Climatic change and human activities of northeastern sahara in Holocene

ＧｅｏｌｏｇｉｃａｌｒｅｃｏｒｄｓｒｅｖｅａｌｅｄｔｈａｔｔｈｅＨｏｌｏｃｅｎｅｅｎｖｉｒｏｎｍｅｎｔｓｈａｄｅｘｐｅｒｉｅｎｃｅｄｄｒａｓｔｉｃｃｈａｎｇｅｓ,ｗｈｉｃｈｗａｓｃｌｏｓｅｌｙｒｅｌａｔｅｄｔｏｈｕｍａｎｅｖｏｌｕｔｉｏｎａｎｄｆｉｎ...     

Characteristics of water transformation and its effects on environment in the arid region

The characteristics of water balance in arid regions is that the streams are formed in mountain area and continuously evaporates and infiltrates in the process of flowing to plain area, streams finally disappear in the desert or flow into the lakes, which are the low reaches of the rivers. But the distribution and transformation of water in Xinjiang, China have changed under the influences of human activities. The influences of human activities take place in a short time and regionally, especially in arid land where water is the key factor of environment. Water inside of oasis has increased, and water out of oasis or at the lower reaches of the river has decreased. Human activities have caused the environment changes in both positive and negative aspects by changing the circulation and distribution of water. Under the influence of human activities, oases in Xinjiang have expanded, meanwhile some lakes have contracted desertification is serious, natural vegetation has declined and natural environment out of oasis has degenrated. Foundation item: Under the auspices of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(49771009). Biography: LI Xin(1940 -), male, a native of Anhui Province, professor. His research interest includes water resources.     

THE SEQUENCE OF PALEOENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES SINCE ABOUT 4KA B.P., RECORDED BY NIYA SECTION IN SOUTHERN MARGIN OF TARIM BASIN

1 INTRODUCTIONOne of the 7 key plans of IGBP (International Geo-Biosphere Project) is the PAGES (Past Global Changes), of which the relation of mutual influence of mankind and natural environmental changes during historic period has attracted great attentions over the world (CHEN,1992; Committee of National Natural Science Foundation of China, 1995). Due to the atrocious natural conditions, study of this issues are much more backward in southern Xinjiang. So to investigate and…     

The study on climatic changes and lake level fluctuations of Qinghai lake in holocene

According to loess and palaeosol climatic record, field observation, analysis data and¹⁴C dating, we discuss the climatic changes and the water level fluctuations of Qinghai Lake. It is pointed out that there were four relatively warm and moist stages in Qinghai Lake basin during the Holocene. They formed in the periods from 10,300 yr.B.P. to 8,500 yr.B.P., 7,000 yr.B.P. to 3,500 yr.B.P., 2,800 yr.B.P. to 2,000 yr.B.P. and from 1,300 yr.B.P. up to now. the climate in the Holocene optimum period, from 7,000 yr.B.P. to 3,500 yr.B.P., was much warmer and moister than that today. Polypodium plant grew luxuriantly around Qinghai Lake. The annual temperature was 2.5°C higher than that today, but there was no forest at Qinghai Lake shore. It is found that there was a good relationship between precipitation and water level fluctuation. In warm and moist period water level was high and in the cold and dry period it was low in the Holocene. There were four high water level periods for Qinghai Lake in the Holocene, but the highest level was less than 30m above present water level. This research is supported by Youth Foundation of Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 49101015).     

RELATIVE BRIGHTNESS INDEX AND IT‘S CLIMATIC SIGNIFICANCE FROM LACUSTRINE SEDIMENT OF NAPAHAI LAKE，NORTHWESTERN YUNNAN PLATEAU，CHINA

Information on the palaeoenvironment from Late Pleistocene to Holocene in northwestern Yannan Plateau has been deduced from a study of a 28.81m-long core taken from Napahai Lake.The results from Relative Brightness In-dex(RBI) as well as those from the lithological analyses of bulk sediments,total organic carbon and granulometric analy-ses have been used to reconstruct the environmental and climatic evolution of the area.The ages were provided by three ^14C datings.The record suggested a climate fluctuation between warm-dry and cool-wet from ca.57 to 32ka B.P.which led a shallowing and swamping of the lake.The water level again increased quickly at ca.32ka B.P.,reached itˊs peak during LGM(Last Glacial Maximum,ca.18-20kaB.P.)and remained relative high until ca.15kaB.P.The high wa-ter level at LGM is attributed to cold-wet conditions.The area experienced an abrupt and unstable climatic changes dur-ing the transition period form 15 to 10ka B.P.with a dominated littoral environment.Awarm-dry climate led to the contrac-tion of the lake during the Holocene and reed-swamps became dominant..After a minor wet-cool pulse during the Late Holocene,the modern climate became to be established.     

Climatic variations in the coastal zone — Comparison between the Po River delta (Adriatic Sea,Italy) and the Huanghe River delta (Bohai Sea,China)

The aim of this work is to research the influence of natural climatic changes on the evolution of the coastal zone in modern times and the possible implication of human activities on the configuration of the present coastline. Comparison of data of two very far and different areas, the Po River delta, Adriatic Sea and the Huanghe River delta, Bohai Sea, reveals the planetary diffusion of climatic fluctuations and their effects on coastal evolution. Contribution No. 820 from the Marine Geology Institute, C. N. R., Italy. Contribution No.2207 from the Institute of Oceanology, Academia Sinica. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China.     

THE IMPACT OF HUMAN ACTIVITIES ON GROUNDWATER RESOURCES IN THE SOUTH EDGE OF TARIM BASIN，XINJIANG

In the modern times ,the population growth,development of industrial and agricultural production and the petroleum exploitation,brought about the unceasing expansion of artificial oasis and abrupt increase of water demand .The artificial hydraulic irrigation engineering took the place of the natural river systerm,the reservoirs took the placeof natural lakds,which in turn enhanced the space-time redistribution of surface water based on the natural evolution,and so did groundwater.The groundwater recharge reduced 26.2% in 46 years from 1950 to 1995 in the southern piedmont fold plain of Tarim Basin due to mean yearly population increase rate of 27.7‰ and associated with the water use rate increasing from 24.6% to 58.4%.At the same time the artificial water system seepage give primary play to groundwater recharge,which is up to 57.6% whilst that of the natural system reduce to 33.7%.As a result,groundwater level drop 3-5m widespread except some irrigation area and surrounding of plain reservoir.Sping water discharge also reduce about 37.6% and discharge some continuously move away to the north with the value of 0.5-1.2km in the past 40 years.     

ON EVOLUTION OF MAN—LAND SYSTEM IN OASIS—Taking Minqin Basin as a Case

Human beings have had a tremendous impact on natural ecosystems and are now the principal power to change the biosphere.It is logical that we should pay close attention to the interaction between human systems and environ-mental systems.Taking Minqin bsin ,Gansu Province,as a case,this paper focuses on the evolution of regional physic-cal environments and the cultural systems by which people maintain their relationships with those environments.This pa-per presents the conceptural framework for the man-land system.Expecting to accelerate the regional sustainable develop-ment,it also analyses the evolutionary mechanism of regional man-land system.On the basis of reviewing and analyzing the evolution of man-land system in Minqin basin,the paper also brings forward an adujusting mode for the studied area, which consists of three aspects:to build up a concept that economic growth must harmonize with environmental qualityˊs and land productivityˊs improvement;to make a whole planning and management in the drainage area;and to push for-ward the technique of water-saving irrigation and establish water-saving agricultural system. Itˊs meaningful for resource exploitation and sustainable development of Chinese northwestern arid area,which is represented by Minqin basin,by under-standing what great changes the basin has experienced is experiencing at the global background,and studying its time standing what great changes the basin has experienced and is experiencing at the global background,and studying its time order and territorial structure ,the systemˊs character and law of evolution,trend and the regulating ways to improve man-land relationship.     

PALYNOLOGICAL RECORD OF PALEOVEGETATIONCHANGE DURING HOLOCENE AT NORTH TUMDPLAIN IN INNER MONGOLIA,CHINA

I~are~orsruDVThemiddleinnerMongoliaissituatedintherearpartoftheeasternAsianmonsonzone,itissensitivetotheclimatechange,thereforeitsenvironmentchangeintheHOIOcenehasbeenPaidattentiontobythescholarsofpaleoclimateandpal~nvirorunent.Wedidhighr~lutionPOllenanalysisonapeatprofileinpluvialfan,whichwaslocated3kmtothenorthOfQaSq,theheadquarteroftheTumdBanner,InnerMongolia,withaltitudeof1000malerssealevel.Theaverageannualtemperaturewas5.6t,annualprecipitation300--450rum,theclimatewascontinentaland…     

Paleo-environmental reconstruction during the period of Nanjing Homo Erectus

Using five-group dating of the fossil by Uranium series age method shows that the age of Nanjing Homo Erectus is between 280–430 ka B. P. Combining with the analysis of fossil mammalian form Stegodon, Sus. Lydekkeri Zdansly, M. pachyosteus Young, P. grayi Zdansky and E. SanmeniensisTeilhard et Pive teau, which are located in the same stratum, the authors thinks that the Nanjing Hmo Erectus may have lived in the late Mid-Pleistocene (about 350 ka B. P.). Based upon the spores and pollen in the cave sediments of the area, we can find that most of spores and pollen are subtropical and warm temperature types. For instance, broad leaf trees which are fond of warm climate, including Cunning hamia, Jsuga and Pinus, as well as Morus, Carpinus and Ptendium. Among the above spores and pollen, only Tsuga, Liquidambar, Betula, Ulmus and Salix are the remainders of Humid-hot environment from the Tertiary period. Above evidences illustrate that the living environment of the Nanjing Homo Erectus not only was not cloder but also was not drier than the Peking Man’s. It could be said that dry climate and the ice age of the Mid-Pleistocene didn’t undergo this area. As for the manner of the Homo Erectus’s making stone artifact and using fire, because now we have not found the evidence of the stone artifact and the ash, the futher excavation to the talus of the Huludong cave should be needed. Foundation item: Under the auspices of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (49771075) and Testing Foundation by the Modern Analysis Center of Nanjing University. Biography: ZHU Cheng (1954–), male, professor. His major research interests include environmentul evolution and global changes.     

DESERTIFICATION HAZARD AND FARMING-GRAZING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN LINGWU-YANCHI REGION OF NINGXIA

１ＰＲＯＣＥＳＳＯＦＤＥＳＥＲＴＩＦＩＣＡＴＩＯＮＡＮＤＩＮＦＬＵＥＮＣＥＯＦＰＨＹＳＩＣＡＬＥＮＶＩＲＯＮＭＥＮＴＡＮＤＨＵＭＡＮＡＣＴＩＶＩＴＹＩＮＬＩＮＧＷＵＹＡＮＣＨＩＲＥＧＩＯＮＴｈｅｄｅｓｅｒｔｉｆｉｃａｔｉｏｎｈａｚａｒｄｉｎＬｉ...     

Sea level change and environmental evolution of coastal lakes in Vestfol d Hills, Antarctica

Ecological end palaeoecological studies were carried out in a series of lakes in the Vestfold Hills (68°38＇S, 78°06＇E) on eastern Antarctic continent. Dynamics types of the lakes in environmental geomorphology and physic-chemistry, as well as features of biological community structures in different lakes were analyzed. Marine macro- and micro-fossils collected from the terraces and beaches surrounding these lakes and determined in 14C radiocarbon ages to be the Late Pleistocene, were used as evidences tc show the evolutionary processes of the lakes after sea level changes and transgressions since 18000 a B.P.. Basic modals of evolution for the lakes given in the paper could be regarded as not only explaining the history of environmental and ecological changes in VH lakes, and also reflecting of local environmental evolution in Antarctic region and global climate changes from past to present time.     

ANALYSIS OF DRIVING FORCES ON THE CHANGE OF HISTORICAL FARMLAND USE IN SHANDONG PROVINCE DURING THE QING DYNASTY （1644-1911）

How land-cover has been changed by human use over the last 300 years is one of the five overarching questions guiding the Land-use/Cover Change (LUCC) Science/Research Plan. China has variety of historical docu-ments providing unique data superiority. So the characteristics of farmland area in Shandong Province during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) are summarized firstly: 1) the rising trend of farmland area was striking; 2) farmland area had re-markable fluctuation; 3) farmland area per capita decreased dramatically; 4) wasteland reclamation index increased rapidly. Then, the driving forces of farmland area change are analyzed. It is concluded that natural and human factors are jointly influential. Among the driving forces, human dimensions are the main factors of farmland area change,which direct the general tendency of the changes mentioned above. And the natural factors influence the stability of farmland area as well. Variation of the natural factors would act as the major contributory factor to farmland area change during years or periods of abrupt climatic changes, or during the intensive occurring periods of natural hazards.Besides, the passive aspects of human factors, such as war chaos also influenced the fluctuation of the farmland area.This research indicates that it is feasible to study the land-use/cover change by Chinese historical literatures, which has huge potential to provide a comprehensive picture of the growing dominance of human land-use and land-cover pat-terns that can be used in many global change research oroiects.     

ANALYSIS ON LAND—USE CHANGE AND SOCIO—ECONOMIC DRIVING FACTOS IN HAINAN ISLAD DURING 50 YEARS FROM 1950 TO 1999

Land-use change is an important part of global change research( IGBP,1990-1992).But the majority of researches focus on the natural driving force of land use change.In this paper,the authors studied the relationship be-tween socio-economic driving factors and land-use change with time series in Hainan Island.Based on the study for the evolution of administrative system and policies in Hainan Island and the comprehensive analysis on the social economy da-ta and changes of social policies,the socio-economic pooicies,human activities and land use of Hainan can be divided into three periods with different characters:period from 1950 to 1978 characterized by the planning economic system,peri-od from 1978 to 1988 characterized by the transfer of economic system and adoption of open policy,new stage from 1988 to 1998 with high growing speed .On the other hand the authors describe the character of the periods and land-use change process affected by socio-economic afctors.This paper provides an important method for evaluating the development and changes of Hainan social economy during the 50 years from 1950 to1999 and forecasting the development of Hainan so-cial economy in future.     

Preliminary study on the holocene environment changes in xinjiang—geologic records and sequence

A great number of geologic records has shown that the climatic environment in Xinjiang in the Holocene was mainly characterized by warm-dry, although alternated with sub-fluctuations, several important boundaries of environmental changes can also be determined as follows: 12,000 a B.P., 9000 a B. P., 3000 a B.P., 1500 a B.P. and 400 a B.P.. Since the Holocene, Xinjiang has undergone the influence of two kinds of environmental development patterns (the westerly type and the monsoon type), so the hydro-thermal disposal here was much more complicated. Generally speaking, the neoglacials of Xinjiang are characteristics of cold (cool)-humid and in the Climatic Optimal, it is dominated by warm-humid conditions in spite of being intercalated several sub-fluctuations of warm-dry intervals.     

PRELIMINARY STUDY ON THE HOLOCENE ENVIRONMENT CHANGES IN XINJIANG──GEOLOGIC RECORDS AND SEQUENCE

ＰＲＥＬＩＭＩＮＡＲＹ ＳＴＵＤＹ ＯＮ ＴＨＥ ＨＯＬＯＣＥＮＥ ＥＮＶＩＲＯＮＭＥＮＴ ＣＨＡＮＧＥＳ ＩＮ ＸＩＮＪＩＡＮＧ──ＧＥＯＬＯＧＩＣ ＲＥＣＯＲＤＳ ＡＮＤ ＳＥＱＵＥＮＣＥ ＺｈｏｎｇＷｅｉ（钟巍）（ＤｅｐａｒｔｍｅｎｔｏｆＧｅｏ...     

Land use changes in Northeast China driven by human activities and climatic variation

Human-induced land use/cover change (LUCC) forms an important component of global environmental change. Therefore, it is important to study land use/cover and its change at local, regional and global scales. In this paper we conducted the study of land use change in Northeast China, one of the most important agricultural zones of the nation. From 1986 to 2000, according to the study results obtained from Landsat images, widespread changes in land use/cover took place in the study area. Grassland, marsh, water body and woodland decreased by 9864, 3973, 1367 and 10,052km², respectively. By comparison, paddy field, dry farmland, and built-up land expanded by 7339, 17193 and 700km², respectively. Those changes bore an interactive relationship with the environment, especially climate change. On the one hand, climate warming created a potential environment for grassland and marsh to be changed to farmland as more crops could thrive in the warmer climate, and for dry farmland to paddy field. On the other hand, the changed surface cover modified the local climate. Those changes, in turn, have adversely influenced the local environment by accelerating land degradation. In terms of socio-economic driving forces, population augment, regional economic development, and national and provincial policies were confirmed as main driving factors for land use change. Foundation item: Under the auspices of the Knowledge Innovation Programs of Chinese Academy of Sciences (No. KZCX2-YW-341), National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 40871187, 40801208)     

Mid-Holocene Climate Variations Recorded by Palaeolake in Marginal Area of East Asian Monsoon： A Multi-proxy Study

Traditionally, the mid-Holocene in most parts of China was thought to be warmer with higher precipitation, resulting from a strong Asian summer monsoon. However, some recent researches have proposed a mid-Holocene drought interval of millennial-scale in East Asian monsoon margin areas. Thus whether mid-Holocene was dry or humid remains an open issue. Here, Zhuyeze palaeolake, the terminal lake of the Shiyang River Drainage lying in Asian monsoon marginal areas, was selected for reconstructing the details of climate variations during the Holocene, especially mid-Holocene, on the basis of a sedimentological analysis. Qingtu Lake (QTL) section of 6.92m depth was taken from Zhuyeze palaeolake. Multi-proxy analysis of QTL section, including grain size, carbonate, TOC, C/N and δ13C of organic matter, was used to document regional climatic changes during 9-3 cal ka B.P. The record shows a major environmental change at 9.0-7.8 cal ka B.P., attributed to a climate trend towards warmth and humidity. This event was followed by a typical regional drought event which occurred during 7.8-7.5 cal ka B.P. And a warm and humid climate prevailed from 7.5 to 5.0 cal ka B.P., attributed to the warm/humid Holocene Optimum in this region. After that, the climate gradually became drier. Moreover, comparison of the climate record from this paper with the summer insolation at 30°N indicates that the climate pattern reflecting the Asian monsoon changes was caused by insolation change.     

A PRELIMINARY RESEARCH ON THE CLIMATIC RECORDS OF LACUSTRINE DEPOSITS OF QINGTU LAKE IN THE LAST 6000 YEARS

１　ＳＴＵＤＩＥＤＲＥＧＩＯＮＡＮＤＡＮＡＬＹＳＩＳＭＥＴＨＯＤＬｏｃａｔｅｄａｔｎｏｒｔｈｗｅｓｔｅｒｎｍａｒｇｉｎｏｆＴｅｎｇｇｅｒＤｅｓｅｒｔａｎｄ７０ｋｍｎｏｒｔｈｅａｓｔｏｆＭｉｎｑｉｎＣｏｕｎｔｙｉｎＧａｎｓｕＰｒｏｖｉｎｃｅ，ＱｉｎｇｔｕＬａｋｅｂｅｌｏｎｇｓｔｏｔｈｅＳｈｉｙａｎｇＲｉｖｅｒＤｒｙＤｅｌｔａ，ａｎｄｔｈｅａｌｔｉｔｕｄｅｉｓ１２９２－１３１０ｍ．Ｔｈｅｒｅｇｉｏｎｈａｓｔｈｅｃｈａｒａｃｔｅｒｏｆｔｅｍｐｅｒａｔｅｃｏｎｔｉｎｅｎｔａｌａｒｉｄｄｅｓｅｒｔｃｌｉ…     

STUDY ON VEGETATION AND CLIMATE CHANGES IN BEIJING REGION SINCE LATE PLEISTOCENE

１　ＩＮＴＲＯＤＵＣＴＩＯＮＳｉｎｃｅｔｈｅ１９８０ｓａｓｅｒｉｅｓｏｆｒｅｓｅａｒｃｈｐｌａｎｉｎｃｌｕｄｉｎｇＩＧＢＰ（ｔｈｅＩｎｔｅｒｎａｔｉｏｎａｌＧｅｏｓｐｈｅｒｅ．ＢｉｏｓｐｈｅｒｅＰｒｏｇｒａｍｍｅ）ｈａｖｅｂｅｅｎｓｅｔｕｐ，ｏｆｔｈｅｍ，ＰＡＧＥＳ（ｔｈｅＰａｓｔＧｌｏｂａｌｃｈａｎｇｅｓ）ｉｓａｎｉｍｐｏｒｔａｎｔｃｏｒｅｐｒｏｊｅｃｔ．Ｔｈｅｎａｔｕｒｅｒｅｃｏｒｄｓｏｆｏｃｅａｎｄｅｐｏｓｉｔ，ｔｅｒｒｅｓｔｒｉａｌ（ｌｏｅｓｓ，ｌａｋｅｓａｎｄｓｗａｍｐ）ｄｅｐｏｓｉ…