Switch in chemical weathering caused by the mass balance variability in a Himalayan glacierized basin: a case of Chhota Shigri Glacier

Long-term data (2003–2015) on meltwater chemistry, mass balance and discharge of a benchmark glacier (Chhota Shigri Glacier, India) were studied to determine any association between these variables. To infer the factors governing the alteration of chemical weathering processes in glacierized basins, multi-annual records of the hydrochemical indices (Ca²⁺+Mg²⁺/Na⁺+K⁺) and the C-ratio were also examined. A succession of negative mass balance years has resulted in a decline in solute concentrations in the runoff, as discharge has increased. The (Ca²⁺+Mg²⁺/Na⁺+K⁺) and C-ratio are highest during periods of negative annual mass balance, when the spatial extent of the channelized drainage system increases. Conversely, these ratios are lowest in positive mass balance years, when the spatial extent of the channelized drainage system decreases, and chemical weathering in the distributed drainage system becomes more dominant. This paper is the first to show the inter-annual linkages between meltwater chemistry, mass balance and discharge for a valley glacier.     

粤东五华河流域的化学风化与CO2吸收

基于对粤东五华河干流和支流水体的物理、化学组成测试数据,应用质量平衡法和相关分析法探讨湿热山地丘陵地区岩石化学风化过程对大气CO₂的吸收.结果表明:五华河水体的总溶解性固体含量(77.11 mg/L)接近于世界河流的平均值(65 mg/L);离子组成以Ca²⁺、Na⁺和HCO₃^-为主,可溶性Si次之.五华河流域化学径流组成主要源自硅酸盐矿物化学风化过程的贡献,碳酸盐矿物的贡献较少;大气和土壤CO₂是流域内岩石化学风化的主要侵蚀介质.与同一气候带其他河流相比较,五华河流域岩石化学风化过程对大气CO₂的吸收通量(2.14×105mol/(km²·a))较低,这主要是由于流域内缺乏碳酸盐岩所导致.     

Geomorphological evolution and sediment stratigraphy of numerically simulated alluvial fans

When a sediment laden river reaches a flat basin area the coarse fraction of their sediment load is deposited in a cone shaped structure called an alluvial fan. In this article we used the State Space Soil Production and Assessment Model (SSSPAM) coupled landform–soilscape evolution model to simulate the development of alluvial fans in two- and three-dimensional landforms. In SSSPAM the physical processes of erosion and armouring, soil weathering and sediment deposition were modelled using state-space matrices, in both two and three dimensions. The results of the two-dimensional fan showed that the fan grew vertically and laterally keeping a concave up long profile. It also showed a downstream fining of the sediments along the fan profile. Both of these observations are in agreement with available literature concerning natural and experimental fan formations. Simulations with the three-dimensional landform produced a fan with a semicircular shape with concave up long profiles and concave down cross profiles which is typical for fans found in nature and ones developed in laboratory conditions. During the simulation the main channel which brings sediment to the fan structure changed its position constantly leading to the semicircular shape of the fan. This behaviour is similar to the autogenic process of ‘fanhead trenching’ which is the major mechanism of sediment redistribution while the fan is developing. The three-dimensional fan simulation also exhibited the downstream fining of sediments from the fan apex to the peripheries. Further, the simulated fan also developed complex internal sediment stratification which is modelled by SSSPAM. Currently such complex sediment stratification is thought to be a result of allogenic processes. However, this simulation shows that, such complex internal sediment structures can develop through autogenic processes as well. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A new method for determining weathering rates in weathering pits

Determining the rates of rock weathering is difficult because, firstly, the weathering rate of rocks is usually so slow that it is difficult to measure; secondly, it is also difficult to determine the start time and duration of weathering. The Shanxi River Valley in Fujian, China dried up after a reservoir was built upstream in 1959, and became a stone quarry site. Quarrying ceased in 1977, so a large amount of quarry wastes with artificially excavated surfaces were left in the valley. The concave-upward curved rocky surface, broken by manual excavation, easily contains rainwater in its central part, which was easily weathered into a more concave surface. Plaster mould casting was performed in situ on such a concave surface of an excavated stone rock in the valley and scanned with a high-precision 3D scanner to obtain 3D data of the concave-upward rock surface and its more concave middle part, which was considered as an initial weathering pit. The 3D model provided an in-depth understanding of the initial formation process of weathering pits, indicating that: (1) the average weathering rate of a weathering pit is 10.8 ± 0.49 cm ka⁻¹; (2) weathering pits are generally formed by standing water in depressions on a flat near-horizontal rock surface due to weathering actions involving water; (3) the deepening rate of a weathering pit is about four times greater than that of the surrounding area; (4) the growth of a weathering pit can begin in some small concavities on the flat rock surface without pre-existing depressions and gradually expands; (5) a weathering pit is generally wider than deep or with a flat bottom due to expansion with a lateral weathering rate that is greater than that of the vertical, and the lamination of the host rock is not necessary for the formation of flat-floored weathering pits. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Contrasting weathering rates in coastal,urban and rural areas in southern Britain: preliminary investigations using gravestones

Weathering rates were calculated using the height differences between lead lettering on marble gravestones from inland urban, inland rural, coastal urban and coastal rural sites within southern Britain. All sites exhibit similar amounts and variations in rainfall over the study period for which gravestone measurements are available. Comparison of mean weathering rates suggested that the coastal urban site of Clacton had a similar weathering rate to the nearby coastal rural site. The other urban sites of Oxford, Lodge Hill and Portsmouth had similar weathering rates, despite their diverse locations and histories. The inland rural site had a significantly lower mean weathering rate than any other site. Analysis of covariance confirms that there are similarities between some sites. Linear and curvilinear regression of depth of loss against age suggests that a linear regression adequately describes the relationship over the period for which data are available, although there are problems with this simple interpretation. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of aspect on weathering: anomalous behaviour of sandstone gravestones in southeast England

Rocks in the humid temperate zone tend to weather more severely on faces exposed to the prevailing winds than on their more sheltered leeward faces. In southeast England, however, gravestones composed of a non‐local, quartz‐rich sandstone exhibit a reverse weathering pattern. The east‐facing, lee sides exhibit a much greater depth and areal extent of weathering than the west sides which face the westerly wind and rain. Possible reasons for the asymmetric pattern of weathering are discussed. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

含钾岩石微生物转化的分子机制及其碳汇效应

岩石矿物的微生物风化是地球表层系统最为活跃和普遍发生的地质营力之一。微生物对含钾岩石(以硅酸盐矿物为主)的风化能够释放其中的钾、硅和钙等元素,并在合适的环境条件下促进矿物元素的碳酸化沉淀,这是地表元素地球化学循环的重要环节之一。微生物对岩石的生物转化作用既涉及微生物的生长繁殖和代谢调控,也与元素的迁移转化和次生矿物的演化序列有关,具有重要研究价值。采用矿物学、微生物学和分子生物学等相结合的研究方法,有助于系统地研究微生物促进含钾硅酸盐矿物的风化并耦联碳酸化过程及其分子调控机制。研究证实,在纯培养条件下,微生物风化含钾矿物主要采用酸解、螯合、氧化还原等多种方式的协同作用,并可通过调控相关功能基因的表达来响应缺钾的环境以实现其对含钾矿物的有效风化,显然这有赖于微生物通过长期进化而形成的精细的分子调控机制。在土壤生态环境中,微生物对矿物风化的显著特征是该生态环境中微生物群落协同互作的群体作用效应。微生物碳酸酐酶参与的硅酸盐矿物风化伴随碳酸盐矿物的形成过程可能是个长期被忽视的地表碳增汇过程,对该问题的深入探索有助于进一步理解地质演化历史中微生物对碳素迁移转化的驱动机制。加入含钾硅酸盐矿粉的有机肥已经显示出其在土壤改良、作物生长和增加土壤碳汇等方面的正面应用效果,这为利用硅酸盐矿物的生物风化作用来延缓大气CO₂浓度的持续升高提供了新的思路。介绍了有关微生物对含钾岩石生物转化释放钾素的分子机理及其碳汇效应方面的研究进展,以期抛砖引玉,推动该领域研究的快速发展。     

河北承德锗元素生态地球化学特征及其与道地药材黄芩适生关系

道地药材生长与生态地球化学研究对实现中医药科学化和标准化具有重要意义。从承德市滦河流域与金沟屯和五道岭典型研究区阐明区域尺度和不同地质建造区Ge元素地球化学背景特征,结合多元统计采用基于Nb元素的质量迁移系数、化学蚀变指数CIA和残积系数RF、生物富集系数论述Ge元素在基岩-风化壳-土壤-黄芩系统中的迁移聚集规律,探讨Ge元素生态地球化学特征与道地药材黄芩的适生关系。结果表明：滦河流域表层土壤Ge元素平均含量为1.336 mg·kg^-1,43.54%土壤样品Ge元素含量属丰富—较丰富水平;金沟屯和五道岭区表层土壤Ge元素平均含量分别为1.352 mg·kg^-1和1.268 mg·kg^-1。不同地质建造和表层土壤Ge元素含量与TFe₂O₃含量显著相关,土壤含铁矿物对Ge元素具有吸附作用。Ge元素含量随岩土风化程度升高而增大,金沟屯区土壤风化程度高于五道岭区,土壤成熟度相对较高,Ge元素富集程度相对较高。岩石风化过程中Ge元素与TFe₂O₃、V、Ti、Co、P、Pb、Cu、Zn、Al₂O₃、SiO₂、K₂O、Na₂O质量迁移系数值相近,风化土壤与新鲜基岩Si和Ge含量发生明显分异,Ge元素主要来源于硅酸盐矿物风化过程中晶格破裂和金属硫化物矿物风化释放。金沟屯和五道岭黄芩Ge元素BCF平均值分别为0.014和0.020,黄芩根部对土壤Fe与Ge的吸收表现出明显的协同作用,土壤pH影响着Ge元素形态和生物有效性。区域土壤丰富的Fe、P和Sr元素含量为优质黄芩生长提供了有利条件;Fe族元素含量丰富,pH呈微碱性的沙壤质土壤为道地药材黄芩适宜生长和定向栽培种植区。     

辽东半岛夷平面发育特征初步探究*

夷平面是一种与长期稳定的构造环境相关联的大尺度地貌景观,将夷平面与风化壳作为整体来研究是现代夷平面研究的主流。为了探讨辽东半岛夷平面的性质、形成环境等发育特征,对该地区的红色风化壳进行地球化学分析和粒度测试。辽东半岛红色风化壳主要出露于半岛东西两侧,厚度多在4 m左右,化学蚀变指数CIA平均值为82.70,ba值((Na₂O+K₂O+CaO+MgO)/Al₂O₃)平均为0.39,S/A值(SiO₂/Al₂O₃)平均为4.86,黏粒含量平均为8.31%。从分析数据可以看出,辽东半岛红色风化壳是下伏基岩原地风化的产物,推测其形成于温暖、湿润的气候条件下,与南方岩溶区红色风化壳相比具有盐基淋溶率低、富铝化程度低和黏化作用弱的发育特征。结合区域地貌特征,认为研究区红色风化壳的发育主要经历了4个阶段: (1)岩溶作用在古侵蚀基准面之上的整个岩体内进行,地貌起伏逐渐增大;(2)地貌起伏达到最大,覆盖型岩溶、灰色风化壳开始发育;(3)岩溶双层夷平面基本形成;(4)灰色风化壳的发育近乎停止,原本位于古侵蚀基准面之下的灰色风化壳在构造运动作用下全部抬升于现代侵蚀基准面之上形成红色风化壳。因此,研究区的夷平面为古夷平面,发育阶段为红土化阶段。该研究成果可为辽东半岛新近纪以来的新构造运动及海平面变化研究提供初步依据。     

第四纪加积型红土与下蜀黄土理化特征比较

加积型红土和下蜀黄土是我国亚热带地区常见的第四纪沉积物。测试了加积型红土的粒度、矿物与石英砂表面特征、磁化率、常量元素和稀土元素等理化指标,并与下蜀黄土进行了对比分析,结果表明,加积型红土与下蜀黄土在理化特征上具有整体相似性,显示风成特性,但较下蜀黄土经历了更为强烈的化学风化作用。同一剖面自下而上为加积型红土至棕黄色下蜀土的沉积序列,揭示了中更新世至晚更新世风化成壤强度减弱、气候由湿热向干凉转变的趋势;北亚热带和中亚热带沉积年代相当的下蜀土风化特征差异反映了古环境变化的纬度效应。