Characterization of contemporary aeolian dust deposition on mountain glaciers of western China

From 2008 to 2010,a total of 15 snow pit samples were collected from 13 mountain glaciers in western China.In this study these samples are used to determine the spatial distribution of insoluble particle concentrations and dust deposition fluxes in western China.The results show that the mass concentrations of insoluble particles exhibit high spatial variation and strongly decrease(by a factor of approximately 50) from the north(Tienshan Mountains) to the south(Himalayas).However,the insoluble particles concentrations at the southeastern Tibetan Plateau(TP) sites are also high and approximately 30 times greater than those in the Himalayas.The spatial distribution of the dust flux is similar to that of the mass concentrations;however,the high dust deposition rate in the southeastern TP is very significant as a result of the extensive snow accumulation(precipitation) in this region.The average sizes of the insoluble particles at each site generally exhibit bimodal distributions with peaks at approximately 5 μm and 10 μm,which can be explained as resulting from dust emissions from regional and local sources,respectively.The enrichment factors for most of the elements measured in insoluble particles are less than 10 at all of the study sites,indicating primarily crustal sources.However,the sites located in the peripheral mountains of western China,such as the Tienshan Mountains and the Himalayas,are characterized by high levels of certain enrichment elements(e.g.,Cu,Zn,Cr,and V) indicative of sources related to the long-range transport of pollutants.     

Effect of a simple mountain range on underground seismic motion

Summary. The influence of a simple mountain range on seismic ground motion is studied. A two-dimensional model of the medium and vertically incident plane SH -waves are considered. Attention is devoted not only to the wavefield along the Earth's surface, but also within the medium. The wavefield is computed in two steps: (1) the computation of the impulse response by the finite-difference method, (2) the computation of the response to a time variation of the incident wave. approximately corresponding to a 'hundred-year' local earthquake at the site. Numerical results (the impulse response, the transfer function, the accelerograms, and their spectra) indicate strong spatial variability of the wavefield due to the topographical anomaly. The differences as large as 100 per cent in the peak amplitudes of the accelerograms, and of the order of 5 Hz in their predominant frequencies, at closely (∼ 200 m) spaced internal points of the medium have been found. Attention is focused also on the effect of causal absorption. Even unrealistically strong absorption seems to be unable to reduce significantly the spatial variability of the ground motion, caused by the topography. A variability like this. implying the occurrence of underground differential strains, might be of engineering importance in the antiseismic design of underground structures (tunnels, for example) in mountainous seismic regions. The ground-motion variability along the surface of the mountain is considerably smaller than within the medium.     

Post glacial lacustrine event sedimentation in an ancient mountain setting: Carboniferous Lake Malanzán (Western Argentina)

Lacustrine deposits of the Malanzán Formation record sedimentation in a small and narrow mountain paleovalley. Lake Malanzán was one of several water bodies formed in the Paganzo Basin during the Late Carboniferous deglaciation. Five sedimentary facies have been recognized. Facies A (Dropstones-bearing laminated mudstones) records deposition from suspension fall-out and probably underflow currents coupled with ice-rafting processes in a basin lake setting. Facies B (Ripple cross-laminated sandstones and siltstones) was deposited from low density turbidity currents in a lobe fringe environment. Facies C (Massive or graded sandstones) is thought to represent sedimentation from high and low density turbidity currents in sand lobes. Facies D (Folded sandstones and siltstones) was formed from slumping in proximal lobe environments. Facies E (Wave-rippled sandstones) records wave reworking of sands supplied by turbidity currents above wave base level.The Lake Malanzán succession is formed by stacked turbidite sand lobe deposits. These lobes were probably formed in proximal lacustrine settings, most likely relatively high gradient slopes. Paleocurrents indicate a dominant direction from cratonic areas to the WSW. Although the overall sequence shows a regressive trend from basin fine-grained deposits to deltaic and braided fluvial facies, individual lobe packages lack of definite vertical trends in bed thickness and grain size. This fact suggests aggradation from multiple-point sources, rather than progradation from single-point sources. Sedimentologic and paleoecologic evidence indicate high depositional rate and sediment supply. Deposition within the lake was largely dominated by event sedimentation. Low diversity trace fossil assemblages of opportunistic invertebrates indicate recolonization of event beds under stressed conditions.Three stages of lake evolutionary history have been distinguished. The vertical replacement of braided fluvial deposits by basinal facies indicates high subsidence and a lacustrine transgressive episode. This flooding event was probably linked to a notable base level rise during postglacial times. The second evolutionary stage was typified by the formation of sand turbidite lobes from downslope mass-movements. Lake history culminates with the progradation of deltaic and braided fluvial systems     

How does alluvial sedimentation at range fronts modify the erosional dynamics of mountain catchments?

At the geological time scale, the way in which the erosion of drainage catchments responds to tectonic uplift and climate changes depends on boundary conditions. In particular, sediment accumulation and erosion occurring at the edge of mountain ranges should influence the base level of mountain catchments, as well as sediment and water discharges. In this paper, we use a landform evolution model (LEM) to investigate how the presence of alluvial sedimentation at range fronts affects catchment responses to climatic or tectonic changes. This approach is applied to a 25 km × 50 km domain, in which the central part is uplifted progressively to simulate the growth of a small mountain range. The LEM includes different slope and river processes that can compete with each other. This competition leads to ‘transport‐limited’, ‘detachment‐limited’ or ‘mixed’ transport conditions in mountains at dynamic equilibrium. In addition, two end‐member algorithms (the channellized‐flow and the sheet‐flow regimes) have been included for the alluvial fan‐flow regime. The three transport conditions and the two flow algorithms represent six different models for which the responses to increase of rock uplift rate and/or cyclic variation of the precipitation rate are investigated. Our results indicate that addition of an alluvial apron increases the long‐term mountain denudation. In response to uplift, mountain rivers adapt their profile in two successive stages; first by propagation of an erosion wave and then by slowly increasing their channel gradients. During the second stage, the erosion rate is almost uniform across the catchment area at any one time, which suggests that dynamic equilibrium has been reached, although the balance between erosion and rock uplift rates has not yet been achieved. This second stage is initiated by the uplift of the mountain river outlets because of sedimentation aggradation at the mountain front. The response time depends on the type of water flow imposed on the alluvial fans domains (× by 1.5 for channelized flow regime and by 10 for the sheet flow one). Cyclic variations of precipitation rate generate cyclic incisions in the alluvial apron. These incision pulses create knick‐points in the river profile in the case of ‘detachment‐limited’ and ‘mixed’ river conditions, which could be mistaken for tectonically induced knick‐points. ‘Transport‐limited’ conditions do not create such knick‐points, but nevertheless trigger erosion in catchments. The feedbacks linked to sedimentation and erosion at range front can therefore control catchment incision or aggradation. In addition, random river captures in the range front trigger auto‐cyclic erosion pulses in the catchment, capable of generating incision–aggradation cycles.     

土地利用动态与风力侵蚀动态对比研究——以内蒙古自治区为例

内蒙古是我国土壤风力侵蚀较为严重的地区之一,同时也是我国土地利用方式剧烈变化的地区之一。依据两期土地利用数据以及相应年代的土壤风力侵蚀数据,研究了20世纪90年代末期内蒙古自治区土地利用和风力侵蚀的静、动态格局。根据土地利用和风力侵蚀的空间分布及动态变化特点,设计了内蒙古土地利用-风力侵蚀动态区划,基于该区划详细讨论了内蒙古不同地区占主导地位的土地利用动态与风力侵蚀动态,由此揭示了两者之间存在的驱动--被驱动关系。研究发现,在20世纪90年代末期,内蒙古土地利用和风力侵蚀的基本格局没有太大变化,但风力侵蚀强度在总体上增强了;土地利用的变化主要反映为草地的退化和耕地的扩张。土地利用动态与风力侵蚀动态有着良好的时空对应关系:草地的退化与耕地的扩张导致了显著的风力侵蚀增强,而草地的改善以及耕地的收缩对风力侵蚀的影响不如前者明显,这表明了土地利用动态对风力侵蚀动态正、反向驱动的不平衡性。     

Cosmogenic Be dating of a sackung and its faulted rock glaciers, in the Alps of Savoy (France)

Sackungs are the largest gravitational deformation observed in mountains. They are characterized by the long-term slowness of the movements, but their mechanism is still not well understood. Nowadays cosmic ray exposure (CRE) dating methods allow dating the morphologic structures involved in sackung and can contribute at the understanding of their origin. In the Alps, the 5.3 km long Arcs sackung initiated during the activity of rock glaciers. Three samples from these faulted rock glaciers provide their first CRE ages and show that at 2000 m elevation these block accumulations moved during the Younger Dryas and stopped in early Holocene. Six ¹⁰Be ages of fault scarps show that the Arcs sackung lasted only a few thousand years and stopped at about 8462 ± 432 ¹⁰Be yr. They also reveal that deformation migrated upslope in agreement with a mechanism of flexural toppling of vertical layers. This unique and long gravitational event, characterized by migration of the deformation, does not support earthquake shaking as triggering mechanism for individual faults. It shows that, in the upper Isère valley, slope deformation was delayed of several thousand years after glacial debuttressing, and is not anymore active despite its fresh morphology.     

内蒙古西部草原地上生物量的遥感估算

利用2005-2011年内蒙古西部草原756个地面调查样方与2001-2011年MODIS NDVI数据集,建立统计模型,估算了内蒙古西部草原地上生物量,并探索了地上生物量与气候因子的关系.结论如下:①内蒙古西部草原地上生物量2001-2011年均值为5.27 Tg(1 Tg=1012g).2001-2011年间,内蒙古西部草原地上生物量呈波动状态且略有下降趋势.②内蒙古西部草原地上生物量的空间差异显著,总体自东南向西北逐步降低.③内蒙古西部草原地上生物量年际波动的主要驱动因子是1-7月的降水量,而与同期气温无显著关系;降水量同样是决定地上生物量空间分布的重要因素,而气温的影响较弱.本研究的估值仍存在一定的不确定性,主要来源于样方的采集标准差异、样方生物量的折算偏差、灌木生物量的低估与遥感数据集误差.     

Persistence of alpine grass-dominated vegetation on abandoned mountain summer farms in Western Norway

Centuries of seasonal farming in the Norwegian mountains led to a decrease in forested areas, a lowering of the alpine tree- and forest lines, and an increase in grassland coverage in the subalpine zone. Since the mid-19th century seasonal farming has declined significantly. In the sub-alpine belt, this has resulted in woodland succession on former hay meadows and open grasslands and heathlands. In contrast, vegetation changes caused by seasonal farming and its decline in alpine environments may be comparatively subtle because of unsuitable conditions for tree growth. The study examines vegetation changes in a former mountain summer farming area in the alpine zone of Western Norway using data on present and previous vegetation and old photographs. On curtilages high levels of defoliation, trampling and nutrient accumulation resulted in grass- and herb-dominated vegetation that differs significantly from that of surrounding areas. This curtilage-specific vegetation is persistent and occurs even at locations that have been grazed with only low intensity for several decades. Local concentrations of nutrients are probably a key factor that maintains the grass-dominated vegetation and strongly delays or even prevents regrowth of shrub heath.     

Changes in glacial lakes and glaciers of post-1986 in the Poiqu River basin, Nyalam, Xizang (Tibet)

Glacial lakes and glaciers are sensitive indicators of recent climate change. In the Poiqu River basin of southern Tibet, 60–100 km NW of Mt. Everest, Landsat imagery defines post-1986 changes in the size and distribution of both glacial lakes and glaciers. Total area of glaciers in the 229-km² drainage area has decreased by 20%. The number of glacial lakes with areas in excess of 0.020 km² has increased by 11%, and the total area of glacial lakes has increased by 47%. The areas of typical large glacial lakes of the area (Galongco, Gangxico, and Cirenmaco) have increased by 104, 118, and 156%, respectively, and these increases are confirmed by field investigations.Comparing the 1986 data, the area of glaciers in the basin headwaters has decreased by 46.18 km² to a present total area of 183.12 km², an annual rate of change of 3.30 km²/year. Trends indicate that the total area of glaciers will continue to decrease and that both the numbers and areas of glacial lakes will continue to increase. Accompanying these trends will be an increased risk of debris flows, formed by entrainment of sediment in glacial-outburst floods and in surges from both failure and avalanche- and landslide-induced overtopping of moraine dams. Based on both the local and world-wide history of catastrophes from flows of these origins, disaster mitigation must be planned and appropriate engineering countermeasures put in place as soon as possible.     

Grazing itineraries and forage selection of goats in the Al Jabal al Akhdar mountain range of northern Oman

In view of the repeatedly reported overstocking of the high-altitude pastures on Al Jabal al Akhdar, northern Oman, plant species abundance, cover and frequency, and herbaceous mass yield were studied in ungrazed versus heavily grazed areas of this mountain range. In addition, plant species selection by goats along a gradient of 1000–2000 m and spatial extent of pasture areas were investigated after abundant rainfall and a subsequent 6-months dry spell by means of manual observation and GPS/GIS tools.The substantially higher species diversity and herbaceous mass yield in the ungrazed area illustrate the production potential of these mountain pastures or, respectively, the biodiversity and productivity loss resulting from continuous grazing. The concentration of goats' selection on only a dozen herbaceous and ligneous species favours pasture encroachment with poisonous shrubs such as Nerium mascatense in the lower and Dodonaea viscosa in the higher altitudes. Given the spatially limited extent of pasture areas, these are exposed to high stocking rates. Therefore, grazing and feeding schemes need to be developed which reduce livestock pressure on the pastures, taking into account local property rights, herding skills and the recovery potential of the vegetation, which heavily depends on unpredictable rainfall events.     

A model for post‐orogenic development of a mountain range and its foreland

Decaying mountain ranges often show a surprisingly dynamic pattern of landscape evolution. Although one might expect a simple, monotonic decline in relief over time, evidence from several inactive mountain ranges shows alternating sequences of deposition and erosion in the associated basins, suggesting variations in relief and exhumation rate in the ranges themselves. Examples include the Southern Rocky Mountains, the Pyrenees, the European Alps and the Atlas Mountains. In this paper, we explore the possible origins of post‐orogenic landscape dynamics using a simple mathematical model of a mountain range and an adjacent foreland basin. The analysis highlights the importance of mass balance. In particular, a switch from basin exhumation to renewed sedimentation requires either an increase in sediment influx from the range or a decrease in sediment outflux beyond the basin margin. Although it is widely understood that post‐orogenic changes in erosion and sediment flux can have multiple causes (including climate change, regional tectonic uplift or tilting, or exhumation of variable lithologies), an important implication of our analysis is that the impact of such changes must differ in sign or magnitude between the range and the basin to be recorded. This requirement places an important constraint on viable explanations for alternating sequences of deposition and erosion in a decaying mountain‐basin pair.     

Lithium-bearing brines in the Daldyno-Alakatsky district (Western Yakutia)

Presented are the results from investigating the regularities of lithium distribution in salt waters and brines of the Daldyno-Alakatsky district (Western Yakutia). It is established that lithium concentration in the groundwater under investigation exceeds many times (by factors of 10 to 20) the concentration contents, according to which the waters can be assigned to industrial waters. Both subsurface and drainage brines are equally suited as raw materials for extraction of lithium.     

基于MODIS/EVI的内蒙古高原西部植被变化

内蒙古高原西部生态环境脆弱,是全球变化的敏感地带.为了解该区域植被覆盖的时空动态变化,根据2000—2012年MODIS/EVI影像,使用趋势分析和标准差分析方法,研究了近13年内蒙古高原西部植被生长状况及其空间格局动态变化.同时,根据《1:100万植被类型图》把研究区分为荒漠区、草原区、草甸区和灌丛区,以研究不同植被类型下的EVI变化情况.结果显示:内蒙古高原西部植被覆盖退化面积大于改善面积;植被退化区主要分布在内蒙古农牧交错带北部边缘,包含乌兰察布、呼和浩特、包头等市及大通河、疏勒河、黑河等河谷地带;植被增加区域分布在河西地区、河套地区和阿巴嘎旗附近;研究区植被稳定性存在明显的地域差异,波动较高的区域位于阴山南部、祁连山南北和阿巴嘎旗,与植被覆盖退化或者增加的区域基本吻合;仅荒漠区植被覆盖水平上升,草甸、草原区植被覆盖退化严重.     

Abiotic conditions, neighbour interactions, and the distribution of Stipa tenacissima in a semiarid mountain range

Abiotic conditions and interactions among plants are important factors determining plant geographical distributions. With the aim of analyzing the distribution of a perennial grass species in a semiarid mountain range, we experimentally tested above- and belowground effects of shrubs on the grass along a gradient of aridity. We measured growth, physiology and reproductive output of Stipa tenacissima tussocks surrounded by intact or manipulated neighbour shrubs. Performance of Stipa improved under mesic conditions, but the net effect of shrubs on Stipa did not change along the gradient. Belowground, we did not find significant effects, suggesting belowground resource partitioning between tussocks and shrubs. Aboveground net effects of shrubs on Stipa were generally positive and independent from abiotic conditions. The improved performance of Stipa at the mesic end of gradient suggests that its absolute physiological optimum lies out of its realized range. Overall, the arid end of the geographical distribution of Stipa in this mountain range may be determined by environmental severity. The coincidence of the upper limit of Stipa with the lower tree limit suggests that the more mesic end of Stipa distribution may depend on other factors; most likely competition with trees, which, unlike shrubs, could be excluding Stipa tenacissima from forests.     

Primary bioproductivity of mountain landscapes in the system of regional connections (Exemplified by the greater caucasus)

A structural-functional modeling of the mountainous physical-geographical country has been carried out, based on its conceptual representation as an oroclimatic system. The study revealed a statistically reliable mapping of phytobiota productivity onto the coordinates of a multidimensional ecological space, i.e. the mountain morphostructure, hydrothermics and zonal-regional structure of vegetation cover.     

内蒙古西部地区盐湖水化学特征

2008年9~10月和2009年9月对内蒙古西部地区14个盐湖进行了考察、采样和分析。研究发现,本区盐湖卤水主要离子含量顺序为Na⁺>Cl->SO2-₄>Mg²⁺>K⁺,次要离子为Ca²⁺ >HCO-₃>CO2-₃,微量元素为B₂O₃>Br->Li⁺。Na⁺的分布特征为东部高,北部中等,西南部偏低;而Cl-为东高西低;K⁺大致为南高北低;Mg²⁺为中部高,西部低,北部与南部中等。SO2-₄、 Ca²⁺和CO2-₃的区域分布特征均不明显;微量元素Li⁺ 、Br-、B₂O₃含量虽局部(两大沙漠连接带)有所富集,但绝对含量不高。对天然盐湖和人工采盐池的卤水进行了对比。采盐池中卤水因为蒸发强烈,离子浓度显著高于天然盐湖。分析天然盐湖与采盐池卤水离子浓度的变化规律发现,卤水蒸发初期Na⁺、Cl-、SO2-₄离子浓度随矿化度的升高而增大,Ca²⁺离子浓度明显下降,卤水蒸发后期Mg²⁺、K⁺大量富集,整个卤水蒸发过程中微量元素Li⁺与B₂O₃浓度一直随矿化度的升高而增大。这些结果对内蒙古西部盐湖的研究与开发都具有积极意义。     

Flow velocities of active rock glaciers in the Austrian Alps

High surface flow velocities of up to 3 m a^–1 were measured near the front of three active rock glaciers in the western Stubai Alps (Rei‐chenkar) and Ötztal Alps (Kaiserberg and Ölgrube) in Tyrol (Austria) using differential GPS technology. Flow velocities have increased since about 1990. The highest velocities were recorded in 2003 and 2004, but showed a slight decrease in 2005. At the Reichenkar rock glacier, flow rates are constant throughout the year, indicating that meltwater has no significant influence on the flow mechanism. At Ölgrube rock glacier, flow velocities vary seasonally with considerably higher velocities during the melt season. Meltwater is likely to influence the flow of Ölgrube rock glacier as evident by several springs near the base of the steep front. Because the high surface velocities cannot be explained by internal deformation alone on Reichenkar rock glacier, we assume that horizontal deformation must also occur along a well defined shear zone within a water‐saturated, fine‐grained layer at the base of the frozen body. The increased surface flow velocities since about 1990 are probably caused by slightly increased ice temperature and greater amounts of meltwater discharge during the summer, a product of global warming.     

Relationship between solar radiation and the development and morphology of small cirque glaciers (Maladeta Mountain massif, Central Pyrenees, Spain)

Abstract Spatial and temporal variations in radiative fluxes influence glacier mass‐balance in mountain areas. The primary goal of this study was to assess differences in solar radiation on three glacial cirques located in the Maladeta Mountain massif (Central Spanish Pyrenees), and analyse their implications on glacier development and morphology. A quantitative approach is adopted to obtain the values of solar radiation (direct, diffuse and global radiation), combining several field data parameters (measured at 55 control‐points) with the solar radiation modelling package Ecosim. The data obtained confirm that the morphologies of the glacial bodies developed in the three cirques have a good correlation with the spatial variation on solar radiation inputs, favouring also the conservation (Aneto and Coronas cirques) or total vanishing (Llosás cirque) of the glacial remnants analysed here. The study shows how strongly in this Alpine‐Mediterranean context solar radiation — firstly as a function of latitude and time of year, and locally as a function of topographic slope, aspect and shadowing — controls the mass‐balance and the spatial distribution of melting in small glaciers, having an effect on the development of their morphologies.     

The influence of river training on mountain channel changes (Polish Carpathian Mountains)

The purpose of this paper is to explain the influence of river training on channel changes in mountain rivers. Also considered are the causes of failure of different training schemes. The research was conducted on the regulated Mszanka and Porębianka Rivers, belonging to the Raba River drainage basin in the Polish Flysh Carpathian Mountains. Channel mapping carried out in 2004 drew attention to the contemporary morphology of the channels and the development of their dynamic typology. General changes in channel morphometry and land cover were identified by comparing cartographic sources from various years. Archive material from Cracow's Regional Water Management Authority (RZGW) was used to analyse the detailed channel changes caused by each regulation structure. The material consisted of technical designs of individual training works, as well as plans, longitudinal profiles and cross-sections of trained channel reaches. A series of minimum annual water stages at the Mszana Dolna gauging station was used to determine the tendency of channel bed degradation over 53 years. During the first half of the 20th century, the middle and lower courses of the Mszanka and Porębianka Rivers had braided patterns. The slopes, mostly covered with crops, were an important source of sediment delivery to the river channels. Today, both channels are single-threaded, narrow and sinuous. Downcutting is the leading process transforming the channels. They cut down to bedrock along about 60% of their lengths. The main type of channel is an erosion channel, which occurs also in the middle and lower courses of the rivers. The channel sediment deficit is an important cause for river incision. Sediment supply to the channels was reduced after a replacement of crops on the slopes by meadows or forests. Gravel mining has also caused channel downcutting. The rapid channel changes began after 1959, as systematic training was introduced. Channel regulation seems therefore to be a major factor determining channel adjustment. Debris dams and groynes were built before 1980 and these caused the greatest change of channel pattern, increase of channel gradient and magnitude of river incision. After that date the measures mostly involved drop structures. From then on, the rate of downcutting decreased considerably, but has not ceased. The rivers continued to incise until bedrock was exposed or training structures were destroyed. After that, a tendency to lateral migration and local braiding were observed in the deepened channel. The channels displayed a tendency to return to their morphology and dynamic from before the training. The results demonstrate that river training distorts the equilibrium of channel systems. A channel becomes divided into artificial reaches, which later follow different evolutionary patterns. Most training schemes on mountain channels are ineffective in the long term, as river managers seem to consider a channel at a reach scale only. Individual channel reaches, however, are not independent but rather form a system that must be managed at the entire channel scale.