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South China Sea Deep

Overview

In 2010, the Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) funded an 200 million Yuan (~ 30 millions USD) initiative named "South China Sea Deep" - an interdisciplinary research project to study the tectonics, sedimentology and sediment transport, and biogeochemical cycling. PCMSC scientists were invited by colleagues in Tongji University (Shanghai, China) to collaborate on a proposal for studying the deep water sediment dynamics and sediment transport in the northeastern South China Sea. The proposal, "In-situ observation of bottom flows and sediment dynamics in northeastern South China Sea", has been funded for 4 years (2012-2015). A reimbursable agreement is being developed to fund the participation of PCMSC scientists and staff.

PCMSC is invited to participate this project because of our world-renowned research on sediment dynamics and proven expertise in designing and implementing field experiment for sediment dynamic studies from the continental shelves and slopes to submarine canyons. Participation of this project is deemed beneficial to PCMSC in multiple ways:

1. Since the HEBBLE program more than 30 years ago, this project is one of only few studies on deep-water sedimentation and sediment dynamics in the entire world that are not conducted by oil industry, whose data are understandably always propriety. Any data and discovery from this project will be at the forefront of deep-water marine geology research for the region, and probably for the world.
2. This project will strengthen our future capabilities in marine (deep-water) geology and geophysics research.
3. Our participation of this project will likely to lead future collaborations with expanded research scope.

Start/End Dates

10/1/11 to 9/30/15

Location

China

Investigators

• Xu, Jingping, Oceanographer, Project Chief
• Rosenbauer, Bob, Geochemist
• Tate, George, Geologist

Objectives

Through in-situ observation of sediment and oceanographic parameters by deep-water mooring and tripod deployments at several key locations, and water column profiling along the transects, as well as sediment and water sampling, the study tries to better understand the following processes that control the bottom circulations and sediment dynamics:

1. the property and temporal and spatial distribution of bottom ocean currents in the study area;
2. characterization and distribution of bottom nepheloid layer;
3. sedimentation and resuspension in the bottom boundary layer;
4. turbidity currents and their triggering mechanisms;
5. sources and transport pathways of bottom sediment that formed the subject high-sedimentation-rate deposit.

The results from this study, when combined with the analyses and interpretation of existing high-resolution sediment cores, are expected to help understanding the evolution of ocean bottom circulation since the last glacial maximum (LGM), and its control on the formation of the subject high-sedimentation-rate deposit.

Approach

For the past 4 decades PCMSC has been at the forefront of sediment dynamics research and had the world-renowned expertise in designing and implementing field experiment for sediment dynamic studies from the continental shelves and slopes to submarine canyons. In this project, we apply this expertise to the northeastern South China Sea where bottom boundary layer studies in deep ocean have never been done before. A decade of fast economic growth has afforded China to substantially increase her investment in ocean science research. A successful collaboration in this pilot project can conceivably extend PCMSC's participation to international projects and strengthen its ocean research capability.

Task

Bottom Boundary Layers in South China Sea Deep
In FY12 PCMSC staff will design, fabricate, and test the deep-water Free Ascending Tripod (FAT) that will be deployed in late 2012 or early 2013. Two identical tripods (including frame, flotation, and releasing mechanism, but without most instruments) are to be made; one tripod as a backup. The tripods are co-owned by PCMSC and Tongji University.

Cooperator

State Key Laboratory of Marine Geology, Tongji University, China/POC: Liu, Zhifei