Cirque glacier activity in arctic Norway during the last deglaciation

Numerous cirques of the Lofoten–Vesterålen archipelago in northern Norway have distinct moraine sequences that previously have been assigned to the Allerød-Younger Dryas ( 13,400 to 11,700 yr BP) interval, constraining the regional distribution of the equilibrium-line altitude (ELA) of cirque and valley glaciers. Here we present evidence from a once glacier-fed lake on southern Andøya that contests this view. Analyses of radiocarbon dated lacustrine sediments including rock magnetic parameters, grain size, organic matter, dry bulk density and visual interpretation suggest that no glacier was present in the low-lying cirque during the Younger Dryas-Allerød. The initiation of the glacial retreat commenced with the onset of the Bølling warming ( 14,700 yr BP) and was completed by the onset of Allerød Interstade ( 13,400 yr BP). The reconstructed glacier stages of the investigated cirque coincide with a cool and dry period from  17,500 to 14,700 yr BP and a somewhat larger Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) advance possibly occurring between  21,050 and 19,100 yr BP.     

Reconstruction and Regional Significance of the Coire Breac Palaeoglacier,Glen Esk,Eastern Grampian Highlands,Scotland

We present a glaciological and climatic reconstruction of a former glacier in Coire Breac, an isolated cirque within the Eastern Grampian plateau of Scotland, 5 km from the Highland edge. Published glacier reconstructions of presumed Younger Dryas‐age glaciers in this area show that equilibrium line altitudes decreased steeply towards the east coast, implying a arctic maritime glacial environment. Extrapolation of the ELA trend surface implies that glaciers should have existed in suitable locations on the plateau, a landscape little modified by glaciation. In Coire Breac, a 0.35 km² cirque glacier existed with an equilibrium line altitude of 487 ± 15 m above present sea level. The equilibrium line altitude matches closely the extrapolated regional equilibrium line altitude trend surface for Younger Dryas Stadial glaciers. The mean glacier thickness of 24 m gives an ice volume of 7.8 × 10⁶ m³, and a maximum basal shear stress of c. 100 kPa^?1. Ablation gradient was c. –0.0055 m m^?1, with a mean July temperature at the equilibrium line altitude of c. 5.1°C. The reconstruction implies an arctic maritime climate of low precipitation with local accumulation enhanced by blown snow, which may explain the absence of other contemporary glaciers nearby. Reconstructed ice flow lines show zones of flow concentration around the lower ice margin which help to explain the distribution of depositional facies associated with a former debris cover which may have delayed eventual glacier retreat. No moraines in the area have been dated, so palaeoclimatic interpretations remain provisional, and a pre‐Lateglacial Interstadial age cannot be ruled out.     

Paleoclimatic and archeological implications of Pleistocene and Holocene environments in Azraq, Jordan

Wetlands are a key archive for paleoclimatic and archeological work, particularly in arid regions, as they provide a focus for human occupation and preserve environmental information. The sedimentary record from 'Ayn Qasiyya, a spring site on the edge of the Azraq Qa, provides a well-dated sequence through the last glacial–interglacial transition (LGIT) allowing environmental changes in the present-day Jordanian desert to be investigated robustly through this time period for the first time. Results show that the wettest period at the site preceded the last glacial maximum, which itself was characterised by marsh formation and a significant Early Epipaleolithic occupation. A sedimentary hiatus between 16 and 10.5 ka suggests a period of drought in the region although seasonal rains and surface waters still allowed seasonal occupation of the Azraq region. Archeological evidence suggests that conditions had improved by the Late Epipaleolithic, about the time of the North Atlantic Younger Dryas. The changes between wet and dry conditions at the site show similarities to patterns in the eastern Mediterranean and in Arabia suggesting the Jordan interior was influenced by changes in both these regions through the LGIT climatic transition.     

浙西桐村斑岩型钼(铜)矿床与德兴斑岩铜矿岩浆岩对比研究

桐村地区与德兴矿区岩石系列相似,为高钾钙碱性系列;在岩石结构上,桐村地区花岗闪长岩为似斑状结构,德兴矿区花岗闪长斑岩为斑状结构。两者均为钙碱—碱质镁质I型花岗岩。桐村岩石富Si和K,A/CNK和K/(K+Na)值均小于德兴岩石。微量元素、同位素及岩石学特征表明桐村地区的物质来源以壳源为主,而德兴地区为有大量幔源物质参与的壳幔混合型,其原因可能与两区不同的构造位置有关。中晚侏罗世时,太平洋板块西向俯冲,下插板片发生部分熔融形成的岩浆与岩石圈地幔楔发生作用从而形成斑岩岩浆是桐村和德兴地区可能的成因模式。桐村矿床含矿斑岩的氧逸度、演化程度和地壳混染程度均较德兴斑岩铜矿高。对于同时代、近距离的岩浆岩形成如此规模悬殊的矿床还有许多问题值得研究和思考。     

华北陆块南缘崤山地区燕山期花岗岩类地球化学、Sr-Nd-Pb同位素特征及其地质意义

华北陆块南缘的崤山地区,呈北东向分布着龙卧沟、后河、白石崖等燕山期花岗岩体,岩石类型以二长花岗斑岩为主.主量元素、微量元素和Sr-Nd-Pb同位素地球化学研究表明,崤山地区燕山期花岗岩类总体成分呈酸性,岩石主要属于高钾-钾玄质系列;它们具有相似的微量元素(含稀土元素)组成模式,LREE、HREE分馏明显,(La/Yb)N=9.52 ～41.21,平均26.16,Eu异常不明显(δEu =0.82～1.35),大部分岩体呈现出微弱的负Eu异常,少部分样品显示出微弱的正异常;富集Rb、Ba、Th、K、Pb、Hf和Y等元素,亏损Ta、Nb、Zr、P和Ti等元素,岩体高Sr(392.8×10-6～916.9×10-6,平均678.8×10-6),低Y (8.12×10-6～21.34×10-6,平均14.86×10-6)和Yb(0.503×10-6～1.756×10-6,平均1.26×10-6),暗示源区有石榴石残留.岩体的锶同位素初始比值Isr=0.70645 ～0.71022,平均0.70828,εNd(t)=-19.7～-3.4,平均-14.6,二阶段Nd模式年龄t2DM集中在1827 ～2372Ma,具有高放射成因铅同位素组成特征,初始铅同位素比值为:206pb/204pb=17.228 ～ 18.720,平均17.905;207pb/204Pb=15.444 ～ 15.656,平均15.544,208pb/204Pb =37.519 ～38.707,平均38.187.元素和同位素地球化学特征表明崤山地区燕山期花岗岩类是华北陆块南缘加厚地壳底部熔融的产物,源岩以南秦岭结晶基底为主,同时有华北陆块的太华群、熊耳群及幔源物质的混入.岩体是扬子板块携秦岭微板块俯冲到华北板块之下,随着区域构造体制由挤压向伸展转换,岩石圈巨量减薄、软流圈上涌底侵上覆岩石圈,加热加厚地壳熔融形成,表明南秦岭板块的结晶基底在拆离式俯冲的作用下向北已楔入崤山地区结晶基底之下,而崤山北麓可能是其在东秦岭的北界.     

Climate variability of southern Chile since the Last Glacial Maximum: a continuous sedimentological record from Lago Puyehue (40°S)

This paper presents a multi-proxy climate record of an 11 m long core collected in Lago Puyehue (southern Chile, 40°S) and extending back to 18,000 cal yr BP. The multi-proxy analyses include sedimentology, mineralogy, grain size, geochemistry, loss-on-ignition, magnetic susceptibility and radiocarbon dating. Results demonstrate that sediment grain size is positively correlated with the biogenic sediment content and can be used as a proxy for lake paleoproductivity. On the other hand, the magnetic susceptibility signal is correlated with the aluminium and titanium concentrations and can be used as a proxy for the terrigenous supply. Temporal variations of sediment composition evidence that, since the Last Glacial Maximum, the Chilean Lake District was characterized by three abrupt climate changes superimposed on a long-term climate evolution. These rapid climate changes are: (1) an abrupt warming at the end of the Last Glacial Maximum at 17,300 cal yr BP; (2) a 13,100–12,300 cal yr BP cold event, ending rapidly and interpreted as the local counterpart of the Younger Dryas cold period, and (3) a 3,400–2,900 cal yr BP climatic instability synchronous with a period of low solar activity. The timing of the 13,100–12,300 cold event is compared with similar records in both hemispheres and demonstrates that this southern hemisphere climate change precedes the northern hemisphere Younger Dryas cold period by 500 to 1,000 years. This is the third in a series of eight papers published in this special issue dedicated to the 17,900 year multi-proxy lacustrine record of Lago Puyehue, Chilean Lake District. The papers in this special issue were collected by M. De Batist, N. Fagel, M.-F. Loutre and E. Chapron.     

吉林辉南二龙湾玛珥湖12.0 ka B.P.以来孢粉记录与气候变化

东北二龙湾玛珥湖孢粉记录显示,12.0 ka B.P.以来,该区植被和气候经历了以下变化：11.76～9.81 ka B.P. 发育针阔叶混交林,气候冷干。9.81～4.11 ka B.P.为落叶阔叶林植被景观,前期（9.81～8.86 ka B.P.）温干,为增温期;后期（8.86～4.11 ka B.P.）暖湿,为气候适宜期。4.11 ka B.P.至今,再次发育针阔叶混交林, 其中1.62 ka B.P.以前,气候温凉;之后湿度下降,气候凉干。研究表明:YD（11.56～10.21 ka B.P.）事件在二龙湾玛珥湖孢粉资料中有突出记录,4.0 ka B.P.左右开始的降温现象在东北东部地区广泛出现。     

Comments on Jansson, K.N. and Glasser, N.F. (2008) “Modification of peripheral mountain ranges by former ice sheets: The Brecon Beacons, southern UK,” Geomorphology 97, 178–189

Jansson and Glasser (Jansson, K.N., Glasser, N.F., 2008. Modification of peripheral mountain ranges by former ice sheets: the Brecon Beacons, southern UK. Geomorphology 97, 178–189.) have recently provided unconventional interpretations of selected glacial erosional and depositional landforms in the Brecon Beacons, UK, based on remotely sensed imagery. These new interpretations contradict well-established and reliable evidence for the origins and ages of certain glacial landforms of this upland area and elsewhere. They suggest that during a post-Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) ice-sheet event ice flowed up supposed, essentially “fluvial” valleys producing “glacial lineations” and depositing marginal moraines at the valley heads and on cirque floors. We argue that their interpretations of some key landforms are incorrect and that they have ignored much of the previous dating and field geomorphological evidence. Sedimentary and morphological evidence (e.g., lack of erratic content; convex planform with respect to the headwall; relatively large height range of moraines; and close association with headwall extent, height, and steepness) all indicate that higher level cirque-floor and valley-head moraines in the Brecon Beacons (> c. 400 m) were formed by cirque glaciers. Available dating evidence indicates a Younger Dryas age. We demonstrate that the supposed “fluvial” valleys, comprising trough heads with steep headwalls, have more nearly parabolic than V-shaped cross profiles indicating substantial glacial modification. Field evidence shows that proposed key exemplar post-LGM glacial lineations are in fact debris flow deposits. We conclude that whilst the adoption of a macroscale approach can shed new light on large-scale, ice-sheet movements, this approach should not be undertaken without consideration of the associated field evidence.     

Was the Younger Dryas (Loch Lomond Stadial) icefield on Rannoch Moor,western Scotland,deglaciated as early as c.12.5 cal ka BP?

The concept that Rannoch Moor, the centre of the Younger Dryas (YD), West Highland Icefield, was deglaciated as early as 12.5 cal ka BP is discussed in the light of radiocarbon dates and varve sequences from outlet glaciers of this icefield, and climate change during the YD. The maximum positions of three YD glaciers were reached after 11.6–11.8 cal ka BP (Lomond), and after 11.8–11.9 cal ka BP (Spean and Treig) indicating that ice remained on Rannoch Moor until long after c.12.5 cal ka BP, and possibly until the YD/Holocene transition at c.11.7 cal ka BP. Further, the Spean glacier dammed a proglacial lake in Lochaber for at least 495 varve years over a period that included the deposition of the Vedde Ash (c.12.1 cal ka BP) and a late YD ash layer (c. 11.7–11.2 cal ka BP), a thesis at variance with supposed early YD deglaciation. Recent examination of this issue using ¹⁰Be exposure age determinations from Rannoch Moor is equivocal. In view of the presence of hard water algae at the sampling site on Rannoch Moor it is recommended that the ‘early’ ¹⁴C dates from Rannoch Moor need to be further reassessed using chronological constraints provided by dated microtephra, and a collaborative radiocarbon dating programme.     

辽东岫岩-宽甸地区古元古代条痕状花岗岩的岩石地球化学特征及其构造意义

辽吉地区地处华北克拉通胶-辽-吉带北部,区域内发育有相对完整的古元古代沉积作用与岩浆活动。本文对辽吉地区2个古元古代条痕状花岗岩体(鸡冠山岩体和老黑山岩体)进行了岩石学、地球化学和成因学研究。研究表明,条痕状花岗岩(二长花岗片麻岩)样品具有高的K_2O/Na_2O、FeOT/MgO比值和Ga、Zr、Y含量以及低的CaO、MgO、Sr、Cr、Co、Ni含量,全碱(K_2O+Na_2O)含量变化于7.97%~9.08%。在SiO_2-K_2O图中,条痕状花岗岩主要位于高钾钙碱系列区域,样品A/CNK值介于0.84~1.03之间,A/NK值为1.11~1.17,10000Ga/Al比值全部大于2.6,为高钾钙碱性铝质A型花岗岩。其中6个样品的εNd(t)为-3.3~-0.9,Nd同位素两阶段模式年龄tDM2=2860~2669Ma,暗示其形成于太古宙地壳的部分熔融。条痕状花岗岩富集Rb、U、K等大离子亲石元素和轻稀土元素,亏损Nb、Ta、Ti等高场强元素,具有明显的俯冲带岩浆特征,在Rb/30-Hf-Ta×3图中落入火山弧区域;其Y相对于Nb更富集,具有与岛弧玄武岩相似的Y/Nb等元素比值,在Y/Nb-Rb/Nb和Nb-Y-Ce图解中落入A_2型花岗岩区域。古元古代早期,辽吉地区处于大陆弧后盆地构造环境,强烈的弧后伸展作用产生了条痕状花岗岩;在后期的地体拼贴过程中,条痕状花岗岩与周围岩石共同变形并最终构造挤压在一起。