Chemical weathering over the last 1200 years recorded in the sediments of Gonghai Lake,Lvliang Mountains,North China: a high‐resolution proxy of past climate

Increasing interest in global climate change has led to attempts to understand and quantify the relationship between chemical weathering processes and environmental conditions, especially climate. This interest necessitates the identification of new climate proxies for the reconstruction of two important Earth surface processes: physical erosion and chemical weathering. In this study, an AMS ¹⁴C‐dated 2.8‐m‐long sediment core, GH09B1, from Lake Gonghai in north‐central China was subjected to detailed geochemical analyses to evaluate the intensity of chemical weathering conditions in the catchment. Multivariate statistical analysis of major and trace elemental data of 139 subsamples revealed that the first principal component axis PCA1 explained ～53% of the variance in the assemblage of elements/oxides with significant positive correlations between PCA1 scores and the separation of mobile and soluble elements/oxides from the immobile and resistant elements/oxides, which is thus able to indicate the chemical weathering in the catchment. These results are supported by the down‐core trends of other major and trace elemental ratios of chemical weathering intensity as well as by pollen data from the same core. Variations in PCA1, chemical index of alteration (CIA), Rb/Sr ratio and other oxides ratios indicate stronger chemical weathering due to a wet climate during the Medieval Warm Period (MWP). However, the MWP was interrupted by an interval of relatively weaker chemical weathering conditions from AD 940–1070. Weak chemical weathering under a dry climate occurred during the Little Ice Age (LIA), and increased chemical weathering intensity during the Current Warm Period (CWP). Our proxy records of chemical weathering over the last millennium correlate well with the available proxy records of precipitation from Gonghai Lake as well as with the speleothem oxygen isotope record from Wanxiang Cave, but do not show a significant correlation with the temperature record in N China, suggesting that the chemical weathering intensity in the study area was mainly controlled by the amount of rainfall rather than by temperature. We conclude that high resolution lacustrine sediment geochemical parameters can be used as reliable proxies for climate variations at centennial‐decadal time scales.     

Performance Enhancement of Solar Latent Heat Thermal Storage System with Particle Dispersion — an Exergy Approach

Phase change material (PCM) employed latent heat thermal storage (LHTS) system has been showing good potential over the years for energy management, particularly in solar energy systems. However, enhancement in thermal conductivity of PCMs is emphasized as PCMs are known for their poor thermal conductivity. In this work, the thermal performance of a shell and tube LHTS module containing PCM‐metal particles composite is investigated while charging and is compared with that of pure PCM system. The effect of particle dispersion on latent heat capacity of pure PCM is also analyzed. Enthalpy based governing equations are solved numerically adopting FLUENT code. Exergy based performance evaluation is taken as a main aspect. The numerical results are presented for various operating conditions of heat transfer fluid (HTF) and indicate considerable performance improvement of the system when particles are dispersed.     

Apposite of atmospheric electric parameters with the energy coupling function (ε) during geomagnetic storms at high latitude

In this paper we are concerned with the variation of the atmospheric electric field and the air–earth current due to the excessive power generated by the solar wind-magnetosphere dynamo during geomagnetic storms, recorded at Maitri in Antarctica during 2004. A major part of the power generated by the solar wind-magnetosphere dynamo is used in the formation of the ring current and the rest is utilized for Joule heating and auroral particle precipitation. The method adopted by Frank-Kamenetsky et al. [Frank-Kamenetsky A.V., Troshichev O.A., Burns G.B., Papitashvili V.O., 2001. Variations of atmospheric electric field in the near-pole region related to the interplanetary magnetic field. J. Geophys. Res. 106, A1, 179–190.] was utilized to delineate the variations due to the signatures of tropical thunderstorm activity from the geoelectric data; while statistical methods used in our earlier studies were used to delimit variation due to the constant buffeting of the solar wind. We find that the solar wind-magnetosphere energy coupling function (ε) to be well correlated with the atmospheric electric parameters during the onset of geomagnetic disturbances. However the correlation breaks down during minor storms and sub-storm events.     

Evaluation of elemental enrichments in surface sediments off southwestern Taiwan

Surface slices of 20 sediment cores, off southwestern Taiwan, and bed sediment of River Kaoping were measured for major and trace elements (Al, As, Ca, Cd, Cl, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, S, Si, Ti, V, and Zn) to evaluate the geochemical processes responsible for their distribution, including elemental contamination. Major element/Al ratio and mean grain size indicate quartz-dominated, coarse grained sediments that likely derived from sedimentary rocks of Taiwan and upper crust of Yangtze Craton. Bi-plot of SiO₂ versus Fe₂O₃^T suggests the possible iron enrichment in sediments of slag dumping sites. Highest concentrations of Cr, Mn, P, S, and Zn found in sediments of dumping sites support this. Correlation analysis shows dual associations, detrital and organic carbon, for Cr, P, S, and V with the latter association typical for sediments in dumping sites. Normalization of trace elements to Al indicates high enrichment factors (>2) for As, Cd, Pb, and Zn, revealing contamination. Factor analysis extracted four geochemical associations with the principal factor accounted for 25.1% of the total variance and identifies the combined effects of dumped iron and steel slag-induced C–S–Fe relationship owing to authigenic precipitation of Fe–Mn oxyhydroxides and/or metal sulfides, and organic matter complexation of Fe, Mn, Ca, Cr, P, and V. Factors 2, 3, and 4 reveal detrital association (Ti, Al, Ni, Pb, Cu, and V), effect of sea salt (Cl, Mg, Na, and K) and anthropogenic component (As and Zn)-carbonate link, respectively, in the investigated sediments.     

Glacially derived material in an Inner Mongolian desert lake during Marine Isotope Stage 2

Establishing the precise timing of continental glacial dynamics and abrupt high‐latitude climate events is crucial to understanding the causes of global climate change. Here we present multi‐proxy records in a lake sediment core from arid Inner Mongolia (Wuliangsuhai Lake) that show two distinct glacially derived sedimentation events at ～26.2–21.8 and ～17.3–11.5k cal a BP. Fine sediments from the Last Glacial Maximum separate these glacially derived coarse sediments. Within these intervals, the occurrence of granite clasts at ～24–23.5, 17.3–17 and 15.6–14.1k cal a BP implies either sediment discharge by meltwater as well as strong current flow in the Yellow River and/or sediment influx through hill‐slope mass wasting and landsliding from the nearby Yin Mountains. Surface microfeatures of quartz grains and spot elemental analysis of black specks in these intervals, however, indicate that physical weathering is dominant and that the provenance of the rocks is probably from a glacial source. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time glacier‐derived materials have been detected in any desert lake in the Yellow River basin. The occurrence of granite clasts roughly correlates with Heinrich events in the North Atlantic, suggesting synchronous ice sheet dynamics in high‐ and mid‐latitude regions during the Last Glacial period. Although our data provide unprecedented evidence for the influence of glacier‐related processes in arid Inner Mongolia, further well‐dated records are clearly needed to re‐evaluate the correlative inference drawn between granite clast layers in Wuliangsuhai Lake and Heinrich events in the North Atlantic. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Crustal evolution and tectonics of the Archean Bundelkhand craton, Central India

Magnetotelluric studies over the Bundelkhand craton indicates a high resistivity sub-structure, typically observed in the Archean-Proterozoic regions. The geoelectric section shows a single high resistivity layer in the northern part of the craton, extending from surface to a depth of about 60 km and a three layered resistivity structure overlying a conductive bottom in its southern part. The geological studies reported earlier have delineated an EW trending zone of ultramafic rocks, called the Bundelkhand tectonic zone (BTZ), which marks the divide between the two electrical resistivity patterns. The geoelectric structure is broadly indicative of a northward dipping tectonic fabric in this region which conforms to the Himalayan subduction, to the immediate north of this craton. However this observation cannot explain the findings from geochemical, isotope analysis and geological studies, suggesting possible vertical block movements in the region, which are also indicated in the Bouguer gravity studies. The geoelectric structure beneath the Vindhyan group to the south shows low resistivities even up to 60 km, suggesting that the Bundelkhand craton which is characterized by high resistivity rocks, does not extend to the south beneath the Vindhyans, as was believed by the earlier researchers. A low resistivity body with an extremely high conductance of about 100,000 Siemens is delineated at the mid crustal depths beneath the exposed Bijawars south of Bundelkhand craton. The causative factors behind this low resistivity are not immediately apparent, but some possibilities are discussed here.     

Assessment of groundwater quality in the flood plains of upper Palar River, India

Groundwater is generally presumed to be good for human consumption and is used as a main source of drinking water. Although there are numerous reasons for groundwater pollution, anthropogenic sources are consid-ered as the prime ones. In this study, twenty-two groundwater samples were collected from the flood plains of upper Palar River during the pre- and post-monsoon seasons to assess the extent of pollution and effects on human health. Physico-chemical characteristics of groundwater were analyzed and compared with those of drinking water standards recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). The Piper’s tri-linear diagram shows the nature of alkali earth with the high contents of alkalies and prevailing sulphate in the pre-sent samples. The univariate statistics and correlation analysis were performed to find out the relationships between the variables. The tannery effluents, solid wastes and sewage were suspected to be the predominant sources of pollu-tion in the area.     

Biopolymer-biocement composite treatment for stabilisation of soil against both current and wave erosion

Acta Geotechnica - Increased frequency of extreme weather events has made the conservation of riverbanks and coastlines a global concern. Soil stabilisation via microbially induced calcite...     

Measurements of atmospheric turbulence parameters at Vainu Bappu Observatory using short-exposure CCD images

We report atmospheric turbulence parameters, namely atmospheric seeing, tilt-anisoplanatic angle(θ_0) and coherence time(Τ_0), measured under various sky conditions, at Vainu Bappu Observatory in Kavalur. Bursts of short exposure images of selected stars were recorded with a high-speed, frame-transfer CCD mounted on the Cassegrain focus of a newly commissioned 1.3 m telescope. The estimated median seeing is ≈ 1.85 " at wavelength of ～ 600 nm, the image motion correlation between different pairs of stars is ～44% for θ0≈ 36" and mean Τ_0 is ≈ 2.4 ms. This work was motivated by the design considerations and expected performance of an adaptive optics system that is currently being planned for the telescope.     

Carbon isotope and rare earth element composition of Late Quaternary sediment gravity flow deposits on the mid shelf of East China Sea: Implications for provenance and origin of hybrid event beds

The East China Sea Shelf has an unusually wide and low gradient shelf, supplied from sediment‐charged rivers and large river delta systems, with bottom currents sweeping the sea floor and located in the path of strong typhoons. Sediment gravity flow deposits, including four hybrid event beds and a high density turbidite, are identified in a core from the mid‐shelf of the East China Sea. The hybrid event beds typically comprise three or two internal divisions from the base to the top: (i) H1, H3 and H5; or (ii) H3 and H5. Radiocarbon ages of the hybrid event beds were in the range of 3821 to 8526 yr bp . Based on correlation with surrounding cores, the hybrid events may have happened at any time between 1930 yr bp and 3890 yr bp . The δ¹³C values in hybrid event beds together with bathymetry data suggest local erosion on the shelf. The average δ¹³C value for the H1 division is similar to the H3 division in the hybrid event beds, implying that the organic matter in the H1 and H3 divisions may come from the same source area. Cross‐plots of upper continental crust normalized rare earth elements in the five units reveal that the sediment source of the four hybrid event beds and the turbidite was ultimately primarily from Korean rivers. Partial transformation from a moderate‐strength debris flow with the additional role of erosional bulking can explain occurrences of hybrid event beds on the East China Sea Shelf. The data indicate that hybrid sediment gravity flow deposits were sourced from intra‐shelf failures and subsequently transformed and deposited as hybrid event beds. The study shows that hybrid sediment gravity flows and turbidity currents may not necessarily indicate proximity to a major fluvial or deltaic system and that intra‐shelf sedimentation can be a sediment source. It is unlikely that the debris flows and turbidity currents were triggered by a hyperpycnal flow or tsunami, because both can carry continental and/or coastal signals which have not been recognized in the core. Typhoons are the probable triggering mechanism.