Using otolith weight to predict the age of Pennahia macrocephalus in the mouth of the Beibu Gulf

The relation between otolith weight (OW) and the age of marine fish is studied. A total of 222 individuals of bighead white croaker, Pennahia macrocephalus were sampled seasonally in the mouth of the Beibu Gulf, the South China Sea, in 2007. Since there are no significant differences in sagittal OW between otolith in pairs (Pa parts per thousand yen0.05), the undamaged left sagittal otolith is used for age determination. The highest correlations among standard length, OW and fish ages are confirmed by linear, exponential and multinomial regression. Results show that sagittal OW overlaps only occasionally among age groups, and to individuals with similar standard length, the older and slower-growing fish has a heavier otolith because of the continued otolith material deposition. There are differences in sagittal OW among different age groups and significant positive linear relationship with age (P < 0.05). The age readings can be verified by plotting the sagittal OW versus the standard length for age groups, and the individuals with similar standard length but in different ages can be separated by sagittal OW frequency analysis. Mostly, the predicted ages using the regression between sagittal OW and ages are closed to the observed ages by counting annulus on scale. It indicates that the sagittal OW analysis is a useful technique for validating the accuracy of age determination by annuli counts, especially for individuals of similar size. Furthermore, the technique is applied for Pennahia macrocephalus with discussion in this paper.

Tectonic and geodynamic pattern of marginal seas on the West Pacific inferred from multi-satellite altewetry geoid

With the rapid development of satellite observations, we can use the altimetry geoid to study submarine tectonics and geodynamics. On the basis of the 4' x 4' geoid undulation calculated from altimeter data of Geosat, ERS-1/2 and Topex/Poseidon on the West Pacific, located between 0degreesN similar to 45degreesN, 100degreesC similar to 150degreesE, Bouguer, Glenni and isostatic geoid undulation are obtained from correction of gravitational potential of the global topography and isostacy. Moho discontinuity depth is inversed by the Glenni geoid undulation, and the stress field from small-scale mantle convection is reasonably calculated from the isostatic geoid undulation. The results show that within the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, short-wavelength lineations of the geoid undulation are parallel or cross to magnetic lineations and rifting ridges. The Moho depth of marginal sea basins becomes shallow southward, and its values are similar to that of the Philippine Sea. These facts show that strength of tectonic activities are almost the same on the both sides of the Ryukyu-Taiwan-Philippine are. Various kinds of tectonic features with different driving mechanisms of small-middle and large-scale of mantle convection, however, display a special pattern of tectonics and geodynamics of the continental marginal seas distinguished from oceans and continents.

The paleoclimatic events and cause in the Okinawa Trough during 50 kaBP

Planktonic foraminiferal delta O-18 record for core DGKS9603 from the Okinawa Trough shows a series of climatic fluctuations and sudden cooling events in short time scale during 50 kaBP, which appear to correlate closely to the Younger Dryas and Heinrich events H1-5 recorded in Chinese loess, the South China Sea, the North Atlantic cores and the Greenland ice cores. Three polarity reversal events, correlating to Gothenburg, Mungo and Laschamp events, approximately correspond to Heinrich events H1, H3 and H5 respectively, which could be a cause of global climate changes. The delta O-18 curve of the Okinawa Trough is well associated with the grain size record of the Lijiayuan loess profile in northwestern China and is somewhat different from the climate fluctuations documented in the Greenland ice cores. These correlation results indicate that regional factors play an important role in controlling the climate changes in the East Asia, and the East Asian Monsoon could be the prominent regional controlling factor.

Paleoenvironmental change in the middle Okinawa Trough since the last deglaciation: Evidence from the sedimentation rate and planktonic foraminiferal record

Well-dated, high-resolution records of planktonic foraminifera and oxygen isotopes from two sediment cores, A7 and E017, in the middle Okinawa Trough reveal strong and rapid millennial-scale climate changes since similar to 18 to 17 thousand years before present (kyr B.P.). Sedimentation rate shows a sudden drop at similar to 11.2 cal. kyr B.P. due to a rapid rise of sea level after the Younger Dryas (YD) and consequently submergence of the large continental shelf on the East China Sea (ECS) and the retreat of the estuary providing sediment to the basin. During the last deglaciation, the relative abundance of warm and cold species of planktonic foraminifera fluctuates strongly, consistent with the timing of sea surface temperature (SST) variations determined from Mg/Ca measurements of planktonic foraminifera from one of the two cores. These fluctuations are coeval with climate variation recorded in the Greenland ice cores and North Atlantic sediments, namely Heinrich event 1 (H1), Bolling-Allerod (B/A) and YD events. At about 9.4 kyr B.P., a sudden change in the relative abundance of shallow to deep planktonic species probably indicates a sudden strengthening of the Kuroshio Current in the Okinawa Trough, which was synchronous with a rapid sea-level rise at 9.5-9.2 kyr B.P. in the ECS, Yellow Sea (YS) and South China Sea (SCS). The abundance of planktonic foraminiferal species, together with Mg/Ca based SST, exhibits millennial-scale oscillations during the Holocene, with 7 cold events (at about 1.7, 2.3-4.6, 6.2, 7.3, 8.2, 9.6, 10.6 cal. kyr BP) superimposed on a Holocene warming trend. This Holocene trend, together with centennial-scale SST variations superimposed on the last deglacial trend, suggests that both high and low latitude influences affected the climatology of the Okinawa Trough. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A moored underwater energy conservation system for profiling measurement

There is a need to obtain the hydrologic data including ocean current, wave, temperature and so on in the South China Sea. A new profiling instrument which does not suffer from the damage due to nature forces or incidents caused by passing ships, is under development to acquire data from this area. This device is based on a taut single point mid-water mooring system. It incorporates a small, instrumented vertically profiling float attached via an electromechanical cable to a winch integral with the main subsurface flotation. On a pre-set schedule, the instrument float with sensors is winched up to the surface if there is no strip passing by, which is defined by an on-board miniature sonar. And it can be immediately winched down to a certain depth if the sonar sensor finds something is coming. Since, because Of logistics, the area can only be visited once for a long time and a minimum of 10 times per day profiles are desired, energy demands are severe. To respond to these concerns, the system has been designed to conserve a substantial portion of the potential energy lost during the ascent phase of each profile and subsequently use this energy to pull the instrument down. Compared with the previous single-point layered measuring mode, it is advanced and economical. At last the paper introduces the test in the South China Sea.

Neural network retrieval of ocean surface parameters from SSM/I data

A new algorithm based on the multiparameter neural network is proposed to retrieve wind speed (WS), sea surface temperature (SST), sea surface air temperature, and relative humidity ( RH) simultaneously over the global oceans from Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) observations. The retrieved geophysical parameters are used to estimate the surface latent heat flux and sensible heat flux using a bulk method over the global oceans. The neural network is trained and validated with the matchups of SSM/I overpasses and National Data Buoy Center buoys under both clear and cloudy weather conditions. In addition, the data acquired by the 85.5-GHz channels of SSM/I are used as the input variables of the neural network to improve its performance. The root-mean-square (rms) errors between the estimated WS, SST, sea surface air temperature, and RH from SSM/I observations and the buoy measurements are 1.48 m s(-1), 1.54 degrees C, 1.47 degrees C, and 7.85, respectively. The rms errors between the estimated latent and sensible heat fluxes from SSM/I observations and the Xisha Island ( in the South China Sea) measurements are 3.21 and 30.54 W m(-2), whereas those between the SSM/ I estimates and the buoy data are 4.9 and 37.85 W m(-2), respectively. Both of these errors ( those for WS, SST, and sea surface air temperature, in particular) are smaller than those by previous retrieval algorithms of SSM/ I observations over the global oceans. Unlike previous methods, the present algorithm is capable of producing near-real-time estimates of surface latent and sensible heat fluxes for the global oceans from SSM/I data.

Dynamics of the buoyant plume off the Pearl River Estuary in summer

Field measurements of salinity, wind and river discharge and numerical simulations of hydrodynamics from 1978 to 1984 are used to investigate the dynamics of the buoyant plume off the Pearl River Estuary (PRE), China during summer. The studies have shown that there are four major horizontal buoyant plume types in summer: Offshore Bulge Spreading (Type I), West Alongshore Spreading (Type II), East Offshore Spreading (Type III), and Symmetrical Alongshore Spreading (Type IV). River mouth conditions, winds and ambient coastal currents have inter-influences to the transport processes of the buoyant plume. It is found that all of the four types are surface-advected plumes by analysing the vertical characteristic of the plumes, and the monthly variations of the river discharge affect the plume size dominantly. The correlation coefficient between the PRE plume size and the river discharge reaches 0.85 during the high river discharge season. A wind strength index has been introduced to examine the wind effect. It is confirmed that winds play a significant role in forming the plume morphology. The alongshore wind stress and the coastal currents determine the alongshore plume spreading. The impact of the ambient currents such as Dongsha Current and South China Sea (SCS) Warm Current on the plume off the shelf has also assessed. The present study has demonstrated that both the river discharge and wind conditions affect the plume evolution.

Characteristics of water exchange in the Luzon Strait during September 2006

The Luzon Strait is the only deep channel that connects the South China Sea (SCS) with the Pacific. The transport through the Luzon Strait is an important process influencing the circulation, heat and water budgets of the SCS. Early observations have suggested that water enters the SCS in winter but water inflow or outflow in summer is quite controversial. On the basis of hydrographic measurements from CTD along 120 degrees E in the Luzon Strait during the period from September 18 to 20 in 2006, the characteristics of temperature, salinity and density distributions are analyzed. The velocity and volume transport through the Luzon Strait are calculated using the method of dynamic calculation. The major observed results show that water exchanges are mainly from the Pacific to the South China Sea in the upper layer, and the flow is relatively weak and eastward in the deeper layer. The net volume transport of the Luzon Strait during the observation period is westward, amounts to about 3.25 Sv. This result is consistent with historical observations.

Simulation of the ocean surface mixed layer under the wave breaking

A one-dimensional mixed-layer model, including a Mellor-Yamada level 2.5 turbulence closure scheme, was implemented to investigate the dynamical and thermal structures of the ocean surface mixed layer in the northern South China Sea. The turbulent kinetic energy released through wave breaking was incorporated into the model as a source of energy at the ocean surface, and the influence of the breaking waves on the mixed layer was studied. The numerical simulations show that the simulated SST is overestimated in summer without the breaking waves. However, the cooler SST is simulated when the effect of the breaking waves is considered, the corresponding discrepancy with the observed data decreases up to 20% and the MLD calculated averagely deepens 3.8 m. Owing to the wave-enhanced turbulence mixing in the summertime, the stratification at the bottom of the mixed layer was modified and the temperature gradient spread throughout the whole thermocline compared with the concentrated distribution without wave breaking.

A new method for the estimation of oceanic mixed-layer depth using shipboard X-band radar images

Shipboard X-band radar images acquired on 24 June 2009 are used to study nonlinear internal wave characteristics in the northeastern South China Sea. The studied images show three nonlinear internal waves in a packet. A method based on the Radon Transform technique is introduced to calculate internal wave parameters such as the direction of propagation and internal wave velocity from backscatter images. Assuming that the ocean is a two-layer finite depth system, we can derive the mixed-layer depth by applying the internal wave velocity to the mixed-layer depth formula. Results show reasonably good agreement with in-situ thermistor chain and conductivity-temperature-depth data sets.

Measurements of ocean wave and current field using dual polarized X-band radar

A new ocean wave and sea surface current monitoring system with horizontally-(HH) and vertically-(VV) polarized X-band radar was developed. Two experiments into the use of the radar system were carried out at two sites, respectively, for calibration process in Zhangzi Island of the Yellow Sea, and for validation in the Yellow Sea and South China Sea. Ocean wave parameters and sea surface current velocities were retrieved from the dual polarized radar image sequences based on an inverse method. The results obtained from dual-polarized radar data sets acquired in Zhangzi Island are compared with those from an ocean directional buoy. The results show that ocean wave parameters and sea surface current velocities retrieved from radar image sets are in a good agreement with those observed by the buoy. In particular, it has been found that the vertically-polarized radar is better than the horizontally-polarized radar in retrieving ocean wave parameters, especially in detecting the significant wave height below 1.0 m.

Vertical structure and evolution of the Luzon Warm Eddy

Eddies are frequently observed in the northeastern South China Sea (SCS). However, there have been few studies on vertical structure and temporal-spatial evolution of these eddies. We analyzed the seasonal Luzon Warm Eddy (LWE) based on Argo float data and the merged data products of satellite altimeters of Topex/Poseidon, Jason-1 and European Research Satellites. The analysis shows that the LWE extends vertically to more than 500 m water depth, with a higher temperature anomaly of 5A degrees C and lower salinity anomaly of 0.5 near the thermocline. The current speeds of the LWE are stronger in its uppermost 200 m, with a maximum speed of 0.6 m/s. Sometimes the LWE incorporates mixed waters from the Kuroshio Current and the SCS, and thus has higher thermohaline characteristics than local marine waters. Time series of eddy kinematic parameters show that the radii and shape of the LWE vary during propagation, and its eddy kinetic energy follows a normal distribution. In addition, we used the empirical orthogonal function (EOF) here to analyze seasonal characteristics of the LWE. The results suggest that the LWE generally forms in July, intensifies in August and September, separates from the coast of Luzon in October and propagates westward, and weakens in December and disappears in February. The LWE's westward migration is approximately along 19A degrees N latitude from northwest of Luzon to southeast of Hainan, with a mean speed of 6.6 cm/s.

Anti-cyclonic eddies northwest of Luzon in summer-fall observed by satellite altimeters

Anti-cyclonic eddies northwest of Luzon of the Philippines in summer-fall are identified in the merged data products of satellite altimeters of Topex/Poseidon, Jason-1 and European Research Satellites. The generation and propagation of the anti-cyclonic eddies, which are confirmed by satellite ocean color data, are found to be a seasonal phenomenon that is phase-locked to the onset of the southwesterly monsoon and the relaxation of the cyclonic wind curl in the northeastern South China Sea. The eddies originate from northwest of Luzon in summer, move across the northeastern South China Sea to reach the China continental slope in fall, and propagate southwestward along the continental slope in fall-winter, inducing shelfbreak current variations in the western South China Sea in fall-winter. The anti-cyclonic eddy discovered by Li et al. (1998) in the northern South China Sea is found to originate from northwest of Luzon and carry primarily the South China Sea waters. It does not appear to be an eddy shed from the Kuroshio in the Luzon Strait area as alluded by Li et al. (1998) and others.

南海对于台风伊布都响应的数值研究

台风是发生在海洋上的强烈天气系统，是海气相互作用最为直观的表现形式。台风产生的海面气旋式风应力以及强烈的混合过程，对上层海洋与深层海水之间的热量、能量和物质交换产生重大影响，因此研究海洋对于台风过程的响应特征具有重要的科学意义。 首先，采用海浪模式WWATCH-Ⅲ模拟计算了台风伊布都期间南海的波浪场。结果表明：随着台风中心向西移动，最大浪高区域也逐渐向西移动。接近台风中心的波高和波龄都较大，而远离台风中心的波高则相对较小、波浪比较年轻，并且波高的分布具有明显的右偏性。同时，对考虑了波浪作用的海面风应力进行了计算，为后续的海洋模式的计算奠定了基础。 其次，采用上述计算的海面风应力作为POM模式的驱动，研究了南海流场和温度对于台风的响应。结果表明：台风过后，海洋表面温度下降2~6oC，且在台风路径两侧不对称，具有明显的右偏性。受台风强混合作用的影响，混合层加深10~60m，上混合层热量损失约824.78W/m2，其中垂向混合是造成热量损失的主导动力因素。由于受上混合层热通量输送的影响，混合层以下附近水层处于增温状态，海水温度做近惯性波动。同时，台风还能引起强烈的近惯性流，最大流速出现在上混合层，可达1.4m/s。 最后，对论文的研究工作进行了总结，并对未来的研究方向进行了展望。

南海新生代碱性玄武岩的特征及其地球动力学意义

南海是西太平洋最大的边缘海之一，位于欧亚板块、印-澳板块以及太平洋板块之间。南海海底扩张停止(15.5Ma, Briais et al., 1993) 后的板内火山作用，影响着中国南部、中南半岛、大洋基底和分裂的微大陆片段的广大地区。对南海新生代玄武岩进行地球化学研究，不仅对于理解南海板内火山作用的深部地幔过程有着重要意义，而且对南海形成演化及含油气盆地形成的深部动力学机制有着深远意义。 南海新生代玄武岩K-Ar/Ar-Ar年龄为3.8-7.9Ma, 表明为晚中新世以来的岩浆活动产物，与周边地区的碱性火山岩在年龄上的一致性。岩石学特征表明，南海新生代玄武岩的矿物组合为橄榄石、单斜辉石、斜长石，与特征的碱性玄武岩的矿物组合一致。由橄榄石所计算的南海底潜在地幔温度(Tp)平均值为1661℃, 暗示南海地区下的地幔可能存在热量异常，为海南地区存在地幔柱的观点提供了证据。单斜辉石富钙、钛，由单斜辉石-熔体平衡温压计计算的岩浆房深度分别为：碱玄岩岩浆房深度约49km（对应压力为1.46～1.48 GPa）；粗面玄武岩岩浆房约25km（对应压力为0.76 GPa）；玄武岩岩浆房约15km（对应压力为0.44GPa）。由碱玄岩→粗面玄武岩→玄武岩，平衡温度(K)依次降低:从1535～1498→1429→1369。由斜长石微晶所计算的岩浆喷出地表的温度为989℃。 主量元素特征表明，岩石类型主要为碱玄岩，有少量的粗面玄武岩和玄武岩，属于碱性系列。微量元素方面，大离子亲石元素(LILE)以及高场强元素（HFSE）特别是Nb、Ta、Ti、Y等元素均呈现富集现象，Yb、Sc、Sr以及K、U、Th等生热元素相对亏损，微量元素及稀土元素分布岩石类似板内OIB微量元素的全球平均值。同位素地球化学研究表明，源区存在两个混合端员并具Dupal Pb异常：一个为DMM，位于软流圈或岩石圈地幔中；另一个为EM2源区，可能来自位于核-幔边界处的海南地幔柱而非大陆底岩石圈地幔。研究表明，南半球Dupal异常不存在全球范围内的地区专属性，本区存在的Dupal异常与南半球Dupal异常可能不存在联系。在南海新生代玄武岩的成因过程中，海南地幔柱在为岩石圈地幔的部分熔融作用提供所需的热量同时，也在物质上作出了贡献。南海盆新生代碱性玄武岩由不同程度的部分熔融作用，以及岩浆在上升期间或者在高位岩浆房中的橄榄石等矿物分离结晶作用所形成，同时还可能发生了堆晶作用。构造环境判别表明，玄武岩浆在上升到地表过程中几乎未受到地壳混染。 南海新生代玄武岩的地球化学研究表明，在玄武质岩浆的深部地幔演化过程中，海南地幔柱可能起着重要的作用。通过引入海南岛地幔柱这个概念，本文建立了一个新的有关南海形成演化的初步的概念性模型：（1）50-32Ma，印度洋板块-欧亚板块碰撞及其所导致的太平洋板块后退的综合效应为南海地区提供了一个伸展环境，此伸展环境为地幔柱物质的上升提供了通道；（2）32-21Ma，当地幔柱柱头到达软流圈时, 通过侧向物质流开始同扩张中心发生相互作用，促进了南海的扩张，并在26-24Ma期间发生了洋脊重新就位事件，使扩张中心从原来的18°N附近(即现今西北海盆的中心)调整到15.5°N附近（即现今的东部亚盆）；（3）21-15.5Ma, 随着地幔柱效应的逐渐增强，热点-洋脊相互作用越来越强烈，在大约21Ma发生了洋脊的再次重新就位事件，诱发了西南海盆的扩张；（4）15.5-现在，由于印澳板块前缘与巽他大陆碰撞，使得南海大约在15.5Ma停止扩张,并沿着南沙海槽及吕宋海沟向菲律宾岛弧及巴拉望地块之下俯冲，而南海热点继续活动，在地表处直到第四纪还有碱性玄武岩喷出。