Gelifluction within a solifluction lobe in the Kärkevagge valley, Swedish Lapland

Soil displacement, soil temperature, depths of thaw plane and groundwater level were continuously monitored during the period from July 1999 to June 2000 within a solifluction lobe in the Kärkevagge valley, northern Sweden. The strain–probe method was used to measure soil displacement, and we found significant soil displacements in the thawing period 2000. These displacements were the result of gelifluction. The ice content profile showed that gelifluction occurred at the same time as the thaw plane reached the layers with high ice content at shallow soil depths (0–6 and 16–25 cm deep). In contrast, gelifluction did not occur when the thaw plane reached the layers with high ice content at greater depth (46–49 cm deep). These observations indicate that thawing of ice lenses in the near–surface layer triggers gelifluction.     

Detailed geomorphological survey of a small mountain drainage area, Abisko, northern Swedish Lapland

A thorough geomorphological survey of a small (2km²) drainage area has been conducted using digital magnification of aerial photographs in conjunction with field visits. The result presented is a geomorphological map where individual geomorphological features down to metre size can be identified. The study was done in connection with a project focusing on the relationship between geomorphological processes and lacustrine sedimentation. Good knowledge of the geomorphological setting and the related process activity in the catchment is important in studies using lacustrine sediments as environmental archives.
The survey reveals a small–scale geomorphology dominated by a number of different periglacial upfreezing forms together with bedrock–controlled slope processes. Three different geographically separated geomorphological assemblages were recognised with few sediment transportation pathways connecting them. Composition of substrate, soil water content and vegetation cover combined with different slope angles are probably the most important factors controlling the distribution of the geomorphological features.     

Enrichissement en uranium authigène dans les sédiments glaciaires de l'océan AustralEnrichments in authigenic uranium in glacial sediments of the Southern Ocean

Four sediment cores from the Polar frontal zone and the Antarctic zone in the Indian sector of the Southern Ocean present an increase of authigenic uranium during glacial periods. We show that this increase in uranium is due to a combination of (i) an increase in the lateral transport of organic matter, (ii) a decrease in the oxygen in deep waters, and (iii) a process of diagenesis. It appears that uranium concentration cannot be used as a proxy of palaeoproductivity in the Southern Ocean, as previously suggested by Kumar et al. in 1995. To cite this article: L. Dezileau et al., C. R. Geoscience 334 (2002) 1039–1046.     

南极无冰区典型沉积环境石英砂表面结构特征及其在沉积环境识别中的应用

本文利用电镜扫描方法 (SEM)对比分析了南极乔治王岛无冰区海滩沉积、冰碛物以及阿德雷岛湖泊沉积等典型沉积环境中的石英砂表面结构特征 ,得出了乔治王岛各典型沉积环境中石英砂表面结构特征的颗粒频率曲线。结果表明 :不同沉积环境下的石英砂颗粒表面结构特征具有相似性 ,这主要和南极地区广泛发育的冰川作用有关 ,同时 ,它们也有各自典型的特征组合 ,这些典型特征组合的不同反映了石英砂后期的搬运历史和沉积环境的差异。本文还依据石英砂表面特征的颗粒出现频率 ,利用聚类分析方法对研究区内三级海岸阶地上的沉积物和一个未知成因的样品进行了沉积环境的判别分析 ,结果证明石英砂微形貌特征可以作为南极地区沉积环境识别的有效手段     

天山1号冰川厚度和冰下地形探测与冰储量分析

通过对天山乌鲁木齐河源 1号冰川的雷达回波探测 ,清晰地揭示出冰川底部冰 /岩界面的位置及其起伏变化特征 ,显示出雷达波对山地冰川良好的穿透能力和对冰下地形的高分辨能力 ,冰川雷达测厚的误差小于 1 .2 %。研究结果显示 ,1号冰川东支冰川平均厚度为 5 8.77m ,西支冰川平均厚度为 44.84m ,冰体厚度最大值发育于冰川中部趋于主流线位置。冰川冰储量计算表明 ,东支冰储量为 0 .0 5 1 868km3,西支冰储量为 0 .0 2 0 2 1 0km3。表面和底部地形有明显差异 ,主要因冰川动力过程对基岩强烈的地貌作用所致 ,意味着冰床的起伏地形对冰川浅层冰体的运动过程影响不显著。     

ENSO循环过程对南极海冰的影响

应用 1 951- 2 0 0 2年NINO特征指数 (NINO1 +2 ,NINO3 ,NINO4 ,NINO3 .4)和 1 973-1 998年南极海冰北界范围以及 1 950- 2 0 0 1年SODA海洋温度资料。首先分析探讨了在ElNi no期间 ,堆积于赤道东太平洋的异常暖水在南半球的传播途径 ,进而研究了ENSO以及东南太平洋异常海温场与南极海冰之间的关系。结果表明 ,在ElNino期间 ,堆积于赤道东太平洋的异常暖水 ,是沿秘鲁和智利沿岸向极传播。其传播过程持续大约 1年的时间 ,但未发现沿南赤道流的西传现象。ENSO循环过程与南极海冰变化存在一定联系 ,特别是Amundsen Belling shausen海和南极半岛海冰的变化与ENSO暖事件 (ElNino)较为密切。当ElNino事件发生后 ,时滞 2年左右的时间 ,Amundsen Bellingshausen海和南极半岛的海冰将出现明显的减少现象 ,特别是南极半岛的海冰减少最为明显。ElNino事件对南极海冰的影响过程是 ,堆积于赤道东太平洋的大量异常暖水 ,沿南美 (秘鲁和智利 )沿岸近海向极地传播 ,异常暖水的这种向极传播过程将引起近极的海温场出现异常升高 ,最终导致Amundsen Bellingshausen海和南极半岛地区的海冰减少。自 2 0世纪 80年代以来 ,Amundsen Bellingshausen海和南极半岛的海冰出现明显减少的趋势 ,与这一时期的ElNino事件的频繁发生     

星载微波散射计技术及其在极地的应用

简要介绍了微波散射计的原理、星载微波散射计的发展状况及用于提高散射计图像空间分辨率的图像滤波重建算法。在此基础上结合几种星载微波散射计数据简要介绍了微波散射计在南北两极的应用情况 (海冰图测绘、海冰运动监测、海冰分类、极地冰盖研究等 )及其未来研究展望。     

南极考察站废弃物对贼鸥食性的影响

对南极乔治王岛菲尔德斯半岛贼鸥的食性生态进行观测与研究 ,结果表明 ,本区贼鸥的食物结构中 ,自然生态类食物百分组成 ,棕贼鸥 (C .s.lonnbergi)占 63.4% ,灰贼鸥 (C .maccormic ki)占 77.8%。同期 ,取自考察站的人类废弃物中垃圾食物的百分组成分别为 36.6%和 2 2 .3%。贼鸥食性对考察站废弃物有一定的依赖性 ,与本区环境质量下降 ,尤其考察站对废弃物的疏于管理有着直接的关系。由此表明 ,强化南极考察人员环境意识 ,建立封闭式废弃物管理系统 ,对保护南极环境有重要意义