Mapping of moraine dammed glacial lakes and assessment of their areal changes in the central and eastern Himalayas using satellite data

The relatively rapid recession of glaciers in the Himalayas and formation of moraine dammed glacial lakes(MDGLs) in the recent past have increased the risk of glacier lake outburst floods(GLOF) in the countries of Nepal and Bhutan and in the mountainous territory of Sikkim in India. As a product of climate change and global warming, such a risk has not only raised the level of threats to the habitation and infrastructure of the region, but has also contributed to the worsening of the balance of the unique ecosystem that exists in this domain that sustains several of the highest mountain peaks of the world. This study attempts to present an up to date mapping of the MDGLs in the central and eastern Himalayan regions using remote sensing data, with an objective to analyse their surface area variations with time from 1990 through 2015, disaggregated over six episodes. The study also includes the evaluation for susceptibility of MDGLs to GLOF with the least criteria decision analysis(LCDA). Forty two major MDGLs, each having a lake surface area greater than 0.2 km2, that were identified in the Himalayan ranges of Nepal, Bhutan, and Sikkim, have been categorized according to their surface area expansion rates in space and time. The lakes have been identified as located within the elevation range of 3800 m and6800 m above mean sea level(a msl). With a total surface area of 37.9 km2, these MDGLs as a whole were observed to have expanded by an astonishing 43.6% in area over the 25 year period of this study. A factor is introduced to numerically sort the lakes in terms of their relative yearly expansion rates, based on their interpretation of their surface area extents from satellite imageries. Verification of predicted GLOF events in the past using this factor with the limited field data as reported in literature indicates that the present analysis may be considered a sufficiently reliable and rapid technique for assessing the potential bursting susceptibility of the MDGLs. The analysis also indicates that, as of now, there are eight MDGLs in the region which appear to be in highly vulnerable states and have high chances in causing potential GLOF events anytime in the recent future.     

Classification of glacial lakes using integrated approach of DFPS technique and gradient analysis using Sentinel 2A data

It is important to identify and locate glacial lakes for assessing any potential hazard. This study presents a combination of semi-automatic method Double-Window Flexible Pace Search (DFPS) and edge detection technique to identify glacial lakes using Sentinel 2A satellite data. Initially, Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) has been used to identify water and non-water areas, while DFPS and Edge detection technique has been used to identify an optimum threshold value to distinguish between water and shadow areas. The optimal threshold from DFPS process is 0.21, while threshold value of gradient magnitude using edge detection process is 0.318. The number of glacial lakes identified using the above algorithm is in close agreement with previously published results on glacial lakes in Gangotri glacier using different techniques. Thus, a combination of DFPS and edge detection process has successfully segregated glacial lakes from other features present in Gangotri glacier.     

冲绳海槽中段近4万年来沉积物属性和来源

对冲绳海槽中段DGKS9603孔134个样品(孔深0~481cm),测试了18种常、微量元素,对该柱样的29个样品(孔深0~488cm)进行了REE测试。对采自长江三角洲的CYm柱样和黄河三角洲的S3柱样中的晚更新统的5个样品进行了常、微量元素和REE测试。分析表明,冲绳海槽中段在全新世、末次盛冰期和末次间冰期的沉积物均以陆源物质为主,生物沉积为次。末次盛冰期以陆源硅质碎屑沉积的大量增加为特征;全新世生物沉积量有较大的增加;末次间冰期介于上述两者之间,但较全新世更富陆源物质。冲绳海槽的物源演化受末次冰期的影响,具有阶段性。对比冲绳海槽与长江和黄河物源的地球化学参数,包括REE、稀有元素、惰性常、微量元素,判识出末次盛冰期冲绳海槽的陆源物质,具有长江源的物质属性,沉积物可能主要来自古长江。     

Middle Pleistocene lacustrine deposits in eastern Essex,England and their palaeogeographical implications

Investigations in quarry exposures in the Asheldham Gravel and related deposits of southeast Essex are described. Section logging, mapping and borehole investigations are supported by clast lithological, heavy and clay mineralogical determinations. The sediments are derived from reworking of local Thames basin materials, fine sediment being predominantly from the London Clay. The sequence is shown to represent an aggradation that began as the fluvial infilling of the River Medway valley. The River Thames, diverted into this valley by glaciation further west, overwhelmed the Medway, reworking the deposits. The valley was subsequently drowned and fine laminated lake sediment was initially deposited. This was during a period when the valley was drowned by the glacial lake ponded in the southern North Sea basin by the Anglian/Elsterian ice sheet. Progradation by a braid-delta complex advanced along the valley and subsequently fluvial deposition returned. Valley widening and straightening accompanied the delta progradation. The deposits were dissected by deep fluvial valleys infilled by Hoxnian interglacial sediments. The Asheldham Gravel is therefore placed in the Anglian/Elsterian Stage.     

南海北部晚第四纪颗石藻生产力变化及其影响因素

通过对南海北部MD05-2904岩心进行有机地球化学分析,以长链不饱和烯酮作为颗石藻生产力的替代性指标,讨论颗石藻生产力的变化及其影响因素。结果显示,260ka以来,颗石藻生产力有着明显的冰期/间冰期变化:冰期高,间冰期低;冰阶高,间冰阶低;在轨道尺度上岁差周期明显,反映出太阳辐射、东亚季风对颗石藻生产力在长期尺度上起调控作用;而由于特殊的地理位置,河流输送的营养盐对本区海洋初级生产力的影响可能也较大;与前人研究结果一致,同时认为,在地质历史上沉积速率变化大的区域,对生物标记物的含量和堆积速率的对比讨论,更有利于反映生产力的变化。     

赤道西太平洋末次盛冰期以来的浮游有孔虫氧碳稳定同位素记录

对西太平洋暖池核心区MD01—2386柱状样最上部5m进行了高分辨率的浮游有孔虫Globigerinoides ruber和Pulleniatina obliquiloculata的氧、碳稳定同位素分析,结合AMS^14C测年,研究表明其属于末次盛冰期-全新世的沉积。赤道西太平洋海区末次盛冰期以来δ^18O值显著降低,但有几次回返事件。表层浮游有孔虫G．ruber比次表层温跃层属种P．obliquiloculata对于环境变化的响应要快,但后者变化的幅度较大。这两个种的氧、碳同位素差值反映出温跃层深度自末次盛冰期以来逐渐加深,并存在周期性的回返事件,说明西太平洋暖池晚第四纪冰期旋回存在气候不稳定性。     

末次盛冰期长江南京段古河槽特征

根据南京长江大桥、三桥、四桥的地质钻孔资料,绘制南京段长江古河槽地质剖面示意图,对拟建南京长江四桥附近的4个钻孔进行了采样分析,从钻孔沉积物样品的14C年代及阶地形成时间可以判断,南京段约-60~-90 m的深槽为末次盛冰期时的长江河槽,钻孔揭示,南京段长江古河槽狭窄陡峭,呈V型,在南京长江大桥附近形成局部深切。     

末次冰期低纬度西太平洋硅藻席沉积与生态特征

硅藻在全球碳循环中发挥着重要的作用。"树荫种"硅藻在次表层水体中的勃发成席,并迅速埋藏成为硅藻席沉积,使人们逐渐意识到次表层生产在整个生产力及输出生产中起着重要作用。介绍了首次在低纬度西太平洋区域发现的硅藻席沉积的分布特征,硅藻席发现站位呈带状分布,大致呈北西-南东向展布,大部分散布在17.5°～20°N之间。采集到硅藻席沉积物的站位其水深在碳酸钙补偿深度(CCD)以下4837～6150m的深水区,多分布在较平坦的海底,且受风力和陆源物质输入影响相对较强的区域。该区域硅藻席的形成可能是由于末次冰期时该海区有大洋锋面的形成所致。该区域的成席硅藻Ethmodiscus rex(Wallich)Hendey为典型的"树荫种"硅藻,可以通过自身调节浮力的作用,在水体相对稳定的贫氧大洋中生存并勃发成席。末次冰期低纬度西太平洋硅藻席沉积的发生,可能使该区成为CO2的汇。     

基于Hkr值的北天山冰川侵蚀空间分布特征及其主控因素研究

确定冰川侵蚀的主控因素及其与各影响因素间的相互作用方式,不仅对深入认识冰川侵蚀的物理机制和理解冰川作用区地貌演化具有重要的意义,也是探讨构造、气候、地形间相互关系的根本。然而,以往的学者仅在构造活动略单一的区域研究冰川侵蚀的主控因素,致使对构造的影响认识不足,那么,构造是否是冰川侵蚀的主控因素呢？又是如何作用于冰川侵蚀？北天山第四纪冰川作用规模巨大,留下了丰富的冰川遗迹,其气候与构造条件也多样,因而成为探讨上述问题的理想区域。本文在北天山北坡自西向东选取了7个冰川流域,基于每个流域的Hkr值和冰川侵蚀影响因子的定性定量数据,分析了该区域冰川侵蚀的分布规律及其影响因素。结果表明,北天山各流域冰川侵蚀自西向东有减小趋势,该变化趋势是构造、气候、地形共同作用所致。其中,山顶高度和降水对冰川侵蚀的影响最显著,两者均通过对冰川规模施加作用来控制冰川侵蚀,而构造也可能通过影响顶点高程、积累区面积、冰川规模,进而作用于冰川侵蚀,但是其是否发挥主要作用有待进一步认识。因此,冰川规模可能才是导致北天山各冰川流域侵蚀差异的根本原因。