The Major Research Program "Deep Sea Processes and Evolution of the South China Sea", or "The South China Sea Deep", launched in January 2011 by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, is...The Major Research Program "Deep Sea Processes and Evolution of the South China Sea", or "The South China Sea Deep", launched in January 2011 by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, is the first large-scale basic-research program in ocean science in the country aiming to reconstruct the life history of a marginal sea. The overall scientific objective of the program is to dissect this typical marginal sea by studying its history of evolution and its modern processes, including the following three major components:(1) Development of the deep basin:utilizing new techniques to re-measure magnetic anomaly lineations, to explore the deep tectonic features, to drill the oceanic crust, and to study volcanic seamount chains; (2) deep-water sediments: observing the modern processes to reveal the patterns of deep-water circulations and sedimentation, analyzing deep-sea sediments to recognize paleoceanographic response to basin evolution, and subsequently to bridge the modern and paleo-studies of the deep-sea processes; and (3) biogeochemical processes:using a variety of techniques including deploying submarine observation and deep-water diving device to investigate the distribution patterns and environmental impacts of deepwater seepages and sub-bottom circulation, and to reveal the role of microbes in deep-sea carbon cycling. As compared with the open ocean and other marginal seas, the South China Sea enjoys many more advantages as a marine basin for reconstructing the life history. Meanwhile, the South China Sea Deep Program provides unique opportunities in studying the evolution and variations of the sea-land interactions between the Pacific and Asia.展开更多
Based on the interpretations of three seismic profiles and one wide-angle seismic profile across the Northwest Sub-basin,South China Sea.stratigraphic sequences,deformation characteristics and an extension model for t...Based on the interpretations of three seismic profiles and one wide-angle seismic profile across the Northwest Sub-basin,South China Sea.stratigraphic sequences,deformation characteristics and an extension model for this sub-basin have been worked out.Three tectonic-stratigraphic units are determined.Detailed analyses of extension show that the event occurred mainly during the Paleogene and resulted in the formation of half-grabens or grabens distributed symmetrically around the spreading center.Sediments are characterized by chaotic and discontinuous reflectors,indicating clastic sediments. Farther to the southwest,the sub-basin features mainly continental rifting instead of sea-floor spreading. The rifting would have been controlled by the shape of the massif and developed just along the northern edge of the Zhongsha-Xisha Block,rather than joined the Xisha Trough.After 25 Ma.a southward ridge jump triggered the opening of the Southwest Sub-basin.The NW-directed stress caused by the sea-floor spreading of the Northwest Sub-basin may have prevented the continuous opening of the sub-basin.After that the Northwest Sub-basin experienced thermal cooling and exhibited broad subsidence.The deep crustal structure shown by the velocity model from a wide-angle seismic profile is also symmetrical around the spreading center,which indicates that the Northwest Sub-basin might have opened in a pure shear model.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (91128000)the National Basic Research Program of China (2007CB815902)
文摘The Major Research Program "Deep Sea Processes and Evolution of the South China Sea", or "The South China Sea Deep", launched in January 2011 by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, is the first large-scale basic-research program in ocean science in the country aiming to reconstruct the life history of a marginal sea. The overall scientific objective of the program is to dissect this typical marginal sea by studying its history of evolution and its modern processes, including the following three major components:(1) Development of the deep basin:utilizing new techniques to re-measure magnetic anomaly lineations, to explore the deep tectonic features, to drill the oceanic crust, and to study volcanic seamount chains; (2) deep-water sediments: observing the modern processes to reveal the patterns of deep-water circulations and sedimentation, analyzing deep-sea sediments to recognize paleoceanographic response to basin evolution, and subsequently to bridge the modern and paleo-studies of the deep-sea processes; and (3) biogeochemical processes:using a variety of techniques including deploying submarine observation and deep-water diving device to investigate the distribution patterns and environmental impacts of deepwater seepages and sub-bottom circulation, and to reveal the role of microbes in deep-sea carbon cycling. As compared with the open ocean and other marginal seas, the South China Sea enjoys many more advantages as a marine basin for reconstructing the life history. Meanwhile, the South China Sea Deep Program provides unique opportunities in studying the evolution and variations of the sea-land interactions between the Pacific and Asia.
基金supported by the National Basic Research Program(973) of China (No.2007CB41170403)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.40806023)the Scientific Research Fund of the SIO,SOA(No.1404-10)
文摘Based on the interpretations of three seismic profiles and one wide-angle seismic profile across the Northwest Sub-basin,South China Sea.stratigraphic sequences,deformation characteristics and an extension model for this sub-basin have been worked out.Three tectonic-stratigraphic units are determined.Detailed analyses of extension show that the event occurred mainly during the Paleogene and resulted in the formation of half-grabens or grabens distributed symmetrically around the spreading center.Sediments are characterized by chaotic and discontinuous reflectors,indicating clastic sediments. Farther to the southwest,the sub-basin features mainly continental rifting instead of sea-floor spreading. The rifting would have been controlled by the shape of the massif and developed just along the northern edge of the Zhongsha-Xisha Block,rather than joined the Xisha Trough.After 25 Ma.a southward ridge jump triggered the opening of the Southwest Sub-basin.The NW-directed stress caused by the sea-floor spreading of the Northwest Sub-basin may have prevented the continuous opening of the sub-basin.After that the Northwest Sub-basin experienced thermal cooling and exhibited broad subsidence.The deep crustal structure shown by the velocity model from a wide-angle seismic profile is also symmetrical around the spreading center,which indicates that the Northwest Sub-basin might have opened in a pure shear model.
