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Marine Geology
Elsevier Science B.V.
Marine Geology

Elsevier Science B.V.

0025-3227

Marine Geology/Journal Marine GeologySCIISTPAHCIEI
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    How volcanically active is an abyssal plain? Evidence for recent volcanism on 20 Ma Nazca Plate seafloor

    Greinert, J.Boetius, A.Augustin, N.Yeo, I...
    11页
    查看更多>>摘要:The abyssal plains are generally assumed to be geologically inactive parts of the ocean plate interiors where processes (such as pelagic sedimentation or manganese crust and nodule formation) occur at very slow rates. In terms of intraplate volcanic activity, almost all is assumed to occur at hotspots, leading to little exploration in other intraplate regions. The Peru Basin is an abyssal plain known to host Mn-nodule fields. We present remotely-operated underwater vehicle (ROV) investigations of a small seamount adjacent to such a Mn-nodule field on 20Ma Nazca Plate crust, showing that it appears to have been recently volcanically and hydrothermally active. The seamount lies 1600km east of the nearest spreading axis (East Pacific Rise) and 600km from both the Galapagos Plateau (to the north) and the subduction zone off Peru (to the east), making off-axis, hotspot or petitspot processes unlikely as a cause of the volcanism. The shallow mantle below the Nazca (and conjugate Pacific) Plate shows globally anomalous low seismic shear-wave velocities, perhaps reflecting higher-than-normal amounts of melt in the mantle below this region which may provide a source for the magmas. Our own regional mapping work and literature sources highlight several similar sites of probable young volcanism elsewhere in the Peru Basin which may also be related to this anomaly. The Nazca abyssal plain may be much more geologically active than previously thought. If so, this could have wider implications for, among other things, chemosynthetic ecosystem connectivity.

    Modeling of the Dec. 22nd 2018 Anak Krakatau volcano lateral collapse and tsunami based on recent field surveys: Comparison with observed tsunami impact

    Grilli, S. T.Zhang, C.Kirby, J. T.Grilli, A. R....
    26页
    查看更多>>摘要:The Dec. 22, 2018 lateral collapse of the Anak Krakatau (AK) volcano in the Sunda Straits of Indonesia discharged volcaniclastic material into the 250 m deep caldera southwest of the volcano and generated a large tsunami, causing runups of up to 85 m in the near-field, and 13.5 m in the far-field, on the nearby coasts of Sumatra and Java. The tsunami caused 437 fatalities, the greatest number from a volcanically-induced tsunami since the catastrophic explosive caldera-forming eruption of Krakatau in 1883 and the sector collapse of Ritter Island in 1888. For the first time in over 100 years, the 2018 AK event provides an opportunity to study a major volcanically-generated tsunami that caused widespread loss of life and significant damage. Here, we present numerical simulations of the collapse and tsunami generation, propagation, and coastal impact, with state-of theart numerical models, using both a new parametrization of the collapse and a near-field bathymetric dataset based on our 2019 field surveys and satellite images. These subaerial and submarine data sets are used to constrain the geometry and magnitude of the landslide mechanism, which show that the primary landslide scar bisected the AK edifice, cutting behind the central vent and removing 50% of its subaerial volume. The primary landslide volume is estimated to range from 0.175-0.313 km(3), based on uncertainties in the shape of the submerged part of the failure plane. This is supported by an independent estimate of the primary landslide deposit volume of 0.214 +/- 0.036 km(3). Given uncertainties in the failure volume, we define a range of potential failure surfaces that span these values in 4 collapse scenarios of volume ranging from 0.175 to 0.313 km(3). These AK collapses are modeled, assuming either a granular or viscous fluid rheology, together with their corresponding tsunami generation and propagation. Observations of a single tsunami, with no subsequent waves, are consistent with our interpretation of landslide failure in a rapid, single phase of movement rather than a more piecemeal process, generating a tsunami which reached nearby coastlines within similar to 30 min. For both modeled rheologies, the 0.224 km(3) collapse (second and preferred scenario) most successfully reproduces the near- and far-field tsunami flow depth and runup observed in all post-event field survey results, tide gauge records, and eyewitness reports to date, suggesting our estimated landslide volume range is appropriate. This event highlights the significant hazard posed by relatively small-scale lateral volcanic collapses, which can occur en-masse, without any precursory signals, and are an efficient and unpredictable tsunami source. Our successful simulations demonstrate that current numerical models can accurately forecast tsunami hazards from these events. In cases such as Anak Krakatau's, the absence of precursory warning signals, together with the short travel time following tsunami initiation present a major challenge for mitigating tsunami coastal impact, stressing the need to develop and install early warning systems for such events.

    Sedimentary stacking pattern of plastered drifts: An example from the Cenozoic on the Uruguayan continental slope

    Kirby, A.Hernandez-Molina, F. J.Rodriguez, P.Conti, B....
    24页
    查看更多>>摘要:Plastered drifts are a complex type of contouritic drift, very common along continental slopes, although their precise sedimentary stacking pattern and long-term evolution are not well understood. In this work we used 3D and 2D multichannel reflection seismic and well datasets to characterize a Paleogene plastered drift along the Uruguayan continental margin. A large buried drift running parallel to the middle and lower slope was identified, comprising five main seismic units (SU1-SU5) and a number of subunits subdivided by internal widespread erosive discontinuities. An extensive contourite terrace is developed on the landward top of the drift, while smaller-scale bottom current features (channels and bedforms) denote a hierarchy of features related to water mass circulation and interfaces, as well as associated oceanographic processes. Four long-term evolutionary stages were decoded in the plastered drift formation: I) Onset Stage (66 Ma - 56 Ma), whose basal surface represents a prominent erosional surface marking the onset of drift, after which extensive sheeted deposits develop; II) Growth Stage (Eocene similar to 56 - similar to 38 Ma) with a prominent backstepping sedimentary stacking pattern; III) Maintained Stage (similar to 38 Ma - similar to 20 Ma) of limited growth of the drift, characterised by aggradational sheeted deposits and extensive erosion; and IV) Burial Stage (<20 Ma), which determines a major change in the margin evolution -the main depocenter shifts to deeper domains, leading to the final burial of the drift. The plastered drift formation is attributed to the influence of a deeper and weak water mass and a shallower but more vigorous water mass, as well as their interface. The aforementioned evolutionary stages and the greatest changes in the drift depositional style would be a consequence of spatial and vertical changes in these water masses over millions of years, the Growth Stage being related to the expansion and intensification of deep-water circulation that modulated the formation of the proximal terrace at its top and resulted in the backstepping stacking pattern. The smaller lateral and vertical changes in the seismic units and subunits along the drift are linked to local bottom current processes and their interaction with the slope morphology, the slope gradient playing a key role in the lateral bottom current behavior. This study shows the complex lateral and temporal sedimentary stacking pattern and evolution of a contouritic drift, and decodes the dominant oceanographic and depositional processes in its long-term formation. In doing so, we demonstrate the requirement of extensive 2D and 3D seismic datasets for accurate characterisations. Still, similar research in other continental margins is needed to better understand how and when (in geological time) large contouritic drifts are generated, in light of their implications for basin analysis, paleoceanographic reconstructions, and energy geosciences.

    Late glacial to holocene sedimentary facies of the Eirik Drift, southern Greenland margin: Spatial and temporal variability and paleoceanographic implications

    Davies, SallyStow, DorrikNicholson, Uisdean
    19页
    查看更多>>摘要:The Eirik Drift, off southern Greenland, is one of a series of contourite deposits in the northern North Atlantic that record changes in the strength and location of western boundary currents in the region. To date however, the sedimentary facies, and particularly the variation in facies across this drift, have received relatively little investigation. Here, we present an analysis of the sedimentary facies observed within a transect of cores from the crest to toe of the Eirik Drift from late Pleistocene to Holocene. The Holocene sequence consists of muddy contourites with high sedimentation rates at the drift toe, and a condensed sequence of sandy contourites on the upper drift flanks, consistent with winnowing under strong bottom currents on the upper drift and deposition under a low velocity, sediment-laden current at the drift toe. We interpret this to be a combined result of episodic, high-energy benthic storm events associated with the East Greenland Current (EGC) on the upper drift and more continuous, lower velocity Deep Western Boundary Current (DWBC) on the drift flanks. The deglacial interval is represented by muddy contourites across the drift, with evidence for decreasing current activity (both EGC and DWBC) and more widespread ice-rafted deposition from the Bolling-Allerod into the Younger Dryas. Palaeocurrent data from this interval show two separate current directions at the crest of the drift, suggesting temporary, local detachment of the DWBC or EGC, linked to temporal variation in current strength. The late glacial interval consists of glaciomarine hemipelagites and muddy contourites, with evidence for a higher degree of current influence at shallower depths, consistent with a moderate EGC and weak DWBC. This is the first time that the EGC is recognised as having a significant role in sedimentation on the Eirik Drift.

    On the mechanism behind the shift of the turbidity maximum zone in response to reclamations in the Yangtze (Changjiang) Estuary, China

    Teng, LizhiCheng, Heqinde Swart, H. E.Dong, Ping...
    12页
    查看更多>>摘要:Reclamation in estuaries can greatly change the channel geometry and hydrodynamic conditions and these changes may have significant impacts on spatial and temporal distribution of the turbidity maximum zone. This study focuses on the effects of a large area of reclamation built in 2007-2018 and the behavior of the turbidity maximum zone along the North Channel of the Yangtze Estuary. Data were collected of bathymetry in the North Channel, tidal elevations at Sheshan Station, river discharge at Datong Station and turbidity, retrieved from six Landsat remote sensing images in the dry season from 2006 to 2019. In-situ measured data on flow velocity and suspended sediment concentration were obtained in the dry season of 2003 and 2018. Analysis of the data revealed that reclamations, which led to narrowing (0.86-2.74 km) and fixing of the channel, caused erosion of 0.19-3.72 m in the deep channel and deposition on the tidal flats. Furthermore, it was found that the length of the turbidity maximum zone decreased: its landward boundary shifted 5 km seaward during spring tide and 17 km seaward during neap tide in the dry season. The position of the seaward boundary wandered within a range of 3 km, being further downstream during neap tide than that during spring tide. A conceptual model of changes in the borders of the turbidity maximum zone in response to reclamation is proposed. After the reclamation works, the deeper and narrower channel intensified ebb-dominance of the flow velocity. The coarsening of bed sediment weakened resuspension and decreased the bottom tidally averaged suspended sediment concentration. These changes led to a significant decline in the depth-mean of tidally averaged suspended sediment concentration and caused the seaward movement of the landward boundary of the turbidity maximum zone.

    Turbidity currents at polar latitudes: A case study of NP-28 channel in the Amundsen Basin, Arctic Ocean

    Boggild, KaiMosher, David C.
    16页
    查看更多>>摘要:Turbidity currents are fundamental marine sedimentary processes that deliver sediments from continental margins to deep ocean basins. They develop and maintain deep-sea channels that act as principal conduits for this sediment delivery. While turbidity current channels are frequently considered as analogous to river channel systems, there are distinct differences in the mechanisms that govern their formation. This is particularly true at high-latitudes, where glacial margin processes and Coriolis effects have direct consequences on the characteristics of channel-forming turbidity currents. Understanding the latitudinal controls that influence the structure of these channels is thus a key objective of this study.

    Disentangle the sediment mixing from geochemical proxies and detrital zircon geochronology

    Li, YalongHuang, XiangtongNguyen Thi HiepLian, Ergang...
    9页
    查看更多>>摘要:Detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology and geochemical proxies derived from immobile elements and isotopes are commonly applied to trace sediment sources because of their durability and stability in most earth surface processes and environments. However, little is known on whether these different tracers can contain identical or similar provenance signals for sediments of interest. This study presents the U-Pb ages of detrital zircons from a grain-size fraction of 63-125 mu m and elemental and Nd isotopic compositions for bulk sediments from the Mulanxi, a small mountainous river in southeast China. We aim to retrieve provenance signals preserved by different tracers and to test whether they are robust in discriminating the effect of sediment mixing in this tidaldominated river. Our results show that detrital zircons in the Mulanxi catchments and estuarine have two major age groups at 90-110 Ma and 120-150 Ma. Moreover, the results of probability density plots (PDPs) suggest there is no significant difference in detrital zircon U-Pb ages between the sediments from non-tidal and tidal reaches. The detrital zircon age distributions in the Mulanxi catchments are significantly different from those in the Changjiang (Yangtze River) catchments and in the inner shelf mud belt of the East China Sea which have distinct multiple age populations. A statistical multidimensional scaling (MDS) analysis suggests there is no a source-to-sink connection between the Changjiang and Mulanxi zircons. On the contrary, the geochemical proxies of Sc/Th, Cr/Th, and Nd isotopes reveal different sediment sources between the non-tidal and tidal reaches of Mulanxi, with the fine tidal-reach sediments having mixed sources from the offshore mud and the Mulanxi River, while the coarse-grained sediments from the non-tidal upstream being completely contributed by the Mulanxi. The contradictory results from these different provenance proxies suggest their implications and limitations for sediment source tracing. Detrital zircon ages can track the `inherited' source signals of zircons and relating coarse fractions in sediments, but they are less sensitive to source changes in fine fractions than the geochemical proxies of Nd isotopes, Sc/Th and Cr/Th ratios. It is therefore essential and a prerequisite to carefully evaluate all possible factors controlling detrital sediment compositions, and to weigh the pros and cons of different tracers for sediment provenance discrimination especially in dynamic Small Mountainous Rivers (SMRs) and continental margins.

    Long-chain alkyl diols as indicators of local riverine input, temperature, and upwelling in a shelf south of the Yangtze River Estuary in the East China Sea

    Qin, MaogangHe, XingliangLiu, YongzhiChen, Lilei...
    12页
    查看更多>>摘要:Sedimentary processes on continental shelves are affected by complex interactions between a variety of riverine and oceanographic processes. In the shelf of the East China Sea (ECS) south of the Yangtze River estuary, we investigated source-to-sink processes relating to local riverine input as well as the effects of the Kuroshio intrusion by examining the distribution of long-chain alkyl diols in surface and core sediments. The results show that at present the main source of 1,14-diols is most likely diatoms belonging to the genus Proboscia. Most C32 1,15-diol is produced in situ in local rivers (rather than originating from the Yangtze River) and its distribution is mainly restricted to the front of local river mouths along the coast (water depth < 50 m) due to the hydrodynamism of the nearshore circulation system. Although the sources of the 1,13- and 1,15-diols remain uncertain, principal component analysis and their distribution patterns suggest that 1,14-, 1,13- and 1,15-diols have different biological sources, and that their producers may bloom in different seasons. The long chain diol index (LDI), a proxy for sea surface temperature (SST), was used in this study to reconstruct records of SST (with a bias towards autumn temperatures) in different parts of the ECS shelf, except for shallow water areas (water depth < 50 m), which are more affected by riverine input. The diol index (DI), based on 1,14-diols, worked well as a upwelling tracer in our study area, and our results show that upwelling prevails in the ECS shelf and that zones of strengthened upwelling are present to some extent at similar to 28.8. N-29.6 degrees N and similar to 27.0 degrees N-27.8 degrees N during the summer due to the interaction of geomorphology, monsoons, and different water masses (i.e., the Kuroshio branch and the Yangtze River diluted water). The nutrient diol index (NDI) shows potential as an indicator for nutrient concentration in the surface waters in this study area during the warm season, but further work is needed.

    Enhancement of volcanic eruption in mid-ocean ridge during the last deglaciation: New sedimentary evidence in the middle part of Central Indian Ridge

    Lim, DhongilKim, JihunKim, JongukKim, Dongsung...
    11页
    查看更多>>摘要:Sedimentary evidence for enhanced volcanic eruption during the glacial/interglacial transition in the volcanically active mid-ocean ridges is still lacking. Here, we present the sedimentary records of enhanced deglacial volcanic activity in a well-dated sediment core from the middle part of Central Indian Ridge (CIR), which can provide clue for comprehensively understanding of the temporal relation of increase in submarine volcanism relative to glacial/interglacial transition. Notably, the 35-kyr sediment core used in this study contains continuous, discernible pyroclastic deposit layers (0.5-5 cm thick), which are composed mainly of angular and curved fluidal shards with vesicles, possibly suggesting volatile-rich ridge eruptions. High-resolution elemental profiles of the core provide definite records of at least 17 volcanic eruptions during the past 35 kyr. Interestingly, volcanism was sparse during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), but increased significantly during the last deglaciation after similar to 18 kyr BP. The last deglaciation-associated volcanic eruptions in the CIR may be linked to decompression melting during the LGM sea-level lowstand, reaffirming an influence of sea level variability on global ocean ridge magmatism. Combining the previous results, furthermore, simultaneous strengthening of submarine and subaerial volcanic eruptions during the last deglaciation could have accelerated the rise of atmospheric CO2, with the ensuing warming constituting positive feedback upon deglaciation.

    The Cuban staircase sequences of coral reef and marine terraces: A forgotten masterpiece of the Caribbean geodynamical puzzle

    Pedoja, KevinMartin-Izquierdo, DenyseAuthemayou, ChristineNunez, Arelis...
    15页
    查看更多>>摘要:The emerged sequences of coral reef and marine terraces of the Cuban Archipelago have been recognized since the end of the 19th century but with noticeable exceptions, their bio-constructions and/or deposits are not dated. The northern Caribbean islands and associated archipelagos are located in a left-lateral strike-slip tectonic setting, at the boundary between the North America and Caribbean plates. Cuba is the only landmass located on the American Plate directly adjacent to this transform fault zone. Quantifying upper Pleistocene coastal uplift is thus key to elucidate the recent vertical deformation of the Caribbean geodynamic puzzle with regards to the active tectonic segmentation of this area. We compiled bibliographic data and present new measurements concerning the Cuban sequences of coral reef and marine terraces; maximum elevations, minimum number of successive strandlines and elevation of the lowermost terrace. The Cuban Archipelago exhibits five main uplifting coastal stretches separated by subsiding areas, with at least 23 emerged staircase sequences of coastal terraces. At four sites, the lowest coral reef terrace has been previously correlated to the Last Interglacial Maximum (MIS 5e, 122 +/- 6 ka). At nine sites, we extended the morpho-stratigraphy to derive Upper Pleistocene apparent and eustasy-corrected uplift rates. Alongshore Cuba, MIS 5e coastal terraces and associated shoreline angles occur at elevations ranging from 7 m to 40 m, yielding eustasy-corrected uplift rates ranging from 0.06 +/- 0.01 mm.yr(-1) (NW Cuba) to 0.33 +/- 0.01 mm.yr(-1) (SE Cuba). More than 400 km northward of the transform fault, eustasycorrected uplift rates (0.13 mm.yr(-1)) suggest that the whole Cuban Archipelago is affected by the North America/Caribbean plate motion, with a partitioned compressive component resulting in block tectonics with tilting controlled by regional faults.