnan Basin, and their distribution and seismic features are illustrated. Combined with the bathymetry, the potential origins of these sediment waves are discussed. Drilling in the central canyon revealed that the channel infill comprises some along-slope fine-grained turbidites, which are good reservoir for gas plays. The sediment waves are distributed on the banks of the central canyon and their seismic features indicate that most of them are caused by turbidity current overflows along the canyon. Although previous researches on these sediment waves suggested that they were of westward-flowing contourite origin, detailed topographic map derived from the seafloor reflector on seismic data shows that there is a N–S trending ridge at the east part of sediment wave zones, which could block and divert the bottom current. According to the geometry of sediment waves, the flow thicknesses across the entire wave field are calculated as 280–560 m, and the current velocity falls in the range of 30–130 cm/s, which would favor a fine-grained composition and could be a good reservoir because of the better sorting of turbidites than contourites or other gravity flow deposits.     

Evolution and depositional structure of earthquake-induced mass movements and gravity flows: Southwest Orphan Basin, Labrador Sea

A series of submarine canyons on the southwest slope of Orphan Basin experienced complex failure at 7–8 cal ka that resulted in the formation of a large variety of mass-transport deposits (MTDs) and sediment gravity flows. Ultra-high-resolution seismic-reflection profiles and multiple sediment cores indicate that evacuation zones and sediment slides characterize the canyon walls, whereas the canyon floors and inner-banks are occupied by cohesive debris-flow deposits, which at the mouths of the canyons on the continental rise form large, coalescing lobes (up to 20 m thick and 50 km long). Erosional channels, extending throughout the length of the study area (<250 km), are observed on the top of the lobes. Piston cores show that the channels are partially filled by poorly sorted muddy sand and gravel, capped by inversely to normally graded gravel and sand. Such deposits are interpreted to originate from multi-phase gravity flows, consisting of a lower part behaving as a cohesionless debris flow and an upper part that was fully turbulent.The Holocene age and the widespread synchronous occurrence of these failures indicate a large magnitude earthquake as their possible triggering mechanism. The large debris-flow deposits on the continental rise originated from large failures on the upper continental slope, involving proglacial sediments. Retrogression of these failures led to the eventual failure of marginal sandy till deposits on the upper slope and outer shelf, which due to their low cohesion disintegrated into multi-phase gravity flows. The evacuation zones and slide deposits on the canyon walls were triggered either by the earthquake, or from erosion of the canyon walls by the debris flows. The slides, debris-flows, and multi-phase gravity flows observed in this study are petrographically different, indicating different sediment sources. This indicates that not all failures lead through flow transformation to the production of a multi-phase gravity flow, but only when the sediment source contains ample coarse-grained material. The spatial segregation of the slide, debris-flow, and multi-phase gravity-flow deposits is attributed to the different mobility of each transport process.     

Numerical simulations of the internal tide in a submarine canyon

Three-dimensional numerical simulations of the generation and propagation of the semidiurnal internal tide in a submarine canyon with dimensions similar to those of the Monterey Canyon are carried out using a primitive equation model. Forcing with just sea level at the offshore boundary in an initially horizontally homogeneous ocean with realistic vertical stratification, internal tides are generated at the canyon foot and rim, and along portions of the canyon floor. The results compare favorably with observations, both indicating enhancement of energy along the canyon floor propagating at an angle consistent with linear internal wave theory. Due to the earth's rotation, internal tide energy is distributed asymmetrically in the cross-canyon direction, favoring the southern side. The effect of canyon floor slope is explored, with the finding that small changes in the slope result in large changes in the amount and distribution of the internal tide energy. Canyons whose floors are subcritical with respect to the semidiurnal frequency along their entire length have very little baroclinic energy, whereas canyons that are near-critical along much of their length, such as the Monterey Canyon, develop strong internal tides that propagate shoreward. Canyons that are near-critical at their mouths but supercritical further inshore generate the most internal tidal energy overall, although little of it makes it onto the continental shelf shoreward of the canyon head. The effects of internal tides within the canyons can be seen outside the canyons as well. Water is transported from depth onto the adjacent continental shelf along the canyon rims. This tidal pumping can be responsible for alongshore internal tide propagation and tidal-period surface currents with relatively small horizontal scales of variability.     

Shelf-slope exchanges by frontal variability in a steep submarine canyon

We study the dynamics of a frontal jet and its short-timescale variability generated by the interaction with a submarine canyon using a limited-area fine-resolution three-dimensional coastal ocean model. The focus is on the steep and narrow Palamós Canyon located off the northeast Catalan coast (northwestern Mediterranean) that is characterized by the presence of a permanent along-slope density-driven current. First, we analyse the stationary circulation induced with different jet locations and show a deflection of the flow in the vicinity of the canyon. Significant vertical motions develop as a result of these current adjustments; the general pattern such as downwelling upstream of the canyon and upwelling downstream are always observed. Second, we analyse the circulation and exchanges associated with an onshore displacement of the jet; thus produces a meander propagating with the flow that interacts with the canyon. We find that the resulting three-dimensional patterns present an oscillation characterized by an intense downwelling followed by upwelling. As a result of this interaction, shelf-slope exchanges and vertical motions are enhanced in the area compared with the passing of a meander above a shelf that is not indented by a submarine canyon. The resulting horizontal transports through the Palamós canyon represent up to 10% of the along-shore fluxes on the shelf and appear to be sufficient to exchange the shelf water of the Gulf of Lions and Catalan sea in 2.5 years. Considering the number of canyons existing in the area, we can estimate an exchange of all the shelf waters in less than 3 months.