Cenozoic paleo-environmental evolution of the Pamir–Tien Shan convergence zone

The retreat of the Tethys Sea and the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau play the critical roles in driving Asian climatic changes during the Cenozoic. In the Pamir–Tien Shan convergence zone, over 3000 m of Cenozoic successions, consisting of marine deposits in the lower, continental clay and fine sand in the middle, and molasse in the upper part, record the evolution of the Tethys Sea, the Asian aridification, and the deformation of the Pamir. In this work, the existing biostratigraphic subdivisions and new electronic spinning resonance dating results were used to assign ages to formations within the Ulugqat section. Sedimentary facies analysis and multi-proxy indices were used to reconstruct the paleo-environmental evolution. The results show: (1) the Pamir–Tien Shan convergence zone has undergone progressive environmental changes from shallow marine before ∼34 Ma to arid land at ∼23 Ma and finally to inter-mountain basin by ∼5.3 Ma; (2) the overall increase in mean size of grains, decrease in redness, in magnetic susceptibility, and in proportion of the ultrafine component of the sediments studied revealed a long-term strengthening in potential energy to transporting medium, cooling, and enhanced continental aridity, respectively; (3) the easternmost edge of the Tethys Sea prevailed in the western Tarim Basin from late Cretaceous to early Cenozoic, and finally retreated from this region around the Eocene–Oligocene transition, which in turn strengthened the Asian aridification; (4) accumulation of molasse with an upper age of ∼1 Ma suggests that the deformation front of the Pamir migrated to this area at or before that time.     

The mean and turbulence structure simulation of the monsoon trough boundary layer using a one-dimensional model withe-l ande-ε closures

An attempt has been made here to study the sensitivity of the mean and the turbulence structure of the monsoon trough boundary layer to the choice of the constants in the dissipation equation for two stations Delhi and Calcutta, using one-dimensional atmospheric boundary layer model withe-ε turbulence closure. An analytical discussion of the problems associated with the constants of the dissipation equation is presented. It is shown here that the choice of the constants in the dissipation equation is quite crucial and the turbulence structure is very sensitive to these constants. The modification of the dissipation equation adopted by earlier studies, that is, approximating the Tke generation (due to shear and buoyancy production) in theε-equation by max (shear production, shear + buoyancy production), can be avoided by a suitable choice of the constants suggested here. The observed turbulence structure is better simulated with these constants. The turbulence structure simulation with the constants recommended by Aupoixet al (1989) (which are interactive in time) for the monsoon region is shown to be qualitatively similar to the simulation obtained with the constants suggested here, thus implying that no universal constants exist to regulate dissipation rate. Simulations of the mean structure show little sensitivity to the type of the closure parameterization betweene-l ande-ε closures. However the turbulence structure simulation withe-ε. closure is far better compared to thee-l model simulations. The model simulations of temperature profiles compare quite well with the observations whenever the boundary layer is well mixed (neutral) or unstable. However the models are not able to simulate the nocturnal boundary layer (stable) temperature profiles. Moisture profiles are simulated reasonably better. With one-dimensional models, capturing observed wind variations is not up to the mark.     

晚第三纪中国西北干旱化的发展及其与北极冰盖形成演化和青藏高原隆升的关系

对甘肃酉峰晚第三纪红土标准剖面的研究揭示出,该区红土下部（6.2MaB.P.前）是红化的土壤物质与其它物质一起经水流搬运（坡积作用为主）再堆积的产物;中部（6.2～3.4MaB.P.）未发现再搬运的痕迹,是风尘堆积经风化和频繁地下水位波动作用所形成,不具明显的土壤发生学层次,其中的碳酸盐富积层不是成壤碳酸盐,而与地下水作用密切相关;上部（34～2.6MaB.P.）是典型的风尘堆积-土壤序列。由于中国西北和中亚干旱区的存在是黄河中游风尘堆积的前提条件,该区风尘物质的堆积起始于6.2MaB.P.前后标志着源区干旱化的加剧,并已达到相当高的程度。对整个序列的分析表明,源区干旱化程度在6.2～5.4MaB.P.期间较高,此后降低,在3.4MaB.P.和2.6MaB.P.又两次显着增强。上述历史与北极冰盖的起源和演化历史具有高度的一致性,若干重大转变与青藏高原隆升也有时代上的耦合性。本文认为,北极冰盖的形成演化和高原隆升都是中国西北和中亚地区干旱化发展的重要驱动因素,二者对西伯利亚高压的形成和发展的影响及高原对暖湿气流的阻挡可能是导致于旱化的重要途径。     

Isotope provinces, mechanisms of generation and sources of the continental crust in the Central Asian mobile belt: geological and isotopic evidence

The available geological, geochronological and isotopic data on the felsic magmatic and related rocks from South Siberia, Transbaikalia and Mongolia are summarized to improve our understanding of the mechanisms and processes of the Phanerozoic crustal growth in the Central Asian mobile belt (CAMB). The following isotope provinces have been recognised: ‘Precambrian’ (T_DM=3.3–2.9 and 2.5–0.9 Ga) at the microcontinental blocks, ‘Caledonian’ (T_DM=1.1–0.55 Ga), ‘Hercynian’ (T_DM=0.8–0.5 Ma) and ‘Indosinian’ (T_DM=0.3 Ga) that coincide with coeval tectonic zones and formed at 570–475, 420–320 and 310–220 Ma. Continental crust of the microcontinents is underlain by, or intermixed with, ‘juvenile’ crust as evidenced by its isotopic heterogeneity. The continental crust of the Caledonian, Hercynian and Indosinian provinces is isotopically homogeneous and was produced from respective juvenile sources with addition of old crustal material in the island arcs or active continental margin environments. The crustal growth in the CAMB had episodic character and important crust-forming events took place in the Phanerozoic. Formation of the CAMB was connected with break up of the Rodinia supercontinent in consequence of creation of the South-Pacific hot superplume. Intraplate magmatism preceding and accompanying permanently other magmatic activity in the CAMB was caused by influence of the long-term South-Pacific plume or the Asian plume damping since the Devonian.     

Carboniferous–Permian Stratigraphy and Sedimentary Environment of Southeastern Inner Mongolia, China: Constraints on Final Closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean

In this paper we discuss the timing of final closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean based on the field investigations of the Carboniferous–Permian stratigraphic sequences and sedimentary environments in southeastern Inner Mongolia combined with the geology of its neighboring areas. Studies show that during the Carboniferous–Permian in the eastern segment of the Tianshan-Hinggan Orogenic System, there was a giant ENE–NE-trending littoral-neritic to continental sedimentary basin, starting in the west from Ejinqi eastwards through southeastern Inner Mongolia into Jilin and Heilongjiang. The distribution of the Lower Carboniferous in the vast area is sparse. The Late Carboniferous or Permian volcanic-sedimentary rocks always unconformably overlie the Devonian or older units. The Upper Carboniferous–Middle Permian is dominated by littoral-neritic deposits and the Upper Permian, by continental deposits. The Late Carboniferous–Permian has no trace of subduction-collision orogeny, implying the basin gradually disappeared by shrinking and shallowing. In addition, it is of interest to note that the Ondor Sum and Hegenshan ophiolitic mélanges were formed in the pre-Late Silurian and pre-Late Devonian respectively, and the Solonker ophiolitic mélange formed in the pre-Late Carboniferous. All the evidence indicates that the eastern segment of the Paleo-Asian Ocean had closed before the Late Carboniferous, and most likely before the latest Devonian (Famennian).     

亚洲大陆的纬向汇聚与蒙古青藏高原的崛起及东亚大陆之扩张

东亚大地构造问题是世界瞩目的焦点之一。区内有蒙古和青藏两个雄伟的高原屹立, 二者之间分布着天山—阴山和昆仑—秦岭等横亘东西的现代山系, 它们由一系列剪切-推覆构造系统组成, 有力地说明东亚大陆存在强烈的纬向汇聚。在此以东, 总体构造面貌向SE呈扩张发散态势, 南达赤道以南的印度尼西亚群岛, 向东可能涉及马里亚纳岛弧。一系列弧形构造是推覆-拉伸构造岩片的前缘挤压逆冲推覆-隆起增厚构造带, 后方常伴有拉伸滑脱-沉降减薄盆地, 并显示着陆壳表层的运动方向。东亚大陆现今构造面貌是新生代以来喜山运动产物, 这一过程迄今还在进行。它不仅对东亚地质构造和地震分布规律以及资源环境问题有重要影响, 而且与大气环流形成及气候环境变化有密切关系。      

我国西北夏季风边界千年尺度变化的证据--来自盐池和猪野泽盐类矿物分析结果

我国夏季风西北缘是响应长尺度气候变化最为敏感的区域之一, 但夏季风边界变化与千年尺度气候变化之间的关系尚不明确, 相关研究仍缺乏足够证据。夏季风西北缘湖泊沉积物中盐类矿物种类与含量的时空变化, 有助于推测气候变化特征。盐池和猪野泽分别位于祁连山北麓的河西走廊中段和东段, 是研究长时间尺度亚洲夏季风影响区西北边界变化的关键区域。研究全新世千年尺度下, 夏季风西北边界的变化对夏季风西北缘气候变化过程的影响, 对明确季风边缘区千年尺度季风变化机制, 预测未来长尺度气候变化有重要意义。因此, 本文选择盐池古湖泊盐池剖面(YC), 猪野泽青土湖01、02剖面(QTH01、QTH02)等三个剖面, 开展全新世千年尺度下, 亚洲季风西北边界地区湖泊沉积物盐类矿物时空变化对比研究。结果显示:QTH01、QTH02剖面盐类矿物以碳酸盐为主, 硫酸盐类矿物仅零星出现, 而YC剖面硫酸盐类矿物含量相对较高, 同时出现了氯化物型矿物, 全新世气候特征整体较猪野泽更为干旱。末次冰期和早全新世, 三个剖面受季风输送水汽影响明显, 碳酸盐类矿物能较好沉积, 季风边界在这一时期向北扩张, 推进到祁连山中段地区;中全新世QTH01、QTH02剖面受夏季风影响减弱, 湖泊退缩, 碳酸盐类矿物含量达到峰值, YC剖面则表现出极端干旱的气候特征, 硫酸盐类矿物因“盐效应”含量下降, 此时夏季风西北部水汽输送边界位于石羊河流域和盐池流域之间;晚全新世盐池和猪野泽均以风成沉积为主, 气候干旱, 碳酸盐类矿物难以保存, 硫酸盐和氯化物矿物含量出现高值, 说明夏季风西北边界进一步向南迁移。综上所述, 盐类矿物含量变化能良好反应夏季风西北缘全新世气候变化特征, 同时证明, 在全新世千年尺度上, 夏季风西北边界在盐池流域和石羊河流域之间存在变化。     

Oxygen isotopes from Chinese caves: records not of monsoon rainfall but of circulation regime

Oxygen isotope variations in Chinese stalagmites have been widely interpreted as a record of the amount of East Asian summer monsoonal rainfall. This interpretation infers decreasing monsoonal rainfall from the mid‐Holocene and large, dipolar rainfall oscillations within glaciations. However, the speleothem δ¹⁸O variations conflict with independent palaeoclimate proxies (cave δ¹³C, loess/palaeosol magnetic properties, δ¹³C alkanes), which indicate no systematic decline in rainfall from the mid‐Holocene, and no glacial rainfall maxima. Using mass balance calculations (which incorporate seasonality effects in both δ¹⁸O concentration and amount of precipitation), we demonstrate that the cave δ¹⁸O variations cannot be accounted for by summer rainfall changes, or rainfall seasonality or winter cooling, but instead reflect changes in moisture source. A possible driver of the δ¹⁸O variations in Chinese stalagmites is precessional forcing of inter‐hemispheric temperature gradients, and resultant shifts in the position and intensity of the subtropical pressure cells. Through such forcing, Indian monsoon‐sourced δ¹⁸O may have dominated at times of high boreal summer insolation, and local Pacific‐sourced moisture at low insolation. Suppression of summer monsoonal rainfall during glacial stages may reflect diminished sea and land surface temperatures and the radiative impacts of increased regional dust fluxes. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

CHARACTERISTICS OF 10-DAY MEAN SURFACE SENSIBLE HEAT FLUX VARIATIONS IN THE SCS MONSOON REGION AND POSSIBLE CONNECTIONS WITH THE SCS SUMMER MONSOON ONSET*

The time and space variations of the ten-day mean surface sensible heat flux have been analyzed in this paper based on the data of NCEP/NCAR from January of 1979 to December of 1995 in the South China Sea (SCS) monsoon region.It is found that large variations of the surface sensible heat flux standard deviations exist in the northwestern Indochina Peninsula and the Indian Peninsula regions,and their locations and strength change significantly during the onset period of SCS monsoon.The negative deviations appear evidently earlier in the Indocbina Peninsula than in the Indian Peninsula but the deviation strength in the Indian Peninsula is stronger than that in the Indochina Peninsula.The appearance of the zonal negative mean deviations in the southern part of the Indochina Peninsula corresponds to the date of the SCS summer monsoon onset,while the occurrence of the deviation decrease corresponds to the date of the South Asian monsoon onset.The sensible heat flux increases dekad by dekad before the onset of the summer monsoon in the Indian Peninsula and the Indochina Peninsula and decreases after the monsoon onset.Therefore,the surface sensible heat flux changes in the Indochina and the Indian Peninsula regions maybe have some connections with the SCS monsoon onset and the Indian monsoon onset,and the Indochina Peninsula maybe becomes the sensitive or key region to the SCS monsoon onset and the land maybe plays an important role in triggering summer monsoon onset.