In this study, the δD and δ18O values of 162 precipitation samples(including 33 typhoon-related precipitation samples), collected inXiamen, Southeast China coast, during June 2018 to August 2019, wereinvestigated and analyzed. The results show that there are obviousseasonal variations in the δD and δ18O, which are mainly controlled bythe East Asia Monsoon with significant influence of typhoon events insummer. The influence of moisture sources on δ18O values overrides theinfluence of precipitation fractionation process on δ18O values whichleads to an inverse temperature effect in the study area. In comparisonto the seasonal scale, the synoptic time-series variation of δD and δ18Ois much more complicated. In general, there are three types of isotopicvariations in the normal precipitation processes, which are obviouslyaffected by re-evaporation processes and continuing equilibriumfractionation during condensation. The local meteorological parametersduring normal precipitation, which mainly control the re-evaporationprocess, are the dominant factors for the variation patterns of δD andδ18O, whereas moisture sources control the overall isotope values ofprecipitation. The differences between the time-series of normal andtyphoon-related precipitation are mainly controlled by the changes ofphysical processes and meteorologic parameters during the precipitationprocess. However, due to the unique atmospheric structure and dynamicprocesses of typhoons, the δD and δ18O of typhoon-related precipitationchanges in stages gradually as the distance between the typhoon’s centerand the study area changes. The uniformity of typhoon structure leads toa similar staged changes in different typhoon-related precipitation. Themoisture source trajectory of typhoon-related precipitation shows aclear spiral structure (except for typhoon Yutu), and the moisturesources at different heights control the δD and δ18O values oftyphoon-related precipitation. This study is important for quantifyingthe global changes of typhoon processes and paleotempestology studies.

The palaeoceanographic studies are largely limited by poor carbonate preservation in high-latitude regions. To improve our knowledge in this key area, we studied a sediment core (ANT32-RA05C) in terms of paleomagnetic and 230 Th dating and geochemical properties, collected from the continental slope of the Ross Sea, Antarctica. The two major results are as follows: 1 ) the sedimentation rate based on 230 Th isotopes is 1.37 cm/kyr, agreeing well with the correlation of the relative paleomagnetic intensity of the core ANT32-RA05C to changes in Earth’s magnetic intensity and 2 ) the sediments contain ice-rafted debris (IRD) over 30%, with a considerable contribution of siliceous deposits. Integrating geochronological and geochemical properties of the studied core, a correlation of the regional paleoenvironmental process to the EPICA Dome C (EDC) Antarctic temperature is established, inferring that the IRD input and primary productivity are both enhanced in a warm climate. Moreover, a leading phase of biogenic processes to changes in the ice sheet in the Ross Ice Shelf is observed, highlighting a dominant role of the oceanic circulation in the ice-sheet retreat during the last deglaciation. Overall, the sedimentary record in the Ross Sea documents some key features of the paleoenvironmental processes in the Late Pleistocene, which could be correlated with large-scale changes in Antarctica and thus are worthy of further investigation in the future.

陆架边缘海悬浮颗粒有机质的组成及其来源研究是海洋物质生物地球化学循环研究的重要组成部分.南极的地理位置和气候环境特殊,其边缘海海洋环境受海–气–冰系统共同作用与影响,颗粒有机质的组成及来源具有独特的区域特征与全球意义,其控制因素研究对全面认识罗斯海、阿蒙森海等典型西南极边缘海生物地球化学循环以及生物泵传输效率具有重要的意义.利用中国第36次南极科学考察期间在西南极罗斯海–阿蒙森海区采集的59个表层海水悬浮颗粒物样品的有机碳、氮及其同位素和多种来源特异性的生物标志物分析测试数据,研究了罗斯海–阿蒙森海区域悬浮颗粒物中有机质的物质组成和分布特征,探讨了悬浮颗粒物中不同来源有机质含量与分布的控制因素,评估了不同有机地球化学指标在海–气–冰系统作用下的南极边缘海颗粒有机质组成及来源示踪的应用潜力.研究结果表明,罗斯海–阿蒙森海区海水表层颗粒物中颗粒有机碳(POC)的丰度与表层水体荧光值、海水pCO2、海洋浮游植物源和动物源生物标志物等的丰度分布趋势一致,这种水平分布趋势的一致性表明夏季罗斯海–阿蒙森海海水表层POC主要由浮游植物和动物现场产生.表层悬浮颗粒物总有机质C/N比普遍低于4,显示海区颗粒有机质受微生物降解改造作用明显;表层悬浮颗粒物δ13C值普遍低于?25.2‰,空间分布复杂,反映了南极冰架边缘海独特的贫13C的浮游植物源、富13C的动物源和贫13C的陆源颗粒有机组成的混合信号.表层悬浮颗粒物类脂生物标志物指标是区分不同来源POC组分的有效指标;菜籽甾醇、甲藻甾醇等浮游植物源生物标志物含量之和能较好地反映浮游植物源POC的贡献:近岸冰间湖区呈现高值,其浓度的空间变化受控于水体浮游植物活动;胆甾醇能较好地反映动物源POC的贡献:冰架边缘近岸区呈现高值,其浓度的空间变化受控于海区次级生产力水平和企鹅、海豹等生物量水平;长链的烷基类脂生物标志物较好地反映了南极岩性陆源POC的贡献,其浓度的空间变化受控于南极冰川作用主导的海陆相互作用的过程影响,往往在融冰过程明显的冰架边缘近岸区呈现高值.以上研究结果表明,生物标志物分子指标结合总有机质指标的多参数综合评估为准确辨识南极边缘海复杂的POC来源组成提供了有效的方法,在极区现代海洋(生物地球化学)过程及古海洋环境演化研究中具有广阔的应用空间.

The burial of inorganic sulfur is one of the important components in the global sulfur cycle. In this study, the cycling of inorganic sulfide species and the underlying control mechanisms were examined in sediments found in distinct sub-regions of the Pearl River Estuary (PRE). Specifically, the content and isotopic composition of SO42−, acid-volatile sulfides (AVS), and pyrite were determined, along with sedimentary sulfate reduction rates (SRR). The results show that the formation of iron sulfides (such as AVS and pyrite) was mainly controlled by the content of available reactive iron in the sediments of the PRE, and therefore formed mainly in the shallow sediments, with little variation in the deeper parts of the sediments. The δ34S values of AVS and SO42− increased synchronously with depth in the middle and lower part of the sediment, indicating a closed diagenetic environment. In contrast, the δ34S value of pyrite only increased slowly with depth in the case of a small portion of AVS converted to pyrite, which was controlled by the burial time. There are obvious differences in the formation and burial of pyrite in sediments of different sub-regions of the PRE. The surface layer of stations QA and HQ in the upper estuary and brackish coast was an open environment due to sedimentary reworking, and the contents of AVS and pyrite in the sediment was extremely low due to re-oxidation, while the oxidation of 32S-rich H2S also resulted in lower δ34S values of sulfate in the sediment pore water than in the overlying seawater. Station GS in the estuarine mouth had a much higher percentage of AVS converted to pyrite in the sediments than that at stations QA and HQ due to the relatively long burial time. In addition, near the sulfate methane transition zone (SMT), only the estuarine mouth (station GS) produced iron sulfides (AVS) synchronously with the anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM), and then converted to pyrite gradually; in contrast, the effect of AOM on the formation of iron sulfides in the sediments of the upper estuary and the brackish coast was almost negligible. The results show that the contribution of AOM processes to the final burial of inorganic sulfur is generally small in PRE.

基于中国第32次南极科学考察在罗斯海外陆坡扇区获取的ANT32-RA05C岩芯,开展常量元素地球化学研究,探讨地球化学特征及其古环境意义.结果表明,ANT32-RA05C岩芯以分选差的混合冰海沉积物为主,含有大量的冰筏碎屑(平均29.76％),并含有一定量生物硅(平均4.81％).化学元素定量测试表明,沉积物常量元素配分模式为SiO2>Al2O3>Fe2O3>Na2O>K2O>MgO>CaO>TiO2>P2O5>MnO,其中含量最高的常量元素为Si,主要来源于陆源碎屑(石英)和硅质生物沉积(生物硅).对比XRF元素连续扫描与定量测试结果发现,Si、Ca等相关性较高,可用作高分辨率环境研究.结合环境指标研究发现,晚更新世MIS 7末期以来,常量元素含量变化与南极气候具有良好的对应关系,主要反映了气候对物源和环境的控制,气候转暖通常对应于冰山和初级生产力输入增强,气候转冷对应于冰山和初级生产力输入受限.该岩芯对重建罗斯海古气候演变,深化对罗斯海古环境认识有重要意义.

The sulfate reduction process plays an important role in the early diagenesis of organic matter in the estuarine and coastal sediments. In this study, the sulfate reduction rates (SRR) were determined by the (SO42-)-S-35 radioactive tracer method, and the SO42-, CH4, Cl- of sediment porewater and total organic carbon (TOC), temperature, and redox potential (Eh) of sediment were determined simultaneously at three stations (QA, HQ, and GS) in different sedimentary environments of the Pearl River Estuary to study the sulfate reduction process and its important role in organic matter mineralization. The results show that SRR was mainly controlled by the content and availability of organic matter in sediments of the Pearl River Estuary. The consumption of sulfate mainly included the organic matter mineralization on the upper sediments and the anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) driven by sulfate in the sulfate-methane transition zone (SMT), which formed two peaks in the SRR profile, respectively (stations HQ and GS). Affected by physical disturbance, there was only one SRR peak formed above the SMT at station QA. The results of flux calculations for AOM and sulfate reduction show that the contributions of AOM to total sulfate reduction were 7.04 %, 5.46 %, and 42.0 % at stations QA, HQ, and GS, respectively, which were also controlled by the content and availability of organic matter in sediments. The depths of SMT in sediments of stations QA, HQ, and GS were 25, 30, and 213 cm, respectively, which were controlled by the input of organic matter and sulfate concentration in sediments. The calculation results show that total fluxes of sulfate reduction were 22.7, 35.3, and 3.9 mmol m(-2) d(-1) at stations QA, HQ, and GS, respectively, and the rates of organic carbon mineralization by sulfate reduction were 45.4, 70.6, and 7.8 mmol m(-2) d(-1). In the estuarine mouth (station GS) with relatively weak hydrodynamic force and deep water, the burying efficiency of organic matter in sediment was higher than that in the brackish coast (station HQ); whereas the burial efficiency of organic matter in sediment cannot be comprehensively estimate in the upper estuary (station QA) due to the existence of the fluid mud layer. These findings contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the biogeochemical cycling process of sulfate and methane in sediments of the Pearl River Estuary.

本文对位于现行黄河口深度30.73 m的BH6钻孔粒度分布、岩性特征、常量元素、有孔虫介形虫种类及分布、14C年代进行了分析,讨论了研究区全新世海侵以来的沉积层序和古气候演化.钻孔连续记录了近黄河口区域全新世海侵以来的沉积历史,从上至下可以分为5个沉积相,①(0～4.87 m)为河口三角洲前缘亚相,②(4.87～8.08 m)为前三角洲相沉积,①②共同组成三角洲相沉积,③(8.08～12.08 m)应为近岸浅海沉积,④(12.08～23.85 m)为河口边滩至潮坪相沉积,⑤(23.85 m～)为陆相湖泊沉积.利用钻孔常量元素特征比值对古气候演化进行讨论,认为全新世海侵期以来BH6钻孔古气候总体经历了相对暖-温凉-暖-温凉的过程.

Sedimentary sequence and sediment provenance are important factors when it comes to the studies on marine sedimentation. This paper studies grain size distribution, lithological characteristics, major and rare earth elemental compositions, micropaleontological features and 14C ages in order to examine sedimentary sequence and sediment provenance of the core BH6 drilled at the mouth of the Yellow River in Bohai Sea. According to the grain size and the micropaleontological compositions, 4 sedimentary units have been identified. Unit 1 (0–8.08 mbsf) is of the delta sedimentary facies, Unit 2 (8.08–12.08 mbsf) is of the neritic shelf facies, Unit 3 (12.08–23.85 mbsf) is of near-estuary beach-tidal facies, and Unit 4 (23.85 mbsf–) is of the continental lake facies. The deposits from Unit 1 to Unit 3 have been found to be marine strata formed after the Holocene transgression at about 10 ka BP, while Unit 4 is continental lacustrine deposit formed before 10 ka BP. The provenances of core BH6 sediments show properties of the continental crust and vary in different sedimentary periods. For Unit 4 sediments, the source regions are dispersed while the main provenance is not clear, although the parent rock characteristics of a few samples are similar to the Luanhe River sediments. For Unit 3, sediments at 21.1–23.85 mbsf have been mainly transported from the Liaohe River, while sediments above 21.1 mbsf are mainly from the Yellow River and partially from the Liaohe River. For Unit 2, the sediments have been mainly transported from the Yellow River, with a small amount from other rivers. For Unit 1, the provenance is mainly the Yellow River catchment. These results help in better understanding the evolution of the Yellow River Delta.

Based on three short sediment cores collected in Prydz Bay (Antarctica) during the 29th Chinese Na-tional Antarctic Research Expedition, the rare earth element (REE) contents, sediment grain sizes, and bio-genic proxies were determined to discuss the pattern and controlling factors of the REE distribution. The results showed that the REEs of Prydz Bay sediments vary in content but have similar shale-normalized dis-tribution patterns, i.e., rich in light REEs, to upper continental crust and metamorphic rocks from Zhongshan Station, indicating they have the same terrigenous provenance. Based on the sediment grain size, major ele-ments, and biosourced proxies, it is suggested that sediment provenance is the major controlling factor behind REE composition. Moreover, biological action might dilute the REE concentration, making the grain-size ef-fect invalid. The REE proxies in the sediment profile were almost stable with depth, reflecting similar terri-genous inputs and depositional environments on the century scale. In addition, theδCe values generally de-creased downward, suggesting a gradual decreasing trend in oxidability within the sediment core.

To achieve a more robust understanding of the transport pattern of silt components in offshore areas,the grain size characteristics of 783 surface samples of fine-grained sediments are used to interpret the sediment transport pathways and predominant sedimentological conditions offshore the Shandong Peninsula,Yellow Sea.Based on the variation in the grain size composition,a regional "silt fractionation" was observed,and the very fine silt (VFSt) and the fine silt (FSt) displayed similar dynamic behaviors to that of the clay fraction during transportation and deposition,and these silts all acted as flocs.By contrast,the coarse silt (CSt) was primarily transported and deposited as single grains,indicating that the CSt content was the environmentally sensitive component in the sediments in the study area.The sediments displayed complicated sources based on the grain size analysis.In the northern part of the study area,the fine-grained sediment primarily originated from the Huanghe River Estuary (suspended or reworked,whereas in the eastern Shandong Peninsula,the sediments of the mud wedge were primarily composed of Huanghe-derived sediments and characterized by CSt-enriched,and in the southern Shandong Peninsula,the sediments primarily originated from the small rivers nearby.The marine fronts in the study area were thought to be the major factor controlling the settling and deposition of coarse silt.Further study should be carried out on the mechanisms that the fronts control the deposition of silty fractions in shelf settings.

In this study, the suspended particulate matter (SPM) of the Yellow River (Huanghe) was collected biweekly at the outlet and analyzed for particulate trace element contents. The seasonal variations of the trace elements were primarily controlled by hydrological processes, which determined different sources of the SPM. Moreover, As, Co, Cr, and Ni primarily originated from lithogenic sources, whereas Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn were influenced by anthropogenic activities. The Yellow River has suffered moderate to considerable ecological risk during the late stage of Water and Sediment Regulation (WSR). Using the discharge-weighted contents method, the annual trace element fluxes were estimated, with ca. 30% of the annual fluxes occurring within the short WSR period (6% of one year). More specifically, 75% of the Cd flux was from an anthropogenic source, which likely posed a significant threat to the estuary and the adjacent coastal ecosystems.

通过对福建安海湾表层沉积物的粒度分析和对比,应用系统聚类分析、粒径趋势模型和切应力计算公式,探讨了研究区粒度的分布特征、沉积环境分区、表层沉积物输运趋势及其影响因素.研究结果表明,研究区包括6种表层沉积物类型,以黏土质粉砂和粉砂为主,沉积物大体呈现自海湾两侧潮滩向潮汐通道变粗的分布趋势.表层沉积物粒度的分布特征与水动力条件和物质来源密切相关,湾口附近及湾内深槽内,细颗粒的沉积物被再悬浮带走,粗颗粒的含量增大;在湾内潮滩上,悬浮物质因水动力作用逐渐减弱发生分选沉降,形成向岸变细的横向分异.海湾外泥沙随潮流不断地向海湾东侧岸滩运移,海湾周边陆源来沙由湾顶部往湾口方向下泄,两者是导致表层沉积物出现明显的顺时针方向汇聚趋势的原因之一;表层沉积物的输运趋势、悬浮泥沙的输运、潮滩植被与湾口沙嘴的遮蔽效应共同影响了研究区内浅滩地形的形成和变化.研究区可分为四类沉积环境区,以潮滩和潮汐通道环境为主,不同沉积区内的粒度参数、粒级频率和敏感粒级均有差异,动力条件差异和不同物源的影响程度是现代沉积环境格局的主要影响因素.

Evaluating the role of fluvial transfer of terrestrial organic carbon (OC) and subsequent burial in the global carbon cycle requires the sources and fluxes of fluvial OC to be assessed, which remains poorly constrained in the Huanghe (Yellow River). Here, we report the elemental, stable isotopic, and radiocarbon activity of particulate organic carbon (POC) sampled at the outlet of Huanghe in 2012–2013. We show that the Huanghe riverine POC can be explained by binary mixing of fossil (POCfossil) and non‐fossil (POCnon‐fossil) components, the former may reach ~40% of the total POC. The Huanghe POCnon‐fossil is mostly sourced from C3 plants, with a mean residence time of c. 2200 years. The current human‐controlled hydrological regime strongly influenced the POC sources, transport modes, and fluxes. In 2012–2013, the Huanghe delivered 0.73 Tg (1 Tg = 1012 g) of POC to the sea, and about 28% of the annual POC flux occurred within a short human induced flood event. Globally, the Huanghe should be one of the largest rivers in the transfer and re‐burial of fossil OC. However, the fate of Huanghe fossil OC is still unconstrained and needs to be further investigated. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Clay mineralogy of 54 fluvial samples collected from 20 major rivers on Hainan Island are investigated in order to determine compositional changes of clay minerals and to assess the weathering processes. The clay mineral assemblages consist dominantly of kaolinite (31-66%), with a lesser abundance of chlorite (22-44%) and illite (4-33%), and a trace amount of smectite (0-15%). Fluvial sediments from the east and northwest of Hainan Island are characteriZed by a higher kaolinite content and illite chemical index and poorer illite crystallinity than those from southwest Hainan. Only minor smectite (mean of 7%) occurs in the sediments from west Hainan; smectite is total lacking in east Hainan. Compared with the adjacent basins, Hainan Island is characterized by moderate to intensive chemical weathering with strong hydrolysis. Our results suggest that rainfall is the principal factor controlling the intensity of chemical weathering on Hainan. Island, with more intense chemical weathering occurring in eastern and northwestern Hainan. Another practical implication of this study is that it provides a "missing" end member (Hainan Island) in the provenance discrimination study focused on the northern South China Sea (SCS). Hainan fine-grained sediments likely play an important role in providing clay minerals to the northern SCS carried by the South China Sea Warm Current (SCSWC) during the summer. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The East China Sea (ECS) is characterized by a relatively high riverine martial input that is associated with East Asian monsoon systems. In this study, we investigated a 272cm-long sediment core (THB-2) from the ECS inner shelf for the AMS 14C dating, grain size, total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), and stable carbon and nitrogen (δ13C and δ15N) isotopes to provide insights into previous changes in the monsoon-climate and the intensity of the coastal upwelling. A three end-member (riverine, deltaic, and marine) mixing model was applied to determine the temporal variations in sedimentary organic matter sources. The transport and burial of the Changjiang riverine organic carbon in the ECS inner shelf is strongly controlled by the combined effects of the monsoon-climate and human activities during the late Holocene. The sedimentary δ15N records of the THB-2 core are more complex and may be best explained by changes in the nutrient utilization in the coastal zone surface waters. The downcore variations of the marine organic matter-δ15N are closely related to the intensity of East Asian summer monsoon during the last 3.6ka. The stronger East Asian summer monsoon likely favored the intensive coastal upwelling and additional Changjiang discharge during the 3.6–2.7ka and 0.4–0ka periods, which triggered the greater relative nitrate utilization in the coastal surface water.

In this study,a total of 274 surface sediments from the offshore area of Shandong Peninsula were collected and analyzed for grain-size,total organic carbon(TOC),and major elementss.Results show that SiO2 is the highest major element,followed by Al2O3 as the second.These two major elements make up 77.8% of the total major elements.The composition of major elements depends upon the type of sediment or grain-size.SiO2 is usually enriched in the coarse-grained sediments,whereas Al2O3、Fe2O3、MgO、MnO、P2O5 and K2O are relatively concentrated in fine-grained sediments.However,Na2O and TiO2 are independent from sediment types.The results of correlation and R-factor analysis suggested that the distribution of major element in the surface sediments from the offshore area of Shandong Peninsula can be classified to three groups.The first group consists of SiO2、Al2O3、Fe2O3、MgO、K2O、TiO2、P2O5、TOC,the second includes CaO and CaCO3,and Na2O and MnO belong to the last groups.These three groups may probably represent terrigenous,marine biogenous and marine authigenic sediments respectively.The chemical weathering index of the surface sediments varies from 50-65,depending upon their provenance.The CIA and TiO2/Al2O3 values suggest that the Huanghe sediments are mainly deposited along the offshore area of Shandong Peninsula,controlled by the coastal currents and the sea bottom geomorphology.

Selected heavy metals (Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) in surface sediments from the coastal Shandong Peninsula (Yellow Sea) have been determined to evaluate the spatial distribution and potential ecological risk. Results showed that heavy metal concentrations in the sediments generally met the criteria of China Marine Sediment Quality. However, both the enrichment factor (EF) and geoaccumulation index (Igeo) values suggested the elevation of Pb concentration in the region. Based on the effect-range classification (TEL-PEL SQGs), Cr, Cu and Ni were likely to pose environment risks. Spatial distribution of ecotoxicological index (mean-PEL-quotient) suggested that most of the surface sediments have a 21% probability of being toxic. Similar results were also obtained by pollution load index (PLI). The spatial distribution pattern of heavy metal in surface sediments is a basis for undertaking appropriate action to protect marine sediment quality.

Based on the lithology and grain-size parameters of the two piston cores(LDC30and LDC25),we studied the changes in sedimentary environment and provenance of the southeastern Liaodong Bay since early Holocene.The lithology and grain-size parameters of the two cores display two step variations,and the sand content and mean grain-size of the upper layers are obviously larger than that in the lower parts.It suggests that the lower section of the sediments is mainly deposited under a nearshore shallow marine environment during the early Holocene transgression,whereas the upper section deposited in the tidal environment since the highest sea level stand(~7kaBP).The sediment provenance of these two sections in the piston cores is also different with each other,under the control of sedimentary environment changes caused by sea level fluctuation and the terrigenous input variation related to the East Asian summer monsoon.

A 100-m-long sediment core( ZK1) from the modern Huanghe Delta( Bohai Sea) were analyzed to document the stratigraphy and sea-level changes since the Late Quaternary. Accelerator mass spectrometry14C dating and analyses of benthic foraminifera,ostracods,and sedimentary characteristics were analyzed for Core ZK1. Seven depositional units( DU1 to DU7 in descending order) were identified and interpreted as follows: DU 7 corresponds to terrestrial facies in MIS 4; DU 6 and DU 4,to alternating terrestrial and marine facies in MIS 3; DU 3,to terrestrial facies in MIS 2; DU 2,to Holocene marine facies; and DU 1,to the modern Huanghe Delta sediments deposited since1855. By correlation with other well-studied cores in the nearby area,three transgressive layers of Core ZK1 were in agreement with Bohai and Xianxian transgressions in MIS3,and Huanghua transgressions in MIS1. These sedimentary facies of Core ZK1 reflect several sea-level fluctuations since MIS4,which played a key role in controlling the sedimentary environments in the study area.

The concentrations of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) and organic carbon in surface sediments, collected from the southern Bohai Bay, were determined to assess the potential contamination and determine the environmental risks associated with heavy metals. Results showed that heavy metal concentrations in the sediments generally met the China Marine Sediment Quality criteria. Both the ecotoxicological index and the potential ecological risk index suggest that the combined ecological risk of the six studied metals may be low, with the highest ecotoxicological potential zones located in the offshore area. The methods of enrichment factor and geoaccumulation index suggested that elevated concentrations of Cd, Cr, and Ni are presented in the region. Multivariate analysis also indicated that the lithogenic factor dominates the distribution of most part of the considered metals in the study area, whereas Cd and Cr are clearly influenced by anthropogenic inputs. The results of this study are likely to be a useful tool to authorities in charge of sustainable marine management.