Meteorological Observations in 1999 at the Arctic Station,Qeqertarsuaq (Godhavn), Central West Greenland/Evidence of a warmer climate around AD 600, Mittivakkat Glacier,South East Greenland

In october 1990 an automatic weather station was established at the Arctic Station (65° 15', 53°31'W), Qeqertarsuaq (Godhavn), Central West Greenland. The Station register parameters each 20 minutes, and the paramters have been described in an earlier paper in this journal by Nielsen et al.(1995). The present paper summarizes meteorological parameters during 1999.

During a field campaign in 1999, woody remains from Salix glauca were found on a nunatak, 515 m. a.s.l. on the Mittivakkat Glacier, South East Greenland. Radio carbon dating determined the age of a wood sample to AD 640. Together with analyses of macroscopic botanical remains and insect rests in peaty material found nearby, these results indicate, that a warmer climate prevailed near the glacier around AD 600. These findings are in accordance with temperature records based on studies of ice cores from the Greenland Ice sheet.     

北极巴罗苔原区湖泊沉积的地球化学特征及其气候意义

应用地球化学元素、地球化学淋溶系数及环境温度指标,研究了北极阿拉斯加巴罗热融湖Ｉｋｒｏａｖｉｋ钻孔岩芯ＡＢ－３２连续的高分辨环境记录。结合２１０Ｐｂ测年数据,指出巴罗地区气候、环境变化的历史状况是：１６００～１７３５年为寒冷、干燥时期;１７５０～１８３０年,气候变暖、变湿;１８３０年出现明显的地球化学转折界限,１８３０～１９９４年,气候较湿润温暖。１９６９～１９７０年前后,巴罗地区有一变冷阶段。ＡＢ－３２钻孔岩芯１８３０年左右表现的古地球化学特征与现代Ｉｋｒｏａｖｉｋ湖泊环境地球化学特征相吻合,并且和Ｅｌｓｏｎ泻湖ＡＢ－６７沉积岩芯反映的气候环境变化基本一致。     

Summer climate and conifer growth in mid-Norway: Chronologies from ancient construction timber compared with historical data

A tree-ring chronology derived from Norwegian timber structures made from Scots pine at locations near Trondheim dates back to AD 552. A chronology based on Norway spruce building timber from the same area has been constructed back to AD 1351. Both Trondheim chronologies, when tested for climatic signals, show a year-to-year pattern that correlates with the annual variation in the May–August tetratherm from Trondheim dating back to 1870. Particular years in both these chronologies show correspondence with historical notes about the summer weather and harvests from 1575 until the mid-19th century. Especially cold summers resulted in unripe harvests and narrow tree-rings in both chronologies. However, several exceptions suggest that the growth of conifers and harvests sometimes responded differently to the same environmental factors (or more than one factor was important). The spruce chronology does not show reported long-term (decadal, century) climatic trends, probably because many samples had too few tree-rings. The pine chronology also shows little correspondence with longer-term fluctuations, probably because of heterogeneous material and/or too few samples. However, generally narrow ring widths from 1570 to the early 18th century may reflect a cold period. The data are promising, but results suggest that more samples and possibly more powerful statistics are required to extract reliable climatic signals from building timber chronologies.     

The evolution of Holocene coastal dunefields, Jutland, Denmark: A record of climate change over the past 5000 years

Coastal dunefields have developed on the west coast of Jutland in Denmark over the past 5000 years. The dunefields are situated in a temperate climate zone with frequent high energy wind events. Dunefield development was characterized by repeated periods of transgressive dune formation punctuated by periods of dune stabilization and soil formation. The chronology of dunefield evolution is based on Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon dating of peaty palaeosols (24 samples) and Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dating of aeolian sand deposits (19 samples). These dates indicate that the completeness of the stratigraphic record varies considerably, but that the timing of aeolian activity events was identical in the dunefields examined here. Initiation of aeolian activity occurred around 2200 BC, 800 BC, AD 100, AD 1050–1200, and between AD 1550 and 1650. Proxy-climate data from bogs in southwestern Sweden suggest that these periods of dunefield activity were initiated during wet/cool summers. Most likely these climatic situations were associated with a more frequent passage of cyclones across Denmark in the summer seasons (increased storminess) causing aeolian sand movement and dune formation. The continued removal of vegetation in Jutland between 4000 BC and AD 1850 allowed the aeolian sand, when first activated, to move more and more easily across the coastal plains; the final phase of aeolian sand movement between AD 1550–1650 and 1900 had catastrophic implications for many coastal inhabitants in the region.     

CHANGES IN DEPOSITION ON A COLLUVIAL FAN DURING THE UPPER HOLOCENE IN THE TINDASTÓLL MOUNTAIN, SKAGAFJÖRÐUR DISTRICT, NORTH ICELAND: PRELIMINARY RESULTS

This study investigates variability in depositional processes and landforms on the Innstaland colluvial fan, northern Iceland, over the late Holocene. This is completed using geomorphological mapping, historical records and relative‐age dating tools (vegetation survey, rock hardness and tephrochronology). Debris flows are the main contributors to fan development. Six main phases of deposition are distinguished, varying in deposit magnitude along a general trend of decreasing magnitude over time. With the help of dated tephra layers, the aggradation rates of the fan are calculated for the upper Holocene and in particular over the historical period (post‐ AD 1104). An episodic sediment transfer system is reconstructed, with several phases of low activity between more rapid aggradational episodes. The interpretation of the colluvial deposits suggests that the main phase of aggradation on the fan ended during the historical period after which incision started (between AD 1300 and 1766). Incision tracks act as the main pathways for debris distribution at the present time. These variations are related to the changing response of the catchment system over time.     

基于释光测年的福建晋江海岸沙丘粒度记录的风沙活动

采用OSL测年技术对福建晋江海岸沙丘剖面(SHA) 进行加密采样测年和粒度分析,初步确定了研究区近1000a 以来海岸沙丘发育的主要时段,以OSL测年值为基础,在统一时间标尺上综合对比东亚季风变化序列和福建沿海地区台风登陆记录,探讨了控制研究区海岸沙丘发育的主要因素.研究表明：(1) SHA沙丘表现为典型的海岸风成砂特征,海岸沙丘沉积后受风力侵蚀和后期化学风化作用的影响,粒径变粗,分选性变差,各粒级组分和粒度参数特征发生较大变化;(2) 近1000a 以来晋江海岸带海岸沙丘发育可划分为3 个时期,分别为AD1050~1300、AD1470~1600、AD1720~1950,尤其是小冰期(LIA),海岸风沙活动强烈,海岸沙丘发育盛行;(3) 近千年来区域降水量、海平面和台风强度变化与研究区海岸沙丘发育之间的关系尚不明确,而冬季风强度对海岸沙丘发育的影响明显,即海岸风沙活动期主要对应冬季风较强时期,但近50 年来海岸风沙活动较弱除了主要受冬季风减弱影响外,主要与人类经济活动所造成的地表覆被条件发生变化有关.     

Reconstructing 20thcentury lead pollution andsediment focusing in a peat land pool (Kempen, Belgium), via 210Pbdating

Pb-210 dating of two metal-polluted organic sedimentcores obtained near a former pyrometallurgical zinc smelter in Lommel, Belgiumhave been used to reconstruct atmospheric lead deposition rates during the20^th century. Independent knowledge concerning historical pollutionevents and ¹³⁷Cs fall-out profiles has allowed a criticalevaluation of the CRS, CIC and CF-CS models for the ²¹⁰Pb ageinterpretation. Resulting ages for the three models suggest that, in this case,the CIC model gives the most accurate interpretation of historical pollutionevents and atmospheric lead fall-out. The ²¹⁰Pbwater-sediment flux was estimated at 141–1158Bq·m^–2·yr^–1 for one site and62–106 Bq·m^–2·yr^–1 at theother site, during the last century. The large difference illustrates thatsediment focusing was important on a small spatial scale (10 m).The direction of focusing correlates with the predominant wind direction.Maximum atmospheric lead deposition rates were found to be 1.63 ± 0.59g·m^–2·yr^–1 around 1968 AD,which is 2 orders of magnitude larger than the Belgian average in 1980 AD, and5 orders larger than Holocene atmospheric lead deposition.     

A field extruder for rapidly sectioning near-surface cores from lakes and wetlands

The soft uppermost sediments in lakes and wetlands contain important records of past environmental change. Although the technology for coring these sediments is relatively well established, there has been a continuing effort to improve the design of equipment that can provide the precise volumetric samples required for high-resolution dating and elemental analysis. Soft-sediment cores are usually sectioned near a coring site under a wide range of field conditions creating a challenge for both field crews and equipment. A new field extruder was therefore designed to simplify the process of fine-sectioning these cores in the field while improving volumetric-sampling accuracy. The new extruder is relatively light, stable, and easy to use, but sufficiently strong to extrude long continuous cores of stiff sediment if required. The key features of this extruder minimize sampling errors by enabling an operator to automate the measurement and extrusion of a pre-determined volume of sediment. The extruder was successfully field tested on a variety of sediment types in a large wetland from southern Florida, USA and proved easy to master by even inexperienced field crews.     

Dating of the Dome Fuji shallow ice core based on a record of volcanic eruptions from AD 1260 to AD 2001

We measured the concentration of non-sea-salt sulfate () in the Dome Fuji shallow ice core (Antarctica) from the surface to 40 m depth with the aim of dating the core with reference to the record of volcanic eruptions. Three huge spikes related to large-scale volcanic eruptions were detected at depths of 12.5, 29.9, and 38.8 m, correlated to the eruptions of Tambora (AD 1815), Kuwae (AD 1452) and an unknown event (AD 1259), respectively. We identified another nine spikes related to accurately dated eruption events. The shallow ice core was dated from AD 1260 to AD 2001 based on these 12 eruption events and the assumption of constant annual snow accumulation in the periods between eruption events. The results yield a maximum correction of ∼20 years compared with the dating proposed in a previous study. The annual accumulation varied within ±∼15% of the average water equivalent value over the study period (25.5 mm).     

A catalogue of Spanish archaeomagnetic data

A total of 58 new archaeomagnetic directions has been determined from archaeological structures in Spain. Together with five previous results they allow the compilation of the first archaeomagnetic catalogue for Spain, which includes 63 directions with ages ranging between the 2nd century BC and the 20th century AD. Characteristic remanence directions have been obtained from stepwise thermal and alternating field demagnetization. The hierarchical structure has been respected in the calculation of the mean site directions. Rock magnetic experiments reveal that the main magnetic carrier is magnetite or titanomagnetite with different titanium contents. The age estimate of the studied structures is generally well justified by archaeological constraints. For six structures the proposed date is also supported by physical methods. The data are in close agreement with the French secular variation (SV) curve. This catalogue represents the first step in the construction of a SV curve for the Iberian Peninsula, which will be of much use in archaeomagnetic dating and in modelling of the Earth's magnetic field in Western Europe.     

SUMMER TEMPERATURE VARIABILITY IN CENTRAL SCANDINAVIA DURING THE LAST 3600 YEARS

ABSTRACT. A Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris L.) tree-ring width chronology from Jämtland, in the central Scandinavian Mountains, built from living and sub-fossil wood, covering the period 1632 BC to AD 2002, with a minor gap during AD 887–907, is presented. This is the first multi-millennial tree-ring chronology from the central parts of Fennoscandia. Pine growth in this tree line environment is mainly limited by summer temperatures, and hence the record can be viewed as a temperature proxy. Using the regional curve standardization (RCS) technique, pine-growth variability on short and long time scales was retained and subsequently summer (June–August) temperatures were reconstructed yielding information on temperature variability during the last 3600 years. Several periods with anomalously warm or cold summers were found: 450–550 BC (warm), AD 300–400 (cold), AD 900–1000 (the Medieval Warm Period, warm) and AD 1550–1900 (Little Ice Age, cold). The coldest period was encountered in the fourth century AD and the warmest period 450 to 550 BC. However, the magnitude of these anomalies is uncertain since the replication of trees in the Jämtland record is low during those periods. The twentieth century warming does not stand out as an anomalous feature in the last 3600 years. Two multi-millennial tree-ring chronologies from Swedish and Finnish Lapland, which have previously been used as summer temperature proxies, agree well with the Jämtland record, indicating that the latter is a good proxy of local, but also regional, summer temperature variability.     

Evolution of sedimentary environments of the middle Jiangsu coast, South Yellow Sea since late MIS 3

An evolutionary model of sedimentary environments since late Marine Isotope Stage 3 （late MIS 3, i.e., ca. 39 cal ka BP） along the middle Jiangsu coast is presented based upon a reinterpretation of core 07SR01, new correlations between adjacent published cores, and shallow seismic profiles recovered in the Xiyang tidal channel and adjacent northern sea areas. Geomorphology, sedimentology, radiocarbon dating and seismic and sequence stratigraphy are combined to confirm that environmental changes since late MIS 3 in the study area were controlled primarily by sea-level fluctuations, sediment discharge of paleo-rivers into the South Yellow Sea （SYS）, and minor tectonic subsidence, all of which impacted the progression of regional geomorphic and sedimentary environments （Le., coastal barrier island freshwater lacustrine swamp, river floodplain, coastal marsh, tidal sand ridge, and tidal channel）. This resulted in the formation of a fifth-order sequence stratigraphy, comprised of the parasequence of the late stage of the last interstadial （Para-Sq2）, including the highstand and forced regressive wedge system tracts （HST and FRWST）, and the parasequence of the postglacial period （Para-Sql）, including the transgressive and highstand system tracts （TST and HST）. The tidal sand ridges likely began to develop during the postglacial transgression as sea-level rise covered the middle Jiangsu coast at ca. 9.0 cal ka BP. These initially submerged tidal sand ridges were constantly migrating until the southward migration of the Yellow River mouth to the northern Jiangsu coast during AD 1128 to 1855. The paleo-Xiyang tidal channel that was determined by the paleo-tidal current field and significantly different from the modern one, was in existence during the Holocene transgressive maxima and lasted until AD 1128. Following the capture of the Huaihe River in AD 1128 by the Yellow River, the paleo-Xiyang tidal channel was infilled with a large amount of river-derived sediments from AD 1128 to 1855, causing the emergence of some of the previously submerged tidal sand ridges. From AD 1855 to the present, the infilled paleo-Xiyang tidal channel has undergone scouring, resulting in its modern form. The modern Xiyang tidal channel continues to widen and deepen, due both to strong tidal current scouring and anthropogenic activities.     

The genesis of irrigated terraces in al-Andalus. A geoarchaeological perspective on intensive agriculture in semi-arid environments (Ricote,Murcia, Spain)

Irrigated terraces in the Iberian Peninsula are associated with al-Andalus; the name with which the region was known following the migration of Arabic–Berber tribes across the Strait of Gibraltar, starting from 711 AD. Several of these agricultural areas have remained in use in the west Mediterranean to the present day. Historical texts usually refer to later extensions of the original Andalusi irrigated terrace fields, yet little is known about their foundation period. In this study we examined the micromorphology and undertook physico-chemical analyses and radiocarbon dating of a buried soil found in Ricote (Murcia, Spain) to provide relevant information to understand the initial stages of terrace building within al-Andalus. Results of our study show that: (1) Andalusi peasants selected a saline Hipercalcic Calcisol developed on colluvial materials on which to build the first irrigated terraces, (2) The soil was probably cleared of bushes by fire prior to terrace construction, (3) The shifting of sediments implied in the building of terraces seems to have entailed the inversion of the original soil stratigraphy, (4) Radiocarbon dating of submillimetric fragments of charred wood embedded in the top horizon of the buried Hipercalcic Calcisol (2σ 647–778 AD) suggests the original irrigated terraces of Ricote were built shortly after the arrival of Arabic and Berber tribes in the Iberian Peninsula.     

藏南沉错地区近1400年来的介形类与环境变化

通过分析藏南沉错CC1孔的介形类动物群所提供的古环境信息，探讨近1400年来的湖泊演化。CC1孔介形类共计7属15种。据其属种，数量及生态特征，可划分为7个组合，同时发现1400年来沉错环境变化可分为3个时期：（1）公元6世末－14世纪下半叶沉错主要为较深水湖，其中大约在708－780年和1199－1213年湖泊迅速扩大加深；（2）14世纪下半叶－19世纪末沉错主要为浅水湖，其中大约在1454－1525年，1645－1670年和1803－1891年3个时段湖泊强烈退缩，环境极不稳定，而大约在1731－1803年湖泊发生逆向转化，湖水增多，湖面抬升；（3）19世纪末至今沉错由较深水湖转变为浅水湖，20世纪60年代以前为较深水湖，其中大约在1929－1935年湖泊急剧加深，20世纪70年代以来湖泊退缩，湖水变浅。     

开封市西郊地层“崇祯大旱”事件的孢粉记录

根据开封市西郊9 m岩芯样品的孢粉分析,结合AMS¹⁴C测年、粒度分析和历史文献,揭示区域植被对“崇祯大旱”事件的响应。结果表明,岩芯深度0~1.8 m为20世纪中叶的黄河灌淤层和近期堆垫层,1.8~4 m和4~7.8 m分别为1841年和1642-1644年的黄泛沉积;岩芯存在7.8~9 m、5~7.8 m、2~5 m和0~2 m等4个孢粉带,其中5~7.8 m的孢粉带记录了明末“崇祯大旱”事件。该层段下段（6.7~7.8 m）为黄泛早期沉积物,木本植物花粉减少至整个岩芯的最低值,而藜科花粉比例显著升高并占据绝对优势,同时还伴随有旱生植物白刺属和麻黄属花粉出现,蒲公英属和菊科等耐旱植物花粉含量也相对较高,指示一次干旱事件;上段（5~6.7 m）为黄泛后期沉积物,木本植物尤其是松属花粉含量较高,而藜科等旱生植物花粉相对较少,可能是由于松属等木本植物花粉悬浮能力强而被洪水携带至下游,在水流缓慢或近于滞流时沉积,再加上洪水过后黄泛地面接受当地源、区域源和区域外源花粉的缘故。     

Environmental changes in the Zirahuén Basin, Michoacán, Mexico, during the last 1000 years

Lago de Zirahuén (19° 26 N, 101° 44 W) lies within a montane basin in highland Michoacán, Mexico at 2075 m a.s.l. The lake basin has high recreational value and is promoted as a tourist attraction. Four short (<1 m), sediment–water interface cores were used to investigate Late Holocene environmental change. The cores span approximately the last 1000 years, based on ²¹⁰Pb dating, AMS ¹⁴C dating and tephrochronology. Cesium-137, Americium-241 and tephra layers from Volcan Paricutín (AD 1943–1952) and Volcan Jorullo (AD 1759–1774) provide independent age markers. Cores were analysed for diatoms, magnetic susceptibility and heavy metals (iron, lead, manganese, copper and zinc). Drier climate around 1000 years BP is tentatively inferred from the diatom assemblage and is concordant with other regional records. Increased soil erosion between ca. AD 1100 and AD 1550 may be associated with Pre-Hispanic settlement in the basin, but there is no archaeological evidence to support this. A period of catchment stability occurred during the early Colonial Period, ca. AD 1550–1750. The dramatic decline in the indigenous population following the Spanish Conquest in 1521 may have promoted vegetation recovery on the basin slopes. After the mid-18th century, a significant change in diatom species composition is observed along with an increase in soil erosion, as inferred from the magnetic susceptibility profile. Concentrations of copper and lead also increased. These changes are associated with the establishment of a copper smelting industry in the basin and increased Colonial agricultural development. Recently, tourist developments and commercial agriculture have impacted on the basin. The diatom flora has changed dramatically in the last 20 years, apparently in response to the onset of cultural eutrophication. The palaeoenvironmental evidence suggests that the lake is responding rapidly to land use intensification in the basin, which may have implications for future developments.     

中国过去2000年气候变化的评估

根据近20年中国在过去2000年气候变化研究领域的主要文献,对中国(特别是中国东部)过去2000年气候变化进行了综合评估。主要结论有：(1)在中国东部,虽然20世纪暖期的温暖程度非常明显,但至目前为止的研究结果显示,其温暖程度和波动幅度可能尚未超过过去两千年曾经出现过的最高水平。(2)中国东部降水同样存在数百年的趋势变化,且存在明显的区域差异,特别是华北与江南的低频变化趋势几乎相反。就东部地区的总体变化趋势而言：280′sAD以前,相对湿润;自280′SAD开始,逐渐变干;而至1230′SAD以后,则维持在一个相对较干的水平上。(3)中国西部的温度变化趋势与东部基本一致,但中世纪暖期与小冰期不如东部明显。(4)中世纪暖期,中国东部的华北地区相对干旱,江南则相对湿润;而在小冰期,华北地区则相对湿润,且整个东部地区的降水变率增大。     

Chronology of the Holocene loess-paleosol section and its deposition and pedogenesis on the south of Chinese Loess Plateau

Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating for polymineral fine-grained loess samples, collected in Laoguantai (LGT) section on the south of the Chinese Loess Plateau, was made by application of single-aliquot regenerative-dose (SAR) protocol. A ‘Double-SAR’ procedure in which aliquots are subjected to both infrared (IR) and blue stimulations was used, and two sets of equivalent dose (De) determinations were produced and assumed to relate predominantly to feldspathic and quartz fine grain populations respectively. The OSL ages estimated from IRSL signals are smaller than those estimated from [post-IR] OSL signals due to the anomalous fading of feldspar IR signals, based on fading experiment. The young ages of the samples near ground surface may be originated from the post-depositional disturbance by the intensifying humanity’s cultivation since 3.0 ka BP in the Guanzhong Basin, south of the Chinese Loess Plateau. Based on OSL dating, as well as field observations and stratigraphic correlation, we determine the chronology of the LGT loess-paleosol sequence. In combination with climate proxy records, it is indicated that aeolian loess deposition and pedogenesis underwent polyphase changes during the Holocene, likely to have been driven by shifts in the East Asian monsoon. This suggests that aeolian loess deposition is episodic and highly variable, with contributions from non-aeolian processes such as alluvial deposition found in the area.     

2500年来艾比湖的环境演变信息

通过对艾比湖缘1，8m浅孔的沉积相和孢粉组合，结合14C测年资料分析。指出近2500年来艾比湖的沉积环境总体是比较稳定的，但由于气候波动引起艾比湖水位曾发生较明显的变化。约在公元前300～400年，是艾比湖面积缩小时期；约公元前300—公元300年，即东周末至西晋，是艾比湖水位较高时期；约公元300—1400年，即东晋至15世纪初，是艾比湖的高水位时期；约15世纪初至17世纪中是艾比湖的水位下降期，但水位比现代仍然高；约17世纪中至19世纪初的小冰期是艾比湖的水位上升期。研究还提供了历史时期湖泊的盐度变化和湖周发生大火的信息。     

Glacier extent in a Novaya Zemlya fjord during the "Little Ice Age" inferred from glaciomarine sediment records

Glacier activity at Russkaya Gavan', north-west Novaya Zemlya (Arctic Russia), is reconstructed by particle size analysis of three fjord sediment cores in combination with ¹⁴C and ²¹⁰Pb dating. Down-core logging of particle size variation reveals at least two intervals with sediment coarsening during the past eight centuries. By comparing them with reconstructions of summer temperature and atmospheric circulation, these intervals are interpreted to represent two cycles of glacier advance and retreat sometime during ca. AD 1400–1700 and AD 1700–present. Sediment accumulation thus appears to be sensitive to century-scale fluctuations of the Barents Sea climate. The identification of two glacier cycles in the glaciomarine record from Russkaya Gavan' demonstrates that during the "Little Ice Age" major glacier fluctuations on Novaya Zemlya occurred in broad synchrony with those in other areas around the Barents Sea.