Cainozoic Stratigraphy of the lake Eyre basin and part of the arid region lying to the South

The Cainozoic history of the Lake Eyre region opened with a period of deep weathering during which many of the older rocks were extensively kaolinized. Following erosion and later deposition of a thin sheet of Tertiary fluviatile deposits, a period of weathering resulted in the widespread formation of silcrete. Another period of erosion and deposition was followed by soil formation and minor silici‐fication.

An important period of erosion followed during which some of the main elements of the present landscape were outlined. Warping during this interval gave rise to shallow basins in which lacustrine sediments accumulated. At about the same time, a system of mound springs developed near the western margin of the Great Artesian Basin. Another major period of erosion followed, by which time the main topographic features of the present landscape had evolved. This last event probably took place near the close of the Tertiary. Throughout the Tertiary, drainage was external and ancestral Lake Eyre remained fresh.

The Quaternary was characterized by four periods of aeolian and, to a lesser extent, water erosion and deposition alternating with periods of landscape stability, when weathering and soil formation took place.

Throughout the Cainozoic there was an alternation of relatively humid and dry periods, but true aridity and internal drainage did not appear until the Quaternary. Sand ridges were not formed until the late Quaternary. Intervals of gentle warping occurred from time to time during the Tertiary, but the Quaternary has for the most part been a period of stability. These events have given rise to a sequence of distinctive rock and soil‐stratigraphic units whose characteristics are considered in some detail.     

海岸沿岸流垂向分布实验研究

进行海岸沿岸流模型实验,利用ADV(acoustic doppler velocimeter)测量了沿岸流流速沿垂直岸线方向多个断面的垂向分布。采用Faria等的方法对实验结果进行了分析,将沿岸流沿水深分为上层和下层两部分:下层采用对数分布来表达沿岸流的垂向分布;上层考虑了波浪引起的自由表面的波动,流速分布为修正的对数分布。最后对沿岸流垂向分布特征做了分析,并与Visser和Hamilton的实验结果做了对比。     

甘孜—理塘蛇绿混杂岩带中段理塘地区混杂岩物质组成及其洋盆演化史

理塘混杂岩位于甘孜-理塘蛇绿混杂岩带中段新龙县-理塘县一带,其内部保存有完整的混杂岩系,包括蛇绿岩残片、洋岛残块、洋内弧残块、复理石建造、裂谷残片、高压变质岩等,是恢复和反演甘孜-理塘洋盆演化的理想地区。在总结前人研究的基础上,结合笔者近年来的研究成果,详细阐述了理塘混杂岩的物质组成、构造环境及形成时代,进一步约束了甘孜-理塘洋盆的时空、性质以及演化历程。LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb测年结果表明,甘孜-理塘混杂岩带内蛇绿岩年龄为（346±17）Ma、（286.2±5.1）Ma、（219.5±2.2）Ma、（216.1±2.3）Ma,洋岛年龄为（271±10）Ma、（245.1±1.5）Ma、（211.8±1.8）Ma,在侏罗纪瑞环山组粉砂岩夹层中测得碎屑锆石最新年龄为（196±3）Ma,结合大量的古生物化石鉴定结果,分析认为理塘混杂岩最早的年龄记录可追溯至中泥盆世,最晚可延至早白垩世,是甘孜-理塘洋盆中泥盆世-早白垩世连续演化的记录。综合以上研究成果,笔者还大致建立了甘孜-理塘洋盆晚古生代-中生代的演化过程模式。     

Mean flow and variability in the southwestern East Sea

The Ulleung Basin is one of three deep basins that are contained within the East/Japan Sea. Current meter moorings have been maintained in this basin beginning in 1996. The data from these moorings are used to investigate the mean circulation pattern, variability of deep flows, and volume transports of major water masses in the Ulleung Basin with supporting hydrographic data and help from a high-resolution numerical model. The bottom water within the Ulleung Basin, which must enter through a constricted passage from the north, is found to circulate cyclonically—a pattern that seems prevalent throughout the East Sea. A strong current of about 6 cms⁻¹ on average flows southward over the continental slope off the Korean coast underlying the northward East Korean Warm Current as part of the mean abyssal cyclonic circulation. Volume transports of the northward East Korean Warm Current, and southward flowing East Sea Intermediate Water and East Sea Proper Water are estimated to be 1.4 Sv (1 Sv=10⁻⁶ m³ s⁻¹), 0.8 Sv, and 3.0–4.0 Sv, respectively. Deep flow variability involves a wide range of time scales with no apparent seasonal variations, whereas the deep currents in the northern East Sea are known to be strongly seasonal.     

Transport of waste heat from a nuclear power plant into coastal water

A numerical and experimental modeling is presented for studying the transport of waste heat from a nuclear power plant into coastal water by using a full-field physical model with scale distortion, a local physical model with normal scale and a depth-averaged k− turbulence model with a modified second-order upwind scheme. Field investigations are also used to provide the calibration and validation of the modeling. A case study simulating the turbulent tidal flow and waste heat transport in the coastal water near Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant in Southern China was conducted. The experimental result of the case study shows that the water temperature in coastal water was a little oversimulated near the surface and was a little undersimulated near the bottom of heated-water layer by the full-field physical model. The numerical study shows that the depth-averaged k− turbulence model presented a satisfied prediction of turbulent tidal flow and far-field temperature distribution in coastal water, although the near-field stratification due to the heated water effluent was not accounted for. The result of the effect of scale distortion on physical model shows that a full-field physical model with a scale distortion of 10 produced a satisfied result of temperature distribution in the present case study.     

Tectonics of an extinct ridge-transform intersection,Drake Passage (Antarctica)

New swath bathymetric, multichannel seismic and magnetic data reveal the complexity of the intersection between the extinct West Scotia Ridge (WSR) and the Shackleton Fracture Zone (SFZ), a first-order NW-SE trending high-relief ridge cutting across the Drake Passage. The SFZ is composed of shallow, ridge segments and depressions, largely parallel to the fracture zone with an `en echelon' pattern in plan view. These features are bounded by tectonic lineaments, interpreted as faults. The axial valley of the spreading center intersects the fracture zone in a complex area of deformation, where N120° E lineaments and E–W faults anastomose on both sides of the intersection. The fracture zone developed within an extensional regime, which facilitated the formation of oceanic transverse ridges parallel to the fracture zone and depressions attributed to pull-apart basins, bounded by normal and strike-slip faults.On the multichannel seismic (MCS) profiles, the igneous crust is well stratified, with numerous discontinuous high-amplitude reflectors and many irregular diffractions at the top, and a thicker layer below. The latter has sparse and weak reflectors, although it locally contains strong, dipping reflections. A bright, slightly undulating reflector observed below the spreading center axial valley at about 0.75 s (twt) depth in the igneous crust is interpreted as an indication of the relict axial magma chamber. Deep, high-amplitude subhorizontal and slightly dipping reflections are observed between 1.8 and 3.2 s (twt) below sea floor, but are preferentially located at about 2.8–3.0 s (twt) depth. Where these reflections are more continuous they may represent the Mohorovicic seismic discontinuity. More locally, short (2–3 km long), very high-amplitude reflections observed at 3.6 and 4.3 s (twt) depth below sea floor are attributed to an interlayered upper mantle transition zone. The MCS profiles also show a pattern of regularly spaced, steep-inclined reflectors, which cut across layers 2 and 3 of the oceanic crust. These reflectors are attributed to deformation under a transpressional regime that developed along the SFZ, shortly after spreading ceased at the WSR. Magnetic anomalies 5 to 5 E may be confidently identified on the flanks of the WSR. Our spreading model assumes slow rates (ca. 10–20 mm/yr), with slight asymmetries favoring the southeastern flank between 5C and 5, and the northwestern flank between 5 and extinction. The spreading rate asymmetry means that accretion was slower during formation of the steeper, shallower, southeastern flank than of the northwestern flank.     

Tripod measured residual currents and sediment flux: Impacts on the silting of the Deepwater Navigation Channel in the Changjiang Estuary

Four bottom-mounted instrument-equipped tripods were deployed at two sections spanning the region characterized by severe sedimentation rates in the Deepwater Navigation Channel (DNC) along the North Passage of Changjiang Estuary in order to observe currents, near-bed suspended sediment, and salinity. Seaward residual currents predominated in the up-estuary section. In contrast, a classical two-layered estuarine circulation pattern occurred in the down-estuary section. Flow moved seaward in the upper layer and a heavier inflow, driven by the salinity gradient, moved landward in the lower layer. The near-bed residual currents in the up-estuary section and the down-estuary section acted in opposing directions, which implies that the region is a convergence zone of near-bed residual currents that trap sediment at the bottom. The maximum salinity gradient at the maximum flood current indicates the presence of a strong front that induces sediment trapping and associated near-bottom convergence of sediment, which explains the high sedimentation rates in this section of the estuary.     

渤海的环流、潮余流及其对沉积物分布的影响

阐明渤海环流和潮余流的分布特征及其与沉积物输运之间的关系。本文根据80年代以来的实测海流资料得到：辽东湾的环流是顺时针向的；黄河三角洲外海存在着一支流向东北偏北向流，与辽东湾西部的东北向海流相接；渤海湾内的环流北部为反时针向，南部为顺时针向回转的双环结构。上述环流趋势与渤海沉积物分布相一致。渤海沿岸主要入海河流的特征矿物分布正是上述环流存在的最好佐证。文中进一步讨论了潮余流分布特征及其对渤海环流的贡献。     

大洋表层沉积物中甲烷代谢古菌群落的组成及分布特征

海洋沉积物中的甲烷代谢微生物是甲烷循环的关键参与者,其代谢过程对大气甲烷浓度及全球气候变化具有显著影响,研究其在全球大洋沉积物中的组成及分布特征是探究微生物介导甲烷循环的基础。采用焦磷酸454高通量测序测定甲烷代谢保守功能基因mcrA（Methyl coenzyme–M reductase A）分析全球大洋沉积物中甲烷代谢微生物群落的组成和多样性;结合荧光实时定量PCR技术检测了古菌和甲烷代谢古菌的丰度分布特征。与其他海洋生境对比,大洋沉积物中甲烷代谢古菌群落结构单一,大西洋和印度洋的α多样性指数显著高于太平洋（p<0.05）。在大洋沉积物样品中鉴定到3个目的甲烷代谢古菌,即甲烷杆菌目（Methanobacteriales）、甲烷八叠球菌目（Methanosarcinales）和甲烷微菌目（Methanomicrobiales）,其中甲烷微菌目占绝对优势,并主要由一簇未知类群（暂名Oceanic Sediments Dominant group,OSD group）组成。大洋沉积物的古菌16S rRNA基因丰度（湿重,下同）平均为8.81×10⁶ copies/g,大西洋的低于印度洋和太平洋;马里亚纳海沟基因丰度低于南海北部,且随着采样深度增加而呈降低趋势。大洋沉积物的mcrA基因丰度为1.38×10³～8.25×10⁴ copies/g。基因丰度大西洋最高,太平洋次之,印度洋最低;马里亚纳海沟略高于南海。本研究发现,相较于冷泉、热液、近海河口等海洋生境,大洋沉积物中甲烷代谢古菌丰度低且群落结构单一,不同海区样品间具有极高的相似性;同时发现OSD group是全球大洋沉积物样品的绝对优势类群,其与已知类群序列亲缘关系均较远,分类进化地位尚不明晰,值得进一步研究。     

白垩纪大洋缺氧事件研究进展

系统总结了白垩纪OAEs的研究进展,重点讨论了OAE1a、OAE1b和OAE2时期的有机碳(TOC)含量、碳同位素、古温度和锶同位素特征及其古环境指示意义,综合分析了白垩纪OAEs的成因机制。结果表明白垩纪OAEs的发生可能与该时期海底大规模的火山活动以及由其引起的气温升高、碳水化合物大量分解、水文循环加快和海洋生物生产力提高等一系列变化有关。对于白垩纪OAEs演化特征和成因机制的深入研究具有重要借鉴意义。通过对白垩纪OAEs的综合分析发现,当前的研究区域主要集中在大西洋/特提斯盆地及其周边陆地,而对南半球高纬度地区的研究报道迄今未见,从而无法对白垩纪OAEs进行全球性对比和系统性研究。今后我们将重点围绕南半球高纬度地区白垩纪OAEs的演化特征、成因机制及其古气候环境效应等进行深入研究。