黄土高原西部地区末次冰期和全新世有机碳同位素变化与C3/C4植被类型转换研究

文章利用黄土高原西缘代表性的塬堡剖面有机碳同位素数据,估算了末次冰期以来地表植被中C₃/C₄植 物的相对丰度,指示出研究区域末次冰期几乎为纯粹的C₃植物,而全新世为C₃植物占优势的C₃和C₄混合植被类 型。温度是控制中国黄土高原C₄植物是否发生的关键性气候因素,末次冰期向全新世转化过程中存在的某“阈值 温度”控制了两种植被类型的存在。全新世土壤有机碳同位素偏正于末次冰期,符合前人研究得到的认识。末次 冰期间冰段(MIS3)至盛冰期,土壤有机碳同位素为偏正变化趋势,符合现代C₃植物本身随气候条件改变的碳同位 素组成变化。研究表明,利用黄土-古土壤有机碳同位素进行古气候变化研究,不能只将有机碳同位素简单的解 释为C₃/C₄植物相对丰度的变化,在单一植被类型下,还需要考虑植物本身碳同位素组成随气候条件的变化;另外, 研究还说明,我国黄土高原不同地区同时段土壤有机碳同位素值可以不同,其变化可以不具有相同的趋势,因此, 简单将有机碳同位素偏正归因于夏季风增强是值得商榷的。     

中东亚干旱半干旱区C3植物δ13 C值的分布 及其对气候的响应*

植物化石和土壤中的有机质碳同位素指标常用来反映古气候的变化,然而碳同位素这个指标在特定地区反映气候的定量关系缺乏检验。研究剖面选择自中国的秦岭(34°14'24″N,106°55'30″E)到蒙古人民共和国北部,接近贝加尔湖地区(51°35'08″N, 100°45'49″E)的研究剖面线,选择了3种C₃植物(Artemisia scoparia, Ajania achilleides 和 Artemisia frigida),在剖面线上沿南北方向上每隔4'到5'采取一个样点,共选取161个C₃植物茎叶样品进行了δ¹³ C值测定。同时收集了剖面线附近气象站的降水、气温等资料,用插值方法得到每个采样点的气温、降水数据。分析表明:C₃植物的δ¹³ C值分布范围为-30 ‰ ~-22 ‰ ,其平均值为-26.81 ‰ ,该平均值较全球C₃植物δ¹³ C平均值偏正。通过对比C₃植物δ¹³ C与年均温、年均降水量、生长季节的干燥度等随纬度的变化规律,发现C₃植物δ¹³ C、年均降水量、生长季节的干燥度有非常一致的变化趋势,而C₃植物δ¹³ C和年均温不具有一致性。通过一元回归分析也同样发现C₃植物δ¹³ C与年均降水量呈线性负相关关系(y=-0.0077x-24.838,n=161,R²=0.4418,p=0.01),与生长季节的干燥度呈线性正相关关系(y=0.7328x-28.806,n=161,R²=0.3685,p=0.01),而与年均温度没有明显的相关关系(y=-0.0461x-26.756,n=161,R²=0.0232,p=0.01)。在本研究区C₃植物δ¹³ C对年均降水量和生长季节的干燥度响应十分显著,而对温度的响应不明显。研究区具有明显的降水和温度的梯度分布特征,是验证植物碳同位素与气候关系的理想场所,而土壤中的有机质碳同位素与其地面上的植物碳同位素息息相关。研究也说明,在本研究区或其他气候植物组合相似的地区可以利用古土壤中的有机质碳同位素来定量或半定量地反映古气候的变化。     

中国西北干旱区湖泊沉积物中有机质碳同位素组成的环境意义--以民勤盆地三角城古湖泊为例

通过对中国西北干旱区石羊河流域民勤盆地三角城古湖泊沉积物有机质碳同位素组成(^δ13Corg)分析,表明末次冰期与全新世时气候和植被有明显的差异,末次冰期^δ13Corg总体偏轻(-30‰～-25‰),而全新世碳同位素组成则有较大的变化,在早全新世碳同位素组成有多次短期快速变重(-10‰左右)的变化,中全新世碳同位素组成总体偏重(-20‰～-10‰),晚全新世碳同位素组成偏轻(-25‰左右)。分析表明湖泊沉积物有机质碳同位素组成反映了陆生C₃植物和湖泊内源水生植物变化的关系,末次冰期以来西北干旱区C₄植物不发育,偏重的有机质碳同位素值与C₄植物无关。从沉积物中有机质组分、元素等分析表明,末次冰期时主要以河流相沉积为主,湖泊中有机质主要来源于上游祁连山的陆生C₃植物,有机碳含量较低,表明当时的上游的陆生植被不繁盛,区域气候较干冷;从全新世开始,三角城古湖泊开始形成,沉积物中碳同位素组成偏重的有机质主要来源于湖泊中的沉水植物,此时湖泊水体较大,湖泊生产力较高。而沉积物中有机质碳同位素组成偏轻时期的有机质主要来源于挺水植物、陆生C₃植物,较低的有机碳含量说明该时期陆生植被不发育,气候较干冷,湖泊水体较小     

东海泥质区单体正构烷烃的碳同位素组成及物源分析 *

利用气相色谱(GC)和气相色谱/同位素比值质谱(GC/IRMS)对东海近岸泥质区、济州岛西南泥质区和冲绳海槽北部表层沉积物中正构烷烃的单体碳同位素组成及分布进行了分析。结果显示东海不同泥质区典型海洋藻类源正构烷烃C₁₉同位素组成基本相似,在-27.4 ‰ ~-28.0 ‰ 之间,平均为-27.7 ‰ 。典型海洋水生植物源C₂₃同位素组成在-28.5 ‰ ~-31.6 ‰ 之间,平均为-30.5 ‰ ,碳同位素组成从近岸泥质区到冲绳海槽北部逐渐变重,表明海槽区与陆架区海洋水生植物种类有所不同。陆架区长链正构烷烃(C₂₅~C₃₁)部分随着碳数的增加,其同位素组成逐渐变轻,但海槽区这一变化不大,显示陆架区的陆源高等植物蜡具有相似的物源,而冲绳海槽北部由于黑潮主干区和黑潮分支(对马暖流)对陆架沉积物进入深海的控制性阻隔作用,其物源与陆架区区别较大。现代输入东海的陆源植物以C₃植物为显著优势,C₃植物对近岸泥质区北部、近岸泥质区南部、远端济州岛西南泥质区和冲绳海槽北部陆源植物的贡献分别为83 % ,95 ％,75 % 和70 % 。     

新疆罗北洼地湖相沉积物有机碳同位素的变化序列及其古环境意义

测定了新疆罗布泊地区湖相沉积物CK-2钻孔样品的总有机碳含量（TOC）及其同位素组成、碳酸盐含量和C/N比值等环境代用指标,以及石膏矿物的质谱-铀系年龄。测试结果表明,20～9kaB.P.期间沉积物δ¹³C_org.在-23.4‰～-16.1‰之间波动且阶段性明显,与TOC呈现良好的相关关系,整体变化趋势同南极Dome C冰芯中记录的全球大气CO₂浓度一致;C/N比值表明有机碳来源主要是陆生高等植物。因此大气CO₂浓度变化是影响20～9kaB.P.期间罗布泊湖相沉积物δ¹³C_org.值变化的主导因素,周围山体上C₃/C₄植物相对生物量的变化则是另一重要因素。依据δ¹³C_org.的变化序列将此时间段湖区古环境的演化分成6个阶段:20.0～14.1kaB.P.期间受到末次盛冰期的影响,气温偏低,湖水丰沛;14.1～13.3kaB.P.是一个气候不稳定期,冷暖波动较频繁,但以暖为趋势;13.3～12.8kaB.P.期间经历了一段冷期,于12.8kaB.P.结束了末次冰期,随后气候开始转暖至11.8kaB.P.;其后气温再次变冷并维持到10kaB.P.;最后从10kaB.P.进入全新世暖期。δ¹³C_org.序列明显向偏负方向变化,表明该地区变暖的趋势相当明显。罗布泊地区日益干旱化是全球气候变化的结果,尤其是受到全球CO₂浓度的不断升高所制约。     

末次冰期黄土中蜗牛壳体碳酸盐同位素组成与其环境指示意义

为了揭示蜗牛化石壳体碳酸盐（文石）稳定同位素组成的古气候和古生态环境指示意义,对采集于河南荥阳邙山末次冰期黄土剖面上部中的粉华蜗牛（Cathaica pulveratrix）化石壳体碳酸盐进行了碳、氧稳定同位素分析,同时还对全岩有机物质（SOM）碳同位素组成以及全岩磁化率和粒度等气候替代指标进行分析,结果显示：剖面中反映蜗牛食物碳同位素组成的壳体δ¹³C_SSA的变化,与反映古植被碳同位素组成的全岩有机物质碳同位素组成（δ¹³C_SOM）无显著的相关关系,但是壳体¹³C相对于SOM的富集程度（Δδ¹³C_SSA-SOM）的变化与石笋氧同位素记录的末次冰期东亚夏季风强度演化同步一致;   壳体δ¹⁸O_SSA的变化不但与黄土磁化率、粒度等气候替代指标变化具有显著相关性,同样也与末次冰期东亚夏季风强度演化同步一致。这些特征,一方面说明受季风环流控制的气候温湿程度变化左右蜗牛夏季活动的几率和食物的类型,干冷气候条件下,相对温湿夏季成为蜗牛活动主要时期,相对富集¹³C苔藓、菌类和植物可能是蜗牛的主要食物;   另一方面暗示蜗牛化石壳体碳酸盐稳定同位素组成能够指示气候温湿程度和生态环境的变化。     

洛南黄土有机碳同位素组成及其与洛川、西峰黄土对比

以往黄土-古土壤碳同位素的研究主要集中在东亚季风控制的干旱-半干旱黄土高原中北部地区,而对于秦岭南部暖温带季风性半湿润气候区黄土-古土壤序列有机碳同位素的研究鲜有报道。对比两种气候条件下的黄土有机质碳同位素组成可更广泛和深入地认识黄土碳同位素所指示的生态环境变化。为此,本研究选取了位于秦岭南麓的洛南上白川、刘湾两剖面,剖面厚度分别为74m和10m,以20cm间距采集上白川剖面38个样品,刘湾剖面51个样品。采用高温灼烧氧化法对全部样品有机质碳同位素组成进行测定,并将结果与黄土高原中部洛川和西峰剖面有机质碳同位素进行了对比。结果表明：  上白川剖面有机碳同位素( δ¹³C_org.)的变化范围为-24.43‰～-21.30‰,刘湾剖面的变化范围为-24.70‰～-20.52‰,洛川剖面的变化范围为-23.37‰～-18.72‰, 西峰剖面的变化范围为-23.68‰～-19.47‰。末次间冰期位于半湿润地区的上白川和刘湾剖面有机碳同位素峰值较半干旱地区洛川、西峰剖面偏负1‰～2‰,即上白川和刘湾剖面有机碳同位素峰值分别较洛川剖面的峰值偏负1.8‰和1.9‰,较西峰剖面的峰值偏负1.3‰和1.4‰。因此,该区的植被覆盖应是以C₃植物为主的C₃和C₄混合草原植被类型;   从整体上来看,洛南剖面古土壤层碳同位素较相邻黄土层的碳同位素偏正,因此,古土壤形成时期C₄植被相对比例增加。末次间冰期洛南上白川和刘湾剖面有机碳同位素峰值较洛川、西峰剖面的峰值偏负1‰多,表明受东亚季风控制的半干旱-半湿润的黄土区,暖季节降水对C₄/C₃植被相对比例增加的趋势和幅度均具有明显的影响,主要表现在暖季节降水的增加有利于C₄植被相对比例的增高,同时降水的季节性分布和/或降水量的增多影响土壤有机碳同位素所记录的C₄植被相对比例及其增加幅度。     

羌塘盆地双湖地区早中侏罗世过渡期碳同位素波动及成因研究

藏北双湖县巴岭乡地区出露一套深水相黑色页岩地层,包括下侏罗统曲色组和中侏罗统色哇组二个组地层单元。根据菊石化石控制的生物地层时代,下伏曲色组划归Pliensbachian-Toarcian 阶,上覆色哇组级代表Aalenian-Bajocian 期沉积,二者之间为连续沉积,是目前西藏特提斯域菊石化石控制程度最高的中下侏罗统地层。野外实测了索布查J₂/J₁界线剖面,按2m间距采集了148件样品,室内开展了无机碳(δ¹³C_carb)和有机碳(δ¹³C_kero)分析,目的是揭示早侏罗世末期到中侏罗世初期这一时段的古海洋演化过程。研究结果表明,曲色组沉积期古海水δ¹³C_DIC偏正,而色哇组δ¹³C_DIC偏负,J₂/J₁界线上下δ¹³C_carb值显示阶步式负向偏移的特点。根据相关分馏方程计算,Toarcian期海洋浮游植物繁盛,δ¹³C_DIC偏正_,海水营养盐NO₃浓度偏低,而Aalenian期海洋浮游植物衰减,δ¹³C_DIC偏低,NO₃浓度升高。沉积有机质或干酪根碳同位素δ¹³C_kero在J₂/J₁界线上下与δ¹³C_carb变化趋势一致,也具有由高值逐渐偏低的特点,但δ¹³C_carb和δ¹³C_kero变化曲线的波峰和波谷并不同步,这是因为海源和陆源有机质相对含量高低变化所致。文中根据碳同位素质量平衡方程,定量的描述了索布查界线剖面陆源和海源有机质比例的变化过程,讨论了曲色组和色哇组烃源岩在油气勘探中的意义。     

中新世以来六盘山邻区黄土-红粘土成土碳酸盐碳氧同位素记录及其对C4植物早期扩张的指示

晚新生代C4植物扩张是地球环境-生态系统演化的霞要事件,重建C4植物地质演化历史是认识新生代地球气候变化、全球植被演化和大气CO2演化历史及区域陆地生态系统转变模式的关键环节.通过最近20多年来对全球不同区域地质剖面中的植物化石、动物牙釉质及成土碳酸盐碳同位素等的分析,研究者认识到晚新生代C4植物在全球成规模出现和扩张...     

大氧化事件在山西滹沱群中的记录:碳酸盐岩碳同位素资料分析

古元古代早期爆发了全球性大氧化事件（GOE）,诱发了休伦冰川事件（Huronian Glaciation Event,HGE）和2.3~2.06Ga的拉玛岗地-瓦图里碳酸盐碳同位素正漂移事件（Lomagundi-Jatuli Event,LJE）。滹沱群是华北克拉通最具代表性的古元古代沉积地层,变质程度最低,地层学研究程度高,是探索GOE以及HGE和LJE的理想研究对象。通过总结和分析滹沱群碳酸盐岩碳同位素研究结果,我们发现：（1）滹沱群主体未显示δ¹³C_carb正漂移现象,但下部大石岭组有高达3.5‰的δ¹³C_carb正异常;（2）显示δ¹³C_carb正异常的大石岭组可能形成于2.08Ga之前,未显示δ¹³C_carb正异常的东冶亚群可能形成于2.06Ga之后;（3）五台地区记录休伦冰川事件的冰碛岩应发育在大石岭组之下,即四集庄组砾岩。总之,滹沱群形成于2.3Ga之后,下部豆村亚群沉积于HGE或LJE期间,可能保留了更显著的δ¹³C_carb正漂移信息及冰川沉积记录,中部的东冶亚群沉积于LJE之后,不存在δ¹³C_carb正漂移。     

内陆水体溶解无机碳同位素研究进展及展望

碳是陆地生态系统中最重要的生命元素,能够在各个圈层之间相互转换和运移。碳循环作为地球各圈层相互连接的纽带,被认为是地表系统最重要的元素地球化学循环。碳在水体中主要以溶解性有机碳（dissolved organic carbon,简称DOC）和溶解性无机碳（dissolved inorganic carbon,简称DIC）形式存在。内陆水体（包括河水、地下水、湖水和水库等）尽管只占陆地表面1%,但它们在碳循环过程中发挥了重要作用。其DIC浓度(CDIC)和DIC同位素组成(δ13CDIC)可以为碳循环研究提供线索,因此成为近年来国际研究的热点之一。本文系统总结了全球内陆水体DIC同位素的研究进展。DIC同位素具有广泛的地质应用,不同碳源具有独特的同位素特征。因此,DIC同位素被用于定性和定量地示踪碳源,指示碳循环过程以及确定河水补给端元。     

Geochemical,and stable and radiogenic isotope records in Devonian and Early Carboniferous carbonates from Valle de Tena,central Pyrenees (Spain): evidence for their diagenetic environments

Mineralogical, textural and geochemical investigations were made to determine the post-depositional evolution of Devonian and Early Carboniferous carbonates from Valle de Tena. The carbonate association is made up of low-Mg calcite, which occurs as micrite, spar cements, neomorphic patches and spar filling veinlets. Non-stoichiometric dolomite and ankerite occur as cements (dolomite also as replacements) in the Middle Devonian, post-dating calcite types. All these phases pre-date tectonic stylolites, indicating compaction after stabilization of the carbonate minerals. Strontium concentrations indicate that Early Devonian and Early Carboniferous micrites initially precipitated as aragonite; Middle and Late Devonian micrites precipitated as high-Mg calcites. Both precursors were diagenetically stabilized to low-Mg calcites through interaction with meteoric waters in phreatic environments. Trace elements in dolomite and ankerite indicate precipitation from Sr-enriched meteoric water. All studied carbonates, except Middle Devonian limestones, precipitated in reducing environments, which favoured incorporation of Fe and Mn. Late calcite generations precipitated from more saline waters than micrites. Light ¹⁸O values in micrites suggest alteration mainly in meteoric-phreatic environments. The dolomites and ankerites precipitated from more ¹⁸O-depleted fluids than the calcites, suggesting a greater contribution from meteoric waters. Variations in ¹³C of micrites represent primary secular trends, according to published ¹³C variations. The ¹³C oscillations within each succession probably relate to sea-level oscillations. Strontium isotopes also point to a meteoric origin of diagenetic fluids. Model calculations suggest that O and Sr isotopes equilibrated between calcites and fluid at relatively low water/rock ratios, whereas C isotopic signatures are inherited from limestones.     

Development and Application of Oxygen and Carbon Isotopic Measurements of Biogenic Carbonates by Ion Microprobe

The analytical capabilities of the ims 1270 ion microprobe (SIMS) in determining O and C isotope compositions in biogenic carbonate samples have been tested. Results indicated that, with a spot size of ≊ 30 μm, the average reproducibility at the 1s level was 0.3‰ for oxygen isotopes and 0.6‰ for carbon isotopes. Nevertheless, this reproducibility can reach 0.2‰ for oxygen isotope determinations during some sessions. These reproducibilities allowed us to perform analyses on biogenic carbonate samples for environmental studies. In this paper, examples of oxygen and carbon isotope measurements are presented for a modern coral and the Holocene scleractinian coral, Porites lutea.     

江西省横迳温泉区地热气体地球化学

从赣南横迳温泉区采集10个水样并分析了温泉及冷泉的水化学成分,认为热水起源于大气降水补给。在此基础上,还在温泉区采集了4个气样,测定了气体组分的含量及氦同位素．以及CO₂和CH₄的碳同位素。研究结果表明：横迳地区温泉气中CO₂的含量很高(>96％),δC_CO2较重(-4.43‰～-5.50‰),属幔源CO₂;He同位素特征值(R/Ra)变化于1.36～2.11之问．均大于1,有幔源He的加入;本区温泉气的的组合类型为二氧化碳幔源温泉气,从整体上来说属于幔源无机成因气,是地幔脱气的产物。     

Two-dimensional patterns of metamorphic fluid flow and isotopic resetting in layered and fractured rocks'pa

One-dimensional advection-dispersion models predict that characteristic δ¹⁸O vs. distance and δ¹⁸O vs. δ¹³C profiles should be produced during isothermal metamorphic fluid flow under equilibrium conditions. However, the patterns of isotopic resetting in rocks that have experienced fluid flow are often different from the predictions. Two-dimensional advection-dispersion simulations in systems with simple geometries suggest that such differences may be as a result of fluid channelling and need not indicate disequilibrium, high dispersivities, or polythermal flow. The patterns of isotopic resetting are a function of: (1) the permeability contrast between more permeable layers ('channels') and less permeable layers ('matrix'); (2) the width and spacing of the channels; (3) the width and spacing of discrete fractures; and (4) the orientation of the pressure gradient with respect to layering. In fractured systems, the efficiency of isotopic transport depends on the fracture aperture and the permeability of the surrounding rock. Resetting initially occurs along and immediately adjacent to the fractures, but with time isotopic resetting because of flow through the rock as a whole increases in importance. Application of the one-dimensional advection-dispersion equations to metamorphic fluid flow systems may yield incorrect estimates of fluid fluxes, intrinsic permeabilities, dispersivities, and permeability contrasts unless fluid flow occurred through zones of high permeability that were separated by relatively impermeable layers.     

Fluid generation, vein formation and the degree of fluid–rock interaction during decompression of high-pressure terranes: the Schistes Lustrés, Alpine Corsica, France

Centimetre‐ to decimetre‐wide quartz+calcite veins in schistes lustrés from Alpine Corsica were formed during exhumation at 30–40 Ma following blueschist facies metamorphism. The δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C values of the veins overlap those of the host schistes lustrés, and the δ¹⁸O values of the veins are much higher than those of other rocks on Corsica. These data suggest that the vein‐forming fluids were derived from the schistes lustrés. Fluids were probably generated by reactions that broke down carpholite, lawsonite, chlorite and white mica at 300–350 °C during decompression between c. 1400 and 800 MPa. However, the δ¹⁸O values of the veins are locally several per mil higher than expected given those of their host rocks. The magnitude of oxygen isotope disequilibrium between the veins and the host rock is inversely proportional to the δ¹⁸O value of the host rock. Additionally, calcite in some schists is in isotopic equilibrium with calcite in adjacent veins, but not with the silicate fraction of the schists. Locally, the schists are calcite bearing only within 1–20 cm of the veins. The vein‐forming fluids may have been preferentially derived from calcite‐bearing, high‐δ¹⁸O rocks that are common within the schistes lustrés and that locally contain abundant (>15%) veins. If the fluids were unable to completely isotopically equilibrate with the rocks, due to relatively rapid flow at moderate temperatures or being confined to fractures, they could form veins with higher δ¹⁸O values than those of the surrounding rocks. Alteration of the host rocks was probably inhibited by isolation of the fluid in ‘quartz‐armoured’ veins. Overall, the veins represent a metre‐ to hectometre‐scale fluid‐flow system confined to within the schistes lustrés unit, with little input from external sources. This fluid‐flow system is one of several that operated in the western Alps during exhumation following high‐pressure metamorphism.     

Is there a stable isotope evidence for the CO2 fertilization effect?

It has been suggested that part of the so-called “missing sink” of carbon dioxide introduced into the atmosphere by anthropogenic activities, that is the imbalance between estimated anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions and oceanic uptake, may be stored in the vegetation in midlatitudes. Precise mechanisms of abstraction of additional carbon dioxide by vegetation, also known as the “fertilization effect”, are poorly understood. Stable carbon and hydrogen isotope ratios of cellulose extracted from annual growth rings (covering the time period 1980–1993) in an oak tree from Kalamazoo, SW Michigan provide a basis to investigate at a physiological level how the fertilization effect may operate. The carbon isotope ratios show that the intercellular concentration of carbon dioxide increased due to an increase in stomatal opening. Although increased intercellular concentration of carbon dioxide translated to increased Water Use Efficiency and assimilation rates, it also resulted in increased transpiration rate as shown by higher D/H of the fixed carbon. The two-fold significance of the isotope data are: first, they provide the first field evidence based on isotope studies for excess CO₂ induced biomass production and second, they suggest that this mechanism is likely to operate only in limited environments. Vegetation in regions where moisture availability is not restricted so that there can be a gain in water use efficiency despite increased leaf evaporation are best suited to sequester excess carbon from the atmosphere.     

Climatic significance of D/H and13C/12C ratios in Irish oak cellulose

δD and δ¹³C analyses of cellulose nitrate from two modern Irish oak trees that form part of the 7400 year long chronology were carried out, covering a period of 123 years (1861–1983 A.D.) with a 5 year resolution so as to assess the potential of this long chronology for retrieval of palaeoenvironmental data. One of the trees (Q5293) showed significant correlations of δD, δ¹³ C and ring width with mean annual temperatures as recorded at the Armagh weather station nearby and the mean fall temperatures of Central England. The other tree (Q5296) did not exhibit any significant climatic correlations either because it grew utilizing a nearby permanent source of ground water or because the intra-ring isotopic variations in Irish oak are significant enough to mask the climatic signal. Whilst our results have given a positive indication of the usefulness of these trees for palaeoenvironmental information, more trees need to be analysed to confirm our findings. Even though one of the trees did not exhibit climatic correlations, both trees show a significant positive correlation of δ¹³C and a negative correlation of δD with ring width variations. Furthermore, two tree samples that grew during the 1620s B.C., when a volcano is thought to have erupted on the Aegean island of Santorini, show increased δD and decreased δ¹³C for one to two decades following the eruption, though the magnitudes of change seem to vary with site and trees. We have proposed a possible mechanism based on tree phenology to explain both the above effects.     

350 ka Organic δ13C record of the monsoon variability on the Oman continental margin, Arabian Sea

The stable isotope compositions of sedimentary organic carbon and content of organic carbon for sediment cores recovered at two sites (sites 724C and 725C) during Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Leg. 117 on the Oman continental margin are used to document variability of the monsoon winds for the past 350 ka. Although both sites have a mean δ¹³C value of -20.1‰, three zones depleted in¹³C are observable at site 724C during isotope stages 3, 8 and 10, while only one zone is recognizable at site 725C. Increased coastal upwelling during isotope stage 3 owing to intense SW monsoon winds resulted in higher concentration of CO₂ in the water column causing the formation of organic matter that was depleted in¹³C. The other two zones deposited during oxygen isotope stages 8 and 10, which are also characterized by low values of organic carbon, nitrogen and C/N ratios, could be attributed to the dilution by terrestrial material derived from paleosol by transported by northwester lies. Because of utilization of¹³C enriched dissolved CO₂ during the last glacial maximum Holocene sedimentary organic materials are depleted in¹³C relative to the the fomer. The content of residues organic carbon (ROC) is higher at site 724C (with an average of 2.3 ± 1.2%) relative to site 725C, which averages to 0.9 ± 0.4% probably because of differences in the degree of preservation. Organic material deposited at site 725C has undergone more degradation relative to site 724C as reflected by a systematic downcore decrease in¹³C resulting from a loss of¹³C enriched organic compounds. Owing to lack of good chronology at site 725C, a zone that is characterized by low δ¹³C values it could not be correlated with the other three zones observed at Site 724C.     

The detailed palaeoecology of a mid‐Wisconsinan interstadial (ca. 32 000 14C a BP) vegetation surface from interior Alaska

We present a multi‐proxy reconstruction from a well‐preserved vegetation surface (ca. 32 000 ¹⁴C a BP) from the Fox Permafrost tunnel near Fairbanks, Alaska. A thick litter layer of plant material on the vegetation surface is consistent with the vegetation lacking evidence of disturbance. Plant macrofossils and graminoid cuticle analysis show the presence of a graminoid assemblage consistent with phytolith data. The pollen data indicate that trees were not local to the site and that Artemisia sp. was present in the region. The insect and bryophyte reconstructions are consistent with the vascular plant reconstruction, indicating the site was at least periodically wet. δ¹³C values from the graminoids present show a large range encompassing both the wet and dry range displayed by modern graminoids in Alaska. Sequential δ¹³C analyses conducted along the length of leaves attached to the vegetation surface indicate a seasonal shift towards relatively higher water use efficiency. The lower water use efficiency earlier in the growing season may have stemmed from the use of winter season meltwater by plants at the site – a scenario consistent with the site's cryostratigraphy. Our multi‐proxy reconstruction contributes to the limited palaeoecological data available for graminoid‐dominated vegetation present in Eastern Beringia and particularly the interior of Alaska during the mid‐Wisconsinan interstadial. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.