Distribution and expression of gas seeps in a gas hydrate province of the northeastern Sakhalin continental slope, Sea of Okhotsk

Multidisciplinary surveys were conducted to investigate gas seepage and gas hydrate accumulation on the northeastern Sakhalin continental slope (NESS), Sea of Okhotsk, during joint Korean–Russian–Japanese expeditions conducted from 2003 to 2007 (CHAOS and SSGH projects). One hundred sixty-one gas seeps were detected in a 2000 km² area of the NESS (between 53°45′N and 54°45′N). Active gas seeps in a gas hydrate province on the NESS were evident from features in the water column, on the seafloor, and in the subsurface: well-defined hydroacoustic anomalies (gas flares), side-scan sonar structures with high backscatter intensity (seepage structures), bathymetric structures (pockmarks and mounds), gas- and gas-hydrate-related seismic features (bottom-simulating reflectors, gas chimneys, high-amplitude reflectors, and acoustic blanking), high methane concentrations in seawater, and gas hydrates in sediment near the seafloor. These expressions were generally spatially related; a gas flare would be associated with a seepage structure (mound), below which a gas chimney was present. The spatial distribution of gas seeps on the NESS is controlled by four types of geological structures: faults, the shelf break, seafloor canyons, and submarine slides. Gas chimneys that produced enhanced reflection on high-resolution seismic profiles are interpreted as active pathways for upward gas migration to the seafloor. The chimneys and gas flares are good indicators of active seepage.     

南海北部陆架区内波的演变与耗散机制

海洋是多尺度强迫-耗散系统,机械能主要在大尺度输入,在小尺度耗散。在大、中尺度运动的能量向小尺度湍流传递过程中,内波扮演着重要角色。内波的生成和破碎可打破海洋动力平衡,而在陆架区,内波（主要是内孤立波）的浅化演变与耗散则是驱动湍流混合的关键过程。通过长期的理论、观测与数值模拟研究,目前已认识到内波浅化过程中主要发生如下演变：波形调制、极性转变、裂变、破碎与耗散。相较于直接发生破碎,浅化演变过程中的裂变及其引发的剪切不稳定和对流不稳定是内孤立波在陆架区的主要耗散机制,显著调制陆架区的跃层混合。从能量串级的角度讲,内孤立波浅化裂变为动力不稳定的高频内波是潮能串级的重要通道。本文简要回顾南海北部陆架区内波的研究历史,并着重总结内波在陆架区演变与耗散机制的研究进展。     

南黄海和东海北部陆架重矿物组合分区及来源

利用大洋-50型海底取样器,在南黄海和东海北部陆架(125°E以西)海上调查获取了海底表层沉积物样品,其中包括1998年以来"黄东海地质地球物理补充调查"和"中韩黄海沉积动力学与古环境演变"2项研究所获得的样品共380个,选取0.063～0.125mm粒级的沉积物,进行碎屑矿物分析,最后选出9个代表性的优势重矿物种的数据为变量,利用Q型聚类(分层聚类)的数学方法,进行聚类组合,在数学统计的基础上,将研究区划分出4个重矿物组合区。客观地反映出黄河物质、长江物质和原地物质的影响范围,同时也体现出物质来源和水动力以及海底风化作用对重矿物分布的影响程度和范围,因而可以得出,在一定的范围内陆架表层沉积物中的重矿物具有趋同的演化效应。     

试说中国陆内构造变形和其地球动力学特征

中国陆内构造变形主要始于晚二叠世中国北方进入后海西地台发展时期。印支期末以至喜马拉雅期,随着特提斯洋的关闭,大陆范围也随即向中国南方和青藏地区增生和扩展。中国的陆内构造变形从后海西地台形成的准平原化阶段即已开始。但规模巨大的变形则发生于燕山构造旋回中期和喜马拉雅旋回。陆内构造变形的规模可分两个等级:一是覆盖整个中国大陆的,另一是局部的。前者两次改变了中国构造-地貌的整体面貌;后者则表现为造山、造盆和微陆块纵向或横向的逃逸,以及由此引起的造山或造盆。根据中国陆内构造变形特征及其与区域构造背景演化的关系分析认为,中国陆内构造变形主要是由周边洲级规模板块运动引起的,同时,随着地壳上部构造变形引发的地壳或岩石圈均衡调整,则使地下深处产生相应的构造响应。     

“全新特提斯洋”概念与广义特提斯构造域

特提斯最初是指欧亚大陆南缘的古海洋,后逐渐引申出从元古宙、古生代到中生代的一系列位于劳亚大陆与冈瓦纳大陆之间的古大洋,如原特提斯洋、古特提斯洋和新特提斯洋,不同大洋在时间上前后交叠。如今横亘在冈瓦纳大陆(南极洲)和欧亚大陆之间的是印度洋,是新特提斯洋的继承者,可以另称为“全新特提斯洋”。这一概念的引申直接体现了印度洋与特提斯构造域一脉相承的关系,有助于将今论古、由此及彼,更直观地了解特提斯构造域的演化过程。本文按时间序列梳理了印度洋的大地构造演化和岩浆作用过程,识别了印度洋在155 Ma、120 Ma、90～84 Ma、76 Ma、65 Ma、52 Ma、45 Ma、38 Ma等关键时期的异常海底扩张记录,这些扩张事件将为标定新特提斯构造域的演化提供参照。其中155 Ma可能指示了新特提斯洋的鼎盛期,90 Ma指示了新特提斯洋的洋中脊俯冲,76～52 Ma是非洲-阿拉伯大陆与欧亚大陆初始碰撞-主碰撞(即新特提斯洋西部关闭)的时期,65～45 Ma是印度次大陆与欧亚大陆初始碰撞-主碰撞(即新特提斯洋中部关闭)的时期,38 Ma是澳大利亚北部大洋开始净俯冲(即新提斯洋东部开始消减)的时间。...     

Seafloor Geomorphology and Processes on the Western Continental Margin of India based on Multibeam Acoustic Backscatter Data Analysis

An assessment of the multibeam sonar data of the central Western Continental Margins of India has been carried out to evaluate the seafloor geomorphology and processes by examining the geomorphological attributes e.g., slope, sediments, structures, etc. associated with geomorphic features. The variation in relief and the features located in the region have been mapped and interpreted collectively by utilizing several geospatial mapping tools. The backscatter strength across the area, apparently congruent with the local relief, has helped to examine the sediment movement on the seafloor. The prominent features found in the region include faults, pockmarks, mounds, submarine terraces, and submerged fossil reefs. Several areas with varying topography engender comparable fractal dimension at short scale breaks, and the probability density functions (PDFs) utilizing backscatter data depicting overlapping classes. The present study highlights how fractals and scale break parameters can be utilized to determine the seafloor processes and associated sedimentological dynamics in a complex geographical environment with strong bottom currents, seasonal upwelling, and faulted structure. The role and impact of the various geomorphic processes on the reworking of sediment movement and the overall progression of the seafloor morphology has been revealed for the first time in this part of the ocean bottom.     

南海北部陆坡深水区浅层天然气藏特征

南海北部陆坡深水区的浅层天然气藏是一种伴随天然气水合物的新型油气藏, 具有埋藏浅、规模大的特点, 其埋藏深度一般小于300m。浅层天然气藏由深部裂解气沿断裂上升被天然气水合物封盖而形成, 识别似海底反射(BSR)是寻找浅层天然气藏有效方法。浅层天然气藏的气源主要有热解气、生物气和混合气, 陆坡张性断裂是气体运移的主要通道, 水合物下部的砂层是浅层天然气藏的主要储集层, 水合物层则是封盖层。从南海发现的天然气水合物分布特征看, 浅层天然气藏在陆坡深水区广泛分布且气藏厚度大, 潜在资源量非常可观, 是一种新型的开采成本相对低廉的油气藏。     

Biological structures as a source of habitat heterogeneity and biodiversity on the deep ocean margins

Biological structures exert a major influence on species diversity at both local and regional scales on deep continental margins. Some organisms use other species as substrates for attachment, shelter, feeding or parasitism, but there may also be mutual benefits from the association. Here, we highlight the structural attributes and biotic effects of the habitats that corals, sea pens, sponges and xenophyophores offer other organisms. The environmental setting of the biological structures influences their species composition. The importance of benthic species as substrates seems to increase with depth as the complexity of the surrounding geological substrate and food supply decline. There are marked differences in the degree of mutualistic relationships between habitat-forming taxa. This is especially evident for scleractinian corals, which have high numbers of facultative associates (commensals) and few obligate associates (mutualists), and gorgonians, with their few commensals and many obligate associates. Size, flexibility and architectural complexity of the habitat-forming organism are positively related to species diversity for both sessile and mobile species. This is mainly evident for commensal species sharing a facultative relationship with their host. Habitat complexity is enhanced by the architecture of biological structures, as well as by biological interactions. Colony morphology has a great influence on feeding efficiency for suspension feeders. Suspension feeding, habitat-forming organisms modify the environment to optimize their food uptake. This environmental advantage is also passed on to associated filter-feeding species. These effects are poorly understood but represent key points for understanding ecosystems and biodiversity on continental margins. In this paper we explore the contributions of organisms and the biotic structures they create (rather than physical modifications) to habitat heterogeneity and diversity on the deep continental margins.     

南极陆缘天然气水合物特征及资源前景

首先,根据地震反射剖面的似海底反射特征、深海钻探计划(DSDP)和大洋钻探计划(ODP)钻孔沉积物的高甲烷含量、高有机碳含量以及孔隙水盐度、氯离子浓度和硫酸根离子浓度异常等地球物理和地球化学证据推测,南极陆缘有7个潜在的天然气水合物分布区,它们分别为南设得兰陆缘、南极半岛的太平洋陆缘、罗斯海陆缘、威尔克斯地陆缘、普林斯湾陆缘、里瑟-拉森海陆缘和南奥克尼群岛东南陆缘等。其次,从气源条件、沉积条件、热流及温压条件和地质构造条件等对南极陆缘天然气水合物的成藏条件进行了分析,认为该陆缘具备天然气水合物形成和赋存的有利地质条件。最后,对南极陆缘天然气水合物的资源前景进行了探讨,认为其资源量非常可观。     

南海西北陆缘新型多金属结核的发现及意义

近年南海西北陆缘西沙东北海域发现大型多金属结核,尽管其外观与大洋结核别无二致,具有个体大、外部形态规整、层状结构清晰的特点,但其地球化学组成与大洋多金属结核存在明显差别:TMn/TFe的比值小,仅为0.73,富Fe、Si、Al、稀土元素而贫Mn、Cu、Co、Ni。Be同位素质谱法测年和钙质超微生物地层学方法研究表明,结核生长速度达7.41～15.38 mm/Ma,远大于大洋多金属结核的平均生长速率和以前发现于南海北部的多金属结核。依据其综合特征,初步认定其为边缘海区域赋存的一种新型多金属结核。该类型结核所蕴含丰富的边缘海区域古海洋、古气候、古环境信息,有助于探讨新生代末期青藏高原隆升、东亚季风加强、北半球冰期发生等重大地质事件所引起的区域沉积响应。