The northeastern shelf margin of the South China Sea (SCS) is characterized by the development of large scale foresets complexes since Quaternary. Based on integral analysis of the seismic, well logging and paleontological data, successions since~3.0 Ma can be defined as one composite sequence, consist of a set of regional transgressive to regressive sequences. They can be further divided into six 3rd order sequences (SQ0-SQ5) based on the Exxon sequence stratigraphic model. Since~1.6 Ma, five sets of deltaic systems characterized by development of wedge-shaped foresets complexes or clinoforms had been identified. High-resolution seismic data and the thick foresets allowed further divided of sub-depositional sequences (4th order) of regression to transgression, which is basically consistent with published stacked benthic foram O-isotope records. Depositional systems identified in the study area include deltaic deposits (inner-shelf deltas and shelf-edge deltas), incised valleys, and slope slumping massive deposits. Since~1.6 Ma, clinoforms prograded from the southern Panyu Lower Uplift toward the northern Baiyun Depression, shelf slope break migrated seaward, whereas the shelf edge of SQ0 migrated landward. The development of incised valleys in the continental shelf increased upward, especially intensive on the SB3 and SB2. The slumping massive deposits increased abruptly since SB2, which corresponds to the development of incised valleys. The evolution of depositional systems of continental slope mainly controlled by the combined influence of sea level changes, tectonic movements, sediment supply and climate changes. Since~3.0 Ma, relative sea level of the northern SCS had been experienced transgression (~3.0 Ma BP) to regression (~1.6 Ma BP). The regional regression and maximum transgressions of the composite sequences were apparently enhanced by uplift or subsidence related to tectono-thermal events. In addition, climatic variations including monsoon intensification and the mid-Pleistocene transition may have enhanced sediment supply by increasing erosion rate and have an indispensable influence on the development of the incised valleys and 5 sets of deltaic systems since~1.6 Ma.

The morphological changes of deep-water channels have an important influence on the distributions of channel sand reservoirs, so it is important to explore the morphological change process of deep-water channel for the exploration and development of deep-water oil and gas. Based on a typical sinuous Quaternary channel (Channel I) in the Taranaki Basin, New Zealand, a variety of seismic interpretation techniques were applied to quantitatively characterize the morphological characteristics of the Channel I, and the relationships between the quantitative parameters and the morphological changes of the Channel I, as well as the controlling factors affecting those morphological changes, were discussed. The results are as follows: (1) in the quantitative analysis, six parameters were selected: the channel depth, width, sinuosity, and aspect ratio (width/depth), the channel swing amplitude (λ) and the channel bend frequency (ω); (2) according to the quantitative morphological parameters of the channel (mainly including three parameters such as channel sinuosity, ω and λ), the Channel I was divided into three types: the low-sinuous channel (LSC), the high-sinuous channel (HSC), the moderate-sinuous channel (MSC). U-shaped channel cross-sections developed in the LSC, V-shaped channel cross-sections developed in the HSC, including inclined-V and symmetric-V cross-sections, and dish-shaped channel cross-sections developed in the MSC; (3) the morphological characteristics of the LSC and MSC were related to their widths and depths, while the morphology of the HSC was greatly affected by the channel width, a change in depth did not affect the HSC morphology; (4) the morphological changes of the Channel I were controlled mainly by the slope gradient, the restricted capacity of the channel and the differential in fluid properties.

Many transgressions on the plains along the Eastern China Sea had occurred in the Quaternary. They are named Beijing, Bohai, Haixing, Huanghua, Qingxian, Baiyangdian, Haizhou Bay. Cangxi, Xianxian and Candong transgressions. Their beds of marine facies have been buried in the Hebei Province, or on the shelf of China. The greatest transgressions occurred in the Early Pleistocene, while the smallest in the Middle Pleistocene, and the transgressions in the Late Pleistocene and Holocene were larger than that in the Middle Pleistocene. In accordance with the ¹⁴C dating and the paleomagnetic stratigraphy, they may be compared with the transgressions in the Late pleistocene with the δ¹⁸O stages of the core V28-232 at Equatorial Pacific.

According to the results of analysis of the marine ostracoda biofacies from over 160 drilled holes on the west coast of the Bohai Sea, i.e. Hebei and Shandong Provinces, Tianjin, and the east part of Beijing, the present paper is a discussion of their palaeoecological and stratigraphigical significance. The investigation of ostracoda thanatocoenoces in the modern coastal zone suggests that the distribution of marine ostracoda has been controlled by the salinity and depth of water. The study of Quaternary marine ostracoda should be concentrated mainly on the determination of their biofacies and palaeogeographigical conditions, so as to provide evidence for the determination of transgression range, palaeoshoreline and sca-level changes.

The late Quaternary paleoceanographic changes in the western Arctic Ocean are revealed by quantitative studies of foraminiferal abundance, ice-rafted detritus (IRD) and its mineralogical and petrological compositions, planktonic Neogloboquadrina pachyderma (sin.) (Nps)-δ¹⁸O and -δ¹³C, biogenic and non-biogenic components in Core M03 token from the Chukchi Basin during the Second Chinese National Arctic Expedition cruise. Seven IRD events appeared at MIS 7, 5, 3 and 1. These IRD were carried in massive icebergs, which were exported to the Beaufort Sea through the M'Clure Strait Ice Stream, Canadian Arctic Archipelago, and then transported into the Chukchi Basin by the Beaufort Gyre. Low IRD deposition occurred during the glacial times when more extended ice cover and weakened Beaufort Gyre, while the open water condition and the intensified Beaufort Gyre during interglacial periods favored the IRD deposition. Therefore, the IRD events not only indicate the provenance of coarser detritus and ice export events, but also reflect the evolutionary histories of the Beaufort Gyre and North American ice sheet. Seven light Nps-δ¹⁸O and -δ¹³C excursions could respond to enhanced rates of sea ice formation resulting in the production and sinking of isotopically light brines, but was irrelevant to the warm Atlantic water and freshwater inputs. Whereas, the heavy Nps-δ¹⁸O and -δ¹³C values separately reflect the lessened Arctic freshwater and Pacific water, and well-ventilated surface water from the continental shelf and halocline water. Variations of CaCO₃ content and planktonic foraminiferal abundance during the interglacial and glacial periods can demonstrate the incremental or diminishing input of the Atlantic water, while the total organic carbon (TOC) and opal contents increased and decreased during the glacial and interglacial periods, respectively, which could be related to the TOC degradation, opal dissolution and redox conditions of interface between the bottom water and sediments.

Through the palynological research of Quaternary sediments in Changjiang River Delta,14 spores and-pollen zones might be distinguished,reflecting the vegetation succession and climate fluctuation of Quaternary,which conforms to the climate of the world.
Zones 1-9 are thought of as Pleistocene and Zones 10-14 as Holocene based on the climatic fluctuation reflected by these zones and the comparison with the climatic stage at home and abroad.
The marine facies sediments of Quaternary in the Changjiang River Delta contain abundant fossil spores and pollen and have obvious characters.Because the warm and humid climate reflected by the palynological assemblages of marine facies sediments often fittes with the transgression,the curve line of the climate fluctuation of Quaternary in the Delta coincides with that of sea level changes.

Some of the islets in the eastern Beibu Gulf are covered by Quaternary volcano strata. The rock samples from these islets mainly consist of quartz tholeiites (at Shenjiandao), olivine tholeiites (at Linshidao and Xieyangdao) and alkali basalts (at Yangpubi and Jianshidao), and basically represent four periods of the Quaternary volcanism of Hainan Island and its adjacent regions. Except for the samples from Shenjiandao, most of the Quaternary volcanics of these islets belong to alkali magma series. The trace element characteristics of all of these samples show they are OIB (oceanic island basalt) -like, which implies that their deep geodynamic setting may be related to a mantle plume. The Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic compositions show that the mantle source beneath the Quaternary strata can be regarded as a result of binary mixing between a depleted, DMM (depleted MORB mantle)-like source and an enriched mantle type 2 (EM2). The EM2 may be originated from the Hainan mantle plume, and has been metasomatized by carbonaceous fluids released from ancient recycled oceanic crust at an asthenospheric mantle level. These features, together with typical trace element ratios, reflect that the parent magma was not subjected to crustal contamination during its ascent to the surface. This study provides further petrological and geochemical evidence for the existence of the Hainan mantle plume.

Based on micropalaeontological information of over 150 drill holes, this paper discusses the problem on the naming of Quaternary transgressions in the west-southern coast plain of Bohai Sea.We consider that palaeotide and sedimentation have a great influence on the distribution of micropalaeontological fossils.In view of the present technical level, it is necessary for transgression sequence to be established under the following conditions:full evidence of fossils; clear climate; and stable sedimentary beds.In establishing a transgression, its contents of time and phase concept must be proposed, and its biofacies, sedimentary facies and palaeoclimatology must be analysed synthetically.

Controlled by climate changes, there were three large-scale transgressions and regressions around the Bohai Sea during the late Quaternary, which were accepted by most geologists. However, a big controversy still exists about the time when the transgressions occurred separately. In order to find out the process of the paleoenvironmental changes around the Bohai Sea in the late Quaternary, the foraminifera assemblages from a new borehole Lz908 in the southern coast of the Laizhou Bay were studied, and then the transgressive strata were indentified. Combined with accelerator mass spectrometry radiocarbon ¹⁴C (AMS¹⁴C) and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) ages, the occurrence time of these transgressions were re-determined. The result showed that three major large-scale transgressions occurred separately at the beginning of marine isotopic stage 7 (MIS7), the last interglacial period (MIS5) and the Holocene. In addition, a small-scale transgression occurred in the mid-MIS6, and the corresponding transgressive stratum was deposited. The transgressive deposition of MIS3 was also discovered in this study. However, the characteristics of the foraminifera indicated the environment during this period was colder than that in the MIS5. By comparison with the global sea-level changes, the paleoenvironmental changes around the Bohai Sea in the late Quaternary can be consistent with the global climate changes.

The late Quaternary shallow-water carbonates have been altered by a variety of diagenetic processes, and further influenced by high-amplitude global and regional sea level changes. This study utilizes a new borehole drilled on the Yongxing Island, Xisha Islands to investigate meteoric diagenetic alteration in the late Quaternary shallow-water carbonates. Petrographic, mineralogical, stable isotopic and elemental data provide new insights into the meteoric diagenetic processes of the reef limestone. The results show the variation in the distribution of aragonite, high-Mg calcite (HMC) and low-Mg calcite (LMC) divides the shallow-water carbonates in Core SSZK1 into three intervals, which are Unit I (31.20–55.92 m, LMC), Unit II (18.39–31.20 m, aragonite and LMC) and Unit III (upper 18.39 m of core, aragonite, LMC and HMC). Various degrees of meteoric diagenesis exist in the identified three units. The lowermost Unit I has suffered almost complete freshwater diagenesis, whereas the overlying Units II and III have undergone incompletely meteoric diagenesis. The amount of time that limestone has been in the freshwater diagenetic environment has the largest impact on the degree of meteoric diagenesis. Approximately four intact facies/water depth cycles are recognized. The cumulative depletion of elements such as strontium (Sr), sodium (Na) and sulphur (S) caused by duplicated meteoric diagenesis in the older reef sequences are distinguished from the younger reef sequences. This study provides a new record of meteoric diagenesis, which is well reflected by whole-rock mineralogy and geochemistry.