Activity and formation of sand waves on northern South China Sea shelf

Xiwu LUAN; Xuechao PENG; Yingmin WANG; Yan QIU

doi:10.1007/s12583-010-0005-4

Volume 21 Issue 1

Feb 2010

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Journal of Earth Science > 2010 > 21(1): 55-70.

Xiwu LUAN, Xuechao PENG, Yingmin WANG, Yan QIU. Activity and formation of sand waves on northern South China Sea shelf. Journal of Earth Science, 2010, 21(1): 55-70. doi: 10.1007/s12583-010-0005-4

Citation:

Xiwu LUAN, Xuechao PENG, Yingmin WANG, Yan QIU. Activity and formation of sand waves on northern South China Sea shelf. Journal of Earth Science, 2010, 21(1): 55-70. doi: 10.1007/s12583-010-0005-4

Xiwu LUAN, Xuechao PENG, Yingmin WANG, Yan QIU. Activity and formation of sand waves on northern South China Sea shelf. Journal of Earth Science, 2010, 21(1): 55-70. doi: 10.1007/s12583-010-0005-4

Citation:

Xiwu LUAN, Xuechao PENG, Yingmin WANG, Yan QIU. Activity and formation of sand waves on northern South China Sea shelf. Journal of Earth Science, 2010, 21(1): 55-70. doi: 10.1007/s12583-010-0005-4

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Activity and formation of sand waves on northern South China Sea shelf

doi: 10.1007/s12583-010-0005-4

1.
Key Laboratory of Marine Geology and Environment, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China
2.
Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey, Ministry of Land and Resources, Guangzhou, 510760, China
3.
Basin and Reservoir Research Center, Chna University of Petroleum, Beijing, 102249, China

Funds:

the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program) 2007CB411702

the National Natural Science Foundation of China 40572067

the National Natural Science Foundation of China 40776032

More Information

Corresponding author: Xiwu LUAN, xluan@ms.qdio.ac.cn
Received Date: 20 Jun 2009
Accepted Date: 05 Sep 2009
Publish Date: 01 Feb 2010

Abstract

Abstract

Sand waves on the northern South China Sea shelf had been considered as stable relict bed form. For the industry use of sea bed between stations LF13-2 and LF13-1, a new round of explorations were conducted. The newly obtained data show that both spacings and amplitudes of sand waves are all systematically changing with water depth. Repeated observations since 2003 to 2004 showed that the sea bed is currently active. Due to strong erosion of surface sediment since Dongsha (东沙) uplifting, there are almost no modern sediments on the shelf of Dongsha area. Sand materials in the study area mainly originate from the erosion of the bed sediment formation. The water depth increment revealed by repeated echo sounder data is mainly due to erosion. Bottom currents are quite complex in the area of Dongsha underwater plateaus. At site 9MKII, the southward ebb current is stronger than the northward flood current, while at site AEM-HR, the WNW-ward flood current is slightly stronger than the ESE-ward ebb current. At site 9MKII, the maximum bottom current speed is 48 cm/s, and 22% of the observed bottom current speeds are larger than 20 cm/s, which meet the minimum bottom current speed required for the creation of sand wave. This article points out that present-day oceanographic condition couples well with the sand-wave morphologies, and that the sand waves are to a great extent in equilibrium with the ongoing present-day oceanographic bottom current condition and active.
- sand wave,
- northern South China Sea shelf,
- activity,
- formation

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References(61)

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Activity and formation of sand waves on northern South China Sea shelf

doi: 10.1007/s12583-010-0005-4

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