Quaternary stratigraphy of the Koratallaiyar-Cooum basin,Chennai

In this paper we present Quaternary stratigraphy of the area around Chennai based on archaeological findings on the ferricrete surface, geomorphological observations supplemented by radiocarbon dating. The coastal landscape around Chennai, Tamil Nadu, has preserved ferruginised boulder gravel deposits, ferricretes and fluvial deposits of varying thickness. The area studied is approximately 150 km east to west and 180 km north to south with a broad continental shelf towards the seaward. Several rivers enter the Bay of Bengal along its shores like the Koratallaiyar, Cooum and the Adyar. Precambrian charnockite and Upper Gondwana sandstone and shale bedrock rim the shelf margin. For the most part, the Upper Pleistocene-Holocene fluvial sediments overlie an erosion surface that has cut into older Pleistocene sediments and ferricrete surface. Incised valleys that cut into this erosion surface are up to 5–6 km wide and have a relief of at least 30 m. The largest valley is that cut by the Koratallaiyar River. Holocene sediments deposited in the incised valleys include fluvial gravels, early transgressive channel sands and floodplain silts. Older Pleistocene sediments are deposited before and during the 120-ka high stand (Marine isotope stage 5). They consist of ferricretes and ferricrete gravel formed in nearshore humid environments. Muddy and sandy clastic sediments dated to the ca. 5 ka highstand suggest that the climate was semi arid at this time with less fluvial transport. The coarsening up sequence indicates deposition by high intensity channel processes. Pedogenic mottled, clayey silt unit represents an important tectonic event when the channel was temporarily drained and sediment were sub aerially exposed. Uplift of the region has caused the local rivers to incise into the landscape, forming degradation terraces.     

Long-term and short-term vertical velocity profiles across the forearc in the NE Japan subduction zone

We estimated the long-term vertical velocity profile across the northeastern Japan forearc by using the height distribution of late Quaternary marine and fluvial terraces, and we correlated the ages of the two marine terraces with marine isotope stages (MIS) 5.5 and 5.3 or 5.1 by cryptotephra stratigraphy. The uplift rate, estimated as 0.11-0.19 m ka^− 1 from the relative heights between the terrace surfaces and eustatic sea levels, was nearly equal to, or slightly slower than, the uplift rate farther inland (0.15-0.19 m ka^− 1), as determined from the relative heights of fill terrace surfaces. In contrast, the short-term vertical velocity profile, obtained from GPS observations, showed that the forearc is currently subsiding at a maximum rate of 5.4 ± 0.4 mm yr^− 1. Thus, the current short-term (geodetic) subsidence does not reflect long-term (geological) tectonic movement. Short-term vertical deformation is probably driven by subduction erosion or elastic deformation caused by interplate coupling, or both. However, long-term uplift is probably due not to moment release on the mega-thrust but to crustal thickening.     

Late Quaternary deposition and facies model for karstic Lake Estanya (North-eastern Spain)

Lake Estanya is a small (19 ha), freshwater to brackish, monomictic lake formed by the coalescence of two karstic sinkholes with maximum water depths of 12 and 20 m, located in the Pre‐Pyrenean Ranges (North‐eastern Spain). The lake is hydrologically closed and the water balance is controlled mostly by groundwater input and evaporation. Three main modern depositional sub‐environments can be recognized as: (i) a carbonate‐producing ‘littoral platform’; (ii) a steep ‘talus’ dominated by reworking of littoral sediments and mass‐wasting processes; and (iii) an ‘offshore, distal area’, seasonally affected by anoxia with fine‐grained, clastic sediment deposition. A seismic survey identified up to 15 m thick sedimentary infill comprising: (i) a ‘basal unit’, seismically transparent and restricted to the depocentres of both sub‐basins; (ii) an ‘intermediate unit’ characterized by continuous high‐amplitude reflections; and (iii) an ‘upper unit’ with strong parallel reflectors. Several mass‐wasting deposits occur in both sub‐basins. Five sediment cores were analysed using sedimentological, microscopic, geochemical and physical techniques. The chronological model for the sediment sequence is based on 17 accelerator mass spectrometry ¹⁴C dates. Five depositional environments were characterized by their respective sedimentary facies associations. The depositional history of Lake Estanya during the last ca 21 kyr comprises five stages: (i) a brackish, shallow, calcite‐producing lake during full glacial times (21 to 17·3 kyr bp ); (ii) a saline, permanent, relatively deep lake during the late glacial (17·3 to 11·6 kyr bp ); (iii) an ephemeral, saline lake and saline mudflat complex during the transition to the Holocene (11·6 to 9·4 kyr bp ); (iv) a saline lake with gypsum‐rich, laminated facies and abundant microbial mats punctuated by periods of more frequent flooding episodes and clastic‐dominated deposition during the Holocene (9·4 to 0·8 kyr bp ); and (v) a deep, freshwater to brackish lake with high clastic input during the last 800 years. Climate‐driven hydrological fluctuations are the main internal control in the evolution of the lake during the last 21 kyr, affecting water salinity, lake‐level changes and water stratification. However, external factors, such as karstic processes, clastic input and the occurrence of mass‐flows, are also significant. The facies model defined for Lake Estanya is an essential tool for deciphering the main factors influencing lake deposition and to evaluate the most suitable proxies for lake level, climate and environmental reconstructions, and it is applicable to modern karstic lakes and to ancient lacustrine formations.     

Evolution of the Nile deep‐sea turbidite system during the Late Quaternary: influence of climate change on fan sedimentation

This paper presents an overview of the evolution of the Nile deep‐sea turbidite system during the last 200 kyr, over a series of glacial to interglacial cycles. Six individual deep‐sea fans were identified from an extensive field data set. Each fan comprises a canyon, channel system and terminal lobes. Two of these fan systems were possibly active at the same time, at least during some periods. Large‐scale slope failures destroyed channel segments and caused the formation of new submarine fan systems. These slope failures thus played an important role in the overall evolution of the turbidite system. During the last glacial maximum (ca 25 to 14·8 ka) the central and eastern parts of the Nile deep‐sea turbidite system were relatively inactive. This inactivity corresponds to a lowstand in sea‐level, and a period of arid climate and relatively low sediment discharge from the Nile fluvial system. Rapid accumulation of fluvial flood‐derived deposits occurred across the shallower part of the submarine delta during sea‐level rise between ca 14·8 and 5 ka. The most recent deep‐sea channel–lobe system was very active during this period of rising sea‐level, which is also associated with a wetter continental climate and increased sediment and water discharge from the Nile. Increased sediment deposition in shallower water areas led to occasional large‐scale slope failure. The Nile deep‐sea turbidite system was largely inactive after ca 5 ka. This widespread inactivity is due to retreat of the coastline away from the continental shelf break, and to a more arid continental climate and reduced discharge of sediment from the Nile. The Nile deep‐sea turbidite system may be more active during periods of rising and high sea‐level associated with wetter climates, than during lowstands, and may rapidly become largely inactive during highstands in sea‐level coupled with arid periods. These acute responses to climate change have produced sedimentary/stratigraphic features that diverge from traditional sequence models in their nature and timing. This large‐scale sedimentary system responded to monsoon‐driven climate change and sea‐level change in a system‐wide and contemporaneous manner.     

从西宁盆地新生代变形探讨青藏高原东北缘的变形特征

位于青藏高原东北缘的西宁盆地在新生代期间的变形具有明显的阶段性,新生代早期该盆地顺时针的转动在西宁盆地中的基底中产生或复活了一些北北西向的左行走滑断裂。晚期（中新世以来）,由于盆地边缘断裂持续强烈活动并伴随着一定的顺时针旋转,在盆地中形成一系列切割盆地基底的北北东向和北东向次级断裂,盆地中不同方向次级断裂不同时间的发育与边界左行斜向剪切造成的变形类似。同时盆地中薄皮与厚皮构造共同发育为特征,不仅盆地盖层发生了一定程度的褶皱变形,而且沿着切割盆地内部的断裂,往往基底被抬升至地表,形成比较明显的基底卷入型褶皱。西宁盆地因此被分割,形成了一系列更小的次级盆地。而青藏高原东北部新生代变形同样具有以上特征,斜向挤压是该地区变形的重要方式,正是由于长期的斜向挤压,造成了盆地内部与边界之间的应变分配,盆地内部基底隆起,并逐渐分割原先的大盆地。而热水—日月山断裂以及温泉断裂发育在海原断裂与昆仑山断裂之间的阶区,它们的活动和发育与边缘大型走滑断裂有重要的联系,同时也是压剪作用的重要特征之一。     

Groundwater flow modeling of Quaternary aquifer Ras Sudr,Egypt

Recently, Ras Sudr (the delta of Wadi Sudr) area received a great amount of attention due to different development expansion activities directed towards this area. Although Quaternary aquifer is the most prospective aquifer in Ras Sudr area, it has not yet completely evaluated. The present work deals with the simulation of the Quaternary groundwater system using a three-dimensional groundwater flow model. MODFLOW code was applied for designing the model of the Ras Sudr area. This is to recognize the groundwater potential as well as exploitation plan of the most prospective aquifer in the area. The objectives were to determine the hydraulic parameters of the Quaternary aquifer, to estimate the recharge amount to the aquifer, and to determine the hydrochemistry of groundwater in the aquifer. During this work, available data has been collected and some field investigation has been carried out. Groundwater flow model has been simulated using pilot points’ method. SEAWAT has been also applied to simulate the variable-density flow and sea water intrusion from the west. It can be concluded that: (1) the direction of groundwater flow is from the east to the west, (2) the aquifer system attains a small range of log-transformed hydraulic conductivity. It ranges between 3.05 and 3.35 m/day, (3) groundwater would be exploited by about 6.4 × 10⁶ m³/year, (4) the estimated recharge accounts for 3 × 10⁶ m³/year, (5) an estimated subsurface flow from the east accounts for 2.7 × 10⁶ m³/year, (6) the increase of total dissolved solids (TDS) most likely due to dilution of salts along the movement way of groundwater from recharge area to discharge area in addition to a contribution of sea water intrusion from the west. Moreover, it is worth to note that a part of TDS increase might be through up coning from underlying more saline Miocene sediments. It is recommended that: (1) any plan for increasing groundwater abstraction is unaffordable, (2) reliable estimates of groundwater abstraction should be done and (3) automatic well control system should be made.     

Hydro-environmental status and soil management of the River Nile Delta,Egypt

The sea level rise has its own-bearing on the coastal recession and hydro-environmental degradation of the River Nile Delta. Attempts are made here to use remote sensing to detect the coastal recession in some selected parts and delineating the chemistry of groundwater aquifers and surface water, which lie along south-mid-northern and coastal zone of the Nile Delta. Eight water samples from groundwater monitoring wells and 13 water samples from surface water were collected and analyzed for various hydrochemical parameters. The groundwater samples are classified into five hydrochemical facies on Hill-Piper trilinear diagram based on the dominance of different cations and anions: facies 1: Ca–Mg–Na–HCO₃–Cl–SO₄ type I; facies 2: Na–Cl–HCO₃ type II; facies 3: Na–Ca–Mg–Cl type III, facies 4: Ca–Na–Mg–Cl–HCO₃ type IV and facies 5: Na–Mg–Cl type V. The hydrochemical facies showed that the majority of samples were enriched in sodium, bicarbonate and chloride types and, which reflected that the sea water and tidal channel play a major role in controlling the groundwater chemical composition in the Quaternary shallow aquifers, with a severe degradation going north of Nile Delta. Also, the relationship between the dissolved chloride (Cl, mmol/l), as a variable, and other major ion combinations (in mmol/l) were considered as another criterion for chemical classification system. The low and medium chloride groundwater occurs in southern and mid Nile Delta (Classes A and B), whereas the high and very high chloride (classes D and C) almost covers the northern parts of the Nile Delta indicating the severe effect of sea water intrusion. Other facets of hydro-environmental degradation are reflected through monitoring the soil degradation process within the last two decades in the northern part of Nile Delta. Land degradation was assessed by adopting new approach through the integration of GLASOD/FAO approach and Remote Sensing/GIS techniques. The main types of human induced soil degradation observed in the studied area are salinity, alkalinity (sodicity), compaction and water logging. On the other hand, water erosion because of sea rise is assessed. Multi-dates satellite data from Landsat TM and ETM+ images dated 1983 and 2003 were used to detect the changes of shoreline during the last two decades. The obtained results showed that, the eroded areas were determined as 568.20 acre; meanwhile the accreted areas were detected as 494.61 acre during the 20-year period.     

黄土古气候变化趋势与青藏高原隆升关系初探

粒度和磁化率是两个研究黄土古气候最常用的古环境变化指示参数,它们随着黄土古土壤地层变化而出现峰和谷的对应已经被证明是反映了天文轨道要素的周期变化。文章试图忽略这些受控于轨道要素的气候周期变化,而主要侧重考察黄土地层这两个参数的平均值(或背景值)所反映的长期变化趋势。对兰州九州台黄土进行了系统采样和测量,发现兰州九州台黄土剖面粒度和磁化率曲线显示出两个明显的趋势,粒度从剖面底部向上有明显逐渐变粗趋势,指示着冬季风增强,与此同时,磁化率自下而上却逐渐增大,指示着夏季风增强的趋势。与黄土高原其他黄土剖面磁化率和粒度曲线对比发现,这是两个普遍存在的趋势。地理位置靠近青藏高原的剖面,这两个增大的趋势更明显。冬、夏季风同时逐渐增强是海陆热力差异增大所引起,反映了青藏高原第四纪时期的逐渐不断的隆升过程。因此,根据粒度和磁化率曲线变化趋势线的变化特点可以帮助分析和反推第四纪以来青藏高原隆升的过程。兰州九州台以及黄土高原各剖面粒度和磁化率曲线的线性变化趋势则可能指示着第四纪以来青藏高原是逐渐均匀缓慢的变化过程。我们对22Ma以来风积地层记录的变化趋势也做了分析。前人过去普遍认识的第四纪以来跳跃式或间歇式剧烈隆升在我们的数据中没有得到反映。黄土高原西部西宁、兰州、靖远等剖面磁化率显著的增长趋势可能与青藏高原隆升到一定高度后高原季风加强所致。     

第四纪湖相介形类壳体化石在古环境中的应用——种属组合研究进展与问题

综述了第四纪湖相介形虫化石种属组合在环境重建研究中取得的进展和存在问题,讨论了今后发展的趋势.湖泊沉积物介形类种属组合正逐渐成为古环境重建研究的常规微体生物学指标,过去几十年来国际国内研究取得重要进展,种属组合与环境参数的定量化研究成为主要趋势.化石壳体样品处理、埋藏条件评价等是提取种属组合指标的重要影响因素,需要规范化.现生种的个体与群落生态信息定量观测、调查研究是利用现代类比法(MAT)定量重建古环境的基础,也是我国介形类化石组合与环境重建中应该加强的方面.     

A REVIEW OF THE PALEO­HYDROLOGICAL AND GEOMORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTER OF LAKE NAM CO|SOUTH­CENTRAL TIBET

Department of Earth Sciences,Freie Universität Berlin,Malteserstraße 74－100,12249 Berlin,Germany)
The endorheic Lake Nam Co,south Eastern Tibetan Plateau,was selected to investigate the interrelation between drainage basin processes,especially post­glacial glacier decay,and lake level fluctuations. Landforms of the drainage basin are highly influenced by tectonics,superimposed by fluvial and periglacial processes,and locally by glacial and eolian processes. Thus,geomorphological features and hydrological characteristics were compiled for the lake­basin to provide an overview of the landscape character. Data show that during the Last Glacial Maximum melt water from the mountains accumulated fluvial deposits in the foreland. Concurrently,an increase of the lake level occurred which is presently shown by a cliff line all around Nam Co with its base approximately 29m above the present lake level. The Holocene decrease of the lake level is traced by beach ridges. As Nam Co is an endorheic lake post­glacial water loss has to be primarily explained by evaporation and moisture conditions. However,more detailed conclusions on quantitative and chronological patterns of both factors,melt­water input and evaporation output,still remain to be drawn.