The temperature of subsurface water entrained into the mixed layer ( T _e ) is very important to improve El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO ) simulations and modulated ENSO decadal variability. Based on an intermediate coupled model (ICM) and nudging data assimilation method, a long-term monthly-mean T_e dataset is reconstructed over the tropical Pacific for the period of 1856 - 2008. The verification results show that the reconstructed T_e data have high correlations and small root mean square (RMS) errors with three analysis T_e dataset in the last 50 years. Also, the simulated sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies from the ICM, forced by the reconstructed T_e dataset, can simulate realistic interannual and decadal variability of ENSO very well. This indicates that the reconstructed T_e dataset is useful for climate research, especially for the large-scale low frequency or decadal variability of ENSO .

Thermal wind relation is applied to compute the upper 1000-m layer meridional geostrophic velocity across the 18° section in the South China Sea (SCS), based on the hydrographic data collected during the open cruises of northern SCS from 2005 to 2008 and merged altimetry data. The geostrophic velocity is compared with the Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCP) observations, and the upper 1000-m layer geostrophic volume, heat and salt transports across the 18° section in the SCS are estimated. The results indicate that the meridional geostrophic velocities display belt distribution along the section during the cruises . The estimated geostrophic velocities are in good agreement with the ADCP data except at few stations. Sea surface height distribution derived from altimeter data shows that the distribution of meridional geostrophic velocities is closely related with mesoscale eddies. T he total geostrophic volume, heat and salt transports of 2005 - 2007 in the upper 1000 m are all southward across 18°, and the three-year-averaged values are - 11.8 Sv, - 0.38 PW, and - 418.8 Gg° ^{- 1} , respectively. However, the transport varies greatly from year to year. The volume, heat and salt transports of 2005 were the largest, while those of 2007 were the smallest. The geostrophic volume, heat and salt transports of 2008 from 110° to 117° are - 7.3 Sv, - 0.22 PW, and - 259.4 Gg° ^{- 1} , respectively.

The seasonal characteristics of water masses and the monthly variation of mixed layer depth are studied using Argo profiling floats in 2006 east of the Luzon Strait. The temperature-salinity relation indicates the seasonal variation of water masses is not obvious. Compare to those in summer and fall, the surface temperature is lower and the surface salinity is higher in spring and winter; they change little in deeper layers. Seasonal variation of the mixed layer depth is obvious; it is the deepest in winter with a value over 160 m, whilst it is the shallowest in summer with a value of 20 m. Based on the P -vector method, the current field in fall is calculated using Argo seasonal mean data between 2002 and 2009, Levitus data and Argo data in 2006, respectively. The wind-driven Ekman drift current is also computed. The result obtained by Argo seasonal mean data is significantly better than that by the Levitus data; the Argo data can show the structure of Kuroshio and eddies. The coupled current structure obtained by Argo data in 2006 and Ekman drift current is similar to that by the altimeter data, except that the velocity of the former is less, which may be related to the coarse and unevenly distribution of Argo profiling floats and the subsequent interpolation error. However, a three-dimensional structure of flow field could be obtained by the Argo data, whilst only the surface current field can be obtained by the altimeter data.

We use GHRSST L4, QuikSCAT, OAFLUX and SeaWiFS L3 data sets to analyze the change of sea surface temperature (SST), sensible heat flux, latent heat flux and chlorophyll - a concentration in the equatorial ocean where Typhoon Vamei passed through. Before Typhoon Vamei was generated, there was a significant cyclonic vortex over the equatorial region of the southern South China Sea, the average SST in the coastal region of South China Peninsula was lower than other regions, and northeasterly wind prevailed in this area. The latent heat flux and sensible heat flux were larger in the genesis location of Typhoon Vamei . As usual, the cooling occurred on the right side of the track of Typhoon Vamei. The SST decreased by about 2 - 2.5 ℃ . However, compared to higher-latitude typhoons, the cooling was much small in this case. The region where SST decreased significantly was between the east of the Malay Peninsula and the Strait of Malacca. Similar to higher-latitude typhoons, Typhoon Vamei increased chlorophyll- a concentration in the coastal area between Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula by 0.6 mg·m ^{- 3} or more compared to the pre-typhoon value.

The impacts of tropical cyclones Abe (9315), Becky (9316), Morakot (0309) and Melor (0319) on the Kuroshio axis near the Luzon Strait are analyzed using satellite altimeter data . The results are as follows. 1) As affected by tropical cyclone, the Kuroshio axis can be easily shifted. 2) Under the influence of tropical cyclone, the Kuroshio axis changes due to the variation of mesoscale eddy. As the warm eddy in the east of the Luzon Strait moves westward, the Kuroshio axis bends to the west , which is conducive to the Kuroshio’s intrusion through the Luzon Strait.

Many in-situ data indicate that the vertical stratification of the inherent optical properties and optical active constitutes in euphoric depth is a common phenomenon in most ocean water. Most of satellite retrieval algorithms of the optical constitutes concentration are, however, based on the assumption of homogeneous ocean water, especially for empirical retrieval models, which are usually based on the statistical relation between the reflectance spectral of surface and the depth-averaged constitute concentration or that of a certain depth. Using the underwater optical radiative transfer model, the influences of vertically stratified concentration of chlorophyll and suspended sediment matter on the irradiance ratio at the depth of 0^- m are respectively analyzed. The two computation formulas of depth-weighted equivalent concentration of stratified water and their responding irradiance ratio at 0^- m depth are then compared. The results indicate that the primary error sources is the light penetration depth and the intensity of stratification: the deeper the penetration and the more distinct stratification, the greater the effect of stratified water on the value of irradiance ratio at 0^- m depth, as well as the error of depth-weighted equivalent concentration. Gordon’s computation results of equivalent concentration are more accurate, and the Zaneveld ’s results overestimate the equivalent concentration of stratified water.

Seafloor sediment properties are important to the survey of marine mineral resources and engineering. The Biot-Stoll model can simulate physical properties of sediment differently with distinct parameters. Stoll parameters are the statistical numbers when the Biot-stoll model gives the best forecast, while Schock parameters are some of the model parameters that need to be modified, such as porosity, pore radius, and pore tortuosity of sediments. In this study, we use the Biot-Stoll model and Stoll and Schock parameters to inversely obtain the sound wave velocity of the sediments in the southern South China Sea, and compare them with the measuring values. The results show that the velocity of fast compression wave calculated by the Biot-Stoll model with Stoll parameters has large errors comparing with that measured in laboratory, whose average is 3.962%, while the model-based predication is more consistent with the laboratory data when using the Schock parameters, whose average is - 0.847%. These results suggest that it is more accurate to study the sediments in the SCS using Schock parameters.

The Chaoshan Depression, where the Mesozoic strata well developed, is an important mothball area for gas and oil exploration in the South China Sea. Identification and suppression of seismic multiples are especially difficult and are the keys to this area. In order to obtain high-quality seismic profiles, combining methods for multiples suppression is critical. According to the original seismic data with abnormal development and various multiples in two dimensions, This paper analysises the types and properties of the multiples, trying to suppress multiples using combination method with predictive deconvolution in τ-p domain, Surface Related Multiples Elimination (SRME) and Hyperbolic Radon transform. Short-period reverberation and peg-leg multiples are effectively attenuated by predictive deconvolution; SRME method is used for suppressing surface-relat ed multiples well, especially in the near-offset range; and hyperbolic radon transform is a good choice to attenuate long-period and surface-related multiples that are not sufficiently suppressed. As we expected, the quality of seismic profile improves significantly after suppress multiples using combination method .

The body color variation and fins development at early life stages of Trachinotus ovatus were continuously observed by colleting samples of larvae, juveniles and young fish reared in pond from newly hatching to 31 days after hatching (DAH) under water temperature of 24.73 ± 2.11 ℃ , salinity of 20 ‰ - 24 ‰ and pH of 8.0 - 8.2 . The newly hatched larvae were covered by melanin . Brown pigment in eye-sport increased at 2 DAH, while the mouth was not found opening and visual sense undeveloped. Mouth opened at 3 DAH, eye became black, big and protruding, covered by melanin, with optic function. Metamorphosis occurred at 17 DAH, when the larvae were turned into juveniles and the body became opaque. The body color changed into brown at 22 DAH while the metamorphosis was finished from juvenile to young fish. It was argent a t 30 DAH with the body color in accord with adult stage. The fin development was in order of pectoral fin, caudal fin, dorsal fin, anal fin and ventral fin. Primordial pectoral fin appeared in 1-day-old larvae, first feeding was observed at 2 - 3 DAH, with the fan-like pectoral fin. Fins were developed completely at 17 DAH , symbolizing the start of juvenile stage. Results of this research indicated that body color variation and fins development in T. ovatus played a very important role to life activities of larvae and juveniles such as feeding, behavior, movement, growth, metamorphosis and survivorship, being one of the important characters in metamorphosis development of larvae and juveniles, it correlated closely with artificial seedling production especially in feeding and grading.

In order to study spore culture of Gloiopeltis furcata in non-reproduction season, two experiments were conducted on freezing storage of fertile Gloiopeltis furcata in terms of its released spores’ number and spores’ attachment. In the first experiment, six group of fertile Gloiopeltis furcata of different dry-degree was preserved at - 18 ℃ for six months and then released at water temperature of 16 ℃ . The results showed that the best preservation effect of fertile Gloiopeltis furcata was the group that dry weight was about 25% of its fresh weight. The released spores’ number of this group was about 77.6% of the control group (the fertile Gloiopeltis furcata which was not dealed with air drying and preservation) and there was no significant difference in spores’ attachment between this group and the control group. In the second experiment, fertile Gloiopeltis furcata that dry weight was about 1/4 of its fresh weight was preserved at - 18 ℃ , - 36 ℃ , and - 80 ℃ for eight months and then released spores at water temperature of 8 ℃ , 12 ℃ , 16 ℃ , and 20 ℃ . The results showed maximum spores appeared at water temperature of 12 ℃ and fertile Gloiopeltis furcata that preserved at - 36 ℃ and - 80 ℃ released more spores than those preserved at - 18 ℃ . The two experiments showed a simple and convenient method for spore culture of Gloiopeltis furcata in non-reproduction season and would assist the preservation of germ plasm of Gloiopeltis.

It is one of the current hot topics in application of remote sensing to use remote sensing techniques in coastal dynamics research and marine environment retrieval. We retrieved the changes of Fujian reclamation and the mainland coastline from thematic mapper (TM) remote sensing image, which realizes coastline automatic extraction, land classification and marine environmental parameters retrieval using ENVI and ArcGIS softwares to process regional remote sensing images. We also retrieved sea surface temperature (SST) and chlorophyll concentration from moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS ) ocean color remote sensing images in the same season and area, to discuss the reclamation’s potential effects on marine environment.

China is rich in marine biological resources. Its sustainable utilization of marine biological resources is one of the most effective and innovative areas in the world's scientific and technological innovation. China's marine economy had achieved exciting results during the “Eleventh Five-Year Plan” period. In this paper, the science and technology layout and progress of marine biological resources research were analyzed; the constraints of marine science and technology development include five aspects: imperfect theoretical system, lack of funding support, insufficient support of research platform, weak development of talent team, and shortage of integrated product development. It was proposed that the major basic scientific issues and technical issues should be concerned, the efficiency of using scientific and technological input should be improved, the construction of scientific research platform should be strengthened, the high-level key leaders and young scientific talents should be stably supported, and the development of new marine products and its popularization should be emphasized.

The variability of subsurface ocean in the tropical Pacific was analyzed based on the simple ocean data assimilation (SODA) dataset. The results indicate that the path of anomalous temperature signal transmitting to the western Pacific in an ENSO cycle has close relationship with the depth distribution of thermocline. The climatological thermocline was very shallow along 10ºN. Therefore, the thermocline was like a ridge through the eastern to western Pacific under the sea surface. As a result, the anomalous ENSO signal coming from the equator could not get across this area to the north, so the signal in the eastern Pacific could only transmit to the western Pacific along this region. On the contrary, the thermocline in the southern Pacific does not have such a character and could not block the signal’s propagation from the equator to higher latitude. Further research indicates that the signal intensity of temperature anomaly changes in the ENSO cycle, especially when the signal is transmitted from the eastern Pacific to the western Pacific along 10ºN. Except for the temperature anomaly from 10ºN in the eastern Pacific, the temperature anomaly that ultimately approaches the western Pacific warm pool was also affected by the local surface wind in the North Pacific and the temperature anomaly from higher latitude.

Based on artificial neural network (ANN), the authors retrieved near-surface air temperature (AT) from sea surface temperature (SST), wind speed (WS) and sea level pressure (SLP) of the International Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Dataset (ICOADS). Modeling sample spans from 1981 to 2000, while validating sample spans from 2001 to 2008. The adopted ANN introduces momentum factor to back propagation (BP) algorithm to escape from local extremes. In addition, batch processing gradient descent method was used to remove the effect of sequential training. Retrieving results in the South China Sea (SCS) demonstrates that ANN is better than multi-factor linear regression, especially for coastal areas during spring and winter, where strong non-linear relation exists between SST, WS, SLP and AT. In conclusion, ANN behaves similarly for each month, with root mean square error (RMSE) between 1.5 ℃ and 1.8 ℃ and mean absolute error (MAE) between 1.1 ℃ and 1.3 ℃ .

This paper summarizes the progress in objective position methods of tropical cyclone center based on satellite remote sensing from four new perspectives. They are cloud pattern recognition, wind field analysis, temperature/humidity structure inversion, and tempo-spatial movement matching. The four methods’ principles and realization processes are introduced, as well as their advantages, disadvantages and applicability. Finally, this paper concludes that although most of the above methods are still at exploratory research phase, their many features are better than the traditional positioning method of artificial visual interpretation, which will make them inevitable in locating tropical cyclone center. Comprehensive comparison also points out that one hybrid intelligent algorithm combined with motion characteristics will be the research and development tendency of tropical cyclone center location technology in future. Besides, it is necessary to establish an integrated tropical cyclone center positioning system that synthesizes various data and algorithms, which will be conducive to improve the stability and accuracy of tropical cyclone center positioning.

In order to study of sound attenuation characteristics of seabed sediment at small scale, an original method for measuring acoustic attenuation of sediment within a small-gap cross section is put forward. There are small disturbances in the sediment samples during the course of measurement by the method. The sound attenuation of seafloor sediment can be measured at two test points; the distance of them is less than one wavelength, which provides a method for finding out how microstructures work in wave attenuation of seabed sediment. Amplitudes of compression wave in sediment columns were measured point by point at the interval less than one wavelength in the study; and it is shown that negative exponential function is a type of acoustic attenuation model for sediment in its full length. Data of wave attenuation of seafloor sediments are mainly obtained by coaxial gap measurement method at present, but the sound attenuation model is not identified by using the method; so it is difficult to establish the relationship of results of wave attenuation of seafloor sediments taken from different sea areas. In this paper, an evaluated R, which result from the ratio of the amplitude inversed by the sound absorption coefficient divided by the ratio of the amplitude inversed by the sound attenuation coefficient (the ratio of two amplitude ratios), is proposed to be an evaluation criterion. After the data analysis of sound attenuation of seabed sediments from the South China Sea, which were obtained with measurement method of sound attenuation between the gap along the vertical axis, it was found that the evaluated R’s of sound attenuation from part of the sediment samples were much larger than one and their sound attenuations did not meet the exponential function of negative index. Under the conditions of the exponential function of negative index with which sound attenuation of seabed sediments was satisfied and in comparison with the evaluated R’s of sound attenuation of seabed sediments from the South China Sea predicted with Hamilton's empirical formula of sound attenuation and frequency and the ones measured with acoustic probe in our project, it was found that the range of ratios of sound attenuation of seabed sediments from the South China Sea can be predicted by Hamilton's empirical formula of sound attenuation and frequency. The advantage of measurement by the acoustic probe is in both accessing acoustic attenuation data and identifying sound attenuation model of seafloor sediments, and then the relationship of measured sound attenuation of seafloor sediment from different sea areas can be established with their evaluated R’s.

The Pearl River Estuary system is distinguished from other estuary systems with its “men” (meaning “gate” in Chinese), a special morphological unit, which produces complicated average flow and turbulent flow, and impacts its energy dissipation. Based on FLOW3D’s RNG (Re-Normalization Group) k-ε model, the authors studied the energy dissipation and its mechanism induced by “gate” topography. The sub-area of the energy dissipation zone can be distinguished with the jet core zone (A1 zone), the mixing zone (A2 zone), the far zone (A3 zone and A4 zone). The conservation of mechanical energy and the mechanism of these subareas are different.

This paper deals with the coastal erosion problems around the eastern Moyang River Estuary. The changes of coastline and coastal landforms were studied by comparing old and new aerial photographs and topographic maps, as well as through repeated field observations and local measurements regarding erosion processes. From these studies, the coastline of eastern Moyang River Estuary subjects to serious coastal erosion at an average annual rate of 15 m. The dynamic change of the coastal landforms profiles shows that the erosion or deposition differs from season to season. After the landfall of Typhoon Hagupit, the coastline retreated dramatically and the topography was changed. Through the analysis of characters of costal erosion, it was concluded that the storm surge had serious implications for coastal erosion of this area, and that the condition of erosion or deposition responded to the change of seasons as well.

Retrieving internal wave parameters from remote sensing data plays an important role in internal wave research. The generation and propagation mechanisms of such waves can be studied using the parameters extracted from remote sensing data. The authors use empirical mode decomposition, wavelet decomposition and high-order polynomial fitting in extracting internal waves’ (IWs) half-wave width from optical remote sensing images. With the method of Empirical mode decomposition and wavelet decomposition the remote sensing data is decomposed and the signal of IWs is extracted by the normalized variance of IWs. Polynomial fitting is based on the assumptions that bright and dark stripes completely change within the wave modulation and that the first derivative the half-wave width can be extracted. The three methods have been verified by the image of China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite (CBERS), which was imaging the northern South China Sea near Dongsha Atoll on July 10^th, 2004. Results show that the three methods can effectively extract the needed parameters with all the results of half-wave width being in good agreement with each other. The above methods have obvious advantages in dealing with non-stationary and nonlinear remote sensing data. Using the extracted half-wave width data and other related data (water depth and mixed layer depth), the authors retrieve IWs’ amplitude base on the nonlinear internal wave theory.

In order to investigate the relationship between pollen distribution of marine surface sediments, pollen transmission mechanisms and vegetation, climate of pollen source areas, we conducted field sampling, laboratory experiments, calculation of pollen percentage and pollen concentration in this study. Our goal is to provide a reliable basis for paleoenvironmental research in the South China Sea. We analyzed the distribution of pollen in the surface sediments of Guangdong coast and southeast Hainan Island as recorded in the 40 samples from the area 108°34 ′ 12 ″ - 120°E and 17° - 23°43 ′ 12 ″ N at water depths of 37 - 3370m, focusing on the sea area along Guangzhou coast that has not been involved in surface pollen analysis before. It is found that pollen percentage of herbs (Poaceae, Artemisia, Chenopodiaceae and Brassiceae ) is low and the higher pollen percentage occurs in the sea area near Guangdong, probably related to tropic and subtropic grassland, cultivated rice, sugarcane and vegetable along the coast of Guangdong. The Pinus pollen percentage was relatively high (20%) and was transported over longer distance. It is revealed that Artemisia, Chenopodiaceae and Brassiceae were transported from north to south by the winter ocean current, while Pinus was transported by the winter monsoon. The high percentage of Trilete-spore (60%) in the surface sediments near the shore was probably related to human activities . Most pollen of tropical and subtropical broad-leaved trees ( Castanopsis, Quercus ) found in the northern part of the SCS occurred in low percentage. The pollen of Guangdong coast, such as Castanopsis, Quercus, and Trilete-spore, came from Hainan Island and Guangdong coast, probably was transported by rivers and coastal ocean currents. The higher percentage of Monolete-spore and Cyperaceae in the surface sediments occurred near the Pearl River Estuary , implying a fluvial discharge from the Pearl River.

Two sediment cores, covering histories of ca. one hundred years and located in coastal waters off Guangdong province, were analyzed for branched and isoprenoid tetraether (BIT) index based on glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraether (GDGT) biomarkers. The index is an indicator of relative contribution of terrestrial soil organic carbon (SOC) to the total organic carbon (TOC) in the sediment. Our results revealed that BIT values were lower than 0.26 in the core sediments, indicating major contributions of aquatic organic carbon (AOC) to the TOC. BIT time series from the two cores showed similar patterns with stable and higher values before the 1940s, a gradual decreasing trend after the 1940s and a prominent decreasing trend since 1990. The decreasing trend suggests either a decrease in SOC or an increase in AOC. Based on the time series of the sedimentation flux of SOC and AOC, increasing contribution of AOC was inferred to be the main cause. The increasing sedimentation flux of AOC showed a similar pattern to that of the economic rise in Guangdong province, implying that the suggested rise of nutrient levels of coastal waters off Guangdong province could have been caused by the enhanced human activities.

A systematic study of rare earth elements (REE) within the surface sediments from 10 bays situated along the coast of Guangdong Provence, China, has facilitated a more rigorous understanding of constraints on sediment provenance in the area. The results show that REE concentrations are similar within a single bay, but vary considerably (133.58–251.77 mg · kg ^{- 1} ) among the bays. The chondrite-normalized distribution patterns show the typical enrichment of light REEs (La to Eu) relative to heavy REEs (Gd to Lu), and an apparent depletion of Eu, which is diagnostic of a terrigenous sediment source. Obvious enrichments of the middle REEs (Sm to Ho) in the PAAS-normalized ( Post-Archean Australian Shale ) distribution patterns of these bay sediments are similar to results reported from large rivers in China. Comparing the REE composition of the bay sediments with those of adjoining fluvial sediments and with the bedrock of the surrounding drainage basins, the bedrock of the surrounding drainage basins are indicated as the dominant sediment source. The uniform REE distribution patterns and MREE enrichments confirm that the sediments are derived from the material transported by the streams and rivers that discharge into the bays.

Based on the data of suspended matter concentration and turbidity in the sea area west of Guangdong and northeast of Hainan Island, the characters of suspended matter concentration and turbidity distribution have been studied. We found that most suspended matter concentration in this area is low and that most of this sea area is very clear. In spring and summer, the suspended matter mainly comes from Pearl River Estuary and Qiongzhou Strait, where the suspended matter have an obviously dividing line. The suspended matter in the offshore area northeast of Hainan Island may come from land and the open sea. Also we found that the suspended matter concentration and turbidity have a better correlation near shore and at the bottom of the sea. The turbidity can reflect the content of suspended sand, but cannot reflect the activity and distribution of organisms. For example, the suspended matter concentration is high in the Qiongdong upwelling area, where the biological activities are extensive, but the turbidity is low.

Methane (CH₄) is an important greenhouse gas, which can influence the Earth's climate change both directly and indirectly. Distributions and fluxes of CH₄ in rivers and lagoons of eastern Hainan were obtained during the survey from March 27th to April 15th in 2009. Surface waters of the three rivers (Wenchang, Wenjiao and Wanquan rivers) were over-saturated in CH₄ with respect to atmospheric equilibrium [( 60664±25118)%, (38582±26339)% and (9472±5594)%, respectively ]. Surface waters of the lagoons were also over-saturated in CH₄, but at much lower levels than those in the rivers. The dissolved CH₄ in the lagoons mainly come from riverine input, inputs from groundwater and fringing mangrove forest, and in-situ production; the main sinks of methane in the lagoons were oxidation and outgassing. The estimated air–water CH₄ fl uxes using the RC01 formula of Wenchang and Wanquan rivers were 5967.0 ±5142.1 and 496.2 ±335.9 μmol·m ^{- 2} ·d ^{- 1} , respectively. Air–water CH₄ fl uxes of the logoons were 528.7±625.0 , 441.7±473.3 , 26.6±21.6, and 1287.8±1453.3 μmol·m ^{- 2} ·d ^{- 1} for Bamen bay, Bo’ao , Xiaohai, and Laoyehai, respectively. Estuaries and lagoons in eastern Hainan are persistently supersaturated in CH₄, which indicates that they are net sources of atmospheric CH₄.

This study investigated the expression levels of insulin-related peptide receptor gene ( irr) and several shell matrix protein genes ( nacrein, efcbp, n19, aspein, and accbp) in human recombinant growth hormone injection and insulin-like growth factor injection groups compared to the reference group in pearl oyster Pinctada fucata Gould. The expression level of irr was increased by hormone treatments ( P<0.05), which is consistent with its role as insulin-like growth factor receptor in mollusk. Higher transcripts of nacrein indicated higher growth metabolism levels in the pearl oysters of the experimental groups; compared to the reference group, the expression levels of n19, aspein and accbp decreased after growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor- Ⅰ (IGF- Ⅰ ) treatments ( P<0.05), suggesting they were suppressed by the GH and IGF- Ⅰ pathways. In addition, the expression levels of aspein and accbp were found to be highly correlated; we infer that these two genes may be regulated by a single upstream factor. The expression level of efcbp showed a relatively steady expression in all oysters, and no significant differences were found among these groups ( P>0.05).

To provide genetic information for the purpose of selective breeding, comparison of genetic variability among the three cultured stocks of Oreochromis niloticus, O. aureus and<> red tilapia<> O. sp. was made using nine microsatellite loci. In total 60 alleles were detected from 109 individuals. The mean numbers of alleles were 4.11, 1.33 and 3.44 with average polymorphism information contents being 0.580, 0.077 and 0.466, respectively, for the Nile, aurea and red tilapia stocks. The observed heterozygosities averaged 0.528, 0.056 and 0.491, respectively, for the three cultured stocks, while the expected heterozygosities averaged 0.644, 0.091 and 0.526, respectively . D values of heterozygote deviation were - 0.148, - 0.222 and - 0.044, respectively, showing heterozygote deficiency in the three tilapia stocks . Chi-square tests showed that most loci in the three stocks deviated from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, suggesting occurrence of genetic drift possibly due to founder effect. S ignificant genetic differences were observed among the three stocks (pairwise genetic differentiation index F _ST : 0.329 to 0.656, P<0.01). The genetic distance between O. niloticus and red tilapia was the lowest ( 0.47 ). These observations indicated that O. niloticus has the highest genetic diversity, whereas O. aureus has the lowest; so there is still some selective breeing potential for O. niloticus and red tilapia , whereas new germplasms of O. aureus should be imported for supplement .

Water environment was investigated in three areas, cage culture area, 0.5km (control area 1) and 2km (control area 2) outside the cage in the Dapeng Cove of Daya Bay from October 2009 to July 2010 on a seasonal basis. The spatial-temporal variation and the relevance of temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), chemical oxygen demand ( COD_Mn ), chlorophyll a ( Chl a) and nutrients of seawater in these areas were analyzed and their nutritional status were also evaluated. The results showed that DO, pH, PO₄-P, NO₂-N, NH₄-N , TN (total nitrogen) and TP (total phosphorus) in the seawater of the Dapeng Cove were affected by the fish farm, while COD_Mn , Chl a and SiO₃-Si were less affected. The water inside the cage area was in the middle nutritional level both in winter and spring, while it showed eutrophication in summer. In general, water quality in the cage culture area of the Dapeng Cove was deteriorating, and some effective control measures should be taken to regulate the water environment.

Based on MVC ( Client Middleware Server) concept and VisualDB technology, we designed and implemented the Service System of the South China Sea Science Data Products (SCSPD). Users can query, search and access data products in the SCSPD visually via Web browser. In this paper, the application of VisualDB was introduced. Software architecture design of the system , visualized process of data management and release were described in detail. In the last section , we discussed the system expansibility of the SCSPD according to the technical characteristics and application of VisualDB. The SCSPD improves data service forms of the South China Sea Ocean Database, and is instrumental in the construction of the South China Sea Data Sharing and Service System.

Since the 1980s, marine observation has become much more diversified, capable of delivering three-dimensional and real-time data. National and regional observing systems have been playing important roles in key regions of the oceans. Going with the development of technology and concept innovation, regional marine observation system has been widely used and gradually improved. International marine observation stations, such as the Irish Sea Coastal Observatory, the Carolinas Regional Coastal Ocean Observing System (RCOOS), and the Victoria Experimental Network Under the Sea (VENUS) are great examples, which consist of three-dimensional and real-time data, combined with marine ecosystem, physical, biological and chemical models. Some other examples, such as the American “ North-East Pacific Time-series Undersea Networked Experiments ” (NEPTUNE), the “ European Seafloor Observatory Network ” (ESONET) and the Japanese “ Advanced Real-time Earth monitoring Network in the Area ” (ARENA) are deep-sea network systems, which make th e ocean observatory more comprehensive. Under these international backgrounds, the first deep-sea observation research network station in China-Xisha Marine Research Station was completed in 2008 and has started offering real-time data. The observation system mainly includes automatic weather station, mooring in the western boundary, biological traps, Xisha surface ocean observation system, and Xisha Ocean Optics observation system. Because of the complexity of marine structure, harsh working environment and resource shortages, marine observation could be a high risk task. With the knowledge of the domestic and international marine observation systems reviewed in this study, it is hoped that Chinese marine observation system could be developed and improved to achieve more rapid progress.

The South China Sea (SCS) is one of the biggest marginal seas in western Pacific Ocean. Research on its deep crustal structures would improve our knowledge on tectonic attributes of the conjugate continental boundaries, the formation and evolution of the SCS, and formation mechanisms of oil- and gas-bearing sedimentary basins. The deep seismic survey areas can be divided geologically into northern continental margin, southern continental margin, and the central deep ocean basin. The deep seismic experiments of crustal studies have gone through three stages, namely, the sonobuoy, two-ship expanding spread profile (ESP), and ocean bottom seismometer (OBS). Especially in the past two decades, OBS surveys flourished from northern to southern SCS, then moved to the central SCS. The survey patterns developed from 2D straight lines to 3D grid lines. These surveys and studies have provided invaluable information on deep crustal structures and evidence for the formation and evolution theories of the SCS. They have also pushed applications of domestically-made OBS and training of our scientific teams. The 3D OBS surveys in the deep ocean basin just finished recently marks a new historical progress and will have profound scientific impact on future research.

Special sedimentary phenomena such as sediment waves in the northeastern South China Sea (SCS) are closely related with physical processes in deep sea. Marine geological studies infer that sediment waves are caused by upward flow, contour current and turbidite current, while westward propagation of nonlinear internal waves and westward movement of meso-scale eddies are main features observed by satellite in the region. The evolutions of eddies and internal tides/internal waves are controlled by seafloor relief, and key features are submarine ridges (Hengchun Ridge and Luzon submarine volcanic arc) and continental shelf edge, which are mainly controlled by tectonic processes. The setup and evolution of modern physical process in SCS Deep are related to the formation and development of deep sea basin, northern rifted margin and eastern subduction margin of the SCS. Comprehensive studies of interactions among tectonic, sedimentary and physical processes will ensure a better understanding of evolution of SCS Deep. Recently, seismic oceanography has developed fast, though still in its preliminary stage. New discoveries may change our traditional knowledge about the deep ocean, grasp the nature of interactions between fluid Earth and solid Earth, and make major contributions to Earth system sciences.

The onshore-offshore seismic exploration in the northern South China Sea has experienced three stages: initial test using old air-gun source, import and improvement of large volume air-gun, and joint receive air-gun signal of land seismic stations and Ocean Bottom Seismometers. These experiments have filled the gaps in deep structure of land-ocean transitional area. The results show that the Binhai Fault Zone is a low velocity zone in the velocity structure, and reveal that the deep seismogenic structure of continental marginal seismic belt along the northern South China Sea is much involved in coupled function of low velocity zone in crustal structure and intersecting faults. The joint onshore-offshore deep seismic prospect links the crusts of land and sea perfectly; it can also construct the ultra long crustal structure profile across from the northern continental margin of the South China Sea and Xisha Block to Nansha Block. These experiments play an important role in revealing the structure of micro-blocks in Nansha Block, deep velocity structure of Nansha Block and its adjacent area, the integrated geophysical structure of Nansha Block and peripheral basin, and the transitional area between landmasses. Meanwhile, these experiments are conducive to know the current structural state and tectonic evolution history of Nansha Block and to interpret split-breakup process of Nansha Block.

Rifted continental margins and basins are mainly formed by the lithospheric extension. Thinned lithosphere of passive continental margins leads to decompression melt of magma and created oceanic crust as well as thinned ocean-continent transition zone. A multi-channel seismic Line MCS 2010-1 in the northern South China Sea, acquired by the R/V "Shiyan 2" of the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology in 2010, is processed and analyzed in this study. Reflection characteristics of a continent-ocean transition (COT) zone are summarized and outlined. Results show that the COT zone is mainly composed of the northern syn-rift subsidence zone, central volcanic or buried volcanic uplift zone, and tilt faulted blocks near the South China Sea basin. Compared to the previous seismic reflection data and refraction velocity models, the range of the COT zone is outlined, from about 225 km wide in the northeastern South China Sea, 160 km wide in the central to 110 km in the northern-central South China Sea. Epicenter distributions of sporadic and larger than 6 magnitude earthquakes suggest that the COT zone in the northern South China Sea is still an active seismic zone.

During December 2010 and March 2011, Ocean Bottom Seismometer (OBS) experiment was carried out in the southwest sub-basin of the South China Sea (SWSB). Three types of OBS, Sedis IV type, I-4C type and MicrOBS type, were used in the experiment, and the energy source was supplied by 4?24.5L large volume air-gun. High quality seismic data that covered the extinct mid ocean ridge of the SWSB were acquired. The data could provide evidence for oceanic crust structure of the SWSB and seafloor spreading course, among others. The data of the seven stations of Profile 1 have been processed, which shows that the seismic records are clear and seismic phases are abundance and that the air-guns had enough energy supplies. Seismic phase analysis and first arrival tomography indicate that the crust of the SWSB is normal oceanic crust with a thin sedimentary layer on the seamount and shallow moho, which provides a good foundation for future research.

The continental margin seismic belt (CMSB) of northern South China Sea (SCS) is an active intraplate seismic zone. Research on the CMSB has significant importance in earthquake prevention and disaster reduction, and in understanding the neotectoics of the northern SCS. By seismicity analyzing, we suggest that the CMSB can be divided into seismically active zones of Southern Fujian-Eastern Guangdong, Yangjiang, and Leizhou-Hainan, and less active zone of the Pearl River area. The E-SEE-wards moving of South China (SC) block induced by the extrusion of Indo-Tibet collision, and the NW-wards moving Philippine Sea (PHS) Plate constituent the major tectonic setting of seismicity in the CMSB. Collision of SC and PHS, as well as shearing-compression along the west and south boundaries of SC block, generated great strain energy. This energy was conveyed and balanced with the Literal Faults zone (LFZ) and low velocity layer in curst as conduits. In those areas affected strongly by shearing-compression in both west and east parts of the CMSB, seismicity concentrated at the intersection of NW- and NE-trending local faults, and great earthquakes occurred at the intersection of NW-trending faults and LFZ. The Pearl River mouth area, however, suffered less shearing-compression, and had only scattered earthquakes of mid-low magnitude and no earthquake with M≥6.0 documented.

Onshore-offshore seismic experiment uses air-gun arrays as seismic sources, permanent and portable land stations and ocean bottom seismometers to form a signal record array. Such experiment has been carried out many times in the northern South China Sea, and layout of portable stations was always a key for the success in such a field experiment. This paper is based on the onshore-offshore seismic experiment in Hainan island during 2011. It summarizes the processes and matters that need attention during deploying portable stations, and analyzes air-gun signals received by portable stations on three different types of basements. We find that the received air-gun signals were closely related to the stability of the basement and the ambient noise. When using exposed abundant basic rock as the basement, portable stations acquired high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and long duration of the waveform and more concentrated energy. When the basement was large semi-floating rockmass on a mountaintop, the portable stations received general SNR, and long duration of waveform. When the basement was rocks exposed in the sedimentary layer, the signal received by portable station performed lower SNR, longer duration of waveform, and decentralized energy; even the arrival time was hard to identify. From the processed profiles, we conclude that clearly seismic phase and more accurate arrival time were easily acquired when exposed abundant basic rock was used as the basement.

As a thick residual deposition depression of the Mesozoic strata, the Chaoshan Depression is an important area for oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea (SCS). A lot of multiple-channel seismic (MCS) reflection studies have been conducted in this area, as well as refraction and ocean bottom seismometer (OBS) surveys, but joint P-wave and S-wave studies have not yet been done. Applying the joint exploration of P-wave and S-wave, the complex subsurface crustal structure can be obtained, which is helpful for oil and gas exploration. Based on the P-wave velocity structure of the Mesozoic sediments in the Chaoshan Depression of the profile OBS2006-3, we carried ray tracing and travel-time simulation of converted S-wave. The results reveal that the Mesozoic sediment in the Chaoshan Depression is remarkably thick with the maximum of 8 km, and the P-wave velocity increases downward from 4.4 km·s–1 at the top to 5.3 km·s–1 at the bottom. Accordingly, the S-wave velocity and Poisson’s ratio are 2.6?3.0km·s–1 and 0.24?0.26, respectively, which may imply the composition of Mesozoic strata are sandstone, mudstone and volcanic rocks. According to the geophysical characteristics and previous research in the Chaoshan Depression, this paper analyzes the exploration potential in the Chaoshan Depression.

Crustal thickness (H) and Poisson’s ratio (v) are two important parameters to understand the interior of the Earth. Correlation between the two can reveal important information of the character of the crustal structure. Teleseismic receiver functions recorded by the permanent seismic stations distributed around Hainan Island are extracted to search the Ps converted wave and its multiples from discontinuities in the crust and mantle, and some artificial earthquake probing results are taken for references to determine the average thickness and the Poisson’s ratio beneath Hainan Island. The results show that the crust thickness of Hainan is 26?31km and the Poisson’s ratio is lower than 0.26 beneath the island for the widespread granite and volcano activities. This area seems to display a positive correlation between H and v, which indicates that the tectonic extension function is mainly caused the obvious reduction of lower crustal thickness; Poisson’s ratios in some zones are extremely low, possibly due to fold-thrust belts of the upper crust.

An onshore-offshore seismic experiment is the most effective method to study the deep crustal structure of land-ocean transitional area. In order to study the deep seismogenic structure of potential strong earthquake zone off the Pearl River Estuary, this paper compares the data of onshore-offshore seismic experiments off the Pearl River Estuary in 2004 and 2010, with emphasis placed on analyzing the profile OBS2010-1 located at the land-ocean transitional area off the Dangan Islands. The data-processing of the profile gives high-quality data. We obtained clear shallow-crustal structure from multi-channel seismic data. Various seismic phases were recorded by permanent seismic stations, portable seismic stations, and Ocean Bottom Seismometers. The permanent seismic stations received air-gun signals over a distance of 360 km. All these provide a strong base for the study of deep seismogenic structure of the potential strong earthquake zone for future research.