Climatic changes in the Chalbi Desert,North Kenya

The Chalbi flat, located 60 km outside the rift to the east, forms a moist, salt-clay encrusted playa which also functions as an inland sink for alluvial fans. Residual lacustrine beds, including freshwater carbonates and travertines, crop out along its higher periphery. Mammalian bones of lacustrine and terrestrial elements, and K/Ar dating of the capping lava suggest a lake or a swamp environment 2–2.5 million years ago. Radiocarbon dating of Melanoides tuberculata and Planorbis and a sediment assemblage composed of clotted micrite, calcareous molds, root marks and stromatolites point to an additional early Holocene Chalbi lake or swamps 11000-9500 yr BP. The data suggest wet environmental conditions outside the rift, which is consistent with the occurrence of a wet period in the early to middle Holocene in intertropical Africa, but out of phase with the climatic conditions in Sinai and Israel and with the high-latitude maximum lake levels and glacier advance. These relations have probably been caused by migration of climatic belts.     

Climatic changes and variations in the atmospheric and ocean circulations

Until quite recent years meteorology was in no position to make an effective contribution to the understanding of paleoclimates. Lacking were both a theory of the general circulation of the atmosphere and the upper wind observations which have provided the essential foundation of such theoretical understanding of the circulation as we now possess. The most notable early contributions from meteorology wereSimpson's (1934) schematic construction of a presumed mean circulation at the time of the Quaternary ice age maximum andWillett's (1949) proposal of two alternative modes of the general circulation, summarized as expansions and contractions of the circumpolar vortex of upper westerly winds. Both theories lacked an observational basis, especially for their more sweeping generalizations (e.g. simultaneity of ice-ages and lowlatitude pluvials, limitation to only two main atmospheric circulation types etc.) as well as for their author's further proposals about variations of the solar radiation. Nevertheless, they marked a valuable step forward, because they stimulated workers in many fields to interpret their evidence of climatic changes as part of a world phenomenon in which the general wind circulation must be involved. A strictly empirical study of the broadest possible scope of the climatic changes observable within the last 100–1000 years was badly needed. Examination reveals that significant changes have taken place within this period. Study of them is instructive. Whatever changes (if any) of effective radiation available at the Earth's surface occur, the atmospheric and ocean circulations are the mechanism whereby the heat and moisture are distributed. As in synoptic meteorology, circulation maps have been found the most useful means of obtaining a unified view of the climatic changes of recent times. The first successful studies of this kind were byDefant (1924), who showed that the mean circulation over the North Atlantic had intensified materially from the 1880s to the present century, i.e. in part of the period of Arctic warming and increasing mildness of winters in Europe. The present paper shows how our knowledge of changes such asDefant found has been extended over more of the world and a longer period of time. This leads to some indications about the probable nature and possible origins of the phenomenon, which is revealed as rather simple and world-wide in scope. We learn some of the types of variation that actually occur.Examination of the charts indicates inter alia progressive changes of intensity and position of the mainstreams of the atmospheric circulation, and of the ocean currents and climatic zones that correspond to them, within the last 100–250 years. Consideration of the nature of the Little Ice Age epoch of 1550–1850, and comparisons with what is known of the great ice ages of the Pleistocene, appears to throw some new light on the ice age problem.

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Zusammenfassung Bis vor kurzem war die Meteorologie nicht in der Lage, einen wesentlichen Beitrag zum Verständnis der Paläoklimate zu liefern. Es fehlten sowohl eine Theorie der allgemeinen Zirkulation der Atmosphäre als auch die Beobachtungen über die höheren Winde, die die wesentliche Grundlage für unser jetziges theoretisches Verständnis der Zirkulation geliefert haben. Die wichtigsten früheren Beiträge von meteorologischer Seite warenSimpson's schematische Rekonstruktion (1934) einer angenommenen mittleren Zirkulation zur Zeit des quartären Eiszeitmaximums undWillett's Annahme (1949) zweier verschiedener Arten der allgemeinen Zirkulation (Expansion und Kontraktion des zirkumpolaren Wirbels der oberen Westwinde). Beiden Theorien fehlte die Beobachtungsgrundlage, vor allem für ihre weitgehenden Verallgemeinerungen (z. B. Gleichzeitigkeit von Eiszeiten und Pluvialen der niederen Breiten, Begrenzung auf nur zwei Haupttypen der atmosphärischen Zirkulation usw.) wie auch für die weiteren Annahmen der Autoren über änderungen der Sonnenstrahlung. Trotzdem waren sie ein wertvoller Schritt vorwärts, weil sie Forscher verschiedenster Gebiete anregten, die Tatsachen von Klimaänderungen als Teil eines weltweiten Phänomens zu interpretieren, das mit der allgemeinen Windzirkulation zusammenhängt. Eine rein empirische, möglichst breit angelegte Studie über die beobachteten Klimaänderungen in den letzten 100 bis 1000 Jahren war dringend notwendig. Es zeigt sich, da\ bedeutungsvolle änderungen in dieser Zeit stattgefunden haben. Falls überhaupt irgendwelche Schwankungen der von au\en kommenden Strahlung erfolgten — immer sind die atmosphärischen und ozeanischen Strömungen der Mechanismus, der Wärme und Niederschlag verteilt. Wie in der synoptischen Meteorologie haben sich Karten der Zirkulation als wertvoll erwiesen, ein einheitliches Bild der klimatischen änderungen in jüngster Zeit zu erhalten. Die ersten erfolgreichen Versuche dieser Art stammen vonDefant (1924); er zeigte, da\ sich die mittlere Zirkulation über dem Nordatlantik seit 1880 bis zum jetzigen Jahrhundert intensiviert hatte, d. h. in der Zeit, in der die Arktis und die europäischen Winter wärmer wurden. Der nachfolgende Aufsatz zeigt, da\ wir heute ähnliche änderungen auch in weiteren Teilen der Erde und von längeren Zeiträumen kennen. Das führt zu Hinweisen über die Natur und die möglichen Ursachen des Phänomens.Das Studium der Karten zeigt für die letzten 100–250 Jahre u. a. progressive änderungen der Intensität und Lage der Hauptströme der atmosphärischen Zirkulation sowie der ozeanischen Strömungen und Klimazonen, die ihnen entsprechen. Betrachtungen über die Kleine Eiszeit 1550–1850 und Vergleiche mit den gro\en Eiszeiten des Pleistozäns werfen einiges neue Licht auf das Eiszeitproblem überhaupt.

     

泸沽湖地区晚全新世气候和环境演变

泸沽湖地区受人类活动影响较小、对气候变化较为敏感,是开展古气候研究的理想区域。本文以孢粉为重要研究手段,对采自泸沽湖草海地区103cm的浅钻沉积物开展研究,采样间距2cm,共取得52块样品用于孢粉分析。沉积物年龄采用AMS-~(14)C测定,经校正之后钻孔底部年龄为3455cal.a BP。经实验分析之后,所有样品均含有丰富的孢粉类群,反映的植被组成主要以松(Pinus)林为主,铁杉(Tsuga)也较为常见,被子植物中则以栎属(Quercus)占绝对优势,栗属(Castanea)和木犀科(Oleaceae)植物也频繁出现,而草本植物则以禾本科(Gramineae)为主,蓼科(Polygonaceae)、菊科(Asteraceae)和莎草科(Cyperaceae)植物也是重要的组成成分,林下生长有大量的蕨类的植物,主要以紫萁属(Osmunda)、石松属(Lycopodium)和膜蕨科(Hymenophyllaceae)等为主,另外,采样点草海为季节性湿地,水生植物主要以香蒲属(Typha)和藻类植物中的双星藻(Zygnema)和水绵(Spirogyra)最为常见。为了获得该地区晚全新世以来的气候变化曲线,本研究采用共存分析法分别对划分的四个孢粉带进行了古气候的定量重建,年均温和年均降水量分别为:3455cal.a BP至2585cal.a BP,MAT(mean annual temperature)=11.5~18.6℃,MAP(mean annual precipitation)=797.5~1484.3mm;2585cal.a BP至1699cal.a BP,MAT=11.7~18.6℃,MAP=617.9~1523.1mm;1699cal.a BP至595cal.a BP,MAT=8.5~18.6℃,MAP=797.5~1484.3mm;595cal.a BP至今,MAT=5.7~18.6℃,MAP=617.9~1484.3mm。结果显示该地区3455cal.a BP以来气候经历了略微变暖-变凉-持续变凉-回暖四个阶段。本研究还将变化曲线与其他地区同时代的研究结果进行了对比分析,显示年均温的变化趋势与格陵兰冰芯δ~(18)O以及祁连山敦德冰芯所反映的温度变化趋势基本一致,并可观察到中世纪暖期、晚全新世小冰期及现代温暖期。     

Climatic changes and desertification in some regions of the Middle East

It is generally believed that more than 100 tropical countries are suffering from desertification or land degradation as a result of climatic changes. There is also concern that the rising temperature would lead to further environmental degradation and cause economic, social and other environmental impacts (1) in the Middle East. This paper is a modest attempt to investigate temperature and rainfall data in three countries of the Middle East (Oman, Bahrain, and Sudan) to determine if any change has taken place in the weather conditions. The short term environmental impact of the GulfWar in 1991 has been included in the study.The study confirms that temperatures are rising and rainfall is decreasing in Oman (2, 3) and other two countries, leading to increasing desertification processes. Here, following Hume and Kelly (4) desertification is taken to mean degradation in dryland regions or the permanent decline in the potential of the land to support biological activity and hence human welfare. A brief geographical discussion of Oman, Bahrain, and Sudan precedes a detailed analysis of temperatures and rainfall regimen in all three countries.     

Climatic changes,desertification and the Republic of Sudan

Meteorological data for a period of 30 to 50 years was analysed to ascertain the climatic changes in the Republic of Sudan. The study confirms that the temperatures are rising and rainfall declining. Rigorous analysis of relative humidity, clouds, rediation and evaporation also confirms the changing pattern, a trend which may accelerate environmental degradation and desertification in Sudan.The author acknowledges the assistance of Nadir Ahmad El-Agib in completing this study. He is also thankful to Dr. Ahmad El-Agib for his help in getting the Meteorological data from Sudan.     

漓江流域末次冰期以来气候环境变化研究进展

为更好地认识漓江流域过去气候环境变化,更好服务于漓江流域未来气候环境预测、生态环境建设及资源环境可持续发展,本文对漓江流域末次冰期以来的气候环境研究现状进行了总结和综述。总结了年代学、现代过程研究、古气候环境重建和古人类演化方面的进展及存在的问题,并对下一步的研究方向进行了分析和探讨。希望能促进华南地区过去气候环境变化研究,并对经济社会可持续发展提供借鉴和参考,助力桂林可持续发展创新示范区建设。     

Storm water injection in Bahrain: pilot studies

Kingdom of Bahrain often suffers from urban flooding problems despite being a desertic country. An attempt has been made in this contribution to study the efficacy of the storm water injection systems not only in tackling urban flooding problems but also in augmenting the depleting ground water resources of the country. Two pilot studies were carried out in a centrally located area, one in a relatively open area and another in a densely populated location. A set of one recharge well and one observation well of about 40 m depth and 30 m apart was drilled in each site. Storm water was injected into the recharge wells after allowing it to pass through a specially designed natural filter system. Ground water levels were monitored at the observation wells on monthly basis and water samples were collected periodically during and after the rainfall events for chemical analysis. Initial results showed that the volume of storm water injected is proportional to the volume of storm water generated in an area. However, in the long run, the injection well having favourable hydrogeological situation and lesser silts in the storm water performed better in terms of total recharge despite having lesser volume of storm water available. Ground water quality for some parameters such as lead and cadmium remained an issue of concern, but could be controlled through construction of stricter filter system. Dilution of the injected storm water with the host ground water too significantly reduced the risks of contamination. The injection well located in the open area performed better than that of the densely populated area despite having lesser volume of storm water available. Site selection of the recharge wells, therefore, plays a vital role in the efficacy of a storm water injection system.     

Climatic changes vs. catastrophic events in lacustrine systems: A geochemical approach

A geochemical study of oligotrophic Lake Sanabria (NW Iberian Peninsula) allows us to distinguish the geochemical response of a lacustrine system to catastrophic events and climatic events. The main major elements analysed were: K, Na, Mg, Ca, Ti, Al, Fe, Mn, P and S. The organic matter content in the sediment of Lake Sanabria is determined by the rainfall regime of the region. Periods when sediments were enriched in Ti, Mg, K, and Al are indicative of relatively wet paleoenvironmental conditions, whereas intervals when sediments were enriched in S and P (associated with organic matter) are indicative of dry conditions. A factor analysis of the geochemical data shows a progressive temporal displacements from organic rich conditions (relatively high values of S and P) to inorganic rich conditions (relatively high values of Ti, Mg, K, Al, and Na). Maximal inorganic content occurred at the beginning of two discrete sedimentary levels: the LOL2 (cal. 1160–1230 yr AD) and the LOL1 (cal. 1510–1680 yr AD) horizons. The LOL2 and LOL1 horizons constitute two discrete events related to climatic changes during the beginning and end of the Little Ice Age, respectively. In contrast, the geochemical analysis provides evidence that the samples associated with the 1959 catastrophic event that occurred in the catchment area of Lake Sanabria do not follow the long-term geochemical evolution paths of the climate driven system.     

Climatic factors as risks of recent ecological changes in the shallow zone of Lake Baikal

Eutrophication processes have been recorded in many world’s freshwater reservoirs, which are sources of drinking water. More and more investigations show that global warming is the main natural factor that causes eutrophication. In recent years, signs of eutrophication have also been recorded in Lake Baikal containing 20% of the world’s freshwater reserves. Therefore, we performed the first comprehensive analysis of long-term changes in climatic parameters capable to provoke negative changes in the shallow zone. The largest number of anomalies of climatic indices has been recorded in the 21st century. Moreover, the current decade has been the most favorable for the emergence of negative processes in the lake (outbreak of the mass growth of algae and aquatic vegetation, rotting of their remains at the bottom and on the shores of the lake, changes in the structure and zoning of biocoenoses, etc.). The main natural conditions favoring the emergence of negative signs are elevated temperatures of the air and lake shore water, reduced amount of precipitation, reduced inflow of river waters into Baikal and lowering of its water level, low-water season, and weakening of wind currents, water exchange processes, and, as a result, water self-purification. In the period of continuing global warming, it is necessary to study the climate effect on the processes in the shallow zone and to carry out long-term monitoring for elucidation of recent and expected changes in the ecological state of Lake Baikal and for their valid interpretation.     

Climatic and environmental changes during the Weichselian Lateglacial Interstadial in the Weerterbos region,the Netherlands

Lake sediment records from the Weerterbos region, in the southern Netherlands, were studied to reconstruct summer temperature and environmental changes during the Weichselian Lateglacial Interstadial. A sediment core obtained from a small lacustrine basin was analysed for multiple proxies, including lithological changes, oxygen isotopes of bulk carbonates, pollen and chironomids. It was found that the oxygen isotope record differed strongly from the other proxies. Based on a comparison with three additional lake sediment records from the same region, it emerged that the oxygen isotope records were strongly affected by local environmental conditions, impeding the distinction of a regional palaeoclimate signal. The chironomid‐inferred July air temperature reconstruction produced inferred interstadial temperatures ranging between ～15° and 18°C, largely consistent with previously published results from the northern part of the Netherlands. A temporary regressive phase in the pollen record, which can be tentatively correlated with the Older Dryas, preceded the expansion of birch woodland. Despite differences between the four pollen records from the Weerterbos region, a comparable regressive vegetation phase that was possibly the result of a shift to drier conditions could be discerned in all of the profiles. In addition, a temporary temperature decline of ～1.5°C was inferred from the chironomid record during this regressive phase. The multi‐proxy approach used here enabled a direct comparison of inferred changes in temperature, vegetation and environmental conditions at an individual site, while the multi‐site approach provided insight into the factors influencing the pollen and isotope records from these small‐scale depressions.     

Climatic variation and changes in the wind and ocean circulation: The Little Ice Age in the northeast Atlantic

Variations must take place in the ocean circulation when the general wind circulation varies. There are hints even within recent years that the variations in the ocean between Iceland and Scotland and Norway can be big: The area has been regarded as the main path of the warm, saline North Atlantic Drift water heading towards the Arctic; but, when the polar water occasionally intrudes from the north, sea-surface temperature is liable to fall by 3 to 5°C and presumably by more than this when, as in 1888, the ice advanced to near the Faeroe Islands. The long series of sea-surface temperature observations at that point, starting in 1867, and earlier observations covering the area in 1789, are studied. Various kinds of proxy data—notably the CLIMAP Atlantic ocean-bed core analysis results for the last Ice Age climax and cod fishery and sea-ice reports from the Little Ice Age in the 17th century ad—are then used to indicate the variability in this part of the ocean on longer time scales. The reconstruction of the situation between ad 1675 and 1705 resulting from this study suggests a probable mean departure of the sea surface temperature from modern values between the Faeroes and southeast Iceland amounting to about ?5°C; and at the climax in 1695 the polar water seems to have spread all around Iceland, across the entire surface of the Norwegian Sea to Norway, and south to near Shetland. Support for this diagnosis is found in a considerable variety of reports of environmental conditions existing at the time in Scotland, south Norway and elsewhere. The enhanced thermal gradient between approximately latitudes 55 and 65°N during the Little Ice Age, which this result indicates, offers an explanation for the occurrence in that period of a number of windstorms which changed the coasts in various places and seem to have surpassed in intensity the worst experienced in the region in more recent times.     

吉林近50a来气候的年代际变化特征及其突变分析

利用吉林省50个地面气象站的观测资料对近50 a来吉林气候的年代际变化进行了诊断分析, 结果表明: 吉林省的年平均气温在20世纪50年代呈下降趋势, 60年代为相对低温期, 70年代开始表现出逐渐增温的趋势; 20世纪50年代降水量逐渐减少, 60-70年代为相对降水少的时期, 80年代降水略有增加, 进入90年代以后, 降水量又表现为逐渐减少的趋势. 近50 a来气候的年代际变化经历了一个"冷湿-冷干-暖湿-暖干"的过程.吉林省的最高、最低气温在近50 a内的总体趋势都是上升的, 但从增温率来看, 最低气温大约是最高气温的2.3倍.采用分段线性拟合的方法对吉林省年降水量和年平均气温进行气候突变的检验, 发现年降水量在1977和1987年各有一次突变, 年平均气温只在1969年发生了一次突变.     

Climatic changes during the last 35,000 years as indicated by land, sea, and air data

Detailed climatic records from land (glaciation curves, fossil records, etc.), sea (eustatic changes, deep-ses date), and air (Greenland 0¹⁸ curve) are almost identical for the last 35,000 years. This cannot be a mere coincidence: it indicates that even minor fluctuations are caused by global climatic changes. The various records seem to be easily correlated with each other. The Last Ice Age is characterized by drastic changes between colder and warmer periods. The Present (Flandrian) Interglacial (Holocene Epoch) is also characterized by climatic fluctuations, although of minor amplitude. Analysis of peaks and bottoms in six Atlantic deep-sea cores gives a climatic sequence identical to the eustatic transgression/regression sequence, indicating the recording of global short-term warm/cold fluctuations. From these fluctuations, the climatic cyclicity was calculated. Two drastically frequency-changing cycles were found, one varying from 230 to 1,000 years and one from 1,000 to 3,600 years. A third cycle of 21,000 years was also estabished. The transition from the Last Ice Age to the Present Interglacial is marked by three major steps towards interglacial conditions; viz. at 12,7000, 10,000 and 9,300 radiocarbon years B. P. The 10,000 boundary has earler been suggested as the Pleistocene/Holocene boundary.     

Climatic speciation in Japanese ground crickets

The two species groups of ground cricket previously known as P. taprobanensis and P. fascipes are widely distributed from the tropical to temperate regions of East Asia. In the Japanese Islands they show parallel variations along a latitudinal gradient in both developmental and morphometric traits. The ovipositor length varies continuously from 44 to 28°N, but this cline is disrupted by an abrupt shortening farther south. The disruption is associated with changes in the life cycle from the presence to virtual absence of egg diapause and from a short-day to long-day type of nymphal photoperiodic response. It is inferred that the two different types of life cycle were selected for in the temperate and subtropical climates, respectively, and that this differential selection resulted in speciation. Since climatic adaptation seems to be the primary factor involved, this sort of divergence may be called “climatic speciation”.     

宁晋泊地区全新世温暖期以来气候与环境变化研究

宁晋泊沉积物的环境指标高分辨率分析,揭示了作新世温暖期以来气候变化规律和湖泊演化过程。全新世温暖期早期,气候温暖,降水丰沛,环境稳定,湖泊水草茂美;其中在５５００－６０００ａＢＰ有一个短暂的降温过程;温暖期晚期,气候波动明显。全新世晚期,气候呈规律性波动,与华北地区文史资料一致,具有良好的可比性。     

Climatic changes since the last deglaciation inferred from a lacustrine sedimentary sequence in the eastern Nanling Mountains,south China

Two sediment cores recovered from Dahu Swamp, which is located in eastern Nanling Mountains in south China, were selected for investigation of palaeoclimatic changes. Multi‐proxy records of the two cores including lithological variation, organic carbon isotope ratio, dry bulk density, organic matter content, magnetic susceptibility, humification degree, median grain size and geochemical proxies reveal that during the last deglaciation three drier phases correspond to the Oldest, Older and Younger Dryas cooling events, and the intercalated two wetter phases synchronise with the Bølling and Allerød warming events. The Holocene Optimum, which was resulted from a strengthening of the East Asian (EA) summer monsoon, occurred in the early and mid Holocene (ca. 10–6 cal. ka BP). In the mid and late Holocene (ca. 6–3 cal. ka BP), a prevailing dry climate suggested a weakening of the EA summer monsoon. The general trend of Holocene climatic changes in this study agrees with the 25° N summer solar insolation, suggesting that orbitally induced insolation may have played an important role in the Holocene climate in the study region. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Climatic variations in China during the quaternary

Climatic variations in China during the Quaternary have long been a question of debate. Considerable data now available support Professor Li Siguang's (J. S. Lee) suggestion that there were four glacial periods. In this later years the views of Professor Li have received support from more recent information demonstrating that a further glacial period and periglacial phenomena preceded the Boyang Period.During the Quaternary 3,500,000 years ago there were a number of climatic fluctuations in China, having an amplitude of over 10°C and a cycle of 10⁴ to 10⁵ years. Each fluctuation lasted from the onset of one glacial period to that of the next, encompassing a glacial period and an interglacial. Tab 1 provides a comparison between the glacial periods in China during the Quaternary and those in other regions of the world.