Basin-wide Holocene environmental changes in the marginal area of the Asian monsoon,northwest China

In arid regions, because of spatial variability, using single climate records is difficult to reconstruct the past climate change for the drainage basins. Holocene environmental records were collected from the upper, middle and lower regions of the Shiyang River drainage basin in the marginal area of the Asian monsoon (northwest China). The main objective of this paper was to compare the records from the terminal lake and the middle and upper reaches of the basin to study the basin-wide environmental changes. During the early Holocene the vegetation was sparse, and the effective moisture was relatively low in the basin. The Holocene Climatic Optimum started between 7.0 and 8.0 cal ka BP, during which the lake level reached the highest level in the terminal lake; the vegetation density and the effective moisture reached the highest level during the Holocene in the drainage basin. From 4.7 cal ka BP the terminal lake began to shrink, while the vegetation density decreased dramatically. In the middle and upper regions of the drainage, the effective moisture began to decrease since 3.5 cal ka BP, and the arid tendency was earlier in the terminal lake than it was in the middle and upper regions of the drainage basin. During the early Holocene the relatively arid environment was affected by the gradually intensifying East Asian monsoon and the dry westerly winds. The mid-Holocene Optimum benefited from the intensive East Asian monsoon and the humid westerly winds. Then, the East Asian monsoon retreated since the late-Holocene. In the basin the arid tendency may be related to the retracting of the East Asian monsoon. However, the intensifying acidification after 1.5 cal ka BP may be correlated to the increasing dryness of the westerly winds.     

陕西榆林风沙滩区全新世气候和环境变迁

榆林长城沿线处于环境变化敏感带,其风沙滩区沉积剖面的磁化率和粒度分析结果显示,该区全新世早期11500～10000aBP随着全球气候的逐渐转暖,磁化率、黏粒和粉沙含量逐渐增高;全新世中期的10000～45003BP气候相对比较湿润,植被覆盖度增大,风沙活动减弱,地表沉积物当-中粉沙和黏土成分含量显著增大,风化成壤作用增强,地表发育沙质弱古土壤;全新世中期后段的4500～3000aBP期间,气候以比较温和湿润为主,但在4200～4000aBP出现一个气候干旱事件,风沙活动强烈;近3000a以来,气候显著干旱化,波动频繁,地表风沙沉积物显著变粗,表现出有5次沙漠扩张。该区生态环境演化、人文历史变迁基本上是自然因素与人为活动综合作用的结果,以自然演化为主,近代人为因素对环境变化起着加强和放大作用。     

西北干旱区近50年气候变化特征与趋势

20世纪后期全球增暖趋势越来越明显，受全球增暖的影响，西北地区的气候也将受到不同程度的影响。选取了西北干旱区1951-2000年的21个代表站点气温、降水量资料，采用趋势系数法对西北干旱区近50年气温和降水变化进行分析，找出各分区的变化趋势。结果表明：近50年西北干旱区气温呈上升趋势（0．22℃／10a），1986年后气温明显升高；柴达木盆地和新疆北部升温较大；各季都有增温趋势，贡献最大的是秋冬两季。降水变化有增加的趋势（3．2mm／10a），年降水量贡献最大的是夏季；各区降水都有增加，其中新疆北部降水增加最多。西北干旱区近50年气温升高趋势是南北高，中间低；降水量增加趋势从东南向西北呈现递增的格局。     

北疆地区早全新世环境演化的湖泊沉积记录

通过对北疆地区艾比湖沉积物的孢粉组合及其碳酸盐δ^18O,δ^13C,δ^13Corg，TOC，TON和Rb/Sr比等地球化学指标分析，重点对全新世早期气候环境演化特征进行了研究。结果表明，研究时段（8.0-11.cal ka B.P.)温度总体偏低，初期（11.5-10.6cal ka B.P.)较为温湿；早全新世向中全新世转换时期（8.9-8.0cal ka B.P.)气候波动显著。特别是3层泥炭沉积显示了艾比湖地区早全新世气候的强烈不稳定性。泥炭的发育程度及其同位素、孢粉分析数据等都显示，8.2cal ka B.P.,8.6cal ka B.P.,10.5cal ka B.P.的气候状况具有显著的冷湿特征，反映了早全新世的3次冷湿事件。     

季风与西风对青藏高原全新世气候变化的影响:同位素证据

青藏高原气候变化在冰期-间冰期、千年、十年际和季节尺度上受亚洲季风和西风环流的交互影响,表现出显著的区域性特征。然而全新世以来青藏高原气候变化的机制还不甚清楚,主要原因之一是缺少指示意义明确的古气候代用指标。课题组近年来利用叶蜡氢同位素(δDwax)重建了高原东北部的青海湖、中北部的令戈错、中部的达则错、西部的班公错和阿翁错不同时间尺度的大气降水同位素记录,本文对上述工作进行总结,并结合青藏高原全新世以来已发表的其他地点的同位素和古水文记录,揭示全新世以来季风与西风对青藏高原不同区域气候变化的影响。结果表明:1)早全新世青海湖、令戈错、班公错和阿翁错4个湖泊均主要受夏季风影响,夏季风可以影响到青藏高原的大部分地区,此时夏季风在青藏高原的最北界限可能位于青海湖以北、克鲁克湖以南。2)中全新世青海湖、班公错和阿翁错受夏季风影响逐渐减弱;然而令戈错在7.0~4.5 ka水汽主要来源于西风环流。3)晚全新世青海湖和班公错受季风的影响进一步减弱;西风在3.5~1.7 ka和2.0~1.0 ka分别影响到高原中部的令戈错和达则错;晚全新世阿翁错受冰川融水补给影响降水同位素异常偏负。4)本研究表明在中晚全新世季风较弱的时期,西风能够深入到青藏高原内部地区,给高原内部地区带来冷湿的水汽。     

新疆巴里坤湖全新世环境记录及区域对比研究

选择位于西风环流显著影响区的巴里坤湖作为研究对象,采用¹⁴C测年建立了巴里坤湖沉积剖面约9400cal.aB.P.以来的时间序列。对该湖泊剖面沉积物的矿物X射线衍射、自生碳酸盐稳定同位素、碳酸盐含量和粒度指标的综合分析表明,9400cal.aB.P.以来,巴里坤湖地区的气候环境变化大致经历了冷干（9400～7400cal.aB.P.）-暖湿（7400～5900cal.aB.P.）-暖干（5900～3100cal.aB.P.）-凉湿（3100～1100cal.aB.P.）-冷干（1100～500cal.aB.P.）-暖干（500cal.aB.P.以来）的气候变化过程,该过程基本上同周边区域的气候环境变化记录相一致。在3800cal.aB.P.左右,北疆地区的几个典型湖泊沉积记录序列都指示该时期气候环境发生了较为明显的转折,可能暗示了这一时期亚洲中部干旱区（至少在北疆地区）大气环流状况发生了重大调整。     

Holocene environmental change in the marginal area of the Asian monsoon: a record from Zhuye Lake, NW China

This article examines Holocene environmental change in Zhuye Lake in the marginal area of the Asian monsoon, NW China. Holocene environment records were obtained for the QTH01 and QTH02 sections in Zhuye Lake. The fluctuations in grain size, pollen, total organic carbon content and C/N ratios record notable environmental variation. The early Holocene (11.0 to 7.4 cal. kyr BP) was relatively arid, while vegetation coverage was sparse and primary productivity low. The optimal environment prevailed during the mid-Holocene (7.4 to 4.7 cal. kyr BP). Vegetation coverage was the densest and primary productivity the highest during the mid-Holocene. During the late Holocene (4.7 to 0 cal. kyr BP), the environment became arid, as shown by low lake level and sparse vegetation coverage. After 1.6 cal. kyr BP another strong aridification occurred. In this area, the environment was likely to have been influenced by both the Westerlies and the East Asian monsoon during the Holocene. During the early Holocene, the relatively arid environment lay in the background of the increasing East Asian monsoon and dry westerly wind. During the mid-Holocene, central Asia was controlled by the humid Westerlies, while a strong East Asian monsoon prevailed in Central China. The mid-Holocene optimum in this area benefited from an expanded East Asian monsoon and the humid Westerlies. Weakening of the East Asian monsoon caused aridification of the environment during the late Holocene. Intensification of this aridification after 1.6 cal. kyr BP might be correlated with appearance of the arid environments in the Westerly domain after ∼1.5 cal. kyr BP. These arid conditions might be affected by the decreased moisture content of the Westerlies.     

Mid-Holocene climate change in the eastern Xinjiang region indicated by the grain size and stable isotope record from Lake Barkol, northwest China

A sediment core from Lake Barkol located in the eastern Xinjiang autonomous region, northwest China, provided a high-resolution record of environmental change covering the last ~8.6 cal ka BP. Three major climate stages, 8.6–7.1, 7.1–2.0 and from 2.0 cal ka BP to the present, were divided by grain size and the authigenic carbonate stable isotope of the lake sediment. Climatic drought during the period 7.1–4.5 cal ka BP, deduced from Lake Barkol, prevailed in the mid-Holocene climate in northern Xinjiang and northwest Mongolia. In contrast, it was wet in central Xinjiang, northwest India and the Middle East during the same period. The climatic difference between northern and southern arid central Asia demonstrates the southward shifting of the Westerlies, which indicates the potential contribution of the Siberian high in the mid-Holocene.     

河西内陆河流域出山径流对气候转型的响应

对甘肃河西内陆河流域出山径流变化过程与趋势的研究表明,从20世纪80年代中后期开始,受西风环流降水的影响,祁连山区中、西部的黑河、疏勒河流域的气候环境发出了由增温变干转为变湿的讯号,具体表现为随着山区气温升高,降水量增加,出山径流相应增大.采用区域气候模式预测和水文统计模式的计算,亦同样证实出山径流有显著的增加趋势.但受季风影响的祁连山东部的石羊河流域则尚未出现这种转变,从20世纪50年代起,出山径流量持续下降,表明其气候环境仍向增温变干的方向发展.     

Asian monsoon climate during the Last Glacial Maximum: palaeo‐data–model comparisons

The Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) (23–19 ka BP) in the Asian monsoon region is generally described as cool and dry, due to a strong winter monsoon. More recently, however, palaeo‐data and climate model simulations have argued for a more variable LGM Asian monsoon climate with distinct regional differences. We compiled, evaluated, and partly re‐assessed proxy records for the Asian monsoon region in terms of wet/dry climatic conditions based on precipitation and effective moisture, and of sea surface temperatures. The comparison of the palaeo‐data set to LGM simulations by the Climate Community System Model version 3 (CCSM3) shows fairly good agreement: a dry LGM climate in the western and northern part due to a strengthened winter monsoon and/or strengthened westerly winds and wetter conditions in equatorial areas, due to a stronger summer monsoon. Data–model discrepancies are seen in some areas and are ascribed to the fairly coarse resolution of CCSM3 and/or to uncertainties in the reconstructions. Differences are also observed between the reconstructed and simulated northern boundaries of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). The reconstructions estimate a more southern position over southern India and the Bay of Bengal, whereas CCSM3 simulates a more northern position. In Indochina, the opposite is the case. The palaeo‐data indicate that climatic conditions changed around 20–19 ka BP, with some regions receiving higher precipitation and some experiencing drier conditions, which would imply a distinct shift in summer monsoon intensity. This shift was probably triggered by the late LGM sea‐level rise, which led to changes in atmosphere–ocean interactions in the Indian Ocean. The overall good correspondence between reconstructions and CCSM3 suggests that CCSM3 simulates LGM climate conditions over subtropical and tropical areas fairly well. The few high‐resolution qualitative and quantitative palaeo‐records available for the large Asian monsoon region make reconstructions however still uncertain.     

青海共和盆地早全新世古风向重建及其对黄土物源的指示

青藏高原东北部地处黄土与沙漠的过渡地区,在冰期-间冰期旋回中受中纬西风与东亚季风环流的交替控制,曾发生大范围的沙漠进退,是黄土高原重要的潜在物源区。恢复该区地质历史时期的大气环流格局可为重建东亚地区的环境面貌、探讨黄土高原的物源区、检验东亚地区古气候模拟结果的有效性等方面提供重要依据。但目前对高原东北部的古大气环流特征却鲜有研究。青藏高原东北部保存有一系列的古沙丘,可为古大气环流的重建提供直接依据。本文选取青海共和盆地一处代表性新月形古沙丘开展光释光测年研究,并通过其平面形态和前积层产状恢复了当时的古风向。结果表明:共和盆地的风沙活动自早全新世以来开始显著减弱,此时近地面盛行与现今风向一致的西北风。前人的研究揭示出青藏高原东北部在冰期时很可能盛行西风,并存在广泛的荒漠化,因而很可能是黄土高原冰期时重要的物源区之一。而本研究指示,该区的盛行风向在早全新世以来转变为西北风,且荒漠范围显著退缩,导致其全新世不再是黄土高原的物源区。青藏高原东北部的盛行风向和荒漠范围在冰期-间冰期旋回中的这种变化,为理解黄土高原的粉尘物源在空间和冰期-间冰期旋回上的变化提供了依据。     

中纬度亚洲现代间冰期气候变化的“西风模式”讨论

中纬度亚洲地区存在主要受季风环流影响的东南部湿润地区(简称季风区)和主要受西风环流控制的内陆干旱区(包括青藏高原北部高寒干旱区,简称西风区)。根据对近年来新发表的气候变化记录证据梳理总结,发现西风区在中—晚全新世气候湿润,与亚洲季风在早—中全新世强盛的格局显著不同。过去千年的西风区中世纪暖期干旱,而小冰期相对湿润,与此相对,万象洞石笋氧同位素记录则显示季风降水在中世纪暖期时整体处于高值,在小冰期处于低值段。在近百年,尤其是近50a,西北干旱区湿度增加,而季风影响范围内的西北东部和华北等地变得更干。不仅如此,在分属西风和季风影响区的青藏高原北部和南部,年代际—百年尺度上降水变化也表现出反相位关系。据此我们提出,亚洲中部西风带控制区在现代间冰期从数千年到年代际的各个时间尺度上均存在不同于季风区的湿度(降水)变化模式,称之为现代间冰期气候变化的西风模式。     

Synchronism of Holocene East Asian monsoon variations and North Atlantic drift-ice tracers

Eighteen radiocarbon-dated eolian and paleosol profiles within a 1500-km-long belt along the arid to semi-arid transition zone of north-central China record variations in the extent and strength of the East Asian summer monsoon during the Holocene. Dated paleosols and peat layers represent intervals when the zone was dominated by a mild, moist summer monsoon climate that favored pedogenesis and peat accumulation. Brief intervals of enhanced eolian activity that resulted in the deposition of loess and eolian sand were times when strengthened winter monsoon conditions produced a colder, drier climate. The monsoon variations correlate closely with variations in North Atlantic drift-ice tracers that represent episodic advection of drift ice and cold polar surface water southward and eastward into warmer subpolar water. The correspondence of these records over the full span of Holocene time implies a close relationship between North Atlantic climate and the monsoon climate of central China.     

Holocene Vegetation and Climate Changes in the Huangqihai Lake Region, Inner Mongolia

A consensus on Holocene climate variability at the modern northern fringe of the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) region remains elusive. Here, we present a pollen-based reconstruction of vegetation history and associated climate variations of a sediment core from Huangqihai Lake, central Inner Mongolia. During 10.7 to 8.8 cal kaBP, typical steppe with small patches of forest dominated the lake area, suggesting a moderately wet climate, followed by ameliorating climatic conditions until 8.0 cal kaBP as deduced by the expansion of forest. Typical steppe recovered the lake area between 8.0 and 7.2 cal kaBP, reflecting a deterioration of climatic conditions; in combination with other proxy records in the study region, we noticed that severe aridity was prevailed in the lake area between 8.0 and 7.6 cal kaBP. During 7.2 to 3.2 cal kaBP, abundant tree pollen indicated dominance of forest-steppe around the lake, marking regionally wet conditions. A notable absence of broadleaved trees after 5.2 cal kaBP reveals a slight drying trend, and climate deterioration from 4.5 to 4.1 cal kaBP might be linked to the 4.2 ka event. After 3.2 cal kaBP, a transition to steppe was associated with dry conditions in the region. Based on our pollen record and prior paleoclimatic reconstructions in the Huangqihai Lake region, there was a generally-accepted, stepwise shift to a wet climate during the early Holocene, an overall humid climate from 7.2 to 3.2 cal kaBP, and then severe drought for the rest of the Holocene. Moreover, regional comparisons among pollen records derived from lakes situated in the temperate steppe region suggested a roughly synchronous pattern of vegetation and climate changes during the Holocene and demonstrated an intensified EASM during the middle Holocene.     

Paradoxes of the Last Interglacial climate: reconstruction of the northern Eurasia climate based on palaeofloristic data

Main climatic indexes (mean January, July and annual temperatures; duration of the frost‐free period; seasonal and annual precipitation; and annual potential evaporation) are estimated for the Last Interglacial Eemian–Mikulino–Kazantsevo–Oxygen Isotopic Substage 5e) climatic optimum in northern Eurasia. Reconstructions are based on the palaeofloristic data from 29 sites. The distribution of temperature deviations from present‐day values in northern Eurasia, as well as in the northern hemisphere as a whole, indicates certain areas where temperatures during the Last Interglacial climatic optimum were lower than at present. The greatest positive deviations occurred in the high latitudes and gradually decreased towards mid‐latitudes. At about 45°N the mean January temperature was close to that of the present day. For the mean July temperature, the zone with minor deviations is situated further to the north, at 55°N. South of 50°N, an area with small negative temperature deviations from the present‐day values is reconstructed. A similar decrease in temperature deviations from high to low latitudes was the general tendency in various warm epochs, including the Holocene and the Eocene optima. In the arid and semi‐arid regions of northern Eurasia, a considerable increase in precipitation took place, while air temperatures were close to those of the present or even slightly lower. Another peculiarity of the climate in the Last Interglacial climatic optimum relates to the meridional temperature gradient, one of the factors strongly influencing the intensity of the Westerlies in the mid‐latitudes of the northern hemisphere. Our reconstructions for northern Eurasia tend to contradict this rule. The paradox can be explained by a compensation mechanism: a substantial increase in winter temperature in Siberia indicates that the Siberian atmospheric High was weaker and smaller at the Last Interglacial climatic optimum than at present. The reduced role of the Siberian High was compensated by more frequent invasions of the Atlantic air masses from the west, even though the meridional temperature gradient was smaller than at present.     

Pollen evidence for the transition of the Eastern Australian climate system from the post-glacial to the present-day ENSO mode

A review of Holocene climate patterns in eastern Australia is presented on the basis of a series of high-resolution pollen records across a north-to-south transect. Previously published radiocarbon data are calibrated into calendar years and fitted with an age-depth model. The resulting chronologies are used to compare past environmental changes and describe patterns of climate change on a calendar-age scale. Based on the present-day Australian climate patterns and impact of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the palynological data are interpreted and the prevalent climate mode throughout the Holocene reconstructed. Results show that early Holocene changes are strongly divergent and asynchronous between sites, while middle to late Holocene conditions are characterized by more arid and variable conditions and greater coupling between northern and southern sites, which is in agreement with increasing influence of ENSO.     

Holocene palaeoflood events recorded by slackwater deposits along the middle Beiluohe River valley,middle Yellow River basin,China

Palaeohydrological investigations were carried out in the middle Beiluohe River valley in the middle Yellow River basin. Palaeoflood slackwater deposits (SWDs) are natural records of overbank flooding and are often identified in the Holocene aeolian loess–soil profiles along the river valley. Three bedsets of palaeoflood SWDs were found within the mid‐Holocene Climatic Optimum palaeosol (S₀) on the right riverbank. Both the sedimentary and the analytical results, including magnetic susceptibility, grain‐size distribution and concentrations of chemical elements, indicate that these palaeoflood SWDs were deposited from the suspended sediment load of overbank flooding. We identified three episodes of extraordinary overbank flooding events. These hydro‐climatic events were dated to 7600–7400, 5800–5000 and 4200–4000 a BP, from optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating and pedostratigraphical correlation. The minimum flood peak discharges were estimated to have been between 12 600 and 14 100 m³ s^?1 using the slope–area method. These hydro‐climatic events are considered to be a regional expression of known climatic events and demonstrate that the mid‐Holocene climate was far from stable. These results show that the magnitudes of floods are highly sensitive to climate change in semi‐arid and sub‐humid regions with a monsoonal climate.     

贵州荔波地区2000年来石笋高分辨率的气候记录

通过对荔波董哥洞石笋进行高精度的ICP MS或TIMS U系测年和碳、氧同位素分析，建立了荔波地区2 300a B.P.来高分辨率的古气候变化的时间序列。研究结果表明，贵州荔波地区2 300a B.P.以来石笋记录的季风气候变化，大致可分为8个气候(亚)期:① 2 300～1 800a B.P.为降温期，显示东亚夏季风减弱，东亚冬季风增强，气候干旱寒冷；② 1 800～1 080a B.P.气温有所回升，显示东亚冬季风缓慢减弱，东亚夏季风有所回升，表现为半湿润的温凉气候期；③ 1 080～680a B.P. 为降温期，气温再次下降，显示东亚冬季风再次增强，但降水相对增大，表现为寒冷湿润的气候期，是气候变化的关键转折时期；④ 680～550a B.P.温暖期，显示东亚夏季风再次增强，气温升高，降水增大，表现为温暖湿润的气候期。⑤ 550～400a B.P.寒冷期，显示东亚冬季风快速增强，气温下降，表现为寒冷湿润的气候环境，是近1 000年以来最冷的时期；⑥ 400～364a B.P.温凉期，显示东亚夏季风有所增强，气温有所回升，表现为温凉湿润气候环境；⑦ 364～324a B.P.冷凉期，显示东亚夏季风有所减弱，气温有所下降，表现为冷凉湿润气候环境；⑧ 324a B.P.至今，气候相对波动期，同位素记录曲线呈锯齿状波动，在其内包括若干个冷凉半湿润、冷湿的气候变化亚阶段。根据荔波董哥洞石笋的高分辨率的古气候变化的连续记录，揭示了荔波地区2 300a B.P.以来的一些百年尺度的重大气候事件——干旱寒冷期、隋唐温暖期(或小温暖期)、小寒冷期以及一些十年尺度的降水、温度变化。石笋记录的这种百年、十年尺度的突发性气候变化事件，与冰芯记录极为相似，反映低纬度地区石笋记录的季风气候与高纬度及北极地区的气候具有极好的相关性，这对于认识现代气候系统变化以及对未来十年—百年尺度的气候预测和演化的驱动机制，具有重要的科学意义。     

内蒙古正蓝旗地区全新世古环境变迁的孢粉记录

通过对正蓝旗闪电河剖面孢粉资料的分析,重建了内蒙古中部地区全新世以来古植被及古气候的演变过程。全新世早期气候温凉略干,为草原型植被或稀疏草原型植被;中期气候相对暖湿,为森林型植被;后期气候温凉偏干或凉爽偏干,为稀疏草原型植被或草原型植被。      

河西走廊花海古湖泊早、中全新世湖水盐度变化及其环境意义

通过对花海古湖泊沉积剖面8.42~0.405 m沉积物样品的矿物和化学元素测定,分析了沉积物中盐类矿物含量及化学元素K/Na比值的变化情况,结合已有的年代地层结果,重建了花海古湖泊10.47~5.5 cal ka BP湖水盐度变化. 结果表明：花海湖泊全新世湖相沉积阶段中,除个别层位以硫酸盐类矿物沉积为主外,早全新世(10.47~8.87 cal ka BP)和中全新世(8.87~5.5 cal ka BP)均以碳酸盐盐类矿物沉积为主,并且早全新世时期K/Na高于中全新世时期,揭示了早全新世时期湖水盐度高于中全新世时期. 这一结果与该湖泊沉积过程所揭示的湖泊水位变化、粒度等揭示的有效湿度变化具有一致性,表明花海湖泊早、中全新世湖水盐度的高低可以指示其湖泊水位的变化,并间接反映了有效湿度的变化. 结合花海湖泊晚全新世湖泊萎缩、气候干旱的特点,该区域早、中、晚全新世气候干湿变化变化模式可以概况为早全新世降水增强、气候呈现由干向湿的转变,中全新世有效湿度最大,晚全新世气候干旱. 这种全新世气候干湿变化模式有别于西风区,亦与季风区不完全相同,呈现出了一种季风-西风过渡带全新世气候干湿变化的模式.