Environmental controls on coastal dune formation; Skallingen Spit,Denmark

Many coastal dune systems in Western Europe were emplaced during the Little Ice Age (LIA). The formation of such dune fields has generally been ascribed to a combination of low sea level and strong winds during that time period, providing a supply of sand from the exposed shoreface and sufficient wind energy to transport this sand landward. However, little information exists on the processes that controlled sediment supply to the beach and why this onshore supply was initiated at all. In this contribution, we consider the origin and development of older dune fields on a barrier spit complex (Skallingen) located in the northern part of the Danish Wadden Sea. Maps and new data on dune litho- and chrono-stratigraphy, the latter based on OSL-dating, allow a precise estimate of the initiation and termination of dune emplacement. Dune formation at Skallingen started at a relatively late stage of the LIA and it can be temporally correlated with a phase of relative sea level rise in North Western Europe and with a high frequency of storm surges along the Danish west coast. These are the conditions during which nearshore bars currently migrate onshore across the shoreface off Skallingen. The bars eventually merge with the beach and constitute a source of sand for modern foredune accretion. It is probable that the onshore bar migration occurred under similar conditions in the past and the migration was triggered, or enhanced, by the sea level recovery from the mid-LIA low-stand and the associated frequent storm surge activity. Consequently, at Skallingen onshore sand supply was caused by marine, rather than aeolian, agents; this supply provided the basis for subsequent dune formation. Indications are, however, that the sediment supply to the beach/dunes was a factor of 2–3 larger in the past. Dune aggradation eventually ceased around 1900AD because of dyke construction. Hence, the association between dune formation and sea level/surge variation at Skallingen is somewhat contrary to other statements of coastal dune development during the LIA in North Western Europe.     

Geomorphologic and Palaeoenvironmental Development of Holocene Perched Coastal Dune Systems in Brittany, France

Two perched dune systems are investigated in the Baie d'Audierne (Finistère, Brittany, northwest France). A maximum age of 4545–4160 cal. yr bp for the onset of sand accretion is provided through radiocarbon (¹⁴C) analysis of an organic-rich basal palaeosol, corresponding closely to deceleration, but before stabilisation, of regional Holocene relative sea levels (RSLs). Molluscan analysis through the dune sand indicates an initial bare sand or sparsely vegetated surface, subsequently maturing and colonised by scrub vegetation, and finally returning to more open dune grassland conditions. These data suggest a three-stage Perched Dune Development Model (PDDM), which may be applicable to perched dunes on at least a regional scale: (1) initial sand sheet inundation as RSL rises; (2) stabilisation of RSL allowing dune to mature; and (3) sea-level stabilisation stimulates cliff formation, perching and progressive landward retreat of the dune shore. This study recognises that perched dunes hold greater potential for establishing chronologies for regional Holocene dune development than the more widely studied lowland dune systems, where evidence for early sand inundation may be obscured or lost by modest rises in sea level.     

Spatiotemporal distribution of sea-island prehistoric dune sites,Holocene sea levels,and aeolian sand activities in Fujian Province,China

The lower reaches of the Minjiang River and its adjacent areas were among the most active prehistoric archaeological areas in Fujian Province. The accumulation types of Neolithic archaeological strata are roughly divided into dune sites and dune/shell mound sites. The sites can also be roughly divided into estuarine, coastal, and sea-island sites based on their geomorphic features. The cultural development of these prehistoric sites is of great significance for understanding the migration and spread of Austronesian civilization. Based on luminescence dating of typical Neolithic sites on Haitan Island, their quartz-OSL (optically stimulated luminecesence) burial ages were determined. Synthesizing previously published results, the temporospatial distribution characteristics of the sea-island sites on Haitan Island are discussed, and the relationship between Neolithic human activities and regional geomorphic processes is analyzed. The results show that: (1) the spatial and temporal distribution of the Haitan Island Neolithic sites are closely related to small-scale geomorphic features and are controlled by mesoscale geomorphic processes. The sites were mainly distributed in the foothills of two high hills along an NNE-SSW trend. With an increase in altitude, the features were distributed as “single site (I) - superimposed site - single site (II)” and appear successively. Single type sites (I) mainly appeared at low sea level, whereas single type sites (II) mainly appeared at high sea level. Superimposed sites were not subject to sea level changes. The relative elevation of the superimposed sites in the study area indicates the optimal residential area for human activities in the region. The single site with an elevation lower than the optimal residential area was mainly restricted by the lowest residential area, whereas the single site at a higher elevation than the optimal residential area was mainly affected by livelihood patterns. (2) High sea level caused by the “backwater effect” in low latitude areas in the southern hemisphere, and coastal aeolian sand activity influenced by sea level fluctuations in the middle Holocene correspond well with human activities recorded in the cultural stratigraphy of sea-island type sites. The altitude of coastal aeolian sand accumulation can be used as an indirect index to estimate the age of coastal dunes.     

Spectral properties, iron oxide content and provenance of Namib dune sands

This paper applies multispectral remote sensing techniques to map the Fe-oxide content over the entire Namib sand sea. Spectrometric analysis is applied to field samples to identify the reflectance properties of the dune sands which enable remotely sensed Fe-oxide mapping. The results indicate that the pattern of dune colour in the Namib sand sea arises from the mixing of at least two distinct sources of sand; a red component of high Fe-oxide content (present as a coating on the sand grains) which derives from the inland regions, particularly from major embayments into the Southern African escarpment; and a yellow coastal component of low Fe-oxide content which is brought into the area by northward-moving aeolian transport processes. These major provenances are separated by a mixing zone between 20 km and 90 km from the coast throughout the entire length of the sand sea. Previous workers have also recognised a third, fluvial, provenance, but the methodology applied here is not able to map this source as a distinct spectral component.     

海岸沙丘成因的讨论

本文以中国和西非二个典型沙丘海岸为例,说明海滨沙丘是海陆相互作用下形成的,特别是在冰期极地气候条件下,低海面时形成广大的岸外沙质浅滩,极地气旋风暴作用,促进海岸沙丘的形成发育。     

The Manawatu Dunefield: Environmental Change and Human Impacts

Four stages of environmental change are apparent in the Manawatu coastal landscape: the first stage was that of a world wide sea level rise and initiation of the first major dune phase (Foxton or phase I) in the Manawatu. This was followed by a second dune‐building phase (Motuiti or phase II), which was probably initiated by climate change. The second stage occurred in the last 600 to 1000 or so years when Maori first occupied the area, rapidly causing the extinction of a range of fauna, significantly altering the vegetation cover and potentially initiating or assisting the development of a new dune phase (Waitarere or phase 111). The latter part of the Waitarere phase (phase IV) or episode may have been initiated by Europeans in the last 150 years. The third stage of environmental change occurred in the period 1940 to 1990 when large scale sand sheets and transgressive dunefields were significantly stabilised by humans, and parabolic dunes were created. A fourth stage is just beginning where an entirely new suite (or episode) of parabolic dunes has developed from blowouts within the foredune in the last 10 years. Overall, human impact has wrought major environmental changes to one of the greatest examples of Holocene dunefields in New Zealand.     

珠江口岛屿全新世沙堤的年代与沉积环境

通过对珠江口岛屿小型海湾如珠海淇澳岛和澳门黑沙滩一级阶地上的古沙坝/沙丘进行光释光（OSL）年代测定、粒度分析,结果表明,全新世潮间带砂体沉积的底部年代根据光释光测年结果和沉积速率推算,超过9 ka。海岸带形成的古沙坝或风成砂质沉积的光释光测年结果大部分老于新石器文化堆积的器物年代,表明全新世高海面期砂质滨海相沉积的形成先于新石器人类活动遗迹。潮间带砂质滨海相沉积的上覆地层常在6.5 ka左右快速转变为潮上带的风成沉积-人类活动混合堆积,导致文化层中沉积物粒度分选变差,参数波动较大。淇澳岛小沙澳湾9―4.3 ka的滨海相砂质沉积的顶部目前位于海拔＋4.8 m,这一高程可能与构造抬升运动有关。     

Theoretical constraints and chronological evidence of Holocene coastal development in central and southern New South Wales, Australia

Holocene coastal evolution in New South Wales has been interpreted essentially as the unfolding of the impact of marine transgression. Sea level on this coast supposedly reached its present height at 6–6.5 ka, and varied < 1 m since then. The early Holocene rise of the sea has been considered the key factor (“forcing function”) in dune migration, coastal sand barrier development, and the evolution of estuaries. Episodic storminess during the late Holocene has been seen as an important, though secondary, factor in beach erosion and dune mobilisation. An alternate interpretation presented here challenges the concept of the marine transgression as the primary “forcing function”. It (a) attributes early Holocene dune mobilisation to climate rather than the rising sea; (b) shows that the sea reached its present level by 7 ka and rose to at least + 2 m until 1.5 ka; (c) links late Holocene dune activity to local disruption of vegetation rather than to regional episodic storminess; (d) demonstrates a fall of 2°C in sea surface temperature after 3 ka that coincides with the onset of barrier erosion; (e) recognises the imprint of at least three tsunamis in the coastal sedimentary record.     

沙坡头固定沙丘结皮层的微生物区系动态

对中科院沙坡头沙漠研究试验站的人工植被固定沙丘、红卫自然植被固定沙丘的结皮层和流动沙丘表层(0~ 05cm)中的微生物类群数量的研究结果表明:①好气性细菌数量影响着微生物总数量的变化趋势;②微生物总数量分布依次排列为:自然植被固定沙丘>1956年栽植区>1964年栽植区>自然半固定沙丘>1982年栽植区>流动沙丘;③土壤微生物类群数量与结皮层的形成、植物覆盖度和土壤含水率等因子有密切的关系;④结皮层中的微生物类群数量与流动沙丘的固定程度呈正向关系。     

科尔沁沙地夏秋(6—9月)季不同类型沙丘土壤呼吸对气温变化的响应

 通过测定分析了科尔沁沙地6—9月不同生境（固定、半固定和流动沙丘）土壤呼吸速率的日动态、月际动态及其对气温变化的响应。结果表明：测定期平均土壤呼吸速率在各生境间存在显著差异,其大小为固定沙丘（2.35 μmolCO₂·m^-2·s^-1）＞半固定沙丘（1.67 μmolCO₂·m^-2·s^-1）＞流动沙丘（1.06 μmolCO₂·m^-2·s^-1）;指数模型能够较好地揭示不同生境土壤呼吸对气温变化的响应,但土壤呼吸的月际动态与气温变化不完全同步;各生境土壤在高温环境下的Q10值(土壤呼吸对温度敏感程度)普遍低于低温环境下的Q₁₀值;固定、半固定和流动沙丘基于气温月际变化的Q₁₀值分别为2.34、1.99和1.31,表明不同的植被状况和土壤性质会影响到土壤呼吸对温度变化的敏感程度。     

烟台附近海岸风沙地貌的初步研究

在野外调查基础上,对烟台附近海岸风沙分布、风沙地貌类型及地貌发育过程进行了探讨。指出全新世海岸变迁是海岸风沙地貌发育的基础,6000aB.P.以来有5个风沙堆积期,前4个风沙堆积期与4个海平面下降期一致,第5风沙堆积期与小冰期一致。     

基于GPR图像的河北昌黎海岸横向沙脊北段沉积构造及其成因

运用探地雷达对河北昌黎海岸带横向沙脊的沉积构造进行探测,通过对探地雷达探测影像进行处理与解译,获得海岸沙丘约20 m深度范围内的海岸横向沙脊沉积构造图像,包括沉积层理的倾向、倾角与平面展布信息等。研究发现,昌黎海岸横向沙脊北段的沉积构造主要由高角度交错层理和波状交错层理组成,两者之间界面应为古海滩沿岸沙坝的顶面。界面以上发育稳定的向SWW倾斜的高角度交错层理,倾角约为30°~32°,为向岸风作用形成的前积层理;横向沙脊的丘顶可见槽状交错层理,可能是沙丘脊顶部沉积作用对风向季节性变化的响应。界面以下波状交错层理发育,为波浪作用形成的海滩沉积构造。结合前人对探测区地层调查以及全新世晚期以来海岸线变迁研究成果综合分析,认为海岸横向沙脊是大约2000 aBP以来,以澙湖海滩沿岸沙坝为基础经长期风力吹扬作用持续增长而发育的风成沙丘。     

近40ka来海南岛海岸沙地气候与环境演变

选择海南岛东、西海岸具有代表性和高分辨率特征的木堆、棋子湾等地层剖面,在建立年代序列的基础上,对风成沙粒度组成与参数、SC/D值及磁化率等代用指标的研究表明,末次冰期间冰阶时气候相对温暖,滨海平原上河流三角洲前移,湿地、沙丘与交错分布;末次盛冰期时气候干凉,海岸沙地上形成了多道平行延伸的古沙垄(丘),并与大陆架古沙丘形成连续性沉积;末次冰消期时气候快速变化,古沙垄(丘)或加积发育或固定成壤;全新世以来气候回暖并波动变化,次生沙丘经历多次半固定、固定－沙丘加积、活化的演变。     

科尔沁沙地植物功能性状的尺度变异及关联

调查了科尔沁沙地流动沙丘、半固定沙丘和固定沙丘18个样地的物种组成,测定了28种植物的叶面积(LA)、比叶面积(SLA)和叶干物质含量(LDMC)等3个植物功能性状,并用性状梯度分析法对3个功能性状在群落水平上的变化进行了分解,研究了沙丘固定过程中的植物功能性状的尺度变异及其与生境变化的关系。结果表明:(1)随着沙丘的固定,群落平均LA逐渐增大,群落平均SLA及LDMC在半固定沙丘上最小;(2)群落平均SLA的生态位宽度随着沙丘固定程度依次减小,流动、半固定沙丘植物群落的适应能力较固定沙丘更强;(3)沙丘固定过程中物种性状值的变化与群落内共生植物种性状间变异的关联相比于群落间性状的变异更密切。沙丘固定导致了物种LA与LDMC较强的正相关关系,两性状在群落间的依赖性比群落内的强。物种在群落内和群落间采取不同的策略来适应沙丘固定过程生境的变化。     

禹门口南黄河东岸沙丘初步研究

在禹门口南山西省河津、万荣县境内黄河阶地上发育了一些固定、半固定沙丘,注入黄河的汾河将这些沙丘分成了南北两部分。北部的沙丘多在海拔400m左右,高出现代黄河约35m,位于黄河的第二级阶地上,由两条南北向的沙垄和两垄之间分布的抛物线形沙丘构成特殊的景观。这些抛物线形沙丘一般高度约7~8m,背风面突出,迎风坡坡度一般为15°~20°,背风坡坡度一般大于40°。风沙堆积下伏的河流堆积物的¹⁴C年龄为26.40±0.8kaBP,表明沙丘形成于距今26ka以来。南部沙丘海拔高度近500m,高出现代黄河水面150m,覆盖于黄河第三级阶地之上。一个天然剖面揭示,第三阶地的底部为黄色中粗砂与灰绿色粉砂粘土互层,中部为灰黄色黄土,顶部为黄色风沙层。在黄土地层中可以识别出S₁古土壤和位于风沙堆积下面的可能为L₁SS₁的弱成土层。由此推断风沙堆积于距今3万a以来。黄河阶地上的沙丘是在特殊的地区和特定的时期;强大的风力、丰富的沙源和气候变干条件下形成的。虽然东岸沙丘已是固定、半固定沙丘,但沙化仍然是该地区的一个问题。由于3~4a前开始在丘前洼地栽种苹果树,破坏了下风向沙丘迎风面的植被,造成了原来已固定沙丘的活化,在沙丘顶部生成了新的小抛物线形沙丘,高度大于1 m。沙丘上裸露的树根指示表土已被侵蚀0.3 m。南部沙丘区的风蚀作用也很强,例如,万荣县裴庄乡西范村北一片柿树林的树根由于风蚀已经裸露1.2 m。     

Late Pleistocene dune construction in the Central Sand Plain of Wisconsin, USA

Wisconsin's Central Sand Plain east of the Wisconsin River is composed of eolian sand forming high-relief dunes surrounded by sand sheets and scattered low-relief dunes. To establish a maximum age for dune formation, three samples for optical dating were taken from glacial Lake Wisconsin lacustrine sediment that underlies eolian sand. These age estimates range from 19.3 to 13.6ka. Age estimates taken from within or at the base of the dunes range from 14.0 to 10.6ka. Samples taken from < 2m of the ground surface were slightly younger, indicating dunes were stabilized between 11.8 and 5.5ka. The younger ages near the surface of some dunes were most likely the result of pedoturbation or localized problems with applying the optical dating method. The majority of the optical age estimates from dunes (18 of 21) indicated that most of the dunes were active between 14 and 10ka and that most dune activity ended by 10ka. These ages suggest that localized activity on dune crests may have occurred in the Holocene but would have been limited to < 1m of sand accumulation. The timing of dune activity and the lack of any significant Holocene reactivation suggest that dune activation in this setting cannot be attributed solely to changes in aridity. Instead, we attribute dune formation to changes in sediment availability from either sand inputs from the Wisconsin River or the melting of permafrost.     

Coastal dune rock development and Holocene climate changes in South China

Coastal dune rocks in China are eolian sands cemented by calcium carbonate under subaerial conditions, widely distributing on the tropical and subtropical coasts of South China. Particular temperature and precipitation as well as local wave and landform conditions are required for the formation of the dune rocks. A correspondence was found between Holocene environmental changes and coastal dune rock development by comparing the features of the sea-level and climate changes in the Holocene period with the ages, scales, and cementation of the dune rocks on the South China coasts. The findings provide well grounded explanation for some problems unresolved in the past researches on the coastal dune rock in South China: (1) There were no dune rocks with ages older than 6000 years in South China because the dune rocks formed before 6000 a BP were covered by the sea water that rose in the later period; (2) the dune rocks with ages of around 3000 a BP were widely found in South China today because the coastal dunes were cumulated on a large scale at that time as a result of temperature falling after the end of Megathermal; (3) Medieval Warm Period was the main period for the eolian dunes to be cemented into the coastal dune rocks in South China; (4) lack of dune rocks of younger than 1000 a BP was accounted for by that the climate conditions in recent one thousand years were not suitable for the cementation.     

不同类型沙漠化土地差不嘎蒿种群热值研究

在科尔沁固定、半固定及流动沙地上,测定了沙地植被的主要建群植物——差不嘎蒿种群及其无性系构件的热值,得出如下结论:①差不嘎蒿植物种群干物质热值表现为:Q₁^固定沙地 > Q₁^{半固定沙地} > Q₁^流动沙地,且固定沙地和半固定沙地极显著地高于流动沙地。②差不嘎蒿植物种群所有构件的有机干物质比无显著性差异,干物质热值和去灰分热值的变化趋势基本一致,Q₁^固定沙地 > Q₁^{半固定沙地}≥Q₁^流动沙地,Q₂^固定沙地 > Q₂^{半固定沙地} ≥ Q₂^流动沙地。③差不嘎蒿植物种群各发育时期干物质热值、去灰分热值和有机干物质比表现出不同程度的差异。一般干物质热值表现为:Q₁^营养体 > Q₁^生殖枝 > Q₁^生殖枯枝。④营养体不同龄枝去灰分热值在固定沙地随枝龄的增加而显著地提高,流动沙地则随着枝龄的增加而显著地下降;半固定沙地介于两者之间,表现为中龄枝的去灰分热值显著地高于其它龄枝。⑤差不嘎蒿植物种群同一构件的有机干物质比与去灰分热值的相关性,除四龄枝外,其它各构件基本上表现为正相关,尤其是三龄枝最为典型;分析同一生境中处于不同发育状态的有机干物质比和去灰分热值呈现出负相关性,尤以固定沙地最为典型。     

库布齐沙漠北缘不同作物秸秆平铺式沙障的防风效能

本研究以七星湖沙漠风景区沙丘上的芦苇秸秆、向日葵秸秆和玉米秸秆平铺式沙障为研究对象,通过测定各沙障障格内以及裸沙丘近地表不同高度处的风速,对比研究了各沙障的防风效益。结果表明,①3种沙障在10 cm高度处均具有明显的防风效能,且随着高度的增加,防风效能减小,从10 cm到100 cm高度,3种沙障的防风效能平均降幅达63%。②在沙丘迎风坡,芦苇秸秆沙障的防风效能和地表粗糙度分别是向日葵秸秆沙障的1.36倍和2.34倍,是玉米秸秆沙障的1.76倍和1.88倍;在沙丘坡顶和背风坡,玉米秸秆沙障的防风效能及地表粗糙度均显著高于另外两者（P<0.01）。③3种沙障的风速廓线均呈现出一种类似于“S”型的变化特征,而作为对照的裸沙丘风速廓线则服从典型指数函数分布。     

巴丹吉林沙漠高大沙山形成演化初步探讨

对巴丹吉林沙漠高大沙山形态特征和环境因素的研究表明:高大沙山形成发育受沙源、风况、基底和植被等因素的影响,尤其受环境演变的影响较大。受西风环流的控制,沙山下伏地形的起伏不仅能够改变近地表风的运行形式,而且是风沙流运行的障碍。气候湿润期(间冰期)沙丘主要通过钙胶结层固定沙丘表面,并增大沙山基底;气候干冷期(冰期)在钙胶结层又发育次一级的沙丘。经过钙胶结固定-加积-再钙胶结固定循环的演化模式,最终发育成高大的复合型沙山。