P–T–t–D paths of Everest Series schist, Nepal

U(–Th)–Pb geochronology, geothermobarometric estimates and macro‐ and micro‐structural analysis, quantify the pressure–temperature–time–deformation (P–T–t–D) history of Everest Series schist and calcsilicate preserved in the highest structural levels of the Everest region. Pristine staurolite schist from the Everest Series contains garnet with prograde compositional zoning and yields a P–T estimate of 649 ± 21 ° C, 6.2 ± 0.7 kbar. Other samples of the Everest Series contain garnet with prograde zoning and staurolite with cordierite overgrowths that yield a P–T estimate of 607 ± 25 ° C, 2.9 ± 0.6 kbar. The Lhotse detachment (LD) marks the base of the Everest Series. Structurally beneath the LD, within the Greater Himalayan Sequence (GHS), garnet zoning is homogenized, contains resorption rinds and yields peak temperature estimates of ～650 ± 50 ° C. P–T estimates record a decrease in pressure from ～6 to 3 kbar and equivalent temperatures from structurally higher positions in the overlying Everest Series, through the LD and into GHS. This transition is interpreted to result from the juxtaposition of the Everest Series in the hangingwall with the GHS footwall rocks during southward extrusion and decompression along the LD system. An age constraint for movement on the LD is provided by the crystallization age of the Nuptse granite (23.6 ± 0.7 Ma), a body that was emplaced syn‐ to post‐solid‐state fabric development. Microstructural evidence suggests that deformation in the LD progressed from a distributed ductile shear zone into the structurally higher Qomolangma detachment during the final stages of exhumation. When combined with existing geochronological, thermobarometric and structural data from the GHS and Main Central thrust zone, these results form the basis for a more complete model for the P–T–t–D evolution of rocks exposed in the Mount Everest region.     

基于SAR影像的喜马拉雅山珠穆朗玛峰地区冰川运动速度特征及其影响因素分析

合成孔径雷达(synthetic aperture radar, SAR)具有其全天候、全天时、穿云透雾的工作能力, 广泛应用于山地冰川动态监测中. 利用2006年6-9月三期ALOS/PALSAR雷达影像, 采用偏移量跟踪技术, 提取了喜马拉雅山珠穆朗玛峰(珠峰)区域的冰川运动速度, 分析了区域内冰川运动速度空间差异及其影响因素. 结果表明: 研究区31条山谷冰川平均运动速度为9.3 cm·d^-1, 总体上以珠峰-洛子峰南北向山脊线为界限, 东侧和东南侧冰川日均运动速度(11.1 cm·d^-1)普遍高于北部和西北部冰川日均运动速度(5.4 cm·d^-1). 冰川消融区非表碛区冰川平均运动速度为表碛覆盖区平均运动速度的2.2倍, 冰面湖的发育在一定程度上加剧冰川运动速度波动. 在气候与非气候因子共同作用和相互间的此消彼长中, 研究区65%的冰川的运动速度自中值高度往下显著减小, 16%的冰川自中值高度往下呈显著增大趋势, 19%冰川消融区运动速度无显著变化趋势.     

Glacial change in the vicinity of Mt. Qomolangma (Everest), central high Himalayas since 1976

Glaciers are one of the most important land covers in alpine regions and especially sensitive to global climate change. Remote sensing has proved to be the best method of investigating the extent of glacial variations in remote mountainous areas. Using Landsat thematic mapping (TM) and multi-spectral-scanner (MSS) images from Mt. Qomolangma (Everest) National Nature Preserve (QNNP), central high Himalayas for 1976, 1988 and 2006, we derived glacial extent for these three periods. A combination of object-oriented image interpretation methods, expert knowledge rules and field surveys were employed. Results showed that (1) the glacial area in 2006 was 2710.17 ± 0.011 km2 (about 7.41% of the whole study area), and located mainly to the south and between 4700 m to 6800 m above sea level; (2) from 1976 to 2006, glaciers reduced by 501.91 ± 0.035 km2 and glacial lakes expanded by 36.88 ± 0.035 km2; the rate of glacier retreat was higher in sub-basins on the southern slopes (16.79%) of the Himalayas than on the northern slopes (14.40%); most glaciers retreated, and mainly occurred at an elevation of 4700–6400 m, and the estimated upper limit of the retreat zone is between 6600 m and 6700 m; (3) increase in temperature and decrease in precipitation over the study period are the key factors driving retreat.     

面向对象的极高海拔区水体及冰川信息提取——以珠穆朗玛峰国家级自然保护区核心区为例

极高海拔地区多为河流发源、冰川发育地,由于地形起伏强烈,且野外考察验证工作困难,传统的遥感信息提取方法很难保证该地区水体及冰川的提取精度。本文基于ASTER影像,运用面向对象的图像信息自动分析方法,对珠穆朗玛峰国家级自然保护区核心区的水体及冰川信息进行了提取研究。为保证信息提取的准确度,将数字高程模型(DEM)及其衍生数据(坡度、坡向),归一化植被指数(NDVI)数据,及有助于区分水体、冰川与其他地物的相关指数(冰雪指数NDSII)及波段运算结果(b1-b3)、(b3/b4)等,分别作为一个波段叠加到原始图像中,使之成为对目标地物光谱特征的有益补充。并对不同类型的水体及冰川进行多级、多尺度分割,以满足其对分割尺度的不同要求。分割完成后,综合考虑目标地物的光谱特征、纹理特征、空间结构特征,根据各特征指数的直方图信息,设定合适的阈值,建立了各水体及冰川类型信息提取的知识规则,并结合实地调查对信息提取的精度进行验证,改进了ASTER遥感影像自动快速提取极高海拔区水体及冰川信息的实用模型。     

珠峰及邻近区域第四次大地测量

叙述了我国大地测量工作者于 1998年对珠穆朗玛峰及邻近区域进行的第四次大规模的大地测量外业概况和取得的成果 ,以及数据处理方法和最终结果。经过对 1998、196 6 - 196 8、1975、1992年珠峰及邻近区域四次大地测量数据综合分析 ,从地学方面进行研究 ,得出青藏块体在印度板块的推动下 ,仍向北东东方向运动 ;珠峰地区相对垂直运动在整体抬升的过程中伴有波浪式的起伏等结论。     

珠峰北坡绒布河谷大气二氧化碳浓度低值观测

In the summers of 2006 and 2007, the atmospheric CO2 concentration and the wind speed in the Rongbuk Valley on the northern slope of Mt. Everest were measured by an ultrasonic anemometer with an Li-7500 CO2/H2O gas analyzer. The average CO2 concentration was 370.23±0.59 and 367.45±1.91 ppm in June of 2006 and 2007, respectively. The values are much lower than those at sites with similar latitudes and altitudes worldwide. The observed atmospheric CO2 concentration in Rongbuk Valley can be affected by the transportation of prevailing down-valley winds from the up-valley direction to the observation site. Our results suggest that the Mt. Everest region could be ideal for background atmospheric and environmental studies.     

Geology of the summit limestone of Mount Qomolangma (Everest) and cooling history of the Yellow Band under the Qomolangma detachment

Abstract   Newly discovered peloidal limestone from the summit of Mount Qomolangma (Mount Everest) contains skeletal fragments of trilobites, ostracods and crinoids. They are small pebble-sized debris interbedded in micritic bedded limestone of the Qomolangma Formation, and are interpreted to have been derived from a bank margin and redeposited in peri-platform environments. An exposure of the Qomolangma detachment at the base of the first step (8520 m), on the northern slope of Mount Qomolangma was also found. Non-metamorphosed, strongly fractured Ordovician limestone is separated from underlying metamorphosed Yellow Band by a sharp fault with a breccia zone. The ⁴⁰Ar–³⁹Ar ages of muscovite from the Yellow Band show two-phase metamorphic events of approximately 33.3 and 24.5 Ma. The older age represents the peak of a Barrovian-type Eo-Himalayan metamorphic event and the younger age records a decompressional high-temperature Neo-Himalayan metamorphic event. A muscovite whole-rock ⁸⁷Rb–⁸⁶Sr isochron of the Yellow Band yielded 40.06 ± 0.81 Ma, which suggests a Pre-Himalayan metamorphism, probably caused by tectonic stacking of the Tibetan Tethys sediments in the leading margin of the Indian subcontinent. Zircon and apatite grains, separated from the Yellow Band, gave pooled fission-track ages of 14.4 ± 0.9 and 14.4 ± 1.4 Ma, respectively. These new chronologic data indicate rapid cooling of the hanging wall of the Qomolangma detachment from approximately 350°C to 130°C during a short period (15.5–14.4 Ma).     

STUDY ON DISPLACEMENT OF THE PEAKS OF THE HIMALAYA GENERATED BY THE 2015 NEPAL EARTHQUAKE SEQUENCE

Based on the rupture models of the 2015 Nepal earthquake sequence and half space homogeneous elastic model, the displacement field near the epicenters is estimated. The horizontal components converge to the epicenters from north and south with maximum value of 871~962mm. The farther the epicenter distance is, the smaller of the horizontal displacement occurred. The displacement on the south side of the epicenters decreases more rapidly than that on the north side as the distance from the epicenter increased. Significant settlement occurred on the north side of the epicenters with maximum of 376~474mm, while large uplift occurred on the epicenters and its south side with maximum value of 626~677mm. Then, the displacement of the peaks of the Himalaya near the epicenters is estimated. The largest displacement occurred at the peak of Shishapangma with 393mm horizontal component and 36mm settlement. Mt. Everest, the world's highest peak, moves 36mm in nearly southward direction with 9mm settlement. The displacements of other peaks of the Himalaya are different with the epicentral distance and azimuth of the 2015 Nepal earthquake sequence.     

TWO EPISODES OF MONAZITE CRYSTALLIZATION DURING METAMORPHISM AND CRUSTAL MELTING IN THE EVEREST REGION OF THE NEPALESE HIMALAYA

TWO EPISODES OF MONAZITE CRYSTALLIZATION DURING METAMORPHISM AND CRUSTAL MELTING IN THE EVEREST REGION OF THE NEPALESE HIMALAYA     

A 108.83-m ice-core record of atmospheric dust deposition at Mt. Qomolangma (Everest), Central Himalaya

The central Himalaya can be regarded as an ideal site for developing a long-term ice core dust record to reflect the environmental signals from regional to semi-hemispheric scales. Here we present a dust record from segments of a 108.83-m ice core recovered from the East Rongbuk (ER) Glacier (27°59′N, 86°55′E; 6518 m a.s.l.) on the northeast slope of Mt. Qomolangma (Everest) in the central Himalaya, covering the period AD 600-1960. Due to rapidly layer thinning and coarse sampling, we primarily discuss the changes in the dust record since AD 1500 in this paper. Results show a significant positive relationship between the dust concentration and reconstructed air temperatures during this period, suggesting a likely cold-humid and warm-dry climatic pattern in the dust source regions, namely Central Asia. This is associated with the variability in the strength of the westerlies and its corresponding precipitation.