Characteristics of Quaternary deposits near Songjianghe Town on west slope of Changbai Mountain

1GeologicalsettingThe researched area is located at the east margin of Eurasia plate and is 50 km from Changbaishan Vol-cano to west. The average elevation of the studied area is about 1 200 m and rivers flow mainly from the east to the west. There are To…     

论中国东部第四纪冷期植被与环境

在第四纪的冷期,中国东部华北和东北植物区,因深受干旱因素影响,广泛发展了草原植被。当时在欧亚大陆上,草原、森林草原和苔原可能曾自南欧一直分布到东亚。在南方植物区,亚热带针叶林曾在平原和丘陵广为分布。同时,许多喜湿热的类群则被保存于避难所中。由此看来,第四纪寒冷气候南侵到中国东部的强度和范围,是有限的。     

Reinvestigation of the classic late‐glacial Bølling Sø sequence,Denmark: chronology,macrofossils, Cladocera and chydorid ephippia

The late‐glacial Bølling period was first identified by Johs. Iversen on the basis of pollen results from Lake Bølling Sø in Denmark. Because there were no radiocarbon dates from the sequence the Bølling Chronozone (12 000–13 000 ¹⁴C yr BP) was later established on the basis of dates from other sites. A new project is reinvestigating the sediments from the Bølling Sø sequence with AMS radiocarbon dating and multiproxy analyses. Here we present results of AMS radiocarbon dating, macrofossil analyses, cladoceran analyses (Cladocera concentrations and chydorid ephippia) and Pediastrum analyses (concentrations). The AMS dates on land plant remains show that the lower part of the sequence is around 12 500 ¹⁴C yr BP, and thus clearly pre‐dates the Allerød chronozone. However, construction of a chronology for the sequence was problematic, partly because of reworking of macroscopic plant remains. The climate ameliorated after glacial conditions to such an extent that growth of plants could begin at ca. 12 500 ¹⁴C yr BP, but the results of multiproxy analyses show little evidence for a further warming period during the pre‐Allerød part of the sequence. Lake productivity was low, and tree birch rare or maybe absent. This may reflect widespread occurrence of dead ice, unstable soils, heavy in‐wash of minerogenic matter to the lake, resulting in turbid water and rapid sedimentation. The early pioneer vegetation was characterised by Salix polaris and Dryas octopetala, and by herbs. The Allerød Chronozone, and especially its initial part, appears to have been relatively warm but reduced cladoceran concentrations and increased proportion of chydorid ephippia suggest that climate cooled in the middle Allerød and that the late Allerød was colder than the early part. The early Younger Dryas was probably colder than the late Younger Dryas. Clear warming is apparent at the beginning of the Holocene, where the first macrofossil evidence of trees (Betula pubescens, Populus tremula) is found. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Paleomagnetic constraints on the paleogeography and oroclinal bending of the Devonian volcanic arc in Kazakhstan

Numerical modelling, incorporating coupling between surface processes and induced flow in the lower continental crust, is used to address the Quaternary evolution of the Gulf of Corinth region in central Greece. The post-Early Pleistocene marine depocentre beneath this Gulf overlies the northern margin of an older (Early Pleistocene and earlier) lacustrine basin, the Proto Gulf of Corinth Basin or PGCB. In the late Early Pleistocene, relief in this region was minimal but, subsequently, dramatic relief has developed, involving the creation of  900 m of bathymetry within the Gulf and the uplift by many hundreds of metres of the part of the PGCB, south of the modern Gulf, which forms the Gulf's main sediment supply. It is assumed that, as a result of climate change around 0.9 Ma, erosion of this sediment source region and re-deposition of this material within the Gulf began, both processes occurring at spatial average rates of  0.2 mm a^− 1. Modelling of the resulting isostatic response indicates that the local effective viscosity of the lower crust is  4 × 10¹⁹ Pa s, indicating a Moho temperature of  560 °C. It predicts that the  10 mm a^− 1 of extension across this  70 km wide model region, at an extensional strain rate of  0.15 Ma^− 1, is partitioned with  3 mm a^− 1 across the sediment source,  2 mm a^− 1 across the depocentre, and  5 mm a^− 1 across the ‘hinge zone’ in between, the latter value being an estimate of the extension rate on normal faults forming the major topographic escarpment at the southern margin of the Gulf. This modelling confirms the view, suggested previously, that coupling between this depocentre and sediment source by lower-crustal flow can explain the dramatic development in local relief since the late Early Pleistocene. The effective viscosity of the lower crust in this region is not particularly low; the strong coupling interpreted between the sediment source and depocentre results instead from their close proximity. In detail, the effective viscosity of the lower crust is expected to decrease northward across this model region, due to the northward increase in exposure of the base of the continental lithosphere to the asthenosphere; in the south the two are separated by the subducting Hellenic slab. The isostatic consequences of such a lateral variation in viscosity provide a natural explanation for why, since  0.9 Ma, the modern Gulf has developed asymmetrically over the northern part of the PGCB, leaving the rest of the PGCB to act as its sediment source.     

Characteristics of runoff and sediment yield for two typical erodible soils in southern China

Granite red soil (GRS) and Quaternary red clay (QRC) are two typical erodible soils in the red-soil region of southern China. Analytical and comparative studies of the characteristics of runoff and sediment yield for the two soils at various slopes are currently needed. The purpose of the current study was to clarify the characteristics of runoff and sediment yield for GRS and QRC at different slopes and to establish models for estimating sediment yield for the two soils. Forty-eight runoff microplots with four slopes (5°, 15°, 25°, and 35°) and two soils (GRS and QRC) were established and exposed to natural rainfall. Runoff and sediment yield were measured 10 times during the study period. Runoff and sediment yield for the two soils under the various slopes had similar temporal variations, and both increased with prior cumulative erosive rainfall. Runoff for GRS and QRC was moderately temporally variable, with coefficients of variation (CVs) from 46.2% to 60.6%, and sediment yield for QRC was strongly temporally variable, with CVs from 114.8% to 145.8%. Sediment yield for GRS increased with slope, but sediment yield for QRC first increased and then decreased, with a calculated inflection point of 18°, but runoff for both soils decreased with slope. The CVs of both runoff and sediment yield with slope for the two soils ranged from 3.6% to 88.0%, lower than the temporal variabilities, indicating that rainfall may have a larger impact than slope on runoff and sediment yield for QRC and GRS. Under the various slopes, runoff and sediment yield for both soils increased with rainfall and sediment yield increased with runoff, but the proportions of effective rainfall and runoff differed. Pedotransfer-function models based on rainfall, runoff, and slope accurately estimated sediment yield for the two soils, with the model fit coefficient of determination (R²) > 0.81 and the R² for verification >0.79. These results improve the understanding of the laws governing erosion for different soil types in the red-soil region of southern China and are important for managing the erosion of collapsing gullies and sloping farmland in the region.     

基于浅层地震勘探与钻孔联合地质剖面探测的苏北盆地倪湖庄-七里墩断裂研究

浅层地震勘探与钻孔联合地质剖面探测是隐伏断层定位与活动性鉴定的基本手段,需在实际工作中不断总结完善。通过采用浅层地震勘探技术,查明了淮安市区附近隐伏断裂的基本格局,并结合钻孔联合地质剖面探测与第四纪年代学测定,确定了新发现的倪湖庄-七里墩断裂的最新活动时代及活动特征。倪湖庄-七里墩断裂为近南北走向、倾向西的高角度正断层,断层倾角72°～82°,探测断裂长度为43 km。浅层地震勘探揭示其断面具有近直立或呈S形的上下反倾特点,指示具有走滑性质。该断裂错断了北东走向淮阴-响水断裂与北西走向无锡-宿迁断裂,最新活动时代为中更新世中晚期。本次探测工作对技术方法进行了探索,并提出以下建议:针对新发现的隐伏断裂,宜采用从已知点向外逐次探测的方式,即完成上一条测线的设计、施工与解译工作后,根据探测结果布设下一条测线;基于地震时间剖面进行钻探设计时,既要考虑断层两盘反射波组延伸与变形特征,又要考虑物探解译上断点与实际上断点的埋深差异;在河流下游开展钻孔联合地质剖面探测与地层对比时,需充分考虑局部地貌条件差异与第四纪海平面对陆域地表过程的影响。     

Multi-method pIRIR dating of sedimentary sequences at the southern edge of the Gurbantunggut Desert,NW China and its palaeoenvironmental implications

The Gurbantunggut Desert is the second-largest desert in China, located in the westerly-dominated region of north-western China. Previous understanding of palaeoclimate of this desert was mostly based on lake and loess records from the Junggar Basin and Tian Shan Mountains, whilst direct dating of sedimentary records from the desert was very limited. This study applies high-resolution post-infrared infrared stimulated luminescence (pIRIR) dating to three sedimentary profiles at the southern edge of the Gurbantunggut Desert, which contain aeolian sand and water-lain sediments, recording palaeoenvironmental changes at the desert margin since the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). Different pIRIR dating procedures were applied for samples with different ages. For Holocene-aged samples, a single-aliquot regenerative-dose (SAR) pIRIR procedure based on a three-stepped pIRIR measurement at 110 °C, 140 °C and 170 °C was used, and a standard growth curve (SGC) procedure yields an equivalent dose (D_e) similar to that of the full-SAR procedure; thus, is applicable for accelerating D_e measurement. For samples much older than the Holocene, a multi-aliquot regenerative-dose (MAR) pIRIR procedure based on a three-stepped pIRIR measurement at 150 °C, 200 °C and 250 °C was found to be the optimal dating procedure, because a SAR procedure would yield underestimated ages due to uncorrected initial sensitivity change. pIRIR dating results of the investigated profiles reveal a substantial sand accumulation during the LGM, an intensification of aeolian deposition at ∼12 ka and a wetter depositional environment at ∼10–8 ka. A rapid fluvial deposition is dated at ∼20–19 ka, corresponding to the deglaciation period. The sedimentary records from the desert margin show some correlation with lake and loess records in the same region and suggest a complex response of the desert environment to different climatic factors.     

Quaternary ice thinning of David Glacier in the Terra Nova Bay region,Antarctica

Understanding the history of Antarctic glaciation is important for interpreting paleoclimatic changes and estimating the changes in climate, sea level, and ice volume in the future. Ice core studies of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet (EAIS) and marine sediment cores from the entire Ross Sea have employed numerous proxies to reconstruct the glacial history of the Antarctic region. However, the ice and marine core records can be biased because of their specific locations, such as the uppermost accumulation zone or the terminus of the ablation zone, thereby introducing significant uncertainties in ice modeling. In this study, we analyzed 34 new ¹⁰Be and ²⁶Al samples from four benches that were glaciated in the past by David glacier and incorporate the present ice-free flat surfaces. We suggest that the David glacier experienced monotonic and stepwise vertical lowering along the flanks of Mt. Priestley since the early Pleistocene. The uppermost bedrock benches on Mt. Priestley were exposed at 1.77 ± 0.32 Ma, with no evidence of subsequent overriding by readvancing ice. At Mt. Priestley, the David glacier has been characterized by a cold-based regime since 1.77 Ma, with a denudation rate of only ∼16 cm/Ma, corresponding to the regional transition from warm to cold-based glaciation at 3.5 Ma. Simple exposure ages from two lower benches date to Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 7 (234.1 ± 13.1 ka; 545 m asl) and MIS 4 (64.8 ± 13.7 ka; 222 m asl), suggesting that, since MIS 8, the overall lowering of glaciers has remained monotonic. The upper bench marks the lower limit of the MIS 8 glacial period and the upper limit of Penultimate Glacial Maximum (MIS 6), while the lower landform defines the upper limit of the last glacial period (MIS 4–2). The magnitude of Quaternary ice thinning at the David glacier was the highest (∼990 m) in the present terminal area (i.e., the most sensitive ablation zone), in contrast to the other outlet glaciers draining into the Terra Nova Bay, which experienced less ice lowering. The combination of the terrestrial (in situ ¹⁰Be and ²⁶Al) and previous marine (authigenic ¹⁰Be) cosmogenic data used in our study document the history of lowering of the David glacier driven by climatic changes during the Pleistocene. Both deglaciation and glaciation were limited during the mid-Pleistocene transition (MPT) and prior to the mid-Bruhnes event (MBE), due to the prevailing cold and arid climate, whereas deglaciation was dominant during other warm periods.     

论晚期共和古湖时代、演化过程及其与地壳运动和黄河发育的关系

青海共和盆地,是青藏高原东北部晚新生代期间形成的北西西—南东东走向构造盆地,由西北部的茶卡小内流盆地,中部非典型的达连海内流盆地和东南部被黄河及其支流深深切割的外流盆地三部分组成.该盆地中充填了上、下两套厚度普遍均在200～300 m间,而最厚部分可达500～600 m的相互叠置的共和组与曲沟组河湖相地层.由这两套湖相地层所重建的古湖被分别称为早期和晚期共和古湖.本文重点讨论的是基于共和组湖相地层而重建的晚期共和古湖.石英热活化法ESR测年结果表明,湖相共和组地层开始形成于(4.31±0.40)Ma之前,持续到(2.58±0.20)Ma/(2.54±0.20)Ma之后的上新世时期.以尕玛羊曲村附近为顶点的黄河扇三角洲相两套均厚逾200 m砾石层中之上砾石层,形成于(3.15±0.30)—(3.07±0.30)Ma之间,其前缘水下三角洲相砾石层为(2.91±0.25)Ma,而来自北部山前的同期洪积砾石层则为(2.97±0.27)Ma,表明晚期共和古湖在(3.07±0.30)Ma与(2.91±0.15)Ma之间的上新世晚期达到其最盛期.此时,湖面高度达到其最大值海拔(3160±10)m左右,古湖是一个面积近7000 km2、深逾300 m的大型外流的淡水深湖.黄河在尕玛羊曲附近注入古湖,并由盆地东北角的尕海以东流出,经唯一通道古多隆河流入贵德古湖.当古湖面上升到超过共和与贵德两盆地的基岩分水岭时,黄河在现今的龙羊峡位置切割出新的河道——龙羊峡,从而导致了早更新世初古多隆河因"截弯取直"而非"溯源侵蚀"被废弃,开始了黄河逐步下切、T21到T16形成与共和古湖逐渐消亡的过程.共和古湖经历了茶卡盆地开始与古湖主体分离,中部湖区与东南部湖区分离、排干和东南部湖区被完全泄空等3个阶段.这一过程是随着中国区域地壳运动性质发生的根本性变化而发生的.此时,共和盆地及邻近盆地,甚至中国第一、二大地势阶梯上的大多数盆地,除银川—河套盆地与汾渭盆地等个别盆地外,都由差异性升降的盆-山运动转为整体性的隆升运动.发生于共和盆地的这一运动,曾被徐叔鹰等命名为"恰卜恰(共和)运动",只是其所指的时代为中更新世晚期.但这一名称被李吉均等改称为"共和运动",作为青藏运动的延续,意指黄河于10或15万年前因该运动而切穿龙羊峡,溯源至共和盆地.作者建议保留原"恰卜恰(共和)运动"的名称与基本含义,而该运动发生时间的争议仍待今后进一步深入研究解决.     

Ancient Forests in European drylands: Holocene palaeoecological record of Mazarrón,south-eastern Spain

This paper presents a new Holocene palaeoecological record from coastal south-eastern Spain, a region characterised by high plant species diversity, varied physiography, high risk of desertification, and a history of human pressure on the landscape that stretches to antiquity. The pollen sequence shows four main vegetation phases: the first characterised by mixed forests of Pinus and evergreen Quercus accompanied by broad-leaved mesophilous trees, and a diversity of Mediterranean scrub; the second phase is characterised by mesophytic decline and expansion of Artemisia; a third, mid-Holocene phase of thermo-mesophytic maxima with prevalence of forested landscapes; and, finally, the progressive opening of the landscape with sparse pines, halo-xerophytic grasslands and sclerophyllous brushwood. The current treeless situation of south-eastern Spain is a relatively recent feature resulting from a dramatic change in the ecological structure of the regional landscapes. This paper stresses the continued vulnerability of these arid systems in the face of a changing climate. This sequence adds to previous palaeobotanical records (pollen and charcoal) and archaeological reports to suggest that deforestation started earlier in low-elevation areas and river basins than in the inland mountains and platforms, a factor that appears in connection to human exploitation of the natural environment.