History and possible mechanisms of prehistoric human migration to the Tibetan Plateau

Prehistoric human history on the Tibetan Plateau is a hotly debated topic. Archaeological research on the plateau during the past few decades has enormously improved our understanding of the topic and makes it possible for us to consider the processes and mechanisms of prehistoric human migration to the region. By reviewing the published archaeological research on the Tibetan Plateau, we propose that the first people on the plateau initially spread into the He-Huang region from the Chinese Loess Plateau, and then moved to the low elevation Northeastern Tibetan Plateau and perhaps subsequently to the entire plateau. This process consisted of four stages.(1) During the climatic amelioration of the Last Deglacial period(15–11.6 ka BP), Upper Paleolithic hunter-gatherers with a developed microlithic technology first spread into the Northeastern Tibetan Plateau.(2) In the early-mid Holocene(11.6–6 ka BP), Epipaleolithic microlithic hunter-gatherers were widely distributed on the northeastern plateau and spread southwards to the interior plateau, possibly with millet agriculture developed in the neighboring low elevation regions.(3) In the mid-late Holocene(6–4 ka BP), Neolithic millet farmers spread into low elevation river valleys in the northeastern and southeastern plateau areas.(4) In the late Holocene(4–2.3 ka BP), Bronze Age barley and wheat farmers further settled on the high elevation regions of the Tibetan Plateau, especially after 3.6 ka BP. Finally, we suggest that all of the reported Paleolithic sites earlier than the LGM on the Tibetan Plateau need further examination.     

Spatiotemporal evolution of prehistoric Neolithic-Bronze Age settlements and influencing factors in the Guanting Basin,northeast Tibetan Plateau

For almost two decades, the relationship between prehistoric natural disasters that struck the Guanting Basin in northeast Tibetan Plateau and the destruction of Lajia, an archeological site, has attracted scholarly attention and been widely discussed. Whereas most studies have focused on the impacts of disasters on a single site within the Guanting Basin, few have examined patterns of spatiotemporal evolution of human settlements from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age. Consequently, there is a lack of clarity on the processes and mechanisms underlying the evolution of prehistoric human-land relationships in the Guanting Basin. We therefore examined spatiotemporal variations in settlements in the Guanting Basin during the period, based on the locations, altitudes, and areas of archaeological sites. We found that four sites were located on the third terrace of the Yellow River during the late Yangshao period(5500–5000 cal yr BP) and distributed within a small area. During the period between the Majiayao and Qijia cultures(5300–3600 cal yr BP), the number of sites evidently increased and the scale and distribution of settlements expanded, with settlements generally shifting toward the lower elevation areas of the Guanting Basin.During the Xindian period(3400–2700 cal yr BP), the number and scale of sites showed a downward trend and the distribution of settlements contracted. The Xindian settlement underwent altitude-based spatial differentiation, with some groups moving to areas at higher altitudes and others remained in lower altitude areas. Moreover, we found that the number, scale, and distribution range of Neolithic and Bronze Age sites in the Guanting Basin were closely related to the evolution and distribution patterns of prehistoric cultures in the regions of Gansu and Qinghai, which were further affected by climate change and agricultural development. Furthermore, there is no evidence that the altitudinal distribution pattern of Neolithic and Bronze Age settlements in the Guanting Basin was influenced by paleofloods rather it was primarily influenced by changes in subsistence strategies.     

青藏高原东北缘祁连山与酒西盆地结合部深部地壳结构及其构造意义

青藏高原地壳变形加厚机制一直是地学界研究争论的热点问题.青藏高原目前仍然处在持续向外扩张之中,因此青藏高原的边界地带作为高原向外扩张的最前缘地区代表了高原最新的变形状态,是研究青藏高原地壳变形加厚的关键地区.本文以一条穿过青藏高原东北缘祁连山与酒西盆地结合部的深地震反射剖面为基础,结合前人地质、地球物理资料,通过细致的地质构造解译,获得青藏高原东北缘祁连山与酒西盆地结合部位地壳变形以壳内滑脱带为界上、下解耦.滑脱带位于壳内低速层的顶部,深度14~24 km.滑脱带之上的地壳部分以一系列南倾、北冲,并向下终止于滑脱带的逆冲断裂变形为主,指示了青藏高原向北的扩张方式;滑脱带之下的地壳以Moho面作为变形标志,指示了复杂的挤压缩短变形.据此我们推测上、下地壳的解耦缩短变形对青藏高原东北缘地壳的变形加厚起到了决定性的作用,甚至在整个青藏高原地壳的变形加厚过程中都起到了重要作用.     

Source and Quality of Groundwater Surrounding the Qinghai Lake,NE Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Comprehensive studies on the spatial distribution, water quality, recharge source, and hydrochemical evolution of regional groundwater form the foundation of rational utilization of groundwater resources. In this study, we investigated the water levels, hydrochemistry, and stable isotope composition of groundwater in the vicinity of the Qinghai Lake in China to reveal its recharge sources, hydrochemical evolution, and water quality. The level of groundwater relative to the level of water in the Qinghai Lake ranged from −1.27 to 122.91 m, indicating most of the groundwater to be flowing into the lake. The local evaporation line (LEL) of groundwater was simulated as δ²H = 6.08 δ¹⁸O-3.01. The groundwater surrounding the Qinghai Lake was primarily recharged through local precipitation at different altitudes. The hydrochemical type of most of the groundwater samples was Ca-Mg-HCO₃; the hydrochemistry was primarily controlled by carbonate dissolution during runoff. At several locations, the ionic concentrations in groundwater exceeded the current drinking water standards making it unsuitable for drinking. The main source of nitrate in groundwater surrounding the Qinghai Lake was animal feces and sewage, suggesting that groundwater pollution should be mitigated in areas practicing animal husbandry in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, regardless of industrial and urbanization rates being relatively low in the region. The scientific planning, engineering, and management of livestock manure and wastewater discharge from animal husbandry practices is a crucial and is urgently required in the Tibetan Plateau.     

青藏高原东缘及四川盆地的壳幔导电性结构研究

自从2008年M_S8.0级汶川大地震发生以来,青藏高原东缘便成为地质与地球物理研究的热点区域.该区域的龙门山断裂带标志着青藏高原东缘与四川盆地的边界.汶川地震即发生于龙门山断裂带内的映秀-北川断裂上.该地区现有的研究工作多集中于青藏高原东缘及四川盆地的西部,对四川盆地东部构造情况的研究目前较少.在SinoProbe项目的资助下,完成了一条跨越青藏高原东缘及整个四川盆地的大地电磁测深剖面.该剖面自西北始于青藏高原内部的松潘-甘孜地块,向东南延伸穿过龙门山断裂带、四川盆地内部及四川盆地东部的华蓥山断裂,最终止于重庆东南的川东滑脱褶皱带附近.维性分析表明剖面数据整体二维性较好,通过二维反演得到了最终的电性结构模型.该模型表明,从电性结构上看,沿剖面可分为三个主要的电性结构单元,分别为:浅部高阻、中下地壳低阻的松潘-甘孜地块,浅部低阻、中下地壳相对高阻的四川盆地,以及华蓥山以东整体为高阻特征的扬子克拉通地块.龙门山断裂带在电性结构上表现为倾角较缓、北西倾向的逆冲低阻体,反映了青藏高原东缘相对四川盆地的推覆作用.其在地下向青藏高原内部延伸,深度约为20 km左右.在标志逆冲推覆滑脱面的低阻层下存在一电性梯度带,表征着低阻的青藏高原中下地壳与高阻的扬子地壳之间的电性转换.位于四川盆地东边界的华蓥山断裂在电性结构上表现为一倾向为南东向的低阻体插入高阻的扬子克拉通结晶基底,切割深度约为30 km左右.这一结构反映出华蓥山向西的推覆作用.在电性结构模型的基础上,进一步讨论了青藏高原东缘的壳内物质流、青藏块体与扬子块体的深部关系以及青藏高原东部的隆升机制等构造问题.     

Differential surface uplift: Cenozoic paleoelevation history of the Tibetan Plateau

The surface uplift history of the Tibetan Plateau has provided a key boundary criterion for various geological, climatic, and environmental events since the Cenozoic. The paleoelevation history of the plateau is organically associated with interactions amongst deep geodynamics, earth surface processes, and climate change. Understanding of plateau uplift history has been advanced by the development of a number of paleoaltimetries and their application to studies of the Tibetan Plateau: the paleogeomorphic scenario for the Early Eocene Tibetan Plateau is thought to include two high mountains, the ca. 4500 m Gangdese Mountains to the south, and the ca. 5000 m Qiangtang Center Watershed Mountains to the north. Between these ranges, a low-elevation basin (ca. 2500 m) is thought to have been present. The Himalayas in the southern Tibetan Plateau was close to sea level at this time, while the Hoh Xil Basin in the north reached an elevation of no more than 1500 m. Thus, the so-called “Roof of the World” Tibetan Plateau formed subsequent to the Miocene. Nevertheless,, the uplift histories of the different terranes that comprise this plateau currently remain unclear, which constrains the uplift history reconstruction of the entire Tibetan Plateau. Additional paleoelevation data from different areas, obtained using multi-paleoaltimeters, is required to resolve the forms and processes of Tibetan Plateau uplift and extension.     

Flexural subsidence by 29 Ma on the NE edge of Tibet from the magnetostratigraphy of Linxia Basin, China

This study provides a detailed magnetostratigraphic record of subsidence in the Linxia Basin, documenting a 27 Myr long sedimentary record from the northeastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau. Deposition in the Linxia Basin began at 29 Ma and continued nearly uninterruptedly until 1.7 Ma. Increasing rates of subsidence between 29 and 6 Ma in the Linxia Basin suggest deposition in the foredeep portion of a flexural basin and constrain the timing of shortening in the northeastern margin of the plateau to Late Oligocene–Late Miocene time. By Late Miocene–Early Pliocene time, a decrease in subsidence rates in the Linxia Basin associated with thrust faulting and a 10° clockwise rotation in the basin indicates that the deformation front of the Tibetan plateau had propagated into the currently deforming region northeast of the plateau.     

Luminescence dating of a hearth from the archaeological site of Jiangxigou in the Qinghai Lake area of the northeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Archeological research over the past several years has started to provide evidence relevant to understanding both the timing of and processes for human colonization of the high Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Much of this research has been in the Qinghai Lake area and the Qaidam Basin in the northeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. However, chronological data are still limited. Recently, a hearth was discovered in the Jiangxigou site in the south of the Qinghai Lake area, which was likely used by prehistoric hunters. The site is in the mouth of a canyon approximately 4.5 km from Qinghai Lake. Previous ages in this site are based on ¹⁴C dating only. The current study provides additional OSL dates for the hearth. The ages of four OSL samples bracketing the hearth range from 12.9 ± 0.9 to 14.4 ± 1.0 ka, but standard deviations overlap extensively and they likely represent the same age. The OSL ages show that by about 14.3 ± 1.0 ka prehistoric peoples were living in the Qinghai Lake area.     

Late Cenozoic magnetic polarity stratigraphy in the Jiudong Basin,northern Qilian Mountain

Late Cenozoic sediments in the Hexi Corridor, foreland depression of the Qilian Mountain preserved reliable records on the evolution of the Northern Tibetan Plateau. Detailed magnetic polarity dating on a 1150 m section at Wenshushan anticline in the Jiudong Basin, west of Hexi Corridor finds that the ages of the Getanggou Formation, Niugetao Formation and Yumen Conglomerate are >11-8.6 Ma, 8.6-4.5 Ma and 4.5-0.9 Ma respectively. Accompanying sedimentary analysis on the same section suggests that the northern Tibetan Plateau might begin gradual uplift since 8.6-7.6 Ma, earlier than the northeastern Tibetan Plateau but does not suppose that the plateau has reached its maximum elevation at that time. The commencement of the Yumen Conglomerate indicates the intensive tectonic uplift since about 4.5 Ma.

     

青藏高原下地壳流动方式的数值模拟研究

青藏高原存在柔性下地壳流动被越来越多的学者接受, 但是关于下地壳流动方式及速度存在争议。 地表运动有GPS等直接测量, 上地幔运动有S波分裂间接反映, 下地壳运动目前没有直接观测手段, 使得开展数值分析非常重要。 本文利用三维球壳黏弹性有限元模型研究了青藏高原下地壳柔性流动方式和流动速度。 本文通过对地表GPS观测资料的拟合与不同数值模型的对比分析, 认为青藏高原柔性下地壳东向流动遇到四川盆地的抵阻, 下地壳物质可能仅在高原东南方向存在物质外溢通道, 而在高原东北方向不存在类似的物质通道; 下地壳的流动速度比地表运动速率每年快几毫米至十几毫米, 对应的黏滞系数为10¹⁸~10¹⁹ Pa·s。     

Clay mineral records of the Erlangjian drill core sediments from the Lake Qinghai Basin,China

Located at the northeastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) in the Asian interior, the Lake Qinghai is sensitive to environmental change and thus an outstanding site for studying paleoenvironmental changes. Thick deposits in the Lake Qinghai provide important geological archives for obtaining high-resolution records of continental environmental history. The longest drilling core obtained from the Lake Qinghai, named Erlangjian (ELJ), reached about 1109 m and was investigated to determine its clay mineral assemblage and grain size distributions. Clay mineralogical proxies, including type, composition, and their ratios, as well as the illite crystallinity (KI) and chemical index (CI), in combination with grain size data, were used for reconstructing the history of paleoenvironmental evolution since the late Miocene in the Lake Qinghai Basin. The clay mineral records indicate that the clay mainly comprise detritus originating from peripheral material and has experienced little or no diagenesis. The proportion of authigenic origin was minor. Illite was the most abundant clay mineral, followed by chlorite, kaolinite, and smectite. Variations of clay mineral indexes reflect the cooling and drying trends in the Lake Qinghai region, and the grain size distribution is coincided with the clay minerals indexes. The paleoclimatic evolution of the Lake Qinghai Basin since the late Miocene can be divided into five intervals. The climate was relatively warm and wet in the early of late Miocene, then long-term trends in climate change character display cooling and drying; later in the late Miocene until early Pliocene the climate was in a short relatively warm and humid period; since then the climate was relatively colder and drier. These results also suggest multiple tectonic uplift events in the northeastern QTP.     

Geomorphic characteristics of the Minjiang drainage basin (eastern Tibetan Plateau) and its tectonic implications: New insights from a digital elevation model study

Abstract   The Minshan Mountain and adjacent region are the major continental escarpments along the eastern Tibetan Plateau. The Minjiang drainage basin is located within the plateau margin adjacent to the Sichuan Basin. Based on the analysis of the digital elevation model (DEM) acquired by the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM), we know that the Minjiang drainage basin has distinct geomorphic characteristics. The regular increasing of local topographic relief from north to south is a result of the Quaternary sediment deposition within the plateau and the holistic uplift of the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau versus the Sichuan Basin. Results from DEM-determined Minjiang drainage sub-basins and channel profiles show that the tributaries on the opposite sides are asymmetric. Lower perimeter and area of drainage sub-basins, total channel length and bifurcation ratio within eastern flank along the Minjiang mainstream are the result of the Quaternary differential uplift of the Minshan Mountain region. Shorter stream lengths and lower bifurcation ratio might be the indications of the undergrowth and newborn features of these eastern streams, which are also representative for the eastern uplift of the Minshan Mountain.     

青海湖晚更新世沉积物中胶黄铁矿的发现及其环境指示意义

对青海湖南盆沉积中心钻取的一根长18.6 m的高取芯率沉积岩芯(1F)进行磁化率测试显示,该岩芯在8.15～8.96 m和15.50～17.28m两沉积段具有非常高的磁化率.详细的岩石磁学测量和矿物分析表明这两段沉积物中有大量的胶黄铁矿存在,其磁畴特征主要以单畴(SD)为主,并显示少量超顺磁(SP)颗粒特征,这是导致磁...     

中国湖泊沉积物纹层年代学研究进展

晚第四纪尤其是全新世是地球气候系统演化的一个关键地质时期,是探究全球及区域重大气候环境事件,揭示其内在演化规律,预测未来气候变化的关键时段.国内外发表的文献中,主要的年代学方法有:AMS14C年代学、石笋U系测年和纹层年代学等.其中纹层年代学被认为是比较精确的定年方法.近年来,国内外学者在中国的一些湖泊中发现了年纹层沉积,例如龙岗火山区的小龙湾、四海龙湾及二龙湾玛珥湖,柴达木盆地的苏干湖,青藏高原东部的新路海以及可可西里地区的库赛湖.本文概述我国近年来湖泊纹层年代学研究进展,总结中国湖泊年纹层类型、特征及纹层年代学研究方法、误差估计等方面的进展,并提出未来年纹层研究应注意的问题,以期促进中国湖泊沉积物年纹层研究的进一步发展.     

Modern pollen rain in the Lake Qinghai basin,China

Lake Qinghai is the largest inland brackish lake in China and lies within the NE Tibetan Plateau. Our study shows that pollen assemblages in each vegetation belt are significantly correlated with the vegetation types of this area. Among the herbaceous and shrubby pollen assemblages, Artemisia is over-represented, while Poaceae, Cyperaceae and Polygonaceae are under-represented. Artemisia/ Chenopodiaceae (A/C) ratios with the regional vegetation characteristic can be used as a proper index to reconstruct the...     

青藏高原东北缘重力场深部结构及其动力学特征

本文采用欧拉反褶积、场源参数成像(SPI)、场源边界提取(SED)、莫霍面反演、地壳三维可视化等多源方法,对青藏高原东北缘地区的布格重力场进行反演与分析,深入研究该地区的深部结构与变形特征,探讨区域深部孕震环境及动力学机制.研究表明,青藏高原东北缘的布格重力场整体呈负异常值,具有明显的分区性,表现出鄂尔多斯盆地异常值相对偏高、阿拉善块体次之、青藏高原块体极低的特点,其中海源断裂系形成了一条宽缓的弧形重力梯度条带,梯度值达1.2 mGal·km^-1.欧拉结果显示,鄂尔多斯盆地相比于青藏高原块体而言,场源点具有较强的均一性,场源强度值高(密度值高)且深度稳定在25~32 km范围内,而高原块体的中下地壳尺度广泛分布着低密度异常体.SPI图可知,海源弧形断裂系位于“浅源异常”弧形区,反映其地壳较为活跃,易发生中强地震.SED图揭示青藏高原地壳向东北扩展,经过几大断裂系的调节后运动矢量向东或东南转化,SED与GPS、SKS运动特征大致相同,说明地表-地壳-地幔的运动特征有着较强的一致性.青藏高原东北缘地区壳幔变形是连贯的,加之莫霍面由北向南、由东向西是逐渐加深的,因此属于垂向连贯变形机制,不符合下地壳管道流动力学模式.区域形成了似三联点构造格局,其中海源弧形断裂系的深部地壳结构复杂,高低密度异常体复杂交汇,是青藏高原、阿拉善、鄂尔多斯三大块体相互作用的重要枢纽,其运动学特征总体为中段走滑尾端逆冲,而断裂系正处于大型的弧形莫霍面斜坡带之上,具备强震的深部孕震环境,因此大尺度的运动调节与深部孕震条件共同促使了该地区中强震的多发.     

2004年以来青海湖快速扩张对人居设施与草地的潜在影响

作为我国最大的内陆咸水湖,青海湖是青藏高原东北部重要水汽源,在维持区域生态环境及半干旱生态系统功能方面发挥着重要作用.近年来,青海湖水位迅速上升,但是湖泊扩张对周边人居设施与草地的影响尚未得到广泛关注和报道.基于1995-2019年Landsat TM/ETM+/OLI遥感影像、Hydroweb多源测高同化水位数据、SRTM-1 DEM数据等,本研究以青海湖近年来增长速率情景开展湖泊快速扩张对周边人居设施(道路、居民点)与草地影响和潜在威胁的定量研究.结果表明:1995-2004年期间青海湖处于萎缩态势,2004年水位和面积出现最小值,之后,青海湖进入稳定扩张期.2004-2019年期间,青海湖水位累计上涨3.27 m,年均增长率约为0.22 m/a;相应地,青海湖水量增长了14.25 km³,年均增长率为0.95 km³/a.湖泊扩张模拟结果显示,若青海湖水量以当前速率增长,水位将在2070年前后达到3207 m(相对2019年约10 m的水位涨幅),届时将会淹没178个居民点、长度约为1286.91 km的道路以及2042.22 km²的植被,其中预测的高风险区域主要为切吉乡、泉吉乡和金滩乡.该研究有望为青海湖快速扩张对当地居民的影响和潜在威胁提供重要的科学参考,并在气候变化背景下为制定缓解气候变化风险的预案提供科学依据.     

青藏高原东缘的地壳流及动力过程

黏滞性地壳流对地壳及上地幔变形作用及动力机制,是大陆新生代造山带的一个重要研究内容.青藏高原中下地壳存在部分熔融或含水物质的黏滞性流体,已为一系列地球物理及岩石学研究所证实.为研究青藏高原东缘地壳流的动力作用,本文用密集的被动源宽频带地震台的观测数据,反演了地壳上地幔精细速度结构和泊松比.研究表明,川西及滇西北高原的中地壳内普遍存在低速层,而高泊松比的地壳只分布在川西北地区.位于中地壳的黏滞性地壳流从青藏高原腹地羌塘高原流出,自北西向南东流入青藏高原东缘.这些黏滞性地壳流带动了上地壳块体水平移动,当它们受到刚强的四川盆地及华南地块阻挡时将发生分层作用,地壳流将分为二或更多分支不同方向的分流,向上的一支地壳流将对上地壳产生挤压,引起地面隆升,向下的一支地壳流将使莫霍面下沉加厚下地壳·黏滞性地壳流的运动在地壳中产生应变破裂发生强烈地震活动,地震的空间分布与震源机制也受到地壳流动力作用控制.     

青藏高原松潘—西秦岭—临夏盆地深地震反射剖面——采集、处理与初步解释

由于印度洋板块向亚欧板块俯冲使青藏高原不断隆起,其形成不仅导致了亚洲大陆内部强烈的晚新生代构造变形,还对其边缘地区的地貌格局产生重大影响.青藏高原东北缘是青藏高原向北东方向扩展的前缘部位,是印度与欧亚两大板块碰撞作用由近南北方向向北东、东方向转换的重要场所.本文利用2004年和2008年完成的深地震反射剖面资料,采用关键处理技术和参数开展唐克-合作剖面与合作-临夏剖面联线处理,获得总长约400 km的深地震反射剖面,完整揭示了西秦岭造山带及其两侧盆地的地壳结构和构造变形样式.结果显示西秦岭造山带下地壳向若尔盖逆冲推覆的深部构造特征;西秦岭下地壳北倾的强反射及其北侧南倾的强反射特征揭示出扬子与华北两个大陆板块在西秦岭造山带下的汇聚行为.Moho的埋深和起伏形态表明青藏高原东北缘地壳经历了高原隆升后强烈的伸展减薄作用.     

Sensitivity of the central Asian climate to uplift of the Tibetan Plateau in the coupled climate model (MRI-CGCM1)

Abstract   The relationship between the altitude of the Tibetan Plateau and climate change in central Asia was investigated through a numeric experiment using the Meteorological Research Institute (MRI) coupled atmosphere–ocean general circulation model I (MRI-CGCM1). The results suggest that summer precipitation in central Asia decreased significantly as the Tibetan Plateau rose in height. Spring precipitation, however, increased during initial growth stages when the plateau height was up to 40% of its present-day height, and then decreased with further plateau growth. During the Tibetan Plateau uplift, the difference between precipitation and evaporation was minimal during spring. When the plateau attained a height exceeding 60% of its present height, relatively low precipitation but high evaporation in spring led to a lower amount of ground moisture. In the case of the high plateau, sensible heat flux during summer and fall largely exceeded latent heat flux. Change was particularly significant for cases when the plateau reached 40–60% of its present-day height. The duration of the predominant sensible heat flux became longer with the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau. The period in which latent heat exceeded sensible heat seems to have been restricted to winter and early spring. The numeric experiments suggest that a significant drying of central Asia corresponded to the period in which the Tibetan Plateau exceeded approximately half its present-day height.