Changes in the population structure of Calanus sinicus during summer–autumn in the southern Yellow Sea

Calanus sinicus is a calanoid copepod widely distributed in coastal waters of China and Japan, and oversummering strategies may have major impacts on their population dynamics which in turn affect local marine food web structure. The abundance, stage composition, and sex composition of the planktonic copepod C. sinicus were studied from August to October 2002 in the southern Yellow Sea to understand how its population recovers from the over-summering state. Results showed that C. sinicus had low reproduction in August due to high temperature, except in waters near the Cheju Island with rich food and moderate bottom temperature, but the reproduction rates here decreased in September–October as food availability declined. When temperature dropped in September–October, C. sinicus actively propagated in coastal shallow waters. However, reproduction rates of C. sinicus individuals inhabiting the Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass(YSCWM) remained low during the three months of the study. The percentage of C. sinicus females was high during the reproductive period, which suggests that the sex composition of adult C. sinicus may reflect whether or not the population is in the reproductive mode.Numerous fifth copepodite stage(CV) C. sinicus aggregated in the YSCWM in a suspended developmental stage during the three months of this study, and they potentially served as the parental individuals for population development when conditions became optimal for reproduction later in the year.     

Hydrological characterization of the Ob’ Inlet in the summer and autumn seasons

The assessment of the hydrological regime under the high- and low-water conditions in the Ob’ Inlet was based on the results of two comprehensive surveys performed by the VNIRO and IO RAS in the summer and autumn of 2010. The summer hydrological regime, which is associated with the peak of the biological activity, was compared with the late autumn one, which was closely followed by the freeze up. Special attention was paid to the assessment of the interseasonal variability of the hydrological state and the processes that continued in the area of the mixing of the riverine waters (the outflux from the Ob’ Inlet) and the water of the Kara Sea. We followed the transition of the hydrologic front from the summer stratification (high waters) into the autumn distortion driven by the intensive mixing of the waters under a sharp decrease in the river discharge.     

A note on crustal structure between Antarctic Peninsula and East Antarctic craton across the shelf of southern Weddell Sea

Analysis of gravity data based on the Airy isostasy, magnetic depth estimates and few seismic refraction data taken together indicates a thinning of the crust between the Antarctic Peninsula and the East Antarctic craton below the Filchner and Ronne ice shelves.     

The bivalve Lembulus bicuspidatus may enhance denitrification in shelf sediment at the Angola–Benguela Frontal Zone

We collected living individuals of the bivalve Lembulus bicuspidatus, which shows an unusual preference for the oxygen-deficient habitat found at the Angola–Benguela Frontal Zone of the southeastern Atlantic. With a series of incubation experiments with ¹⁵N-labelled nitrate as a tracer in combination with membrane-inlet mass spectrometry, we studied the potential contribution of L. bicuspidatus to nitrate reduction in the upper sediment layer. Our preliminary results suggest that L. bicuspidatus enhances nitrate reduction if the oxygen concentration is sufficiently low. The Lembulus-mediated nitrate reduction rate is then similar to the rate of microbial nitrate reduction in the surrounding sediment.     

Phytoplankton production characteristics in the southern Atlantic and the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean in the austral summer of 2009–2010

In December–January of 2010 the spatial distribution of the phytoplankton production characteristics was studied along transects in the vicinity of the Greenwich meridian (I) and in the Drake Passage (II). On transect I, the surface chlorophyll a concentration and primary production varied from 0.11 up to 3.57 mg/m³ and from 4.38 up to 37.47 mgC/m³ per day, respectively. The chlorophyll a in the photosynthetic layer and the integrated primary production varied from 10.7 up to 66.1 mg/m² and from 83 to 646 mgC/m² per day, respectively. On transect II in the surface layer, the chlorophyll a concentration changed within the range of 0.09–1.02 mg/m³ and the primary production ranged from 2.08 to 9.49 mgC/m³. The integrated values ranged from 6.32 to 38.29 mg/m² and from 41 to 221 mgC/m² per day, respectively. The moderate means of themaximum quantum yield (F _v/F _m) on transects I and II (0.41 and 0.35, respectively) testify to the low activity of the phytoplankton’s photosynthetic apparatus. The studied water areas in the Southern Ocean differed both in the phytoplankton biomass expressed in the chlorophyll a concentration values and in the conditions of the primary production formation.     

The features and generation of CWB near the South Shetland Islands in austral summer of 1987

-STD Data obtained from the Third Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition from January to February 1987 in the region near the South Shetland Islands are used to investigate an oceanic front, continental water boundary (CWB), north of the South Shetland Islands. The characteristics of the CWB in surface and subsurface layers as well as deep layer are discussed respectively. The estimations of the geostrophic currents and the baroclinic deformed radius Rbc in this area show that the flow along the front is in the geostrophic equilibrium approximately, and the formation of the front is mainly due to the strong boundary current north of the South Shetland Islands. Its length along the front is estimated to be about 360 km and its width across the front is about 30 km.     

Phytoplankton distributions in the Shackleton Fracture Zone/Elephant Island region of the Drake Passage in February–March 2004

The Drake Passage region near Elephant Island in the Southern Ocean displays patchy phytoplankton blooms. To test the hypothesis that natural Fe addition from localized sources promoted phytoplankton growth here, a grid of stations (59°S to 62°S, 59°W to 53°W, as well as four stations in the eastern Bransfield Strait) were occupied from 12 February–24 March 2004. Phytoplankton abundance was measured using shipboard flow cytometry (70 stations), with abundances conservatively converted to biomass, and compared with measurements of dissolved iron (dFe) at a subset of stations (30 stations). Based on T–S property plots, stations were divided into Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC), Water On Shelf (WOS), Bransfield Strait (BS), and Mixed water stations, the latter representing locations with T–S properties intermediate between ACC and WOS stations. The highest integrated phytoplankton biomass was found at Mixed water stations, however, the highest integrated abundance was found at WOS stations, demonstrating that abundance and biomass do not necessarily show the same patterns. The distributions of nano- and micro-phytoplankton (<20 and >20 μm diameter cells, respectively) were also examined, with nano- and micro-plankton contributing equally to the total biomass at WOS and BS stations, but micro-plankton representing ∼2/3 of the biomass at Mixed and ACC stations. Increased inventories of dFe did not always correspond to increases in phytoplankton biomass – rather stations with lower mean light levels in the mixed layer (<110 μEinsteins m⁻² s⁻¹) had lower biomass despite higher ambient dFe concentrations. However, where the mean light levels in the mixed layer were >110 μEinsteins m⁻² s⁻¹, total biomass shows a positive trend with dFe, as does micro-phytoplankton biomass, but neither regression is significant at the 95% level. In contrast, if just nano-phytoplankton biomass is considered as a function of dFe, there is a significant correlation (r²=0.62). These data suggest a dual mechanism for the patterns observed in biomass: an increasing reservoir of dFe allows increased phytoplankton biomass, but biomass can only accumulate where the light levels are relatively high, such that light is not limiting to growth.     

Hydrographic structure and circulation in the central area of the North Eastern Atlantic

On the basis of the hydrographic data observed within the Canary Basin in autumn 1985, temperature-salinity properties, distributions of water masses and barocltne flow field, as well as the volume transports in this area are described more detailly. The analyses indicate that the activity in the waters of the Canary Basin is mainly attributed to the interleaving and mixing between the originated water masses (e. g. Surface Water, North Atlantic Central Water, Mediterranean Water and Deep Water) and the modified water masses (Subpolar Mode Water, Labrador Sea Water and Antarctic Intermediate Water) from the outside of the study area and the variation of themselves. The east recirculation of the Subtropic Gyre in the North Atlantic consists of Azores Current and Canary Current.Azores Current is formed with several flow branches around the Azores Island, while the main flow lies at 35?N south of the Azores Island. It begins to diverge near the 15?W. The return flow found off the Portugal coast may be its     

Size fractionated biomass and productivity of phytoplankton and new production in the Prydz Bay and the adjacent Indian sector of the Southern Ocean during the austral summer 1998/1999

INTRODUCTIONComparedwithotheroceansintheworld ,thereisrelativelyhigherlevelofnutrients (ni trate ,phosphate ,silicate)intheSouthernOcean .Butprimaryproductivitiesarelow ,andnewproductionisalsoonlyinthemiddlelevelthere .Itiscommonlyconsideredthatthelowerpro ductivitiesintheSouthernOceaniscausedbylowtemperature ,lowlight,lowstabilityofwa ter,scarcityoftraceelementsuchasironandgrazingbyzooplankton (Burkilletal.,1 995) ,etc.ThemostexistedstudiesconcentratedontheAtlanticSectoroftheSouthernO…     

Morphology and Structural Features of the Subduction Zone in the Vicinity of Kuril–Kamchatka–Aleutian Junction

Oceanology - The specific morphology of the inner and outer slopes of the eastern Kuril–Kamchatka Trench were revealed based on joint study of bathymetry and seismic profiles obtained in two...     

The tracer signature of Antarctic Bottom Water and its spread in the Southwest Indian Ocean: Part I—CFC-derived translation rate and topographic control around the Southwest Indian Ridge and the Conrad Rise

In this paper we use a temperature and salinity based mixing model to assess the dilution of Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW) as it moves away from the Weddell Sea and into the Southwest Indian Ocean. By combining these results with CFC tracer measurements we have been able to make direct estimates of the large-scale translation rates of AABW in this region. We confirm that there is a major northward flow of AABW via a gap in the Southwest Indian Ridge at 30°E, and thence across the Agulhas Basin into the Mozambique Basin, with a translation rate from the Greenwich Meridian of 0.8–1.0 cm s⁻¹ and a volume transport between the two basins of 1.5×10⁶ m³ s⁻¹. A second, smaller flow cuts the Del Cano Rise through the Prince Edward Fracture Zone but is indistinguishable from the general bottom waters once on the northern side of the rise. The third flow moves eastward along the southern flank of the Del Cano Rise to pass north of the Conrad Rise. This has bottom velocities of 0.7 cm s⁻¹ and a volume transport of 1.6×10⁶ m³ s⁻¹. This water is probably the source of the AABW-rich Circumpolar Deep Water that flows through the gap to the west of Crozet Island, and which is traceable again at stations on the northern flanks of the ridge. Flow between the Conrad Rise and the Del Cano Rise is complicated by the influence of a fourth flow, the AABW that passes south of the former and thence into the Crozet Basin via the Crozet-Kerguelen Gap. We suggest that a portion of this flow loops into the channel between the Del Cano Rise and the Conrad Rise, modifying the bottom waters at the easternmost stations within this channel. We will go on in Part 2 of this paper to use these results to estimate the dissolution rates of silica in the SWINDEX area.     

Monitoring the State of the Landslide Zone on the Bureya River in 2018–2019 with Radar and Optical Satellite Images

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - Results are presented from monitoring the current state of the area of the landslide on the Bureya River in 2018–2019 using images from synthetic...     

The Davie Fracture Zone and adjacent basins in the offshore Mozambique Margin – A new insights for the hydrocarbon potential

The interpretation of 2-D seismic reflection data provides a modern structural framework including hydrocarbon potential in the present-day stratigraphic and structural traps of both the Davie Fracture Zone and the adjacent Nacala and Angoche basins. Possible stratigraphic traps were identified in submarine fan and channel depositional environments during Cretaceous to Tertiary times. Structural traps are mostly defined within compressional structures formed by a variety of fault-related folds and rift grabens within the Jurassic and Cretaceous successions.The Nacala and Angoche basins form two depressions separated by the Davie compressional zone. This compressional structure is a prominent interior high running approximately north-south. An event of transpression and contraction characterizes the main tectonic setting commonly hosting several detached compressional structures along the western edge of the transform zone.Both basins are associated with the Late Jurassic/Early Cretaceous rifting during the opening of the Mozambique Channel. The Angoche basin is proposed here to have formed by the earliest stage of break-up in mid-Jurassic time. The basin is bounded landward by the Angoche volcanic zone, a dyke swarm branch oriented N64degE forming part of the Karoo and Dronning Maud Land magmatism at c. 180 Ma.Subsequent rifting and break-up led to the drift of East Gondwana southwards along the dextral strike-slip Davie Fracture Zone. At about 150 Ma (Tithonian), East Gondwana appears to have rotated slightly clockwise about a pivot in the proximity of the Angoche basin leading to extension and rifting in the Rovuma basin to the north of the pivot point and compression west of the Davie Fracture Zone to the south. Consequently, the eastern boundary of the Angoche basin was compressed developing a typical growth wedge of massive thrust imbrication structures while extensional tectonics created several depressions and rift-grabens forming the Nacala and Quirimbas basins.Basin stratigraphy is interpreted along seismic reflection lines and correlated to the regional stratigraphic information and wells from the Zambezi Delta and Rovuma basins.     

Standing stock and community structure of photosynthetic picoplankton in the northern South China Sea

1 Introduction Forthe lastm ore than 20 a,ow ing to the develop-m ent of observation and experim ent technologies form arine m icroorganism s,m arine biologistshave discov-ered m any m icroorganism s w hich are difficult to beobserved by com m on m icroscope before. T hus, thecognition to the m arine phytoplankton com m unitiesand the structure of food chains has achieved im por-tantprogress.E specially,w ith the developm entand ap-plication of epifluorescence m icroscopy and flow cy-tom etry…     

Impact of depositional and biogeochemical processes on small scale variations in nodule abundance in the Clarion‐Clipperton Fracture Zone

Manganese nodules of the Clarion–Clipperton Fracture Zone (CCFZ) in the NE Pacific Ocean are highly enriched in Ni, Cu, Co, Mo and rare-earth elements, and thus may be the subject of future mining operations. Elucidating the depositional and biogeochemical processes that contribute to nodule formation, as well as the respective redox environment, in both water column and sediment, supports our ability to locate future nodule deposits and to evaluate the potential ecological and environmental effects of future deep-sea mining. For these purposes we studied the local hydrodynamics and pore-water geochemistry with respect to the nodule coverage at four sites in the eastern CCFZ. Furthermore, we carried out selective leaching experiments at these sites in order to assess the potential mobility of Mn in the solid phase, and compared them with the spatial variations in sedimentation rates. We found that the oxygen penetration depth is 180–300 cm at all four sites, while reduction of Mn and NO₃⁻ is only significant below the oxygen penetration depth at sites with small or no nodules on the sediment surface. At the site without nodules, potential microbial respiration rates, determined by incubation experiments using ¹⁴C-labeled acetate, are slightly higher than at sites with nodules. Leaching experiments showed that surface sediments covered with big or medium-sized nodules are enriched in mobilizable Mn. Our deep oxygen measurements and pore-water data suggest that hydrogenetic and oxic-diagenetic processes control the present-day nodule growth at these sites, since free manganese from deeper sediments is unable to reach the sediment surface. We propose that the observed strong lateral contrasts in nodule size and abundance are sensitive to sedimentation rates, which in turn, are controlled by small-scale variations in seafloor topography and bottom-water current intensity.     

A study on benthic community structure in west of the Taiwan Strait and near the Taiwan Shoals

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Biо-Optical Characteristics in a Large-Scale Survey Area in the Northern Tropical Zone of the Atlantic Ocean and Their Relationship with Water Dynamics

Oceanology - The article presents data of the beam attenuation coefficient, Secchi disk depth, and chlorophyll concentration in a survey area in the northern tropical zone of the Atlantic Ocean in...     

Study on short-range numerical forecasting of ocean current in the East China Sea——Ⅰ Basic problems of ocean current forecasting and structure of the models

Ocean current forecasting is still in explorative stage of study. In the study, we face some problems that have not been met before. The solving of these problems has become fundamental premise for realizing the ocean current forecasting. In the present paper are discussed in depth the physical essence for such basic problems as the predictability of ocean current, the predictable currents, the dynamical basis for studying respectively the tidal current and circulation, the necessity of boundary model, the models on regions with different scales and their link. The foundations and plans to solve the problems are demonstrated. Finally a set of operational numerical forecasting system for ocean current is proposed.