Analysis of Antarctic glaciations by seismic reflection and refraction tomography

The Eastern Basin in the Ross Sea (Antarctica) contains a sedimentary sequence that is a direct record of advance and retreat of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet.We analyzed a sedimentary section ranging from the upper Miocene to present.The joint tomographic inversion of refracted and reflected arrivals of pre-stack multi-channel seismic data revealed in this area the presence of layers with anomalous high velocity. These anomalies are correlated with sediments that were eroded and compacted by the load of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet during its expansion on the continental shelf.The deepest and stronger velocity anomaly correspond to a basin-wide seismic unconformity (RSU2, Late Miocene–Early Pliocene in age). This anomaly is interpreted as evidence of a major advance of the West Antarctic ice sheet on the continental shelf that resulted in high velocity and low porosity in sediment immediately above the unconformity.     

理想化南极融冰方案的海洋边界条件初探

基于气候态的SODA(simple Ocean Data Assimilation)数据,比较了气候态意义下南极附近和南极绕极流区域的海洋层结,对南极融冰问题的合理海洋边界条件进行了初步探讨.结果表明:南极融冰所注入的淡水通量在大西洋东部和印度洋海区将沿着表层路径到达南极绕极流区,在大西洋西部和太平洋的经向运动路径视淡...     

Core-based reconstruction of paleoenvironmental conditions in the southern Drake Passage (West Antarctica) over the last 150 ka

A deep-sea sediment core (GC98-06) from the southernmost Drake Passage, West Antarctica, shows late Quaternary depositional environments distinctly different from sedimentary drifts commonly found along the southwestern Pacific margin of the Drake Passage. The chronology of the core has been inferred using geochemical tracers of paleoproductivity and diatom biostratigraphy, and represents the paleoceanographic conditions in a continental rise setting during the last 150,000 years. Three dominant sediment types associated with distinct sedimentary processes have been identified using textural/compositional analyses: (1) hemipelagic mud (interglacial sediments) deposited from pelagic settling of bioclasts, meltwater plumes, and ice-rafted detritus; (2) terrigenous mud (glacial sediments) delivered by turbid meltwater plumes; and (3) massive muds marking the boundaries from interglacial to glacial periods. The succession of the sedimentary facies in core GC98-06 is interpreted to reflect temporal changes in environmental conditions prevailing on the continental rise of the southern Drake Passage in the course of successive climatic stages over the last 150 ka: from the bottom upward, these are glacial, interglacial, glaciation, glacial, and interglacial episodes. Variability in sediment flux and diatom abundance seem to have been related to changes in glacial advance, sea-ice extent, and specific sedimentary environments, collectively influenced by mid- to late Quaternary climatic changes.     

中-晚全新世冷水团对西格陵兰Disko湾的影响

西格陵兰位于北极—北大西洋地区,其海洋环境演变受西格陵兰洋流中冷、暖水团的显著影响。本文运用主成分分析方法对西格陵兰Disko湾DA06-139G孔沉积物中主要硅藻属种进行研究,试图揭示5000a BP以来西格陵兰洋流中冷、暖水团强度变化对研究区海洋环境的影响。5000—3800a BP期间,东格陵兰寒流携带的极地冷水团强度较弱,而北大西洋暖水团势力较强,Disko湾地区海洋环境较为温暖。3800—2000a BP期间,西格陵兰洋流中极地冷水团势力呈现阶段性增强,此时Disko湾地区气候缓慢转冷,海冰覆盖面积逐渐增加。2000a BP以后,特别是650a BP之后,样品在主成分轴一上的得分显著增高,表明Disko湾气候明显变冷,来自东格陵兰寒流的极地冷水团强度显著增强。Disko湾中晚全新世以来的硅藻记录及样品在主成分轴一上的得分所指示的极地冷水团的强度变化与格陵兰冰芯温度及海冰变化等具有较好的一致性,说明研究区海流特征与大气温度、海冰等环境要素密切相关。     

Seismic stratigraphy of the Adare Trough area, Antarctica

The Adare Trough, located 100 km NE of Cape Adare, Antarctica, is the extinct third arm of a Tertiary spreading ridge that separated East from West Antarctica. We use seismic reflection data, tied to DSDP Site 274, to link our seismic stratigraphic interpretation to changes in ocean-bottom currents, Ross Sea ice cover, and regional tectonics through time. Two extended unconformities are observed in the seismic profiles. We suggest that the earliest hiatus (early Oligocene to Mid-Miocene) is related to low sediment supply from the adjacent Ross Shelf, comprised of small, isolated basins. The later hiatus (mid-Miocene to late Miocene) is likely caused by strong bottom currents sourced from the open-marine Ross Sea due to increased Antarctic glaciation induced by mid-Miocene cooling (from Mi-3). Further global cooling during the Pliocene, causing changes in global ocean circulation patterns, correlates with Adare Basin sediments and indicate the continuing but weakened influence of bottom currents. The contourite/turbidite pattern present in the Adare Trough seismic data is consistent with the 3-phase contourite growth system proposed for the Weddell Sea and Antarctic Peninsula. Multibeam bathymetry and seismic reflection profiles show ubiquitous volcanic cones and intrusions throughout the Adare Basin that we interpret to have formed from the Oligocene to the present. Seismic reflection profiles reveal trans-tensional/strike-slip faults that indicate oblique extension dominated Adare Trough tectonics at 32–15 Ma. Observed volcanism patterns and anomalously shallow basement depth in the Adare Trough area are most likely caused by mantle upwelling, an explanation supported by mantle density reconstructions, which show anomalously hot mantle beneath the Adare Trough area forming in the Late Tertiary.     

A Mid-Miocene erosional unconformity from the Durban Basin,SE African margin: A combination of global eustatic sea level change,epeirogenic uplift,and ocean current initiation

Erosional unconformity surfaces are key indicators for the variations in eustatic sea level, ocean dynamics and climatic conditions which significantly affect depositional environments of sedimentary successions. Using a dense grid of 2D seismic data, we present new evidence from a frontier basin, the offshore Durban Basin, of a mid-Miocene age erosional unconformity that can be correlated with analogous horizons around the entire southern African continental margin.In the Durban Basin, this unconformity is typified by the incision of a mixed carbonate-siliciclastic wedge and ramp margin by a series of submarine canyons. Epeirogenic uplift of southern Africa characterised this period, with erosion and sediment bypass offshore concomitant with increases in offshore sedimentation rates. Although epeirogenic uplift appears to be the dominant mechanism affecting formation of the identified sequence boundary, it is postulated that an interplay between global eustatic sea-level fall, expansion of the east Antarctic ice sheets, and changes in deep oceanic current circulation patterns may have substantially contributed to erosion during this period.     

1994／1995年西北太平洋热带气旋气候特征与热带海洋和大气环流分析

本文分析了１９９４／１９９５年西北太平洋地区热带气旋气候特征，并对这两年西太平洋副热带高压、西风环流特征、热带对流活动以及赤道东太平洋海温进行了对比分析，从气候异常的角度讨论了这两年热带气旋异常的原因     

近1000年来西格陵兰荷尔斯泰因斯堡港生物硅指示的海洋生产力变化

We analyzed the biogenic silica(BSi) content and produced a diatom-based summer sea-surface temperature(SST) reconstruction for sediment core GC4 from the Holsteinsborg Dyb, West Greenland. Our aim was to reconstruct marine productivity and climatic fluctuations during the last millennium. Increased BSi content and diatom abundance suggest relatively high marine productively during the interval of AD 1000–1400, corresponding in time to the Medieval Warm Period(MWP). The summer SST reconstruction indicates relatively warm conditions during AD 900–1100, followed by cooling after AD 1100. An extended cooling period during AD 1400–1900 is characterized by prolonged low in reconstructed SST and high sea-ice concentration. The BSi values fluctuated during this period, suggesting varying marine productivity during the Little Ice Age(LIA).There is no significant correlation between the BSi content and SST during the last millennium, suggesting that the summer SST has little influence on marine productively in the Holsteinsborg Dyb. A good correspondence between the BSi content and the element Ti counts in core GC4 suggests that silicate-rich meltwater from the Greenland ice sheet was likely responsible for changes in marine productively in the Holsteinsborg Dyb.     

全新世气候系统的突变及周期性

高纬冰心、海洋沉积物及陆相古气候沉积记录揭示了全新世冰后期(最近1万年以来)存在系列气候突变事件及百年—千年尺度的气候周期韵律,证实了在冰期-间冰期旋回大尺度气候背景下全球气候存在较大不稳定特征这一基本事实。全新世作为与人类文明衔接的最新地质时段,各国科学家针对全新世气候系统变化特征及驱动机制的研究不断取得新的进展,这些成果将为未来气候演化趋势预测提供重要的历史相似性。总结了近年来关于全新世气候系统的突变及周期性研究的一些成果,并进行了概略的评述和展望。     

Ocean basins near the Scotia–Antarctic plate boundary: Influence of tectonics and paleoceanography on the Cenozoic deposits

The distribution of seismic units in deposits of the basins near the Antarctic–Scotia plate boundary is described based on the analysis of multichannel seismic reflection profiles. Five main seismic units are identified. The units are bounded by high-amplitude continuous reflectors, named a to d from top to bottom. The two older units are of different age and seismic facies in each basin and were generally deposited during active rifting and seafloor spreading. The three youngest units (3 to 1) exhibit, in contrast, rather similar seismic facies and can be correlated at a regional scale. The deposits are types of contourite drift that resulted from the interplay between the northeastward flow of Weddell Sea Bottom Water (WSBW) and the complex bathymetry in the northern Weddell Sea, and from the influence of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current and the WSBW in the Scotia Sea. A major paleoceanographic event was recorded by Reflector c, during the Middle Miocene, which represents the connection between the Scotia Sea and the Weddell Sea after the opening of Jane Basin. Unit 3 (tentatively dated ∼Middle to Late Miocene) shows the initial incursions of the WSBW into the Scotia Sea, which influenced a northward progradational pattern, in contrast to the underlying deposits. The age attributed to Reflector b is coincident with the end of spreading at the West Scotia Ridge (∼6.4 Ma). Unit 2 (dated ∼Late Miocene to Early Pliocene) includes abundant high-energy, sheeted deposits in the northern Weddell Sea, which may reflect a higher production of WSBW as a result of the advance of the West Antarctic ice-sheet onto the continental shelf. Reflector a represents the last major regional paleoceanographic change. The timing of this event (∼3.5–3.8 Ma) coincides with the end of spreading at the Phoenix–Antarctic Ridge, but may be also correlated with global events such as initiation of the permanent Northern Hemisphere ice-sheet and a major sea level drop. Unit 1 (dated ∼Late Pliocene to Recent) is characterized by abundant chaotic, high-energy sheeted deposits, in addition to a variety of contourites, which suggest intensified deep-water production. Units 1 and 2 show, in addition, a cyclic pattern, more abundant wavy deposits and the development of internal unconformities, all of which attest to alternating periods of increased bottom current energy.     

Short-term changes of marine bacterioplankton in antarctic coastal environment

Observations of the short-term changes of seawater bacterioplankton were carried out during the summer of 1988 in Antarctic coastal surface waters. The studies were designed to compare the variations of bacterioplankton in freemoving and enclosed seawater. Even when a diurnal cycle is present the data collected from the enclosed seawater experiments remain much more constant than the corresponding data in free-moving seawater. The wide range of parameters used in the two experiments reveals common properties which illustrate the major role of displacements of water masses at a fixed sampling station in the temporal changes observed in free-moving Antarctic coastal seawater.     

Antarctic sea ice and ENSO event

The characteristic low-frequency oscillation of the sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTA) of ENSO related regions, Nino 1 + 2, Nino 3, Nino 4 and Nino West, and the Southern Oscillation index (SOI) is analyzed with the method of maximum entropy spectrum. Antarctic sea ice is divided into 4 regions, i. e. East Antarctic is Region Ⅰ (0°-120° E), the region dominated by Ross Sea ice is Region Ⅱ (120° E-120° W), the region dominated by Ross Sea ice is Region Ⅲ (120° W-0°), and the whole Antarctic sea ice area is Region Ⅳ. Also, the month-to-month correlation series of the sea ice with ENSO from contemporary to 5-years lag is calculated. The optimum correlation period is selected from the series. The characteristics and the rules obtained are as follows.1. There are a common 4-years main period of the SSTA of Ninos 1 + 2,3 and 4, a rather strong 4-years secondary period and a quasi-8-years main period of that of Nino West. There are also 1. 5 and 2 to 3-years secondary periods of that of all 4 Nin     

Nitrogen cycle in the earth climatic system and its modeling

Investigations into the nitrogen cycle in the climatic system of the earth are reviewed with special emphasis on the biospheric nitrogen cycle. Approaches to modeling the biogeochemical nitrogen turnover are described. Excluding the nitrogen cycle from consideration when probable consequences of climate change are analyzed can lead to inaccurate estimates of the ecosystem response, in particular, for regions where mineral compounds of soil nitrogen are a limiting factor for the development of vegetation cover. Numerical experiments with climatic models point to a substantial influence of the nitrogen turnover on the feedback between climatic characteristics and the carbon cycle. Models of the combined dynamics of carbon and nitrogen make it possible to obtain realistic estimates of present-day resources and fluxes of these elements in ecosystems, as well as to estimate their changes during possible climatic changes.     

青海湖、岱海的湖泊碳酸盐化学沉积与气候环境变化

于1986—1989年,为探讨全球气候与环境变化的湖泊响应,选择了季风带边缘的青海湖和岱海开展了湖泊碳酸盐化学沉积与气候环境关系的分析研究。发现青海湖近500年来碳酸盐沉积减弱段与小冰期的冷湿气候背景一致;岱海晚更新世以来碳酸盐沉积增强段与冰期的干冷气候吻合。还从内陆湖泊的有效湿度与碳酸盐化学沉积的关系和碳酸盐含量的垂向变化规律,对两区域气候与环境的演化过程、特点和规律进行了分析。     

南极半岛周边海域水团及水交换的研究

利用中国第34次南极考察于2018年1–2月在南极半岛周边海域获得的温盐、海流现场观测数据,分析了调查区域主要水团及水交换特征。结果表明,观测区域内主要存在南极表层水、绕极深层水、暖深层水、南极底层水、布兰斯菲尔德海峡底层水。威德尔海的暖深层水、威德尔海深层水通过南奥克尼海台东侧的奥克尼通道、布鲁斯通道和南奥克尼海台西侧的埃斯佩里兹通道进入斯科舍海,其中奥克尼通道的深层海流最强,流速最大可达0.25 m/s,密度较大的威德尔海深层水可以通过此通道进入斯科舍海;布鲁斯通道海流流速约为0.13 m/s,通过此通道的暖深层水位势温度较高;埃斯佩里兹通道海流流速约为0.10 m/s,通过此通道的暖深层水位势温度最低,威德尔海深层水密度最小。在南奥克尼海台东西两侧均观测到南向和北向的海流,但整体上来看,向北的海流和水交换更强。水体进入斯科舍海后,沿着南斯科舍海岭的北侧向西北方向流动,流速约为0.21 m/s。德雷克海峡中的南极绕极流仅有一部分向东进入斯科舍海南部海域,且受到向西流动的暖深层水、威德尔海深层水的影响,斯科舍海南部海域的绕极深层水明显比德雷克海峡中绕极深层水的高温高盐性质弱;受到南极绕极流的影响,南斯科舍海岭北侧的威德尔海深层水比南侧暖。南斯科舍海岭上的水体可能受到北侧绕极深层水、暖深层水,西侧陆架水,东侧冬季水的影响,因此海岭上水体结构较为复杂。     

Predictive modeling of plant productivity in the Russian Arctic using satellite data

The NOAA satellite data for 1982–2012 are used to analyze current changes in plant productivity of the Russian boreal and tundra zones. Trends in the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) are calculated separately for the vegetation zones in the European, West Siberian, East Siberian, and Far East sectors of the Russian Arctic and are compared with each other. This index is the normalized difference in reflectance between the red and infrared regions of the spectrum and is widely used as an indicator of the photosynthetically active biomass amount. Multifactorial statistical analysis is used to analyze the link between the plant productivity characterized by NDVI and predictive climatic indices characterizing the temperature regime and precipitation. A statistical model is developed on the basis of the resulting set of regression equations and is used with a climatic projection to predict plant productivity changes across the zonal gradient from northern tundra to boreal forests. According to our results, the current increase in plant productivity, which is observed in all vegetation zones in the Arctic, will continue in the coming decades. By the mid-21st century, productivity may increase by as much as 30% of its current value in selected zones of arctic vegetation.     

Kermadec Island giant limpet occurring fossil in New Zealand,and relict distributions in the tropics

A large fossil limpet from the Isolated Hill Limestone (Oligocene) of Mason River, Marlborough, is described as Patella (Scutellastra) kermadecensis aurorae n. subsp., a subspecies of the living Kermadec giant limpet. Thus this limpet is not a primary endemic species at the Kermadec Islands, but a surviving relict population of a species formerly more widespread during the Tertiary. Such relict populations in the Indo‐West Pacific imply that the tropics were not immune from the effects of Pleistocene climatic fluctuations.     

南极海冰和陆架冰的变化特征

利用美国冰中心和雪冰中心提供的海冰资料和我国南极考察现场的海冰观测资料,对南极海冰的长期变化进行了研究.研究表明20世纪70年代后期是多冰期;80年代是少冰期;90年代南极海冰属于上升趋势,后期偏多,区域性变化差别大,东南极海冰偏多,西南极海冰即南极半岛两侧尤其是威德尔海区和别林斯高晋海的冰明显偏少.东南极和西南极海冰的变化趋势总是反相的.90年代后期普里兹湾的海冰明显偏多,南极大陆陆架冰外缘线总体没有明显的收缩,有崩解也有再生的自然变化现象.西南极威德尔海的龙尼冰架和罗斯海冰架东部崩解和收缩趋势明显,东南极的冰架也有崩解和收缩,但没有西南极明显.陆架冰崩解向海洋输送的冰山对全球海平面升高有一定的影响.目前南极冰盖断裂崩解形成的冰山,向海洋输入的水量可使全球海平面上升约14mm.南极海冰没有随着全球气候温暖化而明显减少,而是按照东南极和西南极反相的变化规律进行周期性的变化、调整和制约.     

西太平洋边缘海区元素地层学研究及其古海洋学意义

应用X射线萤光能谱对西太平洋边缘海区的4个钻孔的沉积物进行了元素分析。结果表明,元素在地层中的分布方式与气候变化有极大关系,存在两种模式:CaCO_3溶解区元素高含量与气候暖期一致;CaCO_3保存区,元素高含量段与气候寒冷区相对应,因此元素在地层中的分布有明确的古海洋学意义。利用元素在地层中的分布,对深海地层进行气候地层学划分与对比精度很高,称之为元素地层学。