High-resolution reconstruction of carbonate compensation depth in the South China Sea since 27 Ma

doi:10.13745/j.esf.sf.2024.1.35

Abstract

Abstract:

The reconstruction of carbonate compensation depth (CCD) in the Cenozoic Ocean has been a focus of attention from the academic community. In this paper, based on the IODP (Integrated Ocean Drilling Program) substances data and age-depth models from 20 boreholes at 14 sites in the South China Sea, the paleo-water depths in the boreholes were restored, the carbonate accumulation rate (CAR) was calculated, and CCD changes in the South China Sea since 27 Ma were reconstructed using linear regression method. Results showed that CCD in the South China Sea significantly decreased by more than 2000 m during the basin stretching period (27-18 Ma), while during Middle Miocene Climate Optimum (MMCO) it became shallower by 800 m. Since 8 Ma, CCDs in the South China Sea and the equatorial Pacific Ocean exhibited different evolutionary trends, with the former fluctuating between 3500-4000 m and the latter continuing to decline from 4000 m to ~4500 m. Prior to 27 Ma, extensive terrigenous input and development of upwelling led to shallow CCD in the South China Sea. The deepening of the sea basin and the weakening of the upwelling caused by tectonic tension during 27-18 Ma were interpreted as the main factors contributing to the decline of CCD during this period. Climate-driven sea-level fluctuations during MMCO led to changes in the core region of carbonate deposition, which was an important reason for CCD fluctuations. The differential evolution of CCD in the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean since 8 Ma was the result of poor bottom water exchange between the Pacific Ocean and the South China Sea.

Key words: carbonate compensation depth (CCD), South China Sea, carbon cycle, marginal sea

CLC Number:

P736

WANG Jiahao, HU Xiumian, JIANG Jingxin, MA Chao, MA Pengfei. High-resolution reconstruction of carbonate compensation depth in the South China Sea since 27 Ma[J]. Earth Science Frontiers, 2024, 31(1): 500-510.

Figures/Tables 5

Fig.1 Location and distribution of IODP and ODP (Ocean Drilling Program) sites in the study area and ocean current path in the modern South China Sea (Using GMT6.0 and Mercator projection). Current paths are modified from [16]. White: surface current; yellow: middle current; orange: deep current.

Table 1 Calculation results on CCDs in the South China Sea of different ages since 27 Ma

年代区间	年代区间内的中心年代/Ma	CCD/m	误差(±)/m
0.5~1	0.75	4 154	263
>1~1.5	1.25	399	215
>1.5~2	1.75	4 046	229
>2~2.5	2.25	4 107	256
>2.5~3	2.75	3 806	152
>3~3.5	3.25	3 693	202
>3.5~4	3.75	3 844	211
>4~4.5	4.25	3 981	429
>4.5~5	4.75	3 111	146
>5~5.5	5.25	3 350	83
>5.5~6	5.75	4 052	204
>6~6.5	6.25	3 612	261
>6.5~7	6.75	3 703	291
>7~7.5	7.25	3 778	489
>7.5~8	7.75	4 127	269
>8~8.5	8.25	3 828	214
>8.5~9	8.75	3 824	158
>9~9.5	9.25	4 046	40
>9.5~10	9.75	3 930	131
>10~10.5	10.25	4 118	251
>10.5~11	10.75	3 688	321
>11~11.5	11.25	4 116	137
>11.5~12	11.75	3 913	49
>12~12.5	12.25	3 899	77
>12.5~13	12.75	4 013	36
>13~13.5	13.25	3 558	464
>13.5~14	13.75	3 584	282
>14~14.5	14.25	3 549	277
>14.5~15	14.75	3 557	763
>15~15.5	15.25	2 823	252
>15.5~16	15.75	3 585	130
>16~16.5	16.25	2 860	262
>16.5~17	16.75	3 547	169
>17~17.5	17.25	3 569	153
>17.5~18.5	18	3 355	293
>18.5~19.5	19	3 699	416
>19.5~20.5	20	3 269	467
>20.5~21.5	21	3 001	480
>21.5~22.5	22	3 073	535
>22.5~23.5	23	2 202	504
>23.5~24.5	24	1 925	378
>24.5~25.5	25	1 545	164
>25.5~26.5	26	1 477	130
>26.5~27.5	27	1 015	103

Fig.2 Evolution of CCDs in the South China Sea (black curve) and the equatorial Pacific Ocean (green, red curves). Grey error band captures the uncertainty in regression analysis; green curve was adapted from [5], red curve from [11]. The continuous expansion periods of the South China Sea Basin, MMCO, MMCT and the growth period of the Bashi sill were adapted from [22,28⇓-30].

Fig.3 Responses to CCD change in the South China Sea over the years. From top: CCD; CaCO3 (mass fraction); calcareous nannofossils abundance; Sc/Sr ratio (after [21]); δ18O (after [16]) and δ13C (after [34]) values of benthic foraminifera; relative sea-level (after [43]); CAR value; planktic foraminifera content in sediment

Fig.4 Evolutionary stages of CCD in the South China Sea since 30 Ma under the control of structural and climatic factors

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