Hydrology, circulation and distribution of particulate matter in Thermaikos Gulf (NW Aegean Sea), during September 2001–October 2001 and February 2002

The hydrography, circulation and distribution of particulate matter in Thermaikos Gulf (NW Aegean Sea) are described, for September 2001 and October 2001 and February 2002. The observations were obtained to assess the impact of anthropogenic and natural resuspension processes on the coastal ecosystem. The first two periods represent highly stratified conditions and mild weather conditions; in September trawling is prohibited, whilst the October cruise took place following the commencement of the activity. The sampling in February was undertaken to record the contribution of natural resuspension to the system, in a stormy period.The water circulation was mainly baroclinic during autumn and barotropic in winter; this was due to vertical homogenisation of the water column, during the latter period. The distribution of the bottom nepheloid layer (BNL) was very different in the winter than in the autumn.Microstructure measurements were undertaken, which allowed the vertical eddy diffusivity to be estimated, together with the near-bed shear stresses. Computation of the diffusive flux of particulate matter (PM), from the BNL into the intermediate water column in response to turbulent motions, reveals that the PM flux was much higher in October than in September; this is despite the fact that the friction velocities were similar. This observation could explain partly the observed higher PM concentrations (PMC) in the intermediate layer, in October. Likewise suggest that the higher PMC in October could be attributed to trawling. The limited shear stress and friction velocity values obtained during the September and October cruises were always low; these were possibly capable of resuspending only recently deposited, “fluffy” material. Thus, the observed nepheloid layers are likely to be maintained by advection from the shallow water regions and trawled areas.     

西沙地块海底地震仪转换横波的数据处理与震相识别

主动源海底地震仪（OBS）转换横波震相的分析和模拟,能够从泊松比的角度更准确地约束地下结构和物质组成,有助于地壳精细结构和构造属性的研究.本文对南海北部陆缘西沙地块的OBS2013-3测线进行了转换横波数据处理和分析,通过能量扫描法求取极化角,并对OBS水平分量数据进行旋转,获取了径向分量数据.结合本测线的地质情况,求解佐布里兹（Zoeppritz）方程,得到了不同转换模式的能量分配关系,定量地指示了沉积基底和海底面为主导的P-S转换界面,Moho面为次一级转换界面.在OBS2013-3测线的各个台站径向分量地震剖面上识别出了一系列PPS和PSS型转换震相,最大偏移距达到130km,并进行了初步的正演模拟试算和验证.结合本测线实际情况,对OBS转换横波研究的基础问题进行了探讨.这些工作为后续的二维横波速度结构和泊松比结构模拟、物质组成和地壳属性分析打下了坚实的基础,为研究方法的进一步完善提供思路.

     

Flow processes and sedimentation in unidirectionally migrating deep‐water channels: From a three‐dimensional seismic perspective

Three‐dimensional seismic data were used to infer how bottom currents control unidirectional channel migration. Bottom currents flowing towards the steep bank would deflect the upper part of sediment gravity flows at an orientation of 1° to 11° to the steep bank, yielding a helical flow circulation consisting of a faster near‐surface flow towards the steep bank and a slower basal return flow towards the gentle bank. This helical flow model is evidenced by the occurrence of bigger, muddier (suggested by low‐amplitude seismic reflections) lateral accretion deposits and gentle channel wall with downlap terminations on the gentle bank and by smaller, sandier (indicated by high‐amplitude seismic reflectors) channel fills and steep channel walls with truncation terminations on the steep bank. This helical flow circulation promotes asymmetrical depositional patterns with dipping accretion sets restricted to the gentle bank, which restricts the development of sinuosity and yields unidirectional channel migration. These results aid in obtaining a complete picture of flow processes and sedimentation in submarine channels.     

Limited differences among habitats in deep‐sea macro‐infaunal communities off New Zealand: implications for their vulnerability to anthropogenic disturbance

The spread of human activities into the deep sea may pose a high risk to benthic communities and affect ecosystem integrity. The deep sea is characterized by physical and biological heterogeneity and different habitat types are likely to differ in their vulnerability to anthropogenic impacts. However, across‐habitat comparisons are rare, and no comprehensive ecological risk assessment has yet been developed. To address this gap in our knowledge, we compared macro‐infaunal community structure in four habitats (slope, canyons, seamounts and methane seeps) at depths between 700 and 1500 m in the Hikurangi Margin and Bay of Plenty regions off New Zealand. The most striking contrast in community structure was between the two study regions, due to an order of magnitude difference in macro‐infaunal abundance that we believe was caused by differences in surface productivity and food availability at the sea bed. We found differences in structural and functional attributes of macro‐infaunal communities among some habitats in the Hikurangi Margin (slope, canyon and seep), but not in the Bay of Plenty. We posit that differences between canyon and slope communities on the Hikurangi Margin are due to enhanced food availability inside canyons compared with adjacent slope habitats. Seep communities were characterized by elevated abundance of both symbiont‐bearing and heterotrophic taxa, and were the most distinct, and variable, among the habitats that we considered on the Hikurangi Margin. Communities of seamounts were not distinct from slope or canyon communities on the Hikurangi Margin, probably reflecting similar environmental conditions in these habitats. The communities of deep‐sea canyon and seep habitats on the Hikurangi Margin were sufficiently dissimilar from each other and from slope habitats to warrant separate management consideration. By contrast, the low dissimilarity between communities of canyon and slope habitats in the Bay of Plenty suggests that habitat‐based management is not required in this region, for macro‐infauna at least. Although the two study regions share similar species pools, populations of the Hikurangi Margin region may be less vulnerable than the sparser populations of the Bay of Plenty due to the higher availability of potential colonizers and faster population growth. Thus regions, and habitats in some regions, should be subject to separate ecological risk assessment to help identify the key risks and consequences of human activities, and to inform options for reducing or mitigating impacts.     

Southwestward intrusion of korea strait bottom cold water observed in 2003 and 2004

Hydrographic surveys were carried out four times in the western channel of the Korea Strait in March and August 2003 and in June and November 2004. The bottom cold water, which was lower than 10°C, appeared in the channel trough except in March 2003. It flowed southwestward along the shelf of Korean coasts in August 2003 and in November 2004. The width and the maximum speed of the intrusion current were about 20 km and approximately 25 cm s^-1, respectively, off Ulsan, Korea. The volume transport of the bottom cold water was estimated 0.019 Sv (Sv≡10⁶ m³ s^-1) in August 2003 and 0.026 Sv in November 2004.     

Analytical convolution model for shipping water evolution on a fixed structure

The shipping of water is a problem that affects naval and offshore structures. Estimating its propagation on the decks of these structures by using analytical methods has been a main concern of projects. However, classical approaches disregard the decay tendency of water elevation time series and tend to overestimate the resultant water on deck. This paper is concerned with estimating the evolution of water along the deck of a fixed structure due to shipping water events. An analytical convolution model is proposed to estimate water elevations. The model considers the freeboard exceedance time series and the mean shipping flow velocity as inputs and the frictional effects of the bottom by resistance coefficients, which enables an approximated representation of the water elevation time series over the deck. It was validated with experiments of isolated shipping water events that were generated with the wet dam-break approach. The results obtained with the proposed model captured the experimental results, approximating the peak values and the decay trend of time series. Improvement of the proposed approach over classical models to represent shipping water elevations was demonstrated by comparing the results obtained with those of the dam-break model of Stoker.     

The influence of the bottom contour on the deformed state of the ice cover due to the motion of the submarine

The authors have previously determined that the effectiveness and failure pattern of the ice cover caused by flexural-gravity waves generated by a submerged body motion near the bottom ice can greatly depend on the depth of the water area. In its turn, the presence of a ledge on the ice surface may affect a wave propagation pattern. This paper presents an experimental study of the bottom contour influence on the deflection and length of flexural-gravity waves. The authors describe a numerical model for the analysis of the deformed state of ice caused by hydrodynamic loads due to a submarine motion, taking into account the bottom contour. The experiments are carried out in the ice tank. The results of calculations and experiments are compared.     

Long-term bottom water warming in the north Ross Sea

We measured potential temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen profiles from the surface to the bottom at two locations in the north Ross Sea (65.2°S, 174.2°E and 67.2°S, 172.7°W) in December 2004. Comparison of our data with previous results from the same region reveals an increase in potential temperature and decreases in salinity and dissolved oxygen concentration in the bottom layer (deeper than 3000 m) over the past four decades. The changes were significantly different from the analytical precisions. Detailed investigation of the temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen and σ ₃ value distributions and the bottom water flow in the north Ross Sea suggests a long-term change in water mass mixing balance. That is to say, it is speculated that the influence of cool, saline, high-oxygen bottom water (high-salinity Ross Sea Bottom Water) formed in the southwestern Ross Sea has possibly been decreased, while the influences of relatively warmer and fresher bottom water (low-salinity Ross Sea Bottom Water) and the Adélie Land Bottom Water coming from the Australia-Antarctic Basin have increased. The possible impact of global warming on ocean circulation needs much more investigation.     

南极普里兹湾及其邻近海域水团研究

普里兹湾及其邻近海域是中国南大洋调查研究的传统优势海域与重点区域。围绕夏季表层水、冬季水、陆架水、绕极深层水、南极底层水、普里兹湾底层水、冰架水等研究海区主要水团的特征和分布,总结了前人在南极普里兹湾及其邻近海域基于调查资料开展的水团研究中所取得的成果。研究表明,前人在对陆架水的示性指标界定上,将陆架水是否区分为高盐陆架水和低盐陆架水存在较大争议,在高盐陆架水和普里兹湾底层水的定义上存在重叠;目前尚没有证据表明绕极深层水向南可以伸展到普里兹湾的陆架区域,也没有发现在普里兹湾附近海域生成南极底层水的直接证据。     

Experimental study on the effect of bottomless structure in front of a bottom outlet on a sediment flushing cone

One of the main problems in reservoirs is sedimentation which reduces the operating life of dams if a proper plan and analysis method are not in place.The techniques to manage sediment in reservoirs include several sustainable management techniques that route sediment through or around the reservoir.One of the main economical methods in arid and semi-arid regions is pressurized flushing using moderate drawdown of the water level of the reservoir to evacuate sediment deposited behind dams.In the current study,the effect of a new structure called a dendritic bottomless extended(DBE)outlet structure at three angles of 30°,45°,and 60°
on pressurized flushing efficiency was investigated.Consequently,45 experiments were designed for three discharge rates (Qo),three sediment levels(Hs),four types of structure,and a no-structure condition(reference test).The results indicated that the DBE structure with a 30°angle between the branches,a sedimentary dimensionless index of Hs/Do=4.59,and a flow dimensionless index of Qo=/√gD05=1:43(where g is the acceleration of gravity and Do is the diameter of the bottom outlet)lead to 10-fold increase in the sediment flushing cone dimensions and sediment removal efficiency compared to the results of the reference test.Finally,according to a statistical analysis of the results,a dimensionless equation for calculating the sediment flushing cone dimensions was developed for the tested sediment characteristics.