Seafloor topography plays an important role in the evolution of submarine lobes.However,it is still not so clear how the shape of slope affects the three-dimensional(3-D)architecture of submarine lobes.In this study,w...Seafloor topography plays an important role in the evolution of submarine lobes.However,it is still not so clear how the shape of slope affects the three-dimensional(3-D)architecture of submarine lobes.In this study,we analyze the effect of topography factors on different hierarchical lobe architectures that formed during Pliocene to Quaternary in the Rovuma Basin offshore East Africa.We characterize the shape,size and growth pattern of different hierarchical lobe architectures using 3-D seismic data.We find that the relief of the topographic slope determines the location of preferential deposition of lobe complexes and single lobes.When the topography is irregular and presents topographic lows,lobe complexes first infill these depressions.Single lobes are deposited preferentially at positions with higher longitudinal(i.e.across-slope)slope gradients.As the longitudinal slope becomes higher,the aspect ratio of the single lobes increases.Lateral(i.e.along-slope)topography does not seem to have a strong influence on the shape of single lobe,but it seems to affect the overlap of single lobes.When the lateral slope gradient is relatively high,the single lobes tend to have a larger overlap surface.Furthermore,as the average of lateral slope and longitudinal slope gets greater,the width/thickness ratio of the single lobe is smaller,i.e.sediments tend to accumulate vertically.The results demonstrate that the shape of slopes more comprehensively influences the 3-D architecture of lobes in natural deep-sea systems than previously other lobe deposits and analogue experiments,which helps us better understand the development and evolution of the distal parts of turbidite systems.展开更多
The instability of continental slopes damages marine engineering equipment,such as submarine pipelines,resulting in the generation of tsunamis,which endangers the safety of nearshore personnel.Therefore,research on th...The instability of continental slopes damages marine engineering equipment,such as submarine pipelines,resulting in the generation of tsunamis,which endangers the safety of nearshore personnel.Therefore,research on the instability of continental slopes where submarine landslides usually occur is crucial to the risk evaluation of deepwater drilling.Previous studies were mainly based on simplified 2D and 3D models,which extend the 2D model applied on submarine slopes with complex topography.In this study,a numerical model with bathymetric data from the Qiongdongnan Basin was established.Furthermore,3D slope stability analysis and static and dynamic analyses were conducted.The static analysis found two discussions where slopes are most likely to occur.Through the analysis of different seismic forces,the dynamic result showed that an instability area is added to the two positions where the static analysis is unstable.Topography scatters and transmits seismic waves and controls the accumulation and diffusion of seismic energy.3D calculations and analysis revealed that the direction of slope instability is closely related to terrain inclination,slope,terrain effect,and terrain curvature.Data showed that instability situations could not be derived from a single direction or profile data.Such situations are an important factor in slope stability analysis and are critical to the prediction and evaluation of marine geological disasters.展开更多
High resolution optical satellite imageries containing the sun glitter,similar to synthetic aperture radar(SAR) imageries,are useful in identifying and mapping of bottom topography in shallow waters.The errors in th...High resolution optical satellite imageries containing the sun glitter,similar to synthetic aperture radar(SAR) imageries,are useful in identifying and mapping of bottom topography in shallow waters.The errors in the previous studies are corrected,and a method for mapping submarine bottom topography is developed using the sun glitter satellite imagery.The method is established on the basis of empirical description of a sand wave using an equation with two unknowns named r and k.In order to determine r and k,a "trial and error" approach is introduced and testified by a case study on the Taiwan Banks using an ASTER imagery.The results show that the inversed water depths match well with the sounding water depths.The agreement between the inversed results and the in situ measurements is about 78% by comparing 371 points.Moreover,this method has the advantage in keeping the original appearance of a sand wave,especially in positions around the sand wave crest.The fine agreement indicates that the imaging model is flexible and the approach developed is feasible.展开更多
基金The study is funded by the Cooperation Project of China National Petroleum Company(CNPC)and China University of Petroleum-Beijing(CUPB)(No.RIPED-2021-JS-552)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.42002112,42272110)+2 种基金the Strategic Cooperation Technology Projects of CNPC and CUPB(No.ZLZX2020-02)the Science Foundation for Youth Scholars of CUPB(No.24620222BJRC006)We thank the China Scholarship Council(CSC)(No.202106440048)for having funded the research stay of Mei Chen at MARUM,University of Bremen.We thank Elda Miramontes for her constructive comments and suggestions that helped us improve our manuscript.
文摘Seafloor topography plays an important role in the evolution of submarine lobes.However,it is still not so clear how the shape of slope affects the three-dimensional(3-D)architecture of submarine lobes.In this study,we analyze the effect of topography factors on different hierarchical lobe architectures that formed during Pliocene to Quaternary in the Rovuma Basin offshore East Africa.We characterize the shape,size and growth pattern of different hierarchical lobe architectures using 3-D seismic data.We find that the relief of the topographic slope determines the location of preferential deposition of lobe complexes and single lobes.When the topography is irregular and presents topographic lows,lobe complexes first infill these depressions.Single lobes are deposited preferentially at positions with higher longitudinal(i.e.across-slope)slope gradients.As the longitudinal slope becomes higher,the aspect ratio of the single lobes increases.Lateral(i.e.along-slope)topography does not seem to have a strong influence on the shape of single lobe,but it seems to affect the overlap of single lobes.When the lateral slope gradient is relatively high,the single lobes tend to have a larger overlap surface.Furthermore,as the average of lateral slope and longitudinal slope gets greater,the width/thickness ratio of the single lobe is smaller,i.e.sediments tend to accumulate vertically.The results demonstrate that the shape of slopes more comprehensively influences the 3-D architecture of lobes in natural deep-sea systems than previously other lobe deposits and analogue experiments,which helps us better understand the development and evolution of the distal parts of turbidite systems.
基金This study was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2019YFC0312301)the Nation Natural Science Foundation of China(No.U1701245).
文摘The instability of continental slopes damages marine engineering equipment,such as submarine pipelines,resulting in the generation of tsunamis,which endangers the safety of nearshore personnel.Therefore,research on the instability of continental slopes where submarine landslides usually occur is crucial to the risk evaluation of deepwater drilling.Previous studies were mainly based on simplified 2D and 3D models,which extend the 2D model applied on submarine slopes with complex topography.In this study,a numerical model with bathymetric data from the Qiongdongnan Basin was established.Furthermore,3D slope stability analysis and static and dynamic analyses were conducted.The static analysis found two discussions where slopes are most likely to occur.Through the analysis of different seismic forces,the dynamic result showed that an instability area is added to the two positions where the static analysis is unstable.Topography scatters and transmits seismic waves and controls the accumulation and diffusion of seismic energy.3D calculations and analysis revealed that the direction of slope instability is closely related to terrain inclination,slope,terrain effect,and terrain curvature.Data showed that instability situations could not be derived from a single direction or profile data.Such situations are an important factor in slope stability analysis and are critical to the prediction and evaluation of marine geological disasters.
基金The National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract Nos 40476023 and 40876031
文摘High resolution optical satellite imageries containing the sun glitter,similar to synthetic aperture radar(SAR) imageries,are useful in identifying and mapping of bottom topography in shallow waters.The errors in the previous studies are corrected,and a method for mapping submarine bottom topography is developed using the sun glitter satellite imagery.The method is established on the basis of empirical description of a sand wave using an equation with two unknowns named r and k.In order to determine r and k,a "trial and error" approach is introduced and testified by a case study on the Taiwan Banks using an ASTER imagery.The results show that the inversed water depths match well with the sounding water depths.The agreement between the inversed results and the in situ measurements is about 78% by comparing 371 points.Moreover,this method has the advantage in keeping the original appearance of a sand wave,especially in positions around the sand wave crest.The fine agreement indicates that the imaging model is flexible and the approach developed is feasible.