Marine Geology and Geotechnology of the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait

Ronald C. Chaney

• Publisher: CRC Press
• Year: 2020
• Print ISBN: 9780367608729
• eBook ISBN: 9781000222197
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Physical Sciences
• Subtopic: Chinese History

The waters and rich resources of the South China Sea are claimed by seven different countries, and it is estimated that approximately 40% of the world's trade moves through the area. Marine Geology and Geotechnology of the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait examines the physiology, geology, and potential development of this important portion of the western Pacific Ocean's largest marginal sea. The book covers multiple oceanographic topics, and further discusses topography, sedimentation, wave generation, and hazards such as earthquakes, storm surges, and tsunamis. In addition, it explains the engineering issues and design considerations involved regarding a potential Taiwan Strait Crossing, as well as the development of near-shore communities.

Features:

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• Examines seabed material, such as clays, calcareous, siliceous, and various other organic sediments

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• Presents different potential routing strategies for sea crossings using tunnels, bridges, or a combination of both

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• Provides bridge design recommendations considering aesthetics, seismic and wind issues, potential vessel collisions, and more

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• Includes a historical timeline and useful maps regarding the political complexity of the area and the various territorial claims made by different nations

Marine Geology and Geotechnology of the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait serves as a valuable resource for geotechnical engineers, marine geologists, civil engineers, and professionals concerned with the region.

Part I

Politics and Resources

1Introduction: Geography, History, and Politics

1.1GEOGRAPHY

The South China Sea (SCS) spans from Singapore and the Strait of Malacca in the south to the Taiwan Strait in the north, and from Borneo and the Philippines in the east to Vietnam and south-eastern China in the west (Figure 1.1). It is one of the world’s largest marginal seas bordering eight countries. The SCS is important, among other things, for its international marine trust for transportation and navigation, its rich marine diversity (including fisheries), its impact on the monsoon climate of Southeast Asian countries, and its mineral resources. The SCS has numerous seamounts and islands. These are mainly coral reefs, atolls, shoals, and sand bars. Many of these features are submerged at high tides, and have no native inhabitants. They are usually clustered into geographical groups, notably the Spratly Islands and Reed Bank offshore of the Philippines, the Scarborough Seamount along the central axis of the SCS, and the Macclesfield Bank and the Paracel and Pratas Islands in the north. Collectively they have a total land area of less than 15 km² at low tide. The islands are located on a shallow continental shelf with an average depth of 200 m. There are exceptions in the Spratlys, the sea floor drastically changes its depth, and near the Philippines, the Palawan Trough is more than 5000 m deep. In addition, there are some parts that are so shallow that navigation becomes difficult.

FIGURE 1.1Schematic figure showing both the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait (Qu et al. 2006) Reprinted with permission of AGU.

1.2POLITICAL DIVISIONS AND TERRITORIAL CLAIMS

Over the millennium, the SCS has served as both a fishery and a pathway for trade, exploration, and conquest. A timeline illustrating the political events affecting the SCS is presented in Table 1.1. At the present time, there are a number of competing claims over whose territory, if any, the marginal sea belongs to. The sea areas recognized in international rights courts are shown in Figure 1.2. A review of this figure shows that territorial waters extend from a shoreline out 12 nautical miles. This is the distance that an eighteenth-century cannon can shoot. The shoreline is defined as the mean low water mark for the purposes of this discussion. The contiguous zone extends from the end of the territorial waters and an additional 12 nautical miles. The exclusive economic zone (EEZ) extends from the shoreline out 200 nautical miles. International waters in maritime law is defined as extending from the end of territorial water seaward. Typically, under maritime law in order to claim sovereignty over an area water the country making the claim must demonstrate exclusive control for a continuous period of time up to the present. No country at the present time bordering the SCS can demonstrate this requirement. A figure presenting the various claims is shown in Figure 1.3.

TABLE 1.1
Political Timeline of the SCS

FIGURE 1.2Sea areas recognized in international rights (Adapted from Image Zones maritimes UNCLS.webp).

FIGURE 1.3Competing countries' territorial claims in the South China Sea (Wikipedia Public Domain).

1.3RESOURCES

The SCS was surrounded by some of the world’s fastest developing nations until the Asian financial crisis in 1997. This semi-enclosed sea is a 1.4 million square miles body of wa...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Table of Contents
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Author
• Part I Politics and Resources
• Part II Tectonics/Geology
• Part III Oceanographic Factors
• Part IV Terrestrial and Seabed Sediments
• Part V Civil Engineering Development
• Index