Early Eocene magnetostratigraphy and tectonic evolution of the Xining Basin,NE Tibet

The Cenozoic strata of the Xining Basin, NE Tibet, have provided crucial records for understanding the tectonic and palaeo-environmental evolution of the region. Yet, the age of the lower part of the sedimentary stratigraphy and, consequently, the early tectonic evolution of the basin remain debated. Here, we present the litho- and magnetostratigraphy of various early Eocene sections throughout the Xining Basin independently constrained by the U–Pb radiometric age of a carbonate bed. Our study extends the dated stratigraphy down to 53.0 Ma (C24n.1r) and reveals highly variable accumulation rates during the early Eocene ranging from 0.5 to 8 cm/ka. This is in stark contrast to the low but stable accumulation rates (2–3 cm/ka) observed throughout the overlying Palaeogene and Neogene strata. Such a pattern of basin infill is not characteristic of flexural subsidence as previously proposed, but rather supports an extensional origin of the Xining Basin with multiple depocentres, which subsequently coalesced into a more stable and slowly subsiding basin. Whether this extension was related to the far-field effects of the subducting Pacific Plate or the India–Asia collision remains to be confirmed by future studies.     

Topographic growth of the Jishi Shan and its impact on basin and hydrology evolution,NE Tibetan Plateau

Previous research demonstrates that large basins on the periphery of the northern edge of the Tibetan Plateau were partitioned during development of intrabasin mountain ranges. These topographic barriers segregated basins with respect to surface flow and atmospheric circulation, ponded sediments, and formed rain shadows. However, complex mixing between airmasses and nonsystematic isotope‐elevation lapse rates have hampered application of quantitative paleoaltimetry to determine the timing of development of critical topographic barriers. We address the timing and drivers for changes in surface connectivity and atmospheric circulation in the Linxia and Xunhua basins using a multidisciplinary approach incorporating detrital zircon geochronology, Monte Carlo inverse flexural modelling, and published stable isotope data. Disruption of surface flow between the two basins during exhumation of the Jishi Shan preceded development of topography sufficient to intercept moisture‐bearing airmasses. Detrital zircon data point to disruption of an eastward‐flowing axial fluvial network between 14.7 and 13.1 Ma, coincident with the onset of exhumation in the Jishi Shan. Flexural modelling suggests that by 13 Ma, the Jishi Shan had developed 0.3 ± 0.1 km of relief; sufficient to disrupt eastward‐flowing drainage networks but insufficient to intercept moisture‐bearing airmasses. Stable isotope data indicate that, although surface connections between the Xunhua and Linxia basins were broken, the two basins continued to be dominated by a common climate regime until 9.3 Ma. Subsequent reintegration of surface flow between the basins occurred between 9.3 and 7.6 Ma. Divergence in the stable isotope and depositional environment records between the two basins suggests that at 9.3 Ma the paleo‐Yellow River breached the growing Jishi Shan dam, and may have reintegrated surface flow between the two basins via erosion of the modern Yellow River gorge, which transects the Jishi Shan. The reintegration of the Xunhua and Linxia basins’ surface connection is confirmed by reintroduction of a Songpan‐Ganzi flysch sediment source by 7.6 Ma. Continued exhumation and uplift of the Jishi Shan developed 0.8 ± 0.2 km of relief by ca. 8 Ma capable of intercepting moisture‐bearing airmasses; isolating and increasing aridity in the Xunhua Basin while decreasing it in the Linxia Basin. Our findings point to protracted development of the modern ca. 1 km of relief in the Jishi Shan between 14 and ca. 4.5 Ma followed by attainment of a topographic equilibrium which persists into modern times.     

Magnetostratigraphy of the Neogene Chaka basin and its implications for mountain building processes in the north‐eastern Tibetan Plateau

Magnetostratigraphy of sedimentary rock deposited in the Chaka basin (north‐eastern Tibetan Plateau) indicates a late Miocene onset of basin formation and subsequent development of the adjacent Qinghai Nan Shan. Sedimentation in the basin initiated at ～11 Ma. In the lower part of the basin fill, a coarsening‐upward sequence starting at ～9 Ma, as well as rapid sedimentation rates, and northward paleocurrents, are consistent with continued growth of the Ela Shan to the south. In the upper section, several lines of evidence suggest that thrust faulting and topographic development of the Qinghai Nan Shan began at ～6.1 Ma. Paleocurrent indicators, preserved in the basin in the proximal footwall of the Qinghai Nan Shan, show a change from northward to southward flow between 6.5 and 3.8 Ma. At the same location, sediment derived from the Qinghai Nan Shan appears at 6.1 Ma. Finally, the initiation of progressively shallowing dips observed in deformed basin strata and a change to pebbly, fluvial deposits at 6.1 Ma provide a minimum age for the onset of slip on the thrust fault that dips north‐east beneath the Qinghai Nan Shan. We interpret a decrease in sediment accumulation rates since ～6 Ma to indicate a reduction in Chaka basin accommodation space due to active faulting and folding along the Qinghai Nan Shan and incorporation of the basin into the wedge‐top depozone. Declination anomalies indicate the beginning of counter‐clockwise rotation since 6.1 Ma, which we associate with local deformation, not regional block rotation. The emergence of the Qinghai Nan Shan near the end of the Miocene Epoch partitioned the once contiguous Chaka‐Gonghe and Qinghai basin complex. In a regional framework, our study adds to a growing body of evidence that points to widespread initiation and/or reactivation of fault networks during the late Miocene across the north‐eastern Tibetan Plateau.     

The effect of climate warming and permafrost thaw on desertification in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau

Four sets of remote sensing images from 1987, 1994, 2000, and 2006, 50 years of meteorological and soil moisture data corresponding to different desertified lands were combined with populations and livestock data to analyze the process and cause of desertification in a portion of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP). It showed that surface soil temperature in the region has increased at an average rate of 0.6 °C per decade between 1980 and 2005, the thawing days on the surface have increased by 60 days from 1983 to 2001, and the depth of the seasonal thawing layer has increased by 54 cm, 102 cm and 77 cm in April, May and June, respectively, from 1983 to 2003. As a result, the upper soil layer has become drier due to the thickening active layer and soil water infiltration. These changes, in turn, have inhibited the growth of alpine meadow vegetation that has shallow root systems. It is concluded that climate warming and permafrost thawing have caused desertification in grazing regions of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP).     

青藏高原气温空间分布规律及其生态意义

作为世界第三极的青藏高原,其巨大的块体产生了显著的夏季增温作用,对亚洲乃至全球气候都具有重大影响。但由于高原自然条件严酷,山区气象观测台站很少,气象资料极度匮乏;如果依靠台站数据进行空间插值获得高原气温的空间分布数据,会由于插值点过少而产生较大误差并可能掩盖一些空间信息,因而难以全面反映高原气温的空间分布规律。利用基于MODIS地表温度数据估算的青藏高原气温数据,详细分析各月气温及重要等温线的空间分布格局,并结合林线和雪线数据,初步探讨了高原气温空间分布格局对高原地理生态格局的重要影响。研究表明：① 等温线的海拔高度自高原东北部、东部边缘向内部逐渐升高,等温线在高原内部比东部边缘高500~2000 m,表明相同海拔高度上气温自边缘向高原内部逐渐升高。② 高原西北部的羌塘高原、可可西里为高原的寒冷区,全年有7个月的气温低于0 ℃,3~4个月的气温低于-10 ℃;青藏高原南部（喜马拉雅山北坡—冈底斯山南坡）和中部（冈底斯山北坡—唐古拉山南坡）是高原的温暖区,全年有5个月的气温能达到5~10 ℃,有3个月的气温能超过10 ℃,尤其是拉萨—林芝—左贡一带在3500~4000 m以下的地区最冷月均温也能高于0 ℃。③ 北半球最高雪线和林线分别分布于高原的西南部和东南部,表明高原气温空间分布特征对本地的地理生态格局具有重要影响。     

Sedimentary and thermal evolution of the Eocene‐Oligocene mudrocks from the southwestern Thrace Basin (NE Greece)

Paleothermal indicators based on clay mineral and organic matter analyses, were integrated with mudrock geochemistry and stratigraphic data to define the sedimentary evolution of the southwestern Thrace Basin during the Eocene to Oligocene. This multi‐method approach allowed us to reconstruct the burial evolution of the basin in Eocene and Oligocene times and to study the mudrock composition and relate this to their provenance and source area weathering. The studied mudrocks show similar chemical variations. The distribution of some major and trace elements for the studied samples reflect heterogeneous source areas containing both felsic to mafic rocks. In particular, the Light Rare Earth Elements/Transition elements (LREEs/TEs) ratios are very high for the Avdira and Organi samples (on the average between 1.5 and 2.2 for (La + Ce)/Cr and 3.5–8 for (La + Ce)/Ni), suggesting a felsic source(s), and very low for the Samothraki, Limnos, Paterma and Iasmos samples (on the average between 0.4 and 0.6 for (La + Ce)/Cr and 0.6–1 for (La + Ce)/Ni), suggesting a mainly basic source(s). The mineralogical composition coupled with the A‐CN‐K and A‐N‐K plots suggest a complex evolution. The clay mineral data (illite percentage in I/S and the stacking order R and the Kübler Index) coupled to vitrinite reflectance analysis indicate a high to intermediate diagenetic grade for the Middle to Upper Eocene samples (from Iasmos, Gratini, Organi, Paterma, Esimi and Samotraki sections) and a low diagenetic grade for the Upper Eocene to Oligocene samples (from Limnos and Avdira sections). These data helped in interpreting the geodynamic evolution of the studied basins where the magmatic activity plays an important role. In particular, Middle to Upper Eocene sediments show high to intermediate diagenetic grade since they are located in a portion of the basin dominated by Eocene to Oligocene magmatic activity and intrusion of granitoids, whereas, the Upper Eocene to Oligocene sediments are not involved in important magmatic activity and intrusion of granitoids and, thus, show low diagenetic grade. Furthermore, Middle to Upper Eocene sediments experienced deeper burial processes caused by lithostatic load, rather than the uppermost Eocene and Oligocene sediments, in relation of their position along the stratigraphic succession. These data suggest a burial depth of at least 3–4 km with a tectonic exhumation mainly related to the extensional phases of the Miocene age.     

"Greatest lake period"|and its palaeo-environment on the Tibetan Plateau

The “greatest lake period” means that the lakes are in the stage of their maximum areas. As the paleo lake shorelines are widely distributed in the lake basins on the Tibetan Plateau, the lake areas during the “greatest lake period” may be inferred by the last highest lake shorelines. They are several, even tens times larger than that at present. According to the analyses of tens of lakes on the Plateau, most dating data fell into the range of 40-25 ka BP, some lasted to 20 ka BP. It was corresponded to the stage 3 of marine isotope and interstitial of last glaciation. The occurrence of maximum areas of lakes marked the very humid period on the Plateau and was also related to the stronger summer monsoon during that period.     

青藏高原东北缘武山盆地中中新世炭屑记录及其古气候意义

火是生态系统中的重要因子,是反映古气候和环境变化的重要标志。因此,重建火活动历史可以帮助我们理解过去的气候变化和火活动的机制,但是目前在全球范围内十分缺少对中新世时期高分辨率的火活动记录的研究。炭屑已被证明是重建火活动历史的有效替代性指标,基于青藏高原东北缘武山盆地中中新世时期高分辨率的炭屑记录,重建了研究区天然火活动历史,结合现有资料,探讨了火-植被-气候之间的关系以及研究区火活动对全球变化的响应。结果表明：（1） 15.30~13.60 Ma时期,炭屑总浓度变化范围为59~4324粒·g^-1,平均浓度为835粒·g^-1。炭屑形状以次圆形为主,且几乎所有的炭屑粒径都小于50 μm,反映出研究区天然火活动是以乔木植物燃烧的森林火活动为主,主要是区域性火活动。根据炭屑总浓度的变化趋势,将研究区天然火活动历史分为2个主要阶段。阶段Ⅰ（15.30~14.00 Ma）：炭屑总浓度逐步增加,平均浓度为866粒·g^-1。其中,阶段Ⅰ又可以细分为3个次要阶段,Ⅰa（15.30~14.38 Ma）：炭屑总浓度最低,平均浓度为693粒·g^-1;Ⅰb（14.38~14.20 Ma）：炭屑总浓度快速减少,平均浓度为1140粒·g^-1;Ⅰc（14.20~14.00 Ma）：炭屑总浓度急剧增加,平均浓度为988粒·g^-1。阶段Ⅱ（14.00~13.60 Ma）：炭屑总浓度急剧减少,平均浓度为777粒·g^-1。（2） 孢粉数据重建的研究区的植被和气候变化结果表明,15.30~14.38 Ma时期为开阔的森林植被,湿度较低;14.38~14.00 Ma时期乔木增加,湿度增加;14.00~13.60 Ma时期乔木属种显著减少,湿度降低。（3） 经过对比分析,炭屑总浓度变化趋势与乔木类花粉百分比趋势相近,次圆形炭屑浓度趋势与阔叶类植物花粉的百分比趋势显著正相关,认为武山盆地中中新世的天然火活动与森林植被的盖度（尤其是阔叶林的盖度）有较强联系,在气候温暖湿润的时期,炭屑浓度高。此外,通过对比炭屑总浓度趋势和深海底栖有孔虫氧同位素的变化,可以推测,全球温度变化可能通过影响研究区植被变化来对天然火活动产生重要影响。     

青藏高原东北部互助县域土地利用变化对粮食安全的影响

中国既是一个人口大国,又是一个农业大国,粮食安全在国家安全系统中具有重要地位。青藏高原是一个高海拔的少数民族聚居区域,区域粮食安全有其独特性。互助土族自治县是青藏高原东北部主要的农业县之一,同时,又是国家商品粮建设基地和青海省粮、油、肉、蛋、禽生产基地,其土地利用变化对粮食安全的影响具有一定的典型性。利用互助土族自治县1986年土地利用现状详查数据,2000,2005年土地利用变更数据、2008年TM数据,在ERDAS及ArcGIS软件支持下分析了其土地利用变化态势并计算了该县最小人均耕地面积和耕地压力指数,对因土地利用变化引起的粮食安全问题进行分析和评估。结果表明:(1)互助县耕地总量及人均粮食产量均呈现下降趋势,这与近几年的退耕还林(草)工程、基础设施建设及人口增长相关联,而粮食单产呈现上升趋势,表明科学技术的进步在起作用。(2)从粮食生产来看,人均粮食消费水平为300 kg,互助县当前粮食生产能满足其基本需求,人均粮食消费水平为400 kg时,互助县当前粮食生产不能满足其基本需求,表明需要从区外调入粮食。(3)从耕地压力指数来看,近20年来,互助县最小人均耕地面积及耕地压力指数呈现持续增长态势。     

Stable isotopes and trace elements in modern ostracod shells: implications for reconstructing past environments on the Tibetan Plateau,China

Stable isotopes and trace elements in ostracod shells have been used widely in paleolimnological investigations of past lake hydrochemistry and climate because they provide insights into past water balance and solute evolution of lakes. Regional differences in lake characteristics and species-specific element fractionation, however, do not permit generalization of results from other regions or ostracod species to the southern Tibetan Plateau, in part because most common taxa from the southern Tibetan Plateau are endemic to the area. This study evaluated relations between present-day environmental conditions and the geochemical composition of modern ostracod shells from the southern Tibetan Plateau, to assess the suitability of using shell chemistry to infer hydrological conditions. We studied nine lakes and their catchments, located along a west–east transect in the south-central part of the Tibetan Plateau. Stable oxygen and carbon isotope values and trace element concentrations in recent shells from the four most abundant ostracod species (Leucocytherella sinensis, ?Leucocythere dorsotuberosa, Limnocythere inopinata, Tonnacypris gyirongensis) were measured, together with hydrochemical properties of host waters at the time of sampling. Results revealed significant between-species differences in stable isotope fractionation and trace element incorporation into shell calcite. Stable oxygen and carbon isotope values of ostracod shells were correlated significantly with the stable isotope composition of the respective water body \( \left( {\updelta^{18} {\text{O}}_{{{\text{H}}_{ 2} {\text{O}}}} \,{\text{and }}\updelta^{13} {\text{C}}_{{{\text{H}}_{ 2} {\text{O}}}} } \right) \), reflecting salinity and productivity, respectively. Offsets between δ¹⁸O_shell and δ¹³C_shell and inorganic calcite, the latter representing isotopic equilibrium, suggest shell formation of T. gyirongensis during spring melt. L. sinensis reproduces throughout the monsoon season until September and shows several consecutive generations, and L. inopinata molts to the adult stage after the monsoon season in August/September. The influence of pore water δ¹³C was displayed by L. inopinata, suggesting shell calcification within the sediment. Mg/Ca_shell is primarily influenced by water Mg/Ca ratios and salinity and confirms the use of this shell ratio as a proxy for precipitation-evaporation balance and lake level. In addition, Sr/Ca and Ba/Ca can be used to infer changes in salinity, at least in closed-basin lakes with calcite saturation. Observed effects of water Sr/Ca and salinity on Sr/Ca incorporation are biased by the presence of aragonite precipitation in the lakes, which removes bioavailable Sr from the host water, resulting in low Sr/Ca_shell values. Changes in carbonate mineralogy affect the bioavailability of trace elements, a process that should be considered in paleoclimate reconstructions. Oxygen isotopes and Mg/Ca_shell ratios were unaffected by water temperature. Positive correlations among Fe/Ca, Mn/Ca and U/Ca in ostracod shells, and their negative correlation with δ¹³C, which reflects organic matter decay, show the potential to infer changes in redox conditions that can be used to reconstruct past oxygen supply to bottom waters and thus past water-circulation changes within lakes. The intensity of microbial activity, associated with organic matter decomposition, can be inferred from U/Ca ratios in ostracod shells. These findings highlight the value of fossil ostracod records in lake deposits for inferring paleoenvironmental conditions on the southern Tibetan Plateau.     

Tectonic setting of Cretaceous basins on the NE Tibetan Plateau: insights from the Jungong basin

Quantifying the Cenozoic growth of high topography in the Indo‐Asian collision zone remains challenging, due in part to significant shortening that occurred within Eurasia before collision. A growing body of evidence suggests that regions far removed from the suture zone experienced deformation before and during the early phases of Himalayan orogenesis. In the present‐day north‐eastern Tibetan Plateau, widespread deposits of Cretaceous sediment attest to significant basin formation; however, the tectonic setting of these basins remains enigmatic. We present a study of a regionally extensive network of sedimentary basins that are spatially associated with a system of SE‐vergent thrust faults and are now exposed in the high ranges of the north‐eastern corner of the Tibetan Plateau. We focus on a particularly well‐exposed basin, located ～20 km north of the Kunlun fault in the Anyemaqen Shan. The basin is filled by ～900 m of alluvial sediments that become finer‐grained away from the basin‐bounding fault. Additionally, beds in the proximal footwall of the basin‐bounding fault exhibit progressive, up‐section shallowing and several intraformational unconformities which can be traced into correlative conformities in the distal part of the basin. The observations show sediment accumulated in the basin during fault motion. Regional constraints on the timing of sediment deposition are provided by both fossil assemblages from the Early Cretaceous, and by K–Ar dating of volcanic rocks that floor and cross‐cut sedimentary fill. We argue that during the Cretaceous, the interior NE Tibetan Plateau experienced NW–SE contractional deformation similar to that documented throughout the Qinling–Dabie orogen to the east. The Songpan‐Ganzi terrane apparently marked the southern limit of this deformation, such that it may have been a relatively rigid block in the Tibetan lithosphere, separating regions experiencing deformation north of the convergent Tethyan margin from regions deforming inboard of the east Asian margin.     

贵州高原北部河流阶地发育与喀斯特地貌演化

贵州高原北部发育平缓丘丛和深切峰丛2种喀斯特地貌组合,保存于喀斯特山间盆地的河流阶地对区域地貌演化具有指示意义.本文根据阶地发育特征和光释光(OSL)测年,分析阶地形成的时代和动力,结合区域地质背景,探讨构造抬升和河流侵蚀对黔北喀斯特地貌演化的驱动作用.结果显示,绥阳盆地T1阶地时代18.8?8.2 ka,T2时代14...     

Giant sublacustrine landslide in the Cretaceous Songliao Basin,NE China

Mass failure deposits in lacustrine settings are some of the most understudied facies associations in the ancient or modern rock record. We integrated seismic data and well logs to investigate the external morphology, internal architecture and deformation and reservoir distribution of the sublacustrine landslides in the Cretaceous Nengjiang Formation of the Songliao Basin (SLB). A large‐scale sublacustrine landslide, named the Qi‐Jia sublacustrine landslide (QJSL), has been identified in the Nengjiang Formation of the SLB. The QJSL is currently the largest known sublacustrine landslide in the world. This landslide covers an area that exceeds 300 km², with an estimated volume of 30 km³. Seismic imaging and mapping reveal that the QJSL can be recognized by several distinguishing seismic characteristics: discontinuous and internal chaotic seismic facies, compressional structures in the downslope region, irregular top and basal surfaces and erosional grooves in basal shear surfaces. The QJSL is 20–200 m thick, and is composed of a succession of fine‐grained deposits. Sandy layers are present but sparse and thinner than 16 m, and form reservoirs of the petroleum discoveries in this area. Our analyses show that the mechanism that triggered the collapse of the QJSL is attributed to rapid deposition and deltaic progradation. This study demonstrates that sand‐rich sublacustrine landslides formed at delta front slope can serve as conventional reservoirs in the lake centre, and provide a new target for subaqueous hydrocarbon exploration and development.     

Post‐orogenic evolution of the Mesozoic Micang Shan Foreland Basin system,central China

[Correction added after online publication 3 August 2010 ‐ ‘prelate’ has been changed to ‘pre‐late’ throughout the text]. Using apatite fission track and (U‐Th‐Sm)/He thermochronology, we report the low‐temperature thermal history of the Mesozoic Micang Shan Foreland Basin system, central China. This system, comprising the Hannan Dome hinterland, the northern Sichuan Foreland Basin and the intermediate frontal thrust belt (FB), shares a common boundary with three major tectonic terrains – Mesozoic Qinling‐Dabie Orogen, Mesozoic Sichuan Foreland Basin and Cenozoic elevated Tibetan Plateau. Results show: (1) a relatively rapid pre‐late Cretaceous cooling episode in the Hannan Dome; (2) a mid‐Cenozoic cooling phase (ca. 50°C at ca. 30 ± 5 Ma) within the northern Sichuan Basin; and (3) possible late Cenozoic cooling (ca. 25°C at ca. 16 ± 4 Ma) within the Hannan Dome‐FB, a phase which has also been reported previously from adjacent regions. The pre‐late Cretaceous cooling episode in the Hannan Dome is attributed to coeval tectonism in nearby regions. Mid‐Cenozoic cooling in the northern Sichuan Basin can possibly be attributed to either one of or a combination of shortening of the basin, onset of the Asian monsoon and drainage adjustment of the Yangtze River system, all of which are related to growth of the Tibetan Plateau. Possible late Cenozoic cooling in the hinterland and nearby regions is also probably related to the northeastward growth of the Tibetan Plateau. However, previous studies suggest a northeastward propagation for onset of cooling from the eastern Tibetan Plateau to western Qinling in response to northeastward lower crust flow from the central Tibetan Plateau. The timing of apparent late Cenozoic cooling in the Hannan Dome hinterland, at an intermediate locality, is not consistent with this trend, and supports a previous model suggesting northeastern growth of the Tibetan Plateau through reactivation of WE trending strike‐slip faults.     

Basin modelling of a lignite‐bearing salt rim syncline: insights into rim syncline evolution and salt diapirism in NW Germany

The Helmstedt‐Staßfurt salt wall is 70 km long, 6–8 km wide and one of the most important diapiric structures in northern Germany, based on the economically significant lignite‐bearing rim synclines. The analysed Schöningen rim syncline, located on the southwestern side of the Helmstedt‐Staßfurt structure, is 8 km long and 3 km wide. The basin‐fill is up to 366 m thick and characterized by 13 major lignite seams with thicknesses between 0.1 and 30 m. The key objectives of this article were to expand on the classical cross‐section based rim syncline analysis by the use of 3D models and basin simulations. Cross‐sections perpendicular to the basin axis indicate that the basin‐fill has a pronounced lenticular shape. This shape varies from more symmetric in the NW to clearly asymmetric in the SE. Isopach maps imply a two‐fold depocentre evolution. The depocentre migrated over time towards the salt wall and also showed some distinct shifts parallel to the salt wall. The basin modelling part of the study was carried out with the software PetroMod^®, which focused on the burial history of the rim syncline. Modelling results also show the progressive migration of the rim syncline depocentre towards the salt wall. The present‐day asymmetry of the basin‐fill was already developed in the early phases of rim syncline evolution. The extracted geohistory curve shows initial rapid subsidence between 57 and 50 Ma and more moderate subsidence from 50 to 34 Ma. This pattern is interpreted to reflect salt evacuation from the source layer into the salt wall. The initial salt‐withdrawal rate was rapid, but later decreased probably due to depletion of the source layer.     

Erosion surfaces and Neogene landscape evolution in the NE Duero Basin (north-central Spain)

We present a chronological model of erosion surface development in the Iberian and Cantabrian Ranges of north-central Spain. We map four erosion surfaces and interpret these to be related to Duero basin continental sediments and tectonic activity from Upper Oligocene to Plio-Pleistocene. The oldest erosion surface, SE1, formed across Upper Oligocene–Lower Miocene synorogenic deposits; while surface SE2 was contemporaneous with the Middle Miocene alluvial systems, ending with an uplift stage in the Astaracian. The two most recent erosion surfaces, SE3 and SE4, developed during extensional tectonic episodes and are associated with the deposition of Upper Páramo sedimentary units at the end of the Miocene (Upper Turolian) and alluvial fan deposits, known as rañas (Plio-Pleistocene). With the exception of SE1, which seems to be associated with a relatively wet climate, the surfaces formed during periods of marked aridity and generally warm temperatures. Through geostatistical reconstruction of the best preserved surface (SE2), applying ordinary kriging method to the topography (DEM) of the erosion surface and its correlating sedimentary plains, we identify the deformation processes which occurred on this surface after its formation.     

英国乡村发展政策演变及启示

诸多成功案例表明,全球化有助于加快经济发展知识与实践的国际转移,将国际知识转移至地区经济发展实践中,为地区发展战略问题提供国际上相关解决方案。英国在其乡村发展历程中也曾经历过与目前中国相类似的发展阶段并遇到相似的发展问题,涉及乡村经济的多样化转型、对新技术和市场扩张的适应和基础设施改善等方面。因此,借鉴英国解决这些问题的经验和教训有助于解决目前中国乡村发展过程中遇到的诸多问题。本文分析了英国乡村发展政策的演变及其阶段性特征,其政策变化的特点主要体现在政策制订由自上而下转向自下而上、强调政策的综合性、注重乡村发展计划的长远性和可持续性、重视运用法律和市场手段等方面,最后从政策制订、乡村发展计划的实施以及发展项目选择等方面探讨了其对我国乡村发展的政策启示。并指出,考虑到国际乡村发展政策的趋同与差异,任何国际乡村发展政策和模式的采纳均需要根据我国特殊的文化、经济、政治传统和环境予以调整。     

论青藏高原范围与面积

长期以来 ,种种因素导致学者们对青藏高原确切范围的认识和理解存在差异。根据青藏高原相关领域研究的新成果和多年野外实践 ,从地理学角度 ,充分讨论了确定青藏高原范围和界线的原则与涉及的问题 ,结合信息技术方法对青藏高原范围与界线位置进行了精确的定位和定量分析。得出 :青藏高原在中国境内部分西起帕米尔高原 ,东至横断山脉 ,横跨 31个经度 ,东西长约 2 94 5km ;南自喜马拉雅山脉南缘 ,北迄昆仑山 -祁连山北侧 ,纵贯约 13个纬度 ,南北宽达 15 32km ;范围为 2 6°0 0′12″N～ 39°4 6′5 0″N ,73°18′5 2″E～ 10 4°4 6′5 9″E ,面积为 2 5 72 4× 10 3km2 ,占我国陆地总面积的 2 6 8%。     

Interdecadal change of snow depth in winter over the Tibetan Plateau and its effect on summer precipitation in China

This paper obtained a set of consecutive and long-recorded observational snow depth data from 51 observation stations by choosing, removing and interpolating original observation data over the Tibetan Plateau for 1961–2006. We used monthly precipitation and temperature data from 160 stations in China for 1951–2006, which was collected by the National Climate Center. Through calculating and analyzing the correlation coefficient, significance test, polynomial trend fitting, composite analysis and abrupt change test, this paper studied the interdecadal change of winter snow over the Tibetan Plateau and its relationship to summer precipitation and temperature in China, and to tropospheric atmospheric temperature. This paper also studied general circulation and East Asian summer monsoon under the background of global warming.