A total of 10 specimens of Alcyonacea corals were collected at depths ranging from 905 m to 1633 m by the manned submersible Shenhai Yongshi during two cruises in the South China Sea(SCS).Based on mitochondrial genomi...A total of 10 specimens of Alcyonacea corals were collected at depths ranging from 905 m to 1633 m by the manned submersible Shenhai Yongshi during two cruises in the South China Sea(SCS).Based on mitochondrial genomic characteristics,morphological examination,and sclerite scanning electron microscopy,the samples were categorized into four suborders(Calcaxonia,Holaxonia,Scleraxonia,and Stolonifera),and identified as 9 possible new cold-water coral species.Assessments of GC-skew dissimilarity,phylogenetic distance,and average nucleotide identity(ANI)revealed a slow evolutionary rate for the octocoral mitochondrial sequences.The nonsynonymous(Ka)to synonymous(Ks)substitution ratio(Ka/Ks)suggested that the 14 protein-coding genes(PCGs)were under purifying selection,likely due to specific deep-sea environmental pressures.Correlation analysis of the median Ka/Ks values of five gene families and environmental factors indicated that the genes encoding cytochrome b(cyt b)and DNA mismatch repair protein(mutS)may be influenced by environmental factors in the context of deep-sea species formation.This study highlights the slow evolutionary pace and adaptive mechanisms of deep-sea corals.展开更多
Manganese superoxide dismutase(MnSOD)is an antioxidant that exists in mitochondria and can effectively remove superoxide anions in mitochondria.In a dark,high-pressure,and low-temperature deep-sea environment,MnSOD is...Manganese superoxide dismutase(MnSOD)is an antioxidant that exists in mitochondria and can effectively remove superoxide anions in mitochondria.In a dark,high-pressure,and low-temperature deep-sea environment,MnSOD is essential for the survival of sea cucumbers.Six MnSODs were identified from the transcriptomes of deep and shallow-sea sea cucumbers.To explore their environmental adaptation mechanism,we conducted environmental selection pressure analysis through the branching site model of PAML software.We obtained night positive selection sites,and two of them were significant(97F→H,134K→V):97F→H located in a highly conservative characteristic sequence,and its polarity c hange might have a great impact on the function of MnSOD;134K→V had a change in piezophilic a bility,which might help MnSOD adapt to the environment of high hydrostatic pressure in the deepsea.To further study the effect of these two positive selection sites on MnSOD,we predicted the point mutations of F97H and K134V on shallow-sea sea cucumber by using MAESTROweb and PyMOL.Results show that 97F→H,134K→V might improve MnSOD’s efficiency of scavenging superoxide a nion and its ability to resist high hydrostatic pressure by moderately reducing its stability.The above results indicated that MnSODs of deep-sea sea cucumber adapted to deep-sea environments through their amino acid changes in polarity,piezophilic behavior,and local stability.This study revealed the correlation between MnSOD and extreme environment,and will help improve our understanding of the organism’s adaptation mechanisms in deep sea.展开更多
Various geological processes and features that might inflict hazards identified in the South China Sea by using new technologies and methods.These features include submarine landslides,pockmark fields,shallow free gas...Various geological processes and features that might inflict hazards identified in the South China Sea by using new technologies and methods.These features include submarine landslides,pockmark fields,shallow free gas,gas hydrates,mud diapirs and earthquake tsunami,which are widely distributed in the continental slope and reefal islands of the South China Sea.Although the study and assessment of geohazards in the South China Sea came into operation only recently,advances in various aspects are evolving at full speed to comply with National Marine Strategy and‘the Belt and Road’Policy.The characteristics of geohazards in deep-water seafloor of the South China Sea are summarized based on new scientific advances.This progress is aimed to aid ongoing deep-water drilling activities and decrease geological risks in ocean development.展开更多
Compressed gas is usually used for the pressure compensation of the deep-sea pressure-maintaining sampler.The pressure and volume of the recovered fluid sample are highly related to the precharged gas. To better under...Compressed gas is usually used for the pressure compensation of the deep-sea pressure-maintaining sampler.The pressure and volume of the recovered fluid sample are highly related to the precharged gas. To better understand the behavior of the gas under high pressure, we present a new real gas state equation based on the compression factor Z which was derived from experimental data. Then theoretical calculation method of the pressure and volume of the sample was introduced based on this empirical gas state equation. Finally, the proposed calculation method was well verified by the high-pressure vessel experiment of the sampler under 115 MPa.展开更多
Trimethylamine N-oxide(TMAO)is one of the most important nutrients for bacteria in the deep-sea environment and is capable of improving pressure tolerance of certain bacterial strains.To assess the impact of TMAO on m...Trimethylamine N-oxide(TMAO)is one of the most important nutrients for bacteria in the deep-sea environment and is capable of improving pressure tolerance of certain bacterial strains.To assess the impact of TMAO on marine microorganisms,especially those dwelling in the deep-sea environment,we analyzed the bacterial community structure of deep-sea sediments after incubated under different conditions.Enrichments at 50 MPa and 0.1 MPa revealed that TMAO imposed a greater influence on bacterial diversity and community composition at atmospheric pressure condition than that under high hydrostatic pressure(HHP).We found that pressure was the primary factor that determines the bacterial community.Meanwhile,in total,238 bacterial strains were isolated from the enrichments,including 112 strains a ffiliated to 16 genera of 4 phyla from the Yap Trench and 126 strains a ffiliated to 11 genera of 2 phyla from the Mariana Trench.Treatment of HHP reduced both abundance and diversity of isolates,while the presence of TMAO mainly af fected the diversity of isolates obtained.In addition,certain genera were isolated only when TMAO was supplemented.Taken together,we demonstrated that pressure primarily defines the bacterial community and culturable bacterial isolates.Furthermore,we showed for the first time that TMAO had distinct influences on bacterial community depending on the pressure condition.The results enriched the understanding of the significance of TMAO in bacterial adaptation to the deep-sea environment.展开更多
This paper presents autonomous docking of an inhouse built resident Remotely Operated Vehicle(ROV),called Rover ROV,through acoustic guided techniques.A novel cage-type docking station has been developed.The docking s...This paper presents autonomous docking of an inhouse built resident Remotely Operated Vehicle(ROV),called Rover ROV,through acoustic guided techniques.A novel cage-type docking station has been developed.The docking station can be placed on a deep-sea lander,taking the Rover ROV to the seafloor.Instead of using vision-based pose estimation techniques and expensive navigation sensors,the Rover ROV docking adopts an ultra-short baseline(USBL)and low-cost inertial sensors to build an adaptive fault-tolerant integrated navigation system.To solve the problem of sonar-based failure positioning,the measurement residuals are exploited to detect measurement faults.Then,an adaptation scheme for estimating the statistical characteristics of noise in real-time is proposed,which can provide robust and smooth positioning results.It is more suitable for a compact and low-cost deep-sea resident ROV.Field experiments have been conducted successfully in the Qiandao Lake and the South China Sea area with a depth of 3000 m,respectively.The experimental results show that the functionality of autonomous docking has been achieved.Under the guidance of the navigation system,the Rover ROV can autonomously and efficiently return to the docking station within a range of 100 m even when the amounts of outliers exist in the acoustic positioning data.These achievements can be applied to current ROVs by an easy retrofit.展开更多
Trimethylamine N-oxide(TMAO) is widely dispersed in marine environments and plays an important role in the biogeochemical cycle of nitrogen. Diverse marine bacteria utilize TMAO as carbon and nitrogen sources or as el...Trimethylamine N-oxide(TMAO) is widely dispersed in marine environments and plays an important role in the biogeochemical cycle of nitrogen. Diverse marine bacteria utilize TMAO as carbon and nitrogen sources or as electron acceptor in anaerobic respiration. Alteration of respiratory component according to the pressure is a common trait of deep-sea bacteria. Deep-sea bacteria from dif ferent genera harbor high hydrostatic pressure(HHP) inducible TMAO reductases that are assumed to be constitutively expressed in the deep-sea piezosphere and facilitating quick reaction to TMAO released from ?sh which is a potential nutrient for bacterial growth. However, whether deep-sea bacteria universally employ this strategy remains unknown. In this study, 237 bacterial strains affliated to 23 genera of Proteobacteria,Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes and Actinobacteria were isolated from seawater, sediment or amphipods collected at dif ferent depths. The pressure tolerance and the utilization of TMAO were examined in 74 strains. The results demonstrated no apparent correlation between the depth where the bacteria inhabit and their pressure tolerance, regarding to our samples. Several deep-sea strains from the genera of Alteromonas, Halomonas,Marinobacter, Photobacterium, and Vibrio showed capacity of TMAO utilization, but none of the isolated Acinebacter, Bacillus, Brevundimonas, Muricauda, Novosphingobium, Rheinheimera, Sphingobium and Stenotrophomonas did, indicating the utilization of TMAO is a species-speci?c feature. Furthermore, we noticed that the ability of TMAO utilization varied among strains of the same species. TMAO has greater impact on the growth of deep-sea isolates of Vibrio neocaledonicus than shallow-water isolates. Taken together, the results describe for the ?rst time the TMAO utilization in deep-sea bacterial strains, and expand our understanding of the physiological characteristic of marine bacteria.展开更多
The Mariana Trench,the deepest trench on the earth,is ideal for deep-sea adaptation research due to its unique characters,such as the highest hydrostatic pressure on the Earth,constant ice-cold temperature,and eternal...The Mariana Trench,the deepest trench on the earth,is ideal for deep-sea adaptation research due to its unique characters,such as the highest hydrostatic pressure on the Earth,constant ice-cold temperature,and eternal darkness.In this study,tissues of a the hadal holothurian(Paelopatides sp.)were fi xed with RNA later in situ at~6501-m depth in the Mariana Trench,which,to our knowledge,is the deepest in-situ fi xed animal sample.A high-quality transcript was obtained by de-novo transcriptome assembly.A maximum likelihood tree was constructed based on the single copy orthologs across nine species with their available omics data.To investigate deep-sea adaptation,113 positively selected genes(PSGs)were identifi ed in Paelopatides sp.Some PSGs such as microphthalmia-associated transcription factor(MITF)may contribute to the distinct phenotype of Paelopatides sp.,including its translucent white body and degenerated ossicles.At least eight PSGs(transcription factor 7-like 2[TCF7L2],ETS-related transcription factor Elf-2-like[ELF2],PERQ amino acid-rich with GYF domain-containing protein[GIGYF],cytochrome c oxidase subunit 7a,[COX7A],type I thyroxine 5′-deiodinase[DIO1],translation factor GUF1[GUF1],SWI/SNF related-matrix-associated actin-dependent regulator of chromatin subfamily C and subfamily E,member 1[SMARCC]and[SMARCE1])might be related to cold adaptation.In addition,at least nine PSGs(cell cycle checkpoint control protein[RAD9A],replication factor A3[RPA3],DNA-directed RNA polymerases I/II/III subunit RPABC1[POLR2E],putative TAR DNA-binding protein 43 isoform X2[TARDBP],ribonucleoside-diphosphate reductase subunit M1[RRM1],putative serine/threonine-protein kinase[SMG1],transcriptional regulator[ATRX],alkylated DNA repair protein alkB homolog 6[ALKBH6],and PLAC8 motif-containing protein[PLAC8])may facilitate the repair of DNA damage induced by the high hydrostatic pressure,coldness,and high concentration of cadmium in the upper Mariana Trench.展开更多
Some deep-sea microbes may incorporate inorganic carbon to reduce CO_(2) emission to upper layer and atmosphere.How the microbial inhabitants can be affected under addition of bicarbonate has not been studied using in...Some deep-sea microbes may incorporate inorganic carbon to reduce CO_(2) emission to upper layer and atmosphere.How the microbial inhabitants can be affected under addition of bicarbonate has not been studied using in situ fixed and lysed samples.In this study,we cultivated 40 L natural bottom water at~1000 m depth with a final concentration of 0.1 mmol/L bicarbonate for 40 min and applied multiple in situ nucleic acids collection(MISNAC)apparatus for nucleic acids extraction from the cultivation.Our classification result of the cultivation sample showed a distinct microbial community structure,compared with the samples obtained by Niskin bottle and six working units of MISNAC.Except for notable enrichment of Alteromonas,we detected prevalence of Asprobacter,Ilumatobacter and Saccharimonadales in the cultivation.Deep-sea lineages of Euryarchaeota,SAR406,SAR202 and SAR324 were almost completely absent from the cultivation and Niskin samples.This study revealed the dominant microbes affected by bicarbonate addition and Niskin sampling,which suggested rapid responses of deep-sea microbes to the environmental changes.展开更多
Based on high-resolution 3D seismic data acquired in the Pearl(Zhujiang)River Mouth Basin of the northern South China Sea,this study investigated the geometry,spatial extension,and throw distribution of the post-rift ...Based on high-resolution 3D seismic data acquired in the Pearl(Zhujiang)River Mouth Basin of the northern South China Sea,this study investigated the geometry,spatial extension,and throw distribution of the post-rift normal fault through detailed seismic interpretation and fault modeling.A total of 289 post-rift normal faults were identified in the study area and can be classified into four types:(1)isolated normal faults above the carbonate platform;(2)isolated normal faults cutting through the carbonate platform;(3)conjugate normal faults,and(4)connecting normal faults.Throw distribution analysis on the fault planes show that the vertical throw profiles of most normal fault exhibit flat-topped profiles.Isolated normal faults above the carbonate platform exhibit roughly concentric ellipses with maximum throw zones in the central section whereas the normal faults cutting through the carbonate platform miss the lowermost section due to the chaotic seismic reflections in the interior of the carbonate platform.The vertical throws of conjugate normal faults anomalously decrease toward their intersection region on the fault plane whereas the connecting normal faults present two maximum throw zones in the central section of the fault plane.According to the symmetric elliptical distribution model of fault throw,an estimation was made indicating that normal faults cutting through the carbonate platform extended downward between-1308 s and-1780 s(two-way travel time)in depth and may not penetrate the entire Liuhua carbonate platform.Moreover,it is observed that the distribution of karst caves on the top of the carbonate platform disaccord with those of hydrocarbon reservoirs and the post-rift normal faults cutting through the carbonate platform in the study area.We propose that these karst caves formed most probably by corrosive fluids derived from magmatic activities during the Dongsha event,rather than pore waters or hydrocarbons.展开更多
Iddingsitization is an aqueous alteration that is known to take place in meteorites and continental basalts providing a potential habitat for microbial life.However,little is known about the exact mode by which this r...Iddingsitization is an aqueous alteration that is known to take place in meteorites and continental basalts providing a potential habitat for microbial life.However,little is known about the exact mode by which this reaction occurs in the hadal seafloor and its implication for the deep subsurface biosphere.A comprehensive investigation of hadal basalts from the southern Mariana Trench(SMT)conducted with microscopic examinations shows that iddingsite occurs as augite-hosted veins,rims,and mineral grains formed completely in place of augite within the SMT basalts.Carbon geochemistry indicates that organic matter with homogenousδ^(13)C values between−27.8‰and−27.2‰might be biogenically accumulated in the SMT basalts.Furthermore,the close spatial relationships between carbonaceous matter(CM)and goethite in iddingsite point to microbial attachment to iddingsite minerals.Thus,iddingsitization might have fueled H_(2)-utilizing microorganisms inhabiting the hadal oceanic crust,thereby leading to the formation of CM,as implied by oxygen isotopic compositions revealing low alteration temperatures(32-83℃)favorable for microbial growth.In all,microbial biosignatures associated with iddingsite in the SMT basalts are highlighted,and these results could pave the way for deciphering the deep subsurface biosphere at hadal zones.展开更多
This study investigates the activity of tropical cyclones(TCs)in the Bay of Bengal(BOB)from 1979 to 2018 to discover the mechanism affecting the contribution rate to the meridional moisture budget anomaly(MMBA)over th...This study investigates the activity of tropical cyclones(TCs)in the Bay of Bengal(BOB)from 1979 to 2018 to discover the mechanism affecting the contribution rate to the meridional moisture budget anomaly(MMBA)over the southern boundary of the Tibetan Plateau(SBTP).May and October–December are the bimodal phases of BOB TC frequency,which decreases month by month from October to December and is relatively low in May.However,the contribution rate to the MMBA is the highest in May.The seasonal variation in the meridional position of the westerlies is the key factor affecting the contribution rate.The relatively southern(northern)position of the westerlies in November and December(May)results in a lower(higher)contribution rate to the MMBA.This mechanism is confirmed by the momentum equation.When water vapor enters the westerlies near the trough line,the resultant meridional acceleration is directed north.It follows that the farther north the trough is,and the farther north the water vapor can be transported.When water vapor enters the westerlies from the area near the ridge line,for Type-T(Type-R)TCs,water vapor enters the westerlies downstream of the trough(ridge).Consequently,the direction of the resultant meridional acceleration is directed south and the resultant zonal acceleration is directed east(west),which is not conducive to the northward transport of water vapor.This is especially the case if the trough or ridge is relatively south,as the water vapor may not cross the SBTP.展开更多
Equipment used in underwater sensing and exploration typically relies on cables or batteries for energy supply,resulting in a limited and inconvenient energy supply and marine environmental pollution that hinder the s...Equipment used in underwater sensing and exploration typically relies on cables or batteries for energy supply,resulting in a limited and inconvenient energy supply and marine environmental pollution that hinder the sustainable development of distributed ocean sensing networks.Here,we design a deep-sea differential-pressure triboelectric nanogenerator(DP-TENG)based on a spiral shaft drive using modified polymer materials to harness the hydrostatic pressure gradient energy at varying ocean depths to power underwater equipment.The spiral shaft structure converts a single compression into multiple rotations of the TENG rotor,achieving efficient conversion of differential pressure energy.The multi-pair electrode design enables the DP-TENG to generate a peak current of 61.7μA,the instantaneous current density can reach 0.69μA cm^(-2),and the output performance can be improved by optimizing the spiral angle of the shaft.The DP-TENG can charge a 33μF capacitor to 17.5 V within five working cycles.It can also power a digital calculator and light up 116 commercial power light-emitting diodes,demonstrating excellent output capability.With its simple structure,low production cost,and small form factor,the DP-TENG can be seamlessly integrated with underwater vehicles.The results hold broad prospects for underwater blue energy harvesting and are expected to contribute to the development of self-powered equipment toward emerging“smart ocean”and blue economy applications.展开更多
Recent and paleo-submarine landslides are widely distributed within strata in deep-water areas along continental slopes, uplifts, and carbonate platforms on the north continental margin of the South China Sea(SCS). In...Recent and paleo-submarine landslides are widely distributed within strata in deep-water areas along continental slopes, uplifts, and carbonate platforms on the north continental margin of the South China Sea(SCS). In this paper, high-resolution 3D seismic data and multibeam data based on seismic sedimentology and geomorphology are employed to assist in identifying submarine landslides. In addition, deposition models are proposed that are based on specific geological structures and features, and which illustrate the local stress field over entire submarine landslides in deep-water areas of the SCS. The SCS is one of the largest fluvial sediment sinks in enclosed or semi-enclosed marginal seas worldwide. It therefore provides a set of preconditions for the formation of submarine landslides, including rapid sediment accumulation, formation of gas hydrates, and fluid overpressure. A new concept involving temporal and spatial analyses is tested to construct a relationship between submarine landslides and different time scale trigger mechanisms, and three mechanisms are discussed in the context of spatial scale and temporal frequency: evolution of slope gradient and overpressure, global environmental changes, and tectonic events. Submarine landslides that are triggered by tectonic events are the largest but occur less frequently, while submarine landslides triggered by the combination of slope gradient and overpressure evolution are the smallest but most frequently occurring events. In summary, analysis shows that the formation of submarine landslides is a complex process involving the operation of different factors on various time scales.展开更多
Raman peaks of various hydrates in the H20-NaCl-CaCl2 system have been previously identified, but a quantitative relationship between the Raman peaks and XNaCl (i.e.,NaCl/ (NaCl+CaCl2)) has not been established, ...Raman peaks of various hydrates in the H20-NaCl-CaCl2 system have been previously identified, but a quantitative relationship between the Raman peaks and XNaCl (i.e.,NaCl/ (NaCl+CaCl2)) has not been established, mainly due to the difficulty to freeze the solutions. This problem was solved by adding alumina powder to the solutions to facilitate nucleation of crystals. Cryogenic (-185℃) Raman spectroscopic studies of alumina-spiced solutions indicate that XNaCl is linearly correlated with the total peak area fraction of hydrohalite. Capsules of solutions made from silica capillary were prepared to simulate fluid inclusions. Most of these artificial fluid inclusions could not be totally frozen even at temperatures as low as -185℃, and the total peak area fraction of hydrohalite is not correlated linearly with XNaCI. However, the degree of deviation (△XNaCl) from the linear correlation established earlier is related to the amount of residual solution, which is reflected by the ratio (r) of the baseline "bump" area, resulting from the interstitial unfrozen brine near 3435 cm^-1, and the total hydrate peak area between 3350 and 3600 cm^-1. A linear correlation between △XNaCl and r is established to estimate XNaCl from cryogenic Raman spectroscopic analysis for fluid inclusions.展开更多
Fourteen isolated drowned reefs have been identified around the Xisha Uplift by multibeam and seismic data. The drowning processes of these reefs can be divided into three different stages, which correspond to three d...Fourteen isolated drowned reefs have been identified around the Xisha Uplift by multibeam and seismic data. The drowning processes of these reefs can be divided into three different stages, which correspond to three different accelerated tectonic subsidence periods. The drowning of the Xisha reefs is the result of the combined action of tectonic subsidence and sea level fluctuations, and the tectonic subsidence rate had to remain above 0.2 mm yr^(-1 )for a long time. Three abrupt accelerated tectonic subsidence events that occurred in the late Miocene, Pliocene and early Quaternary in the Xisha Uplift were closely related to the thermal subsidence processes after three stages of post-rifting magmatism. The magmatism of the middle Miocene and the following thermal subsidence resulted in the drowning of reefs in the northwestern Xisha uplift(Zone A). During the early Pliocene, massive magmatic intrusions and volcanic eruptions occurred in the Xisha Uplift. Then, the subsequent thermal subsidence started the drowning process of reefs in the northeastern and western regions of the Xisha Uplift(Zone B and C). During the early Quaternary, large-scale magmatism also occurred in the Xisha Uplift. The subsequent thermal subsidence resulted in a new rapid tectonic subsidence, which caused the reefs in the southern and southeastern regions of the Xisha Uplift to drown(Zone D and E).展开更多
Temperature and relative humidity profiles derived from two China-made global positioning system(GPS) radiosondes(GPS-TK and CF-06-A) during the east tropical Indian Ocean(ETIO) experiment were compared with Vai...Temperature and relative humidity profiles derived from two China-made global positioning system(GPS) radiosondes(GPS-TK and CF-06-A) during the east tropical Indian Ocean(ETIO) experiment were compared with Vaisala RS92-SGP to assess the performances of China-made radiosondes over the tropical ocean.The results show that there have relative large biases in temperature observations between the GPSTK and the RS92-SGP in the low troposphere,with a warm bias of greater than 2 K in the day and a cooling bias of 0.6 K at night.The temperature differences of the CF-06-A were small in the troposphere both in daytime and nighttime,and became large peak-to-peak fluctuations in the stratosphere.The intercomparison of the relative humidity showed that the CF-06-A had large random errors due to the limitation of sensors and the lack of correction scheme,and the GPS-TK had large systematic biases in the low troposphere which might be related to the temperature impact.GPS height measurements are clearly suitable for China-made radiosonde systems operation.At night,the CF-06-A and the GPS-TK could provide virtual potential temperature and atmospheric boundary layer height measurements of suitable quality for both weather and climate research.As a result of the intercomparison experiment,major errors in the Chinamade radiosonde systems were well indentified and subsequently rectified to ensure improving accuracy for historical and future radiosondes.展开更多
Triple mass-transport deposits (MTDs) with areas of 625, 494 and 902 km^2, respectively, have been identified on the north slope of the Xisha Trough, northern South China Sea margin. Based on high-resolution seismic...Triple mass-transport deposits (MTDs) with areas of 625, 494 and 902 km^2, respectively, have been identified on the north slope of the Xisha Trough, northern South China Sea margin. Based on high-resolution seismic reflection data and multi-beam bathymetric data, the Quaternary MTDs are characterized by typical geometric shapes and internal structures. Results of slope analysis showed that they are developed in a steep slope ranging from 5° to 35°. The head wall scarps of the MTDs arrived to 50 km in length (from headwall to termination). Their inner structures include well developed basal shear surface, growth faults, stepping lateral scarps, erosion grooves, and frontal thrust deformation. From seismic images, the central deepwater channel system of the Xisha Trough has been filled by interbedded channel-levee deposits and thick MTDs. Therefore, we inferred that the MTDs in the deepwater channel system could be dominated by far-travelled slope failure deposits even though there are local collapses of the trough walls. And then, we drew the two-dimensional process model and three- dimensional structure model diagram af the MTDs. Combined with the regional geological setting and previous studies, we discussed the trigger mechanisms of the triple MTDs.展开更多
Variation in intermediate water salinity in the South China Sea (SCS) between the 1960s and 1980s was studied using historical hydrographic data. The results demonstrate that the water was significantly fresher in the...Variation in intermediate water salinity in the South China Sea (SCS) between the 1960s and 1980s was studied using historical hydrographic data. The results demonstrate that the water was significantly fresher in the 1980s than in the 1960s, indicating that vertical mixing at intermediate water depth was reduced in the 1980s. This was partially because of the change of the SCS meridional overturning circulation (MOC) connecting local intermediate water with deep water. Data assimilation showed a 0.5Sv (1 Sv=10 6m 3/s) reduction in the strength of the MOC, which is about one third of the mean SCS MOC. Because the SCS MOC is linked to the Pacific Ocean, such an interdecadal variation in the intermediate water SCS may reflect anthropogenic climate change in the world ocean.展开更多
China's 7000 m manned submersible JIAOLONG carried out an exploration cruise at the Mariana Trench from June to July 2016. The submersible completed nine manned dives on the north and south area of the Mariana Trench...China's 7000 m manned submersible JIAOLONG carried out an exploration cruise at the Mariana Trench from June to July 2016. The submersible completed nine manned dives on the north and south area of the Mariana Trench from the depth of 5500 to 6700 m, to investigate the geological, biological and chemical characteristics in the hadal area. During the cruise, JIAOLONG deployed a gas-tight serial sampler to collect the water near the sea bottom regularly. Five days later, the sub located the sampler in another dive and retrieved it successfully from the same location, which is the first time that scientists and engineers finished the high accuracy in-situ deployment and retrieval using a manned submersible with Ultra-Short Base Line (USBL) positioning system at the depth more than 6600 m. In this task, we used not only the USBL system of the manned submersible but also a compound strategy, including five position marks, the sea floor terrain, the depth contour, and the heading of the sub. This paper introduces the compound strategy of the target deployment and retrieval with the practical diving experience of JIAOLONG, and provides a promising technique for other underwater vehicles such as manned submersible or Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) under similar conditions.展开更多
基金supported by the Marine S&T Fund of Shandong Province for Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology(Qingdao)(No.2022QNLM030004)Hainan Science and Technology Department(ZDKJ2019011)+2 种基金Open Project Fund of Key Laboratory of Sustainable Development of Polar Fisheries,Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of PRC(2022OPF02)State Key R&D Project(2021YFF0502500)Qingdao Postdoctoral Applied Research Project(JZ2223j06100)。
文摘A total of 10 specimens of Alcyonacea corals were collected at depths ranging from 905 m to 1633 m by the manned submersible Shenhai Yongshi during two cruises in the South China Sea(SCS).Based on mitochondrial genomic characteristics,morphological examination,and sclerite scanning electron microscopy,the samples were categorized into four suborders(Calcaxonia,Holaxonia,Scleraxonia,and Stolonifera),and identified as 9 possible new cold-water coral species.Assessments of GC-skew dissimilarity,phylogenetic distance,and average nucleotide identity(ANI)revealed a slow evolutionary rate for the octocoral mitochondrial sequences.The nonsynonymous(Ka)to synonymous(Ks)substitution ratio(Ka/Ks)suggested that the 14 protein-coding genes(PCGs)were under purifying selection,likely due to specific deep-sea environmental pressures.Correlation analysis of the median Ka/Ks values of five gene families and environmental factors indicated that the genes encoding cytochrome b(cyt b)and DNA mismatch repair protein(mutS)may be influenced by environmental factors in the context of deep-sea species formation.This study highlights the slow evolutionary pace and adaptive mechanisms of deep-sea corals.
基金Supported by the Guangdong Province Basic and Applied Basic Research Fund Project(No.2020A1515110826)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.42006115)the Major Scientific and Technological Projects of Hainan Province(No.ZDKJ2021036)。
文摘Manganese superoxide dismutase(MnSOD)is an antioxidant that exists in mitochondria and can effectively remove superoxide anions in mitochondria.In a dark,high-pressure,and low-temperature deep-sea environment,MnSOD is essential for the survival of sea cucumbers.Six MnSODs were identified from the transcriptomes of deep and shallow-sea sea cucumbers.To explore their environmental adaptation mechanism,we conducted environmental selection pressure analysis through the branching site model of PAML software.We obtained night positive selection sites,and two of them were significant(97F→H,134K→V):97F→H located in a highly conservative characteristic sequence,and its polarity c hange might have a great impact on the function of MnSOD;134K→V had a change in piezophilic a bility,which might help MnSOD adapt to the environment of high hydrostatic pressure in the deepsea.To further study the effect of these two positive selection sites on MnSOD,we predicted the point mutations of F97H and K134V on shallow-sea sea cucumber by using MAESTROweb and PyMOL.Results show that 97F→H,134K→V might improve MnSOD’s efficiency of scavenging superoxide a nion and its ability to resist high hydrostatic pressure by moderately reducing its stability.The above results indicated that MnSODs of deep-sea sea cucumber adapted to deep-sea environments through their amino acid changes in polarity,piezophilic behavior,and local stability.This study revealed the correlation between MnSOD and extreme environment,and will help improve our understanding of the organism’s adaptation mechanisms in deep sea.
基金funded by the MOST 973 program (No. 2015CB251201)the Guangzhou Marine Geology Survey project (Nos. GZH201400210 and GZH201601040) the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 91228208 and 41666012)
文摘Various geological processes and features that might inflict hazards identified in the South China Sea by using new technologies and methods.These features include submarine landslides,pockmark fields,shallow free gas,gas hydrates,mud diapirs and earthquake tsunami,which are widely distributed in the continental slope and reefal islands of the South China Sea.Although the study and assessment of geohazards in the South China Sea came into operation only recently,advances in various aspects are evolving at full speed to comply with National Marine Strategy and‘the Belt and Road’Policy.The characteristics of geohazards in deep-water seafloor of the South China Sea are summarized based on new scientific advances.This progress is aimed to aid ongoing deep-water drilling activities and decrease geological risks in ocean development.
基金The National Key Research and Development Program of China under contract Nos 2018YFC0310600 and2016YFC0300500。
文摘Compressed gas is usually used for the pressure compensation of the deep-sea pressure-maintaining sampler.The pressure and volume of the recovered fluid sample are highly related to the precharged gas. To better understand the behavior of the gas under high pressure, we present a new real gas state equation based on the compression factor Z which was derived from experimental data. Then theoretical calculation method of the pressure and volume of the sample was introduced based on this empirical gas state equation. Finally, the proposed calculation method was well verified by the high-pressure vessel experiment of the sampler under 115 MPa.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.91751108,91751202,41806174,41506147)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Nos.2016YFC0302502,2016YFC0304905,2018YFC0309904)+1 种基金the Sanya Municipal(Nos.2018YD01,2018YD02)the grant for LIA-Mag MC from the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
文摘Trimethylamine N-oxide(TMAO)is one of the most important nutrients for bacteria in the deep-sea environment and is capable of improving pressure tolerance of certain bacterial strains.To assess the impact of TMAO on marine microorganisms,especially those dwelling in the deep-sea environment,we analyzed the bacterial community structure of deep-sea sediments after incubated under different conditions.Enrichments at 50 MPa and 0.1 MPa revealed that TMAO imposed a greater influence on bacterial diversity and community composition at atmospheric pressure condition than that under high hydrostatic pressure(HHP).We found that pressure was the primary factor that determines the bacterial community.Meanwhile,in total,238 bacterial strains were isolated from the enrichments,including 112 strains a ffiliated to 16 genera of 4 phyla from the Yap Trench and 126 strains a ffiliated to 11 genera of 2 phyla from the Mariana Trench.Treatment of HHP reduced both abundance and diversity of isolates,while the presence of TMAO mainly af fected the diversity of isolates obtained.In addition,certain genera were isolated only when TMAO was supplemented.Taken together,we demonstrated that pressure primarily defines the bacterial community and culturable bacterial isolates.Furthermore,we showed for the first time that TMAO had distinct influences on bacterial community depending on the pressure condition.The results enriched the understanding of the significance of TMAO in bacterial adaptation to the deep-sea environment.
基金financially supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (Grant No. 2017YFC0306402)the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. XDA22040102)
文摘This paper presents autonomous docking of an inhouse built resident Remotely Operated Vehicle(ROV),called Rover ROV,through acoustic guided techniques.A novel cage-type docking station has been developed.The docking station can be placed on a deep-sea lander,taking the Rover ROV to the seafloor.Instead of using vision-based pose estimation techniques and expensive navigation sensors,the Rover ROV docking adopts an ultra-short baseline(USBL)and low-cost inertial sensors to build an adaptive fault-tolerant integrated navigation system.To solve the problem of sonar-based failure positioning,the measurement residuals are exploited to detect measurement faults.Then,an adaptation scheme for estimating the statistical characteristics of noise in real-time is proposed,which can provide robust and smooth positioning results.It is more suitable for a compact and low-cost deep-sea resident ROV.Field experiments have been conducted successfully in the Qiandao Lake and the South China Sea area with a depth of 3000 m,respectively.The experimental results show that the functionality of autonomous docking has been achieved.Under the guidance of the navigation system,the Rover ROV can autonomously and efficiently return to the docking station within a range of 100 m even when the amounts of outliers exist in the acoustic positioning data.These achievements can be applied to current ROVs by an easy retrofit.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.41506147,91751108)the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences(No.XDB06010203)+3 种基金the Key Research and Development Program of Hainan Province(No.ZDYF2016211)the Natural Science Foundation of Hainan Province(No.20163151)the Sanya City(No.2016PT18)a grant for LIA-MagMC from the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
文摘Trimethylamine N-oxide(TMAO) is widely dispersed in marine environments and plays an important role in the biogeochemical cycle of nitrogen. Diverse marine bacteria utilize TMAO as carbon and nitrogen sources or as electron acceptor in anaerobic respiration. Alteration of respiratory component according to the pressure is a common trait of deep-sea bacteria. Deep-sea bacteria from dif ferent genera harbor high hydrostatic pressure(HHP) inducible TMAO reductases that are assumed to be constitutively expressed in the deep-sea piezosphere and facilitating quick reaction to TMAO released from ?sh which is a potential nutrient for bacterial growth. However, whether deep-sea bacteria universally employ this strategy remains unknown. In this study, 237 bacterial strains affliated to 23 genera of Proteobacteria,Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes and Actinobacteria were isolated from seawater, sediment or amphipods collected at dif ferent depths. The pressure tolerance and the utilization of TMAO were examined in 74 strains. The results demonstrated no apparent correlation between the depth where the bacteria inhabit and their pressure tolerance, regarding to our samples. Several deep-sea strains from the genera of Alteromonas, Halomonas,Marinobacter, Photobacterium, and Vibrio showed capacity of TMAO utilization, but none of the isolated Acinebacter, Bacillus, Brevundimonas, Muricauda, Novosphingobium, Rheinheimera, Sphingobium and Stenotrophomonas did, indicating the utilization of TMAO is a species-speci?c feature. Furthermore, we noticed that the ability of TMAO utilization varied among strains of the same species. TMAO has greater impact on the growth of deep-sea isolates of Vibrio neocaledonicus than shallow-water isolates. Taken together, the results describe for the ?rst time the TMAO utilization in deep-sea bacterial strains, and expand our understanding of the physiological characteristic of marine bacteria.
基金Supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Nos.2018YFC0309804,2016YFC0304905)the Major Scientifi c and Technological Projects of Hainan Province(No.ZDKJ2019011)the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(No.XDA22040502)。
文摘The Mariana Trench,the deepest trench on the earth,is ideal for deep-sea adaptation research due to its unique characters,such as the highest hydrostatic pressure on the Earth,constant ice-cold temperature,and eternal darkness.In this study,tissues of a the hadal holothurian(Paelopatides sp.)were fi xed with RNA later in situ at~6501-m depth in the Mariana Trench,which,to our knowledge,is the deepest in-situ fi xed animal sample.A high-quality transcript was obtained by de-novo transcriptome assembly.A maximum likelihood tree was constructed based on the single copy orthologs across nine species with their available omics data.To investigate deep-sea adaptation,113 positively selected genes(PSGs)were identifi ed in Paelopatides sp.Some PSGs such as microphthalmia-associated transcription factor(MITF)may contribute to the distinct phenotype of Paelopatides sp.,including its translucent white body and degenerated ossicles.At least eight PSGs(transcription factor 7-like 2[TCF7L2],ETS-related transcription factor Elf-2-like[ELF2],PERQ amino acid-rich with GYF domain-containing protein[GIGYF],cytochrome c oxidase subunit 7a,[COX7A],type I thyroxine 5′-deiodinase[DIO1],translation factor GUF1[GUF1],SWI/SNF related-matrix-associated actin-dependent regulator of chromatin subfamily C and subfamily E,member 1[SMARCC]and[SMARCE1])might be related to cold adaptation.In addition,at least nine PSGs(cell cycle checkpoint control protein[RAD9A],replication factor A3[RPA3],DNA-directed RNA polymerases I/II/III subunit RPABC1[POLR2E],putative TAR DNA-binding protein 43 isoform X2[TARDBP],ribonucleoside-diphosphate reductase subunit M1[RRM1],putative serine/threonine-protein kinase[SMG1],transcriptional regulator[ATRX],alkylated DNA repair protein alkB homolog 6[ALKBH6],and PLAC8 motif-containing protein[PLAC8])may facilitate the repair of DNA damage induced by the high hydrostatic pressure,coldness,and high concentration of cadmium in the upper Mariana Trench.
基金The Hainan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China under contract No.322CXTD531the National Key Research and Development Program of China under contract Nos 2018YFC0310005,2016YFC0302504.
文摘Some deep-sea microbes may incorporate inorganic carbon to reduce CO_(2) emission to upper layer and atmosphere.How the microbial inhabitants can be affected under addition of bicarbonate has not been studied using in situ fixed and lysed samples.In this study,we cultivated 40 L natural bottom water at~1000 m depth with a final concentration of 0.1 mmol/L bicarbonate for 40 min and applied multiple in situ nucleic acids collection(MISNAC)apparatus for nucleic acids extraction from the cultivation.Our classification result of the cultivation sample showed a distinct microbial community structure,compared with the samples obtained by Niskin bottle and six working units of MISNAC.Except for notable enrichment of Alteromonas,we detected prevalence of Asprobacter,Ilumatobacter and Saccharimonadales in the cultivation.Deep-sea lineages of Euryarchaeota,SAR406,SAR202 and SAR324 were almost completely absent from the cultivation and Niskin samples.This study revealed the dominant microbes affected by bicarbonate addition and Niskin sampling,which suggested rapid responses of deep-sea microbes to the environmental changes.
基金The National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract No.42276066the Key Research and Development Program(International Science and Technology Cooperation Development Program)of Hainan Province under contract No.GHYF2022009the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of CAS under contract No.2018401.
文摘Based on high-resolution 3D seismic data acquired in the Pearl(Zhujiang)River Mouth Basin of the northern South China Sea,this study investigated the geometry,spatial extension,and throw distribution of the post-rift normal fault through detailed seismic interpretation and fault modeling.A total of 289 post-rift normal faults were identified in the study area and can be classified into four types:(1)isolated normal faults above the carbonate platform;(2)isolated normal faults cutting through the carbonate platform;(3)conjugate normal faults,and(4)connecting normal faults.Throw distribution analysis on the fault planes show that the vertical throw profiles of most normal fault exhibit flat-topped profiles.Isolated normal faults above the carbonate platform exhibit roughly concentric ellipses with maximum throw zones in the central section whereas the normal faults cutting through the carbonate platform miss the lowermost section due to the chaotic seismic reflections in the interior of the carbonate platform.The vertical throws of conjugate normal faults anomalously decrease toward their intersection region on the fault plane whereas the connecting normal faults present two maximum throw zones in the central section of the fault plane.According to the symmetric elliptical distribution model of fault throw,an estimation was made indicating that normal faults cutting through the carbonate platform extended downward between-1308 s and-1780 s(two-way travel time)in depth and may not penetrate the entire Liuhua carbonate platform.Moreover,it is observed that the distribution of karst caves on the top of the carbonate platform disaccord with those of hydrocarbon reservoirs and the post-rift normal faults cutting through the carbonate platform in the study area.We propose that these karst caves formed most probably by corrosive fluids derived from magmatic activities during the Dongsha event,rather than pore waters or hydrocarbons.
基金funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.42206045 and 42202197)Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province(Grant No.D2020205007)+1 种基金Science and Technology Project of Hebei Education Department(Grant No.QN2023167)Science Foundation of Hebei Normal University(Grant Nos.L2020B24,L2021B21)。
文摘Iddingsitization is an aqueous alteration that is known to take place in meteorites and continental basalts providing a potential habitat for microbial life.However,little is known about the exact mode by which this reaction occurs in the hadal seafloor and its implication for the deep subsurface biosphere.A comprehensive investigation of hadal basalts from the southern Mariana Trench(SMT)conducted with microscopic examinations shows that iddingsite occurs as augite-hosted veins,rims,and mineral grains formed completely in place of augite within the SMT basalts.Carbon geochemistry indicates that organic matter with homogenousδ^(13)C values between−27.8‰and−27.2‰might be biogenically accumulated in the SMT basalts.Furthermore,the close spatial relationships between carbonaceous matter(CM)and goethite in iddingsite point to microbial attachment to iddingsite minerals.Thus,iddingsitization might have fueled H_(2)-utilizing microorganisms inhabiting the hadal oceanic crust,thereby leading to the formation of CM,as implied by oxygen isotopic compositions revealing low alteration temperatures(32-83℃)favorable for microbial growth.In all,microbial biosignatures associated with iddingsite in the SMT basalts are highlighted,and these results could pave the way for deciphering the deep subsurface biosphere at hadal zones.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.42288101)the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research(STEP)program(2019QZKK010201-02)+4 种基金GuangDong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(2022A1515010945)the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.XDA20060503)National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.92158204,42176026,42005035,41906181)Lei YANG is also supported by Science and Technology Program of Guangdong Province(2022B1212050003)Special fund of South China Sea Institute of Oceanology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(SCSIO2023QY01).
文摘This study investigates the activity of tropical cyclones(TCs)in the Bay of Bengal(BOB)from 1979 to 2018 to discover the mechanism affecting the contribution rate to the meridional moisture budget anomaly(MMBA)over the southern boundary of the Tibetan Plateau(SBTP).May and October–December are the bimodal phases of BOB TC frequency,which decreases month by month from October to December and is relatively low in May.However,the contribution rate to the MMBA is the highest in May.The seasonal variation in the meridional position of the westerlies is the key factor affecting the contribution rate.The relatively southern(northern)position of the westerlies in November and December(May)results in a lower(higher)contribution rate to the MMBA.This mechanism is confirmed by the momentum equation.When water vapor enters the westerlies near the trough line,the resultant meridional acceleration is directed north.It follows that the farther north the trough is,and the farther north the water vapor can be transported.When water vapor enters the westerlies from the area near the ridge line,for Type-T(Type-R)TCs,water vapor enters the westerlies downstream of the trough(ridge).Consequently,the direction of the resultant meridional acceleration is directed south and the resultant zonal acceleration is directed east(west),which is not conducive to the northward transport of water vapor.This is especially the case if the trough or ridge is relatively south,as the water vapor may not cross the SBTP.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(2021YFC3101300)National Natural Science Foundation of China(42222606,52070006,62103400,42376219,42211540003)+3 种基金Independent Project Deployed by the Innovative Academy of Marine Information Technology of CAS(CXBS202103)2024 Hainan International Science and Technolog.Cooperation Research and Development Project(GHYF2024013)Sanya Science and Technology Special Fund 2022KJCX66CAS Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Operational Oceanography(No.OOST2021-07).
文摘Equipment used in underwater sensing and exploration typically relies on cables or batteries for energy supply,resulting in a limited and inconvenient energy supply and marine environmental pollution that hinder the sustainable development of distributed ocean sensing networks.Here,we design a deep-sea differential-pressure triboelectric nanogenerator(DP-TENG)based on a spiral shaft drive using modified polymer materials to harness the hydrostatic pressure gradient energy at varying ocean depths to power underwater equipment.The spiral shaft structure converts a single compression into multiple rotations of the TENG rotor,achieving efficient conversion of differential pressure energy.The multi-pair electrode design enables the DP-TENG to generate a peak current of 61.7μA,the instantaneous current density can reach 0.69μA cm^(-2),and the output performance can be improved by optimizing the spiral angle of the shaft.The DP-TENG can charge a 33μF capacitor to 17.5 V within five working cycles.It can also power a digital calculator and light up 116 commercial power light-emitting diodes,demonstrating excellent output capability.With its simple structure,low production cost,and small form factor,the DP-TENG can be seamlessly integrated with underwater vehicles.The results hold broad prospects for underwater blue energy harvesting and are expected to contribute to the development of self-powered equipment toward emerging“smart ocean”and blue economy applications.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 41576049, 4166 6002)the Key Research Projects of Frontier Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (No. QYZDB-SSWSYS025)+1 种基金Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (No. 2016ASKJ13)Key Science and Technology Foundation of Sanya (Nos. 2017PT 13, 2017PT14)
文摘Recent and paleo-submarine landslides are widely distributed within strata in deep-water areas along continental slopes, uplifts, and carbonate platforms on the north continental margin of the South China Sea(SCS). In this paper, high-resolution 3D seismic data and multibeam data based on seismic sedimentology and geomorphology are employed to assist in identifying submarine landslides. In addition, deposition models are proposed that are based on specific geological structures and features, and which illustrate the local stress field over entire submarine landslides in deep-water areas of the SCS. The SCS is one of the largest fluvial sediment sinks in enclosed or semi-enclosed marginal seas worldwide. It therefore provides a set of preconditions for the formation of submarine landslides, including rapid sediment accumulation, formation of gas hydrates, and fluid overpressure. A new concept involving temporal and spatial analyses is tested to construct a relationship between submarine landslides and different time scale trigger mechanisms, and three mechanisms are discussed in the context of spatial scale and temporal frequency: evolution of slope gradient and overpressure, global environmental changes, and tectonic events. Submarine landslides that are triggered by tectonic events are the largest but occur less frequently, while submarine landslides triggered by the combination of slope gradient and overpressure evolution are the smallest but most frequently occurring events. In summary, analysis shows that the formation of submarine landslides is a complex process involving the operation of different factors on various time scales.
基金supported by an NSERC-Discovery grant(to Chi)in part by the Knowledge Innovation Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences(SIDSSE201302)
文摘Raman peaks of various hydrates in the H20-NaCl-CaCl2 system have been previously identified, but a quantitative relationship between the Raman peaks and XNaCl (i.e.,NaCl/ (NaCl+CaCl2)) has not been established, mainly due to the difficulty to freeze the solutions. This problem was solved by adding alumina powder to the solutions to facilitate nucleation of crystals. Cryogenic (-185℃) Raman spectroscopic studies of alumina-spiced solutions indicate that XNaCl is linearly correlated with the total peak area fraction of hydrohalite. Capsules of solutions made from silica capillary were prepared to simulate fluid inclusions. Most of these artificial fluid inclusions could not be totally frozen even at temperatures as low as -185℃, and the total peak area fraction of hydrohalite is not correlated linearly with XNaCI. However, the degree of deviation (△XNaCl) from the linear correlation established earlier is related to the amount of residual solution, which is reflected by the ratio (r) of the baseline "bump" area, resulting from the interstitial unfrozen brine near 3435 cm^-1, and the total hydrate peak area between 3350 and 3600 cm^-1. A linear correlation between △XNaCl and r is established to estimate XNaCl from cryogenic Raman spectroscopic analysis for fluid inclusions.
基金financially supported by the ongoing South China Sea deepwater project of Petrochinathe National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 91228208, 41106064)+1 种基金the International Project of Science and Technology Bureau of Hainan Province (No. ZDYF2016215)the NSFC-Shandong Joint Fund for Marine Science Research Centers (No. U1606401)
文摘Fourteen isolated drowned reefs have been identified around the Xisha Uplift by multibeam and seismic data. The drowning processes of these reefs can be divided into three different stages, which correspond to three different accelerated tectonic subsidence periods. The drowning of the Xisha reefs is the result of the combined action of tectonic subsidence and sea level fluctuations, and the tectonic subsidence rate had to remain above 0.2 mm yr^(-1 )for a long time. Three abrupt accelerated tectonic subsidence events that occurred in the late Miocene, Pliocene and early Quaternary in the Xisha Uplift were closely related to the thermal subsidence processes after three stages of post-rifting magmatism. The magmatism of the middle Miocene and the following thermal subsidence resulted in the drowning of reefs in the northwestern Xisha uplift(Zone A). During the early Pliocene, massive magmatic intrusions and volcanic eruptions occurred in the Xisha Uplift. Then, the subsequent thermal subsidence started the drowning process of reefs in the northeastern and western regions of the Xisha Uplift(Zone B and C). During the early Quaternary, large-scale magmatism also occurred in the Xisha Uplift. The subsequent thermal subsidence resulted in a new rapid tectonic subsidence, which caused the reefs in the southern and southeastern regions of the Xisha Uplift to drown(Zone D and E).
基金The National Basic Research Program(973 Program)of China under contract Nos 2011CB403503 and 2011CB403504the National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract No.41276024+1 种基金the Major Program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract No.91228202the National Foundation of the Indian Ocean Opening Voyage Project of China under contract Nos 41149903 and 41049908
文摘Temperature and relative humidity profiles derived from two China-made global positioning system(GPS) radiosondes(GPS-TK and CF-06-A) during the east tropical Indian Ocean(ETIO) experiment were compared with Vaisala RS92-SGP to assess the performances of China-made radiosondes over the tropical ocean.The results show that there have relative large biases in temperature observations between the GPSTK and the RS92-SGP in the low troposphere,with a warm bias of greater than 2 K in the day and a cooling bias of 0.6 K at night.The temperature differences of the CF-06-A were small in the troposphere both in daytime and nighttime,and became large peak-to-peak fluctuations in the stratosphere.The intercomparison of the relative humidity showed that the CF-06-A had large random errors due to the limitation of sensors and the lack of correction scheme,and the GPS-TK had large systematic biases in the low troposphere which might be related to the temperature impact.GPS height measurements are clearly suitable for China-made radiosonde systems operation.At night,the CF-06-A and the GPS-TK could provide virtual potential temperature and atmospheric boundary layer height measurements of suitable quality for both weather and climate research.As a result of the intercomparison experiment,major errors in the Chinamade radiosonde systems were well indentified and subsequently rectified to ensure improving accuracy for historical and future radiosondes.
基金The National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract Nos 41306057 and 40906028the Open Fund of the Key Laboratory of Submarine Geosciences,State Oceanic Administration under contract No.KLSG1406
文摘Triple mass-transport deposits (MTDs) with areas of 625, 494 and 902 km^2, respectively, have been identified on the north slope of the Xisha Trough, northern South China Sea margin. Based on high-resolution seismic reflection data and multi-beam bathymetric data, the Quaternary MTDs are characterized by typical geometric shapes and internal structures. Results of slope analysis showed that they are developed in a steep slope ranging from 5° to 35°. The head wall scarps of the MTDs arrived to 50 km in length (from headwall to termination). Their inner structures include well developed basal shear surface, growth faults, stepping lateral scarps, erosion grooves, and frontal thrust deformation. From seismic images, the central deepwater channel system of the Xisha Trough has been filled by interbedded channel-levee deposits and thick MTDs. Therefore, we inferred that the MTDs in the deepwater channel system could be dominated by far-travelled slope failure deposits even though there are local collapses of the trough walls. And then, we drew the two-dimensional process model and three- dimensional structure model diagram af the MTDs. Combined with the regional geological setting and previous studies, we discussed the trigger mechanisms of the triple MTDs.
基金Supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (973Program) (No. 2011CB403504)the Knowledge Innovation Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (No. KZCX2-YW-Q11-02)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 40806003)
文摘Variation in intermediate water salinity in the South China Sea (SCS) between the 1960s and 1980s was studied using historical hydrographic data. The results demonstrate that the water was significantly fresher in the 1980s than in the 1960s, indicating that vertical mixing at intermediate water depth was reduced in the 1980s. This was partially because of the change of the SCS meridional overturning circulation (MOC) connecting local intermediate water with deep water. Data assimilation showed a 0.5Sv (1 Sv=10 6m 3/s) reduction in the strength of the MOC, which is about one third of the mean SCS MOC. Because the SCS MOC is linked to the Pacific Ocean, such an interdecadal variation in the intermediate water SCS may reflect anthropogenic climate change in the world ocean.
基金financially supported the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.61703118)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant No.2016YFB0501703)+1 种基金Taishan Scholars Climbing Program of Shandong(Grant No.TSPD20161007)International Marine Resources Investigation and Development Program of China Ocean Mineral Resources R&D Association and the Strategic Precursor Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences
文摘China's 7000 m manned submersible JIAOLONG carried out an exploration cruise at the Mariana Trench from June to July 2016. The submersible completed nine manned dives on the north and south area of the Mariana Trench from the depth of 5500 to 6700 m, to investigate the geological, biological and chemical characteristics in the hadal area. During the cruise, JIAOLONG deployed a gas-tight serial sampler to collect the water near the sea bottom regularly. Five days later, the sub located the sampler in another dive and retrieved it successfully from the same location, which is the first time that scientists and engineers finished the high accuracy in-situ deployment and retrieval using a manned submersible with Ultra-Short Base Line (USBL) positioning system at the depth more than 6600 m. In this task, we used not only the USBL system of the manned submersible but also a compound strategy, including five position marks, the sea floor terrain, the depth contour, and the heading of the sub. This paper introduces the compound strategy of the target deployment and retrieval with the practical diving experience of JIAOLONG, and provides a promising technique for other underwater vehicles such as manned submersible or Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) under similar conditions.