冲绳海槽西北侧表层沉积物中微型腹足类的分布及其研究意义

冲绳海槽西北侧大陆架向大陆坡转折处表层沉积物中微型腹足类动物群具有混合的生态特征,这与现代海洋沉积环境并不一致。腹足类动物群中除少数种类为陆坡深海分子,多数种类属内陆架区或近岸浅水分子。因此,动物群主要反映了晚更新世末次冰期低海平面的海洋环境,而少数深海种类的混入应与黑潮暖流在冲绳北端所形成的上升流有关。根据本区腹足类在其他海区的时空分布规律,本文认为在更新世末次冰期,黑潮暖流仍对本区有重要影响，并控制着腹足类的分布。本区腹足类这种混合的生态特征是晚更新世末次冰期以来各种海洋动力环境叠加影响的结果。     

Rapid visualization of plankton abundance and taxonomic composition using the Video Plankton Recorder

Traditional methods for determining spatial distributions of planktonic taxa involve net, pump, and bottle collections followed by the tedious and time-consuming task of plankton sample analysis. Thus, plankton ecologists often require months or even years to process samples from a single study. In this paper, we present a method that allows rapid visualization of the distribution of planktonic taxa while at sea. Rapid characterization of plankton distributions is essential in the dynamic physical environment, where biological and physical patterns can change quickly. Such a “sample-and-observe” capability is necessary for mapping ephemeral features (such as patches, eddies, jets, plumes) and determining appropriate locations to conduct more localized sampling, including in situ observational studies. We describe the techniques used in imaging the plankton, analyzing the video, and visualizing the data. We present an example of at-sea data analysis conducted aboard R.V. Columbus Iselin on Georges Bank in May 1994 and visualizations of the 3-dimensional distribution of selected planktonic taxa in a 2 × 2 km × 90 m volume of seawater. A video of the image processing and visualization is included on the CD-ROM accompanying this volume and is an essential part of this paper.     

Petrology and mineral chemistry of sedimentary rocks from the Western Solomon Sea

Multichannel seismic reflection profiles recorded in the northern Red Sea show structures that we interpret to be a result of the intrusion of uppermost Miocene salt. We believe that the evaporites are underlaid by attenuated continental crust and the flow of salt is due to renewed faulting of basement in the Pliocene when sea floor spreading began between latitudes 21°N and 15°30°N.     

Recent and Late Holocene environments on the southeastern shelf of the Laptev Sea as inferred from microfossil data

The study of diatoms and benthic foraminifers from the southeastern shelf of the Laptev Sea shows that their most diverse and abundant recent assemblages populate the peripheral underwater part of the Lena River delta representing the marginal filter of the sea. This area is characterized by an intense interaction between the fresh waters of the Siberian rivers and the basin seawater, the Atlantic one included. Local Late Holocene (～last 2300 years) environments reflect the main regional and global paleoclimatic changes, the Medieval Warm Period (～600–1100 years B.P.) and the Little Ice Age (～100–600 years B.P.) inclusive. In addition, the composition and distribution of planktonic foraminifers implies a strong influence of the Atlantic water during the Holocene optimum ～5100–6200 years B.P.     

Chemical processes and interactions involving marine organic matter

The concepts which have guided our thinking about chemical processes and interactions of organic matter in seawater are identified and their utility assessed. Some recommendations for the future are made.