Stratigraphy of late Quaternary deposits in the mid-western North Yellow Sea

The North Yellow Sea(NYS) is characterized by strong land-sea interaction and paleoenvironmental changes with sea-level fluctuations during the late Quaternary. However, large-time scale depositional stratigraphy in this area and its relationship with sea-level changes remain unresolved. Highresolution seismic profiles from NYS were subdivided into eleven seismic units(U1 to U11 in descending order). A 70.6-m-long borehole(DLC70-2) from localities on seismic profiles, analyzed for lithology, microfossil assemblages and geochronology, comprises eleven sedimentary units(D1 to D11 in descending order), which were clearly correlated with the eleven seismic units. These units constitute four distinctive sequences(SQ1 to SQ4 from top to bottom) bounded by three sequence boundaries(S3, S5 and S10) with obvious depositional hiatus, correlated with sea-level lowstands of MIS2, MIS4 and MIS6, respectively. The lowermost SQ4 below S10, has been identified only upper part of transgressive systems tract(TST)(D11, tidal flat facies in early MIS6). SQ3 overlying S10 consists of a set of lowstand systems tracts(LST)(D10, fluvial to incised-channel filling facies in late MIS6), TST and highstand systems tracts(HST)(D9 to D6, interactive deposits of neritic and littoral facies in MIS5 and early MIS4). SQ2 above S5 is composed of LST(D5, channel-filling facies in late MIS4) and TST(D4, littoral to estuary facies in early-middle MIS3), but lack of HST resulting from subaerial exposure and channel incising during the Last Glacial Maximum(LGM). The uppermost SQ1 overlying S3 comprises LST(D3, channel-filling to flooding plain or marsh facies in MIS2), Holocene TST(D2, littoral and tidal sand ridge facies) and HST(D1, neritic facies). The unusual depositional stratigraphy was largely dominated by sea-level fluctuations and the Bohai Strait topography. This study confirms that TSTs are relative continuous and widely distributed, while LSTs vary considerably in thickness and lateral extent since MIS6 in NYS.     

藏东南多依弄巴流域冰湖溃决危险性评价

冰湖溃决灾害是指冰湖坝体突然破坏引发溃决洪水或溃决泥石流的现象,对下游人类活动和自然环境造成严重影响。近年来,藏东南地区冰川快速退缩,冰湖数量和规模显著增加,冰湖溃决事件广泛发生。基于1995-2021年多时相Landsat系列遥感影像、Sentinel-2A遥感影像,结合RAMMS水文动力学模型方法,对藏东南地区多依弄巴流域内冰湖、冰川进行动态变化分析,模拟冰崩危险体触发冰湖溃决和冰湖溃决泥石流的演进过程,根据泥石流模拟中的流速和流深对冰湖溃决可能影响的区域进行危险性分区。结果表明:流域内冰川面积由1995年的14.05 km2退缩为2021年的9.43 km2,年均退缩率约为0.15 km2/a。流域内共发育3处冰崩危险体,均可能触发冰湖溃决。潜在危险冰湖在全溃情况下,溃决泥石流会冲出沟口堵塞然乌湖湖口和帕隆藏布主河道,对下游居民和道路造成影响,影响范围约4.05 km2,其中高危险性区域约2.55 km2。危险性评价结果可为多依弄巴流域未来土地利用规划和防灾减灾提供依据,也能为藏东南地区冰湖溃决型泥石流危险评估提供参考。      

粒度端元记录的靖边地区MIS 3以来的气候变化

黄土作为典型的多物源沉积物，粒度分布常呈现多峰分布。端元分析可以从复杂的沉积物粒度中分离出代表不同沉积物源和沉积动力的端元组分，在黄土研究中得到了广泛应用。利用Paterson参数化端元模型对处于毛乌素沙漠东南缘的靖边三道沟剖面粒度进行端元分离与解释，并讨论其代表的环境意义。靖边三道沟黄土可分为4个端元:EM1（众数粒径8.93 μm）为背景粉尘；EM2（众数粒径25.18 μm）为与季风环流有关的组分；EM3（众数粒径39.91 μm）和EM4（众数粒径56.37 μm）都是与冬季风有关的组分，其中EM3为黄土高原黄土主要组分，EM4与现代沙尘暴的粒级大致相同。通过对各端元组分随年龄变化的曲线进行分析，得到以下结论:该剖面记录了靖边地区自MIS 3以来经历了MIS 3（32.8~29.8 ka BP）、LGM（29.8~22.8 ka BP）、冰消期（22.8~11.3 ka BP）和全新世（8.7~1.7 ka BP）共4个气候时期。端元组分还记录了冰消期H 1事件（16.2~13.8 ka BP）、B/A事件（13.8~12.8 ka BP）、YD事件（12.8~11.3 ka BP）共3次气候快速变化事件和D-O旋回。该剖面还记录了毛乌素沙漠末次冰期经历的3次主要的扩张-收缩旋回以及全新世8.7~8.2，6.0~5.0，3.5~2.5 ka共3次干旱沙进事件。      

Sediment Provenance and Climate Changes Since the Middle Pleistocene in the Yingqiong Continental Slope of the South China Sea

The age, grain size compositions and major elemental compositions for sediments in core YQ1 from the Yingqiong continental slope in the South China Sea was determined in this paper. It is noted that the periodically cyclic change of sedimentation rates occurred in the Yingqiong continental slope in the South China Sea. During the interglacial periods, the sedimentation rates were high, while the sedimentation rates exhibited low values during the glacial periods. During Marine Isotope Stage 1(MIS1), the sedimentary rate could reach about 800 cm kyr~(-1) and during the MIS6 this area is characterized by the lowest sedimentary rate, which is lower than 3 cm kyr~(-1). According to the R-mode factor analysis of the major element data, three factors F1(Al_2O_3, Fe_2O_3, TiO_2 and K_2O), F_2(MgO and MnO) and F3(Na_2O and P_2O_5) were obtained, which shows that vertical change of the major elemental concentrations in the core was mainly controlled by the nearby terrestrial inputs and the early diagenesis, while the effect of volcanic and biogenous inputs was less. The obvious glacial-interglacial cyclic features are presented in the changes of the typical terrestrial element ratios contained in factor F1, which reflects the impact of glacial-interglacial climatic cycle on the evolution of the East Asian monsoon. This indicates that the major element ratios in terrestrial sediments are significant indicators of regional climate changes.     

豫西甘山第四纪冰斗系统的发现及其与MIS的耦合关系分析

在调查东亚冷槽西壁冰川遗迹及其海拔梯度的过程中,发现了甘山冰斗系统与磨光面、擦痕、漂砾等冰川遗迹。进而对该冰斗系统进行成因分析的过程中,发现了冰斗系统的"冰斗环退"的形成方式。以此为基础,就甘山冰斗系统与MIS之间的耦合关系进行了对比分析。研究表明,甘山冰斗系统是以"冰斗环退"方式形成的,该冰斗环退系统完整展现了我国东部第四纪冰川作用的过程,对研究冰期的雪线高程、环境演化规律、冰川作用的进退等,都有着极其重要的意义。在"冰斗环退"的研究基础上,发现了对应的"冰斗环进"机制。冰斗环进代表了冰川作用由高向低推进过程,冰斗环退代表了冰川作用由低向高撤退过程。通过影像分析,初步将甘山冰斗系统划分四段,共解析出了50余套冰斗环,冰川作用的时代可追溯到2.56 Ma。根据冰斗的环进、环退特征,进而发现C28冰斗环所对应MIS56,也即1.60Ma,可能为我国第四纪冰川作用过程中的冰进向冰退演化的重要拐点。     

GEOCHEMICAL RECORDS OF PALAEOCLIMATIC CHANGES IN WEINANSECTION SINCE THE LAST INTERGLACIAL

ChineselOeSSischaracterizedbythegreatthicknessandgabscontinuity.ItrererdsQuaternalyclimaticoscillations(Liu,1985).Inrecentyears,scientistshavetriedtOusephysicalorchemicalparameterstOrecostructthepastclimaticchanges.FOrinstance,theparticlesizeisUSedasproxyindicatorforthewintermo~intensity(Liu,1993),stableoxygenisotopicrecordofCarbenatenodulesisusedtoreflectthetemperaturevallationsOfsoilformation(Han,1995),andrnsgneticsuSCeptibilityandCarhanatecontentareughasproxyparametersforsuxnmermourn…     

青藏高原城乡建设用地和生态用地转移时空格局

青藏高原作为中国重要的生态环境保护地,城镇化和生态环境的变化受到广泛关注。本文基于1990-2015年土地利用数据,进行生态用地和城乡建设用地之间的转移分析,通过核密度以及标准差椭圆分析进行空间转移强度的定性研究。结果表明：① 1990-2015年青藏高原生态用地显著地向城乡建设用地转移,是城乡建设用地向生态用地转移量的54.6倍,其中2000-2005年和2010-2015年是用地转移的热点时期;② 城乡建设用地与生态用地之间的转换在空间上呈现逆向状态,生态用地向城乡建设用地的转移分布逐渐从青藏高原的周边区域向腹地蔓延;城乡建设用地向生态用地的转移最初出现在青藏高原的腹地,逐渐向外围扩张;③ 生态服务功能越大的生态用地,越容易被人类占用,随之发生用地类型的转移,侵占后的土地很难反向转移为具有高生态服务功能的生态用地。     

末次间冰期-末次冰期柴达木盆地东部气候演化形式

柴达木盆地第四系富含介形类化石，介形类生物组合可以反映古气候变化。以盆地东部达参1井中的两种主要介形类(Ilyocypris inermis和Cyprideis torasa)的丰度特征为气候指标，对末次间冰期和末次冰期的盆地气候演变形式进行了恢复。认为柴达木盆地东部末次间冰期和末次冰期的气候演化既有着和全球同步的特点，也有着本区域独自的特征。介形类丰度曲线表明：末次间冰期(MIS5)，以Cyprideis torasa为主，整体上为暖型气候，依据介形类特征，又可分为5e，5c．5a三个暖期和5d．5b两个冷期，暖期到冷期都以介形类丰度的大幅突降为特征；末次冰期(MIS4-2)以Ilyocypris inermis为主，整体为冷型气候。其中，早冰阶(MIS4)两种介形类丰度都较低．而间冰阶(MIS3)介形类丰度明显增高，并可划分为3c．3a两个暖期和3b一个冷期。在间冰阶结束之后，介形类大量消失，llyocypris inermis完全灭绝，石盐大范围析出．盆地进入了末次冰期盛冰阶(MIS2)。     

Last glacial geomorphologic records in Mt Chelmos,North Peloponnesus,Greece

This study deals with the analysis of the glacial processes that have affected the relief of Mt Chelmos in northern Peloponnesus, Greece during middle and Late Pleistocene. The goal was to compile a combined geomorphological-geological map of the study area which would enable the chronological stratification of the glacial landforms cropping up on Mt. Chelmos. Chronological stratification was further aided by optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating. The map served as the basis upon which the reconstruction and discussion on the phases of the Middle-Late Quaternary paleoclimatic history of Mt. Chelmos have been made. A sophisticated semiautomated method was first used to analyze the Digital Elevation Model (DEM), combined with Aster, Quickbird and ALOS imagery in order to identify glacial and periglacial, as well as karstic features. Then, these features along with other nonrecognizable features from the remote-sensing images were documented in the field. In this way, several glacial landforms were identified, such as moraines and cirques, indicating extended glaciation phases during the middle and Late Pleistocene. Additionally, a ground moraine located at an altitude of 1900-2050 m, within the Spanolakos glacial valley, was dated using the OSL-dating method. The resulting ages indicate a phase of glacier advance/stabilization during MIS-5b (89-86 ka), which is in consistence with pollenrecord evidence from Greece and the Mediterranean.     

青藏高原冰雪消融区岩漠动态变化遥感监测研究现状与展望

青藏高原作为地球第三极增温明显,相关研究多集中于青藏高原冰雪动态,很少关注冰雪消融后岩漠的变化。岩漠通过地气相互作用影响着全球气候变化的区域差异。本文通过梳理青藏高原冰雪、冰雪消融区、岩漠动态变化遥感监测方法体系,着重分析了各遥感数据来源及提取方法的优缺点和适用性,并对基于遥感技术条件下青藏高原冰雪动态监测、冰雪消融区岩漠动态变化监测的数据来源、研究方法与技术进行了总结。目前,青藏高原冰雪动态变化遥感监测数据来源多样、研究方法成熟,而冰雪消融区岩漠动态变化遥感监测尚未形成系统研究。在人为干扰不明显背景下,青藏高原冰雪消融区岩漠的动态变化,在一定程度上也可作为对冰雪变化遥感监测的补充。     

Last glaciation and maximum glaciation in the Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet) Plateau: A controversy to M. Kuhle’s ice sheet hypothesis

Since the late 1950’s, many Chinese scientists have explored the remains of the Quaternary glaciation in the Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet) Plateau and its surrounding mountains. In the main, 3–4 glaciations have been recognized. The largest one occurred in the Late Middle Pleistocene with piedmont glaciers, ice caps and trellis valley glaciers in many high peak regions. But here is no evidence of a unified ice sheet covering the whole plateau as described by M. Kuhle. Due to the further uplifting of the Himalayas and Qinghai-Xizang Plateau the climate became progressively driver, diminishing the extension of glaciers during the Late Pleistocene. The elevation of the snow line during the Last Glaciation was about 4,000 m on the south, east and northeast edges of the plateau and ascended to 5500 m on the hinder northwest of the plateau. The thermal effect of the big plateau massif, the sharp increase of aridity from the southeast rim to the northwest inland area and the abrupt decrease of precipitation during the Ice Age largely account for the distribution of the Quaternary glaciers in the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. The neglect of Chinese literature may be one of the causes accounting for M. Kuhle’s misinterpretation on the environment of the Quaternary glaciations in the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau.     

Cryostructures and ground ice content in ice-rich permafrost area of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau with Computed Tomography Scanning

Permafrost is an important part of the cryosphere, playing an integral role in the hydrologic cycle, ecology, and influencing human activity. Melting of ground ice can drastically change landscapes and associated thaw subsidence may induce instability of infrastructure. The terrain conditions on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau are complex, and the spatial distribution of ground ice is highly variable, so knowledge of its abundance and variability is required for impact assessments relating to the degradation of permafrost. This study examined 55 permafrost samples from warm, ice-rich permafrost region in Beiluhe Basin, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The samples were examined using Computed Tomography scanning, and the ice content and cryostructure were determined. The results indicated that: 1) variation in volumetric ice content was considerable(0%-70%), with a mean value of 17%; 2) seven cryostructures were identified, including crustal, vein, lenticular, ataxitic, reticulate and layered cryostructure; 3) volumetric ice content varied by cryostructure, with the highest associated with layered and ataxitic cryostructures. Volumetric ice contents were lowest for samples with pore and lenticular cryostructures. This work provides detailed ground ice content and will be helpful for assessing thaw subsidence and infrastructure stability on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.     

LAST GLACIATION AND MAXIMUM GLACIATION IN THE QINGHAI-XIZANG (TIBET) PLATEAU: A CONTROVERSY TO M. KUHLE,S ICE SHEET HYPOTHESIS

Since the late 1950's, many Chinese scientists have explored the remains of the Quaternary glaciation in the Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet) Plateau and its surrounding mountains. In the main, 3-4 glaciations have been recognized. The largest one occurred in the Late Middle Pleistocene with piedmont glaciers, ice caps and trellis valley glaciers in many high peak regions. But here is no evidence of a unified ice sheet covering the whole plateau as described by M. Kuhle. Due to the further uplifting of the Himalayas and Qinghai-Xizang Plateau the climate became progressively drier, diminishing the extension of glaciers during the Late Pleistocene. The elevation of the snow line during the Last Glaciation was about 4,000 m on the south, east and northeast edges of the plateau and ascended to 5500 m on the hinder northwest of the plateau. The thermal effect of the big plateau massif, the sharp increase of aridity from the southeast rim to the northwest inland area and the abrupt decrease of precipitation during the     

尼泊尔Ms8.1地震前我国西藏及周边区域的重力长期变化

根据1998~2013中国地壳运动观测网络、中国数字地震观测网络工程和中国大陆构造环境监测网络流动重力观测成果,给出了中国西藏及周边地区的重力年变率分布。结合青藏高原冰川消融和高原湖泊水位变化,估算了由陆地水储量变化引起的区域重力效应。基于50km平滑半径的高斯滤波,给出了测区内15a时间尺度的重力变化空间分布,并初步探讨了尼泊尔Ms8.1地震孕育的重力场长期背景趋势变化。结果表明:1)流动重力典型测点的时间序列表现出明显的线性变化特征,表明测点附近区域的长期重力变化以线性上升趋势为主,反映了区域重力逐年累积增加的背景效应;2)中国西藏及周边区域的重力长期变化在空间分布上具有显著的不均匀性和分区现象,这与青藏高原复杂的变形构造和动力学系统密切相关。喜马拉雅活动构造带在15a时间尺度上明显呈正重力变化趋势,可能与印度板块与欧亚板块存在的持续挤压变形引起的地下物质重新分布与调整有关,反映了大震孕育过程中地壳变形和介质变化引起的震区周围应力与能量的累积。     

Topographic characteristics for the geomorphologic zones in the northwestern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Based on geomorphologic and digital elevation model （DEM） data, the topographic characteristics of the northwestern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau are analyzed. Five representative peaks are first determined according to the topographic profile maps for the ridge and piedmont lines, and then the topographic gradient characteristics are analyzed according to the representative topographic profile acquisition method. Based on the geomorphologic database data, the regions between the ridge and the piedmont lines are divided into four geomorphologic zones; and the topographic characteristics are finally analyzed for the different geomorphologic zones regions using the DEM data. The research results show that from the piedmont to the ridge, there exist four geomorphologic zones： arid, fluvial, periglacial and glacial. The arid has the lowest elevation, topographic gradient, relief and slope characteristics. The fluvial has lower elevation and the highest topographic gradient, but with lower relief and slope characteristics. With higher elevation, the periglcial has lower topographic gradient, but the highest relief and slope characteristics. The glacial has the highest elevation with higher topographic gradient, relief and slope characteristics.     

三江地区不同场源重力场特征及其与构造、地震的关系

利用重力场实测资料及最新的高分辨率超高阶重力位模型 IGG97LB(72 0阶 )计算了三江地区不同场源的重力场。在分析研究了不同场源重力场特征之后 ,结合地震层析成像资料 ,得出了初步结论 :(1)三江地区的康滇菱形块体内部的物质是由青藏高原下面物质向南东方向延伸来的 ,可见康滇菱形块体与青藏高原的关系密切 ;(2 )康滇菱形块体的低速度层厚度大于周边地区 ;(3)从三江地区重力场特征及历史上地震发生的情况看 ,地震容易发生在重力异常等值线拐弯处 ,特别是复杂的等值线拐弯处 ,更是地震的多发区。     

Variations in the northern permafrost boundary over the last four decades in the Xidatan region,Qinghai–Tibet Plateau

The distribution and variations of permafrost in the Xidatan region, the northern permafrost boundary of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, were examined and analyzed using ground penetrating radar(GPR), borehole drilling, and thermal monitoring data. Results from GPR profiles together with borehole verification indicate that the lowest elevation limit of permafrost occurrence is 4369 m above sea level in 2012. Compared to previous studies, the maximal rise of permafrost limit is 28 m from 1975 to 2012. The total area of permafrost in the study region has been decreased by 13.8%. One of the two previously existed permafrost islands has disappeared and second one has reduced by 76% in area during the past ~40 years. In addition, the ground temperature in the Xidatan region has increased from 2012 to 2016, with a mean warming rate of ~0.004℃ a~(-1) and ~0.003℃ a~(-1) at the depths of 6 and 15 m, respectively. The rising of permafrost limit in the Xidatan region is mainly due to globalwarming. However, some non-climatic factors such as hydrologic processes and anthropic disturbances have also induced permafrost degradation. If the air temperature continues to increase, the northern permafrost boundary in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau may continue rising in the future.     

Redox conditions in sediments and during sedimentation in the Ontong Java Plateau, west equatorial Pacific

Redox-sensitive elements in sediments, such as manganese (Mn), vanadium (V), molybdenum (Mo), and uranium (U), are promising indicators of past redox conditions during sedimentation and early diagenesis. However, in the Ontong Java Plateau, west equatorial Pacific, there are sparse datasets of redox-sensitive elements in sediment cores. Here, we present a 250 ka record of redox sensitive elements from a 460 cm gravity core at site WP7 (3°56′S, 156°E, water depth 1 800 m), which was recovered from the southwest Ontong Java Plateau during the 1993 cruise of R/V Science I of the Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IOCAS). Relative to the Post-Archean Australian Shale (PAAS), authigenic Mn, cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), Mo, V, U, and cadmium (Cd) were found at constantly low levels except when peaks occurred at several depth intervals. Manganese, Co, Ni, and Mo concentrations were elevated at 25-35 cm due to Mn redox cycling. The core was divided into three distinct sections, the top 0-25 cm being oxic, a suboxic section at 25-35 cm and from 35-460 cm which was anoxic. Differential authigenic enrichments of Co, Ni, Mo, V, U, and Cd at the same depth intervals were observed indicating that the enrichments happened during sedimentation or diagenesis and suffered no post settlement redox changes. Therefore, no significant changes in redox conditions during sedimentation must have happened. The water at depth on the Ontong Java Plateau during past 250 ka must have been well oxygenated, possibly resulted from the more or less continuous presence of oxygen-rich deep water like the modern Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW) and Antarctic Circumpolar Water (ACW); while it’s slightly less oxygenated in glacial intervals, possibly due to ventilation weakening and/or the surface productivity increase.     

Late Pleistocene aeolian activity in Haitan Island,Southeast China: Insights from optically stimulated luminescence dating of coastal dunes on marine terraces

The 'Old Red Sand' is a type of semicemented medium-fine sandy sediment that is red (10R4/8) or brown red (2.5YR4/8) in colour and is found in late Quaternary deposits. The sediments have distinctive characteristics and are a critical archive for understanding climatic changes in the coastal areas of East Asia. The ages of the late Quaternary aeolian sand dunes from Haitan Island in the coastal area of South China are still in debate. In this study, three sets of marine terraces were identified in the northern region of Haitan Island. Aeolian dune sands are well preserved on the top of these terraces. Quartz Optically Stimulated Luminescence dating and the distribution of the formation ages demonstrated that the palaeo-dunes are deposits from the middle-late period of the Late Pleistocene (Q ₃ ^2-3 ). The period may be divided into three stages, 100–90 ka, 70–60 ka, and 40–20 ka, in which the palaeo-dunes of the first two stages are more widespread and were formed separately during a low-sea level period of the Marine Isotope Stages 5b and 4. Several depositional palaeo-flood event records were preserved during the last stage due to the increasing gradient of mountain gullies formed during the Last Glacial Maximum.     

Review on dating methods: Numerical dating in the quaternary geology of High Asia

Over the past few years, OSL and TCN datings of glacial material from High Asia have come into fashion. To this day, however, these techniques do not permit safe calibration. The intensity of the cosmic ray flux is being modulated by the solar and terrestrial magnetic fields and their secular fluctuations in the past. So far, these variations cannot be converted into the respective local TCN production rates for High Asia. We have reason to believe that the ages that are being calculated despite these uncertainties are generally overestimated. This assessment is supported by conventional radiocarbon dates and above all by the glacial chronology developed independently on the basis of the Quaternary geological method. The strongly emerging evidence for a much more extensive LGM glaciation of High Asia is, however, either being ignored or rejected by many authors, solely on the basis of the above-mentioned uncalibrated datings. This self-conceit based on the “dating fallacy”, as we call it, should be avoided since it goes decidedly against the standards of the scientific method established in Quaternary geology and makes a fundamental scientific discussion impossible.