[1] The Southwest Indian Ridge (SWIR) is an ultraslow spreading end-member of mid-ocean ridge system. We use air gun shooting data recorded by ocean bottom seismometers (OBS) and multibeam bathymetry to obtain a detailed three-dimensional (3-D) P wave tomographic model centered at 49 39 0 E near the active hydrothermal ''Dragon Flag'' vent. Results are presented in the form of a 3-D seismic traveltime inversion over the center and both ends of a ridge segment. We show that the crustal thickness, defined as the depth to the 7 km/s isovelocity contour, decreases systematically from the center ($7.0-8.0 km) toward the segment ends ($3.0-4.0 km). This variation is dominantly controlled by thickness changes in the lower crustal layer. We interpret this variation as due to focusing of the magmatic activity at the segment center. The across-axis velocity model documents a strong asymmetrical structure involving oceanic detachment faulting. A locally corrugated oceanic core complex (Dragon Flag OCC) on the southern ridge flank is characterized by high shallow crustal velocities and a strong vertical velocity gradient. We infer that this OCC may be predominantly made of gabbros. We suggest that detachment faulting is a prominent process of slow spreading oceanic crust accretion even in magmatically robust ridge sections. Hydrothermal activity at the Dragon Flag vents is located next to the detachment fault termination. We infer that the detachment fault system provides a pathway for hydrothermal convection.

The Southwest Indian Ridge (SWIR) is characterized by an ultraslow spreading rate, thin crust, and extensive outcrops of serpentinized peridotite. Previous studies have used geochemical and geophysical data to suggest the presence of a thicker crust at the central and shallowest portions of the SWIR, from the Prince Edward (35 30 0 E) to the Gallieni (52 20 0 E) fracture zones. Here we present a new analysis of wide-angle seismic data along the ridge 49 17 0 E-50 49 0 E. Our main conclusions are as follows: (1) we find an oceanic layer 2 of roughly constant thickness and steep velocity gradient, underlain by a layer 3 with variable thickness and low velocity gradient; (2) the crustal thickness varies from 5 km beneath nontransform discontinuities (NTDs) up to 10 km beneath a segment center; (3) the melt supply is focused in segment centers despite a small NTD between adjacent segments; (4) the presence of a normal upper mantle velocity indicates that no serpentinization occurs beneath this thick crust. Our observation of thick crust at an ultraslow spreading ridge adds further complexity to relationships between crustal thickness and spreading rate, and supports previous suggestions that the extent of mantle melting is not a simple function of spreading rate, and that mantle temperature or chemistry (or both) must vary significantly along axis.

The crustal structure of the northwestern sub-basin area of the South China Sea was modeled by inverting a wide-angle seismic survey line across the entire region and on both sides of its bounding continental margins. The survey line extended over 484 km. A total of 14 Ocean Bottom Seismometers (OBS) were deployed at intervals of 30 km to record air-gun array sources with a combined volume of 5160 in 3 . The crustal velocity structure of the northwestern sub-basin area was acquired through the integration of multi-channel seismic data. OBS data were processed and modeled initially using ray tracing inversion techniques. Results indicate that crustal thickness under the continental slope decreases from 21 to 11 km, crustal thickness of the northwestern sub-basin is 7.7 km, and the depth to the Moho ascends from 21 km under the upper continental slope to 11 km under the middle basin. The crust of the northwestern sub-basin is similar to that of the eastern sub-basin in its oceanic crustal structure. This structure has a thicker layer 1 (sedimentary layer) and a thinner layer 2. These characteristics are especially clear in the eastern sub-basin, which differs somewhat from typical oceanic crust. The tectonic geometry and velocity structure of the northwestern sub-basin and its margins comprise a symmetrical conjugate and indicate a pure shear mode with regard to the continental margin rifting mechanism. We did not find clear seismic signals from high velocity layers under the lower crust of the continental margin in the northern part of the northwestern sub-basin, which provides new evidence for the idea that the western part of the northern continental margin of the South China Sea constitutes non-volcanic crust. Because the seafloor spreading period of the northwestern sub-basin was short, layer 2 might have experienced asymmetrical basalt magma flows, which may have blurred the magnetic anomaly lineations of the northwestern sub-basin.wide-angle seismic, crustal structure, South China Sea, tectonic evolution Citation:Wu Z L, Li J B, Ruan A G, et al. Crustal structure of the northwestern sub-basin, South China Sea: Results from a wide-angle seismic experiment.

Based on the interpretations of three seismic profiles and one wide-angle seismic profile across the Northwest Sub-basin, South China Sea, stratigraphic sequences, deformation characteristics and an extension model for this sub-basin have been worked out. Three tectonic-stratigraphic units are determined. Detailed analyses of extension show that the event occurred mainly during the Paleogene and resulted in the formation of half-grabens or grabens distributed symmetrically around the spreading center. Sediments are characterized by chaotic and discontinuous reflectors, indicating clastic sediments. Farther to the southwest, the sub-basin features mainly continental rifting instead of sea-floor spreading. The rifting would have been controlled by the shape of the massif and developed just along the northern edge of the Zhongsha-Xisha Block, rather than joined the Xisha Trough. After 25 Ma, a southward ridge jump triggered the opening of the Southwest Sub-basin. The NW-directed stress caused by the sea-floor spreading of the Northwest Sub-basin may have prevented the continuous opening of the sub-basin. After that the Northwest Sub-basin experienced thermal cooling and exhibited broad subsidence. The deep crustal structure shown by the velocity model from a wide-angle seismic profile is also symmetrical * Corresponding author. Tel./fax: þ86 571 81963137, þ86 13588039531 (cellphone).

We present results from an ocean bottom seismometer experiment surveying the fossil spreading centre in the Southwest Sub‐basin of the South China Sea. The detailed velocity model shows that oceanic layer 2 exhibits across‐axis variations in thickness and velocity, whereas oceanic layer 3 displays a variation in crustal thickness. A low‐angle (24°) SE‐dipping oceanic detachment fault is proposed to explain the anomalous structure on the NW side of the spreading centre, which exhibits uplifting of the upper mantle beneath a thinned oceanic crust. The inferred oceanic detachment fault was at its initial stage, localized within the basaltic crust and did not exhume lower crust. We suggest that the low‐velocity (7.6–7.9 km/s) body located within the upper mantle beneath the footwall of the detachment fault is caused by both mantle serpentinization and partial melting. The difference in crustal thickness in the Southwest Sub‐basin indicates that the magma supply varied in time and space during or even after the seafloor spreading. Compared with other fossil spreading ridges, the fossil spreading centre of the northeast Southwest Sub‐basin studied here represents a third type of fossil spreading ridge, characterized by a reduced melt supply at the waning stage of spreading and a strong post‐spreading magmatism. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Precipitable water vapor (PWV) is an important parameter for climate research and a crucial factor to achieve high accuracy in satellite geodesy and satellite altimetry. Currently Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) PWV retrieval using static Precise Point Positioning is limited to ground stations. We demonstrated the PWV retrieval using kinematic Precise Point Positioning method with shipborne GNSS observations during a 20‐day experiment in 2016 in Fram Strait, the region of the Arctic Ocean between Greenland and Svalbard. The shipborne GNSS PWV shows an agreement of ~1.1 mm with numerical weather model data and radiosonde observations, and a root‐mean‐square of ~1.7 mm compared to Satellite with ARgos and ALtiKa PWV. An improvement of 10% is demonstrated with the multi‐GNSS compared to the Global Positioning System solution. The PWV retrieval was conducted under different sea state from calm water up to gale. Such shipborne GNSS PWV has the promising potential to improve numerical weather forecasts and satellite altimetry.

The P wave velocity model of wide angle seismic profile‐OBS973‐2 that extends in NW‐SE direction for 369 km long from the northeastern Liyue Bank to the central sub‐basin is established by the trial‐and‐error 2D ray‐tracing method. This profile model is compared with that in the northern continental margin for the discussion of the conjugate relationship between the northern margin and the southern margin of the South China Sea (SCS). The velocity model consists of six layers, i.e. three sediments layers, upper crust, lower crust and upper mantle. The velocities of the three sediments layers are 1.8~2.0 km/s, 2.0~2.7 km/s and 3.5~4.0 km/s, respectively. The sediment layers are much thinner in general or even absent in some parts. There are some small volcanoes on the top of crust in Liyue Bank and P wave velocities increase downward from 5.5~6.4 km/s in the upper crust (9~10 km thick) to 6.6~7.1 km/s in the lower crust (11 km thick). In the transition zone and sea basin P wave velocities increase downward from 5.9~6.1 km/s in the upper curst (4~5 km thick) to 6.6~6.9 km/s in the lower crust (2~4 km thick). The crust in the transition zone and sea basin shows some tectonic effects of stretching and thinning. The velocity structure of the model indicates that its continental crust is a standard one but its oceanic upper crust is of relatively higher velocity than standard one. The seaward rising of the buried depth of Moho is 23 km in Liyue Bank and 8~12 km in the sea basin. The velocity beneath Moho is 8.0 km/s in the sea basin obviously smaller than 8.2 km/s in Liyue Bank. The comparison of profile OBS973‐2 with a previous profile OBS2006‐1 in the northern margin shows the much more similarity between them. This result and detailed discussion suggest a possibility of conjugate relationship of Liyue Bank with Zhongsha Massif, separated by the central seamount chain of the SCS. Furthermore, the full rates of seafloor spreading of the northwestern sub‐basin and the southwestern sub‐basin are calculated.

We present results from a 484 km wide‐angle seismic profile acquired in the northwest part of the South China Sea (SCS) during OBS2006 cruise. The line that runs along a previously acquired multi‐channel seismic line (SO49–18) crosses the continental slope of the northern margin, the Northwest Subbasin (NWSB) of the South China Sea, the Zhongsha Massif and partly the oceanic basin of the South China Sea. Seismic sections recorded on 13 ocean‐bottom seismometers were used to identify refracted phases from the crustal layer and also reflected phases from the crust‐mantle boundary (Moho). Inversion of the traveltimes using a simple start model reveals crustal images in the study area. The velocity model shows that crustal thickness below the continental slope is between 14 and 23 km. The continental part of the line is characterized by gentle landward mantle uplift and an abrupt oceanward one. The velocities in the lower crust do not exceed 6.9 km/s. With the new data we can exclude a high‐velocity lower crustal body (velocities above 7.0 km/s) at the location of the line. We conclude that this part of the South China Sea margin developed by a magma‐poor rifting. Both, the NWSB and the Southwest Sub‐basin (SWSB) reveal velocities typical for oceanic crust with crustal thickness between 5 and 7 km. The Zhongsha Massif in between is extremely stretched with only 6–10 km continental crust left. Crustal velocity is below 6.5 km/s; possibly indicating the absence of the lower crust. Multi‐channel seismic profile shows that the Yitongansha Uplift in the slope area and the Zhongsha Massif are only mildly deformed. We considered them as rigid continent blocks which acted as rift shoulders of the main rift subsequently resulting in the formation of the Northwest Sub‐basin. The extension was mainly accommodated by a ductile lower crustal flows, which might have been extremely attenuated and flow into the oceanic basin during the spreading stage. We compared the crustal structures along the northern margin and found an east‐west thicken trend of the crust below the continent slope. This might be contributed by the east‐west sea‐floor spreading along the continental margin.