Softs of Fildes Peninsula, King George Island, the maritime Antarctic: Part I. Formation processes and pedogenetic particularities

Based on the data obtained from tens of the investigated soil profiles scattered over the Fildes Peninsula, King George Island, the maritime Antarctic, the soil-forming processes were discussed. It was concluded that on the weathering crusts resulted from various physical courses, the strong freeze-thaw action within regolith, significant organic matter accumulation, evident leaching and illuviation, as well as initial argillification dominated the formation and development of the soils on the Fildes Peninsula. Furthermore, this study indicated that the juvenility of genesis, poor profile-expression, variation in column thickness, etc. characterized the pedogenetic features of the soils of the Fildes Peninsula.     

Holocene environmental change according to lake core in Fildes Peninsula of King George Island,Antarctica

Lake core sampled from Xihu in Fildes Peninsula of King Gorge Island, Antarctica could reveal the environmental change of the district. The lake core( GA7) , 9.28 meters long , was sectioned at an interval of 2 cm. Through measuring the organic carbon, magnetic susceptibility, granularity and organic carbon isotope of GA7, by use of 14C age it was estimated that there were four periods of high temperature in Fildes Peninsula; 4800-4400 aB. P. , 3600-3350 aB. P. ,2100 - 1800 aB. P. and 900 aB. P. - present. Meanwhile, results showed that there was a strikingly positive correlation between the content of organic carbon and that of organic carbon isotope (δC01213 ) which could be the substitute indicators of environmental temperature.     

Trace Metals Analysis Along the Fildes Peninsula Coastline Using Two Red Algae,Rhodymenia antarctica and Iridaea cordata,as Monitors

Two red algae, Rhodymenia antarctica and Iridaea cordata(Rhodophyta), were employed to investigate the pollution situation along Fildes Peninsula coastline, King George Island. Ten sites from east and west coastlines were investigated, and the concentrations of Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Cr, As and Hg were determined. The metal pollution index(MPI) was used to evaluate the overall pollution level represented by the investigated sites and for interregional comparisons. The two algae exhibited different preference to special trace metal. R. antarctica could accumulate more Cd(0.63 mg kg~(-1)) and Hg(0.026 mg kg~(-1)) than I. cordata(Cd 0.34 mgkg~(-1), Hg 0.019 mg kg~(-1)). I. cordata could accumulate more As(15.53 mg kg~(-1)) than R. antarctica(10.11 mg kg~(-1)). There was no significant difference in accumulating Cu, Pb, Zn and Cr between the two algae. R. antarctica could be used to monitor Cd and Hg. I. cordata would be more appropriate for monitoring As. MPI monitored by the two algae were from 1.02 to 2.26(R. antarctica), and 1.03 to 1.25(I. cordata), respectively. Pollution situation of Fildes Peninsula was becoming serious, especially of the east coastline. The objective of this research was to gather the baseline information for trace metals investigation in Antarctic.     

Composition of plagioclases in volcanic rocks of King George Island, Antarctica with reference to the petrogenetic significance

Plagioclases occur mainly as phenocrysts in volcanic rocks of King George Island, South Shetland Islands, West Antarctica. In basaltic andesites and andesites of Keller Peninsula and Ullman Spur (Admiralty Bay), they are high structure state labradorite-andesines; and in high-A1 basalts and basaltic andesites of Barton and Weaver peninsulas (Maxwell Bay), they are high structure state bytownite-anorthites.∑REE, La/Yb ratios and δEu values of plagioclases from Admiralty Bay are higher than those from Maxwell Bay. All plagioclases have rather identical chondritenormalized transitional element distribution patterns, probably reflecting that crystal structure rather than composition of plagioclase controls their diversity. Compositions of plagioclases depend chiefly on those of their host rocks, compositional differences of plagioclases reveal that basaltic magmas in the Admiralty Bay area are more evolved than in the Maxwell Bay area.     

Volcanic geology of Admiralty Bay,King George Island,Antarctica

At Admiralty Bay of central King George Island, Keller Peninsula, Ull-man Spur and Point Hennequin are main Tertiary volcanic terranes. Field investigation and isotopic datings indicate that, there occurred three periods of eruptions ( three volcanic cycles) and accompanying N-toward migration of the volcanic center on Keller Peninsula. After the second period of eruptions, the crater collapsed and a cal-dera was formed, then later eruptions were limited at the northern end of the peninsula and finally migrated to Ullman Spur. Thus Keller Peninsula is a revived caldera, and its volcanism migrated toward E with time. Point Hennequin volcanism happened more or less simultaneously with the above two areas, but has no clear relation in chemical evolution with them, frequently it belongs to another independent volcanic center.     

The identification and comparison of the bio-elements of the penguin ornithogenic sediments sample from Davis Station and Great Wall Station

During CHINARE-22 in austral summer of 2005-2006, a lake sediment core named DG4, which is impacted by penguin droppings, was retrieved from a lake catchment in Gardner Island of Vestfold Hills, East Antarctica. In this study, the concentrations of characteristic elements in the core, local bedrocks and fresh penguin guanos were determined. P, Se, F, S, As, Sr and Cu in DG4 were identified as the bio-element assemblage by R-clustering analysis and compared with those in the local bedrocks and fresh guanos, the results are similar to Y2 in Ardley Island, Antarctic Peninsula. On this basis, P and Se were identified as the optimum bio-elements in DG4 and F, P and S were identified in Y2, respectively. This work will provides the foundation for reconstructing the past penguin populations in Gardner Island of Vest- fold Hills, East Antarctica and comparing the penguin population dynamics between East Antarctica and Antarctic Peninsula.     

Ecological differences of south polar skua populations from Fildes Peninsula of King George Island and eastern Larsemann Hills, Antarctica

A study has been done on the comparison of nesting and feeding behavior, population variances as well as breeding success between two populations of south polar skua (Catharacta maccormicki) from near Great Wall station on Fildes Peninsula and near Zhongshan station in Eastern Larsemann Hills, Antarctica. There are evident differences in their population ecology. The foraging habit is much related to regional ecosystem and food resources near their territorial area. Dependence on human food waste influences skua‘s diet,which considerably affects their behavior even population variation in both areas. The skuas in Zhongshan Station,could shorten and/or regulate the timing for their egg laying and hatching, and take precedence of one chick brooding, for keeping their breeding success, and subsequent species continuation.     

Temperature variations at the Great Wall and Zhongshan stations

Surface meteorological observations have been carried out at the Great Wall station (GW) and Zhongshan station (ZS) from 1984 to 2008 and from 1989 to 2008 respectively. The variation in mean air temperature and its trends are derived from the meteorological observation data recorded at both stations. The warming rate of the annual mean temperature at GW is similar to that at Bellingshausen station, which is about 3 km distant. Thus, the warming trend is representative of the King George Island region. The warming rate of ZS is less different from that at Davis station,which is about 100 km from ZS. It can be said that the meteorological data recorded at both stations are representative of the regions of the King George Island and east coast of the Antarctic.     

Post-depositional modification of NO-3 in snow layers at EastAntarctica and at the headwater of ürumqi River

Acidic species, such as Nitrate, in polar snow and firn layers are “reversibly” deposited, and are sufficiently volatile to undergo significant postdepositional exchange between snow/firn and the atmosphere. Through comparison of the snowpit and snowpack nitrate concentrations from central East Antarctica and the headwater of ürumqi River, we conclude that the nitrate peaks in the uppermost surface snow layers in central Antarctica are not related to an atmospheric signal and must account for post-depositional effects. Such effects, however, are not found in the surface snowpack nitrate profiles from the headwater of ürumqi River. Two reasons may account for the post-depositional difference. At first, nitrate in the polar snow and firn layers appears to be hydrated ion, which can be taken up by the atmosphere, while at the headwater of ürumqi River it seems mainly as mineral ion, which assembles the behavior of aerosol-derived species that are “irreversibly” deposited and do not undergo significant post-depositional exchange with the atmosphere. Secondly, the chemical features of the snow and ice on the Antarctica are mainly determined by wet deposition, to the contrary, dry deposition is more significant at the headwater of lUrumqi River than that on the East Antarctic Plateau.     

SR-XRF analysis of Polytrichum in the Fildes Peninsula,Antarctica

In order to study the element contents and distribution of various mosses collected in the Antarctica, we analyzed the heavy elements of 3 species of Polytri-chum in the Fildes Peninsula, P. alpinum, P. juniperinum and P. alpestre, by synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence ( SR-XRF). The result shows that the elements, such as K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn and Sr, are nearly the same in Potytrichum. The peak intensity of K is higher than that of Ca, and the peak intensity of Ca is higher than that of Fe in P. alpinum. In P. juniperinum, the peak intensity of K is higher than that of Ca, and the peak intensity of Ca is close to that of Fe. The peak intensity of K is nearly equal to those of Ca and Fe in P. alpestre. Therefore, the habitats of 3 species of Polytrichum are similar in the Fildes Peninsula. By XRF analyzing of different parts of P. alpestre, we found that the peak intensities of relative concentration of elements are obviously different. The peak intensity of K in apical-bud is the highest in orga     

喀斯特地区不同岩土组构对岩溶碳通量的影响

我国南方喀斯特地区岩石裸露率高、土层浅薄且分布不均,这种特殊的岩土组构如何影响水文过程对于准确估算岩溶碳通量具有重要意义。水化学径流法是计算流域尺度岩溶碳通量的常用方法,其中流域面积和流量作为2个重要参数在喀斯特地区往往难以准确获取。在普定喀斯特生态系统观测研究站设计了一组岩土比(1:1和4:1)和一组土层厚度(5,20,100 cm)共计5种岩土组构的模拟试验场。通过一个完整水文年的流量和水化学监测,定量研究了岩石裸露率和土层厚度对水文过程以及岩溶碳通量的影响。研究结果表明,5个模拟试验场岩溶碳通量平均值为(17±3) gC/m2/a,受渗漏量控制,雨季(5-10月)约占95%;岩石裸露率(2组岩土组构之间)对渗漏量的影响可达14%,且随着岩石裸露率增加,入渗系数也相应增加;土层厚度对渗漏量的影响仅在1%~2%之间。此外,对8个野外流域观测数据的分析发现,入渗系数与岩溶碳通量的相关性最为显著,说明入渗系数是喀斯特地区不同岩土组构地质背景影响和控制岩溶碳通量的主要因素,同时这种影响可能随降雨量变化而变化,即入渗系数并非常数。      

Temporal and spatial variations of atmospheric methane concentration and δ^13 C-CH4 near the surface on the Millor Peninsula, East Antarctica

During the 22nd Chinese Antarctic Research Expedition(CHINARE-22,2005/06),the atmospheric gas samples near the surface were taken on the Millor Peninsula and adjacent areas,east Antarctica,using Tedlar gas bags.The methane(CH4) concentration and δ13C-CH4 in those samples were analyzed in the laboratory.The average value of atmospheric CH4 concentration on this peninsula was(1.87±0.12)×10-6,slightly higher than the global average CH4 concentration.The summertime variation of CH4 concentrations showed a large...     

Does polar amplification exist in Antarctic surface during the recent four decades?

There are numerous studies on polar amplification and its influence on mid-latitude weather and climate. However, assessments on whether polar amplification occurs in Antarctica are rarely conducted. Based on the latest atmospheric reanalysis of ERA5 produced by European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts(ECMWF), we have defined the Antarctic amplification index, and calculated the trend of annual and seasonal Surface Air Temperature(SAT) mean during 1979-2019 for Antarctic Ice Sheet(AIS) and the trend mean of different meridional sectors of Antarctic sub regions including East Antarctic Ice Sheet(EAIS), West Antarctic Ice Sheet(WAIS) and Antarctic Peninsula(AP). Antarctic amplification shows regional differences and seasonal variations. Antarctica shows a slight warming with the largest magnitude in AP. The temperature anomalies indicate the least fluctuations in austral summer, and the more fluctuations in winter and spring. In austral summer, the warming trend domains EAIS and WAIS, while the cooling trend appears over AP. The zonal mean in Southern Hemisphere maintains a warming trend in the low latitudes, and fluctuates greatly in the middle and high latitudes. The strongest Antarctic amplification phenomenon occurs in spring, with the amplification index of 1.20. For AP, the amplification occurs in austral autumn, and the amplification index is 2.16. At South Pole and the surrounding regions, SAT for land only fluctuates largely and shows different trends in different seasons. The mechanism of Antarctic amplification is unclear till now, and its research suffers from the limitation of measured data. This suggests that future research needs progress in comprehensive ground observation network, remote sensing data accumulation, and high-resolution climate modeling with better representation of both atmospheric and cryospheric processes in Antarctica.     

Weathering, shock metamorphism and type distribution patterns of 98 ordinary chondrites from the Grove Mountains, Antarctica

Petrography and mineral chemistry of ninety-eight ordinary chondrites from Grove Mountains (GRV), Antarctica, were presented and their.weathering effect, shock metamorphism and type distribution patterns were discussed in this study. Among them, six are unequilibrated ordinary chondrites, including 3 H3 and 3 L3; and 92 meteorites are equilibrated ordinary chondrites, including 24 H-group (13 H4, 10 H5, 1 H6), 64 L-group (2 L4, 44 L5, 18 L6) and 4 LL-group (3 LL4, 1 LL5). Most GRV chondrites (>90%) displayed minor weathering effect (W1 and W2). About half of the meteorites experienced severe shock metamorphism. They commonly contain shock-induced melt veins and pockets. These heavily shocked meteorites provide us with natural samples for study of high-pressure polymorphs of minerals. In addition, the Grove Mountains collection seems to have more abundant unequilibrated and L group ordinary chondrites compared to the US Antarctic meteorite collection which were mainly found along the Transantarctic Mountains.     

岩溶碳循环及碳汇效应研究与展望

碳酸盐岩风化是全球碳循环的重要组成部分, 具有大气与土壤CO₂汇效应, 受生态系统因子驱动与全球变化影响, 岩溶地区碳汇具有地表和地下双碳汇特征。简要介绍岩溶碳循环与全球变化关系, 论述岩溶碳汇的相关科学问题和主要进展, 分析岩溶增汇潜力与土地利用变化, 进一步提出基于岩溶关键带理念的碳酸盐岩风化过程概念模型。碳酸盐岩风化产生的碳汇可能是全球碳循环"遗漏碳汇"的贡献者, 同时具有缓解土壤CO₂向大气释放的作用, 进而成为全球碳循环模型中"土地利用变化项"(E_LUC)的重要调节者(减源效应)。碳酸盐岩风化过程能快速响应短时间尺度变化环境因子, 是岩溶关键带中连接生物、水文与地球化学过程的核心驱动机制。岩溶碳循环可理解为是土壤-生态系统碳循环的延伸或横向组成部分, 共同组成岩溶地区完整的陆地浅表层碳循环系统。碳酸盐岩风化对大气CO₂浓度上升的负反馈效应, 石漠化治理与生态修复工程的持续推进, 蕴藏着巨大的岩溶固碳增汇潜力。应加强土壤CO₂季节及其区域变化监测与研究, 构建基于土壤CO₂与流域水化学指标相关性的反向模型, 为估算区域碳汇本底、评估年际碳汇增量与潜力提供更加清晰且有效的岩溶增汇方案与途径。      

Physico-chemical characteristics and environmental significance of snow deposition on Haxilegen glacier No.51 in Tian Shan, China

Snow chemistry on the glaciers of alpine regions is a good indicator of atmospheric environmental change.We examine snow chemistry in three snowpits at different altitudes on the Haxilegen Glacier No.51,in the Kuitun River source,Tian Shan,China,during July-September 2004 to 2007.We use correlation analysis,factor analysis and sea-salt tracing methods to examine the characteristics and sources of major ions and mineral dust particles in the snow.Results show that mineral dust particles and major ions in the snow pits vary seasonally.During the Asian dust period in springtime,the concentration of mineral dust particles and major ions deposited in snow is high,while the concentration is relatively low during the non-dust period of summer and autumn.This may be caused by dust storm activity in central Asia.The order of major ionic concentrations in the snow packs was determined to be Ca2+ > SO42-> NH4+ > NO3-> Cl-> Na+ > Mg2+ > K+.Ca2+ was the dominant cation;SO42- was the dominant anion.We find,with the exception of NO3-,that the variabilities of ionic concentrations are highly correlated.Results show that the glacier region was significantly affected by dust activity and anthropogenic source.The major ions,especially Na+,originate from dust sources of central Asia and from the Ocean,transported by the westerly winds.     

Chemical Weathering of New Pyroclastic Deposits from Mt. Merapi （Java）, Indonesia

The Java Island, Indonesia with abundant amount of pyroclastic deposits is located in the very active and dynamic Pacific Ring of Fires. Studying the geochemical weathering indices of these pyroclastic deposits is important to get a clear picture about weathering profiles on deposits resulting from the eruption of Mt. Merapi. Immediately after the first phase of the eruption （March to June 2006）, moist and leached pyroclastic deposits were collected. These pyroclastic deposits were found to be composed of volcanic glass, plagioclase feldspar in various propoitions, orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene, olivine, amphibole and titanomagnetite. The total elemental composition of the bulk samples （including trace elements and heavy metals） was determined by wet chemical methods and X-ray fluorescence （XRF） analyses. Weathering of the pyroelastic deposits was studied using various weathering indices. The Ruxton ratio, weathering index of Parker, Vought resudual index and chemical index of weathering of moist pyroclastic deposits were lower than those of the leached samples, but the alteration indices （chemical and plagioclase） were slightly higher in the moist compared to the leached pyroelastic deposits.     

山东半岛降雪时空分布特征

以2000-2018年MODIS MOD10A1日产品数据为数据源,结合数字高程模型（DEM）及降水量、风向等气象数据,构建了积雪空间分布模型,能够有效地提取强降雪区域。以此为基础,利用相关分析、缓冲区分析等方法,探究山东半岛降雪时空分布特征,结果表明：① 将NDSI累积量与DEM数据相结合,能够有效构建山东半岛积雪空间分布模型,实现了对山东半岛强、弱降雪区域提取,NDSI累积量≥150的区域中,在强降雪区的面积占降雪范围的79.78%;② 降雪区域存在空间差异,呈现北多南少,东多西少的分布格局,以黄、渤海与山东半岛海陆分界线为基准,离岸距离39.1 km范围内降雪多,离岸距离39.1 km以外降雪少;山脉150 m高程线北侧迎风坡降雪多,南侧背风坡降雪少;③ 山东半岛强降雪年以3-5年为周期存在年际变化。探究山东半岛降雪长时间序列时空分布特征,在收集淡水资源,缓解用水紧张和灾害预防方面具有一定意义。     

DISTRIBUTION OF PERIGLACIAL GEOMORPHOLOGY AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PERIGLACIAL GEOMORPHOLOGY AND GLACIATED HISTORY ON FILDES PENINSULA, KING GEORGE ISLAND,ANTARCTICA

As for the formation of the submerged trough of Maxwell Bay and the external agent geomorphic-phenomena of Fildes Peninsula, we can use glaciated theory to explain them. Moreover, based on a large number of field investigation by foreign colleagues and the authors, we can consider that the last glaciated ice-stream which had a great effect on current periglacio-landform distribution, mainly flowed along the direction from northwest to southeast. The periglacio-geomorphic distribution of the peninsula has a deep brand of glaciated history. Three kinds of different profile assemblage features show that the periglacial landform have an internal relationship in genesis. They also show a difference between stoss and leeward slopes by glaciated effect.     

The study on the depositional styles of major ions and the climatic effect of nssSO2-4 in Princess Elizabeth Land, Antarctica

Snow samples collected from a 50 m firn core and two snow pits along the route of the 1996/1997 Chinese First Antarctic Inland Traverse Expedition in Princess Elizabeth Land, East Antarctica, have been analyzed for chemical composition and oxygen isotope ratio. Analyzing the relationship between the concentration and flux of major ions and accumulation rate can draw the following conclusions. 1 ) The concentrations of major ions in the atmosphere in the study region is big enough so that the concentrations of the ions do not vary with snow accumulation rate, that is to say, the concentrations of major chemical species are independent of snow accumulation rate. 2) The results of analyzing the depositional styles of major chemical species suggest that wet deposition dominates the major ions flux. In addition, there is no apparent correlation between nssSO2-4 fluctuations and isotope profile. This would indicate the short-term climatic effect of volcanism is not evident in the region.