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Two deep-sea moorings were deployed respectively in the east area and the west area of Chinese Pioneer Area (CPA) in the tropic east Pacific to monitor the regional deep-sea dynamics below 600 meters above bottom (mab) from July 1997 to Oct. 1999. Results of statistics, spectral estimate and correlation analysis of the Iow-passed velocity data show that time scales of low-frequency components of the near-bottom currents are 25∼120 days, in which 51-day period dominates the lower band of the frequency domain. Topographic features have obvious effect on low-frequency currents below 50 mab; modulations of the bottom-intensified sheared mean flow to the low-frequency currents are the dynamic mechanism of the frequency shift that occurs in both the east-area and the west-area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on research on extracts from manganese nodules and ooze from the Central Pacific deep sea floor. Use of chromatogram-mass spectrum for analysis; Finding that most of the biomarker molecules are of the low-mature type; Ratios including those for "A"/C, CPI, hopane, Tm/Ts, moretane, and arene TA(I)/TA(I+II); The methyl-phenanthrene index (MPI1); Suggestion that the hydrothermal activities on the ocean floor ease the decomposition of organic matter in the sediment and leads to the generation and migration of hydrocarbon, resulting in manganese nodules and ooze; Implication of this discovery for understanding the mechanisms of hydrocarbon generation and for expanding the potential of offshore oil and gas exploration.