Chinese stalagmite paleoclimate researches: A review and perspective

Stalagmite is one kind of secondary carbonates formed in limestone caves(speleothem). After cave water droplets containing Ca~(2+)and HCO_3 drip onto floor, carbonate in the water might become supersaturated due to CO_2 degassing under certain conditions, resulting in the formation of stalagmite in a process year after year. Stalagmite is one of important geological archives for paleoclimate research. The advantages include wide spatial distribution, suitable for U-Th and U-Pb dating, enriched in climate proxies, continuity, long time span, comparability and lower sampling cost etc. These factors have propelled stalagmite paleoclimate research to the forefront of global paleoclimatology with an irreplaceable role. The stalagmite paleoclimate study started in the western countries, mainly in Europe and America in 1960 s–1970 s, while the relevant research in China was progressively developed in the 1980 s–1990 s after the Reform and Opening up. Although there was a huge gap between the overall research level in China and western countries, a solid research foundation, as well as a number of talent teams were established during the period. In the 21 st century, starting from the publication of stalagmite records from Hulu Cave in Nanjing in 2001, the stalagmite paleoclimate research in China has ushered in a flourishing development and a real leap on the basis of international cooperation, resulting in significant international impacts. The landmark achievements, including establishment of the world's longest(640000 years) East Asian monsoon stalagmite record, as well as the longest Indian monsoon(280000 years),South American monsoon(250000 years), North American westerly climate(330000 years), Central Asian westerly climate(135000 years), and northwestern China westerly climate(500000 years), have laid a milestone in the paleoclimate study in these climate domains. Importantly, these stalagmite records have revealed the relationship of Asian monsoon variations with solar insolation climate change in polar regions, and the South American monsoon changes on orbital-suborbital timescales, which have provided new geological observations for the development of orbital-suborbital climate theory; elaborated coupling and differentiation relationships between the Asian monsoon and the westerly climate; reconstructed the history of Asian monsoon changes in the Holocene in detail, and thus the hydrological and climate variances behind Chinese and Indian civilizationcultural evolutions. Furthermore, a large number of high-resolution stalagmite records over the past 2000 years have been reconstructed, which are important for understanding short-term climate variability and magnitude, events, cycles, and thus the future climate projection. The achievements have also involved the improvements of a number of important techniques, such as U-Th dating method, the establishments of various hydroclimatic proxies, as well as the contributions to the reconstruction of the atmosphere~(14)C variation history over the past ～54000 years. On the perspective of the future, the Chinese stalagmite community should continue to develop key techniques, further clarify the hydroclimatic significance of stalagmite proxies, impel the integration of related disciplines, and concentrate on key scientific issues in global climate change and major social demands.     

In Situ Time Series Estimation of Downwelling Diffuse Attenuation Coefficient at Southern Bay of Bengal

The present study is aimed to determine the bio-optical characteristics of oceanic waters during South west monsoon in Bay of Bengal using hyperspectral radiometer. The variability of diffuse attenuation coefficient, K_d(λ), with chlorophyll a showed a good relation at shorter wavelengths, indicating the effect of phytoplankton on K_d(λ). The determination coefficient, R² at 412, 443, 490 and 555 nm were greater than 0.931. A good linear relation between K_d(490) and K_d(λ) was observed at shorter wavelengths. These relationships of K_d(λ) provides a platform to study the underwater light field during Southwest monsoon in Bay of Bengal.     

赣北石笋记录的新仙女木事件

新仙女木事件(Younger Dryas,简称YD)是末次冰消期升温过程中发生的一次北半球急剧降温事件,目前全球范围多个地区的地质记录中均有发现该事件的印记.然而,受限于定年误差或采样分辨率等因素,关于YD事件的精确起止时间、精细内部结构和触发机制仍存在争议.本研究利用江西北部神农宫溶洞内一支文石石笋SN29(总长度426 mm,其中距离顶部220~388 mm用于本研究),通过高精度 230Th定年和氧、碳稳定同位素测试分析,建立了13614~10811 a B. P.期间平均分辨率12年的石笋氧同位素(δ18O)变化序列.该记录最为显著的特征是δ18O值在12851~11575 a B. P.时段偏正1. 7‰,指示了一次显著的弱季风突变事件,响应于北大西洋YD事件. SN29为高铀含量文石石笋且生长速率较快,精确界定了响应于YD事件的东亚弱季风事件的起止时间和精细内部结构.结果表明: YD期间, SN29记录的东亚弱夏季风事件的开始时间为 12851±16 a B. P.,经历了约249年;结束过程开始于11575±19 a B. P.,经历了约146年;整个YD弱季风事件共持续了 1276±35年.东亚季风区各石笋δ18O记录的YD弱季风事件在误差范围内基本一致,且与格陵兰冰芯δ18O记录和低纬度其他记录的发生时间一致,支持YD时期东亚夏季风减弱事件可能是对大量淡水进入北大西洋导致径向翻转流减弱、北半球变冷、ITCZ南移的快速响应的假说.     

Heavy metals concentration in soils under rainfed agro-ecosystems and their relationship with soil properties and management practices

Heavy metals are governed by parent material of soils and influenced by the soil physicochemical properties and soil and crop management practices. This paper evaluates total heavy metal concentrations in rainfed soils under diverse management practices of tropical India. Vertisols (clayey soils with high shrink/swell capacity) had the highest concentrations of heavy metals. However, chromium (Cr) content was above the threshold value in Aridisol [calcium carbonate (CaCO₃)]-containing soils of the arid environments with subsurface horizon development. Concentration increased at lower depths (>30 cm). Basaltic soils showed higher concentrations of nickel (Ni), copper (Cu) and manganese (Mn). Cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), Cu and Mn concentrations were higher in soils cultivated to cotton, whereas Cr concentration was above the threshold level of 110 mg kg^?1 in food crop cultivated soils. As the specific soil surface is closely related to clay content and clay type, soil’s ability to retain heavy metals is more closely tied to the specific surface than to the soil cation exchange capacity. Higher positive correlations were found between heavy metal concentrations and clay content [Cd(r = 0.85; p ≤ 0.01); Co (r = 0.88; p ≤ 0.05); Ni (r = 0.87; p ≤ 0.01); Co (r = 0.81; p ≤ 0.05); Zn (r = 0.49; p ≤ 0.01); Cr (r = 0.80; p ≤ 0.05); Mn (r = 0.79; p ≤ 0.01)]. The amounts of nitrogen–phosphorus–potassium applied showed a positive correlation with Co and Ni (r = 0.62; p ≤ 0.05). As several soils used for growing food crops are high in Ni, Cr and Mn, the flow of these metals in soil–plant–livestock/human chain needs further attention.     

石笋记录的印度季风Heinrich 2事件结束过程

H2事件是发生于末次冰盛期的一次显著的气候突变事件,对理解千年气候事件和内部机制具有重要意义.然而,目前具有高精度和精确定年的H2事件气候记录依然很少,这在很大程度上限制了对H2事件起止时间、内部细节和触发机制的进一步研究.本研究基于印度东北部乞拉朋齐洞(Cherrapunji Cave)具有年纹层的石笋CHE-2 (总长940 mm)的21个U-Th年代、 2701条纹层的计数和259个δ18O数据,重建了25. 50~24. 76 ka B. P.和24. 38~22. 42 ka B. P.(99. 5~437. 0 mm样品段)期间石笋δ18O的高分辨率(24. 38~23. 08 ka B. P.时段平均分辨率8年,其他时段平均分辨率14年)、精确时间序列,刻画了印度东北部地区H2事件的结束过程和精细结构.研究表明,乞拉朋齐洞石笋记录的H2事件结束时段为 24. 280±0. 028~23. 436±0. 028 ka B. P.,共持续 844±3年,振幅约为1. 9‰,事件发生时间在误差范围内与东亚季风区石笋记录和格陵兰冰芯记录同步,在此期间,δ18O记录呈现了两次负偏过程(24. 28~24. 17 ka B. P.和23. 90~23. 44 ka B. P.)和一段相对稳定过程(24. 17~23. 90 ka B. P.),叠加了多个百年-十年际尺度的气候振荡.本研究得到的高分辨率δ18O精确时间序列对于改善气候模型和检验气候事件假说有一定意义.从亚洲季风区与高纬地区同时段H2事件记录的对比来看,其发生机制可能主要包括以下几个方面: 1)淡水注入北大西洋导致AMOC减弱,北高纬温度降低,推动ITCZ南移;北高纬温度变化的信号通过西风带和蒙古冷高压传递到亚洲季风区,从而影响亚洲夏季风;2)H2事件结束过程可能受到南极缓慢变暖的影响;3)低纬和青藏高原的变化也可能对H2事件产生复杂的影响.这些依然有待更多的高分辨率记录和气候模拟结果的进一步验证.     

The role of economic analysis in groundwater management in semi-arid regions: the case of Nigeria

The aim of this paper is to use an economic framework to derive decision making rules for river basin management with a focus on groundwater resources. Using an example from northern Nigeria, the paper provides an example of how decision making for sustainable water resources management may be facilitated by comparing net benefits and costs across a river basin. It is argued that economic tools can be used to assess the value of water resources in different uses, identify and analyze management scenarios, and provide decision rules for the sustainable use and management of surface and ground water resources in the region.