极地冰川底部微生物多样性及其对气候变化响应的研究概况与前景

极地冰盖/冰川底部微生物的生命形态特征及其适应机制研究是当前最前沿的方向之一。越来越多的研究表明:极地冰盖/冰川底部存在液态水和有机质,可以为微生物生存提供生境。此外,微生物参与冰盖/冰川底部地球化学风化过程,对受气候变化驱使的环境变化尤为敏感。围绕着极地冰川底部微生物多样性及其对气候变化响应的研究主题,重点介绍极地冰川底部微生物的生命形态特征、可能来源、所参与的地球化学反应机制以及与C、N循环的相互作用。旨在为未来关于冰川底部的研究提供参考。     

极地微生物低温适应性的分子机制

极地由于其独有的地理及气候特征 ,生存于其中的微生物具有独特的分子生物学机制和生理生化特性。极地的低温对生存于其中的微生物产生广泛而深刻的影响 ,人们对于极地微生物对这一环境因子的适应机制研究得也最为详尽。本文从酶分子水平、细胞膜、细胞质等各个角度简述了近年来国内外有关极地微生物低温适应性的分子机制 ,以期进一步阐述极地微生物对生存环境的适应机制     

极地冰雪探测冰雷达技术发展回顾与展望

冰雷达是用于极地冰雪探测的主要技术手段,为研究极地冰雪的几何特征、内部结构、冰下地形地貌和冰底环境提供了重要的基础观测数据。20世纪50年代,人类首次发现特定频段的电磁波可以“穿透”南极冰盖,进而在60年代研制出用于极地冰盖冰下探测的冰雷达系统。之后60多年里,随着计算机、电子信息和卫星定位导航等技术的发展,冰雷达技术研究取得快速发展,形成了适用于极地冰盖、海冰及其上覆积雪不同探测需求的多样化冰雷达系统。本文在简要回顾了早期冰雷达技术发展的基础上,着重从极地冰盖深部探测、极地冰盖和海冰浅表层探测以及新型极地冰雪探测冰雷达技术3个方面,回顾总结了近10年来国内外主要进展。未来,为适应极地冰盖、海冰及其上覆积雪观测研究的多种需求,需要进一步提升冰雷达系统性能(探测深度、跨轨迹向分辨率、垂向分辨率等),并且研制满足新型平台(无人机、卫星等)搭载需求的小型、低功耗冰雷达系统,以及发展多通道、多频、多极化集同观测模式的综合冰雷达技术。     

基于Elmer/Ice对玛丽伯德地西部区域的冰盖数值模拟

西南极冰盖对全球气候变化和海平面升高有着重要的影响,其动力学和热力学过程是极地研究的重点之一。冰盖数值模式的模拟可以在缺乏观测数据的情况下获得研究区域的动力学和热力学过程,已经成为研究南极的一种重要手段。西南极玛丽伯德地靠近福特山脉和罗斯冰架,本文使用Elmer/Ice模拟了玛丽伯德地西部区域的冰流速场、温度场和应力场。研究发现,该区域冰盖底部温度场变化较小,大部分都达到了压力融点,只有小部分区域的冰盖底部仍处于压力融点以下。使用三个不同的地热通量(80 mW·m~(-2),100mW·m~(-2),120 mW·m~(-2))模拟得到的底部温度场无明显差异。冰盖表面流速较快,冰盖表面的冰总体上从地势较高的区域流向地势较低的区域,垂直方向对表面冰流速影响最大;冰盖底部应力场的大小大致和冰厚的变化相反。通过高程剖面图简要分析了冰流速和冰盖应力场的变化原因,认为冰下深谷的存在可能对冰盖流速场和应力场有很大的影响。     

南极冰盖与冰川的快速变化

近10年的观测研究表明,南极冰盖和冰川存在快速的变化阿蒙森海扇区的主要冰流系统正在迅速变薄,减薄趋势可上溯至内陆150km处;罗斯冰流出现了停滞或明显减速,有的流动方向发生了改变,引发冰流袭夺;南极半岛冰架大面积崩塌,补给冰川加速,冰川出现了跃动;变暖的海水进一步侵蚀了冰架,着地线附近底部冰层融化强烈。上述发现改变了南极冰盖缓慢变化的传统观点,并对今后的冰川动力学研究,冰流模型模拟,冰盖物质平衡研究及预测具有重要意义。     

南极冰盖中nssSO_4~(2-)和NO_3~-传输路径初探

总结了南极冰盖中 nss SO4 2 - 和 NO3- 的主要来源 ,通过对南极冰盖中几种主要离子空间分布特征的分析 ,结合南极冰盖中不同区域火山活动记录的时间差 ,认为南极冰盖中的nss SO4 2 - 和 NO3- 很可能是通过远距离高空传输到极地冰雪中 ,具体过程为 :nss SO4 2 - 和 NO3-在对流层顶部平流层底部呈带状输送到极地上空 ,然后辐射下沉 ,再辐散到其他地区     

南极冰盖中nssSO42-和NO3-传输路径初探

总结了南极冰盖中 nss SO4 2 - 和 NO3- 的主要来源 ,通过对南极冰盖中几种主要离子空间分布特征的分析 ,结合南极冰盖中不同区域火山活动记录的时间差 ,认为南极冰盖中的nss SO4 2 - 和 NO3- 很可能是通过远距离高空传输到极地冰雪中 ,具体过程为 :nss SO4 2 - 和 NO3-在对流层顶部平流层底部呈带状输送到极地上空 ,然后辐射下沉 ,再辐散到其他地区     

天山1号冰川厚度和冰下地形探测与冰储量分析

通过对天山乌鲁木齐河源 1号冰川的雷达回波探测 ,清晰地揭示出冰川底部冰 /岩界面的位置及其起伏变化特征 ,显示出雷达波对山地冰川良好的穿透能力和对冰下地形的高分辨能力 ,冰川雷达测厚的误差小于 1 .2 %。研究结果显示 ,1号冰川东支冰川平均厚度为 5 8.77m ,西支冰川平均厚度为 44.84m ,冰体厚度最大值发育于冰川中部趋于主流线位置。冰川冰储量计算表明 ,东支冰储量为 0 .0 5 1 868km3,西支冰储量为 0 .0 2 0 2 1 0km3。表面和底部地形有明显差异 ,主要因冰川动力过程对基岩强烈的地貌作用所致 ,意味着冰床的起伏地形对冰川浅层冰体的运动过程影响不显著。     

极地冰盖物质平衡的最新进展与未来挑战

准确地探明冰盖物质平衡状况,对于研究全球变暖背景下海平面变化具有重要的意义,自IPCC AR4(政府间气候变化专门委员会第四次报告)以来,极地冰盖物质平衡的研究取得了很大进展。本文总结并对比了用卫星测高(雷达测高和激光测高)、物质收支测量和重力测量等方法得到的冰盖物质平衡评估结果,综述了冰盖数值模拟研究在预测冰盖未来的变化趋势以及由此对海平面造成的影响等方面取得的进展,并立足于中国当前的极地冰盖物质平衡研究现状,提出了该研究所面临的挑战。     

东南极内陆格罗夫山地区新生代冰川活动和古气候演化记录

地处东南极内陆的格罗夫山地区是研究南极冰川进退和气候演化的理想场所。我国第22次南极考察(2005/2006)进行了该地区冰盖进退和古气候演化专题研究。笔者在野外考察过程中,对格罗夫山地区新生代冰川活动记录(包括冰川侵蚀地貌及冰川堆积物)进行了详细的观测,获得了很多有关该地区冰盖进退及古气候演化方面的第一手材料,同时系统回收了对反映该地区古冰川活动具有重要意义的新生代沉积岩漂砾。本文简要报道本次野外考察在冰盖进退和古气候演化方面所取得的主要成果。     

Seasonal evolution of the englacial and subglacial drainage systems of a temperate glacier revealed by hydrological analysis

Englacial and subglacial drainage systems of temperate glaciers have a strong influence on glacier dynamics, glacier-induced floods, glacier-weathering processes, and runoff from glacierized drainage basins. Proglacial discharge is partly controlled by the geometry of the glacial drainage network and by the process of producing meltwater. The glacial-drainage system of some alpine glaciers has been characterized using a model based on proglacial discharge analysis. In this paper, we apply cross-correlation analysis to hourly hydro-climatic data collected from China＇s Hailuogou Glacier, a typical temperate glacier in Mt. Gongga, to study the seasonal status changes of the englacial and subglacial drainage systems by discharge-temperature （Q-T） time lag analy-sis. During early ablation season （April-May） of 2003, 2004 and 2005, the change of englacial and subglacial drainage system usually leads several outburst flood events, which are also substantiated by observing the leakage of supraglacial pond and cre-vasses pond water during field works in April, 2008. At the end of ablation season （October-December）, the glacial-drainage net-works become less hydro-efficient. Those events are evidenced by hourly hydro-process near the terminus of Hailuogou Glacier, and the analysis of Q-T time lags also can be a good indicator of those changes. However, more detailed observations or experi-ments, e.g. dye-tracing experiment and recording borehole water level variations, are necessary to describe the evolutionary status and processes of englacial and subglacial drainage systems evolution during ablation season.     

Geomorphology of subglacial volcanoes in the Azas Plateau, the Tuva Republic, Russia

The Azas Plateau volcanic field is located in the Tuva Republic of the Russian Federation. The compositions of the Azas Plateau volcanics include low-viscosity trachybasalt and basanite. Volcanic edifices of Middle-Late Pleistocene age are widely distributed in the southeastern part of the volcanic field. There are subglacial volcanoes among the volcanic edifices, and their formation coincided with extensive ancient glaciations in the region. The dominant subglacial volcanoes in the area are tuyas. The general shapes of the tuyas (flat-tops with steep sides) are due to eruptions into meltwater lakes and confinement of ice walls, and effusive subaerial eruptions of basaltic lavas. There are also non-flat-topped subglacial volcanoes and at least one subaerial volcanic edifice in the area. Degradation appears to have modified the primary shapes of the tuya edifices, and such processes seem to include failures of over-steepened slopes, gully formation due to stream runoff and debris flows, cirque/valley glaciation, and modification by rock glaciers. The estimated thicknesses of the ice sheets covering the subglacial volcanoes during their eruptions range 300–600 m on average.     

Glacier hydrology and the potential for subglacial karstification

Contemporary models of subglacial hydrology identify two quasi-independent hydrologic systems at the bed of temperate alpine glaciers: a dendritic, low pressure conduit network and a more extensive, high pressure regelation film. Observations in Castleguard Cave beneath the Columbia Icefield suggest that this distinction continues into the groundwater system; the conduit waters draining through erosional shafts, and the film waters percolating through a network of fine cracks and fissures, depositing calcite when encountering the cave atmosphere.

The depleted aggressiveness of glacial meltwater limits its potential for karst development, even if comparatively large discharges are involved. However, conduit waters arc capable of developing short lengths of cave passage during a glacial epoch. Such passages can develop as cross-links to pre-existing karst, and may appear anomalous in the post-glacial landscape. The hydrochemical nature of the regelation film is unknown, although some erosional evolution is probably occurring along the flow route. The regelation-percolation flow system may be important in the initiation of karst flow routes, although the nature of the regelation film prevents further development, and subsequent evolution must involve conduit waters. Subglacial karst is most likely to develop in elevated areas, beneath comparatively thin ice, around the firn line, rather than beneath valley glaciers or high under the upper accumulation zone. Karst may cause relatively low ice velocities and decrease glacial erosion rates.     

Geological controls on Pleistocene glaciation and cirque form in Greece

Limestone and ophiolite rocks are common across the eastern Mediterranean and many of the highest mountains are formed in these rock types. In northwest Greece, Pleistocene glacial erosion was much more effective on limestone terrain where pronounced glacial incision and subglacial glacio-karst processes produced locally-complex topography. This enabled Pleistocene glaciers to form on a range of slope orientations in contrast to ophiolite terrains, where glaciers were strongly controlled by aspect. On limestone terrains, the largest ice masses formed on south-facing slopes, whereas in neighbouring higher mountains formed in ophiolite, glaciers were much more restricted and predominantly formed on north- and east-facing slopes.     

Quantitative geomorphological analysis of drumlins in the Peterborough drumlin field,Ontario, Canada

Drumlins are enigmatic subglacial landforms that have been interpreted to form by a number of processes, including incremental accumulation of till, erosion of previously deposited sediment, catastrophic meltwater floods, and sediment deformation. However, relatively little is known about the controls on drumlin formation, such as spatially variable glacial processes or substrate characteristics, and how these controls may be identified from variations in drumlin morphology within a single drumlin field. This paper explores a computational method that allows identification of drumlins and extraction of their morphological characteristics from existing topographic digital data for a portion of the Peterborough drumlin field in Ontario, Canada. Spatial and non‐spatial analysis of the form and distribution of drumlins across the study area identifies drumlin characteristics such as size, elongation ratio, symmetry and long axis orientation and shows that drumlins are not randomly distributed across the region and their form characteristics have distinct regional trends. Kernel density analysis is used to identify the regional trends in drumlin characteristics. Factors that appear to influence the form and distribution of drumlins in the study area include sediment thickness, length of time beneath the ice, ice velocity and direction of ice movement. The distribution of particularly well developed asymmetric and elongate drumlins coincides with the location of a broad bedrock low and is interpreted to identify the former location of a fast‐flowing ice stream.     

The drainage pattern of Hansbreen and Werenskioldbreen, two polythermal glaciers in Svalbard

To improve our understanding of Svalbard-type polythermal glacier drainage, hydraulic geometry models of the subglacial hydrology of two contrasting glaciers in Svalbard have been constructed. The models are tested against a uniquely long and rich set of field observations spanning 45 years. Digital elevation models (DEMs) were constructed from bedrock data measured with ground penetrating radar and surface data of two medium-sized polythermal glaciers, Hansbreen and Werenskioldbreen, in south-west Spitsbergen. Hansbreen has a low angle bed with over-deepenings and a calving front, while Werenskioldbreen has steeper bed and terminates on land. Together they are representative of many Svalbard glaciers. The DEMs were used to derive maps of hydraulic potential and subglacial drainage networks. Validation of the models was done using field observations including location mapping and speleological exploration of active moulins, positions of main river outflows, dyetracing and water chemistry studies, and observations of water pressure inside moulins. Results suggest that the water pressure is generally close to ice overburden pressure but varies greatly depending on local conditions such as bed location, the thickness of cold ice layer, the thickness of the glacier and seasonal changes in meltwater input.     

MELTWATER FEATURES THAT SUGGEST MIOCENE ICE-SHEET OVERRIDING OF THE TRANSANTARCTIC MOUNTAINS IN VICTORIA LAND, ANTARCTICA

ABSTRACT. We illustrate here spectacular meltwater features associated with outburst floods beneath an ice sheet that overrode the Transantarctic Mountains in southern Victoria Land. Because of long-term hyperarid polar climate, these features are part of an ancient landscape preserved for about 14 million years. Some channels are associated with areal scouring of basement rocks extending from sea level to as much as 1200–2100 m elevation in coastal regions. Scablands with scallops, potholes and plunge pools are cut in Beacon Super group sandstones and Ferrar Dolerite and cover wide areas of high western plateaus near the mountain crest. Subglacial channel systems commonly originate near divides and converge downhill toward the northeast. We argue that the landforms were created beneath a major Antarctic Ice Sheet that submerged the whole area, with the possible exception of the high peaks of the Royal Society Range, as it flowed northeastward toward the outer Antarctic continental shelf. Areal scouring, associated with warm-based regimes, is restricted to the lower slopes close to the coast. In the higher terra in, meltwater channels and scabland alongside preserved patches of regolith are best explained by the breaching of cold-based ice on the mountain rim by subglacial melt water outbursts. Melt from warm-based ice, along with subglacial lakes trapped upstream of the mountain rim, are possible sources of the meltwater necessary to form the channel systems and scablands.     

海冰细菌研究进展

地球两极海洋上覆盖的海冰为微生物提供了一个极端的生存环境。微生物在这环境中生存需要生理和代谢上的复杂适应机制。现有的研究表明,细菌在海冰中旺盛地生长繁殖,并在极区生态系统中占有重要地位。同时海冰细菌也已成为生命现象多样性等基础研究领域和生物工程领域的新热点。本文就近年来国内外在海冰细菌系统发育组成、生态生理学、生态作用和环境适应等方面所取得的研究进展进行简述,并初步探讨了今后海冰细菌研究中需要解决的一些问题。