Influence of the Neotethys rifting on the development of the Dampier Sub-basin (North West Shelf of Australia), highlighted by subsidence modelling

During the Late Palaeozoic and the Mesozoic, the development and evolution of the North West Shelf of Australia have been mostly driven by rifting phases associated with the break-up of Gondwana. These extensional episodes, which culminated in the opening of the Neotethys Ocean during the Permo-Carboniferous and a series of abyssal plains during the Jurassic-Cretaceous, are characterised by different stress regimes and modes of extension, and therefore had distinctive effects on the margin, and particularly on the Northern Carnarvon Basin.Interpretation of 3D and 2D seismic data enables a structural and stratigraphic analysis of the Late Palaeozoic sediments deposited in the proximal part of the Dampier Sub-basin (Mermaid Nose). Based on their seismic characters, stratigraphic relationship, internal patterns, lateral continuity, and architecture, these units are associated here with the Pennsylvanian?–Early Sakmarian glaciogenic Lyons Group and the Sakmarian–Artinskian Callytharra Formation. The former were deposited in a half-graben whose development is associated with the onset of the Neotethys rifting, and the latter is characterised by restricted deposition, inversion of prograding patterns, and uplift.The integration of seismo-stratigraphic characterisation of the Late Palaeozoic sequences and Mesozoic data from one exploration well (Roebuck-1) enables the construction of subsidence curves for the Mermaid Nose and the interpretation of its geohistory.The tectonic subsidence curves show a striking Permo-Carboniferous rifting phase related to the Neotethys rifting and a discrete Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous event coeval with the opening and the spreading of the Argo Abyssal Plain.This result points out the predominance of the effects of the Permo-Carboniferous Neotethys episode, whereas the extension related to the Argo Abyssal Plain rifting that occurred later and closer to the studied area, had only limited effects on the subsidence of the proximal Dampier Sub-basin. Therefore, it supports a tectonic model with two distinct modes of extension for the Late Palaeozoic (widespread) and the Mesozoic (localised) rifting phases.     

末次盛冰期以来印度尼西亚穿越流对东印度洋上部水体结构的影响

海洋上部水体垂向结构变化对于理解热带海区在全球气候变化中的作用有着重要意义。通过分析印度尼西亚穿越流(ITF)出口处东印度洋帝汶海区SO18480-3孔中的浮游有孔虫表层种Globigerinoides ruber和温跃层种Pulleniatina obliquiloculata壳体氧碳同位素,并借助12个AMS14C测年数据重建了末次盛冰期(LGM)以来该区温跃层深度和营养盐水平的演化序列。壳体氧同位素(δ18O)记录表明温跃层古海洋学特征的变化幅度要大于表层海水,其差值(Δδ18O(P-G))有效地反映了温跃层深度的变化,即冰消期和晚全新世温跃层较浅,LGM和早中全新世温跃层较深;并揭示出与全新世相比,LGM期间ITF总流量未显著减小,ITF对该区上部水体结构的影响受到了东西太平洋之间不对称性的调节。碳同位素(δ13C)记录则表明该区的古海洋学变化在不同程度上受到了南大洋的影响,并受本区上部水体垂向结构的控制,其差值(Δδ13(G-P))在一定程度上反映了该区上部水体营养盐水平的变化。     

The rate of denudation of some British lowland landscapes

Developments in dating techniques applicable to the late Tertiary and Quaternary are giving us the ability to date past land surfaces. Where reasonable assumptions about the nature of such past surfaces and their partial preservation may be made, they can be reconstructed. This permits the contouring and measurement of the subsequent dissection, allowing not only calculation of the average rate of erosion over the elapsed time, but also information on the pattern of incision. Two examples where this has been attempted are present; both are dissected till surfaces in eastern England, one of Anglian and the other of Devensian age. The approach quantifies the disparity between the incision of valleys and the general denudational lowering of the surface which characterizes many landscapes. The technique is not only of academic interest, but potentially forms a useful line of approach to the assessment of the safety of the burying toxic wastes. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Geometry of two glacial valleys in the northern Pyrenees estimated using gravity data

We estimate using gravity data the thickness of post-glacial unconsolidated sediment filling two major glacial valleys in northern Pyrenees: the Gave de Pau valley between Pierrefitte-Nestalas and Lourdes, and the Garonne valley between Saint-Béat and Barbazan. One hundred and eighty-four new gravity data complete 74 measurements obtained from the International Gravimetric Bureau database. Negative residual anomalies resulting from the presence of small-density unconsolidated sediment approach 4 mgal in both the Gave de Pau and the Garonne valleys. Estimating the sediment thickness requires knowing the density contrast between Quaternary sediments and the underlying bedrock. Supposing this density contrast is 600 kg/m³, the maximum estimated thickness of post-glacial sediment is ∼ 230 and 300 meters, and the volume of sediment is 2.1 and 3.2 km³ in the Gave de Pau and Garonne valleys, respectively. In both valleys, the depth of Quaternary sediment suddenly increases at the confluence between two major glacial valleys (Gave de Pau – Gave de Cauterets, and Garonne – Pique confluences). Overdeepened basins are less deep downstream when approaching terminal moraines (Lourdes and Barbazan area), illustrating that the efficiency of glacial erosion depends on the ice flux flowing through valleys.     

罗斯海西北陆架(JOIDES海槽)末次冰期以来冰架消融过程及水动力变化

罗斯冰架的消融过程对全球气候和大洋环流的变化都有重要影响。通过分析罗斯海西北陆架上中国第31次南极考察所采集的ANT31-JB06岩心重建末次冰期以来罗斯冰架的消融历史。通过AMS14C测年,建立了该岩心的地层年代框架,其沉积物被划分为末次冰期(36.6 ka)以来到全新世的沉积序列,并对该岩心进行了粗组分含量分析、粒度组成及其端元模拟的综合研究。该岩心的粒度端元分析结果显示,峰态中值为15.1和18.9 μm的组分端元的变化可分别代表弱和强水动力环境,而峰态中值为63.4和234.1 μm的组分端元的变化可分别代表海冰和冰山搬运等沉积动力的变化。末次冰期罗斯冰架在研究站位并未触底,在27~21 ka左右增长到最大位置,可能已经到达该岩心所在的位置。罗斯冰架在21 ka左右开始退离JOIDES海槽,在AIM 1暖期(17~14 ka)大规模崩塌消退;而在南极冷反转ACR时期(14~12 ka)罗斯冰架消退缓慢;ACR之后冰架继续崩塌直到全新世中期,在5 ka左右罗斯冰架基本达到稳定状态。该处水动力在冷气候时期较强,在暖气候时期较弱,可能是气候较冷时结冰过程形成的盐度较大的水下沉到底部促进了上下水体交换,使得沉积界面的水动力相对也比较强,沉降下来的颗粒相对偏粗。     

帕隆藏布流域冰湖变化及危险性评估

冰湖作为区域气候变化的灵敏指示器和主要冰川灾害的启动器,认识其空间分布及变化特征对探讨冰湖对气候变化的响应规律及冰湖溃决危险性评估具有重要意义.基于1968-1980年地形图数据和1994-2016年Landsat TM/OLI遥感影像资料,综合利用RS、GIS技术和数理统计方法分析帕隆藏布流域面积≥ 0.01 km²冰湖时空分布及其动态变化,并对潜在危险性冰湖进行判别和评估.结果表明：2016年帕隆藏布流域共有冰湖351个,面积50.48 km²,且面积和数量分别以面积>1 km²和面积<0.1 km²的冰湖为主,这些冰湖主要分布于海拔2800~5400 m之间.近50年来帕隆藏布流域冰湖总体呈数量增多、面积增加态势;海拔<3000 m的冰湖相对稳定,而海拔>4500 m的冰湖数量和面积增加则相对迅速.近50年间帕隆藏布流域冰川面积减少591.34 km²,气候变暖导致的冰川末端退缩和冰川融水增加为冰湖形成和扩张提供了发育空间和物质来源.切毛措、光谢错等9个冰湖为潜在危险性冰湖,预计未来一段时间内帕隆藏布流域冰湖溃决可能处于活跃阶段,其形成和暴发也将更加频繁.     

四川泸定磨西台地第四纪冰水台地边坡地质灾害易发性研究

河流冲刷对第四纪软弱地层岸坡的地质灾害起到控制性作用。本文以磨西台地冰水堆积物岸坡为例,充分考虑河流与岸坡地质灾害之间的内在联系,基于对实测地质灾害的分析结果,采用Logistic监督分类方法,评价各环境因子（尤其是河流冲蚀特性因子）在河流岸坡稳定性评价中的作用,进而采用高相关的环境因子进行地质灾害易发性预测。研究表明,河流弯曲度、河流流量、岸坡坡度、河床宽度、岸坡宽度与地质灾害的发育相关性强,采用这些参数和Logistic模型预测的地质灾害易发性能很好的反映现状和未来地质灾害的发育特点,进而提出了磨西台地岸坡地质灾害防治的初步建议。     

气候地层划分和命名的脆弱性

中国东部是否存在第四纪冰川作用之争论,自从李四光1934年提出该学说以来已经持续达65年之久,迄今尚未终结。本文认为冰川时间单位实际上只是一个地质时（geochron）.由于冰川是缓慢前进和后退的,因而冰期和间冰期的时间值从北向南随地而异,其界线是穿时的。通常承认冰期是一个单位,但不是时间岩石单位。中国东部第四纪冰川学说存在不肯定性暴露了气候地层划分和冰川地层单位命名的脆弱性。作者建议使用术语“杂砾岩”来取代“冰碛层”一词。     

秦岭太白山古冰川发育与黄土高原气候变迁

本文通过古冰川遗迹的系统分析,揭示了太白山雪线变化和冰川发育过程,将其与黄土高原晚第四纪气候变化模式对比,阐明了太白山雪线变化和冰川发育的时代和时间序列问题。     

末次盛冰期东亚气候的成因检测

在国际古气候模拟比较计划设置的标准试验方案下,首先利用中国科学院大气物理研究所的全球大气环流模式（IAP-AGCM）模拟了末次盛冰期东亚气候状况,然后通过4组数值敏感性试验逐一模拟了大气CO2浓度、海洋表面温度（SST）和海冰、陆地冰盖和地形、东亚植被变化4项强迫因子的单独气候效应,进而对末次盛冰期东亚气候的成因进行了检测。结果表明,末次盛冰期除华南局部略有升温外,中国年均地表气温显著降低,降温幅度总体上向北增大,青藏高原处存在一个降温中心。其中,SST和海冰变化是华南局部略偏暖的主因,它同时导致了东亚其他区域地表气温的显著降低,特别是在东北亚地区;陆地冰盖和地形变化对于东亚地表气温的显著冷却作用主要体现在东亚的西北部;大气CO2浓度降低会引起东亚地区0.2～0.9℃的普遍降温;相对而言,东亚植被的降温作用（0.5～1.0℃）主要显现在中国40°N以南的区域。与此同时,SST和海冰变化能引起中国东部年均降水一定程度的减少,而大气CO2浓度、陆地冰盖和地形、东亚植被单独变化均不会显著影响东亚年均降水的分布状况,然而,上述四项因子的共同变化会通过协同作用引起中国东部年均降水的显著减少,西部地区降水则与现在差别不大。此外,末次盛冰期东亚夏季风的显著减弱源于SST和海冰变化,冬季风变化则可归因于SST和海冰、陆地冰盖和地形的变化。