Age model, physical properties and paleoceanographic implications of the middle Pleistocene core sediments in the Choshi area, central Japan

Abstract   A continuous, well-preserved core was obtained from the Choshi area, on the Pacific side of Japan, to investigate paleoceanographic and paleoclimatic changes around the northwestern Pacific region during the middle Pleistocene. Siliciclastic sequences in the core are divided into five formations – the Obama, Yokone, Kurahashi and Toyosato Formations in the Inubo Group and the Katori Formation, in ascending order. Examination of calcareous nannofossils and magnetic polarities detected four datums in the core sediments of the Inubo Group: the top of Reticulofenestra asanoi , the base of Helicosphaera inversa , the top of Pseudoemiliania lacunosa and the Brunhes–Matuyama boundary. Fourteen marine isotope stages (MIS24–MIS11) were identified in the δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C records based on detected datums and the graphic correlation with the standard stack oxygen isotope curve. Magnetic susceptibility and gamma-ray attenuation porosity evaluator density were also measured and low values characterize the glacial intervals. Biogenic sedimentation by primary production may be larger during the glacial periods because of invasions of nutrient-rich northern surface-waters related to the southward shift of the Kuroshio front in the Choshi area.     

海洋地质数据挖掘系统研发及在海山年龄预测中的应用

利用数据挖掘技术分析海洋地质调查数据,以获取其中隐藏信息,对推进海洋地质数据的科学高效利用具有重要意义。在模块化设计原则下,利用Python语言开发海洋地质数据挖掘相关的核心功能,利用WinForm搭建人机交互界面,并通过参数交互的方式实现了界面和后台功能间的互动。基于综合地质地球物理资料,利用软件预测了太平洋海山年龄。预测结果精度高于利用传统克里金插值方法所得结果的精度。应用结果表明,所开发软件的数据预处理、指标分析、综合评价等功能具有很好的实用性。     

Population Structure and Secondary Production of the Mediterranean Octocoral Lophogorgia ceratophyta (L. 1758)

Abstract. The gorgonian Lophogorgia ceratophyta thrives in turbid water at Tinetto Rock, La Spezia Gulf, Ligurian Sea. Its age structure suggests that the population is in a steady state; nevertheless, it is difficult to discern whether the main factors controlling this population are biological or event-related. Secondary production was estimated by means of an increment-summation method and yielded 0.54 g ash-free dry weight (AFDW)*m^-1 a^-1. This estimate does not take into account biomass losses due to reproductive output and non-lethal predation. Standing stock biomass was 5.44 g AFDW e m^-2. The annual P/B ratio was 0.10 and turnover time about 10a     

Distinct activity phases during the recent geologic history of a Gulf of Mexico mud volcano

Laser line scan imaging and chirp sub-bottom profiling were used to detail the morphology of a submarine mud volcano and brine-filled crater at 652 m water depth in the northern Gulf of Mexico. The mud volcano has a relief of 6 m and a basal diameter of about 80 m. The feature comprises a central, brine-filled crater (253 m²) surrounded by a continuous bed of methanotrophic mussels (Bathymodiolus childressi) covering 434 m² and a patchy bed covering an additional 214 m² of the periphery. The brine pool was mostly <2 m deep, but there were two holes of >28 m and 12 m deep, respectively at the northern end of the pool which emitted continual streams of small clear bubbles. Sub-bottom profiles indicated three distinct strata beneath the present surface of the mud volcano. Integration of 17 profiles shows that the mud volcano has been built in at least three successive stages: the lowest stage deposited 35,400 m³, while the middle and upper stages deposited 7700 and 20,400 m³, respectively. Piston cores were taken at the northern edge of the mussel bed and a site ∼100 m southwest of the pool. Mussel and lucinid shells were recovered from the closer core, lucinid shells from the distant core. A mussel shell from 3.4 m sub-bottom had a Δ¹⁴C age of 16.2 ka. Mixture of modern carbon with “carbon dead” reservoir material would produce actual ages ∼2 ka less than the radiocarbon ages.     

台湾海峡西岸闽江口和九龙江口沉积物中碎屑锆石铀-铅定年及物源意义

碎屑锆石能较好保存源区岩石组成的信息,其铀-铅年龄是沉积物源区示踪有效的方法。利用激光剥蚀等离子体质谱和多接收器等离子体质谱联机(LA-MC-ICPMS)技术,对台湾海峡西部闽江口和九龙江口沉积物中的碎屑锆石进行原位铀-铅测年,同时获得锆石的微量元素。研究表明大部分碎屑锆石的钍与铀含量之比值大于0.1,稀土元素球粒陨石标准化配分曲线呈左倾型,并具有明显的铈含量正异常和铕含量负异常,结合阴极发光图像表明这些锆石绝大部分为岩浆成因。闽江口和九龙江口的碎屑锆石具有相同的印支期(峰值为236 Ma)、燕山早期(峰值为155 Ma)和燕山晚期(峰值为110 Ma)等3个峰值,这三期碎屑锆石占主要部分,反映闽江口和九龙江口碎屑沉积物主要来自各流域上游印支期和中下游燕山期岩体,而闽江口碎屑锆石具有明显的加里东期峰(峰值为465 Ma)和前寒武纪(553~2 765 Ma)较多的碎屑锆石,这些碎屑物质可能来自上游武夷山地区加里东期和前寒武纪基底的物质。对比闽江口碎屑锆石铀-铅年龄与台湾岛西部海滨沙滩(苗栗-新竹、嘉义-台南)中的独居石年龄具有相似的谱峰特征,表明台湾岛西部海滨沙滩碎屑物质可能有部分来自闽江。闽江口碎屑物质明显区别于福建的九龙江和浙江的瓯江,这为判别台湾海峡沉积物的物质来源提供可靠的依据。     

Modelling the relationship between sexual reproduction and rhizome growth in Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile

The relationship between flowering and growth performance of Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile in meadows distributed along the south‐eastern coast of Sicily (Italy) was investigated by means of a statistical model (generalized linear mixed model) combined with the lepidochronological analysis. Over a 28‐year period, 67 floral stalk remains were observed. The highest flowering index was recorded in lepidochronological year 1998 (10.1%) and the Inflorescence Frequency per age showed a clear decrease corresponding to 15‐year‐old shoots. The sexual reproductive event had positive effects on rhizome elongation (cm year^?1) and leaf production (no. leaves year^?1) in the same flowering year, whilst no effect on the rhizome production (mg year^?1) was observed. Rhizome growth variables showed significant negative lagged responses in the two years following flowering. On the whole, we calculated that the effect exerted by flowering, in terms of loss on rhizome elongation and production, was about 27% and 38%, respectively. Although it has been demonstrated that recovery from the stress induced by sexual reproduction is limited to the two years after flowering, the magnitude of the reproductive cost may become quite considerable especially in comparison with the whole lifespan of individual shoots.     

Determination of Ocean Wave Period from Altimeter Data Using Wave-Age Concept

This study makes use of the concept of wave age in estimating ocean wave period from space borne altimeter measurements of backscattering coefficient and significant wave height. Introduction of wave age allowed better accounting of the difference between swells and wind waves. Using two years (1998 and 1999) data of TOPEX/Poseidon altimeter and ocean data buoy observations in the Indian Ocean, coefficients were generated for wave period, which were subsequently tested against data for the years 2000 and 2001. The results showed the wave period accuracy to be of the order of 0.6 sec (against 1.3 sec obtained with the semiempirical approach, reported earlier).     

西藏南部康马岩体岩石类型及其同位素测年

康马岩体位于西藏南部康马县城北侧 ,其内部可划分出 5种不同的岩石类型 :(1)片麻状黑云二长花岗岩 ;(2 )眼球状黑云二长花岗岩 ;(3)片麻状二云母二长花岗岩 ;(4 )弱片麻状细粒黑云二长花岗岩 ;(5 )变质的暗色辉长辉绿岩。前两类为康马岩体的主体岩石类型 ,侵位时代为加里东早期 (约4 78～ 4 6 1Ma) ;其余均呈脉状产出 ,其中片麻状二云母二长花岗岩与康马岩体主体岩石类型属于同期产物 ,弱片麻状细粒黑云二长花岗岩形成于海西早期 ((339.0± 1.2 )Ma) ,暗色辉长辉绿岩的形成时代目前还不十分清楚。不同类型的岩石其Ar Ar冷却年龄约为 18～ 14Ma。