Identifying the source of atmospheric moisture over arid deserts using stable isotopes (2H and 18O) in precipitation

Precipitation is a major component of the hydrologic cycle in arid desert areas. To date, however, few studies have been conducted on investigating the isotope characteristics and moisture sources of precipitation in arid desert environments. The Alxa Desert Plateau is a critical arid desert area in North China. This study is the first to analyse the stable isotopic composition of precipitation to identify the sources of atmospheric moisture over this plateau. Our results show that the δD and δ¹⁸O values of precipitation across the plateau change greatly at both daily and monthly timescales, and exhibit seasonal variations. Among the main meteorological parameters, atmospheric temperature is the most predominant factor controlling the isotopic composition and the δD–δ¹⁸O relationship of local precipitation. Analyses of the precipitation isotopes with the Hybrid Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model reveal that (a) the westerly and polar moisture sources are the dominant controls on summer and winter precipitation and (b) the evaporation of local lake water significantly affects winter precipitation even though it only represents a small amount. Based on the isotope data of 2013–2016 precipitation, a local meteoric water line (LMWL) is derived: δD = (8.20 ± 0.22)·δ¹⁸O + (8.15 ± 2.16)‰ for the study site. Compared to the global meteoric water line, the LMWL has a greater slope and lower d‐excess. This can be explained by admixing of atmospheric moisture resulting from the evaporation of local lake water. Based on this LMWL, we are able to trace that groundwater of the Badain Jaran Desert originates from the surrounding mountains with altitudes of <4,000 m. The newly derived LMWL shows that the recharge altitudes of desert groundwater are overestimated on the basis of the previous LMWLs. This study not only provides insights into the hydrological cycle but also offers guidance for water resource management in arid desert areas of China. Additionally, this study provides techniques that can be applied to the analyses of precipitation isotopes in similar arid regions of the world.     

Deciphering some unique paleotemperature indicators in halite-bearing saline lake deposits from Death Valley, California, USA

Saline lake deposits are arguably the best source of mid- to low-latitude terrestrial paleoclimate data. Alternating clastic sediments and evaporites of different chemical composition have long been recognized as sensitive records of changes in inflow and aridity related to a variety of climate parameters. Several sources of paleotemperature information from a halite-bearing saline lake deposit are described here – pseudomorphs of a cold-temperature evaporite mineral, homogenization temperatures of fluid inclusions in halite, and stable-isotope compositions of fluid inclusions in halite. Examples of these paleoclimate data come from analysis of the lower half of a 185-m core drilled in Pleistocene saline lake deposits at Death Valley, California. Daily and seasonal temperature variations in saline lake waters create conditions for the appearance and disappearance of temperature-dependent mineral phases. In the Death Valley core, hexagonal-shaped halite crystals, probable pseudomorphs of the cold-temperature hydrous mineral, hydrohalite (NaCl2H₂O), provide evidence of brine temperatures below about 0 °C. Homogenization temperatures of fluid inclusions in primary halite offer an actual (not proxy) record of surface-brine temperatures. Samples with primary fluid-inclusion textures are carefully selected and handled, and data are collected from single-phase aqueous-brine inclusions chilled to nucleate vapor bubbles. Temperature variations are observable at scales of individual halite crystals (hours to days), single halite beds (weeks to months or years), and multiples of beds to entire facies (hundreds to tens of thousands of years). A ¹⁸O/D stable isotope record from the minute quantities of brines in fluid inclusions in halite is accessible using a method recently developed at the University of Calgary. The stable isotope record from the Death Valley core, a complex response to climate variables including temperature, humidity, storm patterns or seasons, and inflow sources, compliments and expands the interpretation emerging from the stratigraphy and homogenization temperatures.     

青藏高原东构造结林芝地热田浅部典型电性结构及热储关系

约40 Ma以来,受控于印度板块的俯冲及后期演化,青藏高原喜马拉雅山系东构造结成为了板块活动最强烈的地区之一;由于深部动力学过程中的浅表响应,该地区地热资源极为丰富。笔者等通过对两条音频大地电磁（AMT）测线进行数据处理与分析,查明了测点覆盖区域范围内二维电性结构及主要存在的深大断裂。依据电性结构推测研究区地下1 km深度范围内可分为4层,浅部低阻层为松散砂泥卵石层,下伏的中阻为砾卵石层,其下的低阻为砂岩、板岩、页岩强风化层,最底部的中高阻层推测为古元古界林芝岩群真巴岩组以片岩、花岗岩为主的地层。结合以往大地电磁测深及地震研究发现的地下10~20 km存在大规模近东西向展布且向上延伸熔融流变导致的低速高导体,推测可能是该地区深部热源所在。进一步通过对深部及浅部电阻率模型的综合对比研究,基于地热地质背景、电性结构特征,探讨了该地区的深部热源及热储关系。     

湖北银洞沟银矿床地质特征与成因类型

湖北银洞沟矿床是中国为数不多的较为典型的大型银矿床。文中系统总结了该矿床的地质特征,初步提出了矿床的成因类型。研究结果表明:银洞沟矿床产于秦岭造山带东南部武当群变质火山岩中,矿体受韧性剪切带控制,矿石类型主要为石英脉型和少量蚀变岩型,围岩蚀变矿物组合主要为石英、铁白云石、白云母、钠长石、绿泥石、黄铁矿等,成矿流体特征为低盐度、低密度、富含CO2±CH4±N2的水溶液,矿床上部为低品位银金矿体,中部为高品位银金矿体和少量铅锌矿体,深部银品位降低,金品位增高,同时出现较厚大铅锌矿体。其地质特征与典型的造山型矿床一致,表明其为一造山型银矿床,矿床矿化分带符合造山型矿床成矿模式——地壳连续模型,因此应该充分重视寻找矿山深部金、铅、锌、铜、钼等接替资源。     

高密度电阻率法中二极装置的一些理论与实验研究结果

本文提出高密度二极视电阻率测量的方法技术，并根据理论计算及实验研究结果，论证了方法的有效性，证实了高密度二极测量兼有剖面和测深的效果．由于采用了多道连续测量的技术，将增强克服干扰的能力，提高实际观测精度和野外工作效率．     

南海海盆东南部大型深水浊积扇体系及其成因的构造控制

运用近年来海洋地质调查工程获取的最新地质地球物理数据，在南海海盆东南部水深2000～3800 m区域，发现中中新世到第四纪多期大型浊积扇沉积体系，揭示了南海南部深海沉积作用及沉积演化过程。该浊积扇体系以沉积物波、水道充填、海底扇、块体流等沉积体为主，总体上由海盆东南部向海盆中央呈扇形推进，推进距离为150～ 260 km，从老到新规模和结构不断变化，蕴含了丰富的海平面变化信息。垂向上浊流沉积层层叠置发育，形成厚层的浊积砂体。海底水道十分发育，水道砂体底部呈“V”型展布，由南向北延伸，揭示出物源主要来自礼乐滩及北巴拉望区域。该浊积扇的形成明显受到构造控制，与中中新世以来礼乐滩—巴拉望岛的隆升和晚中新世以来的岩浆活动密不可分。浊流发育位置处于南海东南部陆缘和深海平原之间，是陆源物质由浅海输送到深海平原的重要机制，构成南海南部“源-汇”沉积体系的重要环节。     

上扬子区志留纪层序地层特征

在稳定的上扬子地区,对志留系（439～409Ma）进行了露头层序地层研究,建立了2个二级层序（不完整）和9个三级层序（OS1- OS9）,每个三级层序的时限约3.3Ma, OS1由龙马溪组和香树园组构成。雷家屯组包括2个三级层序。OS4由马脚冲组和溶溪组构成。秀山组和回星哨组构成OS5和OS6层序。OS7位于关底组下部。由关底组上部和妙高组下部组成OS8。OS9由妙高组上部和玉龙寺组构成。OS1和OS7为Ⅰ型层序,其余为Ⅱ型层序。三级层序均发育TST和HST,而缺乏LST和SMST。层序的发育与全球海平面变化有密切关系。加里东运动造成的扬子地台持续上升及差异升降对二级层序的组成具有明显的影响。     

大地电磁标定曲线的畸变及校正

以野外实际工作为例,对大地电磁测深系统中磁探头的响应函数进行分析,总结了转角频率的偏高或偏低与视电阻率和相位曲线畸变之间的关系,提出了合理的校正方案。     

长春市城区大气污染特征研究

研究了长春市地貌景观的变化,并以空气污染气象学为指导,重点探讨了由于城区粗糙度的变化,导致大气边界层的改变,从而形成了城市区域特殊的温度和风场。出现了城市热岛和“静风”下的环流现象,改变了城区各部分大气环境质量。局部地区呈现出污染加重的趋势。为今后制定城市发展规划,防治大气污染提供了科学依据和对策。     

固定点源测深法定量解释研究

本文在简要介绍由B.A.柯马罗夫近年提出的“用固定点源测深资料作地电断面图”的定量解释方法(相对强度法、积分参数法和微分参数法)基础上,重点讨论了球体、板状体及组合板状体上用计算机对其理论计算、数值模拟和物理模拟视极化率测深曲线进行定量解释(确定埋藏体中心深度、产状、上界面位置及轮廓)的效果。并以一个野外试验结果说明了方法的有效性。