Paleogene evolution and demise of the proto‐Paratethys Sea in Central Asia (Tarim and Tajik basins): Role of intensified tectonic activity at ca. 41 Ma

The proto‐Paratethys Sea covered a vast area extending from the Mediterranean Tethys to the Tarim Basin in western China during Cretaceous and early Paleogene. Climate modelling and proxy studies suggest that Asian aridification has been governed by westerly moisture modulated by fluctuations of the proto‐Paratethys Sea. Transgressive and regressive episodes of the proto‐Paratethys Sea have been previously recognized but their timing, extent and depositional environments remain poorly constrained. This hampers understanding of their driving mechanisms (tectonic and/or eustatic) and their contribution to Asian aridification. Here, we present a new chronostratigraphic framework based on biostratigraphy and magnetostratigraphy as well as a detailed palaeoenvironmental analysis for the Paleogene proto‐Paratethys Sea incursions in the Tajik and Tarim basins. This enables us to identify the major drivers of marine fluctuations and their potential consequences on Asian aridification. A major regional restriction event, marked by the exceptionally thick (≤ 400 m) shelf evaporites is assigned a Danian‐Selandian age (ca. 63–59 Ma) in the Aertashi Formation. This is followed by the largest recorded proto‐Paratethys Sea incursion with a transgression estimated as early Thanetian (ca. 59–57 Ma) and a regression within the Ypresian (ca. 53–52 Ma), both within the Qimugen Formation. The transgression of the next incursion in the Kalatar and Wulagen formations is now constrained as early Lutetian (ca. 47–46 Ma), whereas its regression in the Bashibulake Formation is constrained as late Lutetian (ca. 41 Ma) and is associated with a drastic increase in both tectonic subsidence and basin infilling. The age of the final and least pronounced sea incursion restricted to the westernmost margin of the Tarim Basin is assigned as Bartonian–Priabonian (ca. 39.7–36.7 Ma). We interpret the long‐term westward retreat of the proto‐Paratethys Sea starting at ca. 41 Ma to be associated with far‐field tectonic effects of the Indo‐Asia collision and Pamir/Tibetan plateau uplift. Short‐term eustatic sea level transgressions are superimposed on this long‐term regression and seem coeval with the transgression events in the other northern Peri‐Tethyan sedimentary provinces for the 1st and 2nd sea incursions. However, the 3rd sea incursion is interpreted as related to tectonism. The transgressive and regressive intervals of the proto‐Paratethys Sea correlate well with the reported humid and arid phases, respectively in the Qaidam and Xining basins, thus demonstrating the role of the proto‐Paratethys Sea as an important moisture source for the Asian interior and its regression as a contributor to Asian aridification.     

沃克环流上升区赤道低空强西风带的分析

采用ＴＯＧＡ／ＣＯＡＲＥ国际合作考察期间（１９９２年１０月─１９９３年２月）获得的２６７次定点（２°Ｓ，１５５°Ｅ）定时高空大气探测资料，进行计算分析，发现１９９２年１２月─１９９３年２月低空存在一支西风急流，有两次分别持续半月之久，而１９９２年１１月的两次赤道西风急流，因无赤道高空急流配合，仅持续２ｄ便消失。本文还指出：（１）赤道低空西风急流是各种海－气指数产生ＥＮＳＯ异常的重要信息；（２）赤道高空急流有滞后赤道低空急流２ｄ左右的响应关系；（３）赤道低空急流是纬向水汽输送的狭窄通道。     

季风爆发前后青藏高原西部改则地区大气结构的初步分析

通过2008年青藏高原西部改则地区季风前(FM)和季风爆发阶段(MJ)两个加强观测期的无线电探空资料发现: 青藏高原西部改则地区对流层顶以第二对流层顶为主。冬季多表现为双对流层顶或复对流层顶。到了夏季, 第一对流层顶 (极地对流层顶) 较少见, 基本只有第二对流层顶。季风前第一对流层顶高度为10752 m, 温度为219 K, 气压为245.2 hPa, 第二对流层顶高度16826 m, 温度为202 K, 气压93 hPa。季风爆发阶段, 第一对流层高度为10695 m, 温度229 K, 气压256.7 hPa; 第二对流层顶高度为17360 m, 温度198 K, 气压89.4 hPa。由两个观测期的月平均温度的升温情况可以判断出第二对流层顶温度夏低冬高, 第一对流层顶温度为夏高冬低。从小时的时间尺度上发现, 第二对流层顶的高度变化和对流层顶温度、气压、风速的变化均为反位相变化; 对流层顶升高时, 对流层顶气压、温度、风速、湿度随之降低, 反之也成立。第一对流层顶对地表向上的热量输送及云顶有很好的阻挡作用, 进而对大气加热有显著影响。从靠近地面的月平均风速均匀混合特征, 判断出季风爆发阶段改则地区边界层高度能达到3500 m左右。西风急流在高原改则地区有明显季节变化。冬季西风急流最强, 几乎没有东风带出现。季风爆发阶段西风急流逐渐离开改则地区并向高原北部移动, 在该地区表现为减弱。同时东风带逐渐北移到改则地区, 在该地区上空表现为逐渐增强, 并位于西风带之上。     

冬半年副热带南支西风槽结构和演变特征研究

南支槽是冬半年副热带南支西风气流在高原南侧孟加拉湾地区产生的半永久性低压槽,本文从气候学角度探讨其结构和演变特征。结果表明：（1）南支槽10月在孟加拉湾北部建立,冬季（11-2月）加强,春季（3-5月）活跃,6月消失并转换为孟加拉湾槽;10月南支槽建立表明北半球大气环流由夏季型转变成冬季型,6月南支槽消失同时孟加拉湾槽建立是南亚夏季风爆发的重要标志之一。（2）南支槽在700 hPa表现明显,其槽前干暖平流的输送有利于昆明准静止锋形成和维持,槽后冷湿平流也与孟加拉湾冷涌关系密切。（3）冬季辐散环流下沉支抑制了南支槽前上升运动的发展,这时低层辐合,中层辐散,南支槽前上升运动一般只伸展到对流层中层600 hPa左右。春季随着辐散环流减弱,东亚急流入口区南侧辐散中心的出现使得垂直运动向上迅速伸展。（4）从气候平均看冬季水汽输送较弱,上升运动浅薄,无强对流活动,南支槽前降水不明显,雨区主要位于高原东南侧昆明准静止锋至华南一带。春季南支槽水汽输送增大,同时副高外围暖湿水汽输送加强,上升运动发展和对流增强,南支槽造成的降水显著增加,因此春季是南支槽最活跃的时期。     

季风与西风对青藏高原全新世气候变化的影响:同位素证据

青藏高原气候变化在冰期-间冰期、千年、十年际和季节尺度上受亚洲季风和西风环流的交互影响,表现出显著的区域性特征。然而全新世以来青藏高原气候变化的机制还不甚清楚,主要原因之一是缺少指示意义明确的古气候代用指标。课题组近年来利用叶蜡氢同位素(δDwax)重建了高原东北部的青海湖、中北部的令戈错、中部的达则错、西部的班公错和阿翁错不同时间尺度的大气降水同位素记录,本文对上述工作进行总结,并结合青藏高原全新世以来已发表的其他地点的同位素和古水文记录,揭示全新世以来季风与西风对青藏高原不同区域气候变化的影响。结果表明:1)早全新世青海湖、令戈错、班公错和阿翁错4个湖泊均主要受夏季风影响,夏季风可以影响到青藏高原的大部分地区,此时夏季风在青藏高原的最北界限可能位于青海湖以北、克鲁克湖以南。2)中全新世青海湖、班公错和阿翁错受夏季风影响逐渐减弱;然而令戈错在7.0~4.5 ka水汽主要来源于西风环流。3)晚全新世青海湖和班公错受季风的影响进一步减弱;西风在3.5~1.7 ka和2.0~1.0 ka分别影响到高原中部的令戈错和达则错;晚全新世阿翁错受冰川融水补给影响降水同位素异常偏负。4)本研究表明在中晚全新世季风较弱的时期,西风能够深入到青藏高原内部地区,给高原内部地区带来冷湿的水汽。     

Moisture sources of the Alashan Sand Seas in western Inner Mongolia,China during the Last Glacial Maximum and mid-Holocene

Knowledge of moisture sources is of great significance for understanding climatic change and landscape evolution in desert environments. In this paper, we aim to clarify moisture origins for the Alashan (Alxa) Sand Seas (ALSS) in western Inner Mongolia and their transport pathways during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and the mid-Holocene using modern analogues and paleoclimatic simulations. Precipitation data for the period 1959–2015 from meteorological stations in the study area and wind and specific humidity data from the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) daily re-analysis were adopted to determine the moisture sources of summer precipitation in the ALSS. In addition paleoclimate simulations under PMIP3/CMIP5 protocols were used to detect the atmospheric circulation and precipitation at 21 ka BP and 6 ka BP over the ALSS. We also reviewed paleoclimate records from the ALSS to acquire a semi-quantitative re-construction of the moisture history during the late Pleistocene and Holocene. Our results suggest that the summer monsoon transported water vapor from the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea to the ALSS during July and August, causing increased precipitation. The dominant moisture source was from the southwest monsoon, while the East Asian summer monsoon also partly contributed to precipitation in the ALSS. The increased humidity during the period 8.2–4.2 ka BP in the ALSS, as derived from both climate simulation outputs and sedimentary records, was caused by monsoons according to the outputs of simulations. At 21 ka BP, the moisture sources of the ALSS were greatly associated with the prevailing westerlies.

     

Potential for Southern Hemisphere climate surprises

Climate model results suggest that future climate change in Antarctica will be accompanied by continued strengthening and poleward contraction of the Southern Ocean westerly wind belt. Paleoclimate records suggest past changes in the westerly winds can be abrupt and that healing of the Antarctic ozone hole could lead to poleward contraction of the westerlies and increased meridional atmospheric transport of warm air regionally into Antarctica. An abrupt shift to more meridional circulation could lead to notable changes in moisture availability for extra‐Antarctic regions, increased Antarctic ice sheet disintegration and more rapid sea‐level rise.     

冬半年副热带西风南支槽结构和演变特征研究

南支槽是冬半年副热带南支西风气流在高原南侧孟加拉湾地区产生的半永久性低压槽, 本文从气候学角度探讨其结构和演变特征。结果表明: (1) 南支槽10月在孟加拉湾北部建立, 冬季 (11～2月) 加强, 春季 (3～5月) 活跃, 6月消失并转换为孟加拉湾槽; 10月南支槽建立表明北半球大气环流由夏季型转变成冬季型, 6月南支槽消失同时孟加拉湾槽建立是南亚夏季风爆发的重要标志之一。 (2) 南支槽在700 hPa表现明显, 其槽前干暖平流的输送有利于昆明准静止锋形成和维持, 槽后冷湿平流也与孟加拉湾冷涌关系密切。 (3) 冬季辐散环流下沉支抑制了南支槽前上升运动的发展, 这时低层辐合, 中层辐散, 南支槽前上升运动一般只伸展到对流层中层600 hPa左右。春季随着辐散环流减弱, 东亚急流入口区南侧辐散中心的出现使得垂直运动向上迅速伸展。 (4) 从气候平均看冬季水汽输送较弱, 上升运动浅薄, 无强对流活动, 南支槽前降水不明显, 雨区主要位于高原东南侧昆明准静止锋至华南一带。春季南支槽水汽输送增大, 同时副高外围暖湿水汽输送加强, 上升运动发展和对流增强, 南支槽造成的降水显著增加, 因此春季是南支槽最活跃的时期。     

The Variability of Spring Sand-Dust Storm Frequency in Northeast Asia from 1980 to 2011

The characteristic distributions of regional sand-dust storm(SDS) weather processes over Northeast Asia from 1980 to 2011 were investigated using the shared WMO surface station meteorological data,atmospheric sounding data,China high density weather data,NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data,as well as the archived original weather maps of China.The concentration-weighted trajectory(CWT) method was used to calculate the SDS frequency from the discrete station data and to track the large-scale regional SDS weather processes in Northeast Asia.A spline trend analysis method was employed to investigate the variability of the SDS weather systems.The results show that during 1980-2011,the SDS weather processes exhibit both a historical persistence and abrupt transitions with an approximate 10-yr high-low occurrence oscillation.Through composite analysis of atmospheric circulation during high and low SDS years,it is found that the SDS occurrences are closely related to the anomalies of arctic vortex and midlatitude westerly,and the circulation patterns around the Lake Baikal.During the high frequency years,the meridianal flows in the upper and mid troposphere above the high SDS corridor in East Asia(from the Lake Balkhash along Northwest and North China,Korean Peninsula,and Japan Islands) are apparently stronger than the meridianal flows during the low SDS frequency years,favoring the development and transport of SDSs in the midlatitude regions.