Nitrogen concentration of rainfall in Dalian, China

Wet atmospheric deposition samples were collected in rainy days from 2004 to 2008 in Dalian of Liaoning Province, Northeast of China, which were measured by rain gauge and analyzed for total inorganic nitrogen (TIN) concentration. The mean annual volume of rainfall was from 438.25 to 850.94 mm, and the concentration of TIN was 3.47 mg/L, which showed negative correlation with the volume of rainfall. The order of TIN concentration among seasons was: winter > spring > autumn > summer. Increased use of fertilizers in agricultural areas or widespread use of private transportation led to the increase of TIN fluxes. Variations of TIN concentration among years were significantly different; the annual precipitation TIN inputs were positively related to the volume of rainfall and were surprisingly high with the deposition flux ranging from 10.24 to 25.17 kg N/(hm²·a). The maximum mean annual flux was 25.17 kg N/(hm²·a) which is equal to 53.94 kg N/(hm²·a) usage of CO(NH)₂ (an amount that could have caused changes in terrestrial life). The fluxes of TIN also showed a different seasonal fluctuation during the course of our study, and we found that majority of TIN deposition occurred in summer (from June to August), which accounted for 56.44% of total annual precipitation and 40.06% of total annual deposition flux. Annual TIN fluxes decreased considerably after the rainy season and reached the lowest level (1.39 kg N/(hm²·a)) in winter.     

Chemical dynamics and weathering rates of a carbonate basin Bow River,southern Alberta

Discharge is the dominant control on the TDS load of the Bow River; TDS varies inversely with discharge. Although discharge is the dominant control on concentration, the sources of ions in the river are atmospheric deposition and water/rock interaction. Atmospheric loading can be a significant source of some ions in the pristine headwaters of the river (e.g., 50% of K, 17% of SO₄, 16% of Cl). In terms of water/rock interaction, the input of ions to the river is largely controlled by dissolution of carbonate and evaporite minerals.The chemical denudation rate for the Bow River at Banff is 678 kg/ha/a, or 1.50×10⁸ kg of rock that is removed as dissolved load each year, in the low range for an alpine carbonate basin. An additional 11 kg/ha/a are removed as suspended load. A rock volume of 5.45×10⁴ m³ is carried by the Bow River from Banff National Park each year.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon fingerprints in the Pichavaram mangrove–estuarine sediments,southeastern India

The sources and historical deposition of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were investigated in dated sediment cores from the Pichavaram mangrove–estuarine complex. The ΣPAH flux in mangrove and estuarine sediments was 0.064 ± 0.031 μg/cm²/yr and 0.043 ± 0.020 μg/cm²/yr, respectively. The PAH flux in sediments increased up-core, coinciding with rapid urbanization since the 1970s. The flux showed a decrease in recent years (since 1990), coinciding with less riverine discharge, and perhaps more effective implementation of environmental regulations. The sediments were dominated by low molecular weight PAHs, suggesting anthropogenic input. Ratios of specific PAH isomer pairs suggested a greater input of petrogenic vs. pyrogenic derived PAHs. Notably, the deposition of high molecular weight PAHs increase in mangrove surface sediments was due to lignite and firewood combustion. Because of their overall low concentration in sediments it is unlikely these PAHs pose an immediate ecological hazard.     

全新世安固里淖易溶盐沉积及其环境意义

内陆湖泊沉积物的易溶盐含量与湖水化学组成密切相关，因此通过测试沉积物钻心的易溶盐含量可以重建古湖水化学演化过程。在安固里淖湖心区钻取沉积剖面，以1cm为间隔分样，测试剖面八大离子的含量（即K+、Na+、Ca₂+、Mg2+、CO₃₂-、HCO₃-、Cl-和SO₄₂-）和其他有关的地球化学特征，并且对各项离子含量进行相关分析，得到剖面易溶盐组成变化曲线和和易溶盐指标变化曲线。根据易溶盐曲线变化情况，结合钻心纹层纪年得到的的纹层年代，将安固里淖8507aB.P.以来的湖水化学演化过程分为以下几个阶段：8507~7600aB.P.，湖水化学类型为Na+-Cl- 型，盐度较高；7600~4724aB.P.，湖水化学类型为Na+-Cl--SO₄₂- 型，盐度最高；4724~3057aB.P., 湖水化学类型为Na+-Cl- 型，3057~574a B.P湖水化学类型为Na+-CO₃₂--HCO₃-，盐度较低；574aB.P.以来湖水化学类型为Na+-Cl- 型，盐度较低但是呈现快速增加趋势。同钻心的粒度分析结果相比较，易溶盐变化曲线的转折早于粒度变化曲线，反映易溶盐沉积对气候变化的反应比粒度特征更敏感，是一个较好的反映气候变化的替代性指标，有待于推广应用。     

Flux of nutrients and heavy metals from the Melai River sub-catchment into Lake Chini, Pekan, Pahang, Malaysia

This study was carried out to determine the flux of nutrients and heavy metals from the Melai sub-catchment into Lake Chini through the process of erosion. Melai River is one of the seven feeder rivers that contributed to the present water level of Lake Chini. Three properties of soils, such as particle size, organic matter content, and soil hydraulic conductivity and three chemical soil properties, such as available nutrients, dissolved nutrients, and heavy metals, were analyzed and interpreted. Potential soil loss was estimated using the revised universal soil loss equation model. The results show that the soil textures in the study area consist of clay, silty clay, clay loam, and sandy silt loam. The organic matter content ranges from 3.40 to 9.92 %, while the hydraulic conductivity ranges from 5.2 to 25.3 cm/h. Mean values of available P, K, and Mg amount was 8.5 ± 3.7 μg/g, 24.5 ± 3.4 μg/g, and 20.7 ± 18.6 μg/g, respectively. The highest concentration of soluble nutrients was SO ₄ ^?2 (815.8 ± 624.1 μg/g), followed by NO₃ ^?-N (295.5 ± 372.7 μg/g), NH₄ ⁺-N (24.5 ± 22.1 μg/g) and PO₄ ^3? (2.0 ± 0.8 μg/g). The rainfall erosivity value was 1658.7 MJ mm/ha/h/year. The soil erodibility and slope factor ranges from 0.06 to 0.26 ton h/MJ/mm and 7.63 to 18.33, respectively. The rate of soil loss from the Melai sub-catchment in the present condition is very low (0.0028 ton/ha/year) to low (18.93 ton/ha/year), and low level flow of nutrients and heavy metals, indicating that the Melai River was not the contaminant source of sediments, nutrients, and heavy metals to the lake.     

Discharge of weathering products from acid sulfate soils after a rainfall event, Tweed River, eastern Australia

The oxidation of the iron sulfide, pyrite, in acid sulfate soil floodplains generate substantial acidity and this acid has caused further weathering of the soil profile. The movement of groundwater from these soils is an important geochemical control on surface water quality. The flux of acidified and metal-rich water during a wet season rainfall event has been examined at two study catchments on the Tweed River in eastern Australia. At the sites, 81 kg/ha and 60 kg/ha of oxidisable acidity are exported, along with Al, Fe and Zn during the flood event. The main contributors to the acid flux are H⁺, Fe and Al at the first site and whilst Fe and Al are present in the drainage waters at the second site, the main contributor is likely to be H⁺. The different flux characteristics at the sites may be caused by different surface soil hydraulic conductivities and oxidation history.     

Erosion and uplift uncertainties in the Barents Sea, Norway

Three different types of methods are used to assess the ability to determine erosion amounts and to provide estimates of uncertainty. In the situation of dynamical indicator methods, such as seismic velocity, sonic logs, density logs, or drilling exponent methods, intrinsic assumptions and parameter values used provide only a broad statement on the resolution of uplift/erosion events. None of the methods is more accurate, at best, to better than ± 1 km and likely much worse. For geological model procedures, exemplified by considerations of Airy isostasy and by bed upturning near a salt dome in the Nordkapp Basin of the Barents Sea, the uncertainties are again of the order of ± 500–1000 m. With thermal indicator procedures, the bulk of the constraint information from available data is needed to determine paleoheat flux with little left over to constrain the erosion, implying a minimum uncertainty of ± 500 m on erosion determinations. No method seems capable of resolving erosional events to better than a minimum uncertainty of ± 500 m, and likely no better than ± 1 km.     

Distribution of groundwater salinity and formation mechanism of fresh groundwater in an arid desert transition zone

This study reviews the distribution of groundwater salinity in an arid desert transition zone. By combining field experiments and computer simulation models we make a comprehensive analysis of the formation mechanism of fresh groundwater in relation to the paleogeographic conditions of lithofacies, the geochemical characteristics of the aquifer media, salt deliverability in the vadose zone and prevailing hydrodynamic conditions. The results demonstrate that (1) the lacustrine facies deposition stratum of the Huanhe formation in the Cretaceous system provides a brackish-salt groundwater environment; (2) the average salinity of parent rocks are approximately 440 mg/kg and 4 371 mg/kg in the Quaternary eolian sand and the Cretaceous Huanhe formation respectively, suggesting that parent rocks are the principal controlling factor in the distribution of groundwater quality given that mineral and chemical composition of the eolian sand is simpler than that of the Huanhe formation; (3) average groundwater flow rates are approximately 0.25 m/d and 0.1 m/d in eolian sand and Huanhe formation aquifers respectively, indicating that hydrodynamic conditions play an important role in driving in the formation and evolution of fresh groundwater; (4) The salinity deliverability in the vadose zone overlying the aeolian sand and Huanhe formation aquifers are approximately 15.97 mg/L and 220.42 mg/L respectively, signifying that the combination of lithology and salt content of vadose zone, rainfall infiltration, evapotranspiration and concentration heavily influence the formation, distribution and evolution of groundwater quality. This study can provide a scientific basis for the sustainable development and utilization of groundwater resources in arid areas.     

Spatial estimation of soil erosion risk using RUSLE/GIS techniques and practices conservation suggested for reducing soil erosion in Wadi Mina watershed (northwest,Algeria)

The Wadi Mina Watershed, western area of Algeria is characterized by rare and irregular rains and a fragile and weak vegetable cover. The sediments resulting from erosion are transported and contributed to silting dam Sidi Mhamed Benaouda. The combination of the thematical maps of the various erosive factors according to the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) in SIG by ArcGIS 10.2 software provided a reliable forecast of the annual rates of soil loss by delimiting the areas prone to erosive risk in the catchment above mentioned. The estimated potential average annual soil loss is 11.2 t/ha/yr., and the potential erosion rates from recognized erosion classes ranged from 0.0 to plus 100 t/ha/yr. About 50% of the catchment area was predicted to have very low to low erosion risk, with soil loss between 0 and 7.4 t/ha/yr. Erosion risk is moderate over 13.9% of the catchment, where calculated soil loss is between 7.4 and 12 t/ha/yr. Erosion risk is high to dangerous over 36.1% of the catchment, where calculated soil loss is more than 12 t/ha/yr. According to this study, it appeared clearly that we must intervene quickly by using reliable and effective conservation techniques.     

Accretion rates and sediment accumulation in Rhode Island salt marshes

In order to test the assumption that accretion rates of intertidal salt marshes are approximately equal to rates of sea-level rise along the Rhode Island coast,²¹⁰Pb analyses were carried out and accretion rates calculated using constant flux and constant activity models applied to sediment cores collected from lowSpartina alterniflora marshes at four sites from the head to the mouth of Narragansett Bay. A core was also collected from a highSpartina patens marsh at one site. Additional low marsh cores from a tidal river entering the bay and a coastal lagoon on Block Island Sound were also analyzed. Accretion rates for all cores were also calculated from copper concentration data assuming that anthropogenic copper increases began at all sites between 1865 and 1885. Bulk density and weight-loss-on-ignition of the sediments were measured in order to assess the relative importance of inorganic and organic accumulation. During the past 60 yr, accretion rates at the eight low marsh sites averaged 0.43±0.13 cm yr^?1 (0.25 to 0.60 cm yr^?1) based on the constant flux model, 0.40±0.15 cm yr^?1 (0.15 to 0.58 cm yr^?1) based on the constant activity model, and 0.44±0.11 cm yr^?1 (0.30 to 0.59 cm yr^?1) based on copper concentration data, with no apparent trend down-bay. High marsh rates were 0.24±0.02 (constant flux), 0.25±0.01 (constant activity), and 0.47±0.04 (copper concentration data). The cores showing closest agreement between the three methods are those for which the excess²¹⁰Pb inventories are consistent with atmospheric inputs. These rates compare to a tide gauge record from the mouth of the bay that shows an average sea-level rise of 0.26±0.02 cm yr^?1 from 1931 to 1986. Low marshes in this area appear to accrete at rates 1.5–1.7 times greater than local relative sea-level rise, while the high marsh accretion rate is equal to the rise in sea level. The variability among the low marsh sites suggests that marshes may not be poised at mean water level to within better than ±several cm on time scales of decades. Inorganic and organic dry solids each contributed about 9% by volume to low marsh accretion, while organic dry solids contributed 11% and inorganic 4% to high marsh accretion. Water/pore space accounted for the majority of accretion in both low and high marshes. If water associated with the organic component is considered, organic matter accounts for an average of 91% of low marsh and 96% of high marsh accretion. A dramatic increase in the organic content at a depth of 60 to 90 cm in the cores from Narragansett Bay appears to mark the start of marsh development on prograding sand flats.     

Salts in the clay playas of China’s arid regions: gone with the wind

In China’s arid regions, aeolian salts are transported along with dust aerosols, but their contents and the emission rates are poorly understood. Using samples with undisturbed surfaces and artificially disrupted surfaces (to simulate human disturbances such as reclamation, planting, trampling by animals, and other activities), the transport rates for windblown material and the salt contents of clay playa surfaces were investigated in a wind tunnel. The results showed that under wind velocities ranging from 8 to 22 m/s, wind erosion rates ranged between 0.009 and 0.066 g/m²/s for the undisturbed surfaces and between 0.011 and 0.048 g/m²/s for the artificially disrupted playa surfaces. Although the amount of wind-transported material that was captured was too small to allow an analysis of individual salt contents using the available equipment, electrical conductivity measurements and correlation analysis revealed mean total salt contents of 9.59 g/kg in the transported materials collected above the sealed playa surfaces versus 3.38 g/kg in materials from the same surfaces that were artificially cracked after testing the sealed surfaces. Given the large areas containing clay playas in China’s arid regions, these results will improve our understanding of aeolian salt transport in arid China and will facilitate interpretation of the sources of aeolian salts.     

A case for a downwasting mountain glacier during Termination I,Verçenik valley,northeastern Turkey

Field evidence of palaeoglacial records in the Verçenik valley in the Eastern Black Sea Mountains was examined and 19 samples for surface exposure dating with cosmogenic ¹⁰Be were collected with the aim of increasing knowledge on the amplitude and frequency of palaeoglacier advances in Anatolia. Glacial erosional features were mapped and the flow directions of the palaeoglaciers were determined. The Verçenik palaeoglacier advanced before 26.1 k ± 1.2 k yr. The Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) advance continued until 18.8 k ±1.0 k yr. The Verçenik palaeoglacier collapsed during Termination I. After 17.7 k ± 0.8 k yr there was no more ice in the main valley. The Verçenik palaeoglacier most probably then separated into five small glaciers that were restricted to the tributary valleys. Among these, the Hem?in palaeoglacier completed its recession around 15.7 k ± 0.8 k yr. On the basis of glacial erosion features, a Lateglacial glacier advance can be identified. Evidence of the Little Ice Age advance appears to be absent. The results from this valley system seem to be consistent with the first results from the adjacent Kavron valley and with the Anatolian LGM palaeoclimate, the sea surface temperature minima in the western Mediterranean, the deposition of red clay layers in the Black Sea and deposition of the Heinrich‐1 layer in the North Atlantic. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Accumulation of mantle gases in a permanently stratified volcanic lake (Lac Pavin,France)

Lac Pavin is a volcanic crater lake in the Massif Central (France), characterized by a permanent vertical density stratification resulting from a strong and persistent chemocline between about 60 and 70 m depth. The deep water below the chemocline forms the monimolimnion, in which most dissolved ions as well as helium, carbon dioxide, and methane are strongly enriched. The ³He/⁴He isotope ratio of the excess helium is (9.09 ± 0.01) · 10⁻⁶, or (6.57 ± 0.01) R_a. These findings clearly indicate a flux of mantle-derived magmatic gases into the monimolimnion.In order to derive the fluxes of magmatic volatiles into Lac Pavin, it is essential to understand the hydrologic characteristics of the lake. Previously published two-box models have assumed groundwater input at the lake bottom, a short residence time in the monimolimnion, and biogenic origin of the CO₂. We propose an alternative model with a flux of magmatic gases, but not of water, into the monimolimnion, and a weak diffusive coupling between the monimolimnion and the overlying mixolimnion which leads to a long deep-water residence time (≈ 70 yr). We reassess the carbon budget of the lake and conclude that the major part of the accumulated CO₂ in the monimolimnion is of magmatic origin. From the model-derived water exchange rates, we calculated a mantle ⁴He flux of (6 ± 2) · 10¹¹ atoms m⁻² s⁻¹. This value lies near the lower end of the range found in comparable volcanic lakes. The flux of magmatic CO₂ is estimated as (1.2 ± 0.4) · 10⁻⁷ mol m⁻² s⁻¹, which is also comparatively low. The monimolimnion appears to be in steady state with respect to these fluxes, therefore no further, potentially hazardous, accumulation of CO₂ takes place.     

北京市土壤Hg污染的区域生态地球化学评价

城市土壤Hg异常/污染是中国普遍存在的重大生态环境问题。文章对北京市近1000km2范围内的地表土壤、壤中气、大气干湿沉降、大气颗粒物、大气中的Hg含量水平和空间分布模式进行了系统研究,查明北京地表土壤Hg平均含量为0.41mg/kg,大气干湿沉降物中的Hg平均含量为0.194mg/kg,壤中气Hg的平均含量为559.65ng/m3,大气颗粒物PM10和PM2.5中的Hg含量分别为0.59和0.67ng/m3,大气中的Hg平均含量为3.13ng/m3。北京市自2000年起实现了由燃煤转变为燃气的减排措施,导致干湿沉降物中的Hg沉降通量显著减少,2006年大气干湿沉降物中Hg的沉降通量1.837mg·m-2·a-1,北京市城区(近1000km2)Hg全年沉降为1837kg,空气中总Hg浓度由1998年的8.3~24.7ng/m3下降到2006年的3.13ng/m3,大气颗粒物中Hg含量由2003年的1.18ng/m3下降到2006年的0.59ng/m3(PM10)和0.67ng/m3(PM2.5),表明北京市煤改气减排措施的实施显著改善了大气环境质量。通过对土壤中Hg的存在形式研究,发现土壤中有硫化物(辰砂)及各种Hg盐(HgCl2)的含Hg矿物,Hg也可以各种吸附方式或壤中气方式存在。研究证实北京壤中气Hg与大气Hg存在显著的相关性(n=131,R=0.267,p<0.01),表明壤中气Hg是大气Hg的重要来源之一。利用2005年地表土壤总Hg与Hg释放速率的线性方程估算,土壤Hg平均释放速率为102.42ng·m-2·h-1,2005年土壤释放进大气的Hg通量为936.70kg。在查明土壤中存在大量辰砂矿物的同时,还分布有大量具有高温熔融特征的金属微球粒和玻璃质微球粒,证明燃煤和冶金烟尘是地表土壤Hg的主要来源。土壤中Hg、S、pH和辰砂颗粒浓度在空间上的高度耦合性表明,碱性条件下,土壤中高含量的S和Hg是辰砂形成的重要原因。按国家土壤环境质量标准,北京市I级土壤Hg环境质量的面积为176km2,Ⅱ级为808km2,Ⅲ级为24km2,超Ⅲ为36km2。Ⅲ级、超Ⅲ级主要分布在二环路以内的中心城区。城南(长安街为界)大气Hg环境质量明显优于城北,在北四、北五环之间的部分地区,大气颗粒Hg的环境质量为Ⅲ级或超Ⅲ级。在地表土壤Hg含量较高的中心城区,居民每天因呼吸摄入的Hg高达364ng,对人体健康构成潜在风险。根据我国"十一五"规划中每年实现10%节能减排的目标,对北京市未来50年土壤Hg含量的时空演变趋势预测,预测2050年北京因干湿沉降带来的Hg输入量为16.03kg,地表土壤释放Hg的输出量为37.36kg,明显大于Hg的输入通量,土壤Hg的环境质量将得到根本改善。预测到2040年Ⅲ级土壤Hg环境质量的区域将完全消失,到2060年以Ⅰ级土壤为主。     

Direct measurement of the combined effects of lichen,rainfall, and temperature onsilicate weathering

A key uncertainty in models of the global carbonate–silicate cycle and long-term climate is the way that silicates weather under different climatologic conditions, and in the presence or absence of organic activity. Digital imaging of basalts in Hawaii resolves the coupling between temperature, rainfall, and weathering in the presence and absence of lichens. Activation energies for abiotic dissolution of plagioclase (23.1 ± 2.5 kcal/mol) and olivine (21.3 ± 2.7 kcal/mol) are similar to those measured in the laboratory, and are roughly double those measured from samples taken underneath lichen. Abiotic weathering rates appear to be proportional to rainfall. Dissolution of plagioclase and olivine underneath lichen is far more sensitive to rainfall.     

Vegetation and climates in southern Tasmania since the last glaciation

Enclosed basins (glacial and nonglacia) of Tasmania contain the most comprehensive record in Australia of trends in a regional vegetation and climate since the late Pleistocene. Seven pollen sequences, each continuous and extending back at least 10,000 years, are used to reconstruct the history of postglacial vegetation and climate in Southern Tasmania (42°S–43°30′S). Interpretations are supported by a study of the modern pollen rain. Postglacial climates in Tasmania were characterized by a strong west-to-east decrease in precipitation. During the late Pleistocene, climates were markedly colder and drier than at present, and the vegetation was largely devoid of trees. A major rise in temperature between ca. 11,500 and 9500 yr B.P., accompanied by rising effective precipitation, resulted in the expansion of Eucalyptus, then other trees, across Tasmania. This warming trend may have been temporarily reversed during the early postglacial. Dry climates delayed the development of forest in inland eastern Tasmania until after ca. 9500 yr B.P. There is no evidence for a major change in climate since this temperature rise. Two broad phases of development have occurred within the postglacial forests. The first was an early Holocene phase during which Nothofagus cunninghamii cool temperate rain forest developed in western Tasmania and on the slopes of mountains in central and southeastern Tasmania. Eucalyptus sclerophyll forests developed in eastern Tasmania and have remained dominant there since. By ca. 7800 yr B.P. rain-forest communities were established beyond present-day limits. The second phase was a mid to late Holocene phase during which forests and alpine vegetation became more open in structure, leading to the re-expansion of Eucalyptus and shade-intolerant species. During the early to mid Holocene, climates in Southern Tasmania were wetter and (? then) warmer than at present. Maximum and minimum dates for this “optimum” are 8000 and 5000 yr B.P. Since then, climates have become increasingly rigorous, possibly through an increased incidence of inequable “weather types” leading to an increase in the frequency of drought and frost. Structural changes in the postglacial vegetation of Southern Tasmania closely parallel those at equivalent latitudes in New Zealand and Chilean South America, hence are likely to reflect the same primary cause.     

Late Quaternary fluvial aggradation and incision in the monsoon‐dominated Alaknanda valley,Central Himalaya,Uttrakhand, India

The present study aims to explain the spatial and temporal variability in phases of aggradation/incision in response to changes in climate and seismicity during the late Quaternary in the Alaknanda River valley (a major tributary of the river Ganges or Ganga). Geomorphology, stratigraphy and optical dating of the fluvial sediment reveal that the oldest fluvial landforms preserved in the south of the Main Central Thrust are debris flow terraces developed during the early part of pluvial Marine Isotopic Stage 3. Following this, a period of accelerated incision/erosion owing to an increase in uplift rate and more intense rainfall occurred. In the Lesser Himalaya, three phases of valley fill aggradation around 26 ± 3 ka, 18 ± 2 ka and 15 ± 1 ka and 8 ± 1 ka occurred in response to changes in monsoon intensity and sediment flux. The last phase was regionally extensive and corresponds to a strengthening of the early Holocene Indian Summer Monsoon. A gradual decline in the monsoon strength after 8 ± 1 ka resulted in reduced fluvial discharge and lower sediment transport capacity of the Alaknanda River, leading to valley fill incision and the development of terraces. The study suggests that fluvial dynamics in the Alaknanda valley were modulated by monsoon variability and the role of tectonics was subordinate, limited to providing accommodation space and post‐deposition modification of the fluvial landforms. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Climatic change recorded by stable isotopes and trace elements in a British Holocene tufa

Combined stable isotope (δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C) and trace element (Mg, Sr) geochemistry from bulk tufa calcite and ostracod shell calcite from an early Holocene British tufa reveal clear records of Holocene palaeoclimatic change. Variation in δ¹⁸O is caused principally by change in the isotopic composition of Holocene rainfall (recharge), itself caused mainly by change in air temperature. The δ¹³C variability through much of the deposit reflects increasing influence of soil‐zone CO₂, owing to progressive woodland soil development. Bulk tufa Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca are controlled by their concentrations in the spring water. Importantly, Mg/Ca ratios are not related to δ¹⁸O values and thus show no temperature dependence. First‐order sympathetic relationships between δ¹³C values and Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca are controlled by aquifer processes (residence times, CO₂ degassing and calcite dissolution/reprecipitation) and probably record intensity of palaeorainfall (recharge) effects. Stable isotope records from ostracod shells show evidence of vital effects relative to bulk tufa data. The ostracod isotopic records are markedly ‘spiky’ because the ostracods record ‘snapshots’ of relatively short duration (years), whereas the bulk tufa samples record averages of longer time periods, probably decades. The δ¹⁸O record appears to show early Holocene warming, a thermal maximum at ca. 8900 cal. yr BP and the global 8200 yr BP cold event. Combined δ¹³C, Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca data suggest that early Holocene warming was accompanied by decreasing rainfall intensity. The Mg/Ca data suggest that the 8200 yr BP cold event was also dry. Warmer and wetter conditions were re‐established after the 8200 yr BP cold event until the top of the preserved tufa sequence at ca. 7100 cal. yr BP. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Wadi Bakht revisited: Holocene climate change and prehistoric occupation in the Gilf Kebir region of the Eastern Sahara,SW Egypt

Geoarchaeological and chronological evidence from the remote Gilf Kebir Plateau in southwest Egypt suggests a new model for the influence of early and mid‐Holocene precipitation regimes on land‐use strategies of prehistoric settlers in what is now the center of the largest hyperarid area on earth. We hypothesize that the quantitatively higher, daytime, monsoon summer rainfall characteristic of the early Holocene (9300–5400 ¹⁴C yr B.P./8400–4300 yr B.C.) resulted in less grass growth on the plateau compared to the winter rains that presumably fell in the cool nights during the terminal phase of the Holocene pluvial (5400–4500 yr B.P./4300–3300 yr B.C.). The unparalleled climatic transition at 5400 yr B.P. (4300 yr B.C.) caused a fundamental environmental change that resulted in different patterns of human behavior, economy, and land use in the canyon‐like valleys and on the plains surrounding the plateau. The model emphasizes the crucial impact of seasonal rainfall distribution on cultural landscapes in arid regions and the lower significance of annual precipitation rates, with implications for future numeric climate models. It also serves as an example of how past climate changes have affected human societies. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Mid‐Holocene environmental changes in the Bay of Skaill,Mainland Orkney,Scotland: an integrated geomorphological,sedimentological and stratigraphical study

A detailed multidisciplinary investigation of intertidal freshwater sediments exposed in the north of the Bay of Skaill, Mainland Orkney, Scotland, have revealed a complex sedimentary sequence. This provided evidence for dynamic coastal environmental changes in the area since the mid‐Holocene. Freshwater ponds developed on glacial sediments ca. 6550 ± 80 yr BP (cal. bc 5590–5305). From ca. 6120 ± 70 yr BP (cal. bc 5040–4855), these were infilled by blown sand from the distal edge of a dune ridge located to the west. Thereafter, a series of sand‐blow events alternating with periods of quiescence occurred until ca. 4410 ± 60 yr BP (cal. bc 3325–2900). Between ca. 5240 ± 160 and 4660 ± 80 yr BP (cal. bc 4370–3115), pollen and charcoal records show evidence of anthropogenic activities, associated with the nearby Neolithic settlement of Skara Brae. Agriculture was probably affected by recurrent sand movement and widespread deposition of calcium carbonate in the hinterland of the bay. Machair development between ca. 6100 and 5000 yr BP (cal. bc 5235–3540) corresponds to a mid‐Holocene phase of dune formation recorded elsewhere in northwest Europe. The more recent and progressive formation of the bay has probably been related to increasing external forcing via storminess, long‐term relative sea‐level change and sediment starvation within this exposed environment. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.