Molecular and stable carbon isotopic compositions of saturated fatty acids within one sedimentary profile in the Shenhu,northern South China Sea: Source implications

This study examined the distributions and stable carbon isotopic compositions of saturated fatty acids (SaFAs) in one 300 cm long sedimentary profile, which was named as Site4B in Shenhu, northern South China Sea. The concentrations of total SaFAs in sediments ranged from 1.80 to 10.16 μg/g (μg FA/g dry sediment) and showed an even-over-odd predominance in the carbon chain of C₁₂ to C₃₂, mostly with n-C₁₆ and n-C₁₈ being the two major components. The short-chain fatty acids (ScFAs; n-C₁₂ to n-C₁₈) mainly from marine microorganisms had average δ¹³C values of −26.7‰ to −28.2‰, whereas some terrigenous-sourced long-chain fatty acids (LcFAs; n-C₂₁ to n-C₃₂) had average δ¹³C values of −29.6‰ to −34.1‰. The other LcFAs (n-C₂₄ & n-C₂₆ ∼ n-C₂₈; average δ¹³C values are −26.1‰ to −28.0‰) as well as n-C₁₉ and n-C₂₀ SaFAs (average δ¹³C values are −29.1‰ and −29.3‰, respectively) showed a mixed signal of carbon isotope compositions.The relative bioproductivity calculation (marine vs. terrigenous) demonstrated that most of organic carbon accumulation throughout the sedimentary profile was contributed by marine organism. The high marine productivity in Shenhu, South China Sea may be related to the hydrocarbon seepage which evidenced by diapiric structures. Interestingly, there is a sever fluctuation of terrigenous inputs around the depth of 97 cm below the seafloor (bsf), probably resulting from the influence of the Dansgaard–Oeschger events and the Younger Dryas event as revealed by ¹⁴C age measurements.     

Organic geochemistry of the Vindhyan sediments: Implications for hydrocarbons

The organic geochemical methods of hydrocarbon prospecting involve the characterization of sedimentary organic matter in terms of its abundance, source and thermal maturity, which are essential prerequisites for a hydrocarbon source rock. In the present study, evaluation of organic matter in the outcrop shale samples from the Semri and Kaimur Groups of Vindhyan basin was carried out using Rock Eval pyrolysis. Also, the adsorbed low molecular weight hydrocarbons, methane, ethane, propane and butane, were investigated in the near surface soils to infer the generation of hydrocarbons in the Vindhyan basin. The Total Organic Carbon (TOC) content in shales ranges between 0.04% and 1.43%. The S₁ (thermally liberated free hydrocarbons) values range between 0.01–0.09 mgHC/gRock (milligram hydrocarbon per gram of rock sample), whereas the S₂ (hydrocarbons from cracking of kerogen) show the values between 0.01 and 0.14 mgHC/gRock. Based on the T_max (temperature at highest yield of S₂) and the hydrogen index (HI) correlations, the organic matter is characterized by Type III kerogen. The adsorbed soil gas, CH₄ (C₁), C₂H₆ (C₂), C₃H₈ (C₃) and nC₄H₁₀, (nC4), concentrations measured in the soil samples from the eastern part of Vindhyan basin (Son Valley) vary from 0 to 186 ppb, 0 to 4 ppb, 0 to 5 ppb, and 0 to 1 ppb, respectively. The stable carbon isotope values for the desorbed methane (δ¹³C₁) and ethane (δ¹³C₂) range between −45.7‰ to −25.2‰ and −35.3‰ to −20.19‰ (VPDB), respectively suggesting a thermogenic source for these hydrocarbons. High concentrations of thermogenic hydrocarbons are characteristic of areas around Sagar, Narsinghpur, Katni and Satna in the Son Valley. The light hydrocarbon concentrations (C₁–C₄) in near surface soils of the western Vindhyan basin around Chambal Valley have been reported to vary between 1–2547 ppb, 1–558 ppb, 1–181 ppb, 1–37 ppb and 1–32 ppb, respectively with high concentrations around Baran-Jhalawar-Bhanpur-Garot regions (Kumar et al., 2006). The light gaseous hydrocarbon anomalies are coincident with the wrench faults (Kota – Dholpur, Ratlam – Shivpuri, Kannod – Damoh, Son Banspur – Rewa wrench) in the Vindhyan basin, which may provide conducive pathways for the migration of the hydrocarbons towards the near surface soils.     

Age and impacts of the caldera-forming Aniakchak II eruption in western Alaska

The mid-Holocene eruption of Aniakchak volcano (Aniakchak II) in southwest Alaska was among the largest eruptions globally in the last 10,000 years (VEI-6). Despite evidence for possible impacts on global climate, the precise age of the eruption is not well-constrained and little is known about regional environmental impacts. A closely spaced sequence of radiocarbon dates at a peatland site over 1000 km from the volcano show that peat accumulation was greatly reduced with a hiatus of approximately 90–120 yr following tephra deposition. During this inferred hiatus no paleoenvironmental data are available but once vegetation returned the flora changed from a Cyperaceae-dominated assemblage to a Poaceae-dominated vegetation cover, suggesting a drier and/or more nutrient-rich ecosystem. Oribatid mites are extremely abundant in the peat at the depth of the ash, and show a longer-term, increasingly wet peat surface across the tephra layer. The radiocarbon sample immediately below the tephra gave a date of 1636–1446 cal yr BC suggesting that the eruption might be younger than previously thought. Our findings suggest that the eruption may have led to a widespread reduction in peatland carbon sequestration and that the impacts on ecosystem functioning were profound and long-lasting.     

Note on the isotopic geochemistry of fossil-lacustrine tufas in carbonate plateau—A study from Dungul region (SW Egypt)

Lithological, chemical, and stable isotope data are used to characterize lacustrine tufas dating back to pre-late Miocene and later unknown times, capping different surfaces of a Tertiary carbonate (Sinn el-Kedab) plateau in Dungul region in the currently hyperarid south-western Egypt. These deposits are composed mostly of calcium carbonate, some magnesium carbonate and clastic particles plus minor amounts of organic matter. They have a wide range of (Mg/Ca)_molar ratios, from 0.03 to 0.3. The bulk-tufa carbonate has characteristic isotope compositions: (δ¹³C_mean = −2.49 ± 0.99‰; δ¹⁸O_mean = −9.43 ± 1.40‰). The δ¹³C values are consistent with a small input from C4 vegetation or thinner soils in the recharge area of the tufa-depositing systems. The δ¹⁸O values are typical of fresh water carbonates. Covariation between δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O values probably is a reflection of climatic conditions such as aridity. The tufas studied are isotopically similar to the underlying diagenetic marine chalks, marls and limestones (δ¹³C_mean = −2.06 ± 0.84‰; δ¹⁸O_mean = −10.06 ± 1.39‰). The similarity has been attributed to common meteoric water signatures. This raises large uncertainties in using tufas (Mg/Ca)_molar, δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O records as proxies of paleoclimatic change and suggests that intrinsic compositional differences in material sources within the plateau may mask climatic changes in the records.     

Research Progress in Responses of Modern Terrestrial Plant Carbon Isotope Composition to Climate Change

Global climate change has been one of the most concerned environmental problems in the world since the 1980s. Since stable carbon composition (¹³C) in plant tissues can record abundant information on climate changes, it has been widely used as an important climate proxy in global change studies and becomes a powerful tool for obtaining paleoclimate information, understanding paleoenvironment reconstruction and modern climate change, and predicting future climate trends. However, a lot of potential uncertainties have always involved in the reconstruction of paleoclimate and paleoenvironment by carbon isotope of the past period sediment or fossils. Among them, the most dominant uncertainty is due to our poor understanding of the relations between carbon isotope ratios of plants and climatic factors and the climatic and environmental significance indicated by modern plant ¹³C. This may limit the application of plant ¹³C in the study of climatic and environmental changes. Based on the Summary of plant ¹³C fractionation and carbon isotope distribution of different photosynthetic plants, the effects of environmental factors, e.g., temperature, precipitation, atmospheric CO₂ concentration, and altitude on terrestrial plant ¹³C and their relationships were reviewed in this paper, and the response mechanism of plant ¹³C to climate changes were also analyzed. Furthermore, the current existing problems and the future prospects in carbon isotope study were discussed. It is pointed out that strengthening some studies such as the response of C₄ plants ¹³C to climate environmental parameters, the transformation relation of different scale plant ¹³C, intersection and permeation of related disciplines, and various proxies and scientific method, will undoubtedly make us have a more accurate understanding of the climate history and eventually broaden the development of the field during the process of global change study by plant carbon isotope techniques.     

“双碳”目标下长江中游城市群生态福利绩效演变及驱动机制研究

生态福利绩效是探析自然生态与人类福利关系、衡量生态文明建设的重要工具。论文运用Super-SBM模型测度2005—2020年长江中游城市群市域尺度生态福利绩效,在识别其时空演变特征的基础上,运用面板Tobit模型探讨驱动生态福利绩效演变的因子,最后在“碳达峰、碳中和”目标下揭示其演变的驱动机制。研究发现： ① 2005—2020年长江中游城市群生态福利绩效呈现出“缓慢衰退→波动→快速发展”的演变特征;② 长江中游城市群生态福利绩效总体上呈“核心—外围”态势,武汉城市圈、环长株潭城市群、环鄱阳湖城市群交界处“中部塌陷”特征明显;③ 长江中游城市群生态福利绩效时空演变是在技术进步、环境规制、产业结构、人口集聚、发展共享、对外开放等多因子循环累积和共同推动下形成的,存在内源转化与外源驱动双重作用路径,并且与碳排放强度密切相关。在“双碳”目标下揭示生态福利绩效时空演变及驱动机制,有助于厘清自然生态与人类福利的转化机理以及生态福利绩效与碳排放的作用关系,可为城市群高质量发展和生态文明建设提供参考。     

乌鲁木齐冬季黑碳气溶胶污染特征初步研究

利用2010年2月乌鲁木齐大气成分观测站黒碳仪观测数据,结合散射系数及常规观测资料,对乌鲁木齐冬季黑碳气溶胶浓度变化特征进行了分析,并通过气流后向轨迹进行了来源分析。结果表明：(1)观测期间BC质量浓度日平均值为12707±4673 ng.m-3,浓度变化范围为4916~22997 ng.m-3,散射系数日均值为1086±561Mm-1,变化范围为350~2232 Mm-1。BC质量浓度和散射系数日均值变化趋势基本一致;(2)BC质量浓度日变化具有明显的峰值和谷值,峰值分别出现在9~11时和20~22时,谷值分别出现在4~6时和16~18时,散射系数与BC质量浓度日变化趋势基本一致,相对其有一定的滞后。春节期间燃放烟花爆竹对空气污染物浓度上升有明显作用,显著影响BC质量浓度日变化规律;(3)乌鲁木齐冬季大气层结稳定,污染物不易扩散,风速和降水对黑碳气溶胶浓度具有明显的稀释作用。在乌鲁木齐特殊的地形和气象条件下,本地源排放与来自周边城市群污染物输送的叠加使得污染更加严重。     

海进体系域碳氧同位素地球化学响应——以黔西南地区三叠系为例

层序地层研究表明,位于扬子地块西南缘的黔西南地区在中三叠世末期(相当于Ladinian-Carnian期)出现了一次与全球同步的大规模海侵,形成了一个向上变深的碳酸盐岩台地淹没沉积层序。垄头组顶部和竹竿坡组分别是海进体系域(TST)的下、上部分。碳、氧同位素研究表明,垄头组顶部自下而上δ(18O)持续增大,而δ(13C)先逐渐增大,后在顶部界面附近快速下降,反映了垄头组顶部在暴露环境下氧化作用的结果。竹竿坡组δ(13C)自下而上逐渐增大,δ(18O)总体呈现逐渐减小趋势,反映了海平面变化特征。研究认为,海进体系域的δ(13C)和δ(18O)演化不但反映了海平面和沉积环境变化,同时对密集段(CS)、层序界面和古暴露面等也有很好的识别作用,在层序地层研究中具有重要的意义。     

具有硅酸盐尘埃特征碳星的新的候选者

本文根据红外天文卫星的宽波段测光及低分辨率光谱资料，给出了两颗新的可能具有硅酸尘埃特征的碳星及４颗可能的候选者。     

High-precision analysis of carbon isotopic composition for individual CO2 inclusions via Raman spectroscopy to reveal the multiple-stages evolution of CO2- bearing fluids and melts

The carbon isotopic composition of CO₂ inclusions trapped in minerals reflects the origin and evolution of CO₂-bearing fluids and melts, and records the multiple-stages carbon geodynamic cycle, as CO₂ took part in various geological processes widely. However, the practical method for determination isotope composition of individual CO₂ inclusion is still lacking. Developing a microanalytical technique with spatial resolution in micrometers to precisely determinate the δ¹³C value of individual CO₂ inclusion, will make it possible to analyze a tiny portion of a zoning mineral crystal, distinguish the differences in micro-scale, and possible to find many useful information that could not be obtained with the bulk extraction and analysis techniques. In this study, we systematically collected Raman spectra of CO₂ standards with different δ¹³C values (?34.9 ‰ to 3.58 ‰) at 32.0 °C and from ～7.0 MPa to 120.0 MPa, and developed a new procedure to precisely determinate the δ¹³C value of individual CO₂ inclusion. We investigated the relationship among the Raman peak intensity ratio, δ¹³C value, and CO₂ density, and established a calibration model with high accuracy (0.5 ‰?1.5 ‰), sufficient for geological application to distinguish different source of CO₂ with varying δ¹³CO₂. As a demonstration, we measured the δ¹³C values and the density of CO₂ inclusions in the growth zones of alkali basalt-hosted corundum megacrysts from Changle, Shandong Province. We found the significant differences of density and δ¹³C between the CO₂ inclusions in the core of corundum and those inclusions in the outer growth zones, the δ¹³C value decreases from core to rim with decreasing density: δ¹³C values are from ?7.5 ‰ to ?9.2 ‰ for the inclusions in the core, indicating the corundum core was crystallized from mantle-derived magmas; from ?13.5 ‰ to ?18.5 ‰ for CO₂ inclusions in zone 1 and from ?16.5 ‰ to –22.0 ‰ for inclusions in zone 2, indicating the outer zones of corundum grew in a low δ¹³C value environment, resulted from an infilling of low δ¹³C value fluid and/or degassing of the ascending basaltic magma.