The Scandinavian Ice Sheet: from MIS 4 to the end of the Last Glacial Maximum

Lambeck, K., Purcell, A., Zhao, J. & Svensson, N‐O. 2010 (April): The Scandinavian Ice Sheet: from MIS 4 to the end of the Last Glacial Maximum. Boreas, Vol. 39, pp. 410–435. 10.1111/j.1502‐3885.2010.00140.x. ISSN 0300‐9483. Glacial rebound modelling, to establish constraints on past ice sheets from the observational evidence of palaeo‐shoreline elevations, is well established for the post‐ Last Glacial Maximum (post‐LGM) period, for which the observational evidence is relatively abundant and well distributed spatially and in time. This is particularly the case for Scandinavia. For the earlier part of the glacial cycle this evidence becomes increasingly sparse and uncertain such that, with the exception of the Eemian period, there are very few, if any, direct sea‐level indicators that constrain any part of the Scandinavian Ice Sheet evolution before the LGM. Instead, we assume that ice‐sheet basal conditions during Marine Isotope Stage 3 (MIS 3) are the same as those for the LGM, focus on establishing these conditions from the rebound analysis for the LGM and Lateglacial period, and then extrapolate to the earlier period using observationally constrained locations of the ice margins. The glacial rebound modelling and inversion follow previously established formulations, with the exception that the effects of water loading from proglacial lakes that form within the Baltic Basin and elsewhere have been included. The data set for the inversion of the sea‐ and lake‐level data has been extended to include marine‐limit data in order to extend the observational record further back in time. The result is a sequence of time slices for the Scandinavian Ice Sheet from the time of MIS 4 to the Lateglacial that are characterized by frozen basal conditions until late in the LGM interval when rapid thinning occurred in the eastern and southern sectors of the ice sheet. The primary function of these models is as an interpolator between the fragmentary observational constraints and to produce quantitative models for the glaciation history with predictive capabilities, for example regarding the evolution of the Baltic Basin.     

Investigating the effect of soil models on deformations caused by braced excavations through an inverse-analysis technique

In this study, a series of inverse-analysis numerical experiments was performed to investigate the effect of soil models on the deformations caused by excavation by using the finite element method. The nonlinear optimization technique that was incorporated into the finite element code was used for the inverse-analysis numerical experiments. Three soil models (the hyperbolic model, pseudo-plasticity model, and modified pseudo-plasticity model) were employed in the intended numerical experiments on a well-documented excavation case history. The results indicate that wall deflection due to excavation can be accurately back-figured by each of the three soil models, while the ground surface settlement can be reasonably optimized only by the pseudo-plasticity model and the modified pseudo-plasticity model. Importantly, the modified pseudo-plasticity model can yield more reasonable simulations when the wall deflection and the ground surface settlement are simultaneously back-figured. The results show that selection of an adequate soil model that is capable of adequately describing the stress–strain-strength characteristics of the soils is essentially crucial when predicting the excavation-induced ground response.     

海南岛三叠纪中基性岩的年代学、地球化学及其地质意义

辉长岩大多为地幔岩石部分熔融的产物,辉绿岩脉及碱性正长岩的形成通常与伸展构造有关,本文对海南岛万宁辉长岩及辉绿岩脉和分界洲正长岩进行了系统的年代学和岩石地球化学研究,并以此来讨论其构造意义。LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年结果表明,万宁辉长岩及辉绿岩脉形成约在240 Ma,分界洲正长岩形成约在231 Ma,主量元素特征表明万宁辉长岩和辉绿岩分别属碱性系列和亚碱性系列,分界洲正长岩属于典型的碱性岩浆岩。万宁辉长岩及辉绿岩脉的稀土元素具有轻稀土富集的特点(LREE/HREE=7.22～8.50和8.11～11.10),微量元素具有岛弧型火山岩的特征,富集大离子亲石元素K、Rb、Ba、Th,贫高场强元素Nb、Ta和Zr、Hf;分界洲正长岩的微量元素特征显示出与A型花岗岩类似的特征。海南岛三叠纪中基性岩如分界洲正长岩和万宁辉长岩及辉绿岩脉形成的构造背景为陆内伸展环境,指示海南岛在240～230 Ma处于印支造山运动的应力松弛阶段。     

Petrographical,structural, and mechanical analysis of armorican phtanites: A key raw material for the Mesolithic in Western France

Over the last ninety years or so, archaeological field work on outcrops of raw materials in western France has allowed researchers to identify the use of a large number of deformed rock types in lithic industries. These materials include Armorican phtanites, which are cherts that were widely exploited during the Mesolithic, principally during its final phase (5500–5000 yrs cal. B.C.). Because of variations in the mineralogical composition and physical properties of phtanites, different mechanical properties are exhibited by samples from the four main geological formations containing this rock type in the Armorican Massif of western France. These geological and mechanical parameters influenced the quantity of rock used and the knapping methods employed. They also influenced the tool types produced and their transfer, as recorded in archaeological sequences. The types of raw materials used are also controlled by the distance to sources of coastal flint pebbles or other autochthonous siliceous rocks. Therefore, the role of raw material properties in the creation and persistence of techno‐cultural or economic characteristics is different for each type of phtanite and yields fundamental information on the interaction of society with the geological environment. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

ESR dating of tooth enamel in Mousterian layer 20, El Castillo,Spain

Nine faunal teeth from layer 20 of El Castillo cave in Cantabrian Spain were dated using electron spin resonance (ESR). Two teeth were rejected due to inconsistent subsample ages, while the remaining teeth yielded a mean age that is consistent with the stratigraphic expectations: 42.7±3.5. Uncertainty in the external γ dose rate results in a potential systematic uncertainty of±6.4ka that should affect all samples equally. The results provide independent confirmation of previously reported ¹⁴C ages for layer 20. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

近百年来东平湖沉积通量变化与环境

根据210Pb、137Cs法建立的东平湖现代沉积年代序列,结合沉积物粒度与烧失量变化特征以及黄河变迁与流域人类活动的特点,分析探讨了1889年以来东平湖沉积通量的变化。研究表明,百年来东平湖沉积环境不稳定,沉积通量变化较大:1889~1938年,沉积通量较高且基本稳定,1938~1965年,沉积通量逐年下降,1965~2000年,沉积通量整体较低且基本稳定,2000年以来,沉积通量呈逐年上升趋势。早期的高沉积通量与东平湖作为黄河自然滞蓄洪区有关,后期由于人类活动（湖区治理、黄河水利工程建设等）控制了黄河水的自然倒灌,导致了沉积通量的下降并趋于稳定,近期沉积通量的上升是湖区经济活动增强的反映。     

东天山伊吾二叠纪花岗质杂岩体的锆石定年、地球化学及其构造意义

伊吾花岗质杂岩体主要由二长花岗岩和碱长花岗岩构成。锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb定年分析得到二长花岗岩和碱长花岗岩的侵位年龄分别为284.6±1.4Ma和284.0±1.1Ma。结合地质证据,此年龄表明该杂岩体形成于碰撞之后的二叠纪早期挤压-伸展转折阶段。岩石学、地球化学和同位素等方面的对比研究表明这两种岩石为同一岩浆演化的产物。与二长花岗岩相比,碱长花岗岩表现为硅、碱的含量较高,而铝的含量较低;富Th、U、Nb、Ta,贫Sr、P、Ti、Sm;DI和Rb/Sr升高,Nb/Ta和Zr/Hf下降,从二长花岗岩到碱长花岗岩表现出连续分异演化的趋势。计算得到二长花岗岩和碱长花岗岩的模式年龄(t_(DM))分别为693Ma和763Ma,ε_(Nd)(t)分别为+4.53和+4.64,(~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr)_i分别为0.703858和0.703855,表现出高ε_(Nd)(t)低(~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr)_i的特征。这些特征表明,伊吾岩体的岩浆来自新元古代时从亏损地幔分离出来的初生地壳源区。二长花岗岩岩浆是这种初生地壳岩浆演化的产物,而碱长花岗岩形成于二长花岗岩母岩浆经斜长石、磷灰石、钛铁氧化物、榍石、独居石、褐帘石和锆石等矿物分离结晶后的残留岩浆。     

泰安市矿产开发监督管理工作的思考

根据泰安市区域矿产开发特点,及时掌握矿山企业开采情况,通过加强采矿登记现场预审查、开展矿山开采督察和采矿权人矿产资源开发利用年查等措施,强化了矿产资源开发过程中的监督管理,维护了正常开采秩序及采矿权人的合法权益。     

Subtropical montane evergreen broad-leaved forests of Yunnan, China: diversity, succession dynamics, human influence

This paper integrates studies on the natural subtropical montane evergreen broad-leaved forests (EBLFs) and secondary succession of the forests and plantations in Yunnan, to provide a basis for evaluating the sustainability of the forests in the mountain ecosystems of Yunnan, China. The EBLFs include mid-montane moist, monsoon, and semi-humid categories. The monsoon EBLF yielded the highest indices of the Shannon-Wiener H, Equitability J, Simpson D and Fisher’s alpha, followed by the mid-montane moist EBLF, then by the semi-humid forest. Since human uses have varied widely, the plant communities ranged from pioneer deciduous broad-leaved and/or pioneer coniferous stands to late-successional evergreen broad-leaved stands. The secondary succession pathways were from pioneer deciduous stands of Alnus accompanied by stands of pioneer coniferous Pinus and Keteleeria, through broad-leaved and coniferous mixed stands, to late-successional evergreen broad-leaved forests of Cyclobalanopsis and Castanopsis. In Yunnan, the EBLF is commonly replaced by plantations of exotic fast-growing Eucalyptus to produce industrial wood, oil, pulp and fuel. The result has been reduced plant diversity, and great loss of soil nutrients by erosion and runoff, as compared to the EBLF. Seventy-six plant species in the area have been ranked as critically endangered, endangered, or vulnerable. Their condition is seen as largely attributable to habitat loss or degradation. A clear understanding of ecological features and succession pathways of the EBLF can lead to more effective conservation and management of these fragile forests and the mountain ecosystems.     

Impact assessment of the "Grain for Green Project" and discussion on the development models in the mountain-gorge regions

To restore China’s degraded ecological environment, the government has launched an environmental restoration project named the “Grain for Green Project” (GGP) in 1999. From 1999 to 2010, the government will spend 40 billion dollars to convert 147 million ha of croplands and 173 million ha of wastelands into forestlands and grasslands in 25 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions. A primary goal is to replace cropping and livestock grazing in fragile areas with trees and grass. Given the tremendous scale and great number of participants in the project, the attitudes of the affected farmers and the future development in the area where GGP is implemented have a direct influence on the success of the project. To gain a clear idea about the farmers’ attitudes towards the project and put forward the development models for the forestlands converted from croplands, two case sites in the mountain-gorge region in Nujiang River are selected as the study areas, and the methods of field survey and semi-structured interview are adopted to make interviews with more than 100 households in 2002 and 2003 in order to quantify the farmers’ opinions about the GGP and how it has affected their livelihood, socio-cultural and industrial structures, etc. The results are as follows: 1) the project has a certain influence on the farmers with better economic basis and exerts greater influence on the farmers living in the low-elevation regions than on those living in the regions with middle-high elevation; 2) the production models of the local farmers has changed from cultivation and animal husbandry to forestry and sidelines due to the project and the income structure has changed from animal husbandry as main income source to state subsidy and sideline as main income sources; 3) the reduction in the grain income and decrease in the quantity of livestock because of the project have led to the diminution in the total income of the farmers; 4) the project has resulted in changes in the lifestyles and architecture styles of the local farmers, and the traditional “huotang” culture has gone away after the implementation of the project; 5) energy utilization has changed from firewood to methane and electricity in the wake of the implementation of the project. The above-mentioned study results have indicated that the GGP has truly exerted influence on the livelihood and production of the local farmers. Therefore, it is very necessary to make a research into the development models in the forestlands converted from croplands to resolve the problems of the farmers’ livelihood and production. The study results will provide some references for the sustainable development of the mountain-gorge regions.