Salt Marsh Dieback: An overview of recent events in the US

This paper provides an overview of the marsh dieback events that have been observed along the east and gulf coasts of the U.S. over the past decade. It is likely that some of the recently reported changes in marsh vegetation were affected by physical or biotic disturbances that are known to generate bare areas, such as overgrazing or wrack smothering. Other areas may be experiencing a state change such as that caused by long-term changes in sea level. However, sites in many areas are not readily explained by these causes and are considered to have experienced “sudden dieback.” In such cases, there are observations that the above-ground plant material thinned or browned or, in some cases, failed to re-emerge in the spring; the dieback occurred over a period of months and usually affected multiple sites within the area; and there is evidence that these events are transient (through successful transplants or natural regrowth/recovery), although some areas take years to recover. We explored the potential linkage of dieback with drought (as characterized by the Palmer Severity Drought Index), and found that there is evidence for an association in the southeast (GA and SC) and the Gulf (LA), but not in the mid-Atlantic (DE, VA) or northeast (ME, RI, CT). We also review the evidence for potential causes of sudden dieback, including changes in soil chemistry, fungal pathogens, top–down consumer controls, and multiple stressors. There is currently no single explanation that can be applied to recent dieback. We highlight the need for the development of improved diagnostics that will allow us to better classify dieback areas and provide evidence for (or against) potential causes.     

Contributions of mineral and organic components to tidal freshwater marsh accretion

Vertical accretion in tidal marshes is necessary to prevent submergence due to rising sea levels. Mineral materials may be more important in driving vertical accretion in tidal freshwater marshes, which are found near the heads of estuaries, than has been reported for salt marshes. Accretion rates for tidal freshwater marshes in North America and Europe (n = 76 data points) were compiled from the literature. Simple and multiple linear regression analyses revealed that both organic and mineral accumulations played a role in driving tidal freshwater marsh vertical accretion rates, although a unit mass of organic material contributed ∼4 times more to marsh volume than the same mass input of mineral material. Despite the higher mineral content of tidal freshwater marsh soils, this ability of organic matter to effectively hold water and air in interstitial spaces suggests that organic matter is responsible for 62% of marsh accretion, with the remaining 38% from mineral contributions. The organic material that helps to build marsh elevation is likely a combination of in situ production and organic materials that are deposited in association with mineral sediment particles. Regional differences between tidal freshwater marshes in the importance of organic vs. mineral contributions may reflect differences in sediment availability, climate, tidal range, rates of sea level rise, and local-scale factors such as site elevation and distance to tidal creeks. Differences in the importance of organic and mineral accumulations between tidal freshwater and salt marshes are likely due to a combination of factors, including sediment availability (e.g., proximity to upland sources and estuarine turbidity maxima) and the lability of freshwater vs. salt marsh plant production.     

Using salt intrusion measurements to determine the freshwater discharge distribution over the branches of a multi-channel estuary: The Mekong Delta case

The fresh water discharge is an important parameter for modelling salt intrusion in an estuary. In alluvial converging estuaries during periods of low flow, when salinity is highest, the river discharge is generally small compared to the tidal flow. This makes the determination of the fresh water discharge a challenging task. Even if discharge observations are available during a full tidal cycle, the fresh water discharge is seldom much larger than the measurement error in the tidal discharge. Observations further upstream, outside the tidal region, do not always reflect the actual flow in the saline area due to withdrawals or additional drainage. Discharge computation is even more difficult in a complex system such as the Mekong Delta, which is a multi-channel estuary consisting of many branches, over which the freshwater discharge distribution cannot be measured directly. This paper presents a new approach to determine the freshwater discharge distribution over the branches of the Mekong Delta by means of an analytical salt intrusion model, based on measurements made during the dry season of 2005 and 2006. It appears that the analytical model agrees well with observations and with a hydraulic model. This paper demonstrates that with relatively simple and appropriate salinity measurements and making use of the analytical salt intrusion model, it is possible to obtain an accurate discharge distribution over the branches of a complex estuary system. This makes the analytical model a powerful tool to analyze the water resources in tidal regions.     

干盐湖阶段的沉积特征兼论钾盐矿层的形成

盐盆地演化到析钾阶段时,广袤的干盐滩与若干卤水湖并存。这种特殊的地质地埋背景称为“干盐湖”。察尔汉盆地是现代干盐湖的一个典型实例。由于选择性溶解作用使钾富集在水位最低的卤水湖内,并在干盐滩与卤水湖之间的平坦湖滨地带形成钾盐层。成钾机理与现代海滨萨布哈类似,但钾-镁盐类来源于干盐滩内的孔隙(晶间)卤水。     

西藏扎布耶盐湖卤水演化的Pitzer模型模拟

扎布耶盐湖是西藏高原代表性的富锂硼碳酸盐型盐湖。本文利用Pitzer模型模拟计算了西藏扎布耶盐湖冬季与夏季卤水、补给河流-泉水的低温(2℃)、常温(25℃)和高温(50℃)蒸发结晶过程,结果表明,扎布耶盐湖卤水可以由现代成分的河流-泉水蒸发浓缩形成,扎布耶盐湖的沉积组合与河泉水蒸发浓缩的矿物结晶规律吻合;而冬、夏卤水蒸发模拟结果与卤水蒸发实验结果基本吻合,但对矿物结晶顺序、矿物组合规律以及温度-季节性成分变化的影响等方面,提供了更多更详细的数据与认识。说明Pitzer模型对研究西藏富锂硼碳酸盐型盐湖的地球化学成因和盐田工艺都具有重要参考价值。     

库车褶皱冲断带前缘盐层厚度对滑脱褶皱构造特征及演化的影响

库车褶皱冲断带前缘发育一系列滑脱褶皱,虽然卷入变形的新生代地层及底部滑脱层(古近系盐层)相同,但滑脱褶皱的构造特征及演化存在显著差异。文中结合野外地质调查结果以及钻井资料和高品质二维地震反射剖面解析,以南喀背斜和米斯坎塔克背斜为例,估算出盐层初始厚度,并讨论其对于滑脱褶皱样式及其演化过程的影响。结果表明,南喀背斜和米斯坎塔克背斜下伏盐层初始厚度不同,估算出前者厚度介于0.1~0.5 km,主要为0.1~0.3 km,而后者却大约为1.0 km。与此同时,南喀背斜和米斯坎塔克背斜均表现出分段差异变形特征。南喀背斜为低缓的滑脱褶皱,其东段隐伏地下,变形方式为褶皱作用;而西段出露地表,背斜核部发育隐伏的逆冲断层,变形方式为褶皱作用和断层作用。背斜西段平均隆升速率大于东段,导致西段隆升出露地表。米斯坎塔克背斜表现为大规模滑脱褶皱,根据变形特征的不同可以分为3段,东段背斜倾向北,盐岩在其核部及北翼下方聚集加厚;而中-西段背斜倾向南,其中中段背斜核部位置盐岩聚集加厚,两翼下伏盐岩减薄甚至形成盐焊接。而在西段背斜呈箱状,两翼下方盐岩厚度至少为1.0 km。笔者总结出库车褶皱冲断带前缘发育的7种滑脱褶皱变形样式,通过构造分析得出,研究区滑脱褶皱的变形主要受盐层厚度、构造缩短量及盐岩流动变形共同控制,其中盐层厚度起主导作用,控制了滑脱褶皱的发育位置,并影响了滑脱褶皱的变形样式。研究结果将为其他褶皱冲断带中滑脱褶皱的相关研究提供重要参考,特别是在缺少高品质地震资料,或者构造变形强烈、地震资料品质较差的地区。     

柴达本盆地沙下盐湖的卤水化学及矿物沉积特征——以察尔汗盐湖区北部外围地带为例

对柴达木盆地察尔汗盐湖区外围沙下盐湖的卤水及沉积进行了综合研究。沙下盐湖卤水化学组成与地表径流和开放性盐湖卤水之间存在明显的差异性,具有高Na~++Cl~-、低Mg~(2+)+Ca(2+)+SO_4~(2-)、贫K~++CO_3~(2-)+HCO_3~-等特征。沙下盐湖析盐层位含有新生矿物并夹带碎屑矿物,其盐类矿物组合为:石盐+羟氯镁铝石+光卤石。25℃等温蒸发相图表明,其卤水演化方向往光卤石析出区迁移,在穿越上覆盖层通道中卤水发生的物理化学反应与独特的沉积特征,可以作为继续寻找沙下盐湖的指导。     

罗布泊盐湖环状影像成因解释

根据遥感影像信息特征和盐湖气候变化模型，结合盐湖沉积特征和现代盐湖演化理论，通过对环状影像的成因进行解译和分析，将环状影像反映的1000年来盐湖气候变化的信息与北半球同期气候变化曲线对比，认为罗布泊盐湖是现代沉积形成的，是现代盐湖向干盐湖的演化历程中，由于气候冷暖交替变化而使盐湖沉积发生规律性变化的结果。     

库车前陆盆地新生代盐构造特征及形成机制：物理模拟和讨论

膏盐层的存在对库车前陆盆地构造变形与演化具有重要的影响,导致了盐上构造与盐下构造形态的明显不同。盐上 构造以宽缓的褶皱为主,而盐下构造则以紧密排列的冲断层为主。我们采用构造物理模拟方法对库车盐构造变形演化过程 和变形机制进行了分析。研究表明,库车盐构造变形主要受区域挤压和同构造沉积作用的影响。在克拉苏构造带,盐构造 形成、演化的主控因素为区域挤压作用,而在构造带前缘的秋里塔格构造带,盐构造的主控因素则为邻区拜城凹陷的巨厚 同构造沉积。     

盐胁迫对塔胞藻生长及叶绿素荧光动力学的影响

利用调制式叶绿素荧光仪(Water-PAM)研究了盐度(1~120)胁迫不同时间(12,24,48 h)后,塔胞藻生长及叶绿素荧光动力学的变化。测定的主要参数有:PSⅡ的最大光能转化效率(Fv/Fm)、PSⅡ的潜在活性(Fv/Fo)、PSⅡ的实际光能转化效率(ΦPSⅡ=yield)、光合电子传递效率(ETR)、光化学淬灭(qP)和非光化学淬灭(NPQ)。结果表明:在本实验条件下,塔胞藻生长和进行光合作用的最适盐度为20。高盐胁迫使塔胞藻的荧光参数Fv/Fm,Fv/Fo,ΦPSⅡ,ETR,qP均明显降低,NPQ则先升高后降低,叶绿素含量和细胞密度也显著降低。还对盐胁迫下塔胞藻的响应机制以及叶绿素荧光技术在筛选耐盐微藻品种中的应用进行了初步探讨。