Ovi-caprid dung as an indicator of paleovegetation and paleoclimate in northwestern China

Diverse palynomorphs and phytoliths recovered from coprolites of ovi-caprids (sheep, goat) collected from Yang-Hai Tomb at Xinjiang Province, China, have been used to elucidate the dietary pattern of ancient livestock and to reconstruct the paleovegetation and paleoclimate of this part of northwest China ca. 2500 ¹⁴C yr BP. Palynological and phytolith data suggest that a rich dry temperate vegetation prevailed in the area during the said period. Climatic conditions and grassland vegetation type of the area are explored using phytolith indices.     

Environmental processes derived from peatland geochemistry since the last deglaciation in Dajiuhu,Shennongjia, central China

The Dajiuhu mire deposit is a sensitive archive of palaeoenvironmental evolution in the East Asian monsoon region. The aim of this study of the elemental geochemistry of a sediment core from Dajiuhu was to improve our understanding of the geochemical behaviour of elements in peat deposits, as well as the environmental and climatic history of the East Asian monsoon region since the Late Pleistocene. We conducted a principal components analysis (PCA) on inorganic geochemical data obtained by ICP‐MS and XRFS from a sediment core spanning the last 16 ka. In addition, spectral analysis was applied to the PC1 score profile to test periodicities. The PCA results suggest that variations in elemental concentrations in the Dajiuhu core are controlled by three main factors: input of inorganic mineral matter, effect of biological processes and a combination of changes in redox conditions and biological processes. Interpretation of the data suggests that monsoon precipitation increased, albeit with significant volatility, during the last deglaciation (16.0–11.3 cal. ka BP). The early Holocene (11.3–9.4 cal. ka BP) was a humid period, and was followed by monsoon deterioration in the early stages of the middle Holocene. A warm and wet climate dominated between 7.0 and 4.2 cal. ka BP, correlating with the Holocene Climatic Optimum. After a two‐step decrease in monsoon precipitation, beginning at 4.2 cal. ka BP, the climate became more arid until 0.9 cal. ka BP, after which humidity once again increased. The spectral analysis revealed statistically significant periodicities of approximately 1480, 360, 316, 204 and 188 years, indicating solar forcing for the East Asian monsoon evolution over millennial to centennial time scales and a link between the East Asian monsoon and North Atlantic climate.     

Climatic changes since the last deglaciation inferred from a lacustrine sedimentary sequence in the eastern Nanling Mountains,south China

Two sediment cores recovered from Dahu Swamp, which is located in eastern Nanling Mountains in south China, were selected for investigation of palaeoclimatic changes. Multi‐proxy records of the two cores including lithological variation, organic carbon isotope ratio, dry bulk density, organic matter content, magnetic susceptibility, humification degree, median grain size and geochemical proxies reveal that during the last deglaciation three drier phases correspond to the Oldest, Older and Younger Dryas cooling events, and the intercalated two wetter phases synchronise with the Bølling and Allerød warming events. The Holocene Optimum, which was resulted from a strengthening of the East Asian (EA) summer monsoon, occurred in the early and mid Holocene (ca. 10–6 cal. ka BP). In the mid and late Holocene (ca. 6–3 cal. ka BP), a prevailing dry climate suggested a weakening of the EA summer monsoon. The general trend of Holocene climatic changes in this study agrees with the 25° N summer solar insolation, suggesting that orbitally induced insolation may have played an important role in the Holocene climate in the study region. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

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.     

Chronostratigraphy and spatial distribution of magnetic sediments in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas since the last deglaciation

Palaeomagnetic investigation of three sediment cores from the Chukchi and Beaufort Sea margins was performed to better constrain the regional chronostratigraphy and to gain insights into sediment magnetic properties at the North American Arctic margin during the Holocene and the preceding deglaciation. Palaeomagnetic analyses reveal that the sediments under study are characterized by low‐coercivity ferrimagnetic minerals (magnetite), mostly in the pseudo‐single domain grain‐size range, and by a strong, stable, well‐defined remanent magnetization (MAD <5°). Age models for these sediment cores were constrained by comparing their palaeomagnetic secular variations (inclination, declination and relative palaeointensity) with previously published and independently dated sedimentary marine records from the study area. The magnetostratigraphical age models were verified by AMS radiocarbon dating tie points, tephrochronology and ²¹⁰Pb‐based sedimentation rate estimate. The analysed cores 01JPC, 03PC and 02PC span c. 6000, 10 500 and 13 500 cal. a BP, respectively. The estimated sedimentation rates were stable and relatively high since the deglaciation in cores 01JPC (60 cm ka⁻¹) and 03PC (40–70 cm ka⁻¹). Core 02PC shows much lower Holocene sedimentation rates with a strong decrease after the deglaciation from ~60 to 10–20 cm ka⁻¹. Overall, this study illustrates the usefulness of palaeomagnetism to improve the dating of late Quaternary sedimentary records in the Arctic Ocean.     

A 10Be‐based reconstruction of the last deglaciation in southern Sweden

We present 23 cosmogenic surface exposure ages from 10 localities in southern Sweden. The new ¹⁰Be ages allow a direct correlation between the east and west coasts of southern Sweden, based on the same dating technique, and provide new information about the deglaciation of the Fennoscandian Ice Sheet in the circum‐Baltic area. In western Skåne, southernmost Sweden, a single cosmogenic surface exposure sample gave an age of 16.8±1.0 ka, whereas two samples from the central part of Skåne gave ages of 17.0±0.9 and 14.1±0.8 ka. Further northeast, in southern Småland, two localities gave ages ranging from 15.2±0.8 to 16.9±0.9 ka (n=5) indicating a somewhat earlier deglaciation of the area than has previously been suggested. Our third locality, in S Småland, gave ages ranging from 10.2±0.5 to 18.4±1.6 ka (n=3), which are probably not representative of the timing of deglaciation. In central Småland one locality was dated to 14.5±0.8 ka (n=3), whereas our northernmost locality, situated in northern Småland, was dated to 13.8±0.8 ka (n=3). Samples from the island of Gotland suggest deglaciation before 13 ka ago. We combined the new ¹⁰Be ages with previously published deglaciation ages to constrain the deglaciation chronology of southern Sweden. The combined deglaciation chronology suggests a rather steady deglaciation in southern Sweden starting at c. 17.9 cal. ka BP in NW Skåne and reaching northern Småland, ～200 km further north, c. 13.8 ka ago. Overall the new deglaciation ages agree reasonably well with existing deglaciation chronologies, but suggest a somewhat earlier deglaciation in Småland.     

长江中下游水阳江流域BZK0402孔多重地层划分及其冰后期海平面变化的沉积响应

[研究目的]开展水阳江流域标准孔BZK0402孔多重地层划分,探讨长江支流水阳江流域冰后期海平面变化的沉积响应以及古丹阳湖的成因和形成时代.[研究方法]以岩石地层为基础,在磁性地层和年代地层的双重约束下,对BZK0402孔进行多重地层划分.对比分析BZK0402孔和长江河谷、长江三角洲等邻区钻孔.[研究结果]BZK04...     

西藏纳木错末次盛冰期以来的古植被、古气候和湖面变化

西藏纳木错湖相沉积的U系、14C年龄和孢粉分析结果表明,纳木错沿岸的拔湖约1.5～8.3m和8.3～15.6m的T1和T2分别形成于末次盛冰期以来约(11.81±0.10)～(4.22±0.09)kaB.P.期间和(28.2±2.8)kaB.P.左右。该套湖相层的孢粉组合、地层和湖岸堤的分布表明,在末次盛冰期期间,纳木错湖面主要波动于拔湖12～20m之间,但湖面最低可达拔湖约8m。区域植被主要为以蒿和莎草科为主、含松和桦的草原。在约11.8～4.2kaB.P.期间,湖面波动于拔湖2～9m之间,区域气候整体较为暖湿。其中全新世大暖期出现在约8.4～4.2kaB.P.期间,气候温暖湿润,区域出现针叶林或针阔叶混交林,气温可能比现今高约5℃,降水量可能比现今多100～200mm,湖面扩张并升高,最高可达拔湖约10m。     

西藏纳木错末次盛冰期以来的古植被、古气候和湖面变化

西藏纳木错湖相沉积的U系、14C年龄和孢粉分析结果表明,纳木错沿岸的拔湖约1.5～8.3m和8.3～15.6m的T1和T2分别形成于末次盛冰期以来约(11.81±0.10)～(4.22±0.09)kaB.P.期间和(28.2±2.8)kaB.P.左右.该套湖相层的孢粉组合、地层和湖岸堤的分布表明,在末次盛冰期期间,纳木错湖面主要波动于拔湖12～20 m之间,但湖面最低可达拔湖约8m.区域植被主要为以蒿和莎草科为主、含松和桦的草原.在约11.8～4.2ka B.P.期间,湖面波动于拔湖2～9m之间,区域气候整体较为暖湿.其中全新世大暖期出现在约8.4～4.2 ka B.P.期间,气候温暖湿润,区域出现针叶林或针阔叶混交林,气温可能比现今高约5℃,降水量可能比现今多100～200mm,湖面扩张并升高,最高可达拔湖约10m.     

Timing of the last deglaciation in Belarus

We measured ¹⁰Be concentrations in boulders collected from the Orsha and Braslav moraines, associated with the Last Glacial Maximum extent and a recessional stage of the Scandinavian Ice Sheet (SIS), respectively, providing a direct dating of the southeastern sector of the ice-sheet margin in Belarus. By combining these data with selected existing radiocarbon ages, we developed a chronology for the last deglaciation of Belarus. The northeastern part of the country remained ice free until at least 19.2±0.2 cal. kyr BP, whereas the northwestern part of the country was ice free until 22.3±1.5 cal. kyr BP. A lobate ice margin subsequently advanced to its maximum extent and deposited the Orsha Moraine. The ice margin retreated from this moraine at 17.7±2.0 ¹⁰Be kyr to a position in the northern part of the country, where it deposited the Braslav Moraine. Subsequent ice-margin retreat from that moraine at 13.1±0.5 ¹⁰Be kyr represented the final deglaciation of Belarus. Direct dating of these moraines better constrains the relation of ice-margin positions in Belarus to those in adjacent countries as well as the SIS response to climate change.     

Timing of the last deglaciation in Lithuania

Boulders from the Grūda Moraine, which is associated with the maximum extent of the Scandinavian Ice Sheet (SIS) during the last glaciation, and the Baltija (also referred to as the South Lithuanian), the Middle and North Lithuanian moraines, which are associated with recessional stages of the SIS, were sampled for surface exposure dating using ¹⁰Be. By combining these data with existing radiocarbon ages, we developed a chronology for the retreat of the SIS margin in Lithuania. Our new ¹⁰Be ages suggest that the SIS margin began to retreat from its maximum extent at 18.3 ± 0.8 ¹⁰Be kyr. Based on a probable correlation of the Baltija Moraine with the Pomeranian Moraine in Poland, we infer that the Baltija Moraine was formed following a re-advance of the SIS margin. The ice margin retreated from the Baltija position at 14.0 ± 0.4 ¹⁰Be kyr. The SIS-margin retreat paused at least two more times to form the Middle Lithuanian Moraine at 13.5 ± 0.6 ¹⁰Be kyr and the North Lithuanian Moraine (tentatively correlated to the Pajūris Moraine) at 13.3 ± 0.7 ¹⁰Be kyr. Subsequent ice-margin retreat from the North Lithuanian Moraine represented the final deglaciation of Lithuania. Direct dating of these moraines better constrains the relation of ice-margin positions in Lithuania to those in adjacent countries as well as the SIS response to climate change.     

末次冰消期以来东海内陆架沉积物地球化学特征及其古环境意义

尝试对末次冰消期以来东海内陆架沉积物地球化学特征及其蕴含的古环境、古气候信息进行探讨。对位于浙-闽沿岸泥质沉积中心附近的EC2005孔岩性、粒度、常量元素、矿物以及AMS^14C测年数据进行了综合分析,得出以下主要结论：（1）东海内陆架沉积物不同常量元素与TiO2的比值具有不同的环境、气候意义,SiO2、Na2O与TiO2的比值可以用来反映沉积水动力条件的强弱,Al2O3、Fe2O3、MgO、K2O、MnO以及下部湖相沉积层中的CaO、P2O5与TiO2的比值则主要反映了沉积物源区的变化以及与风化程度相关的源区气候变化。（2）研究区自17．3k。BP以来沉积环境经历了剧烈变化,岩芯底部60．20m至41．00m（17．3～13．1kaBP）为湖泊三角洲沉积序列,海水自13．1kaBP开始侵入研究区,形成了41．00m的海相沉积地层。自12．3kaBP研究区受到沿岸流影响,7．3ka BP以来稳定的泥质沉积体开始形成。（3）自末次冰消期初期至末期,气候总体向暖湿方向发展,新仙女木事件、8．2k。冷事件在本孔中有明显的记录,显示出全球性重要气候事件在中纬度浅海陆架海域的区域性响应。     

Lipid distribution in a subtropical southern China stalagmite as a record of soil ecosystem response to paleoclimate change

Lipid extracts from a 61.7-cm-long subtropical stalagmite in southern China, spanning the period of ca. 10,000–21,000 yr ago as constrained by U–Th dating, were analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The higher plants and microorganisms in the overlying soils contribute a proportion of n-alkanes identified in the stalagmite. The occurrence of LMW (lower molecular weight) n-alkanols and n-alkan-2-ones in the stalagmite was mainly related to the soil microorganisms. We suggest that HMW (higher molecular weight) n-alkanols and n-alkan-2-ones identified in the stalagmite originate from soil organics and reflect input from contemporary vegetation. Shifts in the ratio of LMW to HMW n-alkanols or n-alkan-2-ones indicative of the variation of soil ecosystems (e.g., microbial degradation of organic matter and/or the relative abundance of soil microorganisms to higher plants) are comparable with the subtropical alkenone-SST (sea surface temperature) record of the same period. The similar trends seen in the δ¹³C data and the lipid parameters in this stalagmite imply that the overlying soil ecosystem response to climate might be responsible for the variation of δ¹³C values.     

末次冰消期以来内蒙古东部气候变化——基于风成砂-古土壤序列的地球化学记录

通过对内蒙古东部现代东亚季风界线两侧的浑善达克沙地和呼伦贝尔沙地风成砂-古土壤剖面的光释光、~(14)C年代和沉积物主、微量元素地球化学的分析,重建内蒙古东部末次冰消期以来气候变迁过程。浑善达克沙地的浩来呼热剖面(hsh1-09)显示了末次冰消期以来3次暖湿气候期,分别对应末次冰消期、全新世大暖期、中世纪暖期。呼伦贝尔沙地的嵯岗剖面(CG-09)表现了全新世大暖期和中世纪暖期两次的暖湿气候期。这一过程是对东亚夏季风的响应,大致反映了内蒙古东部末次冰消期以来的东亚夏季风两次不同程度增强及大暖期结束的南退过程。通过对比前人研究结果,全新世中期东亚夏季风较强,在内蒙古东部大约距今4 ka开始减弱、南退;中世纪暖期夏季风强度较弱,持续时间短。     

宁晋泊晚更新世以来气候变化的正构烷烃分子记录

华北地区晚更新世以来气候变化研究具有重要的意义.选择宁晋泊地区开展河湖相沉积物的分子化石研究.结果表明,沉积物中正构烷烃碳数分布范围为C₁₅~C₃₃,高碳数奇碳优势明显,多以C₂₉和C₃₁为主峰的单峰分布,少量样品出现以C₁₇为次主峰的双峰分布,表明有机质以陆生植物和大型水生植物为主.结合正构烷烃参数,分析了宁晋泊地区晚更新世以来的气候演变过程,展现了"83~68 ka气候较为温和,湖泊水位较低;68~30 ka气候暖湿,湖泊扩张;30~22 ka气候冷干,湖泊萎缩;22~10 ka气候好转,湖泊水位上升;全新世气候温和适度,湖泊水位略有降低"的特征.区域对比分析表明,末次冰期以来宁晋泊地区与延庆盆地等地的气候变化基本一致,具有冰期-间冰期旋回特征,说明其主要受太阳辐射的控制.      

Vegetation and climate of the southern Chilean lake district during and since the last interglaciation

The palynology of stratigraphic sections from road-cut and gravel-pit exposures and from a fen and sphagnum bogs in the southern part of the Chilean lake district (40° 53′ S, 72°37′ W-41°24′ S, 72°53′ W) is the basis for interpreting vegetation and climate during the last interglaciation and glaciation (named Llanquihue Glaciation) and during the post-glacial. To help interpretation, modern pollen rain was studied in relation to vegetation and altitude along a transect on the west slope of the Andes, and average January (summer) temperatures were interpreted. The upper limit of closed Andean forest, where wind is a determinant, appears to be close to the 12°C January isotherm; parkland in southern Chile does not exceed the January isotherm of 9°C.Grassland and later southern beech forest are evident during the interglaciation that is dated at more than 39,900 radiocarbon yr. Climate of the grassland was relatively dry; during the forest phase, it was wet, cool, and approximately the same as at present. During Llanquihue Glaciation, average January temperature is estimated to have been about 8°C colder than today at 19,450 BP, some 5° colder shortly before 36,300 BP, and around 4° colder at 10,000 BP. Antarctic-alpine tundra or parkland, under colder, drier climate, is mostly in evidence in the vicinity of the study sites before about 12,000 BP. During the postglacial, forest communities occupied the lake district, and temperatures there were probably 1–2°C above (by 6500 BP) and as much as 2° below (4500-0 BP) the present-day average of about 16°.This pattern of climatic changes finds accord, in general terms, in other parts of the Southern Hemisphere where palynological, chronological, and glacial geological studies are reported. Postulated as a cause of these changes are shifts in the intensity of air mass circulation in antarctic latitudes.     

Structure and timing of the last deglaciation: Oxygen-isotope evidence

Foraminiferal oxygen-isotope data from 24 tropical Atlantic sediment cores, constrained by 77 ¹⁴C dates, are stacked to form a composite record of isotopic Termination 1.. This record indicates that most of the isotopic transition at the end of the last ice age occurred between 14 ka BP and 6 ka BP. Minor isotopic expression of deglaciation is permitted as early as 16 ka BP, but the most rapid rate of change occurred between 14 ka BP and 12 ka BP. Three ‘steps’ of maximum change are present. Although they are close to the statistical limits of detection in the composite record, the clear presence of the steps in individual records suggests that they are real. We estimate their timing at 14-12 ka BP (Termination 1-a), 10-9 ka BP (Termination 1-b), and 8-6 ka BP (Termination 1-c).Centering of the termination near 11 ka BP is consistent with the ‘Milankovitch’ hypothesis that high summer insolation caused deglaciation. In detail, however, maximum rates of change prior to the 11 ka BP insolation extreme, and the inferred steps require additional mechanisms controlling the tempo of glacial-interglacial climate change. Steps equivalent to those in δ¹⁸O have not been detected in ice-margin retreat data. Steps in the isotopic transition, if real, may record thinning of the ice sheets not accompanied by loss of area. Alternation between near-equilibrium and near-stagnant ice-sheet profiles during deglaciation is hypothesized, perhaps due to calving and unstable ‘down-draw’ of the ice sheets followed by partial re-equilibration. Significant problems remain. The effects of temperature on the isotope record are only partially constrained. Presently available data allow only semi-quantitative intercalibration of ice volume, sea level, and isotopic estimates of glaciation.     

云南高海拔湖泊对末次冰消期气候突变的响应

气象观测资料表明,在当前全球暖化背景下高海拔地区的增温速率更快,其气候对全球气候变化的响应更为敏感。但是,高海拔地区如何响应快速气候事件,由于古气候古环境重建资料在高海拔地区较少,这一问题还没有很好的回答。为此选择云南省高山湖泊错恰湖为研究对象（海拔约3960 m）,分析了湖泊沉积岩芯（深度范围90~244 cm）中正构烷烃的分布特征,重建了末次冰消期（19000~9500 a B.P.）沉积物有机质来源的变化,进而推断古气候演变。在17800~17000 a B.P.,错恰湖有机质以陆源输入为主,水生贡献相对减少,气候以暖湿为主;在17000~15100 a B.P.,水生有机质的贡献的比例增加,气候以冷干为主;在15100~12700 a B.P.,湖泊沉积有机质的陆源贡献增加,水生贡献相对减少,气候相对暖湿;在12700~11400 a B.P.时段,湖泊沉积水生有机质来源相对增多,气候相对冷干。与其他区域和全球气候记录对比发现,错恰湖的沉积记录指示的气候变化事件,受高纬冰量以及北大西洋驱动的西南季风突变所影响,在末次冰消期记录的4个明显的千年尺度气候事件,在时间上与First warmth、H1、B-A和YD事件相对应。与云南地区其他湖泊记录对比发现,小型湖泊或高海拔湖泊对这些全球快速气候事件的响应更加敏感。