Evolution of India’s monsoon climate through geological times

Using the theory of plate tectonics and a concept of climate analogs, the paper speculates that a monsoon type of climate with warm and wet summer and cold and dry winter might have first appeared over the northern part of India when during its northward drift across the Tethys Ocean (now the Indian Ocean) it was located over the subtropical belt of the southern hemisphere some 60 million years before present (BP). The monsoon climate gradually evolved and extended to other parts of India as the Indian plate after crossing the equator about SO million years BP moved further northward and collided against the north Asian plate giving rise to the Himalayas along the northern boundary of India some 40 million years BP. Recent studies suggest that despite short and long period fluctuations, no major secular change or trend has taken place in the monsoon climate of India since then.     

青藏高原深部地质特征及其形成机制探讨

本文据中-法合作期间的地震广角反射资料阐述了青藏高原的深部地壳结构及构造特征,结合地表地质现象探讨了高原的形成机制。资料表明青藏高原上、下地壳分别增厚一倍左右,最厚处达75km。它是由来自北侧并逐渐向南推挤的强大水平力,使该区地壳与其南部的印度地块相碰并受其阻挡,在经向水平挤压力的长期作用下,该区地壳终于从喜马拉雅运动早期开始,在经向上因地壳片段的褶皱和叠覆而缩短,在垂向上急剧增厚和抬升而形成高原。这是构造力与重力联合作用的结果。     

东喜马拉雅缺口的地质与地貌成因

东喜马拉雅缺口位于西藏东南部米林地区,平均海拔高度只有4500m,远远低于喜马拉雅山其它地段。我们的研究揭示,它的形成是由一条规模很大的,称之为米林韧性正断层的活动造成的。断层带的宽度至少有20km,大体倾向西,主要由眼球状糜棱岩组成,岩石中的拉伸线理以及眼球旋转的方式表明位于其东西两侧的高喜马拉雅深变质岩系和特提斯喜马拉雅中浅变质岩系之间发生过大规模的拆离运动,导致了东喜马拉雅构造结的最高峰——南迦巴瓦(7756m)的早期抬升以及特提斯喜马拉雅的重力垮塌。该断裂的南西端和藏南拆离系(STDS)相交,因此,它很可能是藏南拆离系的东翼断裂,同样形成于中新世。拆离构造的发生表明喜马拉雅山在中新世发生南北向构造缩短的同时还伴随着近东西向的拉伸。米林断裂的北东端和派区断裂相接。后者在中新世呈左旋剪切,构成东喜马拉雅挤入构造的西边界。米林断裂和上述两个断裂的衔接关系表明该断裂是一个协调高喜马拉雅和特提斯喜马拉雅之间斜向拆离运动的转换断层。     

The Thakkhola–Mustang graben in Nepal and the late Cenozoic extension in the Higher Himalayas

The Thakkhola–Mustang graben is located at the northern side of the Dhaulagiri and Annapurna ranges in North Central Nepal. The structural pattern is mainly characterised by the N020–040° Thakkhola Fault system responsible for the development of the half-graben. A detailed study of the substrate and the sedimentary fill in several outcrops indicates polyphased faulting:-pre-sedimentation faulting (Miocene), with a mainly NNW–SSE to N–S compressional stress expressed in the substratum by N020–040° and N180–N010° sinistral and N130–140° dextral conjugate strike-slip faults;-syn-sedimentation faulting (Pliocene–Pleistocene), characterised by a W–E to WNW–ESE extensional stress and tectonic subsidence of the half-graben during the Tetang period (Pliocene probably), followed by a doming of the Tetang deposits and a short period of erosion (cf. Pliocene planation surface and unconformity between the Tetang and Thakkhola Formations); the Thakkhola period (Pleistocene) is characterized by a W–E to WNW–ESE extensional stress and a major subsidence of the half graben;-post-sedimentation recurrent extensional faulting and N–S and NE–SW normal faults in the late Quaternary terrace formations.Geodynamic interpretation of the faulting is discussed in relation to the following:

• 1.the geographic situation of the Thakkhola–Mustang half-graben in the southern part of Tibet and its setting in the Tethyan series above the South Tibetan Detachment System (STDS);
• 2.the geodynamic conditions of the convergence between India and Eurasia and the dextral east–west shearing between the High Himalayas and south Tibet;
• 3.the possible relations between the sinistral Thakkhola and the dextral Karakorum strike-slip faults in a N–S compressional stress regime during the Miocene.

     

A review of Indian Phanerozoic palaeomagnetism: Implications for the India-Asia collision

An overview is presented of the Indian apparent polar wander path (APWP) for the Phanerozoic and in particular for post-Late Palaeozoic times. This APWP is compiled on basis of data available at October 1981 from peninsular and extrapeninsular Indo-Pakistan and from DSDP cores from the Indian plate. One of the more important and newly recognized features of this APWP is a large-scale Triassic-Jurassic loop. This loop indicates a changeover from a Late Palaeozoic-Early Mesozoic northwards and counter-clockwise rotational movement, with Greater India reaching moderately low southern latitudes, into a southwards and clockwise rotational movement during the Early to Middle Jurassic. Recognizable likewise in APWP's from other Gondwana continents, this loop reflects the opening of the Neotethys.Studies of extrapeninsular regions up to and north of the Indus-Tsangpo suture zone have shown wide-spread presence of magnetic overprints, which delineate two regionally confined age groups. Younger overprints (20–40 m.y.) predominate in the more external thrust zones. Older overprints (50–60 m.y.), in contrast, are found in the more internal zones both north and south of the Indus-Tsangpo suture zone. The latter are interpreted to reflect a late phase of relaxation in the Early Tertiary collision of Greater India with south-central Asia or off-shore island arcs, which occurred at equatorial to low northern palaeolatitudes (0°–10°N). Subsequent northwards movement over 2500–3000 km or more and impingement of Greater India into southern Asia resulted into large-scale underthrusting of Greater India along the Main Central Thrust beneath southern Tibet, and to clockwise rotation of thrust units in the Western Himalaya. A discrepancy between Indian palaeomagnetic data and results available todate from southern Tibet is discussed.     

Fractal analysis of major faults in India on a regional scale

The seismicity of a region is implicit of the causal faulting mechanisms and geodynamic diversity of the subsurface regime nucleating earthquakes of different magnitudes, several of which may be as devastating as ones historically reported in global perspective of tectonic complexity as in the case of India. Fractal analysis using box-counting method for the major fault networks across the country estimates fractal dimension, D_f, values to be varying between 0.88 and 1.36. The fault segments in parts of northwest Himalayas, northeast India and Indo-Gangetic plains, are observed to be associated with higher D_f values implicating high seismicity rates. On the other hand, low D_f values in the peninsular India indicate isolated pattern of the underlying faults. The fractal dimension is observed to be indicative of predominant faulting types — higher values conforming to thrust faulting mechanism while lower to strike slip tectonism.     

E–W extension and block rotation of the southeastern Tibet: Unravelling late deformation stages in the eastern Himalayas (NW Bhutan) by means of pyrrhotite remanences

In the Himalayan chain the collision of India into Eurasia has produced some of the most complex crustal interactions along the Himalayan–Alpine Orogen. In NW Bhutan, middle to late Miocene deformation has been partitioned between conjugate strike-slip faulting, E–W extension along the Yadong-Gulu graben and kilometre-scale folding. To better understand the late deformation stages and their implications for the evolution of the eastern Himalayas, the palaeomagnetism in the erosional remnant of the Tethyan Himalayan rocks outcropping in NW Bhutan has been studied. Their position to the south of the trace of the inner South Tibetan Detachment, to the south of the Tibetan Plateau offers a unique possibility to study the Tertiary rotation of the Himalayas. Pyrrhotite is the carrier of the characteristic magnetisation based on 270–325 °C unblocking temperatures. The age of the remanence is ca. 13 Ma indicated by illite ⁴⁰K/⁴⁰Ar cooling ages and a negative fold test. Small circle intersection method applied to the pyrrhotite components shows a ca. 32° clockwise rotation with respect to stable India since 13 Ma. We suggest that this clockwise rotation is related to strain partitioning between NE-directed shortening, sinistral-slip along the Lingshi fault, and east–west extension. This represents a field-based explanation and a minimum onset age for present-day eastward motion of the upper-crust of SE-Tibet and NE-Himalayas.     

西藏南部聂拉木地区侏罗纪—白垩纪盆—山转换过程中的沉积学响应

西藏南部聂拉木—定日地区沉积地层记录着侏罗纪被动大陆边缘到白垩纪前陆盆地的盆—山转换演化历史。侏罗纪发育巨大的海侵—海退沉积序列，晚侏罗世喜马拉雅特提斯海底扩张速度明显加快，从0.32 cm/a上升为1.24 cm/a。前陆盆地演化分为早期深水复理石和晚期海相磨拉石两个阶段。前陆早期发育向上急剧加深的深水砂泥质复理石建造、黑色页岩建造和岛弧型火山岩建造沉积；前陆晚期海相磨拉石沉积总体表现为向上变粗、变浅的沉积序列。     

Damage due to the Mw 7.7 Kutch, India earthquake of 2001

This paper presents a study of the damage due to the M_w 7.6–7.7 intraplate Kutch earthquake of 26 January 2001. It was a powerful earthquake with a high stress drop of about 20 MPa. Aftershocks (up to M 4) have continued for 2.5 years. The distribution of early aftershocks indicates a rupture plane of 20–25 km radius at depths of 10–45 km along an E–W-trending and south-dipping hidden fault situated approximately 25 km north of the Kutch Mainland Fault. The moment tensor solution determined from regional broadband data indicates reverse motion along a south-dipping (by 47°) fault. The earthquake is the largest event in India in the last 50 years and the most destructive in the recorded history in terms of socioeconomic losses with 13,819 deaths (including 14 in Pakistan), collapse/severe damage of over a million houses and US$10 billion economic loss. Surface faulting was not observed. However, intense land deformations have been observed in a 40×20-km meizoseismal area. These include lateral spreading, ground uplifts (about a meter), ground slumping and deep cracks. Liquefaction with ejection of sand and copious water was widespread in the Banni grassland, Rann areas (salt plains), along rivers and also in the coastal areas up to 200 km distance from the epicenter in areas of intensity VII to X+. Stray incidences of liquefaction have occurred up to distances of at least 300 km. For the first time in India, multistory buildings have been destroyed/damaged by an earthquake. The maximum acceleration is inferred to be 700 cm/s² and intensities are 1–3 units higher in soil-covered areas than expected from the decay rate of acceleration for hard rock.     

The past valley glacier network in the Himalayas and the Tibetan ice sheet during the last glacial period and its glacial-isostatic, eustatic and climatic consequences

Since 1973 new data were obtained on the maximum extent of glaciation in High Asia. Evidence for an ice sheet covering Tibet during the Last Glacial Period means a radical rethinking about glaciation in the Northern Hemisphere. The ice sheet's subtropical latitude, vast size (2.4 million km²) and high elevation (6000 m asl) are supposed to have resulted in a substantial, albedo-induced cooling of the Earth's atmosphere and the disruption of summer monsoon circulation. Moraines were found to reach down to 460 m asl on the southern flank of the Himalayas and to 2300 m asl on the northern slope of the Tibetan Plateau, in the Qilian Shan region. On the northern slopes of the Karakoram, Aghil and Kuen-Lun mountains, moraines occur as far down as 1900 m asl. In southern Tibet radiographic analyses of erratics suggest a former ice thickness of at least 1200 m. Glacial polish and roches moutonnées in the Himalayas and Karakoram suggest former glaciers as thick as 1200–2700 m. On the basis of this evidence, a 1100–1600 m lower equilibrium line (ELA) has been reconstructed, resulting in an ice sheet of 2.4 million km², covering almost all of Tibet. Radiometric ages, obtained by different methods, classify this glaciation as isotope stage 3–2 in age (Würmian = last glacial period). With the help of 13 climate measuring stations, radiation- and radiation balance measurements have been carried out between 3800 and 6650 m asl in Tibet. They indicate that the subtropical global radiation reaches its highest energies on the High Plateau, thus making Tibet today's most important heating surface of the atmosphere. At glacial times 70% of those energies were reflected into space by the snow and firn of the 2.4 million km² extended glacier area covering the upland. As a result, 32% of the entire global cooling during the ice ages, determined by the albedo, were brought about by this area — now the most significant cooling surface. The uplift of Tibet to a high altitude about 2.75 Ma ago, coincides with the commencement of the Quaternary Ice Ages. When the Plateau was lifted above the snowline (= ELA) and glaciated, this cooling effect gave rise to the global depression of the snowline and to the first Ice Age. The interglacial periods are explained by the glacial-isostatic lowering of Tibet by 650 m, having the effect that the initial Tibet ice – which had evoked the build-up of the much more extended lowland ices – could completely melt away in a period of positive radiation anomalies. The next ice age begins, when – because of the glacial-isostatic reverse uplift – the surface of the Plateau has again reached the snowline. This explains, why the orbital variations (Milankovic-theory) could only have a modifying effect on the Quaternary climate dynamic, but were not primarily time-giving: as long as Tibet does not glaciate automatically by rising above the snowline, the depression in temperature is not sufficient for initiating a worldwide ice age; if Tibet is glaciated, but not yet lowered isostatically, a warming-up by 4 °C might be able to cause an important loss in surface but no deglaciation, so that its cooling effect remains in a maximum intensity. Only a glaciation of the Plateau lowered by isostasy, can be removed through a sufficiently strong warming phase, so that interglacial climate conditions are prevailing until a renewed uplift of Tibet sets in up to the altitude of glaciation.An average ice thickness for all of Tibet of approximately 1000 m would imply that 2.2 million km³ of water were stored in the Tibetan ice sheet. This would correspond to a lowering in sea level of about 5.4 m.     

The pleistocene glaciation of Tibet and the onset of ice ages — An autocycle hypothesis

During seven expeditions new data were obtained on the maximum extent of glaciation in Tibet and the surrounding mountains. Evidence was found of moraines at altitudes as low as 980 m on the S flank of the Himalayas and 2300 m on the N slope of the Tibetan Plateau, in the Qilian Shan. On the N slopes of the Karakoram, Aghil and Kuen Lun moraines occur as far down as 1900 m. In S Tibet radiographic analyses of erratics document former ice thicknesses of at least 1200 m. Glacial polishing and knobs in the Himalayas, Karakoram etc. are proof of glaciers as thick as 1200–2000 m. On the basis of this evidence, a 1100–1600 m lower equilibrium line altitude (ELA) was reconstructed for the Ice Age, which would mean 2.4 million km² of ice covering almost all of Tibet, since the ELA was far below the average altitude of Tibet. On Mt. Everest and K2 radiation was measured up to 6650 m, yielding values of 1200–1300 W/m². Because of the subtropical latitude and the high altitude solar radiation in Tibet is 4 times greater than the energy intercepted between 60 and 70° N or S. With an area of 2.4 million km² and an albedo of 90% the Tibetan ice sheet caused the same heat loss to the earth as a 9.6 million km² sized ice sheet at 60–70° N. Because of its proximity to the present-day ELA, Tibet must have undergone large-scale glaciation earlier than other areas. Being subject to intensive radiation, the Tibetan ice must have performed an amplifying function during the onset of the Ice Age. At the maximum stage of the last ice age the cooling effect of the newly formed, about 26 million km² sized ice sheets of the higher latitudes was about 3 times that of the Tibetan ice. Nevertheless, without the initial impulse of the Tibetan ice such an extensive glaciation would never have occurred. The end of the Ice Age was triggered by the return to preglacial radiation conditions of the Nordic lowland ice. Whilst the rise of the ELA by several hundred metres can only have reduced the steep marginal outlet glaciers, it diminished the area of the lowland ice considerably.     

Climate and other factors in the development of river and interfluve profiles in Bhutan, Eastern Himalayas

The longitudinal profiles of the main N–S aligned rivers and the crests of the interfluve mountain ranges of Bhutan have been plotted against latitude. The river profiles are highly variable, even between branches of the same system. The main rivers in Eastern Bhutan are antecedent and rise in Tibet. They have irregular concave bed profiles in deep steeply sided valleys. The rivers further west rise on the southern slopes of the High Himalaya. They have stepped profiles with steep concave sections in gorges through the southern mountains and one or more concave sections upstream, separated by knickpoints. All of the N–S interfluve ranges rise steeply from the piedmont. Some then dip to major passes before again rising irregularly northwards to the High Himalaya, whilst others continue to climb northwards as irregular monoclines. The combination of various types of river and interfluve profiles creates a range of valley forms. The heterogeneity means that it is not possible to generalise about a typical Bhutanese river, interfluve or valley relief profile. There is no indication that the rivers of Bhutan have more knickpoints than those of the Central and Western Himalayas. Rainfall and runoff data, soils and natural vegetation have been examined for indications of significantly drier conditions in eastern Bhutan. The rainfall data show an eastwards decrease in the southern foothills, probably due to the rainshadow cast by the Meghalaya Plateau to the south, but mean annual totals are about or above three metres throughout, and the whole of this zone has a wet climate. There is no marked E–W climatic trend in the drier interior of Bhutan. We attribute the general topographic structure of Bhutan, and the variability of river and interfluve profiles and valley forms more to tectonic factors than to climatic variation.     

Structural kinematics,metamorphic P–T profiles and zircon geochronology across the Greater Himalayan Crystalline Complex in south‐central Tibet: implication for a revised channel flow

A specific question about the Himalayas is whether the orogeny grew by distributed extrusion or discrete thrusting. To place firm constraints on tectonic models for the orogeny, kinematic, thermobarometric and geochronological investigations have been undertaken across the Greater Himalayan Crystalline Complex (GHC) in the Nyalam region, south‐central Tibet. The GHC in this section is divided into the lower, upper and uppermost GHC, with kinematically top‐to‐the‐south, alternating with top‐to‐the‐north shear senses. A new thrust named the Nyalam thrust is recognized between the lower and upper GHC, with a 3 kbar pressure reversion, top‐to‐the‐south thrust sense, and was active after the exhumation of the GHC. Peak temperature reached ～749 °C in the cordierite zone, and decreased southwards to 633–667 °C in the kyanite and sillimanite‐muscovite zones, and northwards to greenschist facies at the top of the South Tibetan Detachment System (STDS). Pressure at peak temperature reached a maximum value in the kyanite zone of 9.0–12.6 kbar and decreased northwards to ～4.1 kbar in the cordierite zone. Zircon U‐Pb ages of a sillimanite migmatite and an undeformed leucogranite dyke cutting the mylonitized rocks in the STDS reveal a long‐lived partial melting of the GHC, which initiated at 39.7–34 Ma and ceased at 14.1 Ma. Synthesizing the obtained and collected results, a revised channel flow model is proposed by considering the effect of heat advection and convection by melt and magma migration. Our new model suggests that distributed processes like channel flow dominated during the growth of the Himalayan orogen, while discrete thrusting occurred in a later period as a secondary process.     

喜马拉雅及其邻区的重力异常、岩石圈构造与板块动力模型

本文按统一比例尺编制了印度-青藏地区1°×1°重力异常图和地形高程图,并用滑动平均方法得到了本区5°×5°重力异常图。用地改后的1°×1°重力异常,采用组合体模型人一机联作选择法,计算了横跨印度-青藏-蒙古长达4680km的岩石圈剖面,还给出了一个楔形体重力正演公式。基本结果有:(1)MBT、MCT的倾角为10°±5°,ITS、NS、KS的倾角为75°±5°;(2)地壳滑脱面的深度在青藏之下约20km,向高喜马拉雅、MCT、MBT抬升至15km;(3)青藏高原南、北边缘均为岩石圈结构的斜坡带,界面倾角由上向下而增大。在大、小喜马拉雅之下,壳内界面(Ⅰ、Ⅱ)的倾角约12°,Moho倾角为18°,岩石圈底面倾角约36°。在祁连山带所有界面倾角都小于喜马拉雅带,其中壳内界面倾角仅约1°,Moho倾角约2°,岩石圈底面倾角约12°;(4)岩石圈厚度由印度、蒙古向高喜马拉雅和祁连山带逐渐增加,与青藏岩石圈的边缘上翘形成主动俯冲和相对逆冲势态。印度岩石圈厚度(或上地幔顶部低密层埋深)不超过50km,蒙古高原(南)厚约70km,到高喜马拉雅和祁连山下分别增加至145和122km,青藏中心地带(怒江两侧)岩石圈厚135km,向南,北边缘各减小到120和90～102km,在高喜马拉雅和祁连山下面形成25和10km的断差;(5)在青藏Moho之下厚5km的高密薄层和软流层之间有一密     

库车再生前陆盆地的构造演化

库车再生前陆盆地位于塔里木盆地的北缘,其沉积和构造特征具有典型的前陆盆地性质.库车再生前陆盆地开始形成于吉迪克组沉积早期(距今25Ma),叠置于晚二叠世-三叠纪前陆盆地之上,是始新世末印度-西藏碰撞的远距离构造效应所致.其中的前陆逆冲带是由浅部和深部两个层次的构造组成的,其构造特征具有不一致性和不协调性.库车再生前陆逆冲带内的台阶状逆断层及其相关褶皱都是伴随着中新世以来的造山运动形成的,由山前向盆地以背驮式渐次连续扩展,自渐新世晚期一直持续到现在.印度-西藏碰撞作用引起的陆内俯冲及壳内拆离-缩短作用是库车再生前陆盆地的形成机制.     

板块汇聚带的造山和重力垮塌作用及其力学成因:以雅鲁藏布江-喜马拉雅山汇聚带为例

从大洋底部磁异常条带的宽度变化可以看出,大洋的扩张速率是时常变化的,这种变化与板块俯冲角度的变化一样,对板块汇聚带的应力和应变场有重要的控制作用。中国存在众多不同特征、不同年代的板块汇聚带,根据其中发生的构造作用可以反演汇聚带在板块扩张速率和俯冲角度控制下的演化。有着巨大高差的喜马拉雅山构造带和雅鲁藏布江缝合带在喜马拉雅山东、西构造结逐渐交汇在一起,其平均海拔高度随之增大而宽度不断变小。喜马拉雅山中段的推覆发生在中新世早期,在推覆的过程中,其北缘沿藏南拆离系还发生了大规模的南北向伸展。这表明在中新世前,在雅鲁藏布江缝合带和喜马拉雅山之间可能存在一个规模很大的造山带,在这里称之为喜马拉雅山—雅鲁藏布江造山带,它在中新世初发生了垮塌。作为这个造山带的前缘,喜马拉雅山中段发生向南的推覆,这就是喜马拉雅山中段的推覆时间要远远滞后于印度和欧亚大陆的碰撞时间的原因。造山带的垮塌可能是印度与欧亚大陆间水平汇聚速率的突然减小造成的。发生在古近纪的日本海和中国的松辽盆地的弧后扩张与喜马拉雅山—雅鲁藏布江造山带的重力垮塌作用可以对比,可能是太平洋和欧亚大陆汇聚速率的突然减小造成的。在白垩纪,太平洋和欧亚大陆汇聚速率很大,所以,欧亚大陆东缘,包括日本海和中国的松辽盆地,在当时可能是规模很大的造山带。位于秦岭南侧,上覆在四川盆地之上的大巴山推覆带的形成机制与喜马拉雅山在中新世的推覆成因类似,与晚白垩世—古近纪秦岭的垮塌有成因关联。秦岭的垮塌可能是华南—华北汇聚速率减小造成的,在此之前秦岭要比现今高得多。     

Earthquake mechanisms and tectonics in the Assam-Burma region

Eleven new focal mechanisms from earthquakes in the Assam-Burma region have been determined using P-wave first-motion directions reported in the Bulletins of the International Seismological Centre (Edinburgh). Out of them, eight mechanisms indicate thrust faulting, two normal faultings and one strike-slip faulting. In the thrust type of mechanism solutions, sense of motion on the shallow dipping of the two nodal planes is consistent with underthrusting beneath the arc-like mountain ranges. Seismic slip vectors strike in almost northerly direction along the eastern Himalayas and in almost easterly direction along the Burmese arc. A predominance of thrust faulting is consistent with geological evidences of thrusting and uplift in the Himalayas and the Assam-Burma region.     

藏南查拉普岩金矿床特征、发现及时代约束

查拉普岩金矿床是藏南著名的北喜马拉雅构造带中新发现的第一个也是最大一个岩金矿床, 是西藏境内迄今为止报道的首个卡林型金矿床.但它的发现只是藏南岩金找矿突破的前奏, 随着勘查研究工作的深入, 北喜马拉雅构造带在岩金或以岩金为主的金锑找矿方面将会取得重大突破.首次系统介绍查拉普岩金矿床成矿环境、成矿特征的同时, 对其成矿时代提出约束, 得出该类型金矿最终成矿作用与藏南大规模拆离系的形成和演化密切相关, 也显示北喜马拉雅与冈底斯斑岩铜矿带在晚新生代成矿方面具有某种成因联系, 为该区进一步的岩金找矿提供了参考和借鉴, 具有重要的理论及现实意义.      

在构造和气候因素制约下雅鲁藏布江的演化

雅鲁藏布江位于印度和欧亚大陆汇聚带内，其形成受到冈底期山和喜马拉雅山差异性抬升的控制。冈底期山抬升在先，发生在中生代晚期至新生代早期。一系列起源于冈底期山和青藏高原的水系向南先是流主特提斯海。在特提斯海关闭后流入印度次大陆。喜马拉雅山构造抬升要晚于冈底斯山，大规模抬升发生在中新世早期，其抬升阻断了这些河流的通道，水流开始汇聚在这两个造山带之间，牙鲁藏布江由此形成。在雅鲁藏布江大拐弯地区，在海拔4500m处存在一个平坦的侵蚀面，并构成雅鲁藏布江大峡谷最高的一级谷肩，这表明雅鲁藏布江在下切前就在该面上流动，而且流速不大。在大拐弯以南，雅鲁藏布江的下游－布拉马普特拉河位于印度洋热带季风带内，其下切和源侵蚀速率很大。印度洋热带季风形成于6－9MaB.P.。因此，该河流很可能形成于该时期，要比雅鲁藏布江年轻，它在向北的溯源侵蚀的过程中袭夺了雅鲁藏布江，袭夺处可能就大拐弯的北端，因此大拐弯是袭夺成因。     

基于GF 1光谱数据的青藏地区冰川资源现状遥感调查

以2014—2015年的GF 1为主、少量OLI影像为基础,参考第二次中国冰川目录等文献资料,修编完成青海省和西藏自治区两省区的现代冰川编目,查明青藏两省区目前共有冰川24 796条,总面积约2624×104 km2,约占青藏两省区区域面积的137%,冰川储量为2027×103~2121×103 km3。调查区冰川数量以面积<10 km2、冰川面积介于10~100 km2之间的冰川为主,其中面积<10 km2的冰川有19 983条,占总数量的8059%,面积介于10~100 km2之间的冰川面积为11 96240 km2,占总面积的4559%;面积最大的中锋冰川的面积达23737 km2。调查区内的山系(高原)均有冰川分布,念青唐古拉山冰川数量最多,其次是喜马拉雅山和冈底斯山,这3座山系冰川数量占调查区内冰川总数量的6333%;念青唐古拉山、喜马拉雅山和昆仑山的冰川面积和冰储量位列前3位,其冰川面积和冰储量分别占总数的6809%和7344%;然而昆仑山和羌塘高原的单条冰川的平均面积大于念青唐古拉山和喜马拉雅山的平均面积。从冰川海拔分布来看,海拔5 000~6 500 m之间是冰川集中发育区域,约占调查区冰川数量和冰川总面积的85%以上。调查区的冰川在各流域的分布差异显著,恒河流域是冰川分布数量最多、面积最大的一级外流区,其数量占冰川总量的47%以上,面积占总面积的52%以上;青藏高原内陆流域的冰川数量、面积次之,其冰川数量占总数量的21%,面积占总面积的24%以上,并且内流区单条冰川的平均面积略大于外流区的平均面积。总体上,西藏的冰川数量、面积和冰储量分别占西藏和青海两省区的8492%、8492%、8668%,单条冰川的平均面积两省区相近。