贵州鹅项水库沉积物特征及其土壤侵蚀的意义

对位于贵州西南部非喀斯特丘原区的鹅项水库中取得的一沉积物样芯（EX-1）做了¹³⁷Cs,TOC,C/N和粒度分析以及矿物磁性测量。通过对这些分析和测量结果进行解译,推测了在过去的45年（1960～2005年）中这一水库的汇水流域内土壤侵蚀强度的相对变化。在这45年中,鹅项水库流域的土壤侵蚀经历了由弱到强再持续减弱的一个过程。将这一推测结果与流域内降水数据和土地利用/覆被变化资料数据相结合,探究了该流域土壤侵蚀强度变化的原因。与贵州西南部典型喀斯特流域的情况相比,在鹅项流域内,土地利用/覆被变化情况对土壤侵蚀强度的影响相对次要,而降水对土壤侵蚀强度变化的影响则更为重要。这可能主要因为与典型喀斯特流域相比,鹅项流域的土层较厚、植被覆盖较好。     

新疆柴窝堡盆地南缘晚新生代陆源沉积物岩石磁学特征及其古环境意义

亚洲内陆晚新生代干旱化历史及其驱动机制是非常重要的科学问题。选择天山北麓柴窝堡盆地南缘乌鲁木齐河剖面为研究对象,基于磁性地层年代学研究建立的时间标尺,分析了该剖面碎屑沉积物岩石磁学特征及其控制因素,进一步探讨了柴窝堡盆地晚新生代古气候特征。磁性地层年代学研究约束乌鲁木齐河剖面底界年龄为~6.8 Ma,顶界年龄为~3.3 Ma。详细的岩石磁学测量及漫反射光谱分析结果表明,乌鲁木齐河剖面沉积物中磁性矿物主要包括磁铁矿、赤铁矿等,磁学参数χ_lf、χ_ARM、SIRM、S_-100mT、S_-300mT、 χ_ARM/SIRM等在~6.3 Ma、~5.2 Ma存在明显变化,揭示磁性矿物粒度、含量等存在相应变化,如在~6.3 Ma前后,磁性矿物颗粒逐渐变粗、含量降低;在~5.2 Ma前后,磁性矿物颗粒逐渐变细后趋于稳定、含量逐渐增多。基于稀土元素分析、沉积粒度与磁学参数相关性分析,认为沉积物源与沉积物粒度不是导致乌鲁木齐河剖面磁学性质变化的主要因素,自~6.8 Ma以来逐步干旱化的气候条件可能是导致该剖面磁学特征变化的重要原因。基于漫反射光谱分析得到的红度与亮度数据结果也揭示了同样的古气候特征。     

许家窑泥河湾沉积物的环境磁学特征

许家窑泥河湾河-湖相沉积物磁化率(k)、天然剩磁(NRM)、饱和等温剩磁(SIRM_4T)、非磁滞剩磁(ARM)及S比率(IRM_-0.3T/IRM_4T)等磁学参数与深海氧同位素的对比分析结果显示:1)许家窑泥河湾层从布容/松山界线到氧同位素阶段5(0.13MaB.P.)基本上是连续沉积,沉积速率保持在约2.45cm/103a左右;2)与同期形成的黄土高原黄土-古土壤序列类似,许家窑河-湖相层也很好地记录了当时中国北方的第四纪气候和环境特征,其典型特征为冰期时高矫顽力赤铁矿含量的显著增加,而间冰期则以低矫顽力的磁铁矿及磁赤铁矿为主要载磁矿物;3)由尝试建立的S比率时间标尺所确定的许家窑古人类遗址处的地层年代约0.5MaB.P.,与先前报道的化石的UTh绝对年龄(0.1MaB.P.)不一致;4)与k相比,S比率与SIRM更适合作为河-湖相沉积物的古气候替代性指标;5)以2.45cm/10³a的沉积速率来推算,沉积物的主要物质来源为正常的河-湖相沉积,而直接接受的类似于黄土状的粉尘并不占主导地位     

杭州湾北岸芦潮港潮滩沉积物磁性特征的年际变化及其粒度控制

对杭州湾北岸芦潮港潮滩2007-2010年固定点沉积物进行了逐月的磁性测量和粒度分析,探讨了磁性特征的月际、年际变化及其与粒度的关系。结果显示,2007-2009年,芦潮港潮滩沉积物的磁性特征呈现出相似的季节性变化特征,磁性参数χ、χARM、SIRM以及比值χARM/SIRM总体上在12月次年7至月表现为高值,8-11月为低值,S-300变化趋势与之相反。粒度分析显示,每年12月至次年7月沉积物粒度总体较细,8-11月较粗,这说明潮滩较细沉积物中含有较多的亚铁磁性矿物,与已报道的2004-2005年研究结果相似。相比前三年,2010年1-7月及12月沉积物磁性矿物含量相对下降,8-11月份磁性矿物含量相对上升,导致2010年磁性参数月际变化幅度减小。同时,2010年沉积物粒度月际变化特征也发生了改变,即1-7月及12月沉积物粒度变粗,8-11月沉积物变细。相关分析表明,磁性参数与粒度之间的关系在2007-2010年中没有发生明显的变化,说明2010年沉积物粒度月际变化模式的改变是磁性特征月际变化改变的主导因素。尽管如此,长江流域来沙下降对河口潮滩沉积物物源的可能影响,仍需予以长期关注。     

东太平洋水合物海岭钻井沉积物铁硫化物的磁学特征及其意义

对ODP(大洋钻探Ocean Drilling Program)204航次在水合物海岭南峰钻取的1245B、1249C、1251B和1252A孔岩心进行磁学分析,结合自生黄铁矿集合体结果探讨沉积物中的铁硫化物的磁学特征及其与甲烷渗漏、水合物赋存的关系。结果表明：4个钻孔岩心中磁性矿物含量总体不高,主要为中、低矫顽力的软磁性矿物,载磁矿物为亚铁磁性的磁铁矿、胶黄铁矿和磁黄铁矿。沉积物中自生黄铁矿是甲烷厌氧氧化(AOM)作用下硫酸盐还原的主要产物,减缓了磁性矿物含量、颗粒大小差异对χARM、HIRM和SIRM/χ的影响,加大了χ/χARM、ARM/SIRM对磁性矿物含量的敏感度。自生黄铁矿集合体含量随深度的变化可能反映古代AOM活动。在甲烷渗漏、水合物赋存背景下,胶黄铁矿和磁黄铁矿的赋存可能是局部与水合物相关的氧化还原作用产物,也可能是早更新世末、中更新世以来某一时期硫酸盐甲烷转换带(SMTZ)快速上移的产物。早更新世沉积层内连续的胶黄铁矿沉积反映了孔隙水中HS-不足的还原成岩环境,与甲烷渗漏、水合物的赋存无关。     

末次冰消期（1.9万年）以来冲绳海槽中部黏土矿物来源及其环境响应

基于采自冲绳海槽中部的CS2站柱状沉积物黏土矿物和AMS¹⁴C年代分析,探讨了末次冰消期以来冲绳海槽中部黏土矿物的物质来源及其环境指示意义。结果显示,CS2站黏土矿物以伊利石为主,其次为绿泥石,高岭石和蒙脱石含量较少。根据黏土矿物分布趋势变化,CS2站柱状沉积物可划分为3个阶段：阶段（I 19~12 ka BP）和阶段Ⅱ （12~8 ka BP）期间沉积物主要来源于长江,台湾和黄河物质也有一定影响,其物质来源主要受海平面升降的控制;阶段Ⅲ（8~0 ka BP）主要来源于长江和台湾,黄河贡献有限,主要受黑潮演化的影响。CS2站（蒙脱石+高岭石） （/伊利石+绿泥石）比值可以作为东亚季风演化的矿物学指标,指标变化显示出东亚冬季风强度相对夏季风的强度在16.4~14.8 ka BP和12.8~11.6 ka BP期间有两次显著的加强,指示当时气候相对寒冷干燥,结果可以与格陵兰冰心δ¹⁸O和三宝洞δ¹⁸O记录等很好对比。     

长江口潮滩植物对沉积物铁的地球化学循环及磁性特征的影响

通过长江河口高潮滩芦苇带沉积物柱状样CYLWA 1活性铁、有机质、粒度分析及磁性测量,探讨潮滩植物对沉积物铁的地球化学循环及磁性特征变化的影响。结果显示,沉积物柱状样总体上以Fe2 + 占优势,且含量随深度逐渐增加。但在亚表层 (10～ 2 0cm),由于根系的释氧作用,存在着以Fe3 + 占优势的氧化层。在 10～ 2 0cm这一氧化层,指示细颗粒磁性矿物的参数 (χ_fd、χ_ARM)明显减小,而反映磁性矿物类型的参数 (B_CR、SIRM/ χ)显著增大,指示了亚铁磁性矿物颗粒变粗,不完整反铁磁性矿物明显富集,这一现象反映了氧化层不完整反铁磁性矿物的相对富集     

近7000年巢湖沉积物环境磁学特征及其指示的亚洲季风变化

利用巢湖ACN钻孔,通过多参数磁性测量、粒度和AMS 14C测年分析,探讨了近7000年以来巢湖沉积物磁性特征变化及其控制因素,并进而探讨了其对亚洲季风变化的指示意义.研究结果表明,ACN钻孔磁性特征由磁铁矿主导,其变化主要受沉积动力环境控制,间接反映了流域降水的变化.总体上粘土含量高的沉积物中磁性矿物含量较低、颗粒较细,形成于高湖泊水位环境,对应了降水量高的时期;而＞32μm组分含量高的沉积物磁性较强、颗粒较粗,形成于低湖泊水位环境,对应了降水量低的时期.巢湖ACN的磁性记录(尤其是χARM/χ和χARM/SIRM两个参数)揭示了近7000年以来巢湖流域降水具有减少的趋势,导致湖泊收缩和沉积物中磁性矿物颗粒变粗.在这一长期变化的基础上,还存在6000aB.P.,5500aB.P.和3800aB.P.附近的显著干旱事件.这一磁性记录与中国东部地区的石笋、湖泊等记录可以很好地对比,是亚洲季风演变的区域响应结果.     

青海玉树莫海拉亨铅锌矿床S、Pb、Sr-Nd同位素组成: 对成矿物质来源的指示——兼与东莫扎抓铅锌矿床的对比

青海玉树地区莫海拉亨铅锌矿床和东莫扎抓铅锌矿床均位于青藏高原金沙江缝合带和班公湖-怒江缝合带夹持的羌塘地体东北缘,是"三江"北段铜铅锌多金属成矿带铅锌矿床的2个典型代表。笔者曾通过对东莫扎抓铅锌矿床的S-Pb-Sr-Nd同位素组成特征研究,认为其成矿物质来源于沉积地层。本文在野外地质观察基础上,亦对莫海拉亨铅锌矿床的矿石矿物和重晶石进行了S同位素组成分析,对矿石矿物、脉石矿物和区域地层进行了Pb同位素组成分析,对脉石矿物进行了Sr-Nd同位素组成分析。分析结果表明,硫化物δ³⁴S值为-30.0‰~7.4‰,峰值为-18‰~-2‰,反映了总体富轻硫的特征,而重晶石δ³⁴S值为20.2‰~+24.2‰,来自于第三纪陆相盆地。宽的δ³⁴S变化可以解释为流体在盆地内活动期间与不同地层单元发生相互作用,从而继承了不同物质单元的S同位素特点,还原硫应主要来自于硫酸盐的细菌还原或者含硫有机质的热还原,反映硫来自沉积盆地。矿石矿物的²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb、²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb和²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb分别为18.298~18.694、15.298~15.721、38.169~38.894,而脉石矿物的²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb、²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb和²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb分别为18.418~18.672、15.418~15.719、38.403~38.845。矿石矿物和脉石矿物的Pb同位素组成介于区域上地壳Pb组成范围内,总体类似于MVT矿床,显示Pb等金属元素来源于上地壳岩石。脉石矿物的(⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i、ε_Sr(t)、(¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd)_i和ε_Nd(t)分别为0.70851~0.70906、57.4~65.2、0.512265~0.512361、-6.5~-4.6。Sr-Nd同位素特征亦显示脉石矿物的物质来源于上地壳岩石。总体来说,莫海拉亨铅锌矿床的S-Pb-Sr-Nd同位素特征均与东莫扎抓铅锌矿床的一样,显示均来自沉积地层。并结合矿床地质特征和地球化学特征,讨论了莫海拉亨铅锌矿床和东莫扎抓铅锌矿床形成的动力学背景。     

甘肃厂坝-李家沟超大型铅锌矿床成矿金属来源——来自闪锌矿原位S-Pb和Zn同位素证据

甘肃厂坝-李家沟铅锌矿床位于西秦岭多金属成矿带内的西成矿集区,为矿集区内重要的超大型铅锌矿床。矿体赋存在中泥盆统安家岔组的白云石化大理岩及石英片岩中,其成因认识一直存在争议,主要分歧集中在是同生还是后生。文章对不同成矿阶段的闪锌矿,采用多接收电感耦合等离子体质谱(MC-ICP-MS)测定Zn同位素组成、采用激光剥蚀-多接收电感耦合等离子体质谱(LA-MC-ICP-MS)原位微区分析技术测定S、Pb同位素组成,示踪成矿物质来源,并分析矿物沉淀机制,为深入理解矿床成因提供新的精细证据。研究结果显示,Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ三个成矿阶段闪锌矿的δ⁶⁶Zn分别为0.08‰~0.29‰,平均0.20‰;0.19‰~0.37‰,平均0.30‰;0.36‰~0.37‰,平均0.37‰。其中,Ⅰ阶段的闪锌矿δ³⁴S_Ⅰ值为20.9‰~26.1‰,平均24.4‰;Ⅱ阶段的闪锌矿δ³⁴S_Ⅱ值为12.2‰~21.9‰,平均19.1‰;Ⅲ阶段的闪锌矿δ³⁴S_Ⅲ值为18.2‰~24.7‰,平均21.5‰。3个阶段的矿石矿物Pb同位素组成变化不大,²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb为17.922~18.013,²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb为15.567~15.647,²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb为37.990~38.266。δ⁶⁶Zn同位素值显示,成矿金属早期来源于围岩海相碳酸盐岩,由于混合了岩浆热液或者是瑞利分馏作用,在成矿作用中后期δ⁶⁶Zn同位素逐渐上升。δ³⁴S同位素值显示,早期硫源主要为地层中的硫酸盐,中后期的δ³⁴S同位素值降低,可能是成矿流体中岩浆热液中的S^2-成分逐渐增多导致,闪锌矿为硫酸盐通过TSR反应沉淀成矿。Pb同位素指示成矿物质来源于上地壳,并混入了部分古老的变质基底的成分。笔者研究发现,厂坝-李家沟铅锌矿的成矿机制为不同来源的流体混合,随着pH值、成矿流体的温度发生变化而沉淀成矿。     

A palaeomagnetic and mineral magnetic study of the loess sequence at Liujiapo,Xian, China

Employing an average vertical sampling interval of 20 cm, oriented samples were collected from 26 m of the loess section at Liujiapo, near Xian, China in order to refine the existing magnetostratigraphic record. Palaeomagnetic results reveal two short reversed-polarity subzones within a profile of predominantly normally magnetised sediments, an interpretation that is at variance with previous results from this section and from other studies of Chinese loess. Investigation of sediment mineral-magnetic properties indicates a close correspondence between down-section variations in intensity of magnetisation, susceptibility and saturation isothermal Journal of Quaternary Science remanence (SIRM), and lithology. The ratios IRM_-100mT/SIRM and SIRM/ susceptibility appear to be particularly sensitive indicators of the degree of soil development and hence of palaeoclimate.     

基于RUSLE的贵州省红枫湖流域土壤侵蚀时空变化特征

以贵州省红枫湖流域为研究对象,运用GIS和RUSLE模型分析了该流域1960～1986年、1987～1997年、1998～2004年三个时段内的年平均土壤侵蚀量和土壤侵蚀强度,并探讨了40多年来流域土壤侵蚀变化的时空变化特征。结果表明,过去40多年来,流域的土壤侵蚀经历了一个先增强再减弱的过程,土壤侵蚀强度空间分布呈西强东弱的格局,且流域西部呈明显先增强再减弱的特征,东部变化相对较小。     

The application of caesium-137 measurements to estimate recent sedimentation rates in a typical karst depression of Guizhou Plateau,China

The existing traditional methods of assessing the rates of soil loss have many limitations and are difficult to apply in the karst areas of Southwest China. Karst depressions comprise geomorphologically important sources and sinks for sediments and associated pollutants, yet the sedimentology of many depressions is not well understood. In this paper, the 137Cs technique was employed to investigate recent sedimentation rates in a Chinese polygonal karst depression. The results indicated that the sediment deposition rates ranged from 0.91 to 1.97 mm?a?1 in the period from 1963 to 2007, and the average sediment deposition rate and specific deposit yield of the catchment were estimated to be 1.47 mm?a?1 and 20 t?km?2?a?1, respectively. The results obtained were consistent with the local monitoring data of runoff plots, confirming the validity of the overall approach. It was shown that soil loss rates were very low in some karst areas of Southwest China. Above all, the approach appears to offer valuable potential to study surface erosion by estimating sediment deposition rates of karst depressions, rather than the assessment of complicated soil erosion in stony soils of carbonate rock slopes. In addition, the spacial distribution of surface soil and 137Cs inventories was affected remarkably by the inhomogeneous dissolution of limestone under the soil. It may be an important phenomenon which exists widely in the karst areas and is significantly different from other places.     

Geochemical and mineral magnetic characterisation of urban sediment particulates,Manchester, UK

Urban sediments are part of a complex system in which particulates accumulate potentially toxic pollutants, ultimately posing a threat to urban water-bodies and public health. It is therefore important to recognise sources, signatures and pathways of urban particulates. Urban sediment samples were analysed from both inner and outer city road surfaces of Manchester, UK. High metal concentrations, coupled with the largely ferrimagnetic multi-domain (MD) mineral magnetic composition of the particulates, indicate inputs of anthropogenic origin, primarily particulates derived from automobiles, as being the dominant source to the urban sediment system. Iron and Pb concentrations show a clear spatial trend, whereby concentrations are enhanced in the inner city samples. Lead concentrations for inner and outer city samples average 354 and 185 μg g⁻¹, respectively. Iron concentrations for inner and outer city samples average 11302 and 6486 μg g⁻¹, respectively. Sequential extraction analysis shows the metals Mn, Fe, Zn and Pb are largely associated with the reducible fraction, whereas Cu is largely associated with the oxidisable fraction. Zinc is the only metal showing significant association with the exchangeable fraction (up to 33%), suggesting that it may be the most susceptible metal to mobilisation during runoff. Metal fractions identified as showing larger associations with the reducible and oxidisable fractions will continue to be vulnerable to mobilisation as a result of changes in ambient pH and/or redox conditions. Mineral magnetic concentration parameters, such as the saturation isothermal remanent magnetisation (SIRM), together with hysteresis parameters such as the coercive force and interparametric ratios (such as (B_o)_cr/H_c and IRM_-100mT/SIRM) show that ferrimagnetic MD minerals dominate the Manchester urban sediments. Average results for frequency-dependent susceptibility as a percentage (2%) suggest that the composition of these Manchester sediments is not dominated by soil-derived material, and therefore magnetically coarser, anthropogenically-derived material is dominant. Unlike Pb and Fe concentrations, mineral magnetic characteristics of the Manchester urban sediment samples exhibit no significant spatial variation.     

Progresses and Prospects of the Research on Soil Erosion in Karst Area of Southwest China*

The karst area of Southwest China is suffering from serious ecological and environmental problems due to soil erosion while the research on soil erosion is not sufficient. Primary achievement was systematically reviewed in this paper in three aspects: erosion characteristics, current researches about erosion on different spatial scales, and key scientific problems. Based on the review, the authors figured out the shortcomings of the existing studies and pointed out the directions on erosion study in southwest China karst region. The results showed that: ① Due to the existence of a dual structure in karst environment including ground and underground erosion, the process of runoff and sediment production on slope scale and confluence and sediment transportation processes on catchment scale were more complex under the unique geological and hydrological backgrounds; ② At present, most researches about erosion mechanism in karst area focus on slope scale and some achievements on quantitative evaluation of erosion factors have been made. Continuous data with high quality about relationship between water and sediment on catchment scale is limited. When data is scarce, river sediment data can be used as an effective way to study soil erosion intensity and spatial-temporal variation in karst area; ③ It is more reasonable to use 50 t/(km²·a) as the grading standard of soil loss tolerance than the previous grading standard of soil erosion intensity. Given the complex relationship between rocky desertification and soil erosion, more quantitative studies about the effects of rocky desertification on soil erosion are still necessary. There are different viewpoints on soil leakage definitions, leakage mechanism and leakage ratios, and new breakthroughs could be achieved by combining different methods and matching multi-scales. In conclusion, in order to further reveal soil erosion laws and establish and revise available regional soil erosion forecasting models for Southwest China karst areas, synchronous test and monitoring on slope, watershed, and channel spatial scales are urgently needed. The results can provide theoretical and technical support for promoting soil and water conservation work for the karst area of Southwest China.     

Late Holocene Moisture Changes in the Core Area of Arid Central Asia Reflected by Rock Magnetic Records of Glacier Lake Kalakuli Sediments in the Westernmost Tibetan Plateau and their Influences on the Evolution of Ancient Silk Road

The evolution of Ancient Silk Road(ASR) was deeply influenced by late Holocene moisture changes in Arid Central Asia(ACA). Nevertheless, controversies in Holocene moisture change pattern of ACA and poorly–constrained age models of related studies have made the discussion about late Holocene moisture changes in ACA and their influences on the evolution of ASR difficult. Recently, a high–resolution age model during the late Holocene was established for Kalakuli Lake, a small glacier lake located in the core area of ACA. A thorough rock magnetic investigation was carried out on Kalakuli Lake sediments based on this age model. The magnetic mineral assemblage of Kalakuli Lake sediments is still dominated by primary magnetite despite minor diagenetic effects. Comparisons of rock magnetic records to parameters previously used as indicator of glacier fluctuations suggest that clastic input to Kalakuli Lake was high(low) and magnetic grain size is relatively larger(smaller), when glaciers on Muztagh Ata advanced(retreated). The ARM/SIRM ratio, a magnetic grain size proxy, is directly related to lake hydrodynamics, which are ultimately controlled by glacier fluctuations on Muztagh Ata as the result of regional moisture changes. Late Holocene moisture changes indicated by the ARM/SIRM ratio are consistent with cool/wet and warm/dry oscillations indicated by the unweighted average of biomarker hydrogen isotopic data of the C_(26) and C_(28) n–alkanoic acids in a previous study about Kalakuli Lake, most moisture change records of the core area of ACA and winter insolation of the Northern Hemisphere, but opposite to Asian monsoon evolution. Given Asian monsoon and the westerlies are mutually inhibited, we propose that late Holocene moisture changes in the core area of ACA were controlled by the intensity of Asian monsoon versus the westerlies under the governance of solar insolation. Generally increased moisture since the late Holocene indicated by the ARM/SIRM ratio favored cultural exchange and integration between the western and the eastern Eurasia, which paved the way for the formation of ASR. Coincidence between significant increase in moisture at ～200 BC suggested by the ARM/SIRM ratio and the formation of ASR indicates moisture as an important factor that facilitated the formation of ASR. The onsets of three prosperity periods of ASR in the history generally correspond to periods when moisture was relatively high, nevertheless, stagnant periods of ASR do not coincide with periods when moisture was relatively low in the core area of ACA. Disorganized correlations between stagnant periods of ASR and moisture changes in the core area of ACA suggest that moisture is not the decisive factor influencing the evolution of ASR.     

Rock magnetic response to climatic changes in west Philippine Sea for the last 780 ka: Discussion based on relative paleointensity assisted chronology

We conducted rock magnetic and paleomagnetic research on two deep-sea sediment cores from the west Philippine Sea, located to the east of Benham Rise with the length of 4 m and water depth of over 5000 m. At the bottom of core 146 occurs a reversal of inclination and deflection of relative declination, which is recognized as Brunhes-Matuyama Polarity Boundary (MBPB). No reversal occurs in core 89, which implies a younger bottom age than that of core 146. Rock magnetic results reveal magnetic uniformities in mineralogy, concentration and grain size along the two cores, thus relative paleointensity variations are acquired. The three normalizers-anhysteresis remanent magnetization (ARM), magnetic susceptibility (k) and saturation isothermal remanent magnetization (SIRM) are used for normalization to obtain relative paleointensities. The three normalization results are averaged to indicate the paleoitensity of the cores and are further stacked together to get a synthetic curve for west Philippine Sea (named asWPS800 in this paper). Based on the magnetic correlation between cores and paleointensity to Sint800, we transfer the changes of rock magnetic parameters from depth to time. Furthermore, the astronomically tuned oxygen isotope from ODP site 1143 in the south China Sea is used for the glacial and interglacial indicator. Three concentration proxies (ARM, k and SIRM) and grain size indicators (k _ARM/SIRM, k _ARM/k) are examined according to the paleointensity-assisted chronology. The grain size changes in the two cores display a consistent pattern with the climatic changes embodied by oxygen isotope. The magnetic sizes are usually coarser in glacial periods and finer in interglacial times, which may reflect the influence of chemical erosion rather than fining from sea level rising on the source sediment. Furthermore, the sub-peaks and sub-troughs in interglaciations almost correspond with that of oxygen isotope records, which means sedimentation can reflect the subtle changes in interglaciations. This kind of revelation of climatic fluctuation by magnetic size is also found in the South China Sea, which shows a common pattern of magnetic signals to climate at least within East Asia. The concentration of ARM (representing more about fine grain) also shows similar response to glacial and interglacial cycles, that is, high in interglacial cycle and low in glacial cycle; but k and SIRM (reflecting more about coarse grain) lack the response to the climatic cycles. At the same time, S-ratio lacks the correlation with aeolian dust record and rhythmic changes, indicating the dominant source of main magnetic carrier (low coercivity magnetite) is the suspended matter instead of dust. The decreasing trend of sedimentation rate from west to east also reveals that the sediments are mainly from west Luzon and adjacent land. Grain sizes first became coarse and then stable around 400 ka B.P., and at the same time all the magnetic contents lowered and amplitude of magnetic mineral changes increased. The magnetic transition around 400 ka B.P. is simultaneous with the decreases of carbonate content, reflecting a global carbonate dissolution event, i.e. mid Brunhes event. The synchronization of magnetic content and grain size with climatic cycles of glacials and interglacials imply the validity of paleointesnityassisted chronology. Also, the response of rock magnetic signals to stable oxygen isotope changes and carbonate variation reveals that rock magnetismmethod can be an effective tool for paleoclimatic and paleoceanographic research. __________ Translated from Quaternary Sciences, 2007, 27(6): 1040–1052 [译自 : 第四纪研究]     

Soil erosion prediction at the basin scale using the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) in a catchment of Sicily (southern Italy)

Soil erosion by water is a serious problem in southern Italy, particularly in Sicily which is one of the Italian administrative regions prone to desertification. Soil erosion not only affects soil quality, in terms of agricultural productivity, but also reduces the availability of water in reservoirs. This study was conducted in the Comunelli catchment in south-central Sicily, to predict potential annual soil loss using the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) and to test the reliability of this methodology to predict reservoirs siltation. The RUSLE factors were calculated for the catchment using survey data and rain gauge measurement data. The R-factor was calculated from daily, monthly and annual precipitation data. The K-factor was calculated from soil samples collected in May and November 2004. The LS topographic factor was calculated from a 20 m digital elevation model. The C- and P-factors, in absence of detailed data, were set to 1. The results were compared with those obtained from another soil loss estimation method based on ¹³⁷Cs and with the soil loss estimated from the sediment volume stored in the Comunelli reservoir between 1968 and 2004.     

Soil erosion risk assessment of the Keiskamma catchment,South Africa using GIS and remote sensing

This paper examines the soil loss spatial patterns in the Keiskamma catchment using the GIS-based Sediment Assessment Tool for Effective Erosion Control (SATEEC) to assess the soil erosion risk of the catchment. SATEEC estimates soil loss and sediment yield within river catchments using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) and a spatially distributed sediment delivery ratio. Vegetation cover in protected areas has a significant effect in curtailing soil loss. The effect of rainfall was noted as two pronged, higher rainfall amounts received in the escarpment promote vegetation growth and vigour in the Amatole mountain range which in turn positively provides a protective cover to shield the soil from soil loss. The negative aspect of high rainfall is that it increases the rainfall erosivity. The Keiskamma catchment is predisposed to excessive rates of soil loss due to high soil erodibility, steep slopes, poor conservation practices and low vegetation cover. This soil erosion risk assessment shows that 35% of the catchment is prone to high to extremely high soil losses higher than 25 ton ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ whilst 65% still experience very low to moderate levels of soil loss of less than 25 ton ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. Object based classification highlighted the occurrence of enriched valley infill which flourishes in sediment laden ephemeral stream channels. This occurrence increases gully erosion due to overgrazing within ephemeral stream channels. Measures to curb further degradation in the catchment should thrive to strengthen the role of local institutions in controlling conservation practice.