Contributions to atmospheric methane by natural seepages on the U.K. continental shelf [Mar. Geol. 137 (1997) 165–189]

Natural gas seepages occur on the United Kingdom's continental shelf and although published reports suggest that they are very rare, the petroleum industry has identified, but not publicly reported, many more. There is also very little data on the flux of gas from seabed seepages, and even less on the contribution of seepages to atmospheric concentrations of gases such as methane.

Potential gas source rocks include Quaternary and Tertiary peats as well as petroliferous source rocks such as the Carboniferous Coal Measures and the Upper Jurassic Kimmeridge Clays. There are also other organic-rich sediments which are potential source rocks. Together these cover a considerable part of the U.K. continental shelf.

Analogue seismic reflection (pinger) profiles acquired during the British Geological Survey's regional mapping programme have been reviewed to identify water column targets including fish and plumes of gas bubbles. The ability to distinguish targets is critical to an assessment of the distribution of gas seepages. Both theoretical predictions of target identity and the habits of shoaling fish have been investigated in order to identify a method of distinction.

Data from seabed seepages and measurements of seepage rates have been used to establish likely ranges of gas flux rates and the sizes of gas bubbles. The likelihood that a rising bubble will survive and escape into the atmosphere is determined primarily by bubble size and water depth; methane, the principal constituent of seepage gas, is relatively unreactive and sparingly soluble.

The studies have enabled a new estimate of the distribution of gas seepages on the U.K. continental shelf, and of the contribution to atmospheric methane levels. The results suggest that natural gas seepages are significantly more important as a source of methane than had hitherto been established. It is estimated that between 120,000 and 3.5 mtonnes of methane per year come from a continental shelf area of about 600,000 km². This represents between 2% and 40% of the total United Kingdom methane emission. It is suggested that similar contributions arise from other continental shelf areas worldwide, and that geological sources of atmospheric methane are more significant than is generally acknowledged.     

黄海北部降水中氟的浓度变化

1988～1992年连续采集了黄海西北部的大气降水,分析样品中的氟而得到的80多个数据显示出大气降水中氟的平均浓度低于中国北方主要河流的氟平均浓度。在冬季,氟的浓度较其他季节高,这可能和降雨量减少以及人为因素等密切相关。目前还难以估算出人为因素对氟在降水中化学行为的影响程度,但数据显示出人口密集地区降水中氟的浓度明显高于人口稀疏的自然地带。     

沉积物镁铝含量比及其古气候意义

沉积物的镁铝含量比——m 值(m=100×MgO/Al_2O_3)与沉积水介质的盐度、pH 水温关系密切。当水温处在冰点以下时,沉积物的m 值随水温降低而增大。当水温处在冰点以上时,水介质的盐度、pH 和水温的增加,都有利于m 值增大。由于气候条件能直接或间接地影响沉积水介质的特征,因此,沉积物的m 值对古气候的变化具有一定的判别功能。通过对中国元古宙以来沉积物m 值的分析,发现古气候的热冷变化有1200Ma 的周期,其中还有次一级的热冷气候波动。第四纪的气候是处在热气候期后期的一个冷的气候波动阶段。     

黄、东海近海面空气湿度分析及估算

利用1974～1982年黄、东海海洋水文气象标准断面实测资料对近海面空气湿度的分布、变化进行了分析。讨论了冬、夏季海、气温与湿度的关系,并对冬、夏季近海面空气湿度进行了估算。结果表明,夏季,空气湿度为气温的函数;冬季,除了考虑空气本身平流的水汽外,还必须考虑海洋向大气的水汽输送。     

长江口海水的密度

为了核对1980年国际海水状态方程应用于中国近岸海水的可靠性,高精度的磁力浮沉子密度计在15—25℃,盐度5—35,一个大气压条件下,测量了长江口附近海水及其人工稀释海水的相对密度。结果表明,海水密度直接测量值系统地偏高于状态方程计算值,二者之间的偏差随水样盐度值降低而增大,且与海水[Ca~(2+))/s比值成明显正相关关系。经计算机拟合,导出了长江口附近海水及其稀释海水的状态方程,该方程计算值与实验值的平均标准偏差为±3.9×10~(-3)kg/m~3。     

罗源湾南岸上元—坑园牡蛎礁与海平面变化

上元-坑园牡蛎礁位于高潮位以下3m,主要成分为长牡蛎和近江牡蛎,其~(14)C年龄为3043±82a,B.P.。据此推算出罗源湾一带海岸处于缓慢上升状态,速率为1.15mm/a。根据上元-坑园牡蛎礁的上述特征,并结合断块差异升降运动的表现,作者认为这一地区中、晚全新世以来以“陆动型”海平面变化占主导地位。     

粘土矿物对海水中主要营养盐的吸附研究

对海水中磷盐和硝酸盐在粘土矿物上的吸附行为的研究发现，海水体系中高岭土对磷酸盐的吸附能力大于蒙脱土，其原因为，粘土颗粒的表层铝／硅结构比是控制磷酸盐吸附的主要因素，其中铝含量越高，肿附能力越大。考察ＰＨ、粘土酸改性处理等因素对吸附作用的影响，结果表明，ＰＨ＜８．５的磷酸盐吸附ＰＨ曲线呈峰形，其吸附作用以阴离子交换为主；ＰＨ＞８．５时磷酸盐的吸附作用以沉淀吸附为主。酸改性蒙脱土可提高吸附磷酸盐的能力     

Distribution and number change of the Littorinidae (Gastropoda) on intertidal hard bed in the Jiulong River Estuary

There are 4 species of Littorinidae on the intertidal hard bed in the Jiulong River Estu-ary. They are Littorina scabra, L. brevicula, Nodilittorina pyramidalis pyramidalis and N.millegrana. Of these species, L. scabra is a dominant species. According to the results of in-vestigation, we find distribution patterns of the Littorinidae on intertidal hard bed in theestuary as follows: (1)There is no Littorinid species at Haicheng Station. (2)There is only Lit-