南海北部东沙海域天然气水合物分解事件及其与海底滑塌的关系

doi:10.11978/2017100

Abstract

Abstract:

Dongsha area is a critical gas hydrate area of the northern South China Sea, and a submarine slide is extensively developed on its slope. In this paper, we analyzed the sedimentological particle size, species characteristic and stable isotope of benthic foraminifera in the cores 973-4 and 973-5, respectively, recovered from the middle of the slope and the flat area at the base. The results of the distinctly negative δ¹³C values and the heavier δ¹⁸O values in both cores in the Last Glacial period suggested that there were persistent gas hydrate dissociation events in the Dongsha area during this period. The δ¹³C negative gradually disappeared and the δ¹⁸O values decreased since the Last Deglacial period, indicating that gas hydrate dissociation was prevented because of global sea level rise. In the core 974, obvious submarine slide deposits only occurred in 440~600 cm according to the Last Glacial Maximum and the number of Uvigerina spp. and Bulimina spp. sharply increased in this location, which implied the submarine slide was probably caused by an intense methane release event induced by the descending sea level in the Last Glacial Maximum period. A smaller scale submarine slide was also recorded in core 973-5, but the deposition time was later than that of core 973-4.

Key words: gas hydrate, submarine slide, benthic foraminifera, Dongsha area, northern South China Sea

CLC Number:

P736

Yi HUANG, Shuhong WANG, Wen YAN, Jun CHENG. Gas hydrate dissociation event and its relationship with submarine slide in Dongsha Area of northern South China Sea[J].Journal of Tropical Oceanography, 2018, 37(4): 61-69.

Figures/Tables 4

References 56

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Gas hydrate dissociation event and its relationship with submarine slide in Dongsha Area of northern South China Sea

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