Quaternary Seismic Stratigraphic Interpretation Of High-Resolution Seismic Profiles Of The South Yellow Sea

The South Yellow Sea is a typical epicontinental sea, which enclosed by mainland China and Korean Peninsula. Compared with other sea areas, the South Yellow Sea has its own features: abundance sediment source, strong tectonic movement and complex currents system.The analysis is based on the interpretation of 6000km of high-resolution single-channel seismic profiles and shallow penetrated profile, using the method of Seismic Stratigraphy. Stratigraphic analysis defines 9 seismic units, which are configured into architecture of Quaternary deposition in the South Yellow Sea. An absolute age for each unit is proposed based on the correlation of seismic profiles and boreholes with ESR dating. From 400ka BP to now the 4th-order (with cycle of lOOka) eustatic sea level changes control seismic Stratigraphic sequences, and during the late Pleistocene 5th or 6th-order can be recognized. Seismic facies show the Palaeo-Yangze River has flowed into the South Yellow Sea at least three times during the Pleistocene and deltas (U9, Us' and U3) were formed. The first time was at about 850ka BP, the second about 80ka BP the third about 30ka BP. During the post-galcial period the magnitude and variety of the physical processes, such as Huanghai warm current and tide, control the sedimentation.Tectonic movement plays an important role on distribution of sediments and has influence on transgression and regressions. Three ways are reveal by analyzing seismic data and core data: a) Fujian-Lingnan swell belt baring sea water into the South Yellow Sea; b) the NW-fault being a main channel for sea water when sea level rising; c) boundary faults of northern basin, especially the west boundary faults influencing the distribution of sediments and baffling the palaeo-shoreline advancing to the west during transgression.