Pollen stratigraphy of the Late Pleistocene sediments at Mommark, Als, South Denmark

Past environmental changes in the Baltic area are discussed on the basis of pollen and spores recovered from marine sediments in a series of cliff sections at Mommark, in southern Denmark. The sediment succession represents Jessen & Milthers' (1928) Eemian pollen zones c-h, or Andersen's (1961 1975) zones E1/2-E7, as well as the earliest Weichselian pollen zone i, or EW-1, the Herning Stadial. A correlation with annually laminated German sequences (e.g. Bispingen) indicates that the sequence spans approximately 11 000 years. Marine deposition began c. 300 years after the beginning of the Eemian Interglacial Stage and continued to shortly before the end of pollen zone E7, at c. 10 600 years after the beginning of the Eemian. Sedimentation rates varied through the time period represented by the sequence, with initial deposition relatively rapid at c. 0.35 cm yr^-1 for the first c. 300 years. Rates then decreased to 0.029 cm yr^-1 for the next 2700 years and remained low, though varying, throughout the rest of the sequence. Overall, the rates indicate that sediment supply was highly restricted throughout the interglacial, possibly reflecting the dense forest vegetation that colonized the hinterland.     

Sedimentology,palaeoecology and geochronology of Marine Isotope Stage 5 deposits on the Shetland Islands,Scotland

New stratigraphical, palynological and dating evidence is presented for pre‐Late Devensian/Weichselian sediments at Fugla Ness and Sel Ayre, Shetland. The Fugla Ness Peat rests on till and formed during an interglacial that saw the development of maritime heaths, with scattered trees and shrubs, including Pinus and possibly Ilex. A decline into stadial conditions is marked by overlying periglacial breccia and till. The Sel Ayre Organic Sands and Gravels lie between periglacial breccias and beneath till and appear to record a changing interstadial environment in which trees were absent and the vegetation comprised largely heaths, with Bruckenthalia, and grasslands. The Fugla Ness Peat is dated to 110+40/?35 ka by uranium series disequilibrium, suggesting that it formed during the Ipswichian/Eemian Interglacial (Marine Isotope Substage 5e). Luminescence ages of ca. 98–105 ka on intercalated sands within the Sel Ayre Organic Sands and Gravels place these deposits in Marine Isotope Substage 5c (Brørup Interstadial). The two sites provide the first detailed record of Marine Isotope Stage 5 environments on Shetland. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evidence for delayed poleward expansion of North Atlantic surface waters during the last interglacial (MIS 5e)

The Last Interglacial (Marine Isotopic Stage or MIS 5e) surface ocean heat flux from the Rockall Basin (NE Atlantic) towards the Arctic Ocean was reconstructed by analysing dinoflagellate cyst (dinocyst) assemblages in four sediment cores. Together with records of stable isotopes and ice-rafted detritus, the assemblage data reflect the northward retreat of ice(berg)-laden waters and the gradual development towards interglacial conditions at the transition from the Saalian deglaciation (Termination II) into MIS 5e. At the Rockall Basin, this onset of the Last Interglacial is soon followed by the appearance of the thermophilic dinocyst species Spiniferites mirabilis, with relative abundances higher than those observed at present in the area. North of the Iceland-Scotland Ridge, however, S. mirabilis only appears in significant numbers during late MIS 5e, between ～118 and 116.5 ka. Hence, fully marine Last Interglacial conditions with most intense Atlantic surface water influence occurred during late MIS 5e in the Nordic seas, and consequently also farther north in the Arctic Ocean, and at times when northern hemisphere summer insolation was already significantly decreased. The stratigraphic position of this Late Interglacial optimum is supported by planktic foraminifers and contrasts with the timing of the early Holocene climatic optimum in this area. We interpret the delayed northward expansion of Atlantic waters towards the polar latitudes as a result of the Saalian ice sheet deglaciation and its specific impact on the subsequent water mass evolution in this region.     

When did the Last Interglacial end?

Disagreement on the time of the end of the Last Interglacial stems from lack of an agreed definition of an Interglacial. Although strictly a climatic episode, “Interglacial” as commonly used is essentially a chronologic unit equivalent to an Age, corresponding in time range to the chronostratigraphic unit Stage.The name “Last Interglacial” has gained a global connotation so that its definition must take into account global rather than local effects of temperature fluctuations. An Interglacial begins with a warming to full interglacial warmth (as warm as the present day). It continues until a cooling of full glacial severity occurs, and includes any lesser coolings within a period of fluctuating climate. Such lesser coolings are recorded, particularly in deep-sea cores, following a period of warmth about 125,000 y.a. The cooling that led to the next full glacial cold began about 50,000 yr later. The Last Interglacial lasted from about 128,000 to 73,000 yr BP, equivalent to stage 5 of Shackleton and Opdyke.     

High‐latitude vegetation and climate changes during the Mid‐Pleistocene Transition inferred from a palynological record from Lake El'gygytgyn,NE Russian Arctic

A continuous pollen record from Lake El'gygytgyn (northeastern Russian Arctic) provides detailed information concerning the regional vegetation and climate history during the Mid‐Pleistocene Transition (MPT), between 1091 ka (end of Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 32) and 715 ka (end of MIS 18). Pollen‐based qualitative vegetation reconstruction along with biome reconstruction indicate that the interglacial regional vegetation history during the MPT is characterized by a gradual replacement of forest and shrub vegetation by open herbaceous communities (i.e. tundra/cold steppe). The pollen spectra reveal seven vegetation successions that have clearly distinguishable glacial‐interglacial cycles. These successions are represented by the intervals of cold deciduous forest (CLDE) biome scores changing from high to low, which are basically in phase with the variations of obliquity from maxima to minima. The dominating influence of obliquity forcing on vegetation successions contradicts with the stronger power of eccentricity, as demonstrated by the result of wavelet analysis based on landscape openness reconstruction. This discrepancy shows that a single index is insufficient for catching signals of all the impacting factors. Comparisons with vegetation and environmental changes in the Asian interior suggest that global cooling during the MPT was probably the key force driving long‐term aridification in the Arctic region. The accelerated aridification after MIS 24–22 was probably caused by the additional effect of the Tibetan Plateau uplift, which played an important role on intensification of the Siberian High and westerly jet systems.     

Climatic deterioration and the end of the Gortian Interglacial in sediments from Derrynadivva and Burren Townland,near Castlebar,County Mayo,Ireland

Pollen and macrofossil analyses of two sequences of organic sediment in western Ireland have allowed the recognition of the latter parts of the Gortian Interglacial, a Middle Pleistocene temperate stage. The palaeobotanical information from the two sites identifies the preservation of partial sequences from the Gortian Interglacial (believed to be the equivalent of the Hoxnian Stage of Britain and the Holsteinian of Europe). The pollen and macrofossil data from one of the sites, Derrynadivva, span the middle and latter parts of the temperate stage. The results show that fire influenced the vegetation throughout the middle part of the temperate stage, and the termination of the organic depositional sequence appears to have been due to environmental deterioration. The former is identified through the abundant occurrence of charcoal in the sediments, whereas the latter is apparent in the sediment sequence and in the reworking of thermophilous pollen types into the upper part of the deposit. The second site, Burren Townland, records only part of the later zones of the interglacial, but the ericaceous assemblages of the latter part of the Gortian Interglacial are well developed and well preserved. Macrofossil analyses and scanning electron microscopy work on the pollen at the latter site has allowed the recognition of Rhododendron ponticum, adding to previous records of this species, which now has a very disjunct European distribution.     

西藏纳木错地区约120kaBP以来的古植被、古气候与湖面变化

西藏纳木错湖相沉积的U系和^11C测年结果表明，湖泊沿岸的6级湖岸阶地及拔湖约48～139．2m的高位湖相沉积形成于约120ka BP以来的晚第四纪。本文根据该套湖相层的发育和其中的孢粉组合特征对纳木错地区约120ka BP以来的湖面变化与古植被、古气候变迁进行了探讨。结果表明，纳木错地区晚更新世以来经历了频繁的湖面波动、气候的冷暖与干湿变化以及森林—草原与草原植被的交替演化。其总体特征是：约115．9ka BP时，纳木错湖面最高。在116～78ka BP期间，该区气候温和凉爽或温和偏湿，植被以疏林草原与森林草原或森林的交替出现为特征，湖面经历了较大幅度的波动，但基本保持在拔湖140～88m之间。在78～53ka BP期间，该区气候干冷，植被以疏林草原为主，湖面大幅度下降，并在拔湖约36～48m之间波动。约53～32ka BP期间，气候转为温暖偏湿或温暖湿润，湖面波动于拔湖约15～28m之间，波动较为频繁。与阶地的发育相对应，该时期内包含了3次明显的暖期和湖面波动过程，区域植被主要以松、蒿、桦为主，为含一定量的冷杉的森林。其中36ka BP左右气候最温暖湿润，区域内可能出现针叶林或针阔混交林。约32～12ka BP期间，该区气候最为干冷，古植被以草原和疏林草原为主，湖面再次发生较大幅度的下降，最低可至拔湖约8m处，但通常维持在拔湖约12～17m之间。约11．8～4．2ka BP期间，气候整体较为暖湿，其中在约8．4～4．2ka BP期间气候最温暖湿润，该区可能发育针叶林或针阔混交林，湖面波动于拔湖2～9m之间，整体波动幅度较小，但波动最为频繁。区域气候对比发现，纳木错地区的冷、暖气候变化过程与整个青藏高原乃至北半球的气候变化基本是一致的，特别是阶地下切所反映的湖面退缩过程与北大西洋的Henrich冷事件之间具有很好的对应关系。     

Constraining the chronology of Pleistocene glaciations on Svalbard: Kapp Ekholm re‐visited

The Kapp Ekholm site, in central Spitsbergen, shows alternating units of glaciomarine sandy silt and diamicton representing three glacial cycles and is key in reconstructing the Late Pleistocene glacial history of Svalbard. Part of the site is reinvestigated here by focusing on re‐dating two units (B and F) interpreted as interglacial/interstadial glaciomarine deposits, in order to constrain the controversial chronology. A combination of Optical Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) on quartz, infrared stimulated luminescence with a 50 °C readout temperature (IRSL₅₀) and post infrared‐infrared stimulated luminescence (pIR), both on feldspar, was applied. While Formation B was beyond the dateable range of OSL, IRSL₅₀ and pIR ages lead to the conclusion that this unit represents the Last Interglacial, Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5e, and the underlying diamicton the MIS 6 glacial. Formation F yielded ages implying that the formation represents the MIS 5a interstadial and the underlying diamicton is interpreted to represent the MIS 5b stadial. This agrees with conclusions drawn concerning the Pleistocene glaciations elsewhere on Svalbard.     

Influence of climate on the variability of snails of the genus Viviparus in deposits of the Holsteinian (Mazovian) Interglacial from Ortel Krolewski, eastern Poland

Sediments of palaeolakes located in eastern Poland represent the Holsteinian (Mazovian) Interglacial, which corresponds to the Marine Isotope Stage 11 (MIS 11). Some of these sediments are characterized by an extremely rich occurrence of mollusc shells. A total of 1795 specimens of the snail Viviparus diluvianus were measured from 5 samples collected from a succession of lake deposits at Ortel Krolewski. The sample from the lowermost part of the succession (2.5 m) represents the Picea-Alnus pollen zone of the Holsteinian Interglacial. Samples from 2.0, 1.5, 1.0m are related to the Taxus Zone. Samples collected from the uppermost part of the succession (0.5 m) correspond to the Pinus Zone representing the so-called intra-interglacial cooling. The population of V. diluvianus displays variability correlated with climatic changes. The population from the Taxus Zone is characterized by a higher content of mature forms compared to the earlier population from the Picea-Alnus Zone. Because the mature individuals are slimmer than the juvenile forms, their last whorl is relatively lower and the aperture relatively smaller. In populations from the Taxus Zone the mean slimness of the shell therefore increases, followed by a decrease in the mean relative height of the last whorl and the mean relative aperture height.     

三峡地区寒武系纽芬兰统岩家河组小壳化石研究进展

埃迪卡拉纪—寒武纪转换时期小壳化石的突然出现是世人瞩目的重要演化事件之一,它见证了动物的爆发式快速演化过程,标志着以两侧对称动物为特征的寒武纪生态系统的开始。湖北三峡地区寒武系纽芬兰统岩家河组处于幸运阶—第二阶这一关键层段,是研究上述问题的理想地区之一。岩家河组小壳化石研究最近取得的进展,为寒武系纽芬兰统幸运阶/第二阶界线的标定,和寒武纪早期软体动物和刺胞动物的演化及个体发育提供了重要的化石依据,本文对其进行了总结。全球界线层型剖面和点位(GSSP)寒武系第二阶底界划分标志的Watsonella crosbyi和Aldanella attleborensis在岩家河组第5段底部的同时出现,意味着岩家河组第5段已归属寒武系第二阶。这两类软体动物化石均广泛分布于华南、蒙古、西伯利亚和北美等大陆碳酸盐岩相寒武系第二阶地层中,它们均是定义寒武系第二阶底界的有力竞争者。另外,W.crosbyi壳顶下方一对肌肉附着结构的发现提供了重要的软组织结构信息,证实了W.crosbyi为内腹型壳,归属为未扭曲的软体动物太阳女神螺类。新发现六方锥石类Septuconularia yanjiaheensis具侧向压扁、两辐射对称的、14个等大锥面的围鞘,是迄今所描述的六方锥石类中锥面数最多的类型。根据横肋疏密程度,围鞘由下向上可分为三部分,可能代表胚胎期、幼年期和成年期不同的生长阶段。Septuconularia显然由寒武系幸运阶Hexaconularia通过扇面扩增演变而来,证明Hexaconularia可能是Arthrochites和Septuconularia之间的中间过渡类型。新发现的橄榄蛋类Octapyrgites elongatus与幸运阶Olivooides和Quadrapyrgites十分相似,围鞘由方形的壳顶区和波纹状倒宝塔形的远顶区组成。然而Octapyrgites只有8个口折叶,有别于具12个口折叶的Quadrapyrgites。通过与幸运期水母类多种对称方式对比,发现在寒武系第二阶橄榄蛋类数量减少和五辐射对称骨状壳类缺失,表明在幸运期/第二期转换时期,底栖固着型的刺胞动物水母类多样性发生了明显衰落,甚至部分绝灭,而同期的两侧对称动物则迅速辐射演化。     

Evidence from coleopteran assemblages for a short but intense cold interlude during the latter part of the MIS11 Interglacial from Quinton, West Midlands, UK

A sequence of fossiliferous organic sediments spanning the whole of an interglacial has been investigated from Quinton, near Birmingham, United Kingdom This interglacial can be correlated on palynological grounds with the Hoxnian Interglacial of England; equivalent to the Holsteinian Interglacial of central Europe and to Marine Isotope Stage 11. A pollen diagram and coleopteran spectrum were obtained from the same series of samples. By using the mutual climatic range method on the coleopteran assemblages, it has been possible to quantify the thermal climatic conditions at this time. They show clear evidence for a sudden and intense climatic oscillation during the late temperate stage of the interglacial—named the Quinton Cold Interlude. At this time mean temperatures of the warmest month (July) declined suddenly by at least 5 °C and mean temperatures of the coldest months (January and February) by more than 10 °C. Subsequently cool-temperate conditions returned. The pollen diagram through this interval shows little or no response to this climatic event. It is too early yet to generalise about the regional significance of the Quinton Cold Interlude but a similar climatic oscillation also occurs towards the closing stage of the MIS11 Interglacial at Hoxne, Norfolk, UK, suggesting that the cold interlude was at least regional in extent. A short climatic oscillation of similar intensity has also been interpreted from coleopteran evidence towards the end of the MIS13 Interglacial at Waverley Wood Farm Pit, Warwickshire, UK, indicating that such events may characterise the later stages of other interglacials. These severe climatic oscillations towards the end of interglacials may have relevance to our understanding of the closing phase of the present interglacial.     

Postglacial climate and vegetation history, north-central Kola Peninsula, Russia: pollen and diatom records from Lake Yarnyshnoe-3

A sediment core from Lake Yarnyshnoe-3 (69°04'N; 36°04'E), an emerged coastal lake from the tundra of the north-central Kola Peninsula, has been analyzed for fossil pollen and diatoms. The pollen record shows the Younger Dryas event marked by increasing Artemisia coupled with decreases in Poaceae, Cyperaceae and Salix at c. 10 700 to 10 000 BP. This core provides the first well-defined palynological record of the Younger Dryas event on the Kola Peninsula. Stomates from Pinus were recovered from the core interval between 8000 and 6000 BP. The stomates, coupled with elevated values of pine pollen, indicate that Pinus sylvestris grew near the arctic coastline of the central Kola Peninsula in the middle Holocene. However, the small number of stomates suggests that pines were not plentiful. The diatom record from the core reflects basin isolation from the sea and indicates additional limnological changes during the climate transition between c. 5000 and 4000 BP. The broadly similar climate and vegetation history on the north-central Kola Peninsula and in Fennoscandia demonstrates the propagation of late glacial and Holocene climate events from the North Atlantic region into the Eurasian Arctic.     

Middle Pleistocene temperate deposits at Dingé, Ille-et-Vilaine,northwest France: pollen,plant and insect macrofossil analysis

Nine cores were taken from a damp depression at Dingé, Ille-et-Vilaine, northwest France. Analyses of the pollen, plant macrofossil and Coleoptera remains preserved in the same organic samples of two profiles suggest a temperate vegetation characterised by a mixed deciduous forest with mesophilous taxa (Carpinus, Fagus, Quercus) followed by a coniferous forest with Pinus and Picea. The determination of plant taxa to species was made either directly through the identification of plant macrofossil remains and pollen or indirectly through the identification of phytophagous Coleoptera specifically related to certain plants. Stratigraphical information derived from pollen, plant macrofossil and insect data indicates that this sequence may be correlated with a temperate episode older than the Eemian and younger than the Holsteinian, possibly the Bouchet 2 (Oxygen Isotope Stage 7c) or Bouchet 3 (Oxygen Isotope Stage 7a) temperate periods or the Landos Interglacial (Oxygen Isotope Stage 9 pro parte). © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A terrestrial record of Last Interglacial climate preserved by voluminous debris avalanche inundation in Taranaki,New Zealand

At Airedale Reef, western North Island, New Zealand, a ca. 4 m thick volcanogenic debris avalanche deposit has facilitated the preservation of an enveloping sequence of peats with interbedded andesitic tephras spanning marine isotope (MIS) 5. The sequence closely overlies a wave‐cut terrace correlated to MIS 5e and, in turn, is overlain by andic beds with tephra interbeds including the Rotoehu and Kawakawa tephras deposited during early MIS 3 and mid‐MIS 2, respectively. Pollen analysis of the organic sequence shows a coherent pattern of fluctuating climate for the Last Interglacial–Last Glacial transition that corresponds with marine isotope stratigraphy and supports the contention that orbital variations were a primary factor in late Quaternary southern mid‐latitude climate change. A five‐stage subdivision of MIS 5 is clearly recognised, with marine isotope substage (MISS) 5b drier than MISS 5d, and the cooling transition from 5a to MIS 4 also may have been comparatively dry and characterised by natural fire, perhaps associated with volcanism. Several other examples of volcanic impact on vegetation and the landscape are evident. The Airedale Reef sequence exhibits strong similarities with fragmentary MIS 5 pollen records preserved elsewhere in New Zealand and enables the proxy record of southern mid‐latitude climatic variability during the Last Interglacial–Glacial cycle to be extended. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A chronology for the long pollen record from Lake Wangoom,western Victoria (Australia) as derived from uranium/thorium disequilibrium dating

The chronology of a long pollen record from Lake Wangoom, one of the few long palaeoenvironmental records from southeastern Australia, is discussed in light of the acquisition of new uranium/thorium disequilibrium (UTD) dates. Of crucial importance has been the estimation of ages for two major pre‐Holocene phases of forest expansion recorded in the sequence, with implications for the timing of periods of high effective precipitation in the region. The new UTD ages indicate that the oldest forest phase falls within the Penultimate Interglacial whereas the later phase corresponds with the Last Interglacial. This is older than indicated by previously reported UTD and radiocarbon dates, but confirms a chronology based on direct correlation with the pollen record from marine core E55‐6. The new chronology of the Lake Wangoom sequence provides evidence that phases of sustained forest development in southeast Australia relate to interglacial periods. In comparison, interstadial periods appear to be characterised by only minor arboreal development. Marked differences in the pattern of vegetation development evident in each of the interglacials are thought to reflect varying climatic and anthropogenic influences. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Towards a chronology of the Late Pleistocene in the northern Alpine Foreland

Dating results from terrestrial records in the northern foreland of the Alps have been compiled in order to establish an independent chronostratigraphy for the climate history of this region. U/Th dates of peat deposited during the final phase of the Last Interglacial indicate that it lasted until at least c. 115 000 yr ago. The Early Würmian started with a period of severe cold climate causing a substitution of forest by tundra-like vegetation. It is assumed that during this period glaciers advanced to the margin of the foreland of at least the Western Alps. Sediments attributed to this glaciation are dated to about 103 000 yr. Three subsequent interstadials, all characterized by coniferous forest, were interrupted by cold stadials with steppe to tundra-like vegetation. The first interstadial is dated to about 95 000 yr. There is evidence for an interstadial with open coniferous woodland and three phases of steppe vegetation during the Middle Würmian, between c. 50000 and 30 000 yr ago. The last glaciation of the Alpine Foreland reached its maximum extension between 24 000 and 21 500 yr and glaciers rapidly collapsed before ˜17 500 yr ago. A series of minor re-advances during the Lateglacial is reported from within the Alps, but the glaciers barely reached the main Alpine valleys during this time. The last of these advances formed the Egesen moraine and occurred at about 11 800 yr ago during the Younger Dryas.     

Climatic Character of Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5e in the Representative Regions of the World: A Review

The Last Interglacial or Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5e, is of great interest because it serves as an analog for the Holocene. The climate change and duration during Marine isotope stage (MIS) 5e are considerably well understood for recent and future climate. Despite great interest in this subject over many years, a number of issues concerning the climate circumstances of MIS 5e are by no means resolved. We analyzed 35 published palaeoclimate records with reliable chronologies and robust proxies in typical region of the world to evaluate climate change during MIS 5e. These data indicate that: ① The duration of this warm phase is thought to range from (128±2) ka to (116±2) ka. The climate of MIS 5e was likely relatively stable with a number of abrupt, weak amplitude, cool and/or arid events. And the difference between regions is noticeable for the occurrence, amplitude, onset and duration of these events. For example, marine records from the North Atlantic indicate that the climate of MIS 5e was relatively stable, however the records from Norwegian sea show that the climate of MIS 5e had a significant changes at the beginning and cold event in the Mid-Eemian; The δ¹⁸O, δD and CH₄ in the ice cores from Greenland and Antarctica imply that climate was relatively stable during the last interglacial period, while in Europe from the north to the south the duration of this phase became shorter and the intensity of climatic events became stronger. In addition, the climatic conditions of MIS 5e reconstructed by climate proxy from China are various and have the subject of some controversy. ②The global climate response to the insolation forcing would have been uniform on suborbital timescale. Nevertheless, as a result of regional sundry climatic forcing factors, global millennial-scale/century-scale climate oscillations were marked by significant local features during stage 5e. ③ Based on the better chronological controls, the estimation of climate parameters, the high-resolution climate records, and precise knowledge of the phase relationship between climate changes in global, the earlier depiction for climate circumstances and environment change during Marine Isotope Stage 5e should be refined and our understanding of the climate dynamics and mechanism and climate modelling should be improved.     

The Last Interglacial sea level change: new evidence from the Abrolhos islands,West Australia

U-series ages measured by thermal ionisation mass spectrometry (TIMS) are reported for a Last Interglacial (LI) fossil coral core from the Turtle Bay, Houtman Abrolhos islands, western Australia. The core is 33.4 m long the top of which is approximately 5 m a.p.s.l. (above present sea level). From the²³²Th concentrations and the reliability of the U-series ages, two sections in the core can be distinguished. Calculated U/Th ages in core section I (3.3 m a.p.s.l to 11 m b.p.s.l) vary between 124±1.7 ka BP (3.3 m a.p.s.l.) and 132.5±1.8 ka (4 m b.p.s.l., i.e. below present sea level), and those of section II (11–23 m b.p.s.l.) between 140±3 and 214±5 ka BP, respectively. The ages of core section I are in almost perfect chronological order, whereas for section II no clear age-depth relationship of the samples can be recognised. Further assessments based on the ϖ²³⁴U_(T) criteria reveal that none of the samples of core section II give reliable ages, whereas for core section I several samples can be considered to be moderately reliable within 2 ka. The data of the Turtle Bay core complement and extend our previous work from the Houtman Abrolhos showing that the sea level reached a height of approximately 4 m b.p.s.l at approximately 134 ka BP and a sea level highstand of at least 3.3 m a.p.s.l. at approximately 124 ka BP. Sea level dropped below its present position at approximately 116 ka BP. Although the new data are in general accord with the Milankovitch theory of climate change, a detailed comparison reveals considerable differences between the Holocene and LI sea level rise as monitored relative to the Houtman Abrolhos islands. These observation apparently add further evidence to the growing set of data that the LI sea level rise started earlier than recognised by SPECMAP chronology. A reconciliation of these contradictionary observations following the line of arguments presented by Crowley (1994) are discussed with respect to the Milankovitch theory.     

黑河下游荒漠河岸林典型样带植被空间异质性

应用地统计学的理论与方法,分析了黑河流域下游荒漠河岸林主要种群,即老林胡杨(Popu luseuphratica)、幼林胡杨、柽柳(Tamarix chinensis)和苦豆子(Sophora alopecuroides)的空间异质性程度、异质性组成及尺度依赖问题.结果表明:黑河下游荒漠河岸林种群斑块格局明显,斑块内部异质性较小,斑块之间异质性增强,出现空间异质性变化较大的尺度为430m.而斑块内部因不同种群而变化,苦豆子和柽柳具有较大的空间异质性尺度,分别为43m和55m.老林和幼林胡杨种群的空间异质性尺度(8m和13m)较小,但异质性存在多尺度变化.采用30m分辨率的遥感数据能够较好地分析种群斑块格局,但是对种群内的空间异质性分析需要更高的分辨率.     

Highstands in the interior of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau since the last interglacial: evidence from grain‐size analysis of lacustrine core sediments in Zabuye Salt Lake

Highstands in the Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 3 based on ¹⁴C dating in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP) are widely documented. Recent records from shoreline sediments dated using U‐series and/or optically stimulated luminescence (OSL), however, reveal that the highstands originally dated in MIS 3 should now be considered to fall in MIS 5. This paper provides new evidence from the interior of the QTP, based on the grain‐size from a continuous lake core in the Zabuye Salt Lake, to verify the MIS 5 highstand in the QTP. Grain‐size analysis of the core sediments also distinguishes two other highstands in MIS 3 and MIS 2, respectively. The MIS 5 highstand is considered as the maximum lake level since the Last Interglacial, as cored sediments contain very low values of Median Diameter (Md) during MIS 5. Compared with the discontinuous records from lake shorelines sediments, the grain‐size records from the continuous lake centre core sediments provide a more complete dataset to infer lake level variations, and make it possible to make wider palaeoclimatic and palaeoenvironmental interpretation. In the interior of the QTP, highstands might have continued into cold climate periods due to the reduced evaporation rates in the latter. The influence of the moisture‐bearing southerly‐shifted Westerly wind pathway may also have contributed to the highstands in the glacial period. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.