Charcoal records from thermokarst deposits in central Yakutia, eastern Siberia: Implications for forest fire history and thermokarst development

Macroscopic charcoal records from a thermokarst lake deposit in central Yakutia, eastern Siberia, were used to reconstruct the history of forest fires and investigate its relationship to thermokarst initiation. High accumulation rates of charcoal and pollen were coincident in the basal deposits of the thermokarst lake, which suggests that both were initially deposited on the forest floor and subsequently reworked and accumulated in the thermokarst depression. High charcoal and pollen accumulation rates in the basal deposits, dating to 11,000-9000 cal yr BP, also indicate that the thermokarst topography developed during the early Holocene. A lower charcoal accumulation rate after ca. 9000 cal yr BP suggests that thermokarst development has been inhibited since this time. It also indicates that a surface-fire regime has been predominant at least since ca. 9000 cal yr BP in central Yakutia.     

Charcoal signatures defined by multivariate analysis of charcoal records from 10 lakes in northwest Wisconsin (USA)

We show how sedimentary charcoal records from multiple sites within a single landscape can be used to compare fire histories and reveal small scale patterns in fire regimes. Our objective is to develop strategies for classifying and comparing late-Holocene charcoal records in Midwestern oak- and pine-dominated sand plain ecosystems where fire regimes include a mix of surface and crown fires. Using standard techniques for the analysis of charcoal from lake sediments, we compiled 1000- to 4000-yr-long records of charcoal accumulation and charcoal peak frequencies from 10 small lakes across a sand plain in northwestern Wisconsin. We used cluster analysis to identify six types of charcoal signatures that differ in their charcoal influx rates, amount of grass charcoal, and frequency and magnitude of charcoal peaks. The charcoal records demonstrate that while fire histories vary among sites, there are regional patterns in the occurrence of charcoal signature types that are consistent with expected differences in fire regimes based on regional climate and vegetation reconstructions. The fire histories also show periods of regional change in charcoal signatures occurring during times of regional climate changes at ~ 700, 1000, and 3500 cal yr BP.     

Development of the mixed conifer forest in northern New Mexico and its relationship to Holocene environmental change

Chihuahueños Bog (2925 m) in the Jemez Mountains of northern New Mexico contains one of the few records of late-glacial and postglacial development of the mixed conifer forest in southwestern North America. The Chihuahueños Bog record extends to over 15,000 cal yr BP. An Artemisia steppe, then an open Picea woodland grew around a small pond until ca. 11,700 cal yr BP when Pinus ponderosa became established. C/N ratios, δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values indicate both terrestrial and aquatic organic matter was incorporated into the sediment. Higher percentages of aquatic algae and elevated C/N ratios indicate higher lake levels at the opening of the Holocene, but a wetland developed subsequently as climate warmed. From ca. 8500 to 6400 cal yr BP the pond desiccated in what must have been the driest period of the Holocene there. C/N ratios declined to their lowest Holocene levels, indicating intense decomposition in the sediment. Wetter conditions returned after 6400 cal yr BP, with conversion of the site to a sedge bog as groundwater levels rose. Higher charcoal influx rates after 6400 cal yr BP probably result from greater biomass production rates. Only minor shifts in the overstory species occurred during the Holocene, suggesting that mixed conifer forest dominated throughout the record.     

Postglacial fire, vegetation, and climate history in the Clearwater Range, Northern Idaho, USA

The environmental history of the Northern Rocky Mountains was reconstructed using lake sediments from Burnt Knob Lake, Idaho, and comparing the results with those from other previously published sites in the region to understand how vegetation and fire regimes responded to large-scale climate changes during the Holocene. Vegetation reconstructions indicate parkland or alpine meadow at the end of the glacial period indicating cold-dry conditions. From 14,000 to 12,000 cal yr B.P., abundant Pinus pollen suggests warmer, moister conditions than the previous period. Most sites record the development of a forest with Pseudotsuga ca. 9500 cal yr B.P. indicating warm dry climate coincident with the summer insolation maximum. As the amplification of the seasonal cycle of insolation waned during the middle Holocene, Pseudotsuga was replaced by Pinus and Abies suggesting cool, moist conditions. The fire reconstructions show less synchroneity. In general, the sites west of the continental divide display a fire-frequency maximum around 12,000–8000 cal yr B.P., which coincides with the interval of high summer insolation and stronger-than-present subtropical high. The sites on the east side of the continental divide have the highest fire frequency ca. 6000–3500 cal yr B.P. and may be responding to a decrease in summer precipitation as monsoonal circulation weakened in the middle and late Holocene. This study demonstrated that the fire frequency of the last two decades does not exceed the historical range of variability in that periods of even higher-than-present fire frequency occurred in the past.     

A liquefaction severity index suggested for engineering practice

One of the major tasks in earthquake geotechnical engineering is the preparation of liquefaction susceptibility maps. For this purpose, some indices associated with liquefaction susceptibility are used. However, the currently used indices have some limitations. In this study, a liquefaction severity index, which can be used in preparation of susceptibility maps, is suggested. The suggested severity index is applied to two sites selected from Taiwan (Yuanlin) and Turkey (Inegol) to examine performance. The application indicated that the suggested index shows a good performance for the selected sites, and can be considered as a tool for further studies.     

Forest–savanna–morichal dynamics in relation to fire and human occupation in the southern Gran Sabana (SE Venezuela) during the last millennia

The southern Gran Sabana (SE Venezuela) holds a particular type of neotropical savanna characterized by the local occurrence of morichales (Mauritia palm swamps), in a climate apparently more suitable for rain forests. We present a paleoecological analysis of the last millennia of Lake Chonita (4°39′N–61°0′W, 884 m elevation), based on biological and physico-chemical proxies. Savannas dominated the region during the last millennia, but a significant vegetation replacement occurred in recent times. The site was covered by a treeless savanna with nearby rainforests from 3640 to 2180 cal yr BP. Water levels were higher than today until about 2800 cal yr BP. Forests retreated since about 2180 cal yr BP onwards, likely influenced by a higher fire incidence that facilitated a dramatic expansion of morichales. The simultaneous appearance of charcoal particles and Mauritia pollen around 2000 cal yr BP supports the potential pyrophilous nature of this palm and the importance of fire for its recent expansion. The whole picture suggests human settlements similar to today – in which fire is an essential element – since around 2000 yr ago. Therefore, present-day southern Gran Sabana landscapes seem to have been the result of the synergy between biogeographical, climatic and anthropogenic factors, mostly fire.     

利用泥质岩化学蚀变指数分析物源区风化程度时的限制因素*

近年来,根据泥质岩中常量元素的摩尔数计算出的化学蚀变指数(CIA: Chemical index of alteration)、化学风化指数(CIW: Chemical index of weathering)和斜长石蚀变指数(PIA: Plagioclase index of alteration)被广泛用来反映物源区的风化程度及物源区古气候,这些指数在应用时都有一些严格的限制因素,应给予足够重视。CIA计算公式未排除成岩作用过程中钾交代作用的影响,需要采用A-CN-K[Al₂O₃-(CaO^*+Na₂O)-K₂O]三角图进行判断,对发生钾交代作用的样品利用A-CN-K三角图或CIA_corr计算公式进行校正。CIW计算公式中去掉了K₂O,但没有排除钾长石中的Al元素。PIA计算公式中考虑了钾长石中的Al元素,但只适用于判断母岩中仅含有斜长石而不含钾长石的物源区风化程度。综合分析表明,在判断物源区风化程度及古气候时,CIA的干扰因素相对较少,值得推广。但即使利用从泥质岩常量元素获得的CIA值来判断物源区的风化程度时,仍需要考虑沉积分异作用、再旋回作用、沉积区进一步风化作用以及成土作用、成岩期的钾交代作用的影响,建议首先依据泥质岩常量元素的摩尔数计算出成分变异指数(ICV: Index of compositional variability),然后对ICV>1的样品进行CIA的计算,并利用A-CN-K三角图或CIA_corr计算公式对CIA值进行钾交代作用的校正,该校正过的CIA_corr计算值可用来判断物源区的风化程度。     

Modification of the liquefaction potential index and liquefaction susceptibility mapping for a liquefaction-prone area (Inegol,Turkey)

Although some liquefaction assessment methods were proposed to evaluate the liquefaction potential of sandy soils, the conventional method based on the standard penetration test (SPT) has been commonly used in most countries and in Turkey. However, it alone is not a sufficient tool for the evaluation of liquefaction potential. The liquefaction potential index was proposed to quantify the severity of liquefaction. Nevertheless, the liquefaction potential index and the severity categories do not answer the question: "Which areas will not liquify?" Besides, the categories do not include a "moderate" category; on the other hand, the "high" and "low" categories are included. This situation is also contrary to the nature of classification schemes. In this study, the liquefaction potential index and the liquefaction potential categories were modified by considering the existing form of the categories based on the liquefaction potential index. While the category of low was omitted, the categories of moderate and "non-liquefied" were adopted. A factor of safety of 1.2 was assumed as the lowest value for the liquefaction potential category of non-liquefied. In addition, the town of Inegol in the Marmara region became the case study for checking the performance of the liquefaction potential categories suggested in this study.     

一种适用于微体古生物沉积动力分析的沉积物粒径指数及其应用例证

微体古生物的沉积动力分析可提取出比单纯的微体古生物分析更多更准的古沉积环境信息。本文提出一种称为“沉积物粒径指数（ｇｓｉ）”的半定量参数，适用于微体古生物的沉积动力学分析研究。长江口及苏北辐射沙洲区的有孔虫分析实例表明这种沉积物粒径指数行之有效。     

Apatite fission-track study on the thermo-tectonic history of the Huainan Coalfield in Anhui Province, China： Tectonic implications for the potential coalbed methane resource

Coalbed methane (CBM) is a kind of burgeoning and enormously potential clean energy resource, and the temperature of the thermogenic CBM generation is close to that of the partial annealing zone (PAZ) of apatite fission tracks (AFT). In this study the thermo-tectonic history of the Huainan Coalfield and the potential CBM resource were studied and discussed by using the AFT method. The AFT data indicate that the apparent ages of AFT vary from 45.5 to 199.1 Ma. They are younger than the ages of their host strata (255–1800 Ma) except one sample, and the single-grain ages of AFT can be classified as a single age group for each sample. In combination with the geological setting, modeling results of the AFT ages, average lengths, and the thermal history based on the AFT single-grain ages and length distributions, some preliminary conclusions can be drawn as follows: (1) at least three thermo-tectonic events (in the periods of ∼240, 140 and 80 Ma, respectively) have occurred in the study area since the Late Paleozoic. The occurrence of both the first (during 240–220 Ma) and second (during 160–120 Ma) thermo-tectonic events is possibly responsible for the establishment of the patterns of gas generation and reservoir formation. The second thermo-tectonic event also led to slight accumulation of hydrocarbons and generation of thermogenic gas; (2) the AFT ages of most coal-bearing strata lie between 50 and 70 Ma. They should represent the cooling ages and the ages of inferred uplift and denudation, as well as the possible CBM release history. Therefore, the maximum burial depth of coal-bearing strata and the denudation thickness of the overlying strata are over 3000 and 2000 m in the Upper Cretaceous and Paleogene series, respectively; and (3) subsequently, a spot of secondary biogenic and scarcely thermogenic gas generation occurred due to negligible sedimentation during the Neogene and Quaternary periods. Thus, it can be presumed that subsequent tectonism would destroy the CBM reservoir after its formation in the Huainan Coalfield, especially in its structural development region. These AFT data may be helpful for a better understanding of the thermo-tectonic history of the Huainan Coalfield, as well as of CBM generation, storage and release in the Huainan Coalfield.     

A chironomid-based reconstruction of summer temperatures in NW Iceland since AD 1650

Few studies currently exist that aim to validate a proxy chironomid-temperature reconstruction with instrumental temperature measurements. We used a reconstruction from a chironomid percentage abundance data set to produce quantitative summer temperature estimates since AD 1650 for NW Iceland through a transfer function approach, and validated the record against instrumental temperature measurements from Stykkishólmur in western Iceland. The core was dated through Pb-210, Cs-137 and tephra analyses (Hekla 1693) which produced a well-constrained dating model across the whole study period. Little catchment disturbance, as shown through geochemical (Itrax) and loss-on-ignition data, throughout the period further reinforce the premise that the chironomids were responding to temperature and not other catchment or within-lake variables. Particularly cold phases were identified between AD 1683–1710, AD 1765–1780 and AD 1890–1917, with relative drops in summer temperatures in the order of 1.5–2°C. The timing of these cold phases agree well with other evidence of cooler temperatures, notably increased extent of Little Ice Age (LIA) glaciers. Our evidence suggests that the magnitude of summer temperature cooling (1.5–2°C) was enough to force LIA Icelandic glaciers into their maximum Holocene extent, which is in accordance with previous modelling experiments for an Icelandic ice cap (Langjökull).     

A statistical approach for determining the environment impact of surface sediments from the Dongting Lake area,central China

The Dongting Lake, the second biggest freshwater lake in China, consists of three wetlands of national importance, namely the East Dongting Lake, the South Dongting Lake, and the West Dongting Lake. Surface sedi-ments were sampled from 57 locations across the lake. Nutrient concentrations [total organic carbon (TOC), total N (TN) and total P (TP)] and 16 element concentrations (Al, As, B, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, K, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Si, Ti and Zn) in the sediments were measured to investigate the impact of industrialization along the lake's coastline and sev-eral tributaries on the profiles of nutrients and heavy metals in the lake's surface sediments. R-mode cluster analysis (CA) was used to integrate geochemical data. The result showed that euthophication of the Dongting Lake resulted mainly from TN and TOC. The main polluting trace metals are Hg, As, Cd, Zn, Pb and Mn, which are largely ad-sorbed on clay minerals or Fe/Mn oxides, or deposited as carbonates. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed the source of micropollutants. The worst affected district by heavy metals is the East Dongting Lake, the pollution sources may originate mainly from the Xiangjiang drainage area. The results demonstrated that multivariate methods are the potentially great tools for the interpretation of the environmental data on lake sediments.     

Ancient charcoal as a natural archive for paleofire regime and vegetation change in the Mayumbe,Democratic Republic of the Congo

Charcoal was sampled in four soil profiles at the Mayumbe forest boundary (DRC). Five fire events were recorded and 44 charcoal types were identified. One stratified profile yielded charcoal assemblages around 530 cal yr BP and > 43.5 cal ka BP in age. The oldest assemblage precedes the period of recorded anthropogenic burning, illustrating occasional long-term absence of fire but also natural wildfire occurrences within tropical rainforest. No other charcoal assemblages older than 2500 cal yr BP were recorded, perhaps due to bioturbation and colluvial reworking. The recorded paleofires were possibly associated with short-lived climate anomalies. Progressively dry climatic conditions since ca. 4000 cal yr BP onward did not promote paleofire occurrence until increasing seasonality affected vegetation at the end of the third millennium BP, as illustrated by a fire occurring in mature rainforest that persisted until around 2050 cal yr BP. During a drought episode coinciding with the ‘Medieval Climate Anomaly’, mature rainforest was locally replaced by woodland savanna. Charcoal remains from pioneer forest indicate that fire hampered forest regeneration after climatic drought episodes. The presence of pottery shards and oil-palm endocarps associated with two relatively recent paleofires suggests that the effects of climate variability were amplified by human activities.     

黄河源秋季洪峰对西风指数的响应

分析了1961—2010年黄河源的水文气象要素的演变过程。由于丰水期（7月、 8月、 9月）降水减少而温度升高, 导致黄河源年径流及降水总体上呈非显著减少趋势, 且1990年代以来9月份秋季洪峰消失。以30年为一个时间窗口, 使用偏相关方法, 分别计算了黄河源丰水期的降水、 径流与WCI（西风指数）、 ENSO（厄尔尼诺-南方涛动）和IOD（印度洋偶极子）的偏相关关系并排除了ENSO、 IOD与WCI之间的共同作用, 发现WCI对黄河源丰水期径流影响要高于ENSO与IOD, WCI的增强可能是黄河源8月降水减少及9月洪峰消减的主要因素。     

Application of rock mass index (RMi) to the rock mass excavatability assessment in open face excavations

Earthwork and surface excavation activities play an important role in construction projects. Selecting the best technique to loosen the overburden material within the surface excavation in open mining and geotechnical projects is of great importance from economical and technical viewpoints. Surface excavation includes direct digging, ripping and blasting. To select the most effective method and plan for excavation, geotechnical investigation is very important. It is also a big help in avoiding conflict between contractors and clients when they do not reach mutual agreement regarding the price of rock and soil excavation. There are many engineering classification systems used to assess rock masses for excavation purposes. All of these systems consider several geotechnical parameters to assess the earth masses. This study reviews these systems and then offers a new categorization based on the Rock Mass index (RMi) classification system and block volume to assess excavation in rock masses. The original dataset was obtained from the literature review as well as the surface excavation in Upper Gotvand dam and Hydro Power Plant (HPP). The offered system was also validated through the data extracted from the surface excavation in Sardasht dam and HPP in Iran.     

浙江南部近海沉积物柱状样中脂类生物标志物的组成及形态分布

湖泊沉积物中直链脂肪族化合物(MCCs)对气候变化响应敏感,环境条件的变化可促使MCCs在游离态和结合态间发生转化,是古气候重建的重要生物标志物。以往研究中对样品前处理通常采用混合溶剂提取法得到MCCs游离态组分,而以化学键合、物理吸附等形式赋存的结合态组分无法通过溶剂提取,不能获取结合态组分特征对气候环境变化的指示信息。本文将热裂解这一有机质高效分解技术与气相色谱-质谱(GC-MS)联用,实现了对内蒙古伊和沙日乌苏湖泊沉积物有机质组成的精细刻画,并识别、分析了共计3类、71项结合态MCCs化合物。结果表明：热解温度是影响热裂解-气相色谱-质谱(Py-GC/MS)分析沉积物样品中结合态MCCs分布特征的主要因素,450℃以下热解能量较低导致结合态MCCs解析不充分,550℃和650℃下各类结合态MCCs(含正构烷烃、正构烯烃及α-正构脂肪酮)充分解析,可经GC-MS实现在线分离、识别;随着热解温度升高,裂解产物中MCCs平均链长趋于降低,过高的裂解能量影响了产物中MCCs化合物链长特征对气候变化指示的敏感性。经研究各类MCCs分布特征发现,550℃下正构烷烃平均链长特征与传统气候替代指标游离态正构烷烃单体碳同位素δ¹³C_27~33具有较好的相关性(R=0.83)。结合态正构烷烃ACL_25~31指标响应了区域有效降水变化特征,识别了区域内5.6ka、3.9ka前后的干旱期,反映了东亚夏季风强度变化,对应了北半球中纬度有效降水变化。

     

Statistical empirical index of chemical weathering in igneous rocks: A new tool for evaluating the degree of weathering

Chemical weathering indices are useful tools in characterizing weathering profiles and determining the extent of weathering. However, the predictive performance of the conventional indices is critically dependent on the composition of the unweathered parent rock. To overcome this limitation, the present paper introduces an alternative statistical empirical index of chemical weathering that is extracted by the principal component analysis (PCA) of a large dataset derived from unweathered igneous rocks and their weathering profiles. The PCA analysis yields two principal components (PC1 and PC2), which capture 39.23% and 35.17% of total variability, respectively. The extent of weathering is reflected by variation along PC1, primarily due to the loss of Na₂O and CaO during weathering. In contrast, PC2 is the direction along which the projections of unweathered felsic, intermediate and mafic igneous rocks appear to be best discriminated; therefore, PC1 and PC2 represent independent latent variables that correspond to the extent of weathering and the chemistry of the unweathered parent rock. Subsequently, PC1 and PC2 were then mapped onto a ternary diagram (MFW diagram). The M and F vertices characterize mafic and felsic rock source, respectively, while the W vertex identifies the degree of weathering of these sources, independent of the chemistry of the unweathered parent rock.

The W index has a number of significant properties that are not found in conventional weathering indices. First, the W index is sensitive to chemical changes that occur during weathering because it is based on eight major oxides, whereas most conventional indices are defined by between two and four oxides. Second, the W index provides robust results even for highly weathered sesquioxide-rich samples. Third, the W index is applicable to a wide range of felsic, intermediate and mafic igneous rock types. Finally, the MFW diagram is expected to facilitate provenance analysis of sedimentary rocks by identifying their weathering trends and thereby enabling a backward estimate of the composition of the unweathered source rock.     

青海哈拉湖东南缘多年冻土厚度及其影响因素研究——基于音频大地电磁探测

南祁连哈拉湖盆地是重要的含油气盆地,多年冻土分布广泛,具有良好的天然气水合物找矿前景,而多年冻土的分布特征是天然气水合物成藏的重要控制因素.应用音频大地电磁测深(AMT)对南祁连哈拉湖东南缘的多年冻土的下限进行探测,并对影响多年冻土厚度的因素进行了分析.结果表明:应用AMT能较好地划分多年冻土的厚度:区内的多年冻土厚度基本分布在30~ 130 m之间,整体呈现“中部与西北部厚,其他区域较薄”的分布特征,其中,中南部、中部与西北部的多年冻土厚度在80m以上,为天然气水合物提供了良好的盖层条件;区内多年冻土厚度的主要影响因素为地形、坡向(向阳面/背阴面)与地表径流,同时,断裂构造和地下水含量对冻土厚度也有一定的影响.高地、背阴面、非地表径流段、非断裂构造区域有利于形成较厚多年冻土层.     

基于三种多变量不安定指数分析模型的汶川县地质灾害易发性评价

采用多变量不安定指数分析法模型并加以改进,应用于汶川县地质灾害易发性评价。选取坡度、坡向、地层岩性、距断层距离、植被覆盖率及距水系距离六项影响因子,结合四川省自然资源厅发布的汶川县地质灾害隐患点数据,以幂次相乘、线性累加、幂次累加这三种不同的不安定指数分析法模型分别得到了研究区地质灾害易发性分区图,并用接受者操作特性曲线（Receiver Operating Characteristic curve, ROC curve）验证了各种模型的评价性能。结果表明:（1）对本案例而言,幂次相乘模型相较其它两种模型具有最高的精度;（2）汶川县地质灾害“极高”“高”“中”“低”“极低”易发区的面积占比分别为:19.3%、24.6%、19.2%、19.3%、17.6%,且研究区地质灾害易发性较高的区域多分布在断裂带附近。本研究成果可为区域地质灾害防治工作提供理论借鉴和技术参考。