中更新世气候转型期南海北部和南部的气候变化差异

选取大洋钻探ODP184航次在南海北部采集的1144站为研究材料,通过分析中更新世0.4～1.4Ma期间506个样品中浮游有孔虫氧、碳稳定同位素的变化特征,并与南海南部ODP 1143站和西太平洋暖池ODP 807站的同位素资料进行比较,发现南海北部的氧、碳稳定同位素及其差值的变化响应中更新世气候转型事件,在中更新世距今约0.9Ma之后100ka的偏心率周期明显增强。在中更新世气候转型之前,南海北部、南海南部和赤道西太平洋都呈现出典型的热带气候特征,具有岁差和半岁差的气候周期;转型之后,随着北半球冰盖的进一步扩张,南海北部受东亚冬季风增强的影响而导致温度下降、温跃层变深,但南海南部与赤道西太平洋的温度变化较小且温跃层变浅,说明同属季风区的南海北部和南部对气候变化的响应有所不同。     

深海记录中的热带过程及其周期性

地球运行轨道参数包括偏心率、斜率和岁差, 在地质时期分别具有413ka和100ka、41ka、23ka和19ka的周期, 它决定地表太阳辐射在不同纬度和季节的周期性变化.太阳辐射变化中, 岁差周期最为明显, 斜率周期在中高纬度比较明显, 而偏心率周期本身作用微弱, 主要通过调控岁差周期的变幅影响气候.传统的地球轨道驱动理论认为, 北半球高纬的太阳辐射决定全球冰量和地表的气候变化, 轨道周期可能线性地反映到气候变化的周期中去.实际的深海记录反映的情况并非如此, 尤其在热带海区, 气候替代性指标的周期性与太阳辐射的周期性既存在相似性, 也存在较大区别.相似性在于, 热带海区的气候替代性指标均表现出较强的岁差和斜率周期, 而且通常情况下岁差周期的强度要高于斜率周期的强度, 说明热带海区的气候变化受控于岁差调控的太阳辐射的变化; 区别性在于, 热带海区气候替代性指标通常表现出较强的不容忽视的100ka、413ka的偏心率周期和10ka左右的半岁差周期, 而且100ka、413ka的偏心率周期还是季风系统的典型周期, 说明热带海区的气候变化并不是简单的线性响应太阳辐射的变化, 也不完全受北半球高纬的控制, 而是具有自身的特性.      

中更新世气候转型时期南海生态环境的南北差异

中更新世气候转型在南海浮游有孔虫、氧同位素和其它生物记录上主要反映在900 ka BP前后发生高频率变化，特别是指示表层水骤然降温。北部冬季表层水温从24~25℃降至17~28℃，而南部也从26~27℃降至23~24℃。总的降温趋势与开放西太平洋一致，直接反映了西太平洋暖池在900 ka BP之后MIS22期间有明显的减弱。表层水大幅度降温还发生在后继的MIS 20、18、16几大冰期，说明主要冰期旋回周期由41 ka转变为100 ka经历了长达400 ka的过渡时期，并且冬季风增强也在过渡时期的后半段最明显。南海南北生物组合和δ18O值的差异，突出了中更新世气候转型期边缘海区南北气候梯度反差和冬季风在冰期增强的讯号。结论是：生态环境系统反应总体表现与冰期旋回一致的同时，还包含了独特的地区性系统演变特征。但是，南海—西太平洋地区在0.9 Ma BP前后表层海水盐度因东亚冬季风和海平面下降的定量变化，以及这些变化对气候转型时期海—气耦合过程和生态环境系统的影响，尚缺乏足够的资料和证据。     

南海北部ODP 1144站中更新世气候转型期有孔虫稳定同位素古气候意义

中更新世气候转型期是第四纪古气候研究的一个特殊时期。利用大洋钻探ODP 184航次在南海北部钻取的1144站时间分辨率高达约290年的沉积物样品，开展中更新世气候转型期古气候变化的研究。在中更新世距今80~100万年前，浮游和底栖有孔虫壳体的稳定氧碳同位素变化揭示出，中更新世气候转型中心，即中更新世革命0.9 Ma左右，南海北部表层海水温度的降低和降水量的增加指示东亚冬、夏季风增强。以中更新世革命为界，水体垂向结构上温跃层和营养跃层的深度从之前的间冰期较浅转变为之后的间冰期较深，底层水与表层水的垂直温度梯度从冰期时较大转变为冰期时较小。轨道尺度上，冰消期时南海北部的表层水、次表层水和底层水的变化几乎是同时发生的，不存在超前或滞后的相位差。千年尺度上，有孔虫的氧碳同位素变化都呈现出非常明显的约0.8 ka和约1.4 ka的气候波动周期。氧同位素0.8 ka滤波显示出：在中更新世气候转型期，较强的信号主要出现在间冰期，有时也出现在冰期，与晚第四纪千年尺度气候波动主要出现在冰期不同，说明中更新世的气候转型不仅表现在轨道尺度的气候周期变化上，同时也体现在千年尺度气候波动的特征变化中。      

大洋环流型式转换在冰期旋回中的作用及经典第四纪冰期理论质疑

迄今所获的地质证据，包括深海沉积物氧同位素、大陆冰盖、山地冰川以及南北两极冰芯记录，均表明最后一次冰期终止始于１４０００ａＢ．Ｐ·前，先于米兰科维奇天文理论推算的最大太阳辐射率的出现。地质记录同时表明，冰期－间冰期振荡以时间上不对称的１０００００ａ周期为主。这一非对称性以漫长的冰盖建造和迅速的冰盖消融为特征。而轨道要素引起的太阳辐射率波动以４１０００ａ、２３０００ａ和１９０００ａ周期为主。因此，地质记录显示冰期气候对太阳辐射率变化并无严格的直接响应关系。本文在讨论经典冰期气候理论的同时，着重评述近来发展的大洋环流－气候关系模式。该模式以能量、水体质量和大洋盐度平衡为依据，强调大西洋环流传送带对气候的影响。根据深海沉积物的化学记录该学说认为，冰期期间的大洋环流型式与现代不同。新仙女木寒冷事件可为大洋环流型式转换对气候影响的一个例证。就目前存在的有关冰期气候理论的一些问题，文中最后也做了讨论。     

中更新世转型时期南海北部上层水体结构演化特征——ODP1146站浮游有孔虫稳定同位素记录

文章以南海北部ODP1146站沉积物岩芯为研究材料,利用浮游有孔虫次表层水种Pulleniatina obliquiloculata壳体的氧、碳稳定同位素,结合该站位浮游及底栖有孔虫氧碳同位素数据,分析中更新世以来南海北部上层水体结构的演化。1.2 Ma以来ODP1146站P.obliquiloculata壳体δ^18O的变化可分3个阶段:1)1.2~0.9 Ma,冰期-间冰期变化幅度较小、主导周期为41 ka斜率周期;2)0.9~0.6 Ma,冰期旋回变化幅度逐渐增强、100 ka偏心率周期开始强化;3)0.6 Ma以来,冰期旋回呈现稳定且幅度较大的100 ka周期变化。0.9 Ma以来南海北部上层海水δ^18O的冰期旋回变幅增强,可能反映东亚冬季风在0.9 Ma之后显著强化。其中,表层水体δ^18O只在冰期变幅增强,P.obliquiloculata所反映的次表层水体δ^18O的变化幅度在冰期和间冰期都显著增强。约0.9 Ma浮游和底栖有孔虫δ^18O的100 ka周期几乎同时显现;但在0.9~0.6 Ma时期P.obliquiloculata的δ^18O偏心率周期更为显著、斜率周期的强度也更高。因此,冰期旋回周期转型及幅度变化两方面的证据共同反映温跃层结构演化在南海北部中更新世转型(MPT)气候转变过程中的特殊性。1.2 Ma以来ODP1146站P.obliquiloculata的δ^13C在0.02 Ma、0.49 Ma和0.99 Ma左右呈明显的碳重值,同时表层种-次表层种之间的δ^13C差值减小到近于0,可以解读为碳重值事件期间南海北部生产力相对减弱。     

大洋环流型式转换在冰期旋回中的作用及经典第四纪冰期论质疑

迄今所获的地质证据，包括深海沉积物氧同位素，大陆冰盖，山地冰川以及南北两极冰芯记录，均表明最后一次冰期冬止始于１４０００ａＢ．Ｐ．前，先天米兰科维奇天文理论推算的最大太阳辐射率的出现。地质记录同时表明，冰期－间冰期振荡以时间上不对称的１０００００ａ周期为主。这一非对称性以漫长的冰盖建造和迅速的冰盖消融为特征。而轨道要素引起的太阳辐射率波动以４１０００ａ，２３０００ａ和１９０００ａ周期为主。因此，地     

河北阳原盆地井儿洼钻孔岩心氧化铁变化的古环境记录

系统分析了阳原盆地西部井儿洼钻孔剖面的Fe2O3、FeO、TFe(全铁)、Fe3 /Fe2 的变化特点,探讨了阳原古湖氧化铁地球化学特征及其所记录的气候变迁规律。结果表明,阳原盆地的沉积环境相对富集铁,气候总体较温和,垂向上的变化记录了气候的变化过程分为7个明显的阶段。0.2Ma以前以还原环境为主,以后以氧化环境为主。井儿洼岩心沉积物中全铁谱分析表明,0.78Ma之后,具有显著的21.7ka岁差周期,证明了天文因素对气候的影响,而100ka的周期不明显,这与黄土、深海沉积物的记录存在差别。另外还存在390ka、156ka、52ka、33.9ka及14.4ka等周期,表现了湖泊记录的古气候周期的复杂性。     

南海北部1144站中更新世浮游有孔虫的千年尺度古气候记录

南海北部ODP1144站中更新世气候转型时期的浮游有孔虫在千年尺度上以高频率变化为主要特征.冰期旋回主要周期在0.9Ma由41ka转变为100ka, 浮游有孔虫组合也随冰期旋回出现大量的冷水种.据转换函数得出的表层水降温高达10℃发生在0.9~0.6Ma间的转型过渡期, 跨越MIS22、20、18、16四大冰期.同时, 温跃层深度呈阶梯式变浅, 在MIS20上升至65m左右.所以, 南海北部上层水体环境在中更新世气候转型期出现比末次冰期更重的δ18O值, 温跃层变浅, 深水种含量降低或消失, 突出了边缘海区南北气候梯度反差和冬季风在冰期增强的讯号.南海南北部的环境差异与东西太平洋的差异, 共同表明低纬过程在气候变化中的重要性.      

古气候变化的周期性与驱动机制研究的回顾

冰芯、深海沉积物、黄土、石笋、湖相沉积物等这些古气候载体所记录的古气候(温度)变化广泛具有100 ka、41 ka、20 ka以及更短的千年周期性。2.45 Ma BP到1.6 Ma BP,低频率的166ka到333 ka周期存在;1.8 Ma BP到0.8 Ma BP,41 ka周期占主导。而从0.8 Ma BP至今,100 ka周期逐渐增强并占主导地位。全球性的100 ka周期的驱动机制可用地球轨道面倾斜理论或用宇宙尘在地球上的积累速率模式加以解释,而区域性的千年周期在北大西洋可用深海盐水的循环模式解释。新的资料和各种气候周期模式表明,长尺度的气候周期应是地外天体相互作用引发,短尺度高频率气候振荡应是地球内部各系统间相互制约影响的结果。     

米兰科维奇冰期旋回理论:挑战与机遇

米兰科维奇理论认为,北半球高纬夏季太阳辐射变化是驱动第四纪冰期旋回的主因。这个理论的核心是单一敏感区的触发驱动机制,即北半球高纬气候变化信号被放大、传输进而影响全球。最近,由于大量高分辨率及精确定年的气候变化记录的获得,从以下4个方面构成了对米氏理论的挑战:1)一些低纬地区并没有明显的10万年冰量周期,而是以2万年岁差周期为主,表明北半球冰盖的扩张、收缩变化并没有完全控制低纬区的气候变化;2)在最近几次冰消期时,南半球和低纬区的温度增高,要早于北半球冰盖的融化,表明冰消期的触发机制并非是北半球高纬夏季太阳辐射;3)大气CO₂浓度在第2冰消期的增加同南极升温相一致,表明该时大气CO₂浓度增加亦有可能早于北半球冰盖消融;4)南半球的末次冰盛期有可能早于北半球。这就说明单一敏感区触发驱动机制已难以圆满解释所有观察事实,天文因素控制下轨道尺度气候变化机制研究正面临理论突破的新需求和新机遇。     

The middle Pleistocene transition: characteristics, mechanisms, and implications for long-term changes in atmospheric pCO2

The emergence of low-frequency, high-amplitude, quasi-periodic (100-kyr) glacial variability during the middle Pleistocene in the absence of any significant change in orbital forcing indicates a fundamental change internal to the climate system. This middle Pleistocene transition (MPT) began 1250 ka and was complete by 700 ka. Its onset was accompanied by decreases in sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the North Atlantic and tropical-ocean upwelling regions and by an increase in African and Asian aridity and monsoonal intensity. During the MPT, long-term average ice volume gradually increased by 50 m sea-level equivalent, whereas low-frequency ice-volume variability experienced a 100-kyr lull centered on 1000 ka followed by its reappearance 900 ka, although as a broad band of power rather than a narrow, persistent 100-kyr cycle. Additional changes at 900 ka indicate this to be an important time during the MPT, beginning with an 80-kyr event of extreme SST cooling followed by the partial recovery and subsequent stabilization of long-term North Atlantic and tropical ocean SSTs, increasing Southern Ocean SST variability primarily associated with warmer interglacials, the loss of permanent subpolar sea-ice cover, and the emergence of low-frequency variability in Pacific SSTs and global deep-ocean circulation. Since 900 ka, ice sheets have been the only component of the climate system to exhibit consistent low-frequency variability. With the exception of a near-universal organization of low-frequency power associated with marine isotope stages 11 and 12, all other components show an inconsistent distribution of power in frequency-time space, suggesting a highly nonlinear system response to orbital and ice-sheet forcing.Most hypotheses for the origin of the MPT invoke a response to a long-term cooling, possibly induced by decreasing atmospheric pCO₂. None of these hypotheses, however, accounts for the geological constraint that the earliest Northern Hemisphere ice sheets covered a similar or larger area than those that followed the MPT. Given that the MPT was associated with an increase in ice volume, this constraint requires that post-MPT ice sheets were substantially thicker than pre-MPT ice sheets, indicating a change in subglacial conditions that influence ice dynamics. We review evidence in support of the hypothesis that such an increase in ice thickness occurred as crystalline Precambrian Shield bedrock became exposed by glacial erosion of a thick mantle of regolith. This exposure of a high-friction substrate caused thicker ice sheets, with an attendant change in their response to the orbital forcing. Marine carbon isotope data indicate a rapid transfer of organic carbon to inorganic carbon in the ocean system during the MPT. If this carbon came from terrigenous sources, an increase in atmospheric pCO₂ would be likely, which is inconsistent with evidence for widespread cooling, Apparently rapid carbon transfer from terrestrial sources is difficult to reconcile with gradual erosion of regolith. A more likely source of organic carbon and nutrients (which would mitigate pCO₂ rise) is from shelf and upper slope marine sediments, which were fully exposed for the first time in millions of years in response to thickening ice sheets and falling sealevels during the MPT. Modeling indicates that regolith erosion and resulting exposure of crystalline bedrock would cause an increase in long-term silicate weathering rates, in good agreement with marine Sr and Os isotopic records. We use a carbon cycle model to show that a post-MPT increase in silicate weathering rates would lower atmospheric pCO₂ by 7–12 ppm, suggesting that the attendant cooling may have been an important feedback in causing the MPT.     

Exploring the structure of the mid-Pleistocene revolution with advanced methods of time-series analysis

The mid-Pleistocene climate transition is a complex global change leading to Late Pleistocene ice ages with increased mean ice volume and dominant 100-ka cycle. A thorough understanding of this transition demands quantitative investigations in the time and frequency domains, and in the “stochastic domain”. Three methods of time-series analysis are presented which have been adapted for this purpose. They are tested by means of predefined, artificial time series and applied to benthic oxygen isotope (δ¹⁸O) records which serve as ice volume indicator. Results are as follows: (a) The time-dependent mean shows an increase of 0.35‰ vs PDB from 942 to 892?ka. (b) Evolutionary spectral analysis reveals an abrupt increase of 100-ka cycle amplitude at approximately 650?ka. (c) Probability density function exhibits a bifurcation behavior at approximately 725?ka. These findings point to a multiple transition from a more linear climate system to a strong nonlinear system. The significant lead of the transition in mean, in relation to the 100-ka amplitude change and bifurcation is left open for explanation.     

格陵兰冰芯记录的大气环流变化及其与南极冰芯的比较(英)

The GISP2, central Greealand, glaciochemical series (sodium, potassium, ammonium,calcium, magnesium, sulfate, nitrate and chloride) provides a unique view of the chemistry of the atmosphere and the history of atmospheric circulation over much of the Northern Hemisphere. Interpretation of this record reveals the controls on both high and low frequency climate events of the last 110 000 years.Changes in insolation on the order of the major orbital cycles control the long-term behavior of atmospheric circulation patterns through changes in ice volume (sea level) and related positive feedbacks.Events such as the Heinrich events (massive discharges of icebergs first identified in the marine record)are found to operate on a 6 100 year cycle due largely to the lagged response of ice sheets to changes in insolation and consequent glacier dynamics Rapid climate change events (massive reorganizations of atmospheric circulation) are demonstrated to operate on 1 450 year cycle possibly in response to internal oscillations in the ocean-atmosphere system or due to changes in solar output. Changes in insolation and associated positive feedbacks related to ice sheets assist in explaining favorable time periods and controls on the amplitude of these massive rapid climate change events.Comparison of the GISP2 glaciochemical series with an ice record from Taylor Dome in Antarctica indicates considerable similarity suggesting that both polar regions experience marked changes in climate. While preliminary evidence points to similar phasing of several major climate events in the two polar regions exact phasing cannot as yet be determined, because dating of Antarctic ice core records is not as well-established as the dating for Greenland ice cores.     

石笋初始234 U/238 U值的冰量周期特征及其环境意义 ——以湖北三宝洞为例

石笋氧同位素记录具有明显的2万年周期,其他记录中广泛存在的10万年周期是否在石笋中有所表现目前还鲜有报道。通过对湖北三宝洞20支石笋的铀同位素数据的分析研究发现,石笋初始234U/238U值在序列连续性较好的640.3~299.6 ka B.P.时间段有强烈的10万年周期特征。在间冰期和冰期时,初始234U/238U值分别呈增大和减小状态。初始234U/238U值的10万年周期与全球冰量、黄土磁化率、黄土平均粒度和大气CO₂变化有良好的对应关系。这些对应关系表明全球冰量、大气CO₂对喀斯特区地球化学元素富集和迁移作用有重要影响。石笋氧同位素的显著岁差周期独立于石笋微量元素、高纬冰量和全球温室气体变化,暗示了太阳辐射变化对中低纬水汽环流的直接影响。石笋初始234U/238U与氧同位素、太阳辐射在冰消期时的对应变化支持北半球太阳辐射能量变化对冰期-间冰期旋回的调控作用。     

A link between global climate variability in the Pleistocene and variations in the Earth’s orbital parameters

The study demonstrates that the orbital climatic diagram (OCD) built on the basis of the simplified and general concepts of mechanisms for climatic response to orbital forcing can be a reasonable alternative to Milankovitch’s and his followers’ discrete insolation curves, which are widely used in paleoclimate interpretations. Comparison of the OCD and the oxygen isotope record LR04 indicates a fairly good match (considering the simplicity of the OCD construction and interpretation) in 0–1240 ka. The study discusses some discrepancies in the chronology and structure of the LR04 and OCD. It was shown that climate response may differ from that predicted by orbital insolation forcing on the basis of the generally accepted mechanisms causing transformation of orbital signals. It was shown that a shift from a dominant glacial periodicity of 41 to 100 k.y. (Middle Pleistocene transition) took place at ～1240 ka. Since then, the 100-k.y. eccentricity cycle has not been interrupted. Therefore, strictly speaking, the revised numbering of marine isotope stages (MIS) should be adopted for the interval of 1240-900 ka to reflect realistic 100-k.y. cycles instead of 41-k.y. cycles, similar to the interval of 900–100 ka.     

Last glacial pollen record from Lanzhou (Northwestern China) and possible forcing mechanisms for the MIS 3 climate change in Middle to East Asia

The vegetation on the northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau is highly sensitive to climatic changes and thus represents a potentially interesting environmental archive. Pollen samples from the Fanjiaping Loess section in Lanzhou on the western Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP) were analyzed in conjunction with OSL dating. The results indicate that pollen zone B (60.6–46.0 ka, correlative to the early MIS 3) had the greatest abundances of Cupressaceae, Tsuga, Gramineae and Cyperaceae of the entire section, suggesting a warm phase during the last glacial period. These pollen taxa decreased significantly in abundance in the zones C (46.0–39.0 ka) and D (39.0–27.0 ka), reflecting a substantial climate cooling from the middle MIS 3 to MIS 2. These results correlate with climate records from the South China Sea, the CLP, Baikal Lake, North America, North Atlantic Ocean and other regions, and probably correspond with the decline of northern high-latitude insolation and the increase of global ice volume from 50 to 20 ka. In particular, arboreal pollen, fern spore and algae abundances declined sharply since ～40 ka, while shrub and herb pollen reached the highest abundances. Conifer pollen Picea and Abies abundance also rose markedly and increased up the section. This implies significant climate deterioration and likely corresponded with substantial growth of the polar ice sheets since ～40 ka. The decreasing temperature caused by an insolation decline during the last glacial period probably reinforced the cooling effect in a ‘snow/ice/albedo’ feedback, which would result in less climate sensitivity to radiative forcing. Meanwhile, vegetation decline in the Northern Hemisphere during the last glacial period and tundra development at high latitudes possibly caused additional cooling, enhancing the growth of polar ice sheets since 40 ka. The development of polar ice sheets increased the polar-to-equator temperature and pressure gradients, strengthening the westerlies and supplying plenty of moisture to Northwest China during 40–30 ka. Lake sediments developed widely on the Tibetan Plateau during 40–30 ka, probably related to an increase in the seasonality of middle-to-low latitude insolation which caused an enhancement of glacier melting on the Plateau.     

The precession phase of hydrological variability in the Western Pacific Warm Pool during the past 400 ka

The low-latitude hydrological cycle is a key climate parameter on different timescales, as it contributes to various feedback processes. Modelling studies suggest that the interhemispheric insolation contrast is the major factor controlling the cycle, although the influence of glacial conditions and the phase relationships relative to insolation forcing remain undetermined. In this work, we studied precipitation variability over Papua New Guinea (PNG, 3°S) for the past 400 ka using terrigenous fractions transported by the Sepik River to the Western Pacific Warm Pool (WPWP). A multi-decadal to centennial resolution of the elemental content was obtained using X-ray fluorescence scanning of a marine sediment core using an age model based on ¹⁴C dates and benthic foraminiferal δ¹⁸O. Indicators of the coarse river particulate fraction (bulk and CaCO₃-free basis Ti concentrations, the log intensity ratios of Ti/K and Ti/Ca) displayed a dominant 23 ka periodicity without a clear glacial–interglacial trend. Our precipitation records showed a tight relationship with local summer insolation (3°S, January) with time-dependent lag of 0 to 4 ka. They were generally in anti-phase for U–Th dated Chinese speleothem δ¹⁸O records. Based on an analogy to modern climate, we propose that precipitation over PNG was primarily determined by interhemispheric insolation contrast, and the contribution of austral fall/winter precipitation added second-order variability that formed the lags. For the last four climate cycles, the WPWP hydrological cycle was closely associated with the eastern Asian monsoon, and the influence of glacial conditions on the low-latitude hydrological cycle was estimated to be limited.