Silicon isotopes in meteorites and planetary core formation

The silicon (Si) isotope compositions of 42 meteorite and terrestrial samples have been determined using MC-ICPMS with the aim of resolving the current debate over their compositions and the implications for core formation. No systematic δ³⁰Si differences are resolved between chondrites (δ³⁰Si = −0.49 ± 0.15‰, 2σ_SD) and achondrites (δ³⁰Si = −0.47 ± 0.11‰, 2σ_SD), although enstatite chondrites are consistently lighter (δ³⁰Si = −0.63 ± 0.07‰, 2σ_SD) in comparison to other meteorite groups. The data reported here for meteorites and terrestrial samples display an average difference Δ³⁰Si_{BSE−meteorite∗} = 0.15 ± 0.10‰, which is consistent within uncertainty with previous studies. No effect from sample heterogeneity, preparation, chemistry or mass spectrometry can be identified as responsible for the reported differences between current datasets. The heavier composition of the bulk silicate Earth is consistent with previous conclusions that Si partitioned into the metal phase during metal-silicate equilibration at the time of core formation. Fixing the temperature of core formation to the peridotite liquidus and using an appropriate metal silicate fractionation factor (ε ∼0.89), the Δ³⁰Si_{BSE−meteorite∗} value from this study indicates that the Earth core contains at least 2.5 and possibly up to 16.8 wt% Si.     

Coupled anion substitution in natural carbon-bearing apatites

Reliable wet chemical methods of minor element analysis (F, Cl, OH) and X-ray diffraction studies reveal that a coupled substitution of fluorine and carbonate is required in natural carbon-bearing apatites. Thus, CO ₃ ^2– · F^–replaces PO ₄ ^3– with tetravalent carbon substituting for pentavalent phosphorus and a halogen in excess replacing one O^2– to give: Ca₁₀ [(PO₄)_6–x(CO₃·F)_x](F, OH, Cl)₂ The coupled substitution not only maintains the electrical neutrality of the structure, but also retains the tetrahedral coordination for the cations involved. The resulting variation in the unit cell parameter a_o corresponds well with the proposed geometrical model: partial replacement of P⁵⁺ (ionic radius 0.35Å) by the smaller C⁴⁺ (0.16 Å) ion reduces the lateral distance between the Ca-O trigonal prism columns, thus shortening the length of the a_o cell edge. The replacement of P by C does not have a significant effect on the cell dimension c_o which is mainly determined by the distance of the Ca- and O-triangles and is not influenced directly by minor substitutions of C for P. Our investigations suggest a carbonate apatite (francolite) with a stoichiometric chemical formula. The nature of the anion configuration is emphasized in this paper.     

Geoecological reconnaissance in the Alpine belt of Southern Tibet

Along with four vegetation profiles taken in 1984 in S Tibet climatically induced regressive plant successions were observed. Recently, frost heaving-adapted plant communities of the free gelifluction belt have been descending toward the alpine belt. The hypso-zonal cyperaceae turfs of the alpine belt have been exfoliated by the Himalaya föhn, and the alpine steppe communities have been advancing for an unknown period of time. The following hypothesis for this is given: The turfs must be interpreted as relics formed under wetter climatic conditions before the start of the Himalaya föhn and the related Indian summer monsoon. It is concluded that this Kobresia pygmaea age occurred just after the deglaciation of the Tibetan plateau and before the start of the Indian summer monsoon.     

Catchments as reactors: a comprehensive approach for water fluxes and solute turnover

Sustainable water quality management requires a profound understanding of water fluxes (precipitation, run-off, recharge, etc.) and solute turnover such as retention, reaction, transformation, etc. at the catchment or landscape scale. The Water and Earth System Science competence cluster (WESS, http://www.wess.info/) aims at a holistic analysis of the water cycle coupled to reactive solute transport, including soil–plant–atmosphere and groundwater–surface water interactions. To facilitate exploring the impact of land-use and climate changes on water cycling and water quality, special emphasis is placed on feedbacks between the atmosphere, the land surface, and the subsurface. A major challenge lies in bridging the scales in monitoring and modeling of surface/subsurface versus atmospheric processes. The field work follows the approach of contrasting catchments, i.e. neighboring watersheds with different land use or similar watersheds with different climate. This paper introduces the featured catchments and explains methodologies of WESS by selected examples.     

评价我国鄱阳湖流域森林生态系统碳动态对植树造林与未来气候变化的响应

20世纪80年代我国鄱阳湖流域实施造林再造林工程,该区域森林面积大幅增加。大规模植物造林可能极大地影响该区域森林碳库与碳收支的变化。因此,气候变化背景下鄱阳湖流域碳平衡对中国碳循环有重要的作用。但是我们对于该地区长时间尺度的碳平衡,特别是在未来气候变化和CO2浓度上升的条件下森林生态系统碳源／汇趋势的了解不多。本研究利用过程模型InTEC模型结合区域气候模式（RIEMS2．0）模拟的未来气候资料估算了鄱阳湖流域1981—2050年碳收支情况。1981—2000年,年NPP的快速增加主要归因于大规模的植树造林;森林土壤有机碳（0-30cm）在植树造林初期每年降低1％。同时该地区森林在过去20年期间从碳源转化为碳汇。2040—2050年森林总碳库相比较2001—2010年增加0．78PgC。基于气候变化和CO2浓度增加（A1B）背景下,鄱阳湖流域NEP趋向于稳定（20—30Tgcy^-1）,除了少数年份因为干旱引发了大的碳汇损失。模拟结果同样表明水分是控制该地区NEP年际变化的主要因子而NPP的年际波动主要受到温度的影响。