• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.38 no.6 s.175
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• pp.633-642
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• 2005

We present the sedimentary sequence and distribution pattern of the late Holocene muddy deposits in the northern East China Sea shelf using the high-resolution 'Chirp' profiles. The seismic sedimentary sequence overlying acoustic basement (basal reflector-B) can be divided into two depositional units (Unit 1 and 2) bounded by erosional bounding surface (mid reflector-M). The lower Unit 1 above basal reflector-H is characterized by the acoustically parallel to subparallel reflections and channel-fill facies. The upper Unit 2, up to 7 m in thickness, shows seismically semi-transparent seismic facies and lenticular body form. On the base of sequence stratigraphic concept, these two sediment units have developed during transgression and highstand period, respectively, since the last sea-level lowstand. The transgressive systems tract (Unit 1) lie directly on the sequence boundary (reflector B) that have farmed during the last glacial maximum. The transgressive systems tract in this study consists mostly of complex of delta, fluvial, and tidal deposits within the incised valley estuary system. The maximum flooding surface (reflector M) corresponding to the top surface of transgressive systems tract is obviously characterized by erosional depression. The highstand systems tract (Unit 2) above maximum flooding surface is made up of the mud patch filled with the erosional depression. The high-stand mud deposits showing a circle shape just like a typhoon symbol locates about 140 km off the south of Cheju Island with water depth of $60\~90m$. Coverage area and total sediment volume of the mud deposits are about $3,200km^2$ and $10.7\times10^9\;m^3$, respectively. The origin of the mud patch is interpreted as a result of accumulating suspended sediments derived from the paleo-Yellow and/or Yangtze Rivers. The circular distribution pattern of the mud patch appears to be largely controlled by the presence of cyclonic eddy in the northern East China Sea.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.400-409
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• 2007

Morphology of methane/propane clathrate hydrate crystal was investigated under different undercooling conditions. After the water pressurized with compound guest gas was fully saturated by agitation, medium within the vessel was rapidly undercooled and maintained at the constant temperature while the visual observations using microscope revealed detailed features of subsequent crystal nucleation, migration, growth and interference occurring within liquid pool. The growth of hydrate was always initiated with film formations at the bounding surface between bulk gas and liquid regions under all tested experimental conditions. Then a number of small crystals ascended, some of which settled beneath the hydrate film. When undercooling was relatively small, some of the settled crystals slowly grew into faceted columns. As the undercooling increased, the downward growth of crystals underneath the hydrate film became dendritic and occurred with greater rate and with finer arm spacing. The shapes of the floating crystals within liquid pool were diverse and included octahedron and triangular or hexagonal platelet. When the undercooling was small, the octahedral crystals were found dominant. As the undercooling increased, the shape of the floating crystals also became dendritic. The detailed growth characteristics of floating crystals are reported focused on the influences caused by undercooling and memory effect.