The structural,geometric and volumetric changes of a polythermal Arctic glacier during a surge cycle: Comfortlessbreen,Svalbard

Various parameters of the most recent surge of the polythermal glacier Comfortlessbreen in northwest Svalbard, have been assessed through a combination of remote sensing and ground observations. Analysis of a digital elevation model time‐series shows a marked change in the geometry of the glacier from quiescence (1990 and earlier) into the late surge phase (2009). The transfer of 0.74 km³ of ice caused up to 80 m of surface drawdown in the reservoir area, above the equilibrium line, whilst ice built up in a spatially concentrated manner in the receiving zone, below the equilibrium line. A ramp of ice, c. 100 m above quiescent level, developed in the lower reaches of the glacier late in the surge. Also in the lower reaches of the glacier, structures attributable to the passage of a kinematic wave are identified and the migration of a surge front on the glacier is thus inferred. In a conceptual model, we consider that a bend in the valley, in which the glacier resides, and convergence with tributary glaciers, to be significant factors in the style of surge evolution. Their flow‐restrictive interference results in slow initial mass‐transfer and the growth of a surge front within 3–4 km of the terminus. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A micromorphological record of contemporary and relict pedogenic processes in soils of the Indo‐Gangetic Plains: implications for mineral weathering,provenance and climatic changes

Micromorphology has important application in earth surface process and landform studies particularly in alluvial settings such as the Indo‐Gangetic Plains (IGP) with different geomorphic surfaces to identify climatic changes and neotectonic events and their influence on pedogenesis. The soils of the IGP extending from arid upland in the west to per humid deltaic plains in the east developed on five geomorphic surfaces namely QIG1 to QIG5 originating during the last 13.5 ka. Four soil‐geomorphic systems across the entire IGP are identified as: (i) the western Yamuna Plains/Uplands, (ii) the Yamuna‐Ganga Interfluve, (iii) the Ganga‐Ghaghara Interfluve, and (iv) the Deltaic Plains. Thin section analysis of the soils across the four soil‐geomorphic systems provides a record of provenance, mineral weathering, pedogenic processes and polygenesis in IGP. The soils over major parts of the IGP dominantly contain muscovite and quartz and small fraction of highly altered feldspar derived from the Himalayas. However, soils in the western and eastern parts of the IGP contain large volumes of fresh to weakly altered plagioclase and smectitic clay derived from the Indian craton. The soils in western Yamuna Plains/Uplands dominated by QIG2–QIG3 geomorphic surfaces and pedogenic carbonate developed in semi‐arid climate prior to 5 ka. However, soils of the central part of the IGP in the Yamuna‐Ganga Interfluve and Ganga‐Ghaghara Interfluve regions with dominance of QIG4–QIG5 surfaces are polygenetic due to climate change over the last 13.5 ka. The clay pedofeatures formed during earlier wet phase (13.5–11 ka) show degradation, loss of preferred orientation, speckled appearance in contrast with the later phase of wet climate (6.5–4 ka). The soils over the deltaic plains with dominance of vertic features along with clay pedofeatures suggest that illuviation of fine clay is an important pedogenic process even in soils with shrink‐swell characteristics. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hydrological response of an afforested catchment in a Mediterranean humid mountain area: a comparative study with a natural forest

The effects of afforestation on water resources are still controversial. The aim of this paper is to (i) analyse the hydrological response of an afforested area in the Central Pyrenees and (ii) compare the hydrological response of an afforested area with the response observed in a natural undisturbed forest. The Araguás catchment was cultivated until the 1950s, and then afforested with pines in an effort to control the active degradation processes. The hydrological response was variable and complex, because the discharge was generated by a combination of distinct runoff processes. The hydrological response showed that (i) afforestation produced moderate peak discharges, stormflows and recession limbs, and long rising limbs; (ii) no one single variable was able to explain the hydrological response: rainfall volume and intensity did not explain the hydrological response and antecedent rainfall and initial discharge (indicating antecedent moisture conditions) did play an important role; (iii) seasonal differences were observed suggesting different runoff generating processes; and (iv) the effect of forest cover on peak discharges became less important as the size of the hydrological event increased. The stormflow coefficient showed a clear seasonal pattern with an alternation between a wet period, when the catchment was hydrologically responsive, and a dry summer period when the catchment rarely responded to any event, and two transitional periods (wetting and drying). Compared with a natural forest, the afforested area recorded greater flows and peak discharges, faster response times and shorter recession limbs. Afforestation reduces the water yield and the number of floods compared with non‐vegetated areas and abandoned lands. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

2015年尼泊尔8.1级地震前后拉萨地电场观测数据变化分析*

2015年4月25日尼泊尔8.1级强烈地震前后,拉萨地磁台(以下简称“拉萨台”)地电场观测数据出现了长时间、大幅度异常变化。在对拉萨台地电场观测条件、观测系统以及观测结果进行初步讨论的基础上,利用“能量合成累加”和“MSA功率谱分析”等数据处理方法,从“时间域”和“频率域”两个方面,对该异常变化的主要特征和演化过程进行了分析。结果显示,尼泊尔8.1级地震前后,拉萨台的地电场观测数据异常变化,经历了“趋势变化-扰动变化-发震期-恢复期”等发展阶段,以及“低频变化-高频变化-平稳变化-高频变化”等演化过程。综合分析认为,拉萨台地电场观测异常变化特征和演化过程,与相关现象和机理研究结果基本吻合,能够完整反映强烈地震孕育、发生和发展全过程,是具有一定客观性、典型性和代表性的珍贵资料。     

2000-2013年甘肃敦煌市土地利用变化及其驱动因素分析

将2000、2005、2010和2013年的土地利用类型数据与GIS技术结合,获取了甘肃省敦煌市近年来土地利用类型动态变化特征,并结合该地区的2000年以来社会经济和自然环境的资料,分析土地利用类型变化的驱动因素.结果表明：在2000-2013年期间,敦煌市城市化发展迅速,耕地、建设用地和水域面积明显增加,2000-2013年的14建分别增长了10.0%、42.2%和2.5%;草地和未利用土地面积呈减少趋势,分别减少了2.1%和0.1%;林地、沙地变化程度较小. 7种土地利用类型之间相互转换,主要的转移方向为草地、未利用土地向耕地转移,未利用土地向建设用地和水域转变.对影响土地利用变化的而主要驱动因素进行主成分分析,结果显示经济发展、国家政策等人类活动为主要的影响因素,自然因素为辅.     

断层向错引起的地表重力变化研究

利用三维角点法以及空间物体旋转的几何变换理论,建立断层向错与地表重力变化的关系,并进行数值模拟计算。选取断层下盘左端点为旋转基点,分析断层埋深和倾角对其向错引起的重力变化的影响。结果表明,断层向错引起的重力变化与断层埋深有明显的相关性,在W1、W2、W3向错模式下,重力变化均表现为随断层深度增加而逐渐衰减;重力变化对断层倾角有着不同的响应。断层运动产生的重力变化空间分布特征与断层的向错模式以及旋转基点的选择有关。     

A grain-size record from Beijing region in Northern China: Late Quaternary paleoclimate oscillation in response to global change

Numerous samples taken from one core at the Beijing plain were utilized to characterize the paleoclimatic configuration of the study area and its possible relation to global control since the last interglaciation. We presented here a detailed grain-size record for the full length of Late Pleistocene, along with the optical simulated luminescence (OSL) dating. Our findings revealed that Late Pleistocene of the study area started approximately at 110 ka B.P. represented by the thick sediments of 31 m in Changping depression. Four sedimentary cycles were outlined in the core during Late Pleistocene, corresponding to marine isotope stage (MIS) 5 to 2. Controlled by regional geology and global climatic setting, eight paleoclimatic periods were identified simultaneously in the study area on the time scale of 10⁴ year, with the warm and moist climate being found at 110 — 96, 92 — 76, 67 — 56, and 28 — 18 ka B.P.. The climatic instabilities on a millennial scale in Late Pleistocene were characterized largely by the occurrence of 6 strong Heinrich events shown by comparatively coarse groups. These variations correlate well with those documented in the GRIP Greenland and in the Northern Atlantic Ocean, though more complex features may exist on the long time scale.     

CPI values of terrestrial higher plant-derived long-chain n-alkanes: a potential paleoclimatic proxy

Carbon Preference Index (CPI values) of higher plant-derived long-chain n-alkanes extracted from 62 surface soil samples in eastern China exhibited a specific pattern of variations, namely gradual increase with the increasing latitudes. Such regular variations existed in both forest soil and grassland soil. Our data implied that CPI values of higher plant-derived long-chain n-alkanes had a certain connection with climatic conditions, and such a connection was not influenced by vegetation types. Together with previous data from marine sediments, loess/paleosol sequences, tertiary red clay and modern plants, our observation made us conclude that CPI values of higher plant-derived long-chain n-alkanes may be used as an excellent proxy for paleoclimatic studies.