末次盛冰期北美风成环境变化及其在全球气候突变事件中的意义

本文用末次冰期北美大冰盖南缘的风尘堆积记录来重建末次盛冰期的亚极地环境变化.磁化率、有机碳含量和潜育化程度的资料表明,末次盛冰期的前期(约21000～15000aB P.)植被覆盖较差,而后期(15000～10000aB.P.)植被覆盖较好,15 000aB.P.环境发生了急剧的变化,磁化率曲线显示了大约1000a的氧化-还原周期.这种大约1000a的环境变化周期很可能由低纬地区的海洋和大气的扰动所驱动,这种扰动的能量通过北美大冰盖及时地传递到北大西洋.     

中国黄土研究新进展(一)黄土地层

本文扼要介绍最近几年中国黄土研究中的土壤地层学、磁性地层学、气候地层学、第四纪下界及海陆古气候对比等方面的新进展。根据新发现的黄土剖面,中国黄土中共可区分出37个土壤地层单位。中国黄土底界的古地磁年龄为2.5MaB.P.。2.5Ma以来,中国北方共经历了37次大的冷暖交替。2.5MaB.P.前后,全球气候出现了一次大的转型事件,它可作为第四纪的开始。中国黄土-古土壤系列同深海氧同位素记录在1.7Ma至今的时段上可以很好的对比;2.5Ma至1.7MaB.P.的气候变化,以黄土记录较为明确。     

山东广饶地区晚更新世以来沉积演化与古气候变迁

受晚更新世以来海侵影响,渤海西南内陆第四系浅层经历了复杂的海陆交替演化。利用4口钻孔取芯井和88口静力触探井资料,采用现代测试技术和地层对比的方法对渤海西南内陆广饶地区第四系浅层进行沉积学综合研究。广饶地区地表以下30 m内,南部以风成黄土沉积为主,北部自上而下发育两期海相层,在研究区称为第一、第二海侵层,分别是10~4 ka B.P.的黄骅海侵层和40~28 ka B.P.的献县海侵层。黄土沉积于晚更新世玉木冰期,在研究区南部以17 m为界划分为大站组和羊栏河组(未见底)。晚更新世以来发生两期海侵事件(黄骅海侵、献县海侵),在海侵范围最大时到达广饶地区,先后对冰期沉积黄土层侵蚀改造,形成了“上超型海蚀黄土”的海侵演化模式。根据海侵与黄土沉积演化所对应的古气候变迁,将研究区晚更新世以来气候演变划分为6个期次:干冷期、温暖湿润期、干冷偏凉期、温暖期、潮湿湿润期和现代气候期,对应不同的沉积演化特征。     

Late Pleistocene loess‐palaeosol sequences in the Vojvodina region,north Serbia

Late Pleistocene loess‐palaeosol sequences are widespread in the Vojvodina region, with thicknesses reaching a maximum of about 20 m. Our investigations include more than 40 of these loess sections. Geochronology of the last glacial loess‐palaeosol sequences, based on luminescence dating and amino acid racemisation, provides correlations between Upper Pleistocene loess‐palaeosol sediments in Vojvodina and comparable deposits at other European localities. Sedimentary logs of magnetic susceptibility, grain‐size measurements and carbonate content, combined with malacological evidence, indicate two main relatively cold and arid phases during the last glacial period, related to intensive accumulation of loess units L1L1 and L1L2, as well as many brief episodes of dry and windy climatic conditions, suggesting a possible relationship with cold events recorded in the North Atlantic region. Generally, late Pleistocene climate in the region was dry and relatively warm, compared with glacial period sites in central Europe, and was characterised by sharp differences between glacial and interglacial modes. New data and interpretations presented in this study emphasise the significance of loess‐palaeosol sequences in Vojvodina for the reconstruction of the temporal and spatial evolution of late Pleistocene palaeoclimate in this part of Europe. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

中更新世以来华北平原植被演化及其气候响应

中更新世以来气候转型与陆地植被生态系统演变是近年来全球变化研究领域关注的热点问题。基于华北平原东部G3孔上部的孢粉分析结果、磁性地层年代,对中更新世以来华北平原植被演化及其气候响应过程进行研究。结果显示华北平原地区近1.6Ma以来植被演化可分为4个阶段:1.6~1.2Ma为密度较高的暖温带针阔叶混交林,1.2~0.7Ma为开阔的暖温带落叶阔叶林,0.7~0.3Ma为阔叶疏林草原,0.3Ma以来为暖温带落叶阔叶林。华北平原地区中更新世植被转型期对应O同位素36阶段,显示转型开始发生于1.2Ma,与全球中更新世转型期对应良好。其主要特征表现为林地减少,针叶林比例下降,藜科、蒿属、禾本科等草地面积显著增加。0.7Ma前后华北平原林地进一步退化,区域植被由原来的落叶阔叶林向疏林草原转变,0.3Ma后区域乔木比例可能有所回升。周期性气候变化对植被的影响在花粉谱中也有一定显示,1.2Ma之前主要表现为植被林地类型的交替发展,而1.2Ma则主要表现为草原与森林交替发展。     

Continuous record of environmental changes in Chukotka during the last 350 thousand years

The comprehensive study of the upper 1283 cm of sediment from Lake El’gygytgyn, which formed nearly 4 Ma ago following a meteorite impact in northern Chukotka, yielded the first continuous record of the extreme changes in the Beringian climate and vegetation from the middle Middle Pleistocene to recent time (equivalent of marine isotope stages of 1–7 and the upper part of isotope stage 8). During this period, the climate was warmer than at present between 8600 and 10 7000 ¹⁴C years and during the Late Pleistocene (isotope substage 5e, 116–128 ka ago). In 2003, the German-Russian-USA expedition continued studying sediments of Lake El’gygytgyn to obtain new evidence of the change in the vegetation cover in the Middle Pleistocene and the first information on the Middle Pleistocene interglacial (isotope stage 9; 297–347 ka ago). Pollen spectra characterizing the Middle Pleistocene interglacial are similar to spectra of the early stage of the Early Pleistocene interglacial and the climatic optimum in the Pleistocene to Holocene transitional period. The climatic history of Lake El’gygytgyn is basic for stratigraphic interpretations and correlations in the eastern sector of the Arctic. These data also expand our understanding of climatic changes that are studied within the framework of the “Pole-Equator-Pole Paleoclimate,” “Past Global Changes,” and other international projects.     

郧县前坊村剖面黄土-古土壤序列风化成壤及古气候研究

秦岭作为我国南方和北方地理、气候、自然环境的天然分界线,并当作是黄土高原的南屏障。汉江上游谷地地区位于秦岭南侧,属于北亚热带气候区域,受季风气候活动影响强烈。为了探讨该地区在亚热带气候背景下,风成黄土成壤改造对气候变化的响应机制,通过对汉江上游谷地前坊村（QFC）剖面磁化率、烧失量、粒度、Rb/Sr等理化性质进行研究。结果表明:①末次冰期以来沙尘暴很有可能越过秦岭在其南侧堆积,黄土-古土壤剖面地层序列从上到下依次为:MS-L₀-S₀-Lt-L₁-AD;这些沉积物完整记录了一级阶地上晚更新世气候变化信息,地层单元受到各个时期不同程度成壤强度的改造。②前坊村剖面中,理化性质在不同地层单元有显著差异。例如磁化率、烧失量、Rb/Sr指标平均含量的高值出现在古土壤层中,低值出现在黄土层;而Zr/Rb含量变化正好相反;这些理化性质表明,在古土壤发育期,水热条件进入最适宜期,沉积物的风化成壤作用显著;在黄土堆积期,气候寒冷干燥,主要以粉尘堆积为主,沉积物的风化成壤作用较弱。③秦岭南侧北亚热带汉江上游前坊村一级阶地剖面化学风化强度变化揭示了黄土-古土壤环境气候变化的规律:末次冰期以来（大约18.0～11.5 ka B.P.）,气候干冷,沙尘暴频繁出现,沉积物以黄土堆积为主,成壤作用微弱,形成马兰黄土（L₁）;全新世早期（约11.5～8.5 ka B.P.）,气候由干冷向暖湿方向转变,但主要以干冷为主,形成过渡层（Lt）;在全新世大暖期（8.5～3.1 ka B.P.）,气候条件达到最优阶段,水热配合较好,生物活动活跃,成壤作用十分显著,发育了古土壤S₀;到了全新世晚期以来（3.1 ka B.P.）气候又由暖湿向干冷方向转变,成壤作用明显减弱,沙尘暴出现较为频繁,形成了以黄土堆积为主的全新世黄土（L₀）。现代表土层（MS）是在（1.5 ka B.P.）以来气候转暖,加之人类长期农业耕作扰动,在全新世黄土L₀顶部叠加而形成的。     

Abrupt Climatic Changes during the Last Glaciation Based on Pollen Analysis of the Abric Romani, Catalonia, Spain

The Abric Romani continental pollen record provides evidence of abrupt climate variations during the last glaciation. The pollen record reveals a pattern of high-frequency variations similar to that in ice cores as shown by oxygen isotopes or dust content. Analyses of 14 travertine samples yield coherent U-series ages in correct stratigraphic order, ranging from 40,000 to 70,000 yr. According to changes in the composition and structure of the vegetation, five paleoclimatic phases have been differentiated; the oldest, ranging from 70,200 to 65,500 yr ago, records thermophilous taxa which correspond to the last warm events of isotopic stage 5. The next phase, from 65,500 to 56,800 yr, records a cold, humid climate that correlates with isotope stage 4. During the third phase, from 56,800 to 49,500 yr, relatively warm and cold events alternate. The fourth phase, from 49,500 to 46,200 yr, records a cold, dry climate. The fifth phase, ranging from 46,200 to 40,800 yr, records a milder phase that is similar in appearance to the beginning of the Holocene.     

宁镇地区中更新世环境演变的沉积学研究

句容放牛山剖面ESR测年、粒度以及磁化率的研究结果表明,下蜀黄土作为一种受后生成土作用强烈的风尘堆积,其性状与北方黄土差别很大,主要表现为由于成壤作用及次生风化作用导致粘粒含量增多。该剖面揭示出本区中更新世 5个气候暖湿期,分别是 :15 9~ 16 3ka,192ka,195~ 198ka,2 0 3~ 2 30ka与 311~ 35 0ka。其中第一个相对暖湿期不十分明显,在大致同时期的深海氧同位素 (V2 1- 14 6孔 ) 6阶段当中为一个小的气候回暖波动,第 2、3、4气候暖湿期可大致与西峰黄土S2古土壤层所反映的气候温暖事件相对应,可与深海氧同位素 (V2 1- 14 6孔 )第 7氧同位素阶段大致相对比。其中,前 4个温暖期可大致与老虎山下蜀黄土的标准剖面自上而下的 4个埋藏古土壤层相对应。旧石器考古发掘发现 6、7层有石器,从剖面测年资料及各环境代用指标综合分析得出,当时为暖湿的生态环境(即第 5个气候暖湿期 ),较适宜人类活动,与南京汤山猿人洞研究结果相一致。东北地区庙后山下层文化 (14 0 0~2 30ka)以大石片石器为主,文化面貌兼有华北大小两个石器系统的特征。这与该遗址发掘的石器相类似,这可能说明至少在中更新世中期长江河道应在句容以南。     

北大西洋IODP U1313站位早更新世深海沉积物陆源组分粒度特征及其环境意义*

北大西洋地区是全球环境变化研究的热点区域。对IODP（国际综合大洋钻探计划）北大西洋306航次U1313站位深海沉积物陆源组分的粒度分析发现,陆源组分主要由黏土(粒径小于4μm)和极细粉沙(4～8μm)两个粒级构成,以黏土为主,分选性较差。通过与钙质超微化石、有孔虫等生物化石资料和同位素测年等技术相结合,重建了古气候的变化情况：(1)2.415～1.897 Ma BP,气候呈周期性波动;(2)1.897～1.640 Ma BP,气候变化相对平缓;(3)1.640～1.471 Ma BP,气候波动剧烈且频繁。粒度指标所反映的几次粗颗粒增多事件与早更新世期间数次气候变冷事件的发生时间一致。1.6 Ma BP前后粒度参数的突然变化,可能与地球轨道参数的改变有关,进一步证实地球轨道参数作为气候系统外部驱动力的重要性。     

青藏高原与黄土高原毗邻地区晚更新世以来孢粉植物群及沉积环境

本文对青藏高原与黄土高原毗邻地区近20个剖面(点)的黄土沉积进行了孢粉分析表明,自晚更新世以来,研究区黄土剖面中古土壤层的孢粉种类、数量以及木本植物花粉成分均比黄土中多得多,反映了该时期研究区的气候条件比现今要温和湿润,植被较繁茂,以后逐渐旱化,但并不连续。此阶段研究区主要植物群的演替规律是:针叶林→森林草原→草原。     

西峰剖面午城黄土古风化强度变化与 早更新世季风环境演化*

游离铁(FeD)/全铁(FeT)比值被土壤学界用来反映土壤化学风化强度,并已在风尘堆积的古环境研究中得到较好应用。然而,迄今对第四纪黄土古风化强度的研究多集中于中更新世以来的序列,只有少数剖面的分析包含午城黄土。文章基于西峰剖面661个样品的FeD和FeT分析,建立了该剖面午城黄土的古风化强度序列,并与剖面原有1.2Ma以来的序列进行对比。结果表明,早更新世古土壤的风化强度与后期相比总体较低,而黄土层的风化强度总体偏高,反映了较小的冰期-间冰期反差; 古风化强度的波动总体上与深海氧同位素有较好的一致性,体现了全球冰量变化对我国北方季风环境的控制。2.6~1.6Ma期间,古土壤的平均风化强度在整个第四纪最低,指示了较弱的夏季风环境效应。从约1.6Ma开始到1.2Ma,古土壤和黄土层的风化强度均增加,并开始有较显著的约100ka周期。这些特征在深海氧同位素记录中没有表现,而与热带地区一些环境特征相吻合,从而指示了低纬过程对我国北方早更新世季风环境的显著影响。     

桂林地区水南洞14～25万年石笋的碳氧同位素记录和古气候重建

通过对桂林水南洞石笋进行高精度的热电离质谱(TIMS－U)测年和碳氧同位素分析,建立了桂林地区245.20 ka BP至147.90 ka BP间的古气候变化时间序列,确定了石笋记录的时段B与时段C分界的年龄为242.5±6.4 ka BP(相当于深海岩芯氧同位素标准曲线时段7与时段8分界的年龄)、时段A与时段B分界的年龄为 192.6±3.9 ka BP(相当于深海岩芯氧同位素标准曲线时段6与时段7分界的年龄)。桂林地区245.20～147.90 ka BP石笋记录的冷暖事件所反映出的古气候变化,大致可分为3个气候变化阶段:(1) 245.2～242.6 ka BP, 相当于深海岩芯氧同位素标准曲线阶段8的末期;(2) 242.5～192.6 ka BP,相当于深海岩芯氧同位素标准曲线时段7;(3)192.6～147.9 ka BP间的倒数第2次冰期, 相当于深海岩芯氧同位素标准曲线时段6的早中期。石笋的TIMS－U测年和碳氧同位素记录揭示,桂林地区245.2～147.9 ka BP的古气候演变历史与深海岩芯时段8末期、时段7和时段6的氧同位素,深海岩芯中记录的孢子花粉组合、CaCO3含量、海平面的升降变化以及与中国北方黄土、古土壤中记录的孢子花粉组合、成壤程度、全铁富集程度、磁化率变化、原生碎屑CaCO3含量和淋溶强度等所揭示的古气候和古季风变化具有极好的对应关系,表明桂林地区中更新世晚期以来的古气候演变既有全球性特征,又有着强烈的区域性特征。     

汾渭地堑的河流阶地对第四纪时期 印度-欧亚板块碰撞带的构造响应

秦岭造山带前缘的汾渭地堑是新构造运动非常活跃的地区,地堑内发育了一系列第四纪河流阶地。通过对河流阶地及其沉积物的沉积学、土壤地层学、年代学及形成机制的研究,得到以下认识:渭河地堑发育了5级河流阶地,这些阶地均由底部的河床相和其上的第四纪风成沉积组成,这5级阶地最底部的黄土地层分别是L₃₃,L₁₅,L₉,L₆和L₂。在磁性地层学和气候地层学基础上,通过与深海氧同位素记录的对比,上述黄土层分别对应于深海氧同位素阶段104,36,22,16 和6;阶地年龄分别为2.60Ma,1.20Ma,0.90Ma,0.65Ma和 0.15Ma。新构造作用在渭河地堑的5级河流阶地的形成中起了决定性的作用,汾渭地堑及上述由正断层控制的河流阶地的形成与华北板块内部的NW-SE向地壳拉张密切相关,而后者与印度板块向北俯冲导致扬子板块与华北板块沿秦岭走滑断层的相对运动有直接联系,所以上述阶地的形成时期也正是第四纪时期印度板块向北阶段性俯冲加剧的时期。     

云南宝秀盆地泥炭—褐煤孢粉组合

由孢粉分析可知,宝秀盆地泥炭-褐煤自新第三纪上新世中期或早更新世初期至今,各个地质历史时期均有形成和积累;泥炭-褐煤堆积经历了温热-温暖-温凉的冷暖气候交替变化过程,相当于暖湿的大西洋期、温湿偏干的亚大西洋期和现代偏冷湿的山地气候。古植物变化为针叶林、阔叶林,针-阔叶混交林,落叶-常绿阔叶林和现在的稀疏灌丛和茂盛的草本植物。      

洞庭盆地两护村孔孢粉组合及其气候与地层意义

两护村ZKC1孔位于洞庭盆地安乡凹陷的东南部,孔内第四系(底部跨上新世)厚达294 m,为河流和湖泊沉积,自下而上依次为上新世—早更新世华田组、早更新世汨罗组、中更新世洞庭湖组、晚更新世坡头组以及全新统等。对ZKC1孔第四系进行了详细的孢粉分析,自下而上划分出16个孢粉组合带。ESR年龄和孢粉组合及其反映的气候特征指示华田组下段形成于上新世末。根据孢粉组合特征,结合构造—沉积演化和区域气候背景,重塑洞庭盆地上新世末以来的气候演化过程:上新世末期由孢粉带Ⅰ和Ⅱ指示具暖干气候。早更新世经历了凉干(孢粉带Ⅲ、Ⅳ)→暖湿间凉干(孢粉带Ⅴ～Ⅶ)→冷干间温湿(孢粉带Ⅷ～Ⅹ)→暖较湿(孢粉带Ⅺ,Ⅻ)的气候演变过程。中更新世早期无孢粉样品(洞庭湖组下部砾石层),其沉积环境暗示冷干气候条件;中期由孢粉带ⅩⅢ反映出暖稍湿的气候特征;晚期因构造抬升缺失沉积,同期湿热化事件指示暖湿气候。晚更新世早期缺乏沉积,据区域对比应为寒冷气候;中期由孢粉带ⅩⅣ指示温较湿的气候特征;晚期缺失沉积,系寒冷气候下区域海平面下降所致。全新世经历了暖稍湿(孢粉带ⅩⅤ)→暖稍干(孢粉带ⅩⅥ)的演变。上述气候演变过程与ZKC1孔化学蚀变指数曲线反映的气候演变过程以及中国东部第四纪气候演化基本吻合。以孔深140 m为界,上部孢粉数量显著高于下部,种属也更为丰富。这一变化很可能对应于一次重要的地质事件,其成因有待今后深入研究。     

Multiphase timing of hominin occupations and the paleoenvironment in Luonan Basin, Central China

Thousands of Paleolithic artifacts have been recovered from Paleolithic sites in the Luonan Basin, in the upper South Luohe River of central China. Their discovery suggests that the basin was an important area for hominin settlement during the Pleistocene. However, the initial timing of this occupation and the environmental conditions for this period are still largely unknown. In addition, the sediments are not well dated and most of the artifacts lie on the surface. In an attempt to resolve these issues, a new systemic paleomagnetic analysis was carried out on the loess deposits that contain in situ stone tools. Our detailed loess-paleosol analyses of the stratigraphy of different sites in the basin and Chinese Loess Plateau shows the accumulation of the loess since at least 1.1 million years (Ma) ago. Moreover, recently discovered in situ cores, flakes and retouched stone tools in these deposits show that hominins used this region repeatedly from 0.8-0.7 Ma to 0.4-0.3 and 0.2-0.1 Ma. Pedostratigraphic analyses, magnetic susceptibility and carbon isotope analyses also indicate that these hominins lived in a subtropical to warm-temperate climate with broad-needle-leaf forest vegetation mixed with grasses.     

青海循化盆地晚更新世沉积序列与古气候

河流阶地作为河谷中常见地貌, 其堆积物特征对气候变化过程研究具有重要的意义.通过对循化黄河Ⅲ级阶地剖面沉积特征、粒度、磁化率、孢粉以及光释光测年的研究, 初步厘定循化黄河Ⅲ级阶地形成时代为75 ka.循化盆地晚更新世气候演化可以大致划分为6个阶段: 120~114 ka, 气候暖湿; 114~105 ka, 气候较为干冷; 105~98 ka, 气候较暖湿; 98~85 ka, 气候转为温凉; 85~75 ka, 气候暖湿; 75~63 ka, 气候干冷.这6个阶段分别与MIS5e-4段相对应.      

Loess record of the Pleistocene–Holocene transition on the northern and central Great Plains, USA

Various lines of evidence support conflicting interpretations of the timing, abruptness, and nature of climate change in the Great Plains during the Pleistocene–Holocene transition. Loess deposits and paleosols on both the central and northern Great Plains provide a valuable record that can help address these issues. A synthesis of new and previously reported optical and radiocarbon ages indicates that the Brady Soil, which marks the boundary between late Pleistocene Peoria Loess and Holocene Bignell Loess, began forming after a reduction in the rate of Peoria Loess accumulation that most likely occurred between 13.5 and 15 cal ka. Brady Soil formation spanned all or part of the Bølling-Allerød episode (approximately 14.7–12.9 cal ka) and all of the Younger Dryas episode (12.9–11.5 cal ka) and extended at least 1000 years beyond the end of the Younger Dryas. The Brady Soil was buried by Bignell Loess sedimentation beginning around 10.5–9 cal ka, and continuing episodically through the Holocene. Evidence for a brief increase in loess influx during the Younger Dryas is noteworthy but very limited. Most late Quaternary loess accumulation in the central Great Plains was nonglacigenic and was under relatively direct climatic control. Thus, Brady Soil formation records climatic conditions that minimized eolian activity and allowed effective pedogenesis, probably through relatively high effective moisture.Optical dating of loess in North Dakota supports correlation of the Leonard Paleosol on the northern Great Plains with the Brady Soil. Thick loess in North Dakota was primarily derived from the Missouri River floodplain; thus, its stratigraphy may in part reflect glacial influence on the Missouri River. Nonetheless, the persistence of minimal loess accumulation and soil formation until 10 cal ka at our North Dakota study site is best explained by a prolonged interval of high effective moisture correlative with the conditions that favored Brady Soil formation. Burial of both the Brady Soil and the Leonard Paleosol by renewed loess influx probably represents eolian system response that occurred when gradual change toward a drier climate eventually crossed the threshold for eolian activity. Overall, the loess–paleosol sequences of the central and northern Great Plains record a broad peak of high effective moisture across the late Pleistocene to Holocene boundary, rather than well-defined climatic episodes corresponding to the Bølling-Allerød and Younger Dryas episodes in the North Atlantic region.