Late Holocene relative sea level rise and the Neoglacial history of the Greenland ice sheet

In West Greenland, early and mid Holocene relative sea level (RSL) fall was replaced by late Holocene RSL rise during the Neoglacial, after 4–3 cal. ka BP (thousand calibrated years before present). Here we present the results of an isolation basin RSL study completed near to the coastal town of Sisimiut, in central West Greenland. RSL fell from 14 m above sea level at 5.7 cal. ka BP to reach a lowstand of ?4.0 m at 2.3–1.2 cal. ka BP, before rising by an equivalent amount to present. Differences in the timing and magnitude of the RSL lowstand between this and other sites in West and South Greenland record the varied interplay of local and non‐Greenland RSL processes, notably the reloading of the Earth's crust caused by a Neoglacial expansion of the Greenland Ice Sheet (GIS) and the subsidence associated with the collapse of the Laurentide Ice Sheet forebulge. This means that the timing of the sea level lowstand cannot be used to infer directly when the GIS advanced during the Neoglacial. The rise in Late Holocene RSL is contrary to recently reported bedrock uplift in the Sisimiut area, based on repeat GPS surveys. This indicates that a belt of peripheral subsidence around the current ice sheet margin was more extensive in the late Holocene, and that there has been a switch from subsidence to uplift at some point in the last thousand years or so. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

黄海中部泥质区底栖有孔虫群落对早全新世海平面快速上升的响应

末次冰消期以来全球海平面经历了很大变动,本文通过陆架泥质区资料,对黄海中部泥质区5个沉积物柱样进行了AMS ¹⁴C年代测试,结合沉积物粒度组成与底栖有孔虫资料探讨黄海中部泥质区底栖有孔虫对早全新世海平面快速上升的响应。结果表明,约13.0 ka以来底栖有孔虫群落对海平面变化的响应呈现明显的3个阶段：早期阶段(约13.0~10.0 ka期间),底栖有孔虫以近岸浅水组合为主,与这一时期海平面相对较低对应,泥质区整体呈滨岸环境,水动力环境较强,有机质等食物供给相对丰富,底栖有孔虫丰度相对较高;中期阶段(约10.0~7.0 ka期间),底栖有孔虫群落几乎消失,可能是由于海平面快速上升,动荡的海洋环境不利于有机质沉降,造成底栖有孔虫食物供给不稳定,不利于底栖有孔虫生存所致;晚期阶段(约7.0 ka以来),底栖有孔虫群落逐渐繁盛,以黄海中部冷水团特征组合为主,反映了区域海平面相对稳定、泥质沉积的形成以及黄海冷水团核心区域的出现等海洋环境变化为底栖有孔虫带来了稳定的有机质供给,故而底栖有孔虫丰度迅速增加到与现在相当的水平。黄海中部泥质区多柱样底栖有孔虫群落变化对早全新世海平面上升有较一致的响应,为该区全新世早期海平面快速上升以及黄海现代环流体系的形成提供了更直接的证据。

     

Evolution of a coastal alluvial deposit in response to the last Quaternary marine transgression, Bahía Blanca estuary, Argentina

The purpose of this research is to analyze the seismostratigraphic and paleoenvironmental features of an ancient fluvial deposit characterized by the presence of paleochannels and sedimentary structures in Bahía Blanca estuary, Argentina. To this end, high-resolution seismic methods were used. Paleochannels exhibiting v-shaped cuts were found at different topographic positions at the base of this deposit. It was observed that channel silting is indicative of the relative change of river base level and the consequent migration of fluvial tributaries. This alluvial deposit is composed of low compacted fine sand and its middle–upper facies is characterized by the presence of horizontal and discontinuous wavy reflectors. The upper boundary of this deposit is an erosive discontinuity resulting from Holocene sea-level rise during which the mouth of old fluvial courses underwent changes. The deposit was subsequently buried by sandy and clayey silt sediments. The paleodrainage at subbottom indicates that this deposit is associated with an ancient river mouth. Based on the seismostratigraphic and lithological characteristics and the paleochannel structures found in the study area, it can be concluded that the deposit analyzed is an alluvial sequence formed in the period from the Middle-Late Pleistocene to Holocene marine transgression.     

全新世以来腾格里沙漠风沙活动地质记录与模拟数据综合研究

自晚更新世以来,地处干旱与半干旱过渡区的腾格里沙漠,在亚洲季风的作用下,经历了几度流沙出现、扩大和固定、半固定乃至弱成壤的沙漠正、逆交替变化过程。东亚季风在时空尺度上的强弱变化通常被解释为驱动腾格里沙漠环境变化的主要原因。用于重建古环境和风沙活动的变化多依赖于腾格里沙漠边缘区域的黄土、湖泊、孢粉和冲洪积物,然而涉及到沙漠腹地的古环境记录较少,并且不同地点的沉积剖面所记录的地质信息具有区域局限性。本研究在腾格里沙漠西南边缘至腹地采取4个典型风沙沉积序列,共采集97个沉积样品和11个风沙沉积物光释光年代数据,并收集整理了约14 ka以来已发表的69个风沙沉积物光释光年龄数据以及137个古土壤、湖相沉积物和钙质根管的¹⁴C年龄数据;另外,为了减少沉积序列在解读和重建沙漠环境演变的或然性,运用TraCE-21 ka古气候模拟数据分别计算了14 ka以来腾格里沙漠地区地表有效湿度和沙丘活化指数的变化趋势,以及春冬和夏秋季节沙丘活化指数对全年平均值的贡献量,综合探讨了全新世以来腾格里沙漠近地表风沙活动历史以及驱动因素。结果表明：1）早全新世时期（11.7~8.0 ka）,较粗的平均粒径和偏多的风沙年代数据表明该时期风沙活动较强;模拟数据结果显示该时期风沙活动呈现减弱趋势,这主要是由于减弱的东亚冬季风引起的近地表风速下降所导致的,从而发生大量的风沙堆积;2）中全新世时期（8~3 ka）,较高的低频磁化率和较多的¹⁴C年代数据指示该时期古土壤发育,地表湿润条件转好,风沙活动较弱。模拟数据结果表明该时期地表有效湿度较高,风沙活动处于较低水平,这主要是由于增强的东亚夏季风带来了大量的降水,促使地表有效湿度较高,沙丘逐渐被植被固定;3）晚全新世以来（3~0 ka）,较粗的平均粒径和风沙年代数据增多表明风沙活动再次活跃。模拟数据结果显示该时期风沙活动呈现增加趋势,表明东亚夏季风减弱和腾格里沙漠的气候干旱导致沙漠地表有效湿度逐渐下降,植被退化,固定沙丘再度活化。

     

Holocene floodplain diachronism and inherited downstream variations in fluvial processes: A study of the river Perry,Shropshire, England

This paper attempts to explain downstream variations in the rates and processes of Holocene floodplain formation in a small to medium-sized, lowland catchment in Central England. Four macro-reaches were identified and horizons from at least one stratigraphic cross-section from each were radiocarbon dated. Considerable diachronism was revealed with the basal age and hence minimum residence time of the top two metres varying from 1000-9000yrs. The trend, a decrease in minimum residence time downstream, is explained by the basin-and-gorge bedrock long-profile inherited from the Devensian glaciation of the area. This is illustrated by a positive relationship between the mean floodplain accumulation rate and the SL index (slope-stream length product). Pollen analysis of the organic sediments shows that floodplain clearance took place around 1 300 BP, but probably locally, pre-dated and post-dated accelerated alluviation associated with agricultural expansion in the catchment. This study concludes that (a) different macro-reaches in this small to medium-sized catchment have adjusted in different ways to long-term catchment changes as part of autogenic floodplain evolution, (b) this has involved a change in the catchment's sediment conveyance characteristics during the Holocene, and (c) an important control on channel behaviour and floodplain sedimentation throughout the Holocene (as well as at present) has been the valley slopes inherited from the Quaternary glaciation of the area.     

Holocene transgression of the Rhine river mouth area,The Netherlands/Southern North Sea: palaeogeography and sequence stratigraphy

This study presents a detailed reconstruction of the palaeogeography of the Rhine valley (western Netherlands) during the Holocene transgression with systems tracts placed in a precise sea‐level context. This approach permits comparison of actual versus conceptual boundaries of the lowstand, transgressive and highstand systems tracts. The inland position of the highstand Rhine river mouth on a wide, low‐gradient continental shelf meant that base‐level changes were the dominant control on sedimentation for a relatively short period of the last glacial cycle. Systems in such inland positions predominantly record changes in the balance between river discharge and sediment load, and preserve excellent records of climatic changes or other catchment‐induced forcing. It is shown here that the transgressive systems tract‐part of the coastal prism formed in three stages: (i) the millennium before 8·45 ka bp , when the area was dominated by fluvial environments with extensive wetlands; (ii) the millennium after 8·45 ka, characterized by strong erosion, increasing tidal amplitudes and bay‐head delta development; and (iii) the period between 7·5 and 6·3 ka bp when the Rhine avulsed multiple times and the maximum flooding surface formed. The diachroneity of the transgressive surface is strongly suppressed because of a pulse of accelerated sea‐level rise at 8·45 ka bp . That event not only had a strong effect on preservation, but has circum‐oceanic stratigraphical relevance as it divides the early and middle Holocene parts of coastal successions worldwide. The palaeogeographical reconstruction offers a unique full spatial–temporal view on the coastal and fluvial dynamics of a major river mouth under brief rapid forced transgression. This reconstruction is of relevance for Holocene and ancient transgressive systems worldwide, and for next‐century natural coasts that are predicted to experience a 1 m sea‐level rise.     

Variability in terrigenous sedimentation processes off northwest Africa and its relation to climate changes: Inferences from grain-size distributions of a Holocene marine sediment record

Variations in deposition of terrigenous fine sediments and their grain-size distributions from a high-resolution marine sediment record offshore northwest Africa (30°51.0′N; 10°16.1′W) document climate changes on the African continent during the Holocene. End-member grain-size distributions of the terrigenous silt fraction, which are related to fluvial and aeolian dust transport, indicate millennial-scale variability in the dominant transport processes at the investigation site off northwest Africa as well as recurring periods of dry conditions in northwest Africa during the Holocene. The terrigenous record from the subtropical North Atlantic reflects generally humid conditions before the Younger Dryas, during the early to mid-Holocene, as well as after 1.3 kyr BP. By contrast, continental runoff was reduced and arid conditions were prevalent at the beginning of the Younger Dryas and during the mid- and late Holocene. A comparison with high- and low-latitude Holocene climate records reveals a strong link between northwest African climate and Northern Hemisphere atmospheric circulation throughout the Holocene. Due to its proximal position, close to an ephemeral river system draining the Atlas Mountains as well as the adjacent Saharan desert, this detailed marine sediment record, which has a temporal resolution between 15 and 120 years, is ideally suited to enhance our understanding of ocean-continent-atmosphere interactions in African climates and the hydrological cycle of northern Africa after the last deglaciation.     

河流活性物质入海通量:概念与方法

河流水体中呈溶解态和悬浮物结合态的元素活动性强,具有生态环境意义,查明其入海通量是当前生态地球化学评价的重要任务。通过总结前人的相关研究成果,确定了影响河流水体悬浮物的浓度及其矿物、化学组成的主要因素。从沿海经济带区域生态地球化学评价的实际需要出发,拟定了开展中国主要入海河流水溶态和悬浮物结合态元素入海通量调查的基本框架。     

河流活性物质入海通量:初步成果

河流是陆地与海洋相互作用的重要纽带,查明陆地河流活性物质入海通量是当前生态地球化学评价的一项重要任务。文中选择了中国东部入海河流中主要的35条河流,分丰、枯水期系统采集了悬浮物、过滤水、底泥等样品,利用河流径流量参数,计算得到了各河流主要重金属及营养元素的年入海通量及陆地河流年入海总通量,确定了各元素水溶态及悬浮物态迁移入海量的比例,为陆海相互作用研究、浅海生态地球化学评价提供了重要依据。     

全新世北大西洋海面温度变化趋势:观测-模拟对比研究

本文利用Kiel Climate Model(KCM模式)对全新世气候的模拟结果及其与北大西洋表层海水温度(sea surface temperature, 简称SST)重建记录的对比, 探讨了全新世北大西洋SST的变化趋势。浮游植物的长链烯酮不饱和度显示低纬北大西洋SST在全新世期间有升高趋势, 而在中纬和高纬地区表现为显著的下降趋势, 尤其是在中纬北大西洋西部, 最大降温幅度达到7.9℃/9.5ka。浮游有孔虫壳体的镁钙比值显示中纬北大西洋东部及高纬北大西洋有增温趋势, 而在中纬北大西洋西部及低纬北大西洋则有降温趋势, 但变化幅度均比较小, 绝大部分在2℃/9.5ka以下。气候模拟结果显示全新世北大西洋SST变化呈现明显的"三核型"经向模态, 在冬春季以增温为主, 降温限于拉布拉多海东南部的北大西洋海域; 在夏秋季以降温为主, 增温限于低纬和高纬北大西洋海域。模拟与重建的对比显示, 中纬和低纬北大西洋的长链烯酮不饱和度指标以及低纬西部的镁钙比指标可能反映夏秋季海温, 中纬北大西洋东部的镁钙比指标可能反映冬春季海温, 而中纬西部和高纬的镁钙比指标可能对4个季节的SST都有所反映。     

High‐resolution reconstruction of a coastal barrier system: impact of Holocene sea‐level change

This study presents a detailed reconstruction of the sedimentary effects of Holocene sea‐level rise on a modern coastal barrier system. Increasing concern over the evolution of coastal barrier systems due to future accelerated rates of sea‐level rise calls for a better understanding of coastal barrier response to sea‐level changes. The complex evolution and sequence stratigraphic framework of the investigated coastal barrier system is reconstructed using facies analysis, high‐resolution optically stimulated luminescence and radiocarbon dating. During the formation of the coastal barrier system starting 8 to 7 ka rapid relative sea‐level rise outpaced sediment accumulation. Not before rates of relative sea‐level rise had decreased to ca 2 mm yr^?1 did sediment accumulation outpace sea‐level rise. From ca 5·5 ka, rates of regionally averaged sediment accumulation increased to 4·3 mm yr^?1 and the back‐barrier basin was filled in. This increase in sediment accumulation resulted from retreat of the barrier island and probably also due to formation of a tidal inlet close to the study area. Continued transgression and shoreface retreat created a distinct hiatus and wave ravinement surface in the seaward part of the coastal barrier system before the barrier shoreline stabilized between 5·0 ka and 4·5 ka. Back‐barrier shoreline erosion due to sediment starvation in the back‐barrier basin was pronounced from 4·5 to 2·5 ka but, in the last 2·5 kyr, barrier sedimentation has kept up with and outpaced sea‐level. In the last 0·4 kyr the coastal barrier system has been prograding episodically. Sediment accumulation shows considerable variation, with periods of rapid sediment deposition and periods of non‐deposition or erosion resulting in a highly punctuated sediment record. The study demonstrates how core‐based facies interpretations supported by a high‐resolution chronology and a well‐documented sea‐level history allow identification of depositional environments, erosion surfaces and hiatuses within a very homogeneous stratigraphy, and allow a detailed temporal reconstruction of a coastal barrier system in relation to sea‐level rise and sediment supply.     

A mid to late Holocene record of palaeoclimatic changes from Nal Sarovar: a palaeodesert margin lake in western India

With a view to obtain palaeoclimatic data from a climatically sensitive region we have studied core samples from Nal Sarovar, a large shallow lake lying within the palaeodesert margin of Thar in western India. A combination of C/N ratios and δ¹³C on a radiocarbon-dated core section have been used as climatic proxies. A high-resolution record extending back to ca. 6.6 ka BP has been reconstructed. The data indicate that, in the past, climate has varied from drier to wetter than present on time-scales of few hundreds to few thousands of years. There are, however, significant differences on the timing of these wet and dry periods, when compared with the available data from lakes farther north, in Rajasthan. Further, it looks unlikely that during the 6.6 ka the catchment areas of Nal Sarovar experienced such a significant increase in rainfall as has been suggested for the Rajasthan lakes. Interestingly, drier periods in Nal Sarovar data appear to correlate well with periods of glacier expansion in Eurasia indicating that the palaeoclimatic variations recorded in Nal Sarovar are a regional feature. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Millennial-scale shifts in microtidal ecosystems during the Holocene: dynamics and drivers of change from the Po Plain coastal record (NE Italy)

Framed into a robust stratigraphic context, multivariate analyses on the Holocene palaeobiological record (pollen, benthic foraminifers, ostracods) of the Po coastal plain (NE Italy) allowed the investigation of microtidal ecosystems variability and driving parameters along a 35-km-long land–sea transect. Millennial-scale ecosystem shifts are documented by coeval changes in the meiofauna, reflecting variations in organic matter–water depth (shallow-marine environments) and degree of confinement-salinity (back-barrier settings). In-phase shifts of vegetation communities track unsteady water-table levels and river dynamics in freshwater palustrine areas. Five environmental–ecological stages followed one another crossing four tipping points that mark changes in relative sea level (RSL), climate and/or fluvial regime. At the culmination of Mediterranean RSL rise, after the 8200 event, remarkable growth of peatlands took place in the Po estuary, while low accumulation rates typified the shelf. At the transgressive–regressive turnaround (~7000 cal a bp ), the estuary turned into a delta plain with tidally influenced interdistributary embayments. River flow regime oscillations after the Climate Optimum (post-5000 cal a bp ) favoured isolation of the bays and the development of brackish wetlands surrounded by wooded peatlands. The youngest threshold (~800 cal a bp ), which led to the establishment of the modern delta, reflects a major avulsion of the Po River.     

Unravelling the conundrum of river response to rising sea‐level from laboratory to field. Part I: Laboratory experiments

The most recent deglaciation resulted in a global sea‐level rise of some 120 m over approximately 12 000 years. In this Part I of two parts, a moving boundary numerical model is developed to predict the response of rivers to this rise. The model was motivated by experiments at small scale, which have identified two modes describing the transgression of a river mouth: autoretreat without abandonment of the river delta (no sediment starvation at the topset–foreset break) and sediment‐starved autoretreat with abandonment of the delta. In the latter case, transgression is far more rapid and its effects are felt much further upstream of the river mouth. The moving boundary numerical model is checked against experiments. The generally favourable results of the check motivate adaptation of the model to describe the response of the much larger Fly‐Strickland River system, Papua New Guinea to Holocene sea‐level rise; this is done in the companion paper, Part II.     

末次间冰期ENSO对全球海平面上升响应的模拟研究

末次间冰期的全球年平均地表气温比现今高0~2 ℃, 这一增温幅度与未来预估的增温幅度相当。因此, 末次间冰期气候往往被认为是未来气候的一个类比。本研究利用挪威地球系统模式(NorESM1-F)开展末次间冰期模拟, 并进一步讨论全球平均海平面上升5 m和10 m时末次间冰期的ENSO海温变率。模拟结果表明: 模拟的末次间冰期热带太平洋年平均海表面温度较工业革命前普遍偏低, 这与地质记录重建基本一致。与工业革命前相比, 模拟的末次间冰期El Niño事件强度偏弱, 极端El Niño事件偏少; 而La Niña事件强度偏强, 极端La Niña事件偏多; 随着全球平均海平面的上升, 海表温度异常出现变化, 表现为小于0.5 ℃的海温异常出现的频率减少, 而大于0.5 ℃的海温异常出现频率增加, 表明全球平均海平面的上升会使海温的异常更加明显, 但全球平均海平面的上升对模拟的末次间冰期ENSO事件的频次及平均强度影响并不显著。