末次冰盛期中国气候要素定量重建

古气候定量化是古全球变化研究的核心目标之一.重建末次冰盛期时段((18±2)ka14C)气候变化特征,对理解冰期-间冰期地球气候演化规律具有重要的意义.以往古气候要素定量重建,主要基于现代气候条件下孢粉-气候的统计学方法,因难以有效区分过去气候季节性变化和大气CO2浓度降低对植物生长的影响,导致重建结果可能存在不确定性.本研究基于植物生理过程、新一代古气候定量重建的植被反演方法,考虑上述环境因子对植物生长的影响,利用新完善的中国第四纪孢粉数据库,重建了古气候的空间格局.结果表明,在末次冰盛期,大气CO2浓度降低对中国古气候要素重建结果影响不显著;全国年均温比现在低约(5.6±0.8)℃,最冷月温度和最热月温度分别降低约(11.0±1.6)℃和(2.6±0.9)℃,且中国南方降温幅度达到约(5.5±0.5)℃,接近平均值的水平,年均温变化主要归因于冬季温度的降低;全国年降水量比现在低约(46.3±17.8)mm,其中北方降水减少约(51.2±21.4)mm,年降水变化主要源于夏季降水的减少.与古气候模拟结果的对比揭示,虽然现有模式能较好模拟年均气候模态,但是在季节性变化上与重建结果还有较大的差距,指示未来在提高古气候重建精度的同时需进一步加强古气候模式的季节性气候模拟能力.     

罗斯海西部末次冰盛期以来沉积环境重建:有机碳与生物标志化合物分析

本文研究采自位于南极罗斯海西部的ANT32-RB16C柱状沉积物,根据粒度、有机碳和生物标志化合物数据探讨末次冰盛期(24.8 ～20 ka BP)以来该地区有机质来源及沉积环境特征。该柱状样记录了冰架下沉积、冰架前沉积、开阔海域沉积的沉积环境。指示有机质来源的生物标志化合物指标表明该柱状样中所含有机质主要为浮游植物、细菌等海源输入,同时伴有少量陆源物质混合输入。末次冰盛期,由于冰架的影响有机质含量较低,环流影响使得有机质受低等浮游藻类生物等海源影响较大。末次冰消期(20～11.7 ka BP),罗斯冰架消退,冰川溶解释放的有机质在此沉积,使得陆源有机质输入增多,有机质含量升高。进入全新世,有机质含量较末次冰盛期和末次冰消期明显升高,海源输入比例增大,同时细菌等原核生物增多,导致短链正构烷烃降解程度较大。研究区的氧化还原环境主要受冰架与海冰限制作用的影响,与有机质含量和高氧的南极底层水关系不大。总体来说,从末次冰盛期到末次冰消期,研究区沉积环境受罗斯冰架进退影响,全新世以来受气候变化影响。     

南昌市厚田剖面末次冰期风沙沉积的粒度分维特征及其揭示的古环境意义

赣江下游阶地上断续发育着系列沙丘砂－砂质古土壤序列,有助于探讨亚热带地区粒度分维特征对古环境的指示意义。在多次综合考察的基础上,选择南昌市新建区的厚田剖面开展工作,在OSL年代和粒度测试基础上,采用分形理论中的幂指函数关系法分析了粒度分维特征,并将其与黏粒体积分数、平均粒径、冬夏季风敏感粒径、南京葫芦洞石笋氧同位素进行对比。结果表明：1）厚田剖面的沙丘砂－砂质古土壤序列主要形成于末次冰期（14.9—77.0 ka）,其中沙丘砂的分维值为2.04~2.62（平均值2.34）,砂质古土壤为2.24~2.70（平均值2.51）。2）分维值与夏季风强度敏感粒径呈正相关性,与冬季风强度敏感粒径呈负相关性,且与粒度分选性密切相关,标准偏差越小则分维值越小,反之则越大。3）分维值在垂向上呈现峰谷交替旋回,峰值分别对应MIS2早期、MIS3c和MIS3a阶段,该时期夏季风强盛,气候暖湿,砂质古土壤发育;谷值分别对应MIS2晚期、MIS3b和MIS4阶段,该时期冬季风强盛,气候干冷,沙丘砂发育。说明厚田沙地在末次冰期发生了3次气候冷暖旋回,其中还明显记录了H5、H6的极端寒冷事件。由此可见,鄱阳湖地区的风沙沉积序列基本同步于区域乃至全球性气候变化事件。     

Sediment deposition in the northern basins of the North Atlantic and characteristic variations in shelf sedimentation along the East Greenland margin

New seismic data off East Greenland were acquired in the summer of 2002, between 77°N and 81°N, north of the Greenland Fracture zone. The data were combined with results from the Greenland Basin and ODP site 909, and indicate a pronounced middle Miocene unconformity within the deep sea basins between 72°N and 81°N. Seismic unit NA-1 consists of sediments older than middle Miocene age and unit NA-2 contains sediments younger than the middle Miocene. Classification of a thinly bedded succession in the Molloy Basin resulted in a subdivision into four units (unit I, unit II, unit IIIA and unit IIIB). A comparison of volume estimations and sediment thickness maps between 72°N and 81°N indicates differences in sediment accumulation in the Greenland, Boreas and Molloy basins. Important controls on the variation of accumulation included different opening times of the basins, as well as tectonic conditions and varying sources of sediment transport.Due to prominent basement structures and the varying reflection character of the sediments along the entire East Greenland margin, we defined an age model of shelf sediments on the basis of similar sediment deposit geometry and known results from other regions. The seismic sequences on the shelf up to an age of middle Miocene are divided into three sub-units along the East Greenland margin: middle Miocene–middle late Miocene (SU-3), middle late Miocene–Pleistocene (SU-2), Pleistocene (SU-1). The differences in the geometry of the sequences show more ice stream related sedimentation between 72°N and 77°N and more ice sheet related sedimentation north of 78°N. The region south of 68°N is dominated by more aggradational sedimentary strata so that a glacio-fluvial drainage seems the main transport mechanism. Due to the Greenland Inland–ice borderlines, we assume the glaciers between the Scoresby Sund and 68°N did not reach the shelf break. A first comparison of the sediment structure of the Northeast Greenland margin with the Southeast Greenland margin made it possible to demonstrate significant differences in sedimentation along this margin.     

黄河三角洲地区末次盛冰期以来浅地层划分与海平面变化的响应

通过对黄河三角洲几个钻孔的分析.将其自上而下划分成3个海相层和3个陆相层,并且划分为1个4级层序(准层序)和4个5级层序。每个层序代表了一次海平面的升降旋回。4级层序的海退沉积与末次冰期的后期对应,海平面下降最大时期是末次冰期最盛期(LGM)的反映。     

Origin and post-glacial evolution of surface cracks: A case study from the area of the Last Glaciation,north-eastern Poland

The analysis of LiDAR-based digital elevation models revealed the existence of groups of longitudinal fractures in the ground in northern Poland at the limit of the ice sheet's extent during its last maximum. Our research on the closed elongated depressions (CEDs) of the Jedwabno test field (Szuć site, north-east Poland) focuses on explaining their origins and their post-glacial history. This region was covered by an ice sheet and glacitectonically active during the Vistulian, and at least some surface fractures are possible witnesses to this activity. Using geomorphological mapping, sedimentological and geophysical research, we assumed it was related that the origin of these features here is associated with groundwater migration at the end of the Vistulian glaciation or later when groundwater flow intensified due to a rapid climate warming that caused permafrost to melt. The thawing of permafrost caused to transition from continuous permafrost to discontinuous, which in turn created groundwater flow that was probably responsible for the development of the surface cracks (fractures). Radiocarbon, palaeobiological (pollen, Cladocera) and geochemical studies allowed for an estimation of the formation time of these unique surface cracks in the Older Dryas. Prevailing conditions were also reconstructed for the later dynamic changes of the end of the Late Vistulian glaciation and in the Late Holocene until the Subatlantic Period (Megalayan stage). The surface cracks with steep slopes, despite their small area, are extraordinary sedimentation traps that have, in a special way, retained an almost complete record of the environmental and climate changes of the Late Glacial. There are sedimentological gaps in the Holocene, especially after the Preboreal (old part of the Greenlandian Stage), caused by changes in water levels, aeolian processes and human activity.     

A Late Quaternary lake record from the Qilian Mountains (NW China): lake level and salinity changes inferred from sediment properties and ostracod assemblages

Two sediment cores (length 13.94 and 12.93 m) have been drilled from the small alpine Lake Luanhaizi in the eastern central Qilian Mountains and correlated by means of magnetic susceptibility (MS). This paper focuses on the lithology and chronology of the longer core, on the results of loss on ignition (LOI), element concentration, thermomagnetic as well as magnetic hysteresis loop measurements, and on the ostracod record.The recovered sediments represent three types of depositional environment: a shallow intermittent lake, a deeper permanent lake and a true playa lake. Three stages of a higher lake level and permanence of the water body are reconstructed. The lowermost stage of a permanent lake and inferred favourable environmental conditions occurred probably about 45 ¹⁴C ka BP. The second stage of a deeper permanent lake occurred either shortly before or, more likely, following the LGM. Most favourable environmental conditions and highest water levels were reconstructed for the uppermost stage comprising the Holocene. Considering the lake record, glaciers have not reached the lake site at 3200 m altitude during the LGM, providing further evidence against a large ice sheet on the Tibetan Plateau.     

Ice-wedge Pseudomorphs Showing Climatic Change Since the Late Pleistocene in the Source Area of the Yellow River, Northeast Tibet

Introduction The Tibetan Plateau, located in west China, was uplifted during the Cenozoic and became the most youthful plateau in the world. Some researches have also shown that it started to develop into the cryosphere in the beginning of the Middle Pleistocene and became one of the three global cryospheres (two other cryospheres being the Artic and the Antarctic) (SHI et al. 1996). Because of the cryosphere development in the Tibetan Plateau, many periglacial and permafrost geomorpholog…     

The past valley glacier network in the Himalayas and the Tibetan ice sheet during the last glacial period and its glacial-isostatic, eustatic and climatic consequences

Since 1973 new data were obtained on the maximum extent of glaciation in High Asia. Evidence for an ice sheet covering Tibet during the Last Glacial Period means a radical rethinking about glaciation in the Northern Hemisphere. The ice sheet's subtropical latitude, vast size (2.4 million km²) and high elevation (6000 m asl) are supposed to have resulted in a substantial, albedo-induced cooling of the Earth's atmosphere and the disruption of summer monsoon circulation. Moraines were found to reach down to 460 m asl on the southern flank of the Himalayas and to 2300 m asl on the northern slope of the Tibetan Plateau, in the Qilian Shan region. On the northern slopes of the Karakoram, Aghil and Kuen-Lun mountains, moraines occur as far down as 1900 m asl. In southern Tibet radiographic analyses of erratics suggest a former ice thickness of at least 1200 m. Glacial polish and roches moutonnées in the Himalayas and Karakoram suggest former glaciers as thick as 1200–2700 m. On the basis of this evidence, a 1100–1600 m lower equilibrium line (ELA) has been reconstructed, resulting in an ice sheet of 2.4 million km², covering almost all of Tibet. Radiometric ages, obtained by different methods, classify this glaciation as isotope stage 3–2 in age (Würmian = last glacial period). With the help of 13 climate measuring stations, radiation- and radiation balance measurements have been carried out between 3800 and 6650 m asl in Tibet. They indicate that the subtropical global radiation reaches its highest energies on the High Plateau, thus making Tibet today's most important heating surface of the atmosphere. At glacial times 70% of those energies were reflected into space by the snow and firn of the 2.4 million km² extended glacier area covering the upland. As a result, 32% of the entire global cooling during the ice ages, determined by the albedo, were brought about by this area — now the most significant cooling surface. The uplift of Tibet to a high altitude about 2.75 Ma ago, coincides with the commencement of the Quaternary Ice Ages. When the Plateau was lifted above the snowline (= ELA) and glaciated, this cooling effect gave rise to the global depression of the snowline and to the first Ice Age. The interglacial periods are explained by the glacial-isostatic lowering of Tibet by 650 m, having the effect that the initial Tibet ice – which had evoked the build-up of the much more extended lowland ices – could completely melt away in a period of positive radiation anomalies. The next ice age begins, when – because of the glacial-isostatic reverse uplift – the surface of the Plateau has again reached the snowline. This explains, why the orbital variations (Milankovic-theory) could only have a modifying effect on the Quaternary climate dynamic, but were not primarily time-giving: as long as Tibet does not glaciate automatically by rising above the snowline, the depression in temperature is not sufficient for initiating a worldwide ice age; if Tibet is glaciated, but not yet lowered isostatically, a warming-up by 4 °C might be able to cause an important loss in surface but no deglaciation, so that its cooling effect remains in a maximum intensity. Only a glaciation of the Plateau lowered by isostasy, can be removed through a sufficiently strong warming phase, so that interglacial climate conditions are prevailing until a renewed uplift of Tibet sets in up to the altitude of glaciation.An average ice thickness for all of Tibet of approximately 1000 m would imply that 2.2 million km³ of water were stored in the Tibetan ice sheet. This would correspond to a lowering in sea level of about 5.4 m.     

Major ice sheet response in eastern New England to a cold North Atlantic region, ca. 16-15 cal ka BP

A large ice sheet still covered almost all of Maine and eastern New England until ca. 15 cal ka BP, reaching south of 45 °S, despite rising summer insolation intensity and major ice recession elsewhere outside the North Atlantic region. Furthermore, the well-studied moraine belt along eastern coastal Maine, including the prominent Pineo Ridge delta/moraine complex and Pond Ridge moraine, indicates repeated readvances and stillstands between ca. 16 and 15 cal ka BP. This moraine belt reflects a considerable ice sheet response over eastern North America during this time period, coeval with the latter half of the European Oldest Dryas period. Moraine deposition was concurrent with reduction or elimination of North Atlantic meridional overturning, starting with the earlier onset of peak IRD and Heinrich Event 1 (HE-1). The existing ¹⁴C chronology suggests that the coastal moraine belt and the persistence of the ice sheet until ∼ 15 cal ka BP was a response to the severe cooling of the North Atlantic region after ∼ 17 cal ka BP.