Middle and Late Devonian microbial carbonates,reefs and mounds in Guilin,South China and their sequence stratigraphic,paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic significance

The importance of calcimicrobes and microbialite in carbonate platform and reefal environments has been stressed in recent literature. Burne and Moore[1] introduced the term microbialite to describe the clotted, laminated and undifferentiated fabrics formed by mi-crobial communities. Microbialites are organosedi-mentary deposits that have accreted as a result of ben-thic (prokaryotic or eukaryotic) communities, trapping and binding detrital sediment[1]. Microbial organisms and microbialite are…     

对“中白垩世(Albian-Santonian)热带大西洋表层海水温度记录”的评述

Forster等依据与δ18O无关的TEX86值来推算古温度的方法,获得了中白垩世(阿尔布期—三冬期)的表层海水温度(SST)记录。中白垩世期间,南美Demerara海隆位于热带大西洋西部,从赛诺曼期SST逐步升高(达31℃—35℃),至赛诺曼期-土仑期界线附近,SST的最高值明显高过35℃;土仑期内出现两次变凉事件(降温约2℃—3℃),打断了中白垩世稳定变暖的趋势;康尼亚克期,SST逐步下降,至三冬期降到了最低值(约32℃—33℃)。这一研究结果表明,在地质时期内,尽管中白垩世代表了典型的温室气候,但仍然很不稳定。驱动气候变化的因素是综合的,主要受地轴与地球赤道间的夹角变化、太阳辐射程度,及地球深部物质和构造运动等因素的影响,其他孤立的事件则很难影响全球性气候变化。气候的变化影响着生物的演化,古气候是研究重大地质事件的重要参数,古生物为研究古气候的最主要的标志之一。     

Late Pleistocene climate of the northern Iberian Peninsula: New insights from palaeoglaciers at Fuentes Carrionas (Cantabrian Mountains)

New ¹⁰Be dates for glacial landforms in the Fuentes Carrionas area (Cantabrian Mountains, nothern Spain) are presented. Mapped and dated landforms in Fuentes Carrionas made possible a palaeoglacier reconstruction for four glacial stages. Results were compared to other nearby palaeoenvironmental proxies, so a final approximation on the mean annual temperature and annual precipitation that caused the four glacial advance stages is proposed. Glaciers reached their maximum extension at 36 ka, in a cold and dry environment. A second advance stage took place between 18.5 and 19.5 ka, during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), when glaciers advanced in a wet environment, with positive rainfall anomalies. A third glacial advance was dated during the Oldest Dryas, in which climate shifted to extremely cold and dry conditions. Finally, a last stage has been identified and proposed to the Younger Dryas, in which precipitation anomalies are negligible. Our results confirm some of the previously made palaeoglacial and palaeoenvironmental inferences for the Iberian Peninsula, as well as provide valuable and accurate anomalies, which are useful for climate modelling.     

An expanded surface-water palaeotemperature inference model for use with fossil midges from eastern Canada

Using an expanded surface sample data set, representing lakes distributed across a transect from southernmost Canada to the Canadian High Arctic, a revised midge-palaeotemperature inference model was developed for eastern Canada. Modelling trials with weighted averaging (with classical and inverse deshrinking; with and without tolerance downweighting) and weighted averaging partial least squares (WA-PLS) regression, with and without square-root transformation of the species data, were used to identify the best model. Comparison of measured and predicted temperatures revealed that a 2 component WA-PLS model for square-root transformed percentage species data provided the model with the highest explained variance (r =0.88) and the lowest error estimate (RMSEP _jack =2.26 °C). Comparison of temperature inferences based on the new and old models indicates that the original model may have seriously under-estimated the magnitude of late-glacial temperature oscillations in Atlantic Canada. The new inferences suggest that summer surface water temperatures in Splan Pond, New Brunswick were approximately 10 to 12 °C immediately following deglaciation and during the Younger Dryas. During the Allerod and early Holocene, surface water temperatures of 20 to 24 °C were attained. The new model thus provides the basis for more accurate palaeotemperature reconstructions throughout easternmost Canada.     

六盘山东麓晚更新世以来黄土粒度指示的物源特征及演变

在宁夏长城塬完整的晚更新世-全新世黄土-古土壤剖面(长城塬剖面)进行高分辨率采样,对125个样品的粒度数据做了粒度端元分析,并对各端元组分含量在地层深度尺度上做了小波分析。结果认为：端元分析法可以把代表4种不同动力的沉积端元分离出来。端元1可能代表了西风带控制下的由高空气流搬运的远源粉尘物质;端元2可能代表了沉积物沉积后在东亚夏季风作用下的风化以及成壤改造作用;端元3可能代表了后期的淋溶作用动力特征;端元4可能代表了东亚冬季风作用下典型的风成黄土粗颗粒组分特征。根据小波分析认为各端元组分含量在不同的深度上均存在着准周期变化,指示了相对应的时间尺度上古季风变化具有准周期性的特征,同时也说明了沉积剖面一直处于较为连续沉积状态,比较完整地记载了各沉积动力过程。各端元组分在不同的时间尺度上具有不同的准周期性特征。     

用黄土地球化学参数进行古气候定量估算的初步尝试

尝试了用表土地球化学转换函数恢复渭南剖面最近１３万ａ米的古温度,古降水。结果显示：（１）全新世适宜期及末次间冰期时,降水量显著增加,渭南地区的年降水量可大于７００ｍｍ（２）末次冰期时降水量明显低于全新世适宜期及末次间冰期,但是这一时期有一些次一级的变化;特别与深海Ｏ同位素阶段４对应的时期不仅降水量显著降低,而且还有更次一级的变化;（３０全新世适宜期时,渭南地区的年平均温度在１２－１４℃左右,末次冰     

Deglacial palaeoclimate at Puerto del Hambre,subantarctic Patagonia,Chile

The primary objective of this study is to further substantiate multistep climatic forcing of late‐glacial vegetation in southern South America. A secondary objective is to establish the age of deglaciation in Estrecho de Magallanes–Bahía Inútil. Pollen assemblages at 2‐cm intervals in a core of the mire at Puerto del Hambre (53°36′21″S, 70°55′53″W) provide the basis for reconstructing the vegetation and a detailed account of palaeoclimate in subantarctic Patagonia. Chronology over the 262‐cm length of core is regulated by 20 AMS radiocarbon dates between 14 455 and 10 089 ¹⁴C yr BP. Of 13 pollen assemblage zones, the earliest representing the Oldest Dryas chronozone (14 455–13 000 ¹⁴C yr BP) records impoverished steppe with decreasing frequencies and loss of southern beech (Nothofagus). Successive 100‐yr‐long episodes of grass/herbs and of heath (Empetrum/Ericaceae) before 14 000 ¹⁴C yr BP infer deglacial successional communities under a climate of increased continentality prior to the establishment of grass‐dominated steppe. The Bølling–Allerød (13 000–11 000 ¹⁴C yr BP) is characterised by mesic grassland under moderating climate that with abrupt change to heath dominance after 12 000 ¹⁴C yr BP was warmer and not as humid. At the time of the Younger Dryas (11 000–10 000 ¹⁴C yr BP), grass steppe expanded with a return of colder, more humid climate. Later, with gradual warming, communities were invaded by southern beech. The Puerto del Hambre record parallels multistep, deglacial palaeoclimatic sequences reported elsewhere in the Southern Andes and at Taylor Dome in Antarctica. Deglaciation of Estrecho de Magallanes–Bahía Inútil is dated close to 14 455 ¹⁴C yr BP, invalidating earlier dates of between 15 800 and 16 590 ¹⁴C yr BP. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Decline of the mid‐ to late Holocene forests in China: climatic change or human impact?

Fossil pollen data from China indicate continued forest decline during the mid‐ to late Holocene in most regions north of the Yangtze River. The earliest forest decline can be detected ca. 5000 yr BP in the middle and lower Yellow River regions. North, northeast and northwest from this region, forest decline became progressively later, and almost no decline took place in the northernmost part of northeast China and in the remote areas of west China during the last 5000 yr. Climate changes could hardly account for the temporal and spatial patterns of the forest decline. Instead, anthropogenic disturbance may have been of overwhelming importance. Ancient agriculture and high‐density settlement expanded outward from the middle and lower Yellow River regions in similar patterns to those of forest change. This study also indicates that land‐use and land‐cover changes may have started in the early stage of Chinese civilization in an extensive area of the country. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Stable isotopes of pedogenic carbonates from the Somma–Vesuvius area,southern Italy,over the past 18 kyr: palaeoclimatic implications

Stable isotopes were measured in the carbonate and organic matter of palaeosols in the Somma–Vesuvius area, southern Italy in order to test whether they are suitable proxy records for climatic and ecological changes in this area during the past 18000 yr. The ages of the soils span from ca. 18 to ca. 3 kyr BP. Surprisingly, the Last Glacial to Holocene climate transition was not accompanied by significant change in δ¹⁸O of pedogenic carbonate. This could be explained by changes in evaporation rate and in isotope fractionation between water and precipitated carbonate with temperature, which counterbalanced the expected change in isotope composition of meteoric water. Because of the rise in temperature and humidity and the progressive increase in tree cover during the Holocene, the Holocene soil carbonates closely reflect the isotopic composition of meteoric water. A cooling of about 2°C after the Avellino eruption (3.8 ka) accounts for a sudden decrease of about 1‰ in δ¹⁸O of pedogenic carbonate recorded after this eruption. The δ¹³C values of organic matter and pedogenic carbonate covary, indicating an effective isotope equilibrium between the organic matter, as the source of CO₂, and the pedogenic carbonate. Carbon isotopes suggest prevailing C₃ vegetation and negligible mixing with volcanogenic or atmospheric CO₂. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Late quaternary palaeoclimate in the savannas of South America

The paper reviews Late Quaternary palynological evidence from eight sites in the savannas of northern South America. The sites reviewed are Lake Valencia (10°N), Carajas (6°S), Aguas Emendadas (15°S), Crominia (17°S), Salitre (19°S), Lagoa de Serra Negra (18°S), Lagoa Santa (20°S) and Lagoa dos Olhos (20°S). Four of the sites show evidence for a climate more humid than at present from ca. 36 ka BP to ca. 22–18 ka BP. Maximum dryness was reached at 14 ka to 10.5 ka BP at Lake Valencia. There was an increase in moisture from 8.8 ka BP at Lake Valencia and from 7 ka BP in Central Brazil. The presence of charcoal indicates human impact from ca. 8.6 ka BP. ©1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.