南海东北陆坡海底微地貌特征及其天然气渗漏模式

海底天然气渗漏是海洋环境中广泛分布的自然现象,在世界各大洋中都有发现。海底渗漏可以极大地改变海底地貌特征,形成多种与之相关的微地貌类型。海底渗漏和天然气水合物的赋存具有密切的关系,海底渗漏区常伴有埋藏浅、饱和度高的天然气水合物。对南海东北部陆坡海域浅地层剖面、多波束测深和地震反射剖面等资料进行综合研究,识别出海底麻坑、海底丘状体、大型海底圆丘、泥火山等与海底天然气渗漏有关的微地貌类型,且麻坑、海底丘状体／大型海底圆丘、泥火山微地貌分别代表了浅覆盖层快速天然气渗漏、浅覆盖层中等速度天然气渗漏和厚覆盖层快速天然气渗漏3种天然气渗漏模式。以海底丘状体微地貌及声空白反射特征的浅层天然气聚集带,成为块状水合物最理想的发育场所,这可能成为南海北部陆坡勘察块状水合物的重要识别标志。     

CMIP5模式对南海SST的模拟和预估

分析了32个CMIP5模式对南海历史海表温度(SST)的模拟能力和不同排放情景下未来SST变化的预估。通过检验各气候模式对南海历史SST增温趋势和均方差的模拟,发现大部分模式都能较好地模拟出南海20世纪历史SST的基本特征和变化规律,但也有部分模式的模拟存在较大偏差。尽管这些模拟偏差较大的模式对SST多模式集合平均的影响不大,但会增加未来情景预估的不确定性。剔除15个模式后,分析了南海SST在RCP26、RCP45和RCP85三种排放情景下的变化趋势,发现在未来百年呈明显的增温趋势,多模式集合平均的增温趋势分别为0.42、1.50和3.30℃/(100a)。这些增温趋势在空间上变化不大,但随时间并不是均匀变化的。在前两种排放情景下,21世纪前期的增温趋势明显强于后期,而在RCP85情景下,21世纪后期的增温趋势强于前期。     

2012年冬季菲律宾海浮游动物丰度和生物量的水平分布

为了解西太平洋菲律宾海浮游动物丰度和生物量的水平分布特征,于2012年11月26日至2012年12月12日对菲律宾海上层海洋(0—200m)的浮游动物进行了调查。调查站位分别位于受赤道逆流(NECC)、棉兰老流(MC)、北赤道流(NEC)和黑潮(KC)影响的海域。通过比较浮游动物的丰度和生物量(分别用干重,灰分,无灰干重和含能量等指标表示),探讨不同海流中浮游动物的分布特征。结果表明:桡足类、毛颚类和水母类是菲律宾海浮游动物的三大主要类群。调查海域浮游动物丰度为11—116ind./m3,NECC区平均丰度最高((96±28)ind./m3),然后依次是MC区和KC区,NEC区最小((26±9)ind./m3)。在浮游动物生物量(干重)方面,同样NECC区最高((3.25±1.11)mg/m3),其次为MC区,但是平均丰度最小的NEC区生物量超过KC区。造成这一差异的主要原因,可能是由于KC区的浮游动物具有更高的含水量以及较小个体所占比例较高。不同水团之间浮游动物灰分、无灰干重和含能量的分布特征与干重相一致。结合环境因子分析显示,上升流、叶绿素a、初级生产力、海流和温度等因素对浮游动物的分布具有一定影响。     

南海北部次表层高盐水的季节变化及其与西北太平洋环流的关系

次表层高盐水(34.68‰)作为北太平洋热带水(NPTW)的示踪,可用来研究黑潮入侵,了解南海与太平洋的水体交换。文章利用基于高分辨率混合坐标海洋模式(HYCOM)的海洋再分析资料,研究了南海北部次表层高盐水的季节变化及其影响因子。模拟结果显示,南海北部高盐水位于100~200m水深,最西可达111°E,其体积存在明显的季节变化,12月达到极大值,6月达到极小值。进一步的分析表明,其季节变化主要受低纬度西北太平洋大尺度环流的调制,与北赤道流分叉点位置的季节变化(1月到达最北端、6月到达最南端)呈现很好的相关性。受太平洋大尺度风场的影响,北赤道流分叉点上半年(下半年)向南(北)移动,导致黑潮输运增强(减弱),通过吕宋海峡进入南海的盐通量减少(增加),从而使南海次表层高盐水的盐度降低(升高)。吕宋海峡断面的流速和盐通量分布特征显示,西太平洋高盐水主要通过吕宋海峡中部(20°~21°18'N)进入南海北部。     

乳山湾邻近海域波浪特征要素规律研究

基于高分辨率MASNUM第三代海浪模式并根据Yuan等(2009)提出的波浪破碎统计物理模型,对乳山湾外海2008年各个季节波浪特征要素(有效波高和跨零周期等)与波浪破碎参数(白冠覆盖率、卷入深度和破碎能量损耗率)进行了数值模拟。利用Janson-1卫星高度计观测资料对有效波高模拟结果进行了检验,平均误差在0.17m左右。模拟结果显示,该海域波浪参数具有明显的季节变化特征,在2008-08乳山湾邻近海域受大风天气过程影响期间,有效波高在1.0~1.8m,破碎参数变化显著,白冠覆盖率最大达4.5%,卷入深度在1.5m以上,相应的破碎能量损耗率量值在6~11kg/s3。结果表明,波浪破碎过程对该区域海洋动力环境有着重要影响,是造成乳山湾口表层高溶解氧的可能机制之一。     

2011年南黄海辐射沙脊群海域浮游植物种类组成和密度的时空变化

于2011年2～12月,在南黄海辐射沙脊群海域设置6个采样站位,每逢双月份调查1次,研究该海域浮游植物密度及优势种的时空变化.调查共获得浮游植物87种,以硅藻种类最多.浮游植物密度呈周年双峰变化,分别在4月和8月成峰,4月峰值最大,水样浮游植物平均密度为1.59×104cells/dm3,网样浮游植物平均密度为2.71×106cells/m3,8月峰次之,水样浮游植物的平均密度为1.28×104cells/dm3,网样浮游植物平均密度为7.38×105cells/m3;浮游植物密度在2月和4月,北高南低,6月和8月中部高,外围较低,10月和12月南部高北部低.2月和4月,中肋骨条藻（Skeletonema costatum）为第一优势种,6月和12月虹彩圆筛藻（Coscinodiscus oculus-iridis）为第一优势种,8～10月琼氏圆筛藻（Coscinodiscus jonesianus）为第一优势种,枯水期（2月）铁氏束毛藻（Trichodesmium thiebautii）在局部海域形成优势.     

Seismic geomorphology,architecture and genesis of Miocene shelf sand ridges in the Pearl River Mouth Basin,northern South China Sea

Multiple stages of large-scale shelf sand ridges, including the shoreface-attached and the offshore types, have developed in the Miocene successions on the mid-shelf region of the Pear River Mouth Basin, northern South China Sea. Utilizing a high-quality 3D seismic data set, accompanying 2D seismic profiles and well logs, the morphology, architecture and genesis of these shelf sand ridges have been systematically investigated in this study. The ridges are of very large scale, with the largest one having a maximum height of 64 m, a width of more than 20 km and a length of 37 km within the 3D survey area. Being mound-shaped, they also display obvious asymmetry character, with the ridge crest preferentially located on the SE side. Three main internal components, including the ridge front, central ridge and the ridge tail, have been recognized through careful anatomy analysis of the two most well-imaged ridges, each displaying distinct expressions on seismic amplitudes and geometries. In the plan view, most of the shelf sand ridges are generally NE–SW oriented and widening to the SW direction. Scouring features can also be clearly observed along the SW direction, including scour depressions and linear sandy remnants. On well logs, the shelf sand ridges are represented by an overall coarsening-upward pattern. Intervals with blocky sandstones are preferentially present on higher locations due to a differential winnowing process controlled by shelf topography.Plenty of evidence indicates that these ridges were primarily formed by the reworking of forced regressive or lowstand deltaic deposits under a persistent southwesterly flowing current during the subsequent transgression. This very current is a composite one, which is speculated to consist of winter oceanic current, SCSBK (South China Sea Branch of Kuroshio) intrusion onto the shelf and internal waves propagating from the Luzon Strait. Tidal currents might have contributed to the SE growth of the ridge. In response to the reglaciation of Antarctic ice-sheet and the closure of Pacific-Indian ocean seaway in the middle Miocene, the intensification of the North Pacific western boundary current was considered to have potential links to the initiation of the shelf sand ridges at ∼12 Ma. The development of shelf ridges was terminated and replaced by rapid deltaic progradation at ∼5.5 Ma.     

Effects of cold eddy on phytoplankton production and assemblages in Luzon strait bordering the South China Sea

The biochemical effects of a cold-core eddy that was shed from the Kuroshio Current at the Luzon Strait bordering the South China Sea (SCS) were studied in late spring, a relatively unproductive season in the SCS. The extent of the eddy was determined by time-series images of SeaWiFS ocean color, AVHRR sea surface temperature, and TOPEX/Jason-1 sea surface height anomaly. Nutrient budgets, nitrate-based new production, primary production, and phytoplankton assemblages were compared between the eddy and its surrounding Kuroshio and SCS waters. The enhanced productivity in the eddy was comparable to wintertime productivity in the SCS basin, which is supported by upwelled subsurface nitrate under the prevailing Northeastern Monsoon. There were more Synechococcus, pico-eucaryotes, and diatoms, but less Trichodesmium in the surface water inside the eddy than outside. Prochlorococcus and Richelia intracellularis showed no spatial differences. Water column-integrated primary production (IPP) inside the eddy was 2–3 times that outside the eddy in the SCS (1.09 vs. 0.59 g C m⁻²d⁻¹), as was nitrate-based new production (INP) (0.67 vs. 0.25 g C m⁻²d⁻¹). INP in the eddy was 6 times that in the Kuroshio (0.12 g C m⁻²d⁻¹). IPP and INP in the eddy were higher than the maximum production values ever measured in the SCS basin. Surface chlorophyll a concentration (0.40 mg m⁻³) in the eddy equaled the maximum concentration registered for the SCS basin and was higher than the wintertime average (0.29 ± 0.04 mg m⁻³). INP was 3.5 times as great and IPP was doubled in the eddy compared to the wintertime SCS basin. As cold core eddies form intermittently all year round as the Kuroshio invades the SCS, their effects on phytoplankton productivity and assemblages are likely to have important influences on the biogeochemical cycle of the region.     

Numerical modeling of nonlinear water waves over heterogeneous porous beds

The transformation of nonlinear water waves over porous beds is studied by applying a numerical model based on Chen's [2006. Fully nonlinear Boussinesq-type equations for waves and currents over porous beds. Journal of Engineering Mechanics, 132:2, 220–230] Boussinesq-type equations for highly nonlinear waves on permeable beds. The numerical model uses a high-order time-marching solution and fourth-order finite-difference schemes for discretization of first-order spatial derivatives to obtain a computational accuracy consistent with the model equations. By forcing the wave celerity and spatial porous-damping rate of the linearized model to match the exact linear theory for horizontal porous bed over a prescribed range of relative depths, the values of the model parameters are optimally determined. Numerical simulations of the damped wave propagation over finite-thickness porous layer demonstrate the accuracy of both the numerical model and governing equations, which have been shown by prior theoretical analyses to be accurate for both nominal and thick porous layers. These simulations also elucidate on the significance of the higher-order porous-damping terms and the influence of the hydraulic parameters. Application of the model to the simulation of the wave field around a laboratory-scale submerged porous mound provides a measure of its capability, as well as useful insight into the scaling of the porous-resistance coefficients. For application to heterogeneous porous beds, the assumption of weak spatial variation of the porous resistance is examined using truncated forms of the governing equations. The results indicate that the complete set of Boussinesq-type equations is applicable to porous beds of nonhomogeneous makeup.     

Long-term changes in summer phytoplankton communities of the open northern Baltic Sea

Changes in the biomass and species composition of phytoplankton may reflect major shifts in environmental conditions. We investigated relationships between the late summer biomass of different phytoplankton taxa and environmental factors, and their long-term (1979–2003) trends in two areas of the Baltic Sea, the northern Baltic proper (NBP) and the Gulf of Finland (GF), with statistical analyses. An increasing trend was found in late summer temperature and chlorophyll a of the surface water layer (0–10 m) in both areas. There was also a significant decrease in summer salinity and an increase in winter dissolved inorganic nitrogen to phosphorus (DIN:DIP) ratio in the NBP, as well as increases in winter DIN concentrations and DIN:SiO₄ ratio in the GF. Simultaneously, the biomass of chrysophytes and chlorophytes increased in both areas. In the NBP, also the biomass of dinophytes increased and that of euglenophytes decreased, whereas in the GF, cyanobacteria increased and cryptophytes decreased. Redundancy analysis (RDA) indicated that summer temperature and winter DIN concentration were the most important factors with respect to changes in the phytoplankton community structure. Thus, the phytoplankton communities seem to reflect both hydrographic changes and the ongoing eutrophication process in the northern Baltic Sea.