Cold seeps are oases for biological communities on the sea floor around hydrocarbon emission pathways.Microbial utilization of methane and other hydrocarbons yield products that fuel rich chemosynthetic communities at...Cold seeps are oases for biological communities on the sea floor around hydrocarbon emission pathways.Microbial utilization of methane and other hydrocarbons yield products that fuel rich chemosynthetic communities at these sites.One such site in the cold seep ecosystem of Krishna-Godavari basin(K-G basin)along the east coast of India,discovered in Feb 2018 at a depth of 1800 m was assessed for its bacterial diversity.The seep bacterial communities were dominated by phylum Proteobacteria(57%),Firmicutes(16%)and unclassified species belonging to the family Helicobacteriaceae.The surface sediments of the seep had maximum OTUs(operational taxonomic units)(2.27×10^(3))with a Shannon alpha diversity index of 8.06.In general,environmental parameters like total organic carbon(p<0.01),sulfate(p<0.001),sulfide(p<0.05)and methane(p<0.01)were responsible for shaping the bacterial community of the cold seep ecosystem in the K-G Basin.Environmental parameters play a significant role in changing the bacterial diversity richness between different cold seep environments in the oceans.展开更多
Bathymodiolus mussels distribute in both deep-sea cold seep and hydrothermal vent environments,whose endosymbiotic gill tissue is a prominent character for the adaptation of extreme habitats.However,few studies explor...Bathymodiolus mussels distribute in both deep-sea cold seep and hydrothermal vent environments,whose endosymbiotic gill tissue is a prominent character for the adaptation of extreme habitats.However,few studies explored the adaptation mechanisms through comparative transcriptome sequencing and analysis of different tissues between seep mussels and vent mussels.We performed the comparative transcriptome sequencing and analysis for three tissue types(gill,mantle,and adductor muscle)of Bathymodiolus mussels collected from a cold seeping site Station S 11 and the 50-km away hydrothermal field Minami-Ensei Knoll in the Okinawa Trough.Results show that gene expression patterns had distinct tissue specificity.Compared with the non-endosymbiotic tissues(mantle and adductor muscle),the significantly strengthened gene functions in endosymbiotic gill included microbial recognition(fibrinogen C domain-containing protein 1-B-like(fibcd),fibrinogen-related protein 8(frp),peptidoglycan recognition proteins(pgrp),and C-type lectin(clec)),cell apoptosis and immunity(interferon regulatory factor 1/2-like 1(ir f),cathepsin D(ctsd),caspase 2(casp 2)),and antioxidant capacity(copper/zinc superoxide dismutase(czsod),glutathione peroxidase(gpx),selenoprotein(sel)),in both seep and vent individuals.Consistent with metal accumulation,high expression levels of genes related to heavy metal detoxification(cytochrome P 450(cyp),ferritin-like(ftl),metallothionein(mt),glutathione S-transferase(gst))were also observed in gill.Moreover,to adapt to high hydrostatic pressure in the deep sea,the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathways associated with cellular community were significantly enriched in all three tissues,suggesting the regulation of cell structure and cell adhesion at transcriptional level.This study obtained gene expression profiles of deep-sea mussels subsisting at cold seep and hydrothermal vent sites,which could lay foundations for comprehensive investigations of molecular basis in adaptation of deep-sea mussels to the two extreme ecosystems.展开更多
Dissolved carbon(dissolved organic carbon and dissolved inorganic carbon)is the major component of the ocean carbon cycle,representing one of the largest carbon pools on Earth.Cold seeps and hydrothermal systems serve...Dissolved carbon(dissolved organic carbon and dissolved inorganic carbon)is the major component of the ocean carbon cycle,representing one of the largest carbon pools on Earth.Cold seeps and hydrothermal systems serve as the two main windows for the material and energy recycling exchange between the lithosphere and outer spheres(biosphere,hydrosphere and atmosphere).However,recent studies have found that the dynamic activities of fluids in these two extreme systems are a crucial source of‘new'carbon in the deep ocean.These carbon sources may become vital contributors to carbon and energy in marine ecosystems,which affect the global deep-sea carbon budget,and the marine ecosystems as well.In this review,we summarize the sources and formation mechanisms of dissolved carbon in the seep fluids from the cold seeps and hydrothermal vents,the contribution of methane oxidation to dissolved carbon,and the characteristics of the carbon isotope composition in the fluid.Furthermore,we analyze and discuss the influence of carbon discharged from seabed on the seawater carbon cycle by comparing and contrasting these two extreme environments.The research may assist in promoting a deeper understanding of the carbon cycle and material interaction in the ocean,particularly further carbon cycle research in the back-arc basin where cold seeps and hydrothermal vents commonly prevail.展开更多
Cold seeps spread worldwide along the continental margins,which are closely related to the exploration of gas hydrates.Cold-seep carbonates have been reported to record the nature of seepage,including fluid source,sed...Cold seeps spread worldwide along the continental margins,which are closely related to the exploration of gas hydrates.Cold-seep carbonates have been reported to record the nature of seepage,including fluid source,sedimentary environment,and variation of seepage activity.We investigated the morphology,mineralogy,element compositions,and carbon and oxygen isotopes of 15 cold-seep carbonates collected from the Shenhu area,and compared them with 2 carbonates from the Haima cold seep,the South China Sea(SCS),to promote our knowledge of cold-seep system in SCS.Most of the Shenhu carbonates exhibit crust morphology,and some are in the form of chimneys and blocks.Their absolute(20%–65%)and relative carbonate mineral contents(mainly aragonite and calcite,with minor samples containing dolomite)vary significantly,indicating the multi-stage methane leakage in our study area.Some samples show a slight negative Ce anomaly,suggesting either the mixing of seawater or variation of the redox condition during the precipitation;the cooccurrence of strongly enriched U and Mo demonstrates anoxic condition during precipitation.The mixed genetic methane source was interpreted by δ^(13)C of the Shenhu carbonates to range from-22.34‰to-59.30‰Vienna PeeDee Belemnite(VPDB),and the slight ^(18)O-enrichment imprinted on the carbonates suggests the possible influence from hydrate dissociation.The Haima carbonates,with biogenic methane as the main gas source,were presumably formed in a stronger fluid flux by compared with our Shenhu samples.展开更多
Four massive brecciated, chimney-like, and slender pipe network carbonate samples(JA-4, JA-5, JX-8 and BG-12) were collected from southwestern Taiwan, which were suggested to have formed as a result of anaerobic oxidi...Four massive brecciated, chimney-like, and slender pipe network carbonate samples(JA-4, JA-5, JX-8 and BG-12) were collected from southwestern Taiwan, which were suggested to have formed as a result of anaerobic oxidization of methane(AOM). Considering that the environmental conditions of the carbonates precipitation and the sources of carbon and organic matter need to be further declared, molecular fossils and compound-specific carbon isotopic investigations of the carbonates were conducted in this study. According to lipid biomarkers of 2,6,10,15,19-pentamethyleicosane(PMI) and squalane diagnostic to methanotrophic archaea, as well as the extremely low δ^(13)C values(as low as -1^(13).4‰) detected in samples JA-4, JA-5 and JX-8, these carbonates were revealed to be a result of AOM. Based on the varied δ^(13)C values of characteristic archaea biomarkers in specific samples, biogenic methane was proposed to be responsible for the formation of samples JA-4 and JA-5, whereas a mixed carbon source of ^(13)C-depleted methane and ^(13)C-enriched residual CO_2 from methanogenesis was suggested for the carbonate of JX-8 due to the co-occurrence of a highly positive δ^(13) C_(carb) value(+8‰) and a moderate ^(13)C depletion of PMI. The low content of AOM-related biomarkers and the absence of indicators for ANME-2 suggested that these carbonates were formed in weak seep settings. By comparison, no typical lipid biomarkers for methanotrophic archaea was detected in carbonate BG-12. The short-chain and long-chain n-alkanes accounted for 30% and 45% of all hydrocarbons, respectively, with a CPI value of 1.2, suggesting that the n-alkanes were derived from both marine organisms and terrestrial inputs. A low thermal maturity could be revealed by the incomplete equilibrium value of the C^(31)αβ 22S/(22S+22R) ratio(0.5), and the carbonate BG-12 was probably deposited in a suboxic condition indicated by a value of Pr/Ph ratio(2.5).展开更多
South China Sea （SCS） is the largest Western Pacific marginal sea. However, microbial studies have never been performed in the cold seep sediments in the SCS. In 2004, ＂SONNE＂ 177 cruise found two cold seep areas ...South China Sea （SCS） is the largest Western Pacific marginal sea. However, microbial studies have never been performed in the cold seep sediments in the SCS. In 2004, ＂SONNE＂ 177 cruise found two cold seep areas with different water depth in the northern SCS. Haiyang 4 area, where the water depth is around 3000 m, has already been confirmed for active seeping on the seafloor, such as microbial mats, authigenic carbonate crusts and bivalves. We investigated microbial abundance and diver- sity in a 5.55-m sediment core collected from this cold seep area. An integrated approach was employed including geochemistry and 16S rRNA gene phylogenetic analyses. Here, we show that microbial abun- dance and diversity along with geochemistry profiles of the sediment core revealed a coupled reaction between sulphate reduction and methane oxidation. Acridine orange direct count results showed that microbial abundance ranges from 105 to 106 cells/g sediment （wet weight）. The depth-related variation of the abundance showed the same trend as the methane concentration profile. Phylogenetic analysis indicated the presence of sulphate-reducing bacteria and anaerobic methane-oxidizing archaea. The diver- sity was much higher at the surface, but decreased sharply with depth in response to changes in the geochemical conditions of the sediments, such as methane, sulphate concentration and total organic carbon. Marine Benthic Group B, Chloroflexi and JS1 were predominant phylotypes of the archaeal and bacterial libraries, respectively.展开更多
For our ancestors, oil seeps were both a fascination and a resource but as the planet's reserves of high quality low density oil becomes increasingly depleted, so there is now a renewed interest in heavier,biodegr...For our ancestors, oil seeps were both a fascination and a resource but as the planet's reserves of high quality low density oil becomes increasingly depleted, so there is now a renewed interest in heavier,biodegraded oils such as those encountered in terrestrial seeps. One such seep is Pitch Lake in the Caribbean island of Trinidad, which is the largest natural deposit of asphalt in the world. At the northern end of the Caribbean, oil emerges along a tectonic contact on the island on Cuba. The sources of the oils from these seeps are relatively recent and both are subject to intense weathering due to the tropical conditions. When analysed by gas chromatography(GC) both oils appear as unresolved complex mixtures(UCM) and show a very high degree of biodegradation thus presenting an analytical challenge. In this case study, these two Caribbean seep oils were analysed by comprehensive two dimensional GC with time of flight mass spectrometry(GC×GC-TOFMS) to expose many thousands of the individual compounds that comprise the UCM. The high chromatographic resolution of the GC×GC-TOFMS produced good quality mass spectra allowing many compounds including molecular fossil ‘biomarkers' to be identified. Compound classes included diamondoid hydrocarbons, demethylated hopanes and secohopanes, mono-and tri-aromatic steroids. D-ring aromatised structures of the 8,14-seco-hopanes,including demethylated forms were present in both oils but further demethylation, probably at position C-25 during biodegradation, was only observed in the Pitch Lake oil. Many polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs) were absent although the fungal-derived pentacyclic PAH perylene was present in both oils. The presence of the angiosperm biomarker lupane in the Pitch Lake oil constrained the age to the Late Cretaceous. The higher degree of biodegradation observed in the Cuban oil was likely due to relatively slow anaerobic processes whereas oil within Pitch Lake was probably subject to additional more rapid aerobic metabolism within the lake.展开更多
To confirm the seabed fluid flow at the Haima cold seeps,an integrated study of multi-beam and seismic data reveals the morphology and fate of four bubble plumes and investigates the detailed subsurface structure of t...To confirm the seabed fluid flow at the Haima cold seeps,an integrated study of multi-beam and seismic data reveals the morphology and fate of four bubble plumes and investigates the detailed subsurface structure of the active seepage area.The shapes of bubble plumes are not constant and influenced by the northeastward bottom currents,but the water depth where these bubble plumes disappear(630–650 m below the sea level)(mbsl)is very close to the upper limit of the gas hydrate stability zone in the water column(620 m below the sea level),as calculated from the CTD data within the study area,supporting the“hydrate skin”hypothesis.Gas chimneys directly below the bottom simulating reflectors,found at most sites,are speculated as essential pathways for both thermogenic gas and biogenic gas migrating from deep formations to the gas hydrate stability zone.The fracture network on the top of the basement uplift may be heavily gas-charged,which accounts for the chimney with several kilometers in diameter(beneath Plumes B and C).The much smaller gas chimney(beneath Plume D)may stem from gas saturated localized strong permeability zone.High-resolution seismic profiles reveal pipe-like structures,characterized by stacked localized amplitude anomalies,just beneath all the plumes,which act as the fluid conduits conveying gas from the gas hydrate-bearing sediments to the seafloor,feeding the gas plumes.The differences between these pipe-like structures indicate the dynamic process of gas seepage,which may be controlled by the build-up and dissipation of pore pressure.The 3D seismic data show high saturated gas hydrates with high RMS amplitude tend to cluster on the periphery of the gas chimney.Understanding the fluid migration and hydrate accumulation pattern of the Haima cold seeps can aid in the further exploration and study on the dynamic gas hydrate system in the South China Sea.展开更多
文摘Cold seeps are oases for biological communities on the sea floor around hydrocarbon emission pathways.Microbial utilization of methane and other hydrocarbons yield products that fuel rich chemosynthetic communities at these sites.One such site in the cold seep ecosystem of Krishna-Godavari basin(K-G basin)along the east coast of India,discovered in Feb 2018 at a depth of 1800 m was assessed for its bacterial diversity.The seep bacterial communities were dominated by phylum Proteobacteria(57%),Firmicutes(16%)and unclassified species belonging to the family Helicobacteriaceae.The surface sediments of the seep had maximum OTUs(operational taxonomic units)(2.27×10^(3))with a Shannon alpha diversity index of 8.06.In general,environmental parameters like total organic carbon(p<0.01),sulfate(p<0.001),sulfide(p<0.05)and methane(p<0.01)were responsible for shaping the bacterial community of the cold seep ecosystem in the K-G Basin.Environmental parameters play a significant role in changing the bacterial diversity richness between different cold seep environments in the oceans.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.91858208,92358301)the Laoshan Laboratory(No.LSKJ 202203500),the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation of China(No.2019M663209)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities in China(No.19lGPY100)。
文摘Bathymodiolus mussels distribute in both deep-sea cold seep and hydrothermal vent environments,whose endosymbiotic gill tissue is a prominent character for the adaptation of extreme habitats.However,few studies explored the adaptation mechanisms through comparative transcriptome sequencing and analysis of different tissues between seep mussels and vent mussels.We performed the comparative transcriptome sequencing and analysis for three tissue types(gill,mantle,and adductor muscle)of Bathymodiolus mussels collected from a cold seeping site Station S 11 and the 50-km away hydrothermal field Minami-Ensei Knoll in the Okinawa Trough.Results show that gene expression patterns had distinct tissue specificity.Compared with the non-endosymbiotic tissues(mantle and adductor muscle),the significantly strengthened gene functions in endosymbiotic gill included microbial recognition(fibrinogen C domain-containing protein 1-B-like(fibcd),fibrinogen-related protein 8(frp),peptidoglycan recognition proteins(pgrp),and C-type lectin(clec)),cell apoptosis and immunity(interferon regulatory factor 1/2-like 1(ir f),cathepsin D(ctsd),caspase 2(casp 2)),and antioxidant capacity(copper/zinc superoxide dismutase(czsod),glutathione peroxidase(gpx),selenoprotein(sel)),in both seep and vent individuals.Consistent with metal accumulation,high expression levels of genes related to heavy metal detoxification(cytochrome P 450(cyp),ferritin-like(ftl),metallothionein(mt),glutathione S-transferase(gst))were also observed in gill.Moreover,to adapt to high hydrostatic pressure in the deep sea,the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathways associated with cellular community were significantly enriched in all three tissues,suggesting the regulation of cell structure and cell adhesion at transcriptional level.This study obtained gene expression profiles of deep-sea mussels subsisting at cold seep and hydrothermal vent sites,which could lay foundations for comprehensive investigations of molecular basis in adaptation of deep-sea mussels to the two extreme ecosystems.
基金supported by the Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation(No.ZR2021MD049)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.42176057,and 92358301)the Marine Geological Survey Program(Nos.DD20230402)。
文摘Dissolved carbon(dissolved organic carbon and dissolved inorganic carbon)is the major component of the ocean carbon cycle,representing one of the largest carbon pools on Earth.Cold seeps and hydrothermal systems serve as the two main windows for the material and energy recycling exchange between the lithosphere and outer spheres(biosphere,hydrosphere and atmosphere).However,recent studies have found that the dynamic activities of fluids in these two extreme systems are a crucial source of‘new'carbon in the deep ocean.These carbon sources may become vital contributors to carbon and energy in marine ecosystems,which affect the global deep-sea carbon budget,and the marine ecosystems as well.In this review,we summarize the sources and formation mechanisms of dissolved carbon in the seep fluids from the cold seeps and hydrothermal vents,the contribution of methane oxidation to dissolved carbon,and the characteristics of the carbon isotope composition in the fluid.Furthermore,we analyze and discuss the influence of carbon discharged from seabed on the seawater carbon cycle by comparing and contrasting these two extreme environments.The research may assist in promoting a deeper understanding of the carbon cycle and material interaction in the ocean,particularly further carbon cycle research in the back-arc basin where cold seeps and hydrothermal vents commonly prevail.
基金Supported by the Guangdong Province Marine Economic Development(Six Major Marine Industries)Special Fund Project(No.[2021]No.58)the National Key R&D Program of China(No.2018YFC0310000)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.41776056,42076054)。
文摘Cold seeps spread worldwide along the continental margins,which are closely related to the exploration of gas hydrates.Cold-seep carbonates have been reported to record the nature of seepage,including fluid source,sedimentary environment,and variation of seepage activity.We investigated the morphology,mineralogy,element compositions,and carbon and oxygen isotopes of 15 cold-seep carbonates collected from the Shenhu area,and compared them with 2 carbonates from the Haima cold seep,the South China Sea(SCS),to promote our knowledge of cold-seep system in SCS.Most of the Shenhu carbonates exhibit crust morphology,and some are in the form of chimneys and blocks.Their absolute(20%–65%)and relative carbonate mineral contents(mainly aragonite and calcite,with minor samples containing dolomite)vary significantly,indicating the multi-stage methane leakage in our study area.Some samples show a slight negative Ce anomaly,suggesting either the mixing of seawater or variation of the redox condition during the precipitation;the cooccurrence of strongly enriched U and Mo demonstrates anoxic condition during precipitation.The mixed genetic methane source was interpreted by δ^(13)C of the Shenhu carbonates to range from-22.34‰to-59.30‰Vienna PeeDee Belemnite(VPDB),and the slight ^(18)O-enrichment imprinted on the carbonates suggests the possible influence from hydrate dissociation.The Haima carbonates,with biogenic methane as the main gas source,were presumably formed in a stronger fluid flux by compared with our Shenhu samples.
基金supported by Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology(No.QNLM2016ORP0210)the NSF of China(No.41473080 and 41673029)
文摘Four massive brecciated, chimney-like, and slender pipe network carbonate samples(JA-4, JA-5, JX-8 and BG-12) were collected from southwestern Taiwan, which were suggested to have formed as a result of anaerobic oxidization of methane(AOM). Considering that the environmental conditions of the carbonates precipitation and the sources of carbon and organic matter need to be further declared, molecular fossils and compound-specific carbon isotopic investigations of the carbonates were conducted in this study. According to lipid biomarkers of 2,6,10,15,19-pentamethyleicosane(PMI) and squalane diagnostic to methanotrophic archaea, as well as the extremely low δ^(13)C values(as low as -1^(13).4‰) detected in samples JA-4, JA-5 and JX-8, these carbonates were revealed to be a result of AOM. Based on the varied δ^(13)C values of characteristic archaea biomarkers in specific samples, biogenic methane was proposed to be responsible for the formation of samples JA-4 and JA-5, whereas a mixed carbon source of ^(13)C-depleted methane and ^(13)C-enriched residual CO_2 from methanogenesis was suggested for the carbonate of JX-8 due to the co-occurrence of a highly positive δ^(13) C_(carb) value(+8‰) and a moderate ^(13)C depletion of PMI. The low content of AOM-related biomarkers and the absence of indicators for ANME-2 suggested that these carbonates were formed in weak seep settings. By comparison, no typical lipid biomarkers for methanotrophic archaea was detected in carbonate BG-12. The short-chain and long-chain n-alkanes accounted for 30% and 45% of all hydrocarbons, respectively, with a CPI value of 1.2, suggesting that the n-alkanes were derived from both marine organisms and terrestrial inputs. A low thermal maturity could be revealed by the incomplete equilibrium value of the C^(31)αβ 22S/(22S+22R) ratio(0.5), and the carbonate BG-12 was probably deposited in a suboxic condition indicated by a value of Pr/Ph ratio(2.5).
基金supported by the National Program on Key Basic Research Project(973 Program)(Grant No.2009CB219502)National Special Foundation(Grant No.GZH200200203-02-01)Non-profit Industry Financial Program of Ministry of Land and Resources of the PRC(Grant No.200811014-02)
文摘South China Sea （SCS） is the largest Western Pacific marginal sea. However, microbial studies have never been performed in the cold seep sediments in the SCS. In 2004, ＂SONNE＂ 177 cruise found two cold seep areas with different water depth in the northern SCS. Haiyang 4 area, where the water depth is around 3000 m, has already been confirmed for active seeping on the seafloor, such as microbial mats, authigenic carbonate crusts and bivalves. We investigated microbial abundance and diver- sity in a 5.55-m sediment core collected from this cold seep area. An integrated approach was employed including geochemistry and 16S rRNA gene phylogenetic analyses. Here, we show that microbial abun- dance and diversity along with geochemistry profiles of the sediment core revealed a coupled reaction between sulphate reduction and methane oxidation. Acridine orange direct count results showed that microbial abundance ranges from 105 to 106 cells/g sediment （wet weight）. The depth-related variation of the abundance showed the same trend as the methane concentration profile. Phylogenetic analysis indicated the presence of sulphate-reducing bacteria and anaerobic methane-oxidizing archaea. The diver- sity was much higher at the surface, but decreased sharply with depth in response to changes in the geochemical conditions of the sediments, such as methane, sulphate concentration and total organic carbon. Marine Benthic Group B, Chloroflexi and JS1 were predominant phylotypes of the archaeal and bacterial libraries, respectively.
文摘For our ancestors, oil seeps were both a fascination and a resource but as the planet's reserves of high quality low density oil becomes increasingly depleted, so there is now a renewed interest in heavier,biodegraded oils such as those encountered in terrestrial seeps. One such seep is Pitch Lake in the Caribbean island of Trinidad, which is the largest natural deposit of asphalt in the world. At the northern end of the Caribbean, oil emerges along a tectonic contact on the island on Cuba. The sources of the oils from these seeps are relatively recent and both are subject to intense weathering due to the tropical conditions. When analysed by gas chromatography(GC) both oils appear as unresolved complex mixtures(UCM) and show a very high degree of biodegradation thus presenting an analytical challenge. In this case study, these two Caribbean seep oils were analysed by comprehensive two dimensional GC with time of flight mass spectrometry(GC×GC-TOFMS) to expose many thousands of the individual compounds that comprise the UCM. The high chromatographic resolution of the GC×GC-TOFMS produced good quality mass spectra allowing many compounds including molecular fossil ‘biomarkers' to be identified. Compound classes included diamondoid hydrocarbons, demethylated hopanes and secohopanes, mono-and tri-aromatic steroids. D-ring aromatised structures of the 8,14-seco-hopanes,including demethylated forms were present in both oils but further demethylation, probably at position C-25 during biodegradation, was only observed in the Pitch Lake oil. Many polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs) were absent although the fungal-derived pentacyclic PAH perylene was present in both oils. The presence of the angiosperm biomarker lupane in the Pitch Lake oil constrained the age to the Late Cretaceous. The higher degree of biodegradation observed in the Cuban oil was likely due to relatively slow anaerobic processes whereas oil within Pitch Lake was probably subject to additional more rapid aerobic metabolism within the lake.
基金The Shandong Province “Taishan Scholar” Construction Projectthe fund of the Laboratory for Marine Mineral Resources,Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao) under contract No.MMRKF201810+1 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract No.41606077the National Key R&D Program of China under contract No.2018YFC0310000.
文摘To confirm the seabed fluid flow at the Haima cold seeps,an integrated study of multi-beam and seismic data reveals the morphology and fate of four bubble plumes and investigates the detailed subsurface structure of the active seepage area.The shapes of bubble plumes are not constant and influenced by the northeastward bottom currents,but the water depth where these bubble plumes disappear(630–650 m below the sea level)(mbsl)is very close to the upper limit of the gas hydrate stability zone in the water column(620 m below the sea level),as calculated from the CTD data within the study area,supporting the“hydrate skin”hypothesis.Gas chimneys directly below the bottom simulating reflectors,found at most sites,are speculated as essential pathways for both thermogenic gas and biogenic gas migrating from deep formations to the gas hydrate stability zone.The fracture network on the top of the basement uplift may be heavily gas-charged,which accounts for the chimney with several kilometers in diameter(beneath Plumes B and C).The much smaller gas chimney(beneath Plume D)may stem from gas saturated localized strong permeability zone.High-resolution seismic profiles reveal pipe-like structures,characterized by stacked localized amplitude anomalies,just beneath all the plumes,which act as the fluid conduits conveying gas from the gas hydrate-bearing sediments to the seafloor,feeding the gas plumes.The differences between these pipe-like structures indicate the dynamic process of gas seepage,which may be controlled by the build-up and dissipation of pore pressure.The 3D seismic data show high saturated gas hydrates with high RMS amplitude tend to cluster on the periphery of the gas chimney.Understanding the fluid migration and hydrate accumulation pattern of the Haima cold seeps can aid in the further exploration and study on the dynamic gas hydrate system in the South China Sea.
