Ephemeral rollover points and clinothem evolution in the modern Po Delta based on repeated bathymetric surveys

Reconstructions of ancient delta systems rely typically on a two-dimensional (2D) view of prograding clinothems but may miss their three-dimensional (3D) stratigraphic complexity which can, instead, be best documented on modern delta systems by integrating high-resolution geophysical data, historical cartography, core data and geomorphological reconstructions offshore. We quantitatively compare three precisely positioned, high-resolution multi-beam bathymetry maps in the delta front and pro delta sectors (0.3 to 10 m water depth) of Po di Pila, the most active of the modern Po Delta five branches. By investigating the detailed morphology of the prograding modern Po Delta, we shed new light on the mechanisms that control the topset to foreset transition in clinothems and show the temporal and spatial complexity of a delta and its pro delta slope, under the impact of oceanographic processes. This study documents the ephemeral nature of the rollover point at the transition between sandy topset (fluvial, delta plain to mouth-bar) and muddy seaward-dipping foreset deposits advancing, in this case, in >20 m of water depth. Three multibeam surveys, acquired between 2013 and 2016, document the complexity in space and time of the topset and foreset regions and their related morphology, a diagnostic feature that could not be appreciated using solely 2D, even very high-resolution, seismic profiles. In addition, the comparison of bathymetric surveys gathered with one-year lapses shows the migration of subaqueous sand dunes on the clinothem topset, the formation of ephemeral cut-and-fill features at the rollover point (few m below mean sea level), the presence of collapse depressions derived by sagging of sediments and fluid expulsion (possibly induced by storm waves) on the foreset, and splays of sand likely reflecting gravity flows on the lower foreset. Though the modern Po Delta is anthropogenic in many respects, its subaqueous clinothem can be studied as a scale model for ancient clinothems that are less resolved geometrically and far less constrained chronologically.     

Clinoform growth and sediment flux into late Cenozoic Qiongdongnan shelf margin,South China Sea

The South China Sea continental margin in the Qiongdongnan Basin (QDNB) area has incrementally prograded since 10.5 Ma generating a margin sediment prism more than 4km-thick and 150–200 km wide above the well-dated T40 stratigraphic surface. Core and well log data, as well as clinoform morphology and growth patterns along 28 2D seismic reflection lines, illustrate the evolving architecture and margin morphology; through five main seismic-stratigraphic surfaces (T40, T30, T27, T20 and T0) frame 15 clinothems in the southwest that reduce over some 200 km to 8 clinoforms in the northeast. The overall margin geometry shows a remarkable change from sigmoidal, strongly progradational and aggradational in the west to weakly progradational in the east. Vertical sediment accumulation rate increased significantly across the entire margin after 2.4 Ma, with a marked increase in mud content in the succession. Furthermore, an estimate of sediment flux across successive clinoforms on each of the three selected seismic cross sections indicate an overall decrease in sediment discharge west to east, away from the Red River depocenter, as well as a decrease in the percentage of total discharge crossing the shelf break in this same direction. The QDNB Late Cenozoic continental margin growth, with its overall increased sediment flux, responded to the climate-induced, gradual cooling and falling global sea level during this icehouse period.     

风沙流中跃移沙粒冲击速度和角度联合概率分布风洞实验

近地表跃移沙粒速度和角度概率分布是连接风沙运动宏观研究和微观研究的桥梁,对沙粒跃移轨迹和输沙率分布有很大影响。但是,目前跃移沙粒冲击速度概率分布和角度概率分布之间的关系还不明确。使用相位多普勒粒子分析仪（PDPA）测量了风洞沙床面1 mm高度处的跃移沙粒速度,通过分析各冲击速度对应的冲击角度的概率分布研究了沙粒冲击速度和角度的联合概率分布。结果表明：沙粒冲击速度概率分布可用对数正态函数描述,冲击角度概率分布可用指数函数描述;各冲击速度对应的冲击角度都符合指数函数分布,且其衰减速度随冲击速度增加而加快。这表明,冲击速度概率分布和冲击角度概率分布之间具有很强的相关性。最后分别给出了沙粒冲击速度和角度的独立假设概率分布和条件联合概率分布。     

热带西太平洋海洋上层热含量的分布特征及其年际变化的分析

选用海面至20℃等温线所处深度水层的平均温度来表征研究海域海洋上层热含量。利用这一特征值，分析1986—1990年期间热带西太平洋边缘海域海洋上层热含量在秋季的分布特征和年际变化。结果表明：（1）热含量呈南高北低分布，在7．5－22．1°N范围内。以130°E断面为代表，热含量的平均递减率为0．179（℃／纬度）；（2）热含量的分布主要取决于环流系统，其等值线因受黑潮和棉兰老海流的影响而由纬向分布转向经向分布。某些区域因受暖涡及冷涡的影响而呈封闭状分布；（3）热含量的年际变化与E1Nino事件存在着很好的相关性，在E1Nino事件发生期间，热含量变得很低，高热含量（大于26．5℃）海区的分布范围明显缩小。     

东海黑潮热输送及其与黄淮平原区汛期降水的关系

根据日本气象厅1956—1990年PN（G）断面观测资料分析东海黑潮热输送的变异特征，并探讨其冬季热输送与黄淮平原区汛期（6－8月）降水的关系。结果表明，黑潮通过PN（G）断面多年平均的热输送达15．74×1014W，其中冬季热输送的年际和长期变化特别明显；冬季热输送年际变化的周期主要为对．23.4a、3.5a、和2.6a，长期变化总趋势是70年代末以前各年热输送距平均为负值，对年代末接近多年平均值，进入80年代各年距平值不仅为正且逐年增大；东海黑潮冬季热输送与黄淮平原区汛期降水具有相近的长期变化趋势，两者间存在较好的负相关关系。     

南沙群岛海域沉积物间隙水营养盐（氮、磷、硅）的研究

通过1997年11月和1999年7月2个航次对南沙群岛海域的现场调查,实测了南沙群岛深海盆沉积物的孔隙度?间隙水的营养盐含量,估算了沉积物海水界面营养盐的扩散通量?2个航次的沉积物间隙水的NO2-N,NO3-N ,NH4-N,PO4-P ,SiO3-Si含量,1997年冬季航次平均为4.68,43.84,115.68 ,6.85,425.71μmol·L-1,1999年夏季航次(H4SiO4除外)平均为2.72,36.86,31.40,10.10μmol·L-1;平均扩散通量,1997年冬季航次为0.03,-14.07,121.70,0.25,72.54μmol·m-2·d -1,1999年夏季航次(H4SiO4除外)为0.10,-11.74,40.47,-0.56μmol·m-2·d -1?NH 4和H4SiO4 是扩散量最大的2种组分,而HPO2-4 和NO-2的扩散量极小?     

太平洋海域海气热通量地理分布和时间变化的研究

应用美国宇航局Goddard地球观测系统四维资料同化系统计算和分析了太平洋海域感热通量和潜热通量随时间的变化规律和地理分布特征.研究结果表明,太平洋西北部海域热通量有明显的季节性变化,其余海域这种现象不明显.在太平洋海域总是存在潜热通量最高值区域,而感热通量除冬季20°N以北海域数值稍高外,其余海域数值都很小,没有出现最高值区域.纬度不同热通量随经度的变化规律不同,经度不同,热通量随纬度的分布规律也不同,同时各断面热通量随纬度的分布趋势随季节而改变.     

菲律宾海热含量分布及其变化的初步探讨

本文利用1986年及1987年秋季在菲律宾以东海域进行的CTD观测资料,分析了该海域上层海水热含量分布及变化,得出,热含量由南向北随纬度逐渐增大,这主要是北赤道流引起的等温线自南向北下倾造成的,另外也与南部和北部的冷涡和暖涡有关。本文认为,两年里热含量的差异可能与1986年生成的El Nin有关。另外,北太平洋赤道流体积输送量的变化与菲律宾海热含量的变化也有一定的联系。     

胶州湾海水微表层粘度及其在海-气通量计算中的作用

物质海 -气通量计算新建议中将物质海 -气通量计算公式 F=K(CL- b Cg)中的 CL 用CL ( SML ) 代替。本文着重于对公式中质量迁移系数 K的讨论。在测定了海水微表层、次表层水粘度并同时测定了其它一些化学参量基础上 ,得出如下结论 :海水粘度与盐度、碱度有一定相关性 ;微表层与次表层海水的粘度变化小于 3%。因此 ,海水微表层效应影响 K值 ,与海水微表层效应影响物质浓度相比 ,可以不考虑。     

Thermal fronts and cross-frontal heat flux in the southern Huanghai Sea and the East China Sea

Synoptic features in/around thermal fronts and cross-frontal heat fluxes in the southern Huanghai./Yellow Sea and East China Sea （HES） were examined using the data collected from four airborne expendable bathythermograph surveys with horizontal approxmately 35 km and vertical 1 m（from the surface to 400 m deep） spacings. Since the fronts are strongly affected by HES current system, the synoptic thermal features in/around them represent the interaction of currents with surrounding water masses. These features can not be obtained from climatological data. The identified thermal features are listed as follows ： （ 1 ） multiple boundaries of cold water, asymmetric thermocline intrusion, locally-split front by homogeneous water of approxmately 18 ℃, and mergence of the front by the Taiwan Warm Current in/around summertime southern Cheju - Changjiang/Yangtze front and Tsushima front; （2） springtime frontal eddy-like feature around Tsushima front; （3） year-round cyclonic meandering and summertime temperature-inversion at the bottom of the surface mixed layer in Cheju - Tsushima front; and （4） multistructure of Kuroshio front. In the Kuroshio front the mean variance of vertical temperature gradient is an order of degree smaller than that in other HES fronts. The southern Cheju- Changjiang front and Cheju -Tsushima front are connected with each other in the summer with comparable cross-frontal temperature gradient. However, cross-frontal heat flux and lateral eddy diffusivity are stronger in the southern Cheju - Changjiang front. The cross-frontal heat exchange is the largest in the mixing zone between the modified Huanghai Sea bottom cold water and the Tsushima Warm Current, which is attributable to enhanced thermocline intrusions.