Deformation Patterns and Shortening Rates in the East Part of the Kalpin Thrust System in the Southwest Tianshan Mountains During the Late Quaternary

Deformation patterns, shortening amounts and rates in the late Quaternary across the Kalpin thrust system have received little attention in the past. This paper attempts to discuss them, mainly in the eastern part of the thrust system by doing field investigation along the faults and folds, measuring geomorphic deformation, excavating trenches in several important sites where young alluvial fans were obviously displaced and dating young deposits of alluvial terraces. There are two types of deformation in the surface and near surface for the Kalpin thrust system in the late Quaternary. They are movement of thrust faults on lower angles and bending of young folds. Both kinds of deformation are shown by shortening and uplifting of young geomorphic surfaces. The surface ages of 3 stages are calculated by dating 20 examples using the TL method in the study area and comparing the results of our predecessors on the deposition and incision times of alluvial terraces in the Tianshan mountain which are 100ka B.P., 33～18ka B.P. and 6.6～8.2ka B.P. respectively for the large-scale deformed alluvial surfaces: T_3, T_2 and T_1 in the Kalpin region. Then, 19 sets of shortening amounts and rates are obtained in 13 sites along 4 rows of anticlines in front of the Kalpin thrust system and Piqiang fold. The shortening amounts and rates show that there are two sections where deformation is stronger than others. The two sections consist of two arcs that are towards the south. The shortening rates near the top of arcs are 1.32mm/a in the west and 1.39mm/a in the east across the thrust system, respectively. In addition, deformation is stronger in the front rows than the rear ones for bifurcate folds.     

Timing of uplift and evolution of the Lüliang Mountains,North China Craton

This study analyses evidence for reformed basin development and basin-mountain coupling associated with development of the Ordos Basin and the Lüliang Mountains, China. Gaining an improved understanding of the timing and nature of uplift and evolution of the Lüliang Mountains is important for the reconstruction of the eastern sedimentary boundary of the Ordos Basin(a major petroliferous basin) as well as for providing insight into the evolution and breakup of the North China Craton(NCC). Based on systematic sampling for fission track analysis, it is suggested that the main phase of uplift of the Lüliang Mountains occurred since later part of the Early Cretaceous. Three evolutionary stages of uplift and development are identified: slow initial uplift(120–65 Ma), accelerated uplift(65–23 Ma), and intensive uplift(23 Ma to present), with the majority of the uplift activity having occurred during the Cenozoic. The history of uplift is non-equilibrium and exhibits complexity in temporal and spatial aspects. The middle and northern parts of the Lüliang Mountains were uplifted earlier than the southern part. The most intensive episode of uplift activity commenced in the Miocene and was associated with a genetic coupling relationship with the eastern neighboring Cenozoic Shanxi Grabens. The uplifting and evolutionary processes of the Lüliang Mountains area since later part of the Early Cretaceous share a unified regional geodynamic setting, which was accompanied by uplift of the Mesozoic Ordos Basin and development of the neighboring Cenozoic Shanxi Grabens. Collectively, this regional orogenic activity is related principally to the far-field effects of both the compression sourced from the southwestern Tibet Plateau and westward subduction of the Pacific Plate in Cenozoic.     

Small-scale upper mantle convection and orogeny of Tianshan Mountains in China

In this study, from the travel time data recorded in the Tianshan passive seismic array experiment, we present the P-wave velocity structure of the upper mantle down to 660 km along the Kuqa-Kuitun pro-file in terms of seismic tomography technique. Based on the P-wave velocity model, we derive the corresponding 2D upper mantle density model. The 2D small-scale convection of the upper mantle underneath the Tianshan Mountains in China driven by the density anomalies is simulated using the hybrid finite element method combining with the marker-in-cell technique. The main features of the upper mantle convection and the reciprocation between the convection and mountain building are in-vestigated. The results manifest that (1) in the upper mantle underneath the Junggar basin and North Tianshan exists a counterclockwise convection, which scale is ~ 500 km; (2) underneath the Tarim ba-sin and South Tianshan exists a clockwise northward convection, which is relatively weak; (3) the convective velocity at the top of the upper mantle underneath the Tianshan Mountains in China should not be less than 20 mm/a, while considering the dependent of convective velocity on the viscosity; (4) the northward extrusion of the Tarim block plays a key role in the Cenozoic Tianshan mountain building and the present-day tectonic deformation of the Tianshan range is related closely to the upper mantle convection; and (5) the northward subduction of the Tarim block does not influence obviously the up-per mantle convection.     

Diversity and zonal distribution of arbuscular my-corrhizal fungi on the northern slopes of the Tianshan Mountains

The arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal status of the 20 most common plant species distributed in 4 vegetation types (meadow steppe, desert steppe, steppe desert and typical desert) on the northern slopes of the Tianshan Mountains was investigated. Samples of the plant species and their rhizosphere soils were collected from the 4 vegetation zones and examined to compare their mycorrhizal status, AM fungal spore densities, biovolumes, and community structures. 28 AM fungal species were isolated from the rhizosphere soils: of these, 5 belonged to Acaulospora, 1 to Archaeospora and 22 to Glomus. 5 AM fungi, Glomus aggregatum, G. claroideum, G. deserticola, G. etunicatum and G. sinuosum, were observed in all 4 zonal types. No significant differences were observed in mean proportion of root length colonized by AM fungi among the plant species within each zonal type. Comparing the 4 zonal types, Plantago minuta (84.5%) in steppe desert and Eremopyrum orientale (83.1%) in typical desert showed the highest root colonizatsion rates. AM fungal spore densities and biovolumes were significantly different in the different zonal types. AM fungal spore densities and biovolumes, species richness and diversity were highest in meadow steppe and lowest in typical desert.     

Characteristics of Energy Accumulation and Release of Seismogenic Tectonics and Seismic Risk Analysis in Some Areas in the Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang

Comparative analysis between the quantitative data of active faults and seismicity reveals that a complete earthquake recurrence cycle includes the characteristic earthquake and the submaxima earthquakes in-between. The magnitude of the sub-maxima events is correlated with the elapsed time of the characteristic earthquake and the slip rate of the fault. The fault displacement includes the major stick-slip generated by the characteristic earthquakes and the minor stick-slip by the sub-maxima ones. The magnitude-frequency relationship still works in the complete recurrence cycle. The energy accumulation in the cycle is divided approximately into four phases, and the seismicity differs at each phase. The relation of the maximum displacement with the average displacement of the characteristic earthquake suggests the partitioning of deformation between the characteristic and the sub-maxima earthquakes. Based on the above analysis, relevant mathematical equations are put forward for the quantitative assessment of the potential magnitude and earthquake risk of seismogenic tectonics. Tentative study has been carried out in this aspect in some areas of Tianshan.     

Characteristics of vertical ozone distribution in the lower troposphere in the Yangtze River Delta at Lin’an in the spring of 2001

Deterioration of air quality as a result of rapid eco- nomic development in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) has attracted much scientific and public attention[1―7]. To explore the air quality of a region, measurement of pollutants in locations reflecting the “background” atmospheric conditions of the region is essential. The Regional Baseline Air Quality Monitoring Station of the Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences (CAMS) at Lin’an is located in such an area in Zhe- jiang Pro…     

Magnetostratigraphy of the late Cenozoic Laojunmiao anticline in the northern Qilian Mountains and its implications for the northern Tibetan Plateau uplift

The uplift process of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau holds the key to understand the dynamic mechanisms of continental crust shortening and mountain-building and to test the relationship between the Tibetan uplift and tectonic-climatic coupling and environmental im-pacts[1―4].However,there are still many debates in the process and mechanism of how the Tibetan Plateau uplifted to the present configuration.Among various approaches to solve these key questions,dating of the Cenozoic stratigraphy …     

Characteristics of Energy Accumulation and Release of Seismogenic Tectonics and Seismic Risk Analysis in Some Areas in the Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang1

INTRODUCTIONHowtocombinethestudyofseismogenictectonicswithearthquakepredictionisanurgentscientificdifficulty .Thereexistbiggapsbetweenstudymethodsandcurrentknowledgeonseismogenitectonics ,earthquakeprediction ,seismogenesisandthephysicsofearthquakeoccurre…     

The characteristics of Quaternary activity of faults in the sea area near the Yangtze River mouth

Introduction As far as the frequency and magnitude are concerned, the earthquakes in the sea area to the east of Shanghai are far more strong than in land area with the largest one in the sea area near the Yangtze River mouth being MS=436, while in land, only MS=434 occurred on Sept. 1, 1624. As a moderately strong earthquake active area, the sea area near the Yangtze River mouth, may cause a potential risk to Shanghai. In 1971 and 1996, earthquakes with MS=5~6 occurred in this area. Geo…     

Modelling extraordinary floods and sedimentological processes in a large channel-floodplain system of the Lower Paran River(Argentina)

A quasi-2D unsteady flow and sediment transport model suitable for the simulation of large lowland river systems,including their floodplains,is presented.The water flow and sediment equations are discretised using an interconnected irregular cells scheme,in which different simplifications of the 1D de Saint Venant equations are used to define the discharge laws between cells.Spatially-distributed transport and deposition of fine sediments throughout the river-floodplain system are simulated.The model is applied over a 208-km reach of the Parana River between the cities of Diamante and Ramallo(Argentina) comprising a river-floodplain area of 8100 km~2.After calibration and validation,the model is applied to predict water and sediment dynamics during synthetically generated extraordinary floods of100,1000,and 10,000 years return period.The potential impact of a 56-km long road embankment constructed across the entire floodplain is simulated and compared to model results without the embankment.The embankment results in increases in upstream water levels,inundation extent,flow duration,and sediment deposition.     

Crust and uppermost mantle structure of the Ailaoshan-Red River fault from receiver function analysis

S-wave velocity structure beneath the Ailaoshan-Red River fault was obtained from receiver functions by using teleseismic body wave records of broadband digital seismic stations. The average crustal thickness, Vp/Vs ratio and Poisson’s ratio were also estimated. The results indicate that the interface of crust and mantle beneath the Ailaoshan-Red River fault is not a sharp velocity discontinuity but a characteristic transition zone. The velocity increases relatively fast at the depth of Moho and then increases slowly in the uppermost mantle. The average crustal thickness across the fault is 36―37 km on the southwest side and 40―42 km on the northeast side, indicating that the fault cuts the crust. The relatively high Poisson’s ratio (0.26―0.28) of the crust implies a high content of mafic materials in the lower crust. Moreover, the lower crust with low velocity could be an ideal position for decoupling between the crust and upper mantle.     

Comparison of River Terraces in the Middle Reach Valleys of the Yellow River and Analysis on the Multi-Gradational Features of Tectonism in the Formation of Terrace Series

Where the Yellow River flows through the Haiyuan-Tongxin arc-form tectonic region on the northeastern side of the Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet) Plateau, as many as 10～21 basis and erosion terraces have been produced, among which the biggest altitude above river level is 401m and the formation age of the highest terrace is 1.57 Ma B.P. Based on comparative analysis of the Yellow River terraces located separately in the Mijiashan mountain, the Chemuxia gorge, the Heishanxia gorge and the other river terraces in the vast extent of the northern part of China, it has been found that the tectonic processes resulting in the formation of the terrace series is one of multi-gradational features, i.e., a terrace series can include the various terraces produced by tectonic uplifts of different scopes or scales and different ranks. The Yellow River terrace series in the study region can be divided into three grades. Among them, in the first grade there are 6 terraces which were formed separately at the same time in the vast extent of the northern part of China and represent the number and magnitude of uplift of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau since 1.6 Ma B. P. ; in the second grade there are 5 terraces which were separately and simultaneously developed within the Haiyuan-Tianjingshan tectonic region and represent the number and magnitude of uplift of this tectonic region itself since 1.6Ma B. P.; in the third grade there are 10 terraces which developed on the eastern slope of the Mijiashan mountain and represent the number and amplitude of uplift of the Haiyuan tectonic belt itself since 1.6Ma B.P. Comparison of the terrace ages with loess-paleosoil sequence has also showed that the first grade terraces reflecting the vast scope uplifts of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau are very comparable with climatic changes and their formation ages all correspond to the interglacial epochs during which paleosoils were formed. This implies that the vast extent tectonic uplifts resulting in river down-cutting are closely related to the warm-humid climatic periods which can also resnit in river downward erosion after strong dry and cold climatic periods, and they have jointly formed the tectonic-climatic cycles. There exists no unanimous and specific relationship between the formation ages of the second and third grade terraces and climatic changes and it is shown that the formation of those terraces was most mainly controlled by tectonic uplifts of the Tianjingshan block and the Haiyuan belt. The river terraces in the study region, therefore, may belong to 2 kinds of formation cause. One is a tectonic-climatic cyclical terrace produced jointly by vast extent tectonic uplifts and climatic changes, and the terraces of this kind are extensively distributed and can be well compared with each other among regions. Another is a pulse-tectonic cyclical terrace produced by local tectonic uplifts as dominant elements, and their distribution is restricted within an active belt and can not be compared with among regions.     

Water Chemistry Formation in Lakes of Specially Protected Natural Areas in the Altay Mountains: Case Study of the Mul’ta River

Water Resources - Mass-spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma was applied to determine the dissolved forms of 26 elements in the water of lakes of the Mul’tinskii Basin. Specific...     

The oasis expansion and eco-environment change over the last 50 years in Manas River Valley, Xinjiang

As an elite region of human being’s residence and development, the oasis in arid areas fosters more than 90% of population, produces more than 95% of the industrial and agricultural value, although its acreage takes only 3%―5% of total arid areas[1,2]. In the last decades, the oasis exploitation, harnessing and pro-tecting regional eco-environment have been becomingone of key study objects in the sustainable develop-ment[3―7], as the global environment changes and re-gional environment becom…     

Crustal structure in northern margin of Tianshan mountains and seismotectonics of the 1906 Manas earthquake

Introduction The Tianshan orogenic belt between the Tarim and Junggar basins has re-uplifted in Cenozoic due to the collision and the northwards push-compression of Asia-India plate. The special active tectonic zones have been formed along both south and north margins of the Tianshan mountains (FENG, et al, 1991). The Tianshan seismic belt is one of the major seismic belts in China. A se-ries of strong earthquakes occurred in two flanks of the Tianshan mountains in 20th century, such as …     

The 20―30-day oscillation of the global circulation and heavy precipitation over the lower reaches of the Yangtze River valley

Based on the observational data in summer, the variations of intraseasonal oscillation (ISO) of the daily rainfall over the lower reaches of the Yangtze River valley (LYRV) were studied by using the non-integer spectrum analysis. The NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data for the period of 1979―2005 were analyzed by principal oscillation pattern analysis (POP) to investigate the spatial and temporal characteristics of principal ISO patterns of the global circulation. The relationships of these ISO patterns to the rainfa...     

Geometry and Late Quaternary Kinematic Characteristics of the Huoshan Fault in Shanxi Province

The Huoshan fault is an important fault controlling the boundary of the Linfen basin at the middle transtensional segment of the Shanxi graben system.In this paper a discussion is made emphatically on the tectonic segmentation of the Huoshan fault,its internal geometric structures and characteristics of its activities since the late Quaternary on the basis of 1:10,000 scale geological mapping.Our investigations indicate that the Huoshan fault can be divided into 3 segments with different behaviors and structures.Among these 3,the shear segment with dextral movement is composed of a number of second-order shear faults in right-lateral stepover or left-lateral stepover arrangement.It has a maximum dextral displacement up to 9.83 km since the Pliocene,a dextral slip rate of 2.0 mm/a; a maximum vertical differential displacement of 3.44 km,and a differential oscillatory movement rate of 0.69 mm/a.The lower limit of dextral Holocene slip rate is about 5 mm/a.     

Phosphorus forms and bioavailability of lake sediments in the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River

Forms of phosphorus in sediments from 25 lakes in the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River were analyzed by the sequential extraction procedure. Contents and spatial distrubution of algal available phosphorus (AAP) in sediments of Lake Taihu, the third largest freshwater lake of China, were also studied. Relationships between phosphorus forms in sediment and macrophytes coverage in sample sites, as well as phosphorus forms in sediments and chlorophyal contents in lake water were discussed. Exchangeable form of phosphorus (Ex-P) in surface sediments was significantly positive correlative to total phosphorus (IP), dissolved total phosphorus (DTP) and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) contents in the lake water. Bioavailable phosphorus (Bio-P) contents in sediments from macrophytes dominant sites were significantly lower than that in no macrophyte sites. In Lake Taihu, Ex-P content in top 3 cm sediment was highest. However, content of ferric fraction phosphorus (Fe-P) was highest in 4 - 10 cm. Bioavalilble phosphorus (Bio-P) contents in surface sediments positively correlated to Chlorophyll a contents in water of Lake Taihu with significant difference. Therefore, contents of Bio-P and AAP could be acted as the indicators of risks of internal release of phosphorus in the shallow lakes. It was estimated that there were 268.6 ton AAP in top 1 cm sediments in Lake Taihu. Sediment suspension caused by strong wind-induced wave disturbance could carry plenty of AAP into water in large shallow lakes like Lake Taihu.     

Ecological–Geochemical Conditions of Surface Water and Groundwater and Estimation of the Anthropogenic Effect in the Basin of the Ganjiang River

Water Resources - Data of studies of 2013–2019 were used to assess the current environmental-geochemical conditions of surface water and groundwater in the basin of the Ganjiang River, the...