Recently, the large-diameter sediment columnar sampling system developed by the Institute of Oceanography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, completed a sea test verification in the South Yellow Sea, and obtained a single column, continuous, low-disturbance 500 mm large-diameter columnar sediment of 7.89 meters, creating a large-diameter columnar sediment in this sea area. The longest sampling record of columnar sediments fills the technical and equipment gaps in the field of large-diameter sediment sampling in my country.
The sampling diameter of traditional cylindrical sediment samplers is mostly about 110 mm. The 500 mm large-diameter sediment sampling system is not simply a matter of making the diameter of the sampling tube thicker. The increase in sampling diameter brings difficulties in connecting the sampling tube, small penetration depth, There are many problems such as samples falling off in the tube and difficulty in lifting.
Scientific researchers innovatively proposed a new design concept of "gravity release + reciprocating ramming", adopting an operating mode of vertical retraction, online communication control, visualization, and equipped with multiple types of underwater sensors. During the sea trial, the sampling system worked stably, 5 All operations were successfully recovered, with a single sampling length up to 7.89 meters, and samples of continental strata from the low sea level period since the Last Glacial Maximum were obtained.
The large-diameter sediment column sampling system is mainly used for archaeological research on buried ancient human sites on the continental shelf. Large-diameter sediment samples are easier to obtain well-preserved stratigraphic accumulations or ancient human remains/relics. They are also useful for understanding ancient human migration paths, settlement patterns, and early navigation. The origins and understanding of prehistoric humans have important implications for key scientific questions such as sea levels and how to respond to climate change.
The successful sea trial application of the 500 mm large-diameter sediment sampling system will effectively support the development of research work on the sedimentary environment and early human remains of the eastern continental shelf in my country, and enhance my country's scientific research understanding in the field of archaeological research on the origin of early human culture and civilization on the continental shelf. level.
(Headquarters reporter Wang Weiliudong)