Variation of paleo-productivity and terrigenous input in the Eastern Arabian Sea during the past 100 ka

A 4.1 m long sediment core from the Eastern Arabian Sea (EAS) is studied using multiple geochemical proxies to understand the variation of productivity and terrigenous matter supply during the past 100 ka. The temporal variation in element concentration and fluxes of CaCO₃, organic carbon (C_org) and Barium excess (Ba_exc), together, in general indicate a higher productivity during the cold climate and highest during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) in particular. This cold climate-increased productivity coupling may be attributed to the shoaling of nutricline due to enhanced convective mixing resulting from the intensified winter monsoon. Increased linear sedimentation rates and fluxes of Al, Fe, Mg, Ti, Cr, Cu, Zn, and V during the cold period also suggest increased input of terrigenous matter supporting intensified winter winds. However, the presence of large abundance of structurally unsupported elemental content (e.g.: Mg-86%, Fe-82% and Al-53%) indicate increased input of terrigenous material which was probably enhanced due to intense winter monsoon.     

Shift in detrital sedimentation in the eastern Bay of Bengal during the late Quaternary

Down-core variations of granulometric, geochemical and mineral magnetism of a 70-cm long sediment core retrieved from the eastern Bay of Bengal abyssal region were studied to understand sedimentation pattern and sediment provenance during the last ～12 kyr BP. Based on down-core physical and elemental variations, three units were identified: unit 3 (70–43 cm) is a ～30 cm thick clayey silt organic carbon-rich (0.5–0.92%) turbidite probably delivered by the Brahmaputra River during the late Quaternary period. Units 2 (43–24 cm) and 1 (24–0 cm) represent enhanced and reduced supply of coarse-grained detrital sediments from the Ganges River during early and late Holocene period, respectively. Increased terrigenous supply dilutes calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) and biogenic elements (P, Ba and Cu) in units 3 and 2. On the contrary, a reduction in detrital input enhances CaCO₃ and biogenic elements in unit 1. Lithogenic elements (Ti, Al, K and Rb) and shale-normalized REE patterns in all three units suggest terrigenous source. The shift in provenance from the Brahmaputra to the Ganges derived sediments is evident by a sharp increase in sediment grain size, increased concentration and grain size assemblages of magnetic minerals, lithogenic elements concentration and La_n/Yb_n ratio. This study highlights terrigenous dilution on biogenic sedimentation in the eastern Bay of Bengal sediments.     

中国西北干旱区湖泊沉积物中有机质碳同位素组成的环境意义--以民勤盆地三角城古湖泊为例

通过对中国西北干旱区石羊河流域民勤盆地三角城古湖泊沉积物有机质碳同位素组成(^δ13Corg)分析,表明末次冰期与全新世时气候和植被有明显的差异,末次冰期^δ13Corg总体偏轻(-30‰～-25‰),而全新世碳同位素组成则有较大的变化,在早全新世碳同位素组成有多次短期快速变重(-10‰左右)的变化,中全新世碳同位素组成总体偏重(-20‰～-10‰),晚全新世碳同位素组成偏轻(-25‰左右)。分析表明湖泊沉积物有机质碳同位素组成反映了陆生C₃植物和湖泊内源水生植物变化的关系,末次冰期以来西北干旱区C₄植物不发育,偏重的有机质碳同位素值与C₄植物无关。从沉积物中有机质组分、元素等分析表明,末次冰期时主要以河流相沉积为主,湖泊中有机质主要来源于上游祁连山的陆生C₃植物,有机碳含量较低,表明当时的上游的陆生植被不繁盛,区域气候较干冷;从全新世开始,三角城古湖泊开始形成,沉积物中碳同位素组成偏重的有机质主要来源于湖泊中的沉水植物,此时湖泊水体较大,湖泊生产力较高。而沉积物中有机质碳同位素组成偏轻时期的有机质主要来源于挺水植物、陆生C₃植物,较低的有机碳含量说明该时期陆生植被不发育,气候较干冷,湖泊水体较小     

南海北部陆坡沉积记录的全新世早期夏季风极强事件

在AMS14C精确定年的基础上,通过南海北部MD05-2905站高分辨率的氧同位素、粒度、元素分析,其结果显示所有指标均在11.2～8.5kaB.P.期间发生异常,根据夏季风指标认为这是夏季风极强事件。将本站位相同纬度（20°N）的夏季平均日辐射量与季风指标进行对比,发现全新世早期（11.2～8.5kaB.P.）东亚夏季风极强事件对应着夏季太阳辐射量最大值和热带辐合带（ITCZ）的位置向北移动,说明全新世早期夏季风突然增强可能是在岁差周期控制下,较高的太阳辐射量驱动了热带辐合带（ITCZ）及其有关的雨场向北移动,在南海北部产生了大量的降水,导致氧同位素偏负、碳酸盐的含量较低以及线性沉积速率较高。这与前人对相邻地区湖光岩玛珥湖的孢粉研究、江西南岭地区泥炭的记录以及中国南方石笋记录的研究结果相吻合。该季风最强事件与阿拉伯海发现的早全新世季风最强事件以及根据格陵兰冰芯记录的早全新世甲烷最大值推测低纬地区湿地扩张相一致,这反映了南海北部全新世早期与全球低纬地区早全新世气候变化格局一致。     

Impact of climate variability in the western Mediterranean during the last 20,000 years: oceanic and atmospheric responses

Eolian input fluctuations and paleoceanographic conditions in the western Mediterranean have been reconstructed by using a multi-proxy approach to infer climate variability for the last 20,000 yr. A sediment core from the East Alboran Sea basin provides high-resolution geochemical, mineralogical and grain size distribution records from the Last Glacial Maximum onward. The accurate chronology obtained, closely related with the North Greenland Ice core Project, has provided a detailed paleoclimate reconstruction at the centennial–millennial time scale. Mineral and chemical compositions as well as sediment grain size distribution have been used to establish both fluvial and eolian input variations, deep-water current intensity, and ventilation and productivity conditions at the time of deposition. During the cold period Greenland Stadial-2a, the analyzed proxies evidence significant climate oscillations. Redox proxies, showing marked Mn/Al and Fe/Al peaks, as well as granulometric parameters, support major changes in thermohaline circulation, with active circulation triggered by the Western Mediterranean Deep Water formation. Ba/Al ratios and the presence of authigenic barite point to high productivity during the Last Heinrich event. At this time, Zr/Al, Si/Al and Ti/Al ratios as well as quartz and palygorskite contents also corroborate dryer conditions in the Alboran borderlands, with a major reorganization of atmospheric circulation at the beginning of the deglaciation and during the Last Heinrich event. In contrast, a decreasing trend in the Zr/Al ratio and increasing Mg/Al, K/Al and illite + chlorite/kaolinite ratios would indicate enhanced river runoff and supporting lower eolian dust input and wetter periods during the Bölling–Alleröd. Short-term and abrupt climate oscillations such as the Intra-Alleröd Cold Period are likewise reflected by minor yet conspicuous changes in eolian proxies. During the Younger Dryas, we distinguish an initial cold and dry phase, with major westerlies intensity, thermohaline reactivation, and high productivity levels, and a second wetter phase characterized by sporadic rainfalls over poorly vegetated surrounding continental areas. Then, during the Holocene, alternating phases of major humidity and aridity were recorded by major fluctuations in detrital input. These are also correlated with recurrent forest cover declines reported from pollen records, with a noteworthy early decline in the African Humid Period. During the Holocene, an initial demise of the Last Organic-Rich Layer is also evidenced, tentatively associated with aspiration forces promoted by intense thermohaline circulation through the Gibraltar Strait.     

台湾峡谷HD133和HD77柱状样的沉积构成和发育背景

分别对南海东北部台湾峡谷内水深3 280 m的HD133和峡谷外水深3 378 m的HD77重力活塞柱状样进行了沉积物粒度、古生物和碳酸钙含量分析,利用AMS14C同位素测年和沉积速率初步认定是属于MIS3a以来的沉积。按沉积物粒度和碳酸钙含量可将两支柱状样划分为3套沉积层段:上部层段1和下部层段3均以粉砂质黏土为主,夹薄层粉砂,深水底栖有孔虫含量高,碳酸钙低于10%,代表受重力流作用较弱的正常深海沉积;中部层段2发育一套以中-细粒为主的厚砂层,含大量浅水底栖有孔虫,碳酸钙含量可高达60%,AMS14C测年出现倒置现象,表明主要为浅水重力流沉积。柱状样的沉积构成响应同期海平面变化,特别表现在深水砂层沉积的两大控制因素:在时间上,低海平面时期大量浅水和陆源碎屑物质直接输送到陆坡之下的深水区,形成富砂的层段2;在空间上,峡谷水道是重力流的物质输送通道,地形优势使得重力流携带物优先在水道中发生沉积,造成HD133柱的含砂量明显高于HD77柱状样。     

全新世东地中海的陆源碎屑输入及其水文气候变化:海盆尺度地球化学分析

地中海位于非洲季风气候和欧洲温带气候的交界处,同时接受周边地区岩石性质和风化状况差异极大的碎屑物质,所以是研究地球表层水文循环的理想区域。前人的认识集中于撒哈拉风尘和尼罗河输入,往往忽视了其他的陆源碎屑沉积,尤其对不同水文气候条件下的潜在变化缺乏考虑。针对形成于全新世非洲湿润期的腐泥层S1页岩沉积,并结合采自岩心顶部的晚全新世/现代沉积物,文章从18个站位选取了30个样品开展碎屑组分的地球化学分析,通过在具有不同干湿环境背景的时间片段上开展盆地尺度的对比(约9.5~8.9 ka vs. 约1.7~0 ka),探讨全新世东地中海的陆源碎屑输入模式。Ti/Al、Zr/Al、Ca/Al、Y/Al都清晰显示了经向和纬向上的梯度变化,可用作撒哈拉风尘的可靠指标;这些碎屑元素之间的差异反映了北非风尘来源和传送路径的变化。这些风尘指标在南-北向上的一致变化指示了副热带高压与西风带的交互界限为36°N,该界限在全新世应稳定存在。与风尘相反,河流输入的指标值在早全新世时显著高于现代,并呈现不同的地理分布。K/Al具有西高东低、北高南低的分布特征,指示了地中海北部沿岸地区的河流输入。根据与Ti/Al、K/Al的差异,利用(Cr+Ni)/Al可较好地识别被增强的季风降雨所激活的北非古河流沉积。河流输入在早全新世时显著上升,但不同河流系统的影响范围差异很大,受制于源区水文气候、表层洋流搬运等因素。     

南海西部54万年以来元素地球化学记录及其反映的古环境演变

通过对南海西部上升流区MD05-2899孔开展高分辨率碳酸盐地层学和XRF岩芯扫描元素地球化学分析,重建了晚第四纪54万来以来东亚夏季风的演化历史,探讨海平面升降对南海西部陆源碎屑供应量的影响。研究选用了ln(Ba/Al)作为该海区古生产力的指标,ln(Br/Al)作为有机物的指标,ln(Ti/Al)作为陆源碎屑供应量的指标。研究结果显示,东亚夏季风在过去54万年以来强度不断增强,具有明显的冰期—间冰期旋回特征,在间冰期强盛和冰期减弱,是控制该海区有机物含量变化的主要因素。东亚夏季风不断强盛可能直接导致了南海周边陆地降雨增强,河流径流量加大,使得南海西部上升流区域的陆源碎屑供应量在间冰期明显高于冰期。研究发现,当相对海平面低于-60 m的时候,大面积暴露的巽他陆架可能向南海西部深水区输入大量陆源碎屑物质,造成研究站位的陆源碎屑供应量在冰盛期出现高值。因此,晚第四纪的东亚夏季风演化和海平面升降共同控制了南海西部上升流区陆源碎屑物质供应量的变化。     

Geochemistry of core sediments from the southeastern Bay of Bengal:Inferences on weathering and early diagenetic changes

A sediment core(ABP24/05),collected at a water depth of 3520 m from the southeastern Bay of Bengal was studied to determine the change in chemical weathering during the last glacial to deglacial periods and the factors of sedimentary environment which controlled earliest diagenetic changes in the sediment after its deposition.High ratios of K/Rb,Ti/Al and Zr/Rb during~45 to~18 cal kyr B.P.in the core sediments may be attributed to the stronger physical erosion and turbidity currents activity during this period.This might have brought a higher quantity of unaltered minerals to the study area.Low ratios of K/Rb,Zr/Rb,and Ti/Al and increase of SiO₂/TiO₂,Rb/Al and Cs/Al from~18 cal kyr B.P.to present may be indicating an increase in the rate of chemical weathering during this period.The time of increased chemical weathering in the study area is consistent with deglaciation warming in the tropical Indian Ocean and strengthening of river runoff into the Andaman Sea.Climate change during the interglacial period by increased solar insolation thereby strengthened the summer monsoon which might have led to intensified chemical weathering in the source region since~18 cal kyr B.P.The low organic carbon(OC),high Mn/Al,Fe/Al and the Mn-oxides minerals precipitation indicate prevailing of oxic conditions during~11 cal kyr B.P.in the core sediments,which is contradictory to suboxic conditions developed in the deep ocean sediments in the western Bay of Bengal and the equatorial Indian Ocean.The low terrigenous influx and export of less OC to the bottom sediments might have created a favorable condition for the formation of Mn-oxides in the study area during Holocene.     

Stable Isotope and Lithologic Evidence of Late-Glacial and Holocene Oceanography of the Northwestern Pacific and Its Marginal Seas

Stable isotopes, geochemical, lithological, and micropaleontological results from cores from the far northwest (FNW) Pacific and the Okhotsk and Bering seas are used to reconstruct the regional environment for the last glaciation, the deglacial transition, and the Holocene. δ¹⁸O records of planktonic foraminifera of the region show two “light” shifts during deglacial time, provoked by the freshening of the surface water and climate warming. These north Pacific terminal events (T1ANP and T1BNP) with ages of 12,500 and 9300 yr B.P., respectively, occur almost simultaneously with two episodes of accelerated glacier melting around the North Atlantic. Along with the isotopic shifts, the CaCO₃content in regional sediments increased abruptly (1A and 1B carbonate peaks), probably due to changes of productivity and pore water chemistry of surface sediments. Organic matter and opal concentration increased during the transition (between T1ANP and T1BNP events) in the sediments of the FNW Pacific and the southern part of the Bering Sea and opal content increased in the Holocene in the Bering and Okhotsk Seas. δ¹³C records of cores from the Okhotsk and Bering seas and the FNW Pacific do not contradict the hypothesis of increased intermediate water formation in the region during glaciation. During deglaciation, accumulation of the coarse terrigenous component decreased in sediments of the Bering Sea and the FNW Pacific before the T1ANP event, probably as a result of rising sea level and opening of the Bering Strait.     

Palaeomonsoon and palaeoproductivity records of δ18O, δ{13}C and CaCO3 variations in the northern Indian Ocean sedimentsC and CaCO3 variations in the northern Indian Ocean sediments

δ¹⁸ O and δ¹³C of G.sacculifer have been measured in five cores from the northern Indian Ocean. In addition, high resolution analysis (1 to 2 cm) was performed on one core (SK-20-185) for both δ¹⁸O and gd¹³C in five species of planktonic foraminifera. CaCO₃ variation was measured in two cores. The results, presented here, show that

Bathymetry and sediments on the carbonate platform off western India: Significance of Halimeda bioherms in carbonate sedimentation

Bathymetry across the carbonate platform off western India indicated small-size pinnacles and their lateral coalescence into 2 -6-m high mounds landward, and linear elongated carbonate ridges and troughs, mounds and banks up to a height of 20-m seaward of the platform. Seismic data indicated that these mounds were transparent with no rigid internal structure and can be defined as bioherms. The sediments were abundantly aragonite faecal pellets, Halimeda grains and ooids and their radiocarbon ages ranged from 11 to 7.5 ka BP. It appears that the growth of Halimeda bioherms on the platform was facilitated by intense upwelling during the early Holocene. The terrigenous sediments brought by rivers were deposited in the inner shelf and have not affected the growth of bioherms. It is estimated that the platform comprises at least 1.85 Gt of mass CaCO\(_3\) accumulated during the early Holocene and comparable to those on the Great Barrier Reef. Halimeda bioherms produce abundant carbonate sediments and their growth period represents a geological carbonate sink and release of high CO\(_2\) to the atmosphere. Detailed shallow seismic studies and sediment cores are needed to quantify the exact mass content of CaCO\(_3\) and model climate change during the early Holocene.     

Stable isotopes of pedogenic carbonates from the Somma–Vesuvius area,southern Italy,over the past 18 kyr: palaeoclimatic implications

Stable isotopes were measured in the carbonate and organic matter of palaeosols in the Somma–Vesuvius area, southern Italy in order to test whether they are suitable proxy records for climatic and ecological changes in this area during the past 18000 yr. The ages of the soils span from ca. 18 to ca. 3 kyr BP. Surprisingly, the Last Glacial to Holocene climate transition was not accompanied by significant change in δ¹⁸O of pedogenic carbonate. This could be explained by changes in evaporation rate and in isotope fractionation between water and precipitated carbonate with temperature, which counterbalanced the expected change in isotope composition of meteoric water. Because of the rise in temperature and humidity and the progressive increase in tree cover during the Holocene, the Holocene soil carbonates closely reflect the isotopic composition of meteoric water. A cooling of about 2°C after the Avellino eruption (3.8 ka) accounts for a sudden decrease of about 1‰ in δ¹⁸O of pedogenic carbonate recorded after this eruption. The δ¹³C values of organic matter and pedogenic carbonate covary, indicating an effective isotope equilibrium between the organic matter, as the source of CO₂, and the pedogenic carbonate. Carbon isotopes suggest prevailing C₃ vegetation and negligible mixing with volcanogenic or atmospheric CO₂. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Variability of river discharge and Atlantic-water inflow at the Laptev Sea continental margin during the past 15,000 years: implications from maceral and biomarker records

In order to reconstruct the depositional environment from the Laptev Sea continental slope and shelf during the past ~15,000 years BP maceral analysis was carried out on two sediment cores (PS2458-4, PS2725-5) and compared with organic-geochemical parameters. During the transition from the Last Glacial to the Holocene the environment of the Laptev Sea shelf was controlled by the post-glacial sea level rise, variations in river discharge, surface-water productivity, and Atlantic-water inflow along the Eurasian continental margin. Based on our results, we identify the following significant changes of the environment: (a) at approximately 13,500 years BP the first step of deglaciation (Termination 1a) is documented by the deposition of marine and fresh-water organic matter; (b) at approximately 10,400 years BP the first post-glacial influence of Atlantic-water inflow along the Eastern Laptev Sea continental margin is indicated by an increase in marine organic matter; (c) at the beginning of the Holocene an increased fluvial supply is documented by an increase in fresh-water alginite; and (d) since ~9500-8000 years BP modern marine conditions are established at the Laptev Sea continental margin as documented in increased amounts of marine macerals, biomarkers (dinosterol, brassicasterol, short-chain fatty acids), and dinoflagellate cysts.     

Recent sedimentary records from the Arabian Sea

An attempt is made to understand the redox conditions that prevailed in the north eastern continental margins of the Arabian Sea and in the nearby deep water regions during the past few centuries using short undisturbed sediment cores. The geochronology is accomplished using²¹⁰Pb excess method and the proxy indicators chosen for productivity and associated redox changes are CaCO₃, organic matter (OM), Mn and U along with major elements Fe and Al. Such changes in principle are related to high productivity in the overlying waters which in turn depend on monsoonal intensity that causes upwelling responsible for increase in productivity. Alongwith the published data on gravity cores from the same region, our measurements suggest the following: At ∼ 300 m water depth, south of 21°N, the sediment-water interface at depths of ∼ 300 m had been anoxic during the time span represented by the presently studied cores for approximately ∼ 700y as evidenced by low Mn/Al (< 0.7 × 10⁻²) and high U/Al (> 10⁻⁴) weight ratios. In some adjacent deeper regions, however, the environment turned oxic around ∼ 200 y BP. Whereas both Mn and Ra were lost to the overlying waters in the anoxic regions (depth ∼340m), the Mn that diffused from deeper sections appears to have mineralized at the sediment-water-interface. Studies of this type on long undisturbed cores from the margins of the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, involving several proxies and geochronology by more than one method are needed to understand short term environmental (and monsoonal intensity) changes of the recent past with high resolution.     

南海晚第四纪表层古生产力与东亚季风变迁

根据南海南北陆坡两个站位的柱状样中底栖有孔虫分布,结合有机碳、稳定同位素分析,获得南海近4万年来高分辨率的表层古生产力记录,进而探讨晚第四纪东亚古季风的变迁。研究表明,由于冬季风在本次冰期、夏季风在全新世早期约10000aB．P．急剧增强,分别在南海南北陆坡产生海岸上升流,加上陆源营养物输入增多,使得表层古生产力明显增高、有机碳通量增大至3．5gC／(m²·10³a)以上,从而底栖有孔虫群中Buliminaaculeata和Uvigerinaperegrina占绝对优势。     

南京长江四桥附近长江古河谷沉积层序

根据南京长江四桥附近地质钻孔资料,绘制长江古河谷地质剖面示意图。在3个钻孔采集了年代样品,10个钻孔采集了粒度样品。01号孔在-59.4m深度上河床相圆砾石层中沉积物样品有机质的14C年代为14682±110年,邻近钻孔在-33.1～-33.3m深度上粉细砂中有机质的14C年代为10822±240年。通过对典型钻孔沉积层序及沉积物颗粒级配的分析,得知古河谷充填了3期从粗到细的沉积旋回,约-65m以下深槽中的沉积旋回应是末次盛冰期沉积,约-65m～-35m的应是晚冰期沉积,约-35m以上是全新世以来的沉积。     

CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Air–Sea Exchange due to Calcium Carbonate and Organic Matter Storage,and its Implications for the Global Carbon Cycle

Release of CO₂ from surface ocean water owing to precipitation of CaCO₃ and the imbalance between biological production of organic matter and its respiration, and their net removal from surface water to sedimentary storage was studied by means of a quotient θ = (CO₂ flux to the atmosphere)/(CaCO₃ precipitated). θ depends not only on water temperature and atmospheric CO₂ concentration but also on the CaCO₃ and organic carbon masses formed. In CO₂ generation by CaCO₃ precipitation, θ varies from a fraction of 0.44 to 0.79, increasing with decreasing temperature (25 to 5°C), increasing atmospheric CO₂ concentration (195–375 ppmv), and increasing CaCO₃ precipitated mass (up to 45% of the initial DIC concentration in surface water). Primary production and net storage of organic carbon counteracts the CO₂ production by carbonate precipitation and it results in lower CO₂ emissions from the surface layer. When atmospheric CO₂ increases due to the ocean-to-atmosphere flux rather than remaining constant, the amount of CO₂ transferred is a non-linear function of the surface layer thickness because of the back-pressure of the rising atmospheric CO₂. For a surface ocean layer approximated by a 50-m-thick euphotic zone that receives input of inorganic and organic carbon from land, the calculated CO₂ flux to the atmosphere is a function of the CaCO₃ and C_org net storage rates. In general, the carbonate storage rate has been greater than that of organic carbon. The CO₂ flux near the Last Glacial Maximum is 17 to 7×10¹² mol/yr (0.2–0.08 Gt C/yr), reflecting the range of organic carbon storage rates in sediments, and for pre-industrial time it is 38–42×10¹² mol/yr (0.46–0.50 Gt C/yr). Within the imbalanced global carbon cycle, our estimates indicate that prior to anthropogenic emissions of CO₂ to the atmosphere the land organic reservoir was gaining carbon and the surface ocean was losing carbon, calcium, and total alkalinity owing to the CaCO₃ storage and consequent emission of CO₂. These results are in agreement with the conclusions of a number of other investigators. As the CO₂ uptake in mineral weathering is a major flux in the global carbon cycle, the CO₂ weathering pathway that originates in the CO₂ produced by remineralization of soil humus rather than by direct uptake from the atmosphere may reduce the relatively large imbalances of the atmosphere and land organic reservoir at 10²–10⁴-year time scales.     

Dansgaard–Oeschger climatic variability revealed by fire emissions in southwestern Iberia

Paleoenvironmental records in Europe describing paleofires extending back to the Last Interglacial have so far been unavailable. Here, we present paleofire results from the combined petrographic and automated image analysis of microcharcoal particles preserved in marine core MD95-2042 retrieved off southwestern Iberia and covering the last climatic cycle. The variability of microcharcoal concentrations reveals that the variability of fire emissions is mainly imprinted by the 23 000 yr precessional cycle. A focus on the Last Glacial Period further shows that paleofires follow the variability of Dansgaard–Oeschger oscillation and Heinrich events and, therefore, parallel the variability of atmospheric temperatures over Greenland detected in ice cores. There is no evidence for fire increase related to human activity. The variability of fire emission by-products for the Last Glacial Period is interpreted in terms of changes in biomass availability. Low fire activity is associated with periods of drought which saw the development of semi-desert vegetation that characterised stadial periods. Fire activity increased during wetter interstadials, related to the development of open Mediterranean forests with more woody fuel availability.     

Evaluating color reflectance spectral methods for estimating biogenic contents of South China Sea sediments

The biogenic contents of marine sediment cores are useful proxies for revealing past oceanic and climatic variability. Color reflectance spectral methods provide a rapid and non-destructive avenue for acquiring high-resolution biogenic content data from the split surfaces of marine sediment cores. This study presents new results on the applications of color reflectance methods for determining the biogenic contents of sediment cores retrieved from the South China Sea (SCS), a dynamic setting that receives biogenic components such as carbonate, total organic carbon (TOC), and opal from the sea, and terrestrial sediments transported by the Pearl River and Kao-Ping River from the north, and the Sunda Shelf from the south. Our study found that the color reflectance methods that are based on a regionally limited calibration provide more optimal estimates of the biogenic content of marine cores from the SCS than do basin-scale calibration methods. Though the regional calibrations appear to be successful, our analyses indicate the complexity of applying color reflectance methods in marine sediment core studies. We also performed a controlled experiment that was designed to quantitatively test how the carbonate content increased the influence of color reflectance changes, using outcropped, Pleistocene-aged sediment samples taken from the “Moon World (MW)” in southwestern Taiwan as control data. The results of this experiment suggest that the regression equations for estimating CaCO₃ content based on core data are not solely driven by input variables responding directly to CaCO₃ content changes, and that the composition of terrestrial sediment inputs into the SCS are complicated both spatially and temporally. Our studies also suggest that a better understanding of the compositional changes of terrestrial sediment inputs into the SCS will be required to minimize the uncertainties of biogenic content estimations by color reflectance methods.