Study on mass balance and sensitivity to climate change in summer on the Qiyi Glacier, Qilian Mountains

Based on the glacier mass balance and meteorological data of air temperature and precipitation on the Qiyi Glacier from June 30 to September 5, 2010, we used a degree-day mass balance model to simulate the change of mass balance during this period. Our results indicate that the current value of the mass balance is ?856.2 mm w.e. Subjected to the strong influences of air temperature and precipitation, the mass balance process can be divided into three stages: accumulating exiguously → melting intensively → melting exiguously. The variation trends of the mass balance according to the degree-day mass balance model and the observed values are similar and wholly reflect the spatial distribution characteristics of the glacier mass balance, which increases with the increase of altitude. Our experiment on climate sensitivity of the mass balance showed that mass balance was very sensitive to the change of temperature; air temperature is the key factor which influences mass balance; and a slight increase in precipitation will have a negligible effect on mass balance when the air temperature increases continuously.     

The impacts of climate change on hydrology in a typical glacier region—A case study in Hailuo Creek watershed of Mt. Gongga in China

The glaciers of the Hengduan Mountains play an important role in the hydrology processes of this region. In this study, the HBV Light model, which relies on a degree-day model to simulate glacier melting, was employed to simulate both glacier runoff and total runoff. The daily temperature and precipitation at the Hailuo Creek No. 1 Glacier from 1952 to 2009 were obtained from daily meteorological observed data at the glacier and from six national meteorological stations near the Hailuo Creek Basin. The daily air temperature, precipitation, runoff depth, and monthly potential evaporation in 1995, 1996, and 2002 were used to obtain a set of optimal parameters, and the annual total runoff and glacier runoff of the Hailuo Creek Glacier(1952–2009) were calculated using the HBV Light model. Results showed the average annual runoff in the Hailuo Creek Basin was 2,114 mm from 1952 to 2009, of which glacial melting accounted for about 1,078 mm. The river runoff in the Hailuo Creek catchment increased as a result of increased glacier runoff. Glacier runoff accounted for 51.1% of the Hailuo Creek stream flow in 1994 and increased to 72.6% in 2006. About 95% of the increased stream flow derived from the increased glacier runoff.     

Variations of albedo and spectral reflectance on Qiyi Glacier in Qilian Mountains during the ablation season

Based on the data observed at two sites (site H1, 4,473 m a.s.l., and site H2, 4,696 m a.s.l.) on Qiyi Glacier in Qilian Mountains, China, by automatic weather station and spectral pyranometer during the period of June 9 through September 27, 2006, we investigated the temporal and spatial variations in surface albedo and spectral reflectance on the glacier. At site H1, the daily mean surface albedos fluctuated between 0.233 and 0.866, which were significantly affected by the air temperature on the glacier. It was found that the albedos clearly showed a diurnal cycle with the lowest value at noon at the two observation sites over the study period, and the difference of albedos between the upper site H2 and the lower site H1 also showed diurnal cycle but with the highest value at noon. The reflectance on the glacier was higher in the ultraviolet (0.28-0.4 μm) and visible (0.4-0.76 μm) wavelengths, lower in the near infrared wavelength (0.76-3 μm), which is quite contrary to the spectral reflectance on other ground surfaces. At the two observation sites, the spectral reflectance declined in all wavelengths with the ablation of snow generally. However, it declined drastically in ultraviolet (0.28-0.4 μm) and 0.6-0.7 μm wavelength, and declined less in 0.4-0.5 μm wavelength. On fresh snow surface, the spectral reflectance had the high values of 0.983 and 0.815 in the ultraviolet and visible (0.4-0.76 μm) wavelengths, respectively; but it had a relatively lower value of 0.671 in near infrared (0.76-3 μm) wavelengths. However, on dirty and melting ice surfaces, the reflectance had the very low values of 0.305 and 0.256 in the ultraviolet and visible wavelengths, with the lowest value of 0.082 in near infrared wavelengths. The spectral reflectance also showed a diurnal cycle like that of albedo. The diurnal variations of spectral reflectance on snow surface in ultraviolet and visible wavelength changed to a greater degree than that on ice surface. The diurnal variation curves were asymmetrical before and after t     

Hydrological Characteristics of the Heihe River Basin in the Arid Inland Area of Northwest China

The hydrological characteristics of the Heihe River Basin in the arid inland area of northwest China were investigated.The spatial distribution of annual precipitation in the basin indicates that it decreases from east to west and from south to north,and increases with elevation by a gradient of 24.4 mm per hundred meters below 2,810 m a.s.l.,but decreases with elevation by that of 37.0 mm per hundred meters above 2,810 m a.s.l.For the last 50 years,the mountain runoff of the ba-sin has a tendency of increase.Except in the mountain area,the aridity is very high in the basin,and the aridity index ranges from 1.6 to 7.0 at the piedmont,to 9.0～20.0 in the midstream area and up to 40.0 in the downstream Ejin region.It is estimated for the last 50 years that a 1oC increment of annual temperature causes a 21.5 mm increase of evaporation in the mountain area,and the equivalent reduction of mountain runoff is 0.215×109 m3/yr at the Yingluoxia Hydrometric Sta-tion.The estimation shows also that a 1oC increment of annual temperature causes 1,842 mm increase of farmland evapotranspiration in the midstream area,an equivalent of 0.298×109 m3/yr more water consumption.The anthropogenic influence on the hydrological processes and water resources is then discussed.     

Study of thermal properties of supraglacial debris and degree-day factors on Lirung Glacier,Nepal

The extensive debris that covers glaciers in the ablation zone of the Himalayan region plays an important part in regulating ablation rates and water availability for the downstream region. The melt rate of ice is determined by the amount of heat conducted through debris material lying over the ice. This study presents the vertical temperature gradients, thermal properties in terms of thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity, and positive degree-day factors for the debris-covered portion of Lirung Glacier in Langtang Valley, Nepal Himalaya using field-based measurements from three different seasons.Field measurements include debris temperatures at different debris thicknesses, air temperature, and ice melt during the monsoon(2013), winter(2013), and pre-monsoon(2014) seasons. We used a thermal equation to estimate thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity, and degree-day factors(DDF) were calculated from cumulative positive temperature and ice melt of the measurement period. Our analysis of debris temperature profiles at different depths of debris show the daily linear gradients of-20.81 °C/m, 4.05 °C/m, and-7.79 °C/m in the monsoon, winter, and pre-monsoon seasons, respectively. The values of thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity in the monsoon season were 10 times greater than in the winter season. The large difference in these values is attributed to surface temperature and moisture content within the debris. Similarly, we found higher values of DDFs at thinner debris for the pre-monsoon season than in the monsoon season although we observed less melting during the pre-monsoon season. This is attributed to higher cumulative temperature during the monsoon season than in the pre-monsoon season. Our study advances our understanding of heat conductivity through debris material in different seasons, which supports estimating ice melt and discharge from glacierized river basins with debris-covered glaciers in the Himalayan region.     

Climate transformation to warm-humid and its effect on river runoff in the source region of the Yellow River

The change characteristics and trends of the regional climate in the source region of the Yellow River, and the response of runoff to climate change, are analyzed based on observational data of air temperature, precipitation, and runoff at 10 main hydrological and weather stations in the region. Our results show that a strong signal of climate shift from warm-dry to warm-humid in the western parts of northwestern China （Xinjiang） and the western Hexi Corridor of Gansu Province occurred in the late 1980s, and a same signal of climate change occurred in the mid-2000s in the source region of the Yellow River located in the eastern part of northwestern China. This climate changeover has led to a rapid increase in rainfall and stream runoff in the latter region. In most of the years since 2004 the average annual precipitation in the source region of the Yellow River has been greater than the long-term average annual value, and after 2007 the runoff measured at all of the hydrologic sections on the main channel of the Yellow River in the source region has also consistently exceeded the long-term average annual because of rainfall increase. It is difficult to determine the prospects of future climate change until additional observations and research are conducted on the rate and temporal and spatial extents of climate change in the region. Nevertheless, we predict that the climate shift from warm-dry to warm-humid in the source region of the Yellow River is very likely to be in the decadal time scale, which means a warming and rainy climate in the source region of the Yellow River will continue in the coming decades.     

Mass balance and near-surface ice temperature structure of Baishui Glacier No.1 in Mt. Yulong

The accumulation and ablation of a glacier directly reflect its mass income and wastage, and ice temperature indicates glacier＇s climatic and dynamic conditions. Glaciological studies at Baishui Glacier No.1 in Mt. Yulong are important for estimating recent changes of the cryosphere in Hengduan Mountains. Increased glacier ablation and higher ice temperatures can cause the incidents of icefall. Therefore, it is important to conduct the study of glacier mass balance and ice temperature, but there are few studies in relation to glacier＇s mass balance and active-layer temperature in China＇s monsoonal temperate glacier region. Based on the field observations of mass balance and glacier temperature at Baishui Glacier No.1, its accumulation, ablation, net balance and near-surface ice temperature structure were analyzed and studied in this paper. Results showed that the accumulation period was ranged from October to the following mid-May, and the ablation period occurred from mid-May to October, suggesting that the ablation period of temperate glacier began about 15 days earlier than that of continental glaciers, while the accumulation period began about 15 days later. The glacier ablation rate was 6.47 cm d 1 at an elevation of 4600 m between June 23 and August 30, and it was 7.4 cm d 1 at 4800 m between June 26 and July 11 in 1982, moreover, they respectively increased to 9.2 cm d 1 and 10.8 cm d 1 in the corresponding period and altitude in 2009, indicating that glacier ablation has greatly intensified in the past years. The temperature of the main glacier body was close to melting point in summer, and it dropped from the glacier surface and reached a minimum value at a depth of 4-6 m in the ablation zone. The temperature then rose to around melting point with the depth increment. In winter, the ice temperature rose gradually with the increasing depth, and close to melting point at the depth of 10 m. Compared with the data from 1982, the glacier temperature has risen in the ablation zone in recent decades.     

氢氧同位素和水化学特征反映的祁连山老虎沟冰川径流过程（英文）

Stable hydrogen and oxygen isotope has important implication on water and moisture transportation tracing research. Based on stable hydrogen(δD) and oxygen(δ~(18)O) isotope using a Picarro L1102-i and water chemistry(e.g. major ions, p H, EC and TDS) measurement, this study discussed the temporal variation and characteristics of stable hydrogen and oxygen isotope, chemistry(e.g. TDS, p H, EC, Ca~(2+), Mg~(2+), Na+ and Cl-) in various water bodies including glacier meltwater runoff, ice and snow, and precipitation at the Laohugou glacier basin during June 2012 to September 2013. Results showed that δD and δ~(18)O in the meltwater runoff varied obviously with the temporal change from June to September, showing firstly increasing trend and then decreasing trend, with the highest values in July with high air temperature and strong glacier melting, which could indicate the temporal change of glacier melting process and extent. Variations of δD and δ~(18)O in the runoff were similar with that of snow and ice on the glacier, and the values were also above the GMWL, which probably implied that the glacier runoff was mainly originated from glacier melting and precipitation supply. The glacier meltwater chemical type at the Laohugou glacier basin were mainly composed by Ca-Na-HCO_3-SO_4 and Ca-Mg-HCO_3-SO_4, which also varied evidently with the glacier melting process in summer. By analyzing the temporal change of stable hydrogen and oxygen isotope and chemistry in the melting period, we find it is easy to separate the components of the snow and ice, atmospheric precipitation and melt-runoff in the river, which could reflect the change process of glacier melting during the melting period, and thus this work can contribute to the glacier runoff change study of large-scale region by stable isotope and geochemical method in future.     

Permafrost response to climate change in the Northern Tien Shan

This paper presents the results of long-term studies on the response of mountain permafrost in the Northern Tien Shan to changes in climate. Significant warming has been observed in the region over the past 70 years. Records from the high-elevation weather stations Tuyuksu-1(3,450 m a.s.l.) and Mynzhylki(3,017 m a.s.l.) indicate a warming trend of 0.02 °C/a in the mean annual air temperature during this period. Permafrost temperatures have increased at a rate of about 0.01 °C/a over the 40-year observation period. The effects of local factors, including slope aspect, tectonic faulting, snow cover, and human activities, on the distribution of temperature and thickness of permafrost are discussed in the paper.     

The cooling effect of crushed rock structures on permafrost under an embankment

Based on the analysis and comparison of soil temperature, thermal regime and permafrost table under the experimental embankment of crushed rock structures in Beiluhe, results show that crushed rock structures provide an extensive cooling effect, which produces a rising permafrost table and decreasing soil temperatures. The rise of the permafrost table under the embankment ranges from an increase of 1.08 m to 1.67 m, with an average of 1.27 m from 2004 to 2007. Mean annual soil temperatures under the crushed rock layer embankment decreased significantly from 2005 to 2007, with average decreases of ?1.03 °C at the depth of 0.5 m, ?1.14 °C at the depth of 1.5 m, and ?0.5 °C at the depth of 5 m. During this period, mean annual soil temperatures under the crushed rock cover embankment showed a slight decrease at shallow depths, with an average decrease of ?0.2 °C at the depth of 0.5 m and 1.5 m, but a slight rise at the depth of 5 m. After the crushed rock structures were closed or crammed with sand, the cooling effect of the crushed rock layer embankment was greatly reduced and that of the crushed rock cover embankment was just slightly reduced.     

新疆孔雀河流域人工绿洲近40年土地利用/覆被变化

区域尺度土地利用/覆被变化（LUCC）时空特征及驱动力是研究大尺度变化乃至全球变化演变过程的基础,而干旱区LUCC对区域水文、生态影响尤为显著,是全球变化研究的重点之一。以新疆孔雀河流域上游作为研究区,基于1977-2015年6期Landsat数据,采用多规则人机交互目视解译的方法完成LUCC制图,并利用LUCC模型从数量变化、空间变化、土地利用集约程度变化等多方面分析了近40年来该区域LUCC特点及演变机制。结果表明：（1）研究区仅有耕地和建设用地面积增加,且增幅均在200%以上,其他土地类型面积则均有不同程度的减少;（2）耕地变化呈现出空间集聚现象,而建设用地的扩张则呈现空间连续性;（3）2000年前后自然植被经历小幅退化—恢复过程;（4）受西部大开发、塔里木河生态综合治理工程等多种因素影响,2000-2005年间,空间变化的综合动态度最高（2.76%）;（5）自然因素影响较小,人口增长和政策因素是主要驱动因子。     

Features of the long-term transformation of the Krasnodar reservoir,near the mouth of the Kuban River,Russia

The article considers the long-term(1941–2018) transformation of the Krasnodar valley reservoir, the largest in the North Caucasus. The main functions of the Krasnodar reservoir are irrigation of rice systems and flood protection of land in the Krasnodar reservoir region and the Republic of Adygea. According to topographic maps, Landsat satellite images(1974–2018) and field observations(2016–2018), four stages of transformation of the floodplain reservoir are identified. The selected stages are characterized by both natural causes(the transformation of the filling deltas into the extended deltas, etc.) and man-made causes(runoff diversions in the delta areas, etc.). The key factor of transformation is the formation of deltas of rivers flowing into the reservoir. Each of the selected stages, against the background of a gradual reduction in the area and volume of the reservoir, is characterized by the peculiarities of the formation of river deltas with the formation of genetically homogeneous sections of delta regions. During the period of operation of the reservoir, the delta of the main Kuban River moved up to 32.4 km and took away an area of 35.4 km~2 of the reservoir. During the formation of the deltas of the Kuban and Belaya rivers, a bridge was formed on the Krasnodar reservoir. The evolution of the delta regions led to the division of the reservoir into two autonomous reservoirs. The total area of the delta regions was 85.9 km~2 by 2018, i.e., 21% of the initial area of the reservoir. The transformation of the Krasnodar reservoir leads to a decrease in its regulated volume and gradual degradation.     

Palaeomagnetism of the Fishnish dykes, Mull, Scotland

summary . In Fishnish, eight dykes of E-W trend are all normally magnetized and all cut dykes of other trends. Normally magnetized dykes form a small minority of the dykes in the British Tertiary igneous province and this is the first reported incidence of a clearly defined group of a single polarity. The balance of the evidence - which is conflicting — favours the E—W dykes being contemporary with the later parts of the centre.     

新疆表壳元素地球化学特征

本次研究以国家"305"项目新获得积累的新疆地球化学勘查数据为基础,以岩石地层分区为框架,按照岩石地层单元出露情况,利用面积加权方法,在地理信息系统和数理统计分析系统下,对新疆及其三个主要地层区--塔里木地层区、中南天山-北山地层区和北疆地层区进行了39种元素的表壳元素丰度计算.计算结果显示新疆及其三个主要地层区表壳元素丰度总体表现出上陆壳的特点,但又各具差异,反映出新疆地壳的不均一性,塔里木地层区主要表现出成熟上陆壳,北疆地层区表现为年轻上陆壳,中南天山-北山地层区则呈现过渡特点.通过统计、对比,本次研究指出新疆表壳元素丰度受岩石地层单元元素丰度和岩石地层单元地表出露面积控制,其变化是地壳演化历史的产物,总体上并不服从正态分布,前人利用迭代剔除法获得的结果是值得商榷的.     

The origin of the Sierra de Aracena Hollows in the Sierra Morena, Huelva, Andalucia, Spain

Hollows in the Sierra de Aracena, part of western sector of Sierra Morena region (Huelva, Spain), are geoecologically unusual macroforms. They are underlain by deeply weathered bedrock but have eutrophic soils with distinctive vegetation. Paleosols with very dark colours, a predominance of smectites and large amounts of total and free iron occur on the floors on the hollows. An evolutionary model is proposed for the hollows, involving differential weathering during the Mesozoic on plutonic and amphibolitic rocks, alpine tectonic activity followed by Quaternary erosion and exhumation leading to formation of erosional terraces.     

Looting, collecting, and the destruction of archaeological resources

Archaeological sites, the material remnants of our human past, are finite and nonrenewable cultural resources that are under constant threat from environmental forces, development activities, warfare, vandalism, and looting. Site looting is the destructive removal of archaeological objects to supply the art market. Looting is part of an economic system, the antiquities market, that works to supply the demand of collectors for archaeological objects. The destruction of archaeological resources by looters is an international crisis and threatens to obliterate the world’s cultural heritage and our ability to understand past cultures. The scale and intensity of the looting problem can be estimated by studying the extent of site destruction in countries of origin and by investigating the sources of antiquities held by collectors. Finding a solution to the problem of looting will require a focus on the demand side of the market (i.e., collectors) instead of the traditional focus on the supply side (looters, dealers)     

Revision of the age of magnetization of the Montmartin red beds, Normandy, France

Summary. A new roadcut has enabled us to sample the south-dipping limb of the Montmartin syncline for a palaeomagnetic reevaluation of an earlier result published by Jones, Van der Voo & Bonhommet. In combination with the results previously published in 1979 for the north-dipping beds of the syncline, a conclusively negative fold test is obtained. The resulting magnetization (declination/inclination =206°/-3°, α₉₅= 12°, palaeopole at 38°S, 325°E) is interpreted to be of Late Carboniferous age, not Late Devonian as thought earlier. Simultaneously, we have re-evaluated the age of the rocks, previously thought to be Late Devonian on the basis of Acritarchs, Chitinozoans and spores. It has not been possible to reconfirm these fossils, not even in the same samples as studied originally; in contrast, the regional presence of Early Palaeozoic fossils suggests to us an age similar to that of other red beds in the Arrnorican Massif, which have been dated as Early Ordovician. The geodynamic implications of our finding that the Montmartin rocks are completely remagnetized, however, are of no great consequence for the geodynamics of the Hercynian belt. Pre-folding magnetization obtained from Silurian and Devonian rocks in Spain and Germany argue for the same conclusion as reached erroneously in our earlier study, namely that the Armorican Massif and adjacent parts of Hercynian Europe were adjointed to North America, Great Britain, the Baltic Shield and the Russian Platform since at least Late Devonian time. If a Medio-European ocean existed during the Palaeozoic, it was virtually closed before the mid-Devonian and of insignificant width during Culm deposition in Early Carboniferoirs time.     

新疆主要尾闾湖演变的构造环境

亚洲中部大地构造格局及地貌轮廓均以山盆体系为特征，所有封闭性盆地中都发育有尾闾湖。晚第三纪以来印度大陆与欧亚大陆强烈碰撞和右旋挤压，将板内构造激活并以冲断、走滑方式将早第三纪晚期准平原化的大部分山地和相关地段再次抬升，形成了现代亚洲中部的山盆体系，同时导致了湖盆的形成演化和湖泊的变迁。湖盆演化包括湖盆联合、分解、迁移和变形等。湖泊不仅随湖盆的构造演化而变迁，而且构造对水系的调控也直接影响湖泊的物理、化学、水文和生态特性。亚洲中部尾闾湖在新构造作用下的演变具有区域同步性和地域差异性。许多尾闾湖，如艾丁湖、艾比湖、玛纳斯湖等都明显受活动构造的影响。