Synchronous pattern of moisture availability on the southern Tibetan Plateau since 17.5 cal. ka BP – the Tangra Yumco lake sediment record

A possible asynchronicity of the spatial and temporal moisture availability on the Tibetan Plateau has been a controversial subject of discussion in recent years. Here we present the first attempt to systematically investigate possible spatial and temporal variations in moisture availability by examining two lakes, Tangra Yumco and Nam Co, on an east–west transect on the southern Tibetan Plateau using identical proxies for palaeoenvironmental reconstruction. In this study, an independent record from Tangra Yumco was analysed applying a multi‐proxy approach to reconstruct variations in moisture availability since the Lateglacial. Results were subsequently compared with previously published records from Nam Co and additional records from Tso Moriri (northwestern Himalaya) and Naleng Co (southeastern Tibetan Plateau). Our results show that Tangra Yumco was at least partially ice covered prior to 17.1 cal. ka BP. A temperature rise after 17.1 cal. ka BP probably resulted in thawing of the permafrost. At 16.0 cal. ka BP moisture availability increased, representing an initial monsoonal intensification. Warmer conditions between 13.0 and 12.4 cal. ka BP and cooler conditions between 12.4 cal. ka BP and the onset of the Holocene reflect the Bølling‐Allerød and Younger Dryas. At the onset of the Holocene moisture availability rapidly increased, with moisture highest prior to 8.5 cal. ka BP when temperatures were also highest. After 8.5 cal. ka BP the moisture availability gradually decreased and showed only minor amplitude variations. These findings are consistent with the records from large lakes like Nam Co, Tso Moriri, and Naleng Co, revealing a synchronous pattern of moisture availability on the southern Tibetan Plateau.     

Highstands in the interior of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau since the last interglacial: evidence from grain‐size analysis of lacustrine core sediments in Zabuye Salt Lake

Highstands in the Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 3 based on ¹⁴C dating in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP) are widely documented. Recent records from shoreline sediments dated using U‐series and/or optically stimulated luminescence (OSL), however, reveal that the highstands originally dated in MIS 3 should now be considered to fall in MIS 5. This paper provides new evidence from the interior of the QTP, based on the grain‐size from a continuous lake core in the Zabuye Salt Lake, to verify the MIS 5 highstand in the QTP. Grain‐size analysis of the core sediments also distinguishes two other highstands in MIS 3 and MIS 2, respectively. The MIS 5 highstand is considered as the maximum lake level since the Last Interglacial, as cored sediments contain very low values of Median Diameter (Md) during MIS 5. Compared with the discontinuous records from lake shorelines sediments, the grain‐size records from the continuous lake centre core sediments provide a more complete dataset to infer lake level variations, and make it possible to make wider palaeoclimatic and palaeoenvironmental interpretation. In the interior of the QTP, highstands might have continued into cold climate periods due to the reduced evaporation rates in the latter. The influence of the moisture‐bearing southerly‐shifted Westerly wind pathway may also have contributed to the highstands in the glacial period. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Geomorphic and chronometric evidence for high lake level history in Gahai Lake and Toson Lake of north‐eastern Qaidam Basin,north‐eastern Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau

Palaeoshorelines, highstand lacustrine sediments and lakeshore terraces are preserved around saline lakes in the arid Qaidam Basin. Previous research indicates that the chronology of a mega‐paleolake in the Qaidam Basin during the late Pleisotocene is controversial. Here we report quartz optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) age estimates of highstand lacustrine sediments, shoreline features and geomorphic exposures that contribute to a revision of the lake level history of Gahai and Toson lakes in the north‐eastern Qaidam Basin, on the northeastern Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP) margin. The results imply that: (i) high lake levels at Gahai and Toson lakes based on quartz OSL dating occurred at 85–72, 63–55, 31, 5.4 and 0.9–0.7 ka, probably corresponding to periods of warm and wet climate; (ii) periods of high lake levels are almost synchronous with other lakes on the QTP (e.g. Qinghai and Namco lakes), with the highest late Pleistocene levels occurring during Marine Oxygen Isotope Stage 5; and (iii) highstand phases on the QTP are out of phase with those of low‐latitude lakes in the southern hemisphere, possibly driven by solar insolation variability in the low‐latitude region. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Chronology of a lacustrine core from Lake Linggo Co using a combination of OSL, 14C and 210Pb dating: implications for the dating of lacustrine sediments from the Tibetan Plateau

Vast palaeolakes once occupied the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau (TP). Analyses of the sedimentary records of these lakes could potentially provide an extensive dating archive. Many previously constructed age‐depth models simulating lacustrine cores have been principally based on radiocarbon (¹⁴C) dating. However, such dating could have been hampered by the so‐called ‘lake reservoir effect’ (LRE) and the reworking of lakebed sediments, resulting in inaccurate ¹⁴C age‐depth models and limiting interpretations of existing lacustrine palaeoclimatic records. Lake Linggo Co is located on the central TP, in one of the coldest and most arid regions of Tibet. We dated a 9.87‐m‐long lacustrine core extracted from the lakebed at a water depth of ~60 m using a combination of ²¹⁰Pb, ¹⁴C and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) techniques. Some ¹⁴C ages showed significant age reversals; all the ¹⁴C ages were much older than the ²¹⁰Pb and OSL ages for the same depths. This could possibly be attributed to the presence of old, inherited carbon, causing the inherited ¹⁴C age to appear unstable during the deposition period. The ²¹⁰Pb and OSL ages were roughly concordant, and were also consistent with the stratigraphical succession. We therefore suggest that ¹⁴C dating may, on its own, be inadequate for accurate dating of lacustrine sediment sites on the TP, and that the OSL method should also be applied in order to evaluate the reliability of any ¹⁴C ages. With this approach, we constructed an age‐depth model, revealing sedimentation rates of 1.7, 0.8, 6.8 and 0.6 mm a⁻¹ between 0–1.9, 1.9–4.2, 4.2–4.4 and 4.4–9.4 ka, respectively.     

西藏玛旁雍错沉积揭示的晚冰期以来环境变化

玛旁雍错位于青藏高原西南部,是研究印度季风演化的理想地区之一。利用活塞采样器在玛旁雍错75 m水深处获取了一根4.69 m长岩芯,利用^210Pb和AMS^14C测年确定了岩芯的年代,根据元素含量(XRF扫描)、总有机碳(TOC)、总无机碳(TIC)和总氮(TN)等代用指标,重建了该地区14 cal.ka B.P.以来气候环境变化。结果显示,冰消期(14~12 cal.ka B.P.),TOC和TIC含量变化显示了湖区环境整体上较为暖湿;12.0~11.4 cal.ka B.P.,径流明显减弱,可能是新仙女木事件的反映;早中全新世(11.4~3.4 cal.ka B.P.),湖区环境整体上以暖湿为主,气候有所波动,出现了两次冷事件(10.2~9.8 cal.ka B.P.和8.2 cal.ka B.P.左右),7.4~6.6 cal.ka B.P.,出现了一个暖时期;晚全新世(3.4~0 cal.ka B.P.),湖区环境整体上趋向于干旱化,并伴有两次相对湿润时期(2.6~2.0 cal.ka B.P.和1.4~1.0 cal.ka B.P.)。玛旁雍错环境变化表明,晚冰期以来(14.0~3.4 cal.ka B.P.),受到太阳辐射的影响,印度季风带来的降水以及冰川融水较多,湖区环境较为湿润,整体上有利于内源生物的生存;晚全新世(3.4~0 cal.ka B.P.),北半球夏季太阳辐射量减少,印度季风减弱,径流减弱,湖区环境朝干旱化方向发展。     

青藏高原年保玉则山末次冰期中期以来的湖泊演化与古冰川发育

冰蚀湖中的沉积物不仅记录了湖泊演化及气候变化的历史,还间接地反映冰川发育过程。年保玉则山(果洛山)下的希门错是在冰川强烈退缩后形成的一个典型冰蚀湖。从地域分布上讲,该区冰川发育遗迹分为4个部分,即上希门错以上、上希门错和希门错之间、希门错出口附近和希门错以北6～10km处。前人依据冰碛物的暴露年龄和上覆黄土的热释光年代将上述4组冰碛物划分为4次冰进,包括形成于MIS3阶段的尼格曲冰期、形成于末次盛冰期的希门错冰期、以上希门错和希门错之间的冰碛物作为标志的末次冰消期和形成于全新世的新冰期。通过对采自希门错长达12.8m的岩芯研究发现,希门错自约38kaB.P.以来有连续的湖泊沉积,这一地质证据说明在湖泊存在的这段时间内,冰川规模都没有超过现在湖泊所在位置。希门错冰期的形成时代应该至少老于湖泊沉积物底界的年龄,即大于38kaB.P.,而并非末次冰盛期的产物;尼格曲冰期的形成时代则应该更老。文章还初步分析了湖泊沉积物与冰碛物测年结果代表的不同意义和差别及其造成不一致的原因,认为冰碛物的暴露年代和热释光年代均可能代表了冰川退缩后的年代,而不能代表冰川的形成和发育年龄,冰川存在的时间要比通过冰碛物所测的年代更老。进一步深入研究青藏高原典型冰蚀湖的形成时代、演化过程不仅有利于对湖泊气候环境记录的全面认识,也将为冰川形成与演化历史、特别是冰川形成年代和其他测年资料的科学解释提供可靠的依据。     

Late‐Quaternary history of ‘great lakes’ on the Tibetan Plateau and palaeoclimatic implications – A review

Geomorphic evidence suggests that shorelines of 100–200 m above the modern lake levels were common across the Tibetan Plateau during late Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 3. The timing of this lake‐level highstand is mainly based on radiocarbon ages. Problems surrounding the ages of lacustrine sediments at or beyond the limit of the radiocarbon‐dating method have created a need for alternative geochronometers. Chronological advances during the last decade have renewed interest in the timing of events beyond the limit of radiocarbon dating. Here, we synthesize published data for elevated lacustrine landforms of 48 lakes on the Tibetan Plateau, in order to provide a thorough perspective on the timing and pattern of lake‐level changes in this alpine area during the late Quaternary. The ages of these elevated shore features reveal a long‐term trend of relative lake‐level fall from at least MIS 5, instead of a peak in MIS 3, as previously thought. Dating lacustrine terrace sequences reveals that the rate of lake‐level fall ranged from ~1 to 3 mm a^?1, comparable with that of related river downcutting across the plateau. Palaeoclimatic proxy records point to a sustained drying since the Last Interglacial, suggesting that long‐term aridification might be the culprit for this widespread and progressive lake‐level fall.     

湖泊沉积物的14 C和光释光测年* ——以固城湖为例

富含有机质的湖泊沉积物被认为是¹⁴ C测年建立古环境记录年代标尺的理想材料,光释光测年方法近年开始应用于水成沉积物的定年。应用¹⁴ C和光释光两种方法对江苏固城湖湖心钻孔岩芯进行了年龄测定,结果表明全样有机质的¹⁴ C年龄与石英的光释光年龄存在系统差异,后者较前者年轻约2000年。系统光释光测年研究排除了光释光年龄低估的可能性,所以,二者的差异可能是湖泊沉积物碳库效应的反映。     

Soft-sediment deformation structures from the Diexi paleo-dammed lakes in the upper reaches of the Minjiang River,east Tibet

The north–south-trending upper reaches of the Minjiang River run along the Longmen Shan–Min Shan fault zone, a zone of abrupt topographic change along the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. Multiple levels of well-preserved soft-sediment deformation structures (seismites) occur in sediments deposited in paleo-dammed lakes in the upper part of the Minjiang River Valley. These deformation structures include liquefied convolute deformation, water-escape structures, flame structures, pseudonodules, ball-and-pillow structures, sedimentary dykes, mud lenses, and large-scale folds. Several kilometers from the barrier bar of the Diexi paleo-dammed lakes, seven deformed structural layers were identified at different heights in late Quaternary stratigraphic sequences near Shawan Village, Maoxian County. Analyses of the deformation structures, landforms, and the structural environment indicate that these deformation structures were caused by earthquakes, slumps, and landslides.OSL (optical stimulated luminescence) and ¹⁴C dating of soft-sediment layers from the Shawan site indicate that intense earthquakes occurred during the period 25–20 ka B.P. Therefore, accurate geological dating of deformed features in dammed lake deposits in high mountains and canyons enables the record of moderate- to large-magnitude earthquakes to be extended to the late Pleistocene–Holocene upon the eastern Tibetan Plateau.     

1975-2006年西藏羊卓雍错流域内湖泊水位变化对气候变化的响应

根据1975年地形图、1988年至2006年的TM、CBERS卫星遥感资料和1962-2006年逐年平均气温、降水量、蒸发量、相对湿度、风速和日照时数等气象资料以及1974-2005年的湖泊水位水文资料,对西藏羊卓雍错及其流域内的空姆错、沉错和巴纠错等4个湖泊的水位变化以及对气候变化的响应作了分析.结果表明:该区湖泊面积在近30 a来呈缓慢下降趋势,2005年与1975年相比,分别减少了46.55 km2、1.73km2、0.03 km2、6.01 km2,减少幅度分别为7.2%、4.3%、0.1%、13.6%.其主要原因是,由于羊卓雍错的湖水主要以降水补给为主,在降水增加、气温上升的情况下由于升温引起的湖泊蒸发效应超过降水增加导致的补给影响,是湖泊面积下降的主要原因.     

察尔汗钻孔介形类记录及其对察尔汗古湖晚更新世高湖面的指示

察尔汗盐湖作为柴达木盆地第四纪的沉积中心,沉积了巨厚的第四系湖相沉积,其演化历史研究对于揭示柴达木盆地及青藏高原北部第四纪古气候、古环境演变历史具有重要意义。本文在AMS ¹⁴C测年的基础上,以察尔汗盐湖晚更新世钻孔(ZK53630-1)岩芯中介形类微体化石为研究对象,通过系统的采样和室内分析,共识别出7属10种。基于分类学研究,识别出2个介形类组合(自下而上):Ilyocypris biplicata-Limnocythere inopinata和Ilyocypris bradyi-Ilyocypris sebeiensis。介形类及其伴生化石均显示察尔汗古湖在距今34～28 ka期间的晚更新世晚期(MIS 3a)主体为淡水—微咸水湖泊,气候温暖湿润,与现今极端干旱的盐湖环境截然不同。     

Lateglacial and Holocene variation in aeolian sediment flux over the northeastern Tibetan Plateau recorded by laminated sediments of a saline meromictic lake

Predominantly laminated lake sediments from a saline closed‐basin lake on the northeastern Tibetan Plateau were investigated using a multi‐proxy approach (¹⁴C‐accelerator mass spectrometry dating, smear‐slide analysis, loss on ignition, grain size, X‐ray diffraction, elemental concentration, ostracod assemblages, stable isotopes of ostracod shells) to trace the regional environmental and climatic history in the Lateglacial and Holocene. Before about 15 cal. ka BP, small saline water bodies probably filled the basin under unstable cold and harsh environmental conditions. Soon after about 14.9 cal. ka BP, a relatively deep saline lake was established, probably as a result of runoff from melting snow, ice and frozen ground in the lake's catchment. Large changes in flux of aeolian material to the lake were recorded during this initial period of formation of Lake Kuhai. Highest lake levels, a low sediment accumulation rate and less saline conditions were maintained between about 12.8 and 7.1 cal. ka BP when the aeolian influx diminished significantly. After about 7.1 cal. ka BP, the aeolian influx remained at a moderate level apart from a strongly increased dust delivery to the lake between about 6.1 and 5.4 cal. ka BP and a minor short‐lived period of slightly enhanced aeolian influx at about 2.7 cal. ka BP. The strongly enhanced dust input to the lake between 6.1 and 5.4 cal. ka BP represented the largest influx of aeolian material to Lake Kuhai during the entire Holocene. However, evidence for climatic deterioration during this period is not seen at most other palaeoclimate sites on the Tibetan Plateau, but instead a significant increase in aridity has been recorded at numerous sites in the northern foreland of the Tibetan Plateau and on the Chinese Loess Plateau. The large dust input to Lake Kuhai between 6.1 and 5.4 cal. ka BP probably did not result from a severe climate deterioration on the Tibetan Plateau itself, but from the pronounced aridity in its northern and eastern foreland. In contrast, the increase in dust influx about 2.7 cal. ka BP seems to correspond to a brief warming spell recorded at other sites on the Tibetan Plateau too. A slight increase in lake level and decrease in salinity after about 0.6 cal. ka BP suggests a slightly higher effective moisture during the final lake stage, accompanied by a somewhat larger dust influx. This apparent contradiction possibly results from enhanced human activities on the northeastern Tibetan Plateau during the last 600 years. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

青藏高原近25年来主要湖泊变迁的特征

青藏高原分布有青海湖、纳木错、色林错3个特大型湖泊和扎日南木错、当惹雍错、阿牙克库木湖、班公错、哈拉湖、鄂陵湖、羊卓雍错、扎陵湖、赤布张错、乌兰乌拉湖、昂拉仁错11个大型湖泊。通过对20世纪70年代中期的MSS图像和90年代末期—21世纪初期的ETM 图像的解译,对近25年来青藏高原重点湖泊的变迁进行了分析。研究结果表明,哈拉湖、鄂陵湖面积相对稳定;青海湖、扎日南木错、当惹雍错、阿牙克库木湖、扎陵湖、乌兰乌拉湖等8个湖泊的面积都有不同程度的缩小,其中青海湖、乌兰乌拉湖面积减少最多,分别为60.60km2、59.80km2;纳木错、色林错、班公错3个湖泊的面积都有不同程度的增加,其中色林错面积增加最多,达140.52km2。重点湖泊的变迁分析为研究青藏高原的湖泊演化和气候、环境变迁提供了新资料。     

The chronostratigraphy of the latest Middle Pleistocene aeolian and alluvial activity on the Island of Hvar,eastern Adriatic,Croatia

Pleistocene aeolian sands and alluvial deposits can frequently be traced along the Mediterranean coast. Such deposits also exist along the eastern Adriatic coast and the nearby islands. Four stratigraphical sections of these deposits were studied on the Island of Hvar with the purpose of establishing a chronological framework of the aeolian–alluvial depositional system, using luminescence dating and magnetic susceptibility stratigraphy. Luminescence dating was applied on coarse‐grained feldspar and quartz grains separated from the sands. Both quartz optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) and feldspar post‐IR infrared stimulated luminescence (pIRIR) age estimates are in good agreement, with values ranging between 167±24 to 120±12 ka (OSL) and 179±18 to 131±18 ka (pIRIR measured at 290 °C) after a fading correction for the pIRIR signal. The results can be clearly correlated to around the end of oxygen isotope stage (OIS) 6 and the beginning of OSI 5, indicating that the aeolian accumulation of sands was a result of the Penultimate Glacial and climate fluctuations at the beginning of the Last Interglacial. Variations in magnetic susceptibility (MS) data can be interpreted alongside these dating results; several stronger peaks detected at the very end of the Penultimate Glacial and the initial stage of the Last Interglacial cycle most probably indicates more intensive pedogenesis resulting from a more favourable climate, probably because of climate changes. Breccias related to major bounding surfaces in association with evidence of soil formation and bioturbation could be the result of more favourable climate conditions and changes during the transition from OIS 6 to OIS 5 (Penultimate Glacial–Last Interglacial). These results are in agreement with similar data from the wider Mediterranean area.     

Characteristics of the change of major lakes on the Qinghai Tibet Plateau in the last 25 years

On the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau there are three super large lakes, the Qinghai Lake, Nam Co and Siling Co, and eleven large lakes, the Zhari Nam Co, Tangra Yumco, Ayakkum Lake, Banggong Co, Har Lake, Ngoring Lake, Yamzho Yumco, Gyaring Lake, Chibuzhang Co, Ulan Ul Lake and the Ngangla Ringco. The authors studied the changes of these major lakes in the past 25 years, based on interpretations of the MSS images obtained during the middle 1970s and ETM⁺ images obtained in the late 1990s or at the beginning of the 21st century. The study shows that: the areas of the Har Lake andNgoring Lake have remained relatively stable; the areas of the Qinghai Lake, Zhari Nam co, Tangra Yumco, Ayakkum Lake, Gyaring Lake, Ulan Ul Lake and Ngangla Ringco have been reduced to varying degrees, of which the areas of the Qinghai Lake and Ulan Ul Lake have decreased most sharply by 60.60 km² and 59.80 km² respectively; the areas of the Nam Co, Siling Co and Bangong Co have increased more or less, of which the area of the Siling Co has increased most sharply by 140.42 km². The analysis on the changes in areas of major lakes has provided new materials for the study of the lake evolution, climatic change and environmental variation on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. __________ Translated from Geological Bulletin of China, 2007, 26(12): 1633–1645 [译自: 地质通报]     

旧石器遗址强烈化学风化沉积物细粒混合矿物的光释光信号特征及其测年应用

从湖南省北部赤山岛枫树嘴旧石器遗址剖面第2、第3和第4考古层位采集的3个沉积物样品中提取的细粒混合矿物,尝试对其红外释光(IRSL)信号进行研究。实验表明,虽然长石IRSL信号很弱,但仍可以测得信噪比足够高的红外激发后高温红外激发释光(post-IR IRSL)信号。与此同时,样品存在明显的红外激发后蓝光释光(post-IR OSL)信号,并且样品的IRSL与post-IR OSL信号均以快组分为主,这为该地区沉积物利用长石光释光信号定年提供了新的可能。鉴于长石IRSL信号较弱,根据剂量恢复实验结果,本研究采用post-IR IRSL SAR法(50℃红外激发后270℃高温红外激发,pIRIR270℃)进行等效剂量测量,同时也应用post-IR OSL SAR法定年进行比较。实验结果表明,细粒混合矿物的pIRIR270℃等效剂量分别为418.8±13.2 Gy、562.3±18.2 Gy和694.8±17.9 Gy,相对应的post-IR OSL SAR等效剂量结果为345.0±29.4 Gy、409.6±33.7 Gy和424.7±32.2 Gy。假设强烈化学风化未对沉积物的剂量率造成很大影响,基于长石pIRIR270℃信号的释光年龄为89±6 ka、118±8 ka和152±9 ka,比前人所得的石英OSL SAR法年龄老30%~55%(约20~55 ka)。通过对比不同测量条件下获得的等效剂量值来评估长石IRSL信号是否存在晒退问题,没有发现长石post-IR IRSL信号存在晒退不完全的证据。根据本研究post-IR IRSL SAR法测年结果,赤山岛枫树嘴旧石器遗址似阿舍利技术类型的石器出现在倒数第二次冰期(MIS 6)后期至末次间冰期(MIS 5)前期,比湖南道县福岩洞现代人类牙齿化石年龄(80~120 ka)稍老。作为似阿舍利技术石器制造者的赤山岛古人与福岩洞现代人的关系将是我国旧石器时代考古学和古人类学研究的一个重要课题。     

New interglacial deposits from Copenhagen,Denmark: marine Isotope Stage 7

During a pre‐site survey and construction of a new metro route and station in Copenhagen, fossiliferous organic‐rich sediments were encountered. This paper reports on multidisciplinary investigations of these organic sediments, which occurred beneath a sediment succession with a lower till, glacifluvial sand and gravel, an upper till and glacifluvial sand. The organic sediments were underlain by glacifluvial sand and gravel. The organic‐rich sediments, which were up to 0.5 m thick, accumulated in a low‐energy environment, possibly an oxbow lake. They were rich in plant fossils, which included warmth‐demanding trees and other species, such as Najas minor, indicating slightly higher summer temperatures than at present. Freshwater shells were also frequent. Bithynia opercula allowed the sediments to be put into an aminostratigraphical framework. The amino acid racemization (AAR) ratios indicate that the organic sediments formed during Marine Isotope Stage 7 (MIS 7), which is consistent with optically stimulated luminescence dating that gave ages of 206 and 248 ka from the underlying minerogenic deposit. The assemblages from Trianglen are similar to interglacial deposits from the former Free Port (1.4 km away) in Copenhagen, except that Corbicula and Pisidium clessini were not found at Trianglen. The presence of these bivalves at the Free Port and the ostracod Scottia tumida at Trianglen indicates a pre‐Eemian age. AAR data from archived Bithynia opercula from the Free Port were almost identical to those from Trianglen, indicating that the two sites are contemporary. We suggest the Trianglen interglacial be used as a local name for the MIS 7 interglacial deposits in Copenhagen. MIS 7 deposits have rarely been documented from the region, but MIS 7 deposits may have been mistaken for other ages. The use of AAR ratios in Bithynia opercula has a great potential for correlation of interglacial non‐marine deposits in mainland northern Europe.     

Luminescence chronology of non‐glacial sediments in Changeable Lake,Russian High Arctic,and implications for limited Eurasian ice‐sheet extent during the LGM

A 10.5 m core from Changeable Lake in the Severnaya Zemlya Archipelago just north of the Taymyr Peninsula intersects ca. 30 cm of diamicton at its base, interpreted as a basal till. Because the upper 10.13 m of this core consists of non‐glacial sediments, a maximum numeric age for these non‐glacial sediments would provide a clear lower limit to the timing of the last glaciation in the area of Changeable Lake. Radiocarbon (¹⁴C) dating of several materials from this core yielded widely scattered results. Consequently we applied photonic dating to sediments above the diamicton. The experimental single‐aliquot‐regenerative (SAR) dose fine‐grain method was applied to two samples, using the ‘double SAR’ approach. With one exception, these fine‐grain SAR results and the results of application of the SAR method to sand‐sized quartz grains from two samples, at ca. 9.95 m and ca. 10.05 m depth, are discrepant with age estimates from the multi‐aliquot infrared‐photon‐stimulated luminescence (IR‐PSL) method applied to fine grains. Multi‐aliquot IR‐PSL dating of 10 samples produces ages increasing monotonically from ca. 4 ka at 2 m to 53 ± 4 ka at 9.97 m. These self‐consistent multi‐aliquot IR‐PSL ages, along with limiting ¹⁴C ages of >47 ka at ca. 10 m, provide direct evidence that glacial ice did not advance over this lake basin during the Last Glacial Maximum, and thus delimit the northeastern margin of the Barents–Kara Sea ice‐sheet to somewhere west of this archipelago. The last regional glaciation probably occurred during marine isotope stage (MIS) 4 or earlier. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于GIS的玛旁雍错流域冰川地貌及现代冰川湖泊变化研究

基于多源多时相的数字遥感影像、地形图和DEM数据,利用遥感(RS)和地理信息系统(GIS)技术,对西藏玛旁雍错流域冰川地貌类型和空间分布进行了研究,并对流域内近30 a来冰川和湖泊的变化进行分析.结果表明:1974-2003年玛旁雍错流域冰川总面积减少了7.27 km²,平均退缩速率0.24 km²·a^-1;湖泊总面积减少37.58 km²,平均退缩速率1.25 km²·a^-1.多时相的监测表明,冰川在加速退缩,且阳坡冰川的消融速度大于阴坡,坡度陡、面积小的冰川消融比例大于坡度缓、面积较大的冰川;湖泊面积先减少后有所增加,但总面积还是减少了,不少小湖泊消失.分析流域附近气象资料可知,气温上升和降水量减少是玛旁雍错流域内冰川消融与退缩的主要原因.     

Sedimentary evidence and luminescence and ESR dating of Early Pleistocene high lake levels of Megalake Tengger,northwestern China

The timing of high lake-level stands during the Late Pleistocene in western China remains controversial. Here we report new results from Megalake Tengger based on a study of palaeo-shorelines and a drill core from Baijian Lake in the northwestern Tengger Desert. Multiple dating methods, based on luminescence signals (quartz optically stimulated luminescence, K-feldspar post infrared-infrared stimulated luminescence) and electron spin resonance signals of quartz, were used to date beach sands from palaeo-shoreline profiles at altitudes of ~1310 m (+20 m above lake level), ~1320 m (+30 m) and ~1350 m (+60 m), and from the top 20 m of sandy sediments from the drill core obtained from the modern beach of Baijian Lake. The dating results show that high lake-level stands associated with the previously reported Megalake Tengger (~1310–1320 m) occurred during the late Early to Middle Pleistocene, which is much earlier than previously reported. In addition, no geomorphological evidence of shorelines and sedimentary evidence from the drill core profile were found to support the previously reported Late Pleistocene lake levels. Our results indicate that the exact age of the previously reported ‘high lake level event’ in a large part of northwestern China during the Late Pleistocene needs to be re-evaluated.