On the geologic structure of the Explora Escarpment (Weddell Sea,Antarctica) revealed by satellite and Shipboard data evaluation

Bathymetric, gravity, and magnetic data from Antarctic expeditions with RV POLARSTERN and satellite altimeter data from the Geosat Geodetic Mission are analysed using methods from geostatistics and geophysical inverse theory.The Explora Escarpment represents the edge between the Antarctic Continental Shelf and the Weddell Abyssal Plain. It is an important link in the reconstruction of Gondwana breakup, but a feature as large as the 2000 m deep Wegener Canyon was only discovered in 1984, when extensive bathymetric, gravimetric, and magnetic surveys with RV POLARSTERN began.Geostatistics, the theory of regionalized variables, is applied to integrate dense surveys of Wegener Canyon and sparse observations in adjacent areas into maps with full coverage of the 230 km by 330 km area at 10°–20° W/70°–72° S. The resultant highresolution bathymetric and gravity maps reveal detailed structures of the Explora Escarpment. Using geophysical inversion, the gravity terrain effect is calculated. Satellite data are used for their better coverage, but have much lower resolution. Nevertheless, the structures of Wegener Canyon and other more prominent features appear with surprisingly good correlation also in the Geosat altimeter data. While it was initially supposed that Wegener Canyon is purely an erosional structure, the magnetic map now provides evidence of the canyon's tectonic origin.     

Hydrologic and geomorphic processes in the Colville River delta, Alaska

The Colville basin drains the North Slope of Alaska and is one of several large Arctic river systems located within permafrost. The timing and style of fluvial processes in the earth's permafrost regions differ from those occurring in midlatitude settings. Moreover, in comparison to temperate-zone systems, rivers located entirely within permafrost perform most of their work during relatively short periods of time. This paper examines river ice hydrology and the resulting geomorphic processes that occur within the Colville delta, Alaska. Fluvial processes and landform development within the Colville delta occur after the flood-pulse is initiated by the breakup of river ice. During this 4-month period, the geomorphic processes are largely influenced by the movement of ice. The flood-pulse and accompanying river ice influences erosional and depositional processes and results in unique styles of sediment transport, deposition, and riverbank erosion.     

西昆仑北缘新元古代片麻状花岗岩锆石SHRIMP年龄及其意义

在西昆仑北缘早前寒武纪变质地层中,笔者等识别出大量不同时代的片麻状花岗岩,其中包括新元古代片麻状花岗岩。获得最新的新元古代片麻状花岗岩的单颗粒锆石SHRIMP年龄为815±57Ma,片麻状花岗岩的岩石学特征反映它们形成于裂解构造背景,结合对区域上新元古代地层及中元古代末期构造事件的研究,笔者认为新元古代片麻状花岗岩反映了古塔里木板块作为Rodinia超大陆一员发生裂解的时间,这对研究古塔里木板块在Rodinia超大陆中的位置及中国Rodinia超大陆裂解的研究提供了重要的地质依据。     

The dominant driving force for supercontinent breakup: Plume push or subduction retreat?

Understanding the dominant force responsible for supercontinent breakup is crucial for establishing Earth's geodynamic evolution that includes supercontinent cycles and plate tectonics. Conventionally,two forces have been considered: the push by mantle plumes from the sub-continental mantle which is called the active force for breakup, and the dragging force from oceanic subduction retreat which is called the passive force for breakup. However, the relative importance of these two forces is unclear. Here we model the supercontinent breakup coupled with global mantle convection in order to address this question. Our global model features a spherical harmonic degree-2 structure, which includes a major subduction girdle and two large upwelling(superplume) systems. Based on this global mantle structure,we examine the distribution of extensional stress applied to the supercontinent by both subsupercontinent mantle upwellings and subduction retreat at the supercontinent peripheral. Our results show that:(1) at the center half of the supercontinent, plume push stress is ～3 times larger than the stress induced by subduction retreat;(2) an average hot anomaly of no higher than 50 K beneath the supercontinent can produce a push force strong enough to cause the initialization of supercontinent breakup;(3) the extensional stress induced by subduction retreat concentrates on a ～600 km wide zone on the boundary of the supercontinent, but has far less impact to the interior of the supercontinent. We therefore conclude that although circum-supercontinent subduction retreat assists supercontinent breakup, sub-supercontinent mantle upwelling is the essential force.     

Mesoproterozoic Earthquake Events and Breakup of the Sino-Korean Plate

In the Mesoproterozoic time, the northern part of the Sino-Korean Plate experienced a period of intensive tectonic extension and breakup. 1. An abundance of sedimentary earthquake records is preserved in the Chuanlinggou, Tuanshanzi and Gaoyuzhuang formations in the Mesoproterozoic Changcheng System （1800-1400 Ma） and in the Mesoproterozoic Wumishan Formation of the Jixian System （1400-1000 Ma）. These earthquake records are characterized by various liquefied sand-veins, carbonate microspar and coarser spar veins, limestone dikes, liquefied breccia and various forms of liquefied contorted bedding. This deformation is always associated with synsedimentary faults and igneous activity. 2. Three liquefaction models for soft carbonate sediments are recognized, including liquefaction in laminated carbonate rocks, liquefaction in thin-bedded carbonates and large-scale liquefaction along huge carbonate dikes. 3. Based on the record of earthquake and volcanic activities, the Sino-Korean Plate experienced at least twice intraplate breakups. One occurred between 1800-1400 Ma, and the other occurred at about 1200 Ma. The last breakup resulted in formation of the Yan-Liao aulacogen, a tectonic zone characterized by deeper material vibrancy, active faults, major igneous activity and frequent earthquakes.     

南海大洋钻探及海洋地质与地球物理前沿研究新突破

南海是西太平洋地区规模最大且具有代表性的边缘海盆地之一。经过近几十年的研究积累,尤其是通过实施5个国际大洋钻探航次(1999–2018年)与国家自然科学基金委“南海深海过程演变”重大研究计划(2011–2019年),我国科学家获得了大量宝贵的第一手资料,取得了一系列创新进展与重大突破,标志着南海海洋地质与地球物理研究正走向国际前沿。重要研究成果包括:(1)新提出南海是“板缘张裂”盆地,与经典的大西洋型陆缘模式不同;(2)大洋钻探首次获取了基底玄武岩样品,结合中国在南海首次深拖地磁测量实验,精确测定了南海海盆玄武岩年龄,揭示南海海盆从东向西分段扩张;(3)大洋钻探结果发现南海陆缘岩石圈减薄之初岩浆迅速出现,未发现缓慢破裂造成的蛇纹岩出露;(4)发现南海扩张结束后仍存在大量岩浆活动,可能受控于多种构造与地幔因素;(5)地球化学证据与地球动力学模拟都显示南海岩浆的形成受到周边俯冲带的影响。目前我国的海洋地球科学正在进入崭新的发展阶段,有望以南海为基点,开始拓展到周边大洋,通过主导大型研究计划以及建设我国大洋钻探平台,以提升我国在南海、西太平洋与印度洋海洋地质科学研究的实质性影响力与引领地位。     

五台山区太古宙/元古宙界线划分及其地球演化意义

太古宙/元古宙界线代表地球演化历史上的重大事件,如何准确标定和划分这一界线对认识早期演化历史具有重要意义。区域构造及同位素地质年代学研究表明,华北克拉通新太古代构造演化明显滞后于欧美澳等克拉通,成为有利于建立太古宙/元古宙界线的关键地区。山西五台山区保留了较完整的新太古代-古元古代地层记录。先前研究主要依据该区地层、区域构造、叠层石记录进行界线划分,并对界线争议较多。本文在五台山区长期野外研究的基础上,通过对磨拉石沉积、同构造花岗岩、裂解环境相关玄武岩的综合探讨,建议这一界线划分在东冶亚群与豆村亚群之间。初步的同位素年龄制约表明,这一界线的时代介于2549±22Ma到2450±10Ma之间,与早期大陆克拉通伸展裂解、隆升剥蚀相关,并涉及岩石圈、水圈、大气圈性质的重大变化。     

Middle-high latitude N2O distributions related to the Arctic vortex breakup

The relationship of N2O distributions with the Arctic vortex breakup is first analyzed with a probability distribution function （PDF） analysis. The N2O concentration shows different distributions between the early and late vortex breakup years. In the early breakup years, the N2O concentration shows low values and large dispersions after the vortex breakup, which is related to the inhomogeneity in the vertical advection in the middle and high latitude lower stratosphere. The horizontal diffusion coefficient （Kyy） shows a larger value accordingly. In the late breakup years, the N2O concentration shows high values and more uniform distributions than in the early years after the vortex breakup, with a smaller vertical advection and Kyy after the vortex breakup. It is found that the N2O distributions are largely affected by the Arctic vortex breakup time but the dynamically defined vortex breakup time is not the only factor.     

Rodinia超大陆构造演化研究的新进展和主要目标

概略评述了1997年以来国际上有关Rodinia超大陆构造演化问题的研究成果，并提出今后工作的主要目标。Rodinia超大陆的聚合造山发生在1300－1000Ma，基本形式表现为早期弧一陆碰撞和晚期陆－陆碰撞，并在1000－900Ma继以伸展作用。Rodinia超大陆的裂解发生于830Ma之后，但其过程具有明显的时，空分布不均一性，地幔柱可能是导致超大陆裂解的主要机制，大火成岩省”是地幔柱发育的关键性标志，已经初步证实裂解过程影响地球大气圈和水圈中二氧化碳的循环，进而改变晚前寒武纪的全球气候，控制生物圈的兴衰和岩石圈表层的碳酸盐，铁，锰和磷等沉积，这些现象可用“雪球化地球”（Snowball Earth)模式概括。     

陕西周户地区“秦岭群”的解体

根据区内传统秦岭群包含不同原岩建造、不同变质岩石组合以及变形变质、副矿物和微量元素特征的差异，将其解作为丹凤岩群、深成侵入体、浅成一超浅成侵入体、片麻岩套等5个部分，首次区分出两类不同性质的混合岩，确认了秦岭群在该区的存在。