利用洞穴石笋的δ~(18)O和δ~(13)C重建3000a以来北京地区古气候和古环境——石花洞研究系列之三

首次提出用石笋中稳定同位素记录重建由降雨量和降水气团同位素组成所反映的古气候历史，从而为研究高分辨率的古季风气候信息开辟了新的途径。利用Ｈｅｎｄｙ准则、洞穴温度、研究区水系的δ１８ＯＨ２Ｏ值以及温度公式，证实了同位素分析结果的可靠性，ＣａＣＯ３－Ｈ２Ｏ之间存在同位素平衡分馏。对采自石花洞的石笋样品进行了分辨率约为２５ａ的δ１８Ｏ和δ１３Ｃ的分析测量，从而得到３０００ａ以来，北京地区古气候和古环境的变化信息     

利用洞穴石笋的δ18O和δ13C重建3000a以来北京地区古气候和古环境——石花洞研究系列之三

首次提出用石笋中稳定同位素记录重建由降雨量和降水气团同位素组成所反映的古气候历史，从而为研究高分辨率的古季风气候信息开辟了新的途径。利用Ｈｅｎｄｙ准则、洞穴温度、研究区水系的δ１８ＯＨ２Ｏ值以及温度公式，证实了同位素分析结果的可靠性，ＣａＣＯ３－Ｈ２Ｏ之间存在同位素平衡分馏。对采自石花洞的石笋样品进行了分辨率约为２５ａ的δ１８Ｏ和δ１３Ｃ的分析测量，从而得到３０００ａ以来，北京地区古气候和古环境的变化信息     

利用洞穴石笋的δ^18O和δ^13C重建3000a以来北京地区古气候和古环…

首次提出用石笋中稳定同位素记录重建由降雨量和降水气团同位素组成所反映的古气候历史，从而为研究分辨率古季风气候信息开辟了新的途径，利用Ｈｅｎｄｙ准则，洞穴温度，研究区水系的δ＾１８ＯＨ２Ｏ值以及温度公式，证实了同位素分析结果的可靠性ＣａＣＯ３－Ｈ２Ｏ之间存在同位素平衡分馏，对采自石花洞的石笋样品进行了分辨率约在２５ａ的δ＾１８Ｏ和δ＾１３Ｃ的分析测量，从而得到３０００ａ以来，北京地区古气候和古环境的     

红河断裂北段土壤中断层气含量变化特征

介绍了作者在滇西地震预报实验场区进行的土壤中断层气研究结果．沿红河断裂带断层气组分Ｈ２,ＣＯ２,Ｈｇ和Ｒｎ含量很高．沿该断裂洱源测线断层气Ｈ２,ＣＯ２和Ｒｎ含量最低,向南Ｈ２,ＣＯ２含量逐渐升高,其中以定西岭测线的Ｈ２,ＣＯ２含量最高．表明在该段断裂活动强烈,而洱源一带断裂活动较弱．     

地下气体运移变化的物理化学机制研究

在河北省怀来县后郝窑地区，对地下气体运移变化的影响因素进行了野外模拟实验研究。选择３个试验点，对地下气体的扩散作用，物理化学影响因素及水压效应等进行了模拟实验，主要研究Ｈ２，ＣＯ２气体运移变化机制。实验研究表明，Ｈ２，ＣＯ２气体运移变化机制不尽相同，水压效应对Ｈ２，ＣＯ２等地下气体运移影响相当明显     

柴达木盆地沙下盐湖的卤水化学及矿物沉积特征：以察尔汗盐湖区北部外围地？

对柴达木盆地察尔汗盐湖区外围沙下盐湖的卤水及沉积进行了综合研究。沙下盐湖卤水化学组成与地表径流和开放性盐湖卤水之间存在明显的差异性，具有高Ｎａ＾＋＋Ｃｌ＾－、低Ｍｇ＾２＋＋Ｃａ＾２＋＋ＳＯ４＾２－、贫Ｋ＾＋＋ＣＯ３＾２－＋ＨＣＯ３＾－等特征。沙下盐湖析盐层位含有新生矿物并夹带碎屑矿物，其盐类矿物组合为：石盐＋羟氯镁铝石＋光卤石。２５℃等温蒸发相图表明，其卤水演化方向往光卤石析出区迁移，在穿越上覆盖     

青藏高原雪冰电导率与降水碱度以及大气粉尘载荷变化的关系

对青藏高原小冬克玛底冰川和古里雅冰帽上的数个雪坑和浅冰芯的观测，得 出其碱度（ＯＨ－）剖面、雪坑和冰芯的液态电导率（ＥＣ）变化与ＯＨ－之间呈良好线性相关 （ｒ≥０．８）。分析表明，无论在季节、年际或百年际时间尺度上，ＥＣ与ＯＨ－间的相关性以 及ＥＣ与可溶离子总量（ＴＤＳ）间的相关程度是大致相当的。ＥＣ的波动主要取决于粉尘来 源的碱性盐类（尤其Ｃａ２＋）的变化。因此，ＥＣ参量运用到深冰芯研究中，可反映历史时期 大气粉尘载荷的变化，对反演沙漠演化、大气环流有重要意义。古里雅冰芯记录表明， 大气粉尘的中、长期变化可能取决于气候参量的组合特征：“冷－干”气候阶段粉尘量 上升，ＥＣ和ＯＨ－值高；“暖－湿”阶段粉尘量下降，ＥＣ和ＯＨ－值低。２０世纪初以来，随 着藏北高原气候呈现暖湿化趋势，大气粉尘载荷明显下降。因此，ＥＣ可作为显示大气尘 埃载荷变化的宏观标尺，是气候波动的“指示器”。     

气体封存和放置方法的实验研究

用玻璃及不锈钢扩散管进行了气体样品的各种封存，放置方法的试验研究。结果表明，用普通玻璃扩散管盛气，ＮａＣｌ饱和溶液封闭，倒立放置，在一个月内各气体组分含量变化在±５％范围以内，是一种简便，适用的气体封存，放置方法。     

河西走廊榆木山前土壤发育特征及其随时间的演变关系

在河西走廊榆木山前开展了旨在用于活动构造测年工作的土壤发育年代学新方法的研究。通过在不同时代河流阶地上开挖土壤探槽,系统采集土壤样品并进行化学成分分析,以及对各级河流阶地形成年代的＾１４Ｃ和热释光年龄测定,详细研究了该区与断层新活动有关的土壤发育的主要物理和化学特性及其随时间（年代）的演变规律,初步建立起了土壤ＣａＣＯ３含量和ＣａＣＯ３累积指数数值与发育年代之间的定量计算关系式,经回检和对比分析认     

河西走廊榆木山前土壤发育特征及其随时间(年代)的演变关系

在河西走廊榆木山前开展了旨在用于活动构造测年工作的土壤发育年代学方法的研究。通过在不同时代河流阶地上开挖土壤探槽、系统采集土壤样品并进行化学成分分析,以及对各级河流阶地形成年代的１４Ｃ和热释光年龄测定,详细研究了本区与断层新活动有关的土壤发育的主要物理和化学特性及其随时间（年代）的演变规律,初步建立起了土壤ＣａＣＯ３含量和ＣａＣＯ３累积指数与发育年代的定量计算关系式。经回检和对比分析认为,所建定量计算关系式可试用于同类地区活动断层的测年工作     

Optimizing radiocarbon chronologies in peat profiles with examples from Xinjiang,China

Reliable chronological frameworks are crucial to paleoenvironmental studies, and high precision ¹⁴C dating is the foundation, but many factors, such as dating materials, surficial deposition (influenced by nuclear bomb), and the ¹⁴C age plateau, will affect the reliability of the ¹⁴C ages and chronology frameworks. In this paper, we present 87 ¹⁴C dates of different peat fractions from three peat sites in Xinjiang, China. Plant macrofossils, rootlets, the fine fraction of <90 μm, the mid-size fraction of 90–250 μm and the coarse fraction of >250 μm from selected peat samples were measured to investigate the alternative suitable fraction for dating except for plant macrofossils. We discovered that the 90–250 μm component of peat can provide alternative and reliable results in case of plant macrofossils are not available. Additionally, more dating samples from surficial peat deposition were collected, and accurate surface chronological control points were produced by comparing ¹⁴C results of plant macrofossils with atmospheric ¹⁴C bomb data. Furthermore, multiple data sets with wiggle matching were used along the radiocarbon age plateau to minimize calibrated errors when dates on the ¹⁴C age plateau were shown. Finally, radiocarbon chronology frameworks in peat profiles were optimized. In conclusion, we not only focus on the reliable dating materials, but also highlight that the importance of surficial deposition (after 1950AD) and the anomalous ¹⁴C dates when establishing the dating framework in peat profiles. Furthermore, we propose that the obtaining chronological control points of surficial peat is an important part of the establishing and improving of peat chronological framework in future research.     

Dating basal peat: The geochronology of peat initiation revisited

Attributing the start of peat growth to an absolute timescale requires dating the bottom of peat deposits overlying mineral sediment, often called the basal peat. Peat initiation is reflected in the stratigraphy as a gradual transition from mineral sediment to increasingly organic material, up to where it is called peat. So far, varying criteria have been used to define basal peat, resulting in divergent approaches to date peat initiation. The lack of a universally applicable and quantitative definition, combined with multiple concerns that have been raised previously regarding the radiocarbon dating of peat, may result in apparent ages that are either too old or too young for the timing of peat initiation. Here, we aim to formulate updated recommendations for dating peat initiation. We provide a conceptual framework that supports the use of the organic matter (OM) gradient for a quantitative and reproducible definition of the mineral-to-peat transition (i.e., the stratigraphical range reflecting the timespan of the peat initiation process) and the layer defined as basal peat (i.e., the stratigraphical layer that is defined as the bottom of a peat deposit). Selection of dating samples is often challenging due to poor preservation of plant macrofossils in basal peat, and the representativity of humic and humin dates for the age of basal peat is uncertain. We therefore analyse the mineral-to-peat transition based on three highly detailed sequences of radiocarbon dates, including dates of plant macrofossils and the humic and humin fractions obtained from bulk samples. Our case study peatland in the Netherlands currently harbours a bog vegetation, but biostratigraphical analyses show that during peat initiation the vegetation was mesotrophic. Results show that plant macrofossils provide the most accurate age in the mineral-to-peat transition and are therefore recommendable to use for ¹⁴C dating basal peat. If these are unattainable, the humic fraction provides the best alternative and is interpreted as a terminus-ante-quem for peat initiation. The potential large age difference between dates of plant macrofossils and humic or humin dates (up to ∼1700 years between macrofossil and humic ages, and with even larger differences for humins) suggests that studies reusing existing bulk dates of basal peat should take great care in data interpretation. The potentially long timespan of the peat initiation process (with medians of ∼1000, ∼1300 and ∼1500 years within our case study peatland) demonstrates that choices regarding sampling size and resolution need to be well substantiated. We summarise our findings as a set of recommendations for dating basal peats, and advocate the widespread use of OM determination to obtain a low-cost, quantitative and reproducible definition of basal peat that eases intercomparison of studies.     

Using the N/C ratio to correct bulk radiocarbon ages from lake sediments: Insights from Chilean Patagonia

The offset between AMS radiocarbon ages obtained on bulk lake sediments and the true age of deposition was evaluated at four sites in Northern Chilean Patagonia. Our results show that the bulk radiocarbon ages are systematically older by 300 to 1100 years. In this region free of carbonate and carbonaceous rocks, we argue that this difference results from variable inputs of terrestrial organic carbon from the Holocene soils that cover the lake watersheds. For the four studied lakes, the age offset is clearly related to the fraction of terrestrial carbon preserved in the lake sediments, which was estimated using the N/C ratio of the bulk organic matter. We propose that N/C measurements can be used to significantly improve chronologies based on radiocarbon dating of bulk lake sediments.     

Characterization of organic matter in marine sediments to estimate age offset of bulk radiocarbon dating

Radiocarbon dating of Arctic marine sediment is often challenging due to the low availability of calcareous fossils. Consequently, bulk organic matter dating has at times been used to establish sediment core chronologies. Yet, radiocarbon dates based on bulk organic matter often appear to deviate vastly from dates based on fossils, mainly caused by input of allochthounous carbon, including terrigenous organic matter. In this study, we aim to examine the link between the composition of the bulk organic matter and the age offsets between the bulk radiocarbon dates and those obtained from calcareous foraminiferal tests. All samples are taken from the marine sediment core AMD14-204C from offshore Upernavik (eastern Baffin Bay). The radiocarbon dates for bulk organic matter are on average ∼3000 years older than the radiocarbon dates based on foraminifera, but with changing age offsets throughout the record. To investigate the cause of this age offset and its variations over time, we applied core scanning, X-ray Fluorescence analysis, stable isotopes, organic pyrolysis and microscopic organic petrology to examine the distribution and characterization of the organic matter. The results show that the older organic matter includes clastic input of reworked sedimentary rocks potentially originating from West Greenland and/or the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Changes in the input of contemporary marine algal produced organic matter versus both terrigenous input and reworked ancient organic matter appear to control the age offsets between the bulk and foraminifera dates. A low Hydrogen Index and low δ¹³C_org values together with a high Oxygen Index, indicative of high influence of terrigenous organic matter, seem to correspond to samples with the largest age offsets; 1000–2000 years greater than in other samples. To examine the cause of the variations in the age offsets, a new quantification of the autochthonous organic matter as a fraction of the TOC was calculated. This shows that samples with the largest age offsets contained the lowest fraction (as low as ∼12%) of autochthonous organic matter in the TOC.     

Bioavailability and radiocarbon age of fluvial dissolved organic matter (DOM) from a northern peatland-dominated catchment: effect of land-use change

The radiocarbon age and biodegradability of dissolved organic matter (DOM) from a northern peat-dominated river system was studied and the effects of land-use were compared. Samples were obtained from streams and ditches comprising sub-catchments of the Kiiminki River, Northern Finland. Sample sites included areas of natural mire, areas subjected to moderate disturbance (ditching to enhance forestry), and areas subjected to serious land use change (agriculture and peat excavation). The study employed a 55 day bioassay that measured the biodegradation potential of surface-water DOM. We identified release of modern (mean 6–13 year old) DOM from natural sites, and material aged up to 1,553 years from disturbed sites. The proportion of biodegradable DOC ranged from 4.1 to 17.9 %, and bacterial DOC removal was modelled using twin-pool and reactivity-continuum (beta distribution) approaches. Bacterial growth efficiency ranged from 0.11 to 0.26 between areas of different land use, and these relatively low values reflect the humic-rich DOM released from boreal peatland. Despite the range of land-use types studied, including intensive peatland excavation areas, there was no detectable relationship between the biological lability of DOM and its radiocarbon age.     

Low temperature (LT) combustion of sediments does not necessarily provide accurate radiocarbon ages for site chronology

Radiocarbon dating of soils and sediments is notoriously problematic for the purposes of dating a specific event due to their heterogeneous mix of multiple organic fractions, each of which may have a different radiocarbon age. Numerous studies have failed to agree on which sedimentary fraction or radiocarbon pre-treatment method, if any, provides the closest agreement between the age of a sedimentary fraction and that of associated plant macrofossils or charcoal. We tested the stepped-combustion method of McGeehin et al. (2001), as well as standard radiocarbon humin and humic extraction techniques, using samples from a chronologically well-constrained perennially-frozen site at Quartz Creek, Yukon Territory, Canada. The ages in closest agreement with associated radiocarbon-dated plant macrofossils and with the overlying Dawson tephra were given by the humic and humin fractions, but even these were still older than the macrofossil ages by up to 4195 ± 260 radiocarbon years. The low temperature (LT) humin method recommended by McGeehin et al. (2001) yielded ages older than the macrofossils by up to nearly 4425 ± 240 radiocarbon years. These fractions, while still providing information on the mobility and potential residence times of carbon in soils and sediments, should not be relied upon to provide consistently accurate site chronologies.     

Identifying a reliable target fraction for radiocarbon dating sedimentary records from lakes

Lake basins that experience rapid rates of deposition act as high-resolution environmental archives because they produce sedimentary records that have centennial or even decadal resolution. However, identifying target fractions for radiocarbon dating of lake sediments remains problematic because reworked organic material from fluvial catchments can produce anomalously old radiocarbon ages. This study determines the extent to which reworked material from catchment soils impacts radiocarbon dates on pollen and other organic concentrates by comparing radiocarbon dates produced by these techniques against a chronostratigraphic marker in cores from Lake Mapourika, New Zealand. Pollen preferentially preserved and reworked from catchment soils was identified using soil palynology. A technique was then developed to remove reworked pollen types from pollen concentrates extracted from lake sediment. Identification and removal of reworked pollen from pollen concentrates produced ages that were consistently closer to the age of the chronostratigraphic horizon than other organic concentrates. However, these dates were still between 736 and 366 calendar years older than expected. The only organic fractions that reliably reproduced the age of the chronostratigraphic horizon were terrestrial leaf macrofossils, although terrestrial leaf macrofossils isolated from megaturbidite deposits, which are formed by high-energy depositional events, also provided anomalously old ages. The results indicate that leaf material extracted from hemipelagite, which accumulates gradually, is likely to be the only organic fraction to produce reliable chronology in lakes where a component of sedimentation is driven by the fluvial system. The results also demonstrate the importance of conducting a detailed investigation of physical sedimentology before selecting material for radiocarbon dating lake sediments.     

Sequential radiocarbon measurement of bulk peat for high-precision dating of tsunami deposits

Dates of tsunami deposits have been used to estimate paleotsunami recurrence intervals in areas affected by these natural events. The depositional age of tsunami deposits is commonly constrained by the radiocarbon (¹⁴C) dating of sediments above and below the geological event. However, because of calibration curve fluctuations, the depositional age sometimes has a wide error range. In this study, we conducted millimeter-scale high-resolution radiocarbon measurements of tsunami deposits at Urahoro in southern Hokkaido, Japan. The site faces the Pacific Ocean along the Kuril Trench. Eight event deposits were identified within peat at this site. We took sequential measurements for ¹⁴C dating using bulk peat samples. The results were validated based on comparison with the absolute and radiometric ages of tephra layers. Dating results were further constrained by stratigraphic order using statistical methods. We constrained the depositional age of the paleotsunami deposits better using this method than we did when using conventional methods. We proposed an efficient measurement strategy with respect to the radiocarbon calibration curve. This method is also applicable for other deposits formed by any natural hazard if bulk peat is obtainable so it can contribute to better hazard assessment worldwide.     

Flandrian relative sea level changes in the Ythan Valley,Northeast Scotland

Relict Flandrian estuarine deposits in the Ythan valley are confined to an area in the lower valley around the present estuary. They rest upon a discontinuous layer of peat over an irregular surface of sand and gravel, and consist for the most part of a grey silty clay, or carse deposit, which forms terraces or small areas of carseland. At the seaward end of the estuary the grey silty clay contains a layer of grey, micaceous, silty fine sand, which tapers into the basal peat, whilst in places the surface of the grey silty clay is covered by peat and/or blown sand. The vegetational context and age of these deposits have been determined at Waterside, near the mouth of the present estuary. Here, the grey silty clay accumulated as the result of a marine transgression which began in the early Flandrian, and culminated between about 6189·95 and some time prior to 4000·80 radiocarbon years B.P. The carseland surface produced by this phase of accumulation is the highest Flandrian estuarine surface in the valley, at about 4·5 m O.D., and is correlated with the Main Postglacial Shoreline elsewhere in eastern Scotland. Withdrawal of the sea from this level may have been interrupted by the formation of a lower carseland surface before present levels were reached, though this is far from certain. The grey, micaceous, silty fine sand layer is dated at approximately 6850·140 radiocarbon years B.P., and is correlated with similar layers that may have been deposited following a storm surge. The paper concludes with some considerations on the age and distribution of the Main Postglacial Shoreline in eastern Scotland.     

Reliable radiocarbon dating of fossil pollen grains: It is truly possible

Radiocarbon dating of fossil pollen concentrates has the potential to reduce limitations for sample selection in chronological studies of sedimentary archives. The recent development of the technology for rapidly preparing highly purified fossil pollen concentrates using a cell sorter makes it realistic to turn this dream into reality. Before utilizing pollen as a material for dating with confidence, however, it is necessary to understand the factors that may affect the result of the measurements, and to establish criteria to assess the reliability of the radiocarbon ages produced. In this study, peat soils which are commercially available in large quantities, and are hence used as our laboratory standard, as well as the varved lacustrine sediments from Lake Suigetsu, which has one of the best terrestrial radiocarbon stratigraphies in the world, were used to assess the accuracy of radiocarbon ages of pollen concentrates and to establish an appropriate protocol for sample preparation. A pollen-rich fraction prepared by a recently proposed combined method of physio-chemical pre-treatment and cell sorter (Yamada et al. 2021) was submitted to a range of different posterior treatments and radiocarbon measurement. The results were also compared with SEM (Scanning Electron Microscoic) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopic observations. It was discovered that the sample prepared by the initial pre-treatment and cell sorter were not sufficiently pure and did not yield radiocarbon ages that were consistent with the terrestrial leaf fossils. Instead, the Acid-Base-Acid treatment with ultrafiltration following on from the cell sorter step proved to be highly effective in the removal of contaminants and improve the measured ages. The comparison with Suigetsu's terrestrial radiocarbon dataset also indicated that accuracy could be improved through closer assessment using the pollen taxa composition, carbon content (%C), and stable isotope ratios (δ¹³C) of the pollen concentrates. The age-depth models established by the radiocarbon dating of fossil pollen grains extracted from the Suigetsu sediments agree very well with that of plant macrofossils, and even improve the precision of the combined model. As long as handling was appropriate, the pollen concentrates prepared by the cell sorter provide reliable radiocarbon ages and the method can significantly contribute to Quaternary sciences in the future.