Ecological function regionalization of cultural heritage sites in Turpan,China, based on GIS

The protection for historical and cultural heritage and their surrounding environments is much more important than any other preventive efforts made by humans, so how to protect them and achieve sustainable utilization should be a priority. Regionalization is an efficient and a sustainable tool to manage the protected areas. In this study, based on regionalization of natural protected areas theory, we used ecological sensitivity analysis to regionalize the heritage sites in Turpan, China. Factors for the analysis are topography, ecological environments, human activity, and landscape resources. Based on the analysis of environmental status and spatial variation of ecological sensitivity in Turpan, this paper aims at developing a regionalization scheme and provides a scientific basis for protection and restoration of vulnerable historical and cultural sites. Our study results showed that 75% of the heritage sites in Turpan have sensitivity which is under dangerous condition and requires better planning and protection. This study provided a reliable and scientific way to regionalize heritage sites in the study area and which also can be transferred to other locations with similar situation.     

The soil cultural heritage of Italy: Geodatabase, maps, and pedodiversity evaluation

Soils can possess heritage characteristics and can be classified according to their “cultural value”. “Pedosites”, likewise “geosites”, are important for science and teaching, for tourism and recreation, provide elements in the Environmental Impact Analysis, and enhance the awareness of population towards the value of the land where they live. Pedosite richness and diversity are a resource of a territory that should be evaluated and considered in land planning. The methodology used to evaluate and group pedosites of Italy, and the software developed to collect such information and create a specific geodatabase, are presented in this paper as an example for use in other countries. An Italian geodatabase storing 726 pedosites was created. Soil profiles as cultural heritage were: (i) palaeosols, (ii) soils from archaeological and palaeontological sites, (iii) soils displaying natural or anthropic processes and benchmarks of classifications. Pedosites as soilscapes were: (i) cultural landscapes; (ii) soilscapes determining the amenity of a panorama; (iii) soilscapes in fragile environmental balance; (iv) soilscapes that contribute to the outliving of particular ecosystems. The criteria for the evaluation of pedosites and the suggestions for their protection were indicated as follows: (i) area and (ii) type of scientific interest, (iii) state of conservation, (iv) type and (v) intensity of risk, (vi) level of knowledge, (vii) geological age, (viii) protection and (ix) proposed protection, (x) accessibility, (xi) visibility, (xii) exposure, (xiii) observability. The geodatabase can be used at different scales. Two maps, at national and local levels, exemplify the methodology and show how to use the geodatabase for didactic purposes or the creation of integrated Geoparks. Pedosite indices of diversity highlight the greater pedosite variety in the soil regions of Mediterranean Italy.     

Groundwater recharge and evolution in the Dunhuang Basin,northwestern China

Groundwater recharge and evolution in the Quaternary aquifer beneath the Dunhuang Basin was investigated using chemical indicators, stable isotopes, and radiocarbon data to provide guidance for regional water management. The quality of groundwater and surface water is generally good with low salinity and it is unpolluted. The dissolution of halite and sylvite from fine-grained sediments controls concentrations of Na⁺ and K⁺ in the groundwater, but Na⁺/Cl⁻ molar ratios >1 in all samples are also indicative of weathering of feldspar contributing to excess Na⁺. The dissolution of carbonate minerals yields Ca²⁺ to the groundwater, thereby exerting a strong influence on groundwater salinity. The δ¹⁸O and δ²H values in unconfined groundwater are enriched along the groundwater flow path from SW to NE. In contrast, confined groundwater was depleted in heavy isotopes, with mean values of −10.4‰ δ¹⁸O and −74.4‰ δ²H. Compared with the precipitation values, all of the groundwater samples were strongly depleted in heavy isotopes, indicating that modern direct recharge to the groundwater aquifers in the plains area is quite limited. The unconfined water is generally young with radiocarbon values of 64.9–79.6 pmc. In the northern basin, radiocarbon content in the confined groundwater is less than 15 pmc and an uncorrected age of ∼15 ka, indicates that this groundwater was recharged during a humid climatic phases of the late Pleistocence or early Holocene. The results have important implications for inter-basin water allocation programmes and groundwater management in the Dunhuang Basin.     

Groundwater sustainability and groundwater/surface-water interaction in arid Dunhuang Basin,northwest China

The Dunhuang Basin, a typical inland basin in northwestern China, suffers a net loss of groundwater and the occasional disappearance of the Crescent Lake. Within this region, the groundwater/surface-water interactions are important for the sustainability of the groundwater resources. A three-dimensional transient groundwater flow model was established and calibrated using MODFLOW 2000, which was used to predict changes to these interactions once a water diversion project is completed. The simulated results indicate that introducing water from outside of the basin into the Shule and Danghe rivers could reverse the negative groundwater balance in the Basin. River-water/groundwater interactions control the groundwater hydrology, where river leakage to the groundwater in the Basin will increase from 3,114?×?10⁴ m³/year in 2017 to 11,875?×?10⁴ m³/year in 2021, and to 17,039?×?10⁴ m³/year in 2036. In comparison, groundwater discharge to the rivers will decrease from 3277?×?10⁴ m³/year in 2017 to 1857?×?10⁴ m³/year in 2021, and to 510?×?10⁴ m³/year by 2036; thus, the hydrology will switch from groundwater discharge to groundwater recharge after implementing the water diversion project. The simulation indicates that the increased net river infiltration due to the water diversion project will raise the water table and then effectively increasing the water level of the Crescent Lake, as the lake level is contiguous with the water table. However, the regional phreatic evaporation will be enhanced, which may intensify soil salinization in the Dunhuang Basin. These results can guide the water allocation scheme for the water diversion project to alleviate groundwater depletion and mitigate geo-environmental problem.     

敦煌造山带长山子地区变质演化及年代学研究

长山子地区位于敦煌造山带东北部,瓜州南部约100km处。该区主要出露一套中-高级变质表壳岩,主要岩石类型有长英质片麻岩、变泥质麻粒岩、高压基性麻粒岩、斜长角闪片麻岩。高压基性麻粒岩岩块、斜长角闪片麻岩岩块以构造透镜体或布丁(长度为0. 5~15m)的形式,被夹持于长英质片麻岩、变泥质麻粒岩组成的基质之中,呈现典型"基质夹岩块"的混杂带特征。高压基性麻粒岩、斜长角闪片麻岩、泥质麻粒岩中,普遍保留了二至三个阶段的变质矿物组合。进变质阶段矿物组合(M1)为石榴子石变斑晶中的细小矿物包裹体,变质高峰期矿物组合(M2)为石榴子石变斑晶和基质矿物,退变质阶段矿物组合(M3)主要为围绕石榴子石变斑晶边部发育的"白眼圈"状后成合晶。本区各类变质岩石均记录了顺时针型变质作用P-T轨迹,系典型俯冲-碰撞造山带变质作用特征。退变质阶段P-T轨迹属于西阿尔卑斯型,说明变质岩折返速率较快。变质高峰期(M2)属于中压变质相系,P-T条件分别为790~870℃/1.29~1.37GPa(高压基性麻粒岩)、680~685℃/0.89~0.97GPa(斜长角闪片麻岩)、860~880℃/0.90~1.14GPa(变泥质麻粒岩),它们之间存在大的差异。这说明,它们是形成于同一俯冲隧道内不同深度的变质岩石,在构造折返阶段才混杂在一起形成构造混杂岩。二次离子质谱(SIMS)锆石U-Pb定年表明,长山子地区变质杂岩记录了早泥盆世的俯冲事件(419~417Ma)。     

敦煌复合造山带前寒武纪地质体的组成和演化

敦煌复合造山带位于塔里木克拉通东端,是连接塔里木克拉通和华北克拉通的重要纽带。近年来,敦煌基础地质研究取得了重大进展。本文简要回顾了敦煌基础地质研究历史和现状,系统归纳了区内前寒武纪地质单元时空分布特征及前寒武纪构造-热事件序列,初步讨论了前寒武纪大陆地壳形成和演化规律、前寒武纪结晶基底亲缘性及构造演化过程,提出:(1)敦煌造山带前寒武纪结晶基底形成于ca.3.1~1.6Ga,构造-热事件主要划分为新太古代(ca.2.7~2.6Ga和2.6~2.5Ga)、古元古代晚期(ca.2.0~1.8Ga)和中元古代早期(1.8~1.6Ga)三个阶段;(2)新太古代早期(ca.2.7~2.6Ga)和新太古代晚期(2.6~2.5Ga)是敦煌造山带大陆地壳形成的主要阶段;古元古代晚期(ca.2.0~1.8Ga)和中元古代早期(1.8~1.6Ga)主要是古老大陆地壳物质再循环阶段,也有少量新生陆壳物质的形成;(3)敦煌造山带前寒武纪结晶基底最初拼合事件可能发生在新太古代末期(~2.5Ga),之后经历了古元古代晚期(ca.2.0~1.8Ga)汇聚、碰撞造山过程,直到中元古代早期(1.8~1.6Ga),造山活动结束,前寒武纪结晶基底最终固结,进入稳定发展阶段;(4)前寒武纪结晶基底最终稳定固结之后,即～1.6Ga之后,敦煌前寒武纪结晶基底可能进入长达12亿年的静寂期,一直处于稳定状态,目前没有发现相关的岩浆-变质-沉积记录(类似于地盾状态),直至古生代志留纪开始活化(～440Ma),卷入古亚洲洋南缘俯冲、碰撞造山过程并被强烈改造。     

甘肃敦煌东巴兔山地区敦煌杂岩的变质 变形特征及时代限定

敦煌地块位于塔里木克拉通的东南缘,是塔里木克拉通前寒武纪岩石出露的重要地区之一。敦煌地块包括北阿尔金 地区和敦煌地区,区域内出露的最古老岩石分别被称为米兰杂岩和敦煌杂岩,文章研究重点是敦煌地区出露的敦煌杂岩。 敦煌杂岩由TTG质片麻岩和变质表壳岩组成,代表性岩石组合包括英云闪长质片麻岩、奥长花岗质片麻岩、花岗闪长质片 麻岩、石榴石斜长角闪岩、石榴石黑云母片岩以及大理岩。文章对东巴兔山干沟地区的花岗闪长质片麻岩样品进行了 LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb测年,对石榴石黑云母片岩样品进行了矿物电子探针分析,同时对敦煌杂岩开展了构造变形研究,目 的是揭示敦煌杂岩的形成时代、构造变形特征以及变质温压条件。花岗闪长质片麻岩样品的结晶年龄为2057±75 Ma,并且 记录了~1.88 Ga和~400 Ma两期变质作用,分别与古元古代和古生代的造山事件相关。构造变形研究表明敦煌杂岩记录了两 期变形作用,分别为区域上的右形韧性剪切作用（S1） 和南北向褶皱作用（S2）,且右形韧性剪切作用（S1） 和~400 Ma的变 质作用是配套同期的。此外,对石榴石黑云母片岩样品的分析表明,~400 Ma这期变质作用变质峰期的矿物组合主要为石 榴石+黑云母+斜长石+石英,且变质温压条件为667~690 ℃/0.88~0.89 GPa,代表了高角闪岩相的变质作用。     

敦煌西湖荒漠-湿地生态系统植被与土壤水分空间异质性研究

基于敦煌西湖荒漠-湿地生态系统植被与土壤特性调查, 采用地统计学方法, 研究了敦煌西湖荒漠-湿地生态系统的土壤水分和植被的空间变异特征. 结果表明: 研究区植被盖度、高度和多度的平均值分别为36.14%、80.42 cm和0.66株·m², 变异系数依次为117.52%、124.63%和36.50%, 植被盖度和高度均为高度变异, 植被多度为中等变异; 0~200 cm土层各层土壤湿度平均值为14.873%, 介于6.681%~ 23.004%, 变异系数介于39.28%~88.65%. 200 cm土层水分贮量平均值为163.598 mm, 变异系数为36.51%, 0~200 cm土层各层土壤湿度和2 m土层水分贮量均为中等变异. 植被特征与土壤特性各要素的基台值(C₀+C)介于0.112~0.549, 结构比介于76.6%~97.6%, 各变量具有较强的空间自相关性. 研究区植被型组由盐池湾向南呈沼泽→盐沼→草甸→阔叶林→荒漠演变过程, 植被特征与土壤特性在样带空间分布上具有明显的规律性, 且存在较强的空间自相关性和格局.     

Geochronology and Petrogenesis of the Late Paleozoic Yulinhe Granodiorite in the Dunhuang Block,Western China

The Dunhuang Block is located in the conjunction area of the Tarim Craton,Central Asian Orogenic Belt.North China Craton.and Tethyan tectonic domain,and is traditionally regarded as a Precambrian crystalline basement block.However,recent research concluded that the Dunhuang Block represents a Paleozoic orogenic belt.The granitoids that outcrop in the Dunhuang Block recorded tectonic-thermal events in both the Early and Late Paleozoic,which are crucial to understand the tectonic evolutionary history of the Dunhuang Block.In this study,we carried out new petrographic,zircon U-Pb geochronological,and geochemical analyses on the Late Paleozoic Yunlinhe granodiorite,and evaluated its petrogenesis,especially in terms of genesis type and the residual rock.     

Risk assessment of cultural heritage sites clusters using satellite imagery and GIS: the case study of Paphos District,Cyprus

This paper aims to assess the risk of natural and anthropogenic hazards for cultural heritage in Cyprus by integrating multi-temporal GIS and earth observation analysis, in the area of Paphos District. The work presented here attends to re-evaluate previous results from earth observations and GIS analysis and go a step forward targeting more reliable outcomes for cultural heritage management. The scope of the paper was to develop a more accurate methodology for risk assessment against natural and anthropogenic hazards (e.g., soil erosion; urban expansion), based on homogeneous clustering of the monuments under consideration. The accomplished assessment approach, being lopsided and generic, cannot be applied across the board and undistractedly for cultural heritage management of all types of monuments of the district. Instead, the proposed clustering of monuments based on a variety of parameters is taking into consideration characteristics of their immediate environment, resulting rational local-based outcomes more useful for monuments and sites safeguarding and for prevention measurements. For each one of the five clusters of monuments located in the Paphos District, an analytical hierarchy process (AHP) method was followed in order to address the individual and unique characteristics of the monuments and sites within the same cluster area. Subsequently, the weight factors from these clusters were interpolated to the whole district, prior to the application of the overall AHP risk assessment. Ultimately, the results were compared with the overall AHP method applied for the entire Paphos District, indicating that the proposed methodology can be more accurate and realistic for the different groups of the monuments.     

Characteristics of wind-blown sand in the region of the Crescent Moon Spring of Dunhuang, China

Based on the detailed wind data, this paper aims to investigate wind regime, drift potential and the movement of mega-dunes at the Crescent Moon Spring, an important scenic spot in western China and to clarify the dominant factors that control sand transport in this region. The results of this paper revealed that the dominant wind directions at the spring were NW and SW. The spring region belonged to a low-energy wind environment. The wind regime and sand drift potential were hugely influenced by local topography, and the regional atmospheric circulation intensified the complexity of their variations. Besides, the movement of the southern and northern mega-dune towards the spring greatly endangered the preservation of this scenic spot. These results provide insights into the characteristics of wind-blown sand at the Crescent Moon Spring that will guide efforts to control sand damages.     

Terrestrial laser scanning for rockfall stability analysis in the cultural heritage site of Pitigliano (Italy)

Traditional surveying methods are often not sufficient to achieve a complete geomechanical characterization of the rock mass, to analyze the instability mechanisms threatening the cultural heritage of hilltop historic towns. In Pitigliano (Tuscany, Central Italy), terrestrial laser scanning was employed complementarily to conventional geomechanical techniques. The overall 3D survey of the exposed surfaces was combined with scanlines of the inner walls of the subterranean cavities running underneath the historic centre. The rock mass discontinuities geometry was extracted, and the most critical instability mechanisms were mapped, with particular interest in the potential impacts on the ancient buildings located along the cliff edge. The geomechanical analysis of the surveyed joint sets confirmed a structural control on the cliff morphology by two main joint sets. Thanks to the laser scanner-based kinematic analysis, flexural toppling and wedge failure were found as the main hazardous instability mechanisms in Pitigliano. Finally, the conservation criticalities were identified and a pilot monitoring system was installed in a sector highly susceptible to block detachment.     

Development of a biocidal treatment regime to inhibit biological growths on cultural heritage: BIODAM

Existing chemical treatments to prevent biological damage to monuments often involve considerable amounts of potentially dangerous and even poisonous biocides. The scientific approach described in this paper aims at a drastic reduction in the concentration of biocide applications by a polyphasic approach of biocides combined with cell permeabilisers, polysaccharide and pigment inhibitors and a photodynamic treatment. A variety of potential agents were screened to determine the most effective combination. Promising compounds were tested under laboratory conditions with cultures of rock deteriorating bacteria, algae, cyanobacteria and fungi. A subsequent field trial involved two sandstone types with natural biofilms. These were treated with multiple combinations of chemicals and exposed to three different climatic conditions. Although treatments proved successful in the laboratory, field trials were inconclusive and further testing will be required to determine the most effective treatment regime. While the most effective combination of chemicals and their application methodology is still being optimised, results to date indicate that this is a promising and effective treatment for the control of a wide variety of potentially damaging organisms colonising stone substrates.     

Formation and evolution of yardangs activated by Late Pleistocene tectonic movement in Dunhuang,Gansu Province of China

Developed in the Anxi-Dunhuang basin, the yardangs of Dunhuang (western China) are clearly affected by tectonic movement. Based on fieldwork, this study ascertained three levels of river terrace in the area for the first time. Through the analysis of river terraces formation and regional tectonic movement, the study ascertained that the river terraces were formed mainly by Late Pleistocene tectonic uplift, which had activated the evolution of yardangs in the study area. By electron spin resonance (ESR) dating and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating, the starting time and periodicity of the evolution of the yardangs were determined. The river terraces designated T3, T2 and T1 began to evolve at 109.0 ～98.5, 72.9 ～66.84 and 53.2 ～38.0 kaBP, respectively, which is the evidence of regional neotectonic movement. And, the formation of the yardangs was dominated by tectonic uplift during the prenatal stage and mainly by wind erosion in the following evolution, with relatively short stationary phases. This research focused on the determination of endogenic processes of yardangs formation, which would contribute to further understanding of yardangs formation from a geological perspective and promote further study of yardang landform.