Inferring the mass fraction of floc-deposited mud: application to fine-grained turbidites

Fine sediment deposition in the ocean is complicated by the cohesive nature of muds and their tendency to flocculate. The result is disaggregated inorganic grain size (DIGS) distributions of bottom sediment that are influenced by single‐grain and floc deposition. This study outlines a parametric model that characterizes bottom sediment DIGS distributions. Modelled parameters are then used to infer depositional conditions that account for the regional variation in the grain sizes deposited by turbidity currents on the Laurentian Fan–Sohm Abyssal Plain, offshore south‐eastern Canada. Results indicate that, on the channellized Laurentian Fan, the mass fraction of floc‐deposited mud increases only slightly downslope. The small evolution in this fraction arises because sediment concentration and turbulent energy are associated in turbidity currents. On the Sohm Abyssal Plain, however, the mass fraction of floc‐deposited mud decreases, probably as a result of lower sediment concentration at this source‐distal site. Estimates of the mass fraction of mud deposited as flocs suggest that floc deposition is the dominant mode by which sediment is lost from suspension, although single‐grain deposition contributes more to the depositional flux in proximal areas where high energy breaks flocs and in distal areas where low sediment concentration limits floc formation. It is concluded that, throughout the dispersal system, changes in the fraction of flocculated mud deposited from turbidity currents reflect changes in sediment concentration and energy downslope.     

任意荷载下欠固结地基的非线性一维固结

根据Gibson得到的固相坐标z下的非线性固结控制方程,运用Laplace变换求解了在任意荷载作用下的单层饱水欠固结地基一维非线性变形问题;通过Laplace逆变换,求得单层饱水欠固结地基在任意荷载作用下的一维非线性固结解。结合单层地基在几种常见荷载作用下固结变形的算例,对解进行了探讨,揭示了任意变荷载作用下单层饱和软粘土欠固结地基一维非线性固结的特性,得到了一些可用于指导工程实践的有益结论。     

河流深槽沉积体与油气的关系——以辽河坳陷大25井区为例

河流深槽沉积体是河流沉积的一种特殊沉积体。辽河坳陷第三纪断裂活动强烈，火山岩广泛分布，形成了独特的地貌条件，具备形成河流深槽沉积体的地质条件。本文以辽河坳陷东部凹陷大２５井区为例，对河流深槽沉积体的成因及特征进行探讨，证实了大２５井区巨厚砂砾岩沉积是河流在火山岩古地形的限制下发生急转弯，在其变曲河段的深槽中沉积的深槽沉积体。该沉积体中发育良好的储集空间，有利于油气储集。该类储集体的发现，丰富了辽河坳陷的储层类型，为油气勘探提供了新的领域。     

西沙地块海底地震仪转换横波的数据处理与震相识别

主动源海底地震仪（OBS）转换横波震相的分析和模拟,能够从泊松比的角度更准确地约束地下结构和物质组成,有助于地壳精细结构和构造属性的研究.本文对南海北部陆缘西沙地块的OBS2013-3测线进行了转换横波数据处理和分析,通过能量扫描法求取极化角,并对OBS水平分量数据进行旋转,获取了径向分量数据.结合本测线的地质情况,求解佐布里兹（Zoeppritz）方程,得到了不同转换模式的能量分配关系,定量地指示了沉积基底和海底面为主导的P-S转换界面,Moho面为次一级转换界面.在OBS2013-3测线的各个台站径向分量地震剖面上识别出了一系列PPS和PSS型转换震相,最大偏移距达到130km,并进行了初步的正演模拟试算和验证.结合本测线实际情况,对OBS转换横波研究的基础问题进行了探讨.这些工作为后续的二维横波速度结构和泊松比结构模拟、物质组成和地壳属性分析打下了坚实的基础,为研究方法的进一步完善提供思路.

     

Exploring the interaction of surface roughness and slope gradient in controlling rates of soil loss from sloping farmland on the Loess Plateau of China

Surface roughness and slope gradient are two important factors influencing soil erosion. The objective of this study was to investigate the interaction of surface roughness and slope gradient in controlling soil loss from sloping farmland due to water erosion on the Loess Plateau, China. Following the surface features of sloping farmland in the plateau region, we manually prepared rough surfaces using four tillage practices (contour drilling, artificial digging, manual hoeing, and contour plowing), with a smooth surface as the control measure. Five slope gradients (3°, 5°, 10°, 15°, and 20°) and two rainfall intensities (60 and 90 mm/hr) were considered in the artificial rainfall simulation experiment. The results showed that the runoff volume and sediment yield increased with increasing slope gradient under the same tillage treatment. At gentle slope gradients (e.g., 3° and 5°), the increase in surface roughness prevented the runoff and sediment production, that is, the surface roughness reduced the positive effect of slope gradient on the runoff volume and sediment yield to a certain extent. At steep slope gradients, however, the enhancing effect of slope gradient on soil erosion gradually increased and surpassed the reduction effect of surface roughness. This study reveals the existence of a critical slope gradient that influences the interaction of surface roughness and slope gradient in controlling soil erosion on sloping farmland. If the slope gradient is equal to or less than the critical value, an increase in surface roughness would decrease soil erosion. Otherwise, the increase in surface roughness would be ineffective for preventing soil erosion. The critical slope gradient would be smaller under higher rainfall intensity. These findings are helpful for us to understand the process of soil erosion and relevant for supporting soil and water conservation in the Loess Plateau region of China.     

Temporal variation of soil erosion resistance on sloping farmland during the growth stages of maize (Zea mays L.)

Maize growth has great effects on soil properties and thus likely induces the changes in soil erosion resistance on sloping farmland. However, temporal variation of soil erosion resistance during the growth stages of maize is still unclear in the mountainous yellow soil area where maize is the dominant crop. In this study, four maize plots (MP) and four bare land plots (CK) were conducted to investigate soil erosion resistance, and multiple indicators of soil erosion resistance were measured including the total soil anti-scourability (TAS), mean weight diameter (MWD), soil erodibility K factor and soil shear strength (SH). A comprehensive soil erosion resistance index (CSERI) was employed to quantify the temporal variation of soil erosion resistance during the growth stages of maize (seedling stage, SS; jointing stage, JS; tasselling stage, TS; maturing stage, MS). The results showed that TAS, MWD, SH increased significantly with maize growth and SH decreased when at MS. But K factor decreased significantly over time. CSERI increased significantly during the growth stages of maize and the CSERI of JS, TS, MS increased on average by 74.72, 180.68 and 234.57% than that of SS. Compared to CK, CSERI of MP increased by 49.90, 66.82, 55.60 and 38.61% during the growth stages of maize. The temporal variation of soil erosion resistance was closely related to the changes in maize cover, maize roots and soil organic carbon. The findings demonstrated that it is necessary to consider the temporal variation of soil erosion resistance in the mountainous yellow soil area.     

Flow processes and sedimentation in unidirectionally migrating deep‐water channels: From a three‐dimensional seismic perspective

Three‐dimensional seismic data were used to infer how bottom currents control unidirectional channel migration. Bottom currents flowing towards the steep bank would deflect the upper part of sediment gravity flows at an orientation of 1° to 11° to the steep bank, yielding a helical flow circulation consisting of a faster near‐surface flow towards the steep bank and a slower basal return flow towards the gentle bank. This helical flow model is evidenced by the occurrence of bigger, muddier (suggested by low‐amplitude seismic reflections) lateral accretion deposits and gentle channel wall with downlap terminations on the gentle bank and by smaller, sandier (indicated by high‐amplitude seismic reflectors) channel fills and steep channel walls with truncation terminations on the steep bank. This helical flow circulation promotes asymmetrical depositional patterns with dipping accretion sets restricted to the gentle bank, which restricts the development of sinuosity and yields unidirectional channel migration. These results aid in obtaining a complete picture of flow processes and sedimentation in submarine channels.     

Southwestward intrusion of korea strait bottom cold water observed in 2003 and 2004

Hydrographic surveys were carried out four times in the western channel of the Korea Strait in March and August 2003 and in June and November 2004. The bottom cold water, which was lower than 10°C, appeared in the channel trough except in March 2003. It flowed southwestward along the shelf of Korean coasts in August 2003 and in November 2004. The width and the maximum speed of the intrusion current were about 20 km and approximately 25 cm s^-1, respectively, off Ulsan, Korea. The volume transport of the bottom cold water was estimated 0.019 Sv (Sv≡10⁶ m³ s^-1) in August 2003 and 0.026 Sv in November 2004.     

Analytical convolution model for shipping water evolution on a fixed structure

The shipping of water is a problem that affects naval and offshore structures. Estimating its propagation on the decks of these structures by using analytical methods has been a main concern of projects. However, classical approaches disregard the decay tendency of water elevation time series and tend to overestimate the resultant water on deck. This paper is concerned with estimating the evolution of water along the deck of a fixed structure due to shipping water events. An analytical convolution model is proposed to estimate water elevations. The model considers the freeboard exceedance time series and the mean shipping flow velocity as inputs and the frictional effects of the bottom by resistance coefficients, which enables an approximated representation of the water elevation time series over the deck. It was validated with experiments of isolated shipping water events that were generated with the wet dam-break approach. The results obtained with the proposed model captured the experimental results, approximating the peak values and the decay trend of time series. Improvement of the proposed approach over classical models to represent shipping water elevations was demonstrated by comparing the results obtained with those of the dam-break model of Stoker.     

Long-term bottom water warming in the north Ross Sea

We measured potential temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen profiles from the surface to the bottom at two locations in the north Ross Sea (65.2°S, 174.2°E and 67.2°S, 172.7°W) in December 2004. Comparison of our data with previous results from the same region reveals an increase in potential temperature and decreases in salinity and dissolved oxygen concentration in the bottom layer (deeper than 3000 m) over the past four decades. The changes were significantly different from the analytical precisions. Detailed investigation of the temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen and σ ₃ value distributions and the bottom water flow in the north Ross Sea suggests a long-term change in water mass mixing balance. That is to say, it is speculated that the influence of cool, saline, high-oxygen bottom water (high-salinity Ross Sea Bottom Water) formed in the southwestern Ross Sea has possibly been decreased, while the influences of relatively warmer and fresher bottom water (low-salinity Ross Sea Bottom Water) and the Adélie Land Bottom Water coming from the Australia-Antarctic Basin have increased. The possible impact of global warming on ocean circulation needs much more investigation.