Late Holocene sedimentary changes in floodplain and shelf environments of the Tagus River (Portugal)

Sedimentary changes during the last ∼2500 years have been reconstructed from cored sedimentary records from the deltaic floodplain of the Lower Tagus Valley and the Tagus mudbelt on the continental shelf offshore Lisbon. We used a multi-proxy approach consisting of sedimentology, grainsize, pollen data and magnetic susceptibility. In the floodplain grainsize coarsened and sedimentation rate and magnetic susceptibility increased during the late Holocene due to an increased flooding frequency and/or intensity. On the Tagus shelf the mudbelt grainsize fined, together with a higher sedimentation rate and increased magnetic susceptibility. The fining grainsize is explained by an increased suspended sediment flux towards the shelf and subdued winnowing. Floodplain and shelf records were correlated by radiocarbon dating and changes in sediment characteristics. We identified four depositional phases (∼2300/∼1600/∼1100/∼670 cal BP) on the floodplain and the shelf. These are tentatively explained by land-use changes in the Tagus catchment.     

Simulated climate conditions in Europe during the Marine Isotope Stage 3 stadial

Kjellström, E., Brandefelt, J., Näslund, J.‐O., Smith, B., Strandberg, G., Voelker, A. H. L. & Wohlfarth, B. 2010: Simulated climate conditions in Europe during the Marine Isotope Stage 3 stadial. Boreas, 10.1111/j.1502‐3885.2010.00143.x. ISSN 0300‐9483. State‐of‐the‐art climate models were used to simulate climate conditions in Europe during Greenland Stadial (GS) 12 at 44 ka BP. The models employed for these simulations were: (i) a fully coupled atmosphere–ocean global climate model (AOGCM), and (ii) a regional atmospheric climate model (RCM) to dynamically downscale results from the global model for a more detailed investigation of European climate conditions. The vegetation was simulated off‐line by a dynamic vegetation model forced by the climate from the RCM. The resulting vegetation was then compared with the a priori vegetation used in the first simulation. In a subsequent step, the RCM was rerun to yield a new climate more consistent with the simulated vegetation. Forcing conditions included orbital forcing, land–sea distribution, ice‐sheet configuration, and atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations representative for 44 ka BP. The results show a cold climate on the global scale, with global annual mean surface temperatures 5 °C colder than the modern climate. This is still significantly warmer than temperatures derived from the same model system for the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). Regional, northern European climate is much colder than today, but still significantly warmer than during the LGM. Comparisons between the simulated climate and proxy‐based sea‐surface temperature reconstructions show that the results are in broad agreement, albeit with a possible cold bias in parts of the North Atlantic in summer. Given a prescribed restricted Marine Isotope Stage 3 ice‐sheet configuration, with large ice‐free regions in Sweden and Finland, the AOGCM and RCM model simulations produce a cold and dry climate in line with the restricted ice‐sheet configuration during GS 12. The simulated temperature climate, with prescribed ice‐free conditions in south‐central Fennoscandia, is favourable for the development of permafrost, but does not allow local ice‐sheet formation as all snow melts during summer.     

Late Acheulean hominins at the Marine Isotope Stage 6/5e transition in north-central India

Single-grain optically stimulated luminescence dating was applied to Late Quaternary sediments at two sites in the Middle Son Valley, Madhya Pradesh, India. Designated Bamburi 1 and Patpara, these sites contain Late Acheulean stone tool assemblages, which we associate with non-modern hominins. Age determinations of 140–120 ka place the formation of these sites at around the Marine Oxygen Isotope Stage 6–5 transition, placing them among the youngest Acheulean sites in the world. We present here the geochronology and sedimentological setting of these sites, and consider potential implications of Late Pleistocene archaic habitation in north-central India for the initial dispersal of modern humans across South Asia.     

Middle Miocene to Pleistocene sedimentary record of rift evolution in the southern Albert Rift (Uganda)

This study presents an almost complete Middle Miocene to Pleistocene sequence of synrift sediments in the western branch of the East African Rift. The studied succession is exposed in several patches on an eastward tilted block between the northern tip of the Rwenzori Block and the eastern shoulder of the Albert Rift. In this position, it reaches a maximum thickness of 600 m of which 350 m have been logged systematically by analysing lithofacies and sediment architecture. Stratigraphic subdivision of the succession relies on published biostratigraphic data of endemic mollusc associations and their correlation across East Africa. The synrift sediments encountered are siliciclastics ranging from clay to coarse gravel with gypsum and ferrugineous interlayers or impregnations. Lithofacies and architectural analysis indicate alluvial plain, delta plain, nearshore, delta front, or lacustrine depositional environments. Based on the vertical stacking pattern, prograding and retrograding trends of the depositional environments, and climatic indicators (e.g. conservation of feldspar, gypsum, and/or iron hydroxide precipitation), four evolutionary phases can be distinguished: (i) a first phase between ca. 14.5 and 10.0 Ma is characterised by bedload-dominated fluvial environment with massive sandy to gravelly bedforms, feldspar-rich sands, rare iron impregnations and relatively low accommodation space. This phase is interpreted as pre- and early synrift sedimentation under a semiarid climate. (ii) From ca. 10.0 to 4.5 Ma predominantly fine-grained siliciclastics were deposited in a distal fluvial plain to lacustrine setting characterised by limited accommodation space. Fluctuation of thin beds, dominance of clay and frequent iron impregnations point to a more humid climate with seasonality and weak tectonic activity. (iii) During the third phase between 4.5 and 2.0 Ma delta plain and nearshore deposits with frequent ferrugineous impregnations and rich mollusc associations occurred, indicating a humid period with lake-level highstands and accelerated subsidence. (iv) During the final sedimentary interval between 2.0 and 1.5 Ma gravel units reoccurred with less iron- but more carbonate and gypsum impregnations, and arkosic sandstones. This phase recorded a general aridisation trend most probably caused by the upcoming rain barrier of the Rwenzori Mountains together with accelerated rift-flank uplift and strong subsidence of the rift floor. The results of this study are of particular importance for delineating key controls on sedimentation in the Albert Rift.     

Lithostratigraphic and sedimentary evolution of the Kom Ombo (Garara) sub-basin,southern Egypt

Southern Egypt is mostly covered by clastic sediments belonging to the Paleozoic and the Mesozoic. The Precambrian basement rocks bound the Etbai area to the east and Gabgaba area to the west. The basement extends further west forming dissected small and major exposures in southern Egypt, south of latitude 23° 30′ N but are covered by Cretaceous-Lower Tertiary sediments further north, the Western Limestone Plateau. The clastic sediments in southeast Egypt, on the western side of the basement rocks in-between latitudes 22° N and 24° 35′ N, built two sub-basins, Kom Ombo (Garara) sub-basin in the north and south Nile Valley sub-basin in the south. These are separated by a dissected basement wall. The two sub-basins have different lithostratigraphic successions, Paleozoic (Early to Late) in the south Nile Valley sub-basin whereas Late Paleozoic-Mesozoic-Tertairy in the Kom Ombo sub-basin. The platform clastic sediments within both sub-basins were possibly supplied from an easterly located Paleotethys extending to North Gondwana. The Oxfordian opening of the Indian Ocean associated with rise in sea level supplied more waters to the north and sediments by passed the filled southern Nile Valley sub-basin and reached the adjacent Kom Ombo sub-basin defining a depositional shift. On the other hand, during the Jurassic, Northern Egypt received Neotethys waters that filled deeper sub-basins (e.g., the Maghara sub-basin), hence the difference in lithology between Jurassic northern and southern sediments. Since the Jurassic, most of Egypt received Tethys waters. In the drilled wells studied, the younger top sediments surrounding the well sites are related to the Tethys geostratigraphy. The sub-basins in southern Egypt are controlled by N-S faults defining constant subsiding basins. The E-W Guinea–Nubia Lineament bounds the northern side of the Kom Ombo sub-basin, where it is closed by a northern basement arch.     

Magnetostratigraphic dating of an intensification of glacial activity in the southern Italian Alps during Marine Isotope Stage 22

We applied magnetostratigraphy and mammal biostratigraphy to date climate-sensitive pollen cycles and lithostratigraphic units of the Pliocene-Pleistocene Leffe sedimentary succession from the Southern Alps, Italy. The Leffe section was correlated to additional sections (Casnigo, Fornaci di Ranica, and Pianengo) to construct a stratigraphic network along a common fluviatile system (the Serio River) sourced in the Southern Alps and flowing southward into the Po River Basin. We obtained a coherent scenario of climate variability for the last ∼ 2 Myr. At Leffe, lacustrine deposition commenced during the Olduvai Normal Subchron (1.94-1.78 Ma) and lasted up to a chronologic level compatible with Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 22 (0.87 Ma). Pollen analysis revealed that climate varied cyclically from warm-temperate to cool during this time interval, but never as cold as during glacial intervals. At around MIS 22, climate cooled globally. Gravels, attributed to high-energy braided river systems fed locally by alluvial fans, prograded from the Serio River catchment area over the Leffe Basin and toward the Po Plain in response to a generalized event of vegetation withdrawal and enhanced physical erosion. At this time, Alpine valley glaciers reached their first maximum southward expansion with glacier fronts located at only ∼ 5 km upstream from Leffe.     

Climate variability in the Salawusu River valley of the Ordos Plateau (Inner Mongolia,China) during Marine Isotope Stage 3

Fluctuations in climatic proxies of the Milanggouwan section in the Salawusu River valley of the Ordos Plateau (Inner Mongolia, China) during Marine Isotope stage 3 (MIS 3) coincide well with sedimentary cycles for palaeo‐mobile dune sands alternating with fluvial–lacustrine facies and palaeosols. We compared the palaeo‐mobile dune sands with modern mobile dune sands (products of a cold and dry climate dominated by the East Asian winter monsoon), whereas the fluvial–lacustrine facies and palaeosols were controlled by a wet–warm climate similar to that of the East Asian summer monsoon. The MIS 3 climate of the Salawusu River valley appears to have experienced at least nine wet–warm and ten cold–dry fluctuations, divided into five stages: MIS 3e (58 900–49500 yr BP), MIS 3d (49 500–40 700 yr BP), MIS 3c (40 700–36 900 yr BP), MIS 3b (36 900–27 000 yr BP) and MIS 3a (27 000–22 300 yr BP). The 19 cold–warm climatic fluctuations corresponded roughly to the GRIP and Guliyan records, and with fluctuations in the North Atlantic climate. Notable peaks in the spectral analysis occurred at 19 500 yr, 1020 yr, 640 yr and 500 yr. Our results show that the millennial–centennial climate was closely related to the relative strengths of East Asian monsoons, which are controlled by the North Atlantic thermohaline circulation, and which is also closely linked to the Sun's precession period. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Conditions of accumulation and transformation of organic matter in Recent and Quaternary deposits (Caspian shelf)

This paper reports the study of organic material in cores from several areas of the western Caspian Shelf, and the conditions of alterations of the organic material. Cores from a nearby onshore locality had a similar content and composition of organic material. Grain size, at least in the clay to silt range, appeared to have little effect on content or transformation of the organic material, although exceptions are noted. In general, the bitumen content of the older sediments is greater than that of Recent ones. Gaseous hydrocarbons heavier than methane (ethane, propane and butane) were found both in the gas phase of the cores and adsorbed in the sediments. Redox conditions appear to be critical in determining the direction and degree of transformation of the organic material. -- E. Ingerson.     

Spatially variable sedimentary responses to orbitally driven pluvial climate during Marine Oxygen Isotope Stage 5.1, Dakhla Oasis region, Egypt

Pleistocene basinal sediments (PBS) in the Dakhla region of Egypt's hyperarid Western Desert comprise four facies: (A) fluvio-lacustrine, (B) mixed lacustrine/pluvio-eolian, (C) pluvio-eolian, and (D) mixed eolian/pluvio-eolian. Contiguity of basins containing each facies, and their stratigraphic position between two bajada gravel formations, P/B-II and P/B-III, confirm their equivalence. Facies A and B, with lacustrine components, are attributed to orbitally forced poleward incursion of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), resulting in increased summer insolation/temperature/precipitation. Facies C and D, comprising pluvio-eolian and eolian sediments, reflect geologic/topographic influences overprinted on regional 'pluvial' conditions, eliminating lacustrine response. A Th/U age of ∼ 62 ka on lacustrine marl within Facies B is minimal, and an OSL age of 110 ± 18 ka on sediments immediately below Facies B is maximal. Since bajada gravels P/B-III are the youngest Pleistocene formation, they must represent the final strong incursion of the ITCZ into the Dakhla region at MIS 5.1, ∼ 80 ka. Because PBS Facies A pass rapidly up into P/B-III bajada gravels, PBS are assigned to the rising limb of the MIS 5.1 insolation/temperature/precipitation curve, slightly younger than 80 ka.     

Late Quaternary core stratigraphy of the northern New South Wales continental shelf

On the southeast Australian continental margin, mixed siliciclastic and temperate carbonate sediments are presently forming along the narrow 20–35 km‐wide northern New South Wales shelf over an area of 4960 km². Here, year‐round, highly energetic waves rework inner and mid‐shelf clastic sediments by northward longshore currents or waning storm flows. The strong East Australian Current flows south, sweeping clastic and outer shelf biogenic sands and gravels. Quaternary siliciclastic inner shelf cores consist of fine to medium, lower shoreface sand and graded storm beds of fine to coarse sand. Physically abraded, disarticulated molluscs such as Donacidae and Glycymeridae form isolated gravel lags. Highstand inner shelf clastics accumulate at 0.53 m/10³ y in less than 50 m water depth. Clastic mid‐shelf cores contain well‐sorted, winnowed, medium shoreface sands, with a fine sand component. Fine sand and mud in this area is discharged mainly from New South Wales’ largest river, the Clarence. The seaward jutting of Byron Bay results in weakened East Australia Current flows through the mid‐shelf from Ballina to Yamba allowing the fine sediments to accumulate. Quaternary carbonate outer shelf cores have uniform and graded beds forming from the East Australian Current and are also influenced by less frequent storm energy. Modern clastic‐starved outer shelf hardgrounds are cemented by coralline algae and encrusting bryozoans. Clay‐sized particles are dominantly high‐Mg calcite with minor aragonite and smectite/kaolinite. Carbonate sands are rich in bryozoan fragments and sponge spicules. Distinctive (gravel‐sized) molluscs form isolated shells or shell lag deposits comprising Limopsidae and Pectinidae. The upper slope sediments are the only significant accumulation of surficial mud on the margin (18–36 wt%), filling the interstices of poorly sorted, biogenic gravels. Pectinid molluscs form a basal gravel lag. During highstand the outer shelf accumulates sediment at 0.40 m/10³ y, with the upper slope accumulating a lower 0.23 m/10³ y since transgression. Transgression produced a diachronous (14–10 ka) wave‐ravinement surface in all cores. Relict marine hardgrounds overlie the wave‐ravinement surface and are cemented by inorganic calcite from the shallow and warm East Australian Current. Transgressive estuarine deposits, oxygen isotope Stage 3–5 barriers or shallow bedrock underlie the wave‐ravinement surface on the inner and mid shelf. Northern New South Wales is an example of a low accommodation, wave‐ and oceanic current‐dominated margin that has produced mixed siliciclastic‐carbonate facies. Shelf ridge features that characterise many storm‐dominated margins are absent.     

Late Holocene palaeogeographical evolution of Paroikia Bay (Paros Island,Greece)

Although there is rich evidence for human occupation of Paros’ coastline, there is a dearth of data with regards to the evolution of the island's seaboard palaeoenvironments. In this paper, we use sedimentological and palaeontological proxies of late Holocene coastal deposits from lagoonal environment to reconstruct the evolution of coastal landscapes in Paroikia Bay (Paros Island, Greece). A semi-enclosed lagoon existed in the northeastern part of Paroikia from at least 2915–2551 BC, which was gradually infilled after around 780–436 BC. Although it was not possible to chronologically constrain the timing of the infill, it is most likely relatively young, indicating anthropogenic effects. A correlation of our chronostratigraphic data with archaeological remains and tidal notches in the study area suggests that the subsidence observed on Paros Island is linked to long-term subsidence in combination with vertical seismic displacements.     

Late Quaternary dietary shifts of the Cape grysbok (Raphicerus melanotis) in southern Africa

The Cape grysbok is endemic to southern Africa's Cape Floral Region where it selectively browses various species of dicotyledonous vegetation. Fossil evidence indicates that the grysbok persisted under glacial and interglacial conditions throughout the late Quaternary and inhabited a range of environments. This study employs mesowear analysis to reconstruct grysbok diets over time and in response to changing environments at Nelson Bay Cave, Die Kelders Cave 1, Klasies River Mouth, and Swartklip 1. Results indicate that the amount of grasses (monocots) versus leafy vegetation (dicots) included in the diet fluctuated over time and largely in agreement with changes in faunal community structure. The case for dietary flexibility is particularly clear at Nelson Bay Cave, where there is a significant trend from mixed feeding towards increased browsing from the late Pleistocene (~ 18,500 ¹⁴C yr BP) through the Holocene. Dietary shifts at Nelson Bay Cave are consistent with the hypothesis that declining grassland productivity is responsible for the terminal Pleistocene extinction of several large ungulates in southern Africa. Furthermore, the short-term dietary shifts demonstrated here (100s to 1000s of years) provide an important caution against relying on taxonomic uniformitarianism when reconstructing the dietary preferences of fossil ungulates, both extant and extinct.     

渤海菜州湾第四纪晚期以来微体化石组合特征和沉积环境演化

对渤海莱州湾南岸央子镇YZ1钻孔取微体古生物样品18个，通过分析鉴定和地层对比，以及对微体古生物化石进行属种、丰度和分异度分析，共划分出4个化石组合层段。根据化石组合特征分析认为：第Ⅰ、第Ⅱ微体化石组合为全新世海侵的产物。第Ⅰ组合代表了海进序列，沉积环境为潮上带—潮间带；第Ⅱ组合为海退序列，沉积环境为潮间带—潮下带。第Ⅲ、第Ⅳ组合分别是晚更新世2次海侵的产物。第Ⅲ组合为晚更新世末期海侵的产物，海侵规模较大，沉积环境为滨海潮坪—潮间带；第Ⅳ组合海侵规模较小，陆相因素增大，沉积环境为河口—滨岸带或者为海陆交互相。     

珠江三角洲晚第四纪环境演化的沉积响应

珠江三角洲是一个复杂的网状河三角洲沉积体系,目前对其第四纪环境演化的历史仍存在多种认识。为进一步查清珠江三角洲地区第四纪环境演化的过程,对位于珠江口西岸的QZK6孔,在沉积结构、构造等研究的基础上,利用AMS14C和光释光(OSL)测年、有机碳同位素、粒度等对第四纪地层的形成年代和沉积特征进行了详细分析。结果显示,该孔39.40~27.38m发育晚更新世风化层、河流等陆相沉积体系,27.38~2.00m发育全新世三角洲沉积体系。其中全新世三角洲沉积又可分为27.38~5.30m由三角洲平原、三角洲前缘和前三角洲组成的退积式三角洲沉积体系,以及5.30~2.00m的河口湾-三角洲前缘进积式三角洲沉积体系。该孔第四纪沉积特征揭示的环境变化,是对末次冰期低海面、早中全新世海面升高及晚全新世下降的响应。     

Lacustrine evidence for moisture changes in the Nebraska Sand Hills during Marine Isotope Stage 3

In the central Great Plains of North America, loess stratigraphy suggests that climate during the late Pleistocene was cold and dry. However, this record is discontinuous, and there are few other records of late-Pleistocene conditions. Cobb Basin, located on the northern edge of the Nebraska Sand Hills, contains lacustrine sediments deposited during Marine Isotope Stage 3, beginning approximately 45,000 cal yr BP and continuing for at least 10,000 yr. The lake was formed by a dune dam blockage on the ancient Niobrara River, and its deposits contain a diatom record that indicates changes through time in lake depth driven by changes in effective moisture. During the earliest stages of lake formation, the climate was arid enough to mobilize dunes and emplace dune sand into a blocking position within the Niobrara streambed. Diatom assemblages suggest that lake-level was shallow at formation, increased substantially during a wet interval, and then became shallow again, as arid conditions resumed. By about 27,000 cal yr BP the lake was filled, and a shallow ephemeral river occupied the basin.     

渤海湾西岸晚第四纪海相地层划分及地质意义

BT113孔和BT114孔是位于渤海湾西岸地区的2个80 m全取心钻孔。通过对钻孔岩心的岩性、沉积构造及生物组合等特征分析,结合AMS¹⁴C和OSL（光释光）测年结果,揭示中更新世晚期以来本地区主要发育3个海相地层：自下而上为中更新统上部的第三海相地层（简称“海三”）、上更新统的第二海相地层（简称“海二”）和全新统的第一海相地层（简称“海一”）,指示中更新世晚期以来研究区发生的3次主要海面波动。与全球海面变化曲线对比,海三,海二和海一分别发育于MIS（深海氧同位素阶段）7、MIS5和MIS1的高海面时期,说明渤海湾西岸中更新晚期以来地层记录的海面变化趋势与全球变化一致。与前人的传统认识不同,认为受全球海面及渤海海峡地貌共同影响,MIS3时期研究区并未发生大范围海侵。通过多个钻孔的对比分析,3个海相地层在渤海湾西岸地区的分布较广,具有良好的可对比性,不同钻孔之间同一海相地层的高程和厚度的较大差异指示本地区在晚更新世期间发生较强的差异性沉降活动。     

渤海湾西北岸QHJ01孔记录的晚新生代气候与沉积环境演化

渤海湾西北岸是华北平原构造最为活跃的地区,其第四纪地层的深入研究能为区域地震地质和水文地质研究提供基础资料。本文依据渤海湾西北QHJ01孔沉积物岩性、结构构造以及孢粉分析等结果,结合年代学结果,重建了区域5.20Ma以来的古气候及沉积环境演化过程。QHJ01孔5.20～3.33Ma早期植被类型为以落叶为主的针阔叶混交林,气候温湿,晚期植被类型为针阔叶混交林,气候向冷干的趋势发展,沉积环境以湖泊为主;3.33～2.12Ma植被类型以荒漠草原为主,个别地段为针阔叶混交林草原,气候温凉干旱,沉积环境为曲流河和泛滥平原;此阶段沉积环境受气候变化影响较为明显。2.12～0.13Ma为湖泊发育期,其中2.12～1.78Ma植被类型为针阔叶混交林,气候凉湿,1.78～0.90Ma气候干冷,0.90～0.13Ma气候波动幅度增大,此阶段沉积环境受气候波动影响较小,主要受区域构造沉降控制。0.13Ma以来气候波动变化较为明显,落叶阔叶分子含量逐渐增高,有逐渐变暖的趋势,早期沉积环境主要为湖泊、湖泊三角洲、泛滥平原交替发育,晚期发育海相三角洲;此阶段沉积环境受气候变化影响较为明显,同时亦受区域构造沉降控制。