Holocene eolian activation as a proxy for broad-scale landscape change on the Gila River Indian Community, Arizona

Eolian sediments are common within the middle Gila River Valley, southern Arizona, and reflect variability in eolian and fluvial processes during the late Holocene. This study focuses on deciphering the stratigraphic record of eolian deposition and associated luminescence dating of quartz extracts by single aliquot regeneration (SAR) protocols. Stratigraphic assessment coupled with luminescence ages indicates that there are four broad eolian depositional events at ca. 3145 ± 220 yr, 1950-1360 yr, 800 ± 100 yr, and 690-315 yr. This nascent chronology, correlated with regional archeological evidence and paleoclimate proxy datasets, leads to two general conclusions: (1) loess deposits, transverse-dune formation and sand-sheet deposition in the late Holocene are probably linked to flow variability of the Gila River, though the last two events are concordant with regional megadroughts; and (2) the stability of eolian landforms since the 19th century reflects the lack of eolian sediment supply during a period of fluvial incision, resulting in Entisol formation on dunes. The prime catalyst of eolian activity during the late Holocene is inferred to be sediment supply, driven by climate periodicity and variable flow within the Gila River catchment.     

古尔班通古特沙漠南部风沙土性状在沙垄尺度上的空间变异

在新疆古尔班通古特沙漠南部纵向沙垄上,按5 m×5 m的网格采集浅层风沙土组合样品184件,调查植被样方100个,并测试了风沙土质地、pH、盐分、含水量、全N含量和有机质含量等理化性状。研究发现:受沙垄地貌和植被格局的影响,风沙土性状具有中等到强烈的空间相关性,空间依赖范围(变程)介于21.3~74.8m,大致对应着单一沙垄宽度或垄间地-沙垄-垄间地的地貌单元宽度。利用地统计分析求得不同取样尺度上的分维D。风沙土质地(粒径、平均粒径、分选系数)和盐分(电导率)及养分(有机质和全N含量)在0~40m的取样间隔下,D较大,空间变异程度基本处于中高水平;在90~150m的取样间隔下,D骤减,空间异质性大大增强。风沙土含水量的空间变异强度曲线为几段式形态,并且分维依次递减。     

Geochemical Characteristics of Eolian Deposits on the Eastern Margin of the Tibetan Plateau and Implications for Provenance

Eolian dust deposition is intimately related to atmospheric circulation and environmental setting of the source region, and therefore is an invaluable tool for studying the evolutionary history of atmospheric circulation patterns and paleoclimatic change. Identifying the provenance of any eolian deposit is crucial not only for reconstructing the paleoenvironmental history of the dust source region, but also for understanding the paleoclimatic significance of various indices. Loess and paleosol samples from the Garze region on the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau(TP) were analyzed for their elemental(major and trace elements) and isotopic(Sm-Nd) geochemistry and compared with those of Northern Chinese(NC) loess formed at the same age. The results show that the geochemical compositions of the Garze loess and paleosol samples are similar to those eolian deposits on the Chinese Loess Plateau(CLP), and also resemble the average UCC. This indicates that the eolian deposits on the eastern margin of the TP were derived from well-mixed sedimentary protoliths that had undergone numerous upper crustal recycling processes, just as with the CLP loess deposits. However, compared with NC loess, the Garze samples have higher ∑REE, Li, Rb, Zr, Cs, Hf and Bi concentrations, higher TiO2/Al2O3, Hf/Nb, La/Nb, Th/Nb and lower K2O/TiO2, Zr/Hf, Ba/Rb ratios. From the Sm-Nd isotopic geochemistry, εNd(0) and 147Sm/144Nd values of Garze loess and paleosol samples are clearly lower than the NC loess. The higher Bi, Zr and Hf concentrations are relevant to the widely distributed acid-magmatic rocks in this region, whereas the higher contents of Li, Cs, Rb are attributed to the high background values of the TP. The geochemical characteristics of the Garze loess and paleosol samples further prove that the local glacial and other Quaternary detrital sediments are predominantly the contributors for the eolian deposits on the eastern margin of the TP. Stable element concentrations and their ratios in the Garze loess and paleosol samples formed at different times have relatively greater variation ranges in comparison with the NC loess, indicating that the source regions for eolian deposits have been unstable since the late Early Pleistocene. We attribute the instability of dust sources to variable earth surface conditions and the changeable TP winter monsoon in direction and intensity, which are in turn related to the uplift of the TP.     

成都平原风尘堆积的化学风化特征及其古气候意义

对成都平原胜利红土剖面进行了系统的常量元素分析,并与川西典型黄土、古土壤样品的地球化学特征进行对比,研究本区风尘堆积所经历的化学风化作用过程,并对该序列化学风化特征的古气候意义进行探讨.研究结果表明,成都红土的常量元素组成与川西典型黄土、古土壤样品相似,与上地壳的平均化学成分也基本一致,说明成都红土与川西黄土一样,在堆积以前也经历了多次充分混合作用.在成都红土的形成过程中,Ca、Na元素大量淋失,含量很低,K、Mg也出现了不同程度的淋失,说明成都红土经历了斜长石和钾长石的化学风化过程.进一步的研究表明,成都黏土已达到中等风化的末期阶段,而网纹红土已进入强烈风化作用阶段.从整个序列的化学风化参数来看,距今1.13 Ma以来化学风化强度不断减弱,表明四川盆地及周围地区更新世中期以来有逐渐变干的趋势,与全球气候变化具有一致性.     

武汉青山“砂山”粒度特征及其成因指示

根据代表性的武汉青山“砂山”的粒度分析探讨“砂山”的成因。结果表明:剖面砂颗粒含量较高,平均达５９％,粗粉砂约２３％,细粉砂约１１％,黏土含量少。粒度参数特征与典型沙丘砂一致,频率分布曲线为双峰,概率累积曲线为两段式,部分层位三段式,跃移质含量高,显示风积成因,Ｃ—Ｍ图及结构参数散点图与河流沉积物差别明显,判别分析结果正负夹杂。综合看来,“砂山”是末次冰期时出露的河流沉积物经风力吹扬、搬运,在长江南岸堆积而 成。     

基于光释光测年的共和盆地风沙活动历史研究

位于青藏高原东北缘的共和盆地处于亚洲冬、夏季风和西风环流作用交替控制的干旱-半干旱区,盆地中分布着大面积的沙漠,是重建过去气候的重要载体。前人对共和盆地25个风成剖面的102个OSL年代结果进行分析,得出晚更新世以来共和盆地的风沙活动在各个时期都有发生,黄土堆积主要是更新世末期到早全新世,古土壤主要是晚全新世发育的, 但其测年工作缺乏高密度光释光测年检验。通过对共和盆地西南部的羊曲剖面进行系统的高密度光释光年代学研究发现,羊曲剖面主要是末次冰消期沉积的,9.6-7.1 ka风沙活动迅速减弱,7.1-2 ka存在明显的沉积间断,说明基于单个剖面进行环境演变重建需谨慎。结合盆地内已发表OSL年代结果,末次冰消期以来,风沙活动在共和盆地一直存在,其最强烈时期是14-10 ka左右,黄土主要是末次冰消期14-10 ka沉积的,古土壤发育主要集中在3-2 ka和6-4 ka,此外在9-8 ka也有发育。     

旋回年代学及其应用意义--华北地台中寒武世碳酸盐岩鲕滩高频旋回的年代学研究

华北地台中寒武世鲕滩碳酸盐岩沉积序列中发育大量分属4～7级的高频层序,依据旋回平均厚度的频率分布、不同级别旋回叠加样式和比率、沉积发育样式和跨越整个地台的可对比等特征认为,它们受控于地球轨道参数变动,是典型的米兰柯维奇旋回,其中Ⅳ、Ⅵ级分别对应于长、短偏心率旋回,时限分别为0.4Ma和0.1Ma.应用轨道旋回规则的周期间隔给出了中寒武世各级层序、地层阶和相应界面的年龄值.     

中国台湾大鬼湖沉积物所保留之降尘记录

本文以中国台湾大鬼湖沉积物岩芯回推此区过去1600年以来PM10与空飘重金属之变化情形.湖区沉积物主要来自集水区冲刷来的岩屑及植物碎屑,一般为黑色,平均粒径30～50μm,PM10约10%～20%.但在干冷时期,由空飘来的祖国大陆北方沙尘较多,形成相对亮度指数较高的白层,其磁化率较高、平均粒径约10μm,且PM10可达60%;而从1350年以来,无机元素沉积累积速率较前期有所增加,且白层中大部分无机元素皆有较高的累积速率,可能导因于空飘物质输入量增加.较暖湿时期,则以亲有机质元素之沉积累积速率较高.     

Preliminary study on the mineral magnetic properties of sediments from Kůlna Cave (Moravian Karst), Czech Republic

Summary Magnetic property variations in marine, lacustrine and loess-paleosol sequences have proved to be useful proxies in climate change studies. However in order to correctly interpret the record of the magnetic property variations it is absolutely necessary to have a good understanding of the cause of the observed variations. Most of the ambiguity in loess-paleosol studies is in distinguishing the role of pedogenesis from other climatic factors. Studying the mineral magnetic properties of the protected cave sediments which have not undergone pedogenesis allows us to determine the degree to which detrital input is climatically driven. These results will help us better understand the variations observed in the surficial loess-paleosol sequences. This study reports mineral magnetic data collected from entrance facies sediments deposited during the early Wurmian glacial stage in the Kůlna Cave. The entrance facies sediments consist of loess-like silts with varying amount of talus. The magnetic susceptibility record from these sediments shows higher values in layers originating in colder climates which is different to that commonly observed in surficial loess deposits. Higher values of magnetic susceptibility in Kůlna sediments are probably due to higher concentrations of ferromagnetic minerals (magnetite and maghemite) and due to an increased proportion of superparamagnetic grains. The magnetic mineralogy and the grainsize distribution (grains larger than superparamagnetic) appear not to change throughout the studied profiles. Higher magnetic susceptibility accompanied by an increase in the superparamagnetic fraction observed in the sediments deposited during colder periods can be explained by an increased input from a pedogenic source when the vegetation cover was reduced and the erosion rate increased.     

长江三峡大宁河流域3 000年来的沉积环境和风尘堆积

对长江三峡大宁河流域双堰塘剖面的粒度、磁化率和氧化物进行了综合分析，揭示了该区3000a来的沉积环境变化，并对全新世第1寒冷期的风尘堆积作了初步探讨。该区3000a来的风尘堆积是在全新世第1寒冷期（1000－850BC），即是亚北方期又是新冰期时形成的。而此寒冷期又存在次一级的气候波动。风尘堆积下层是在干凉气候下形成的原始风尘堆积，而上层气候趋于冷湿，流水作用增强，原始风尘堆积被流水搬运，在此形成次生黄土。由于所受水动力条件和风化程度的不同，本区风尘堆积与长江下游地区的风尘堆积以及北方黄土之间存在着明显的差异之处。