Late Quaternary-Holocene lake-level changes in the eastern margin of the Thar Desert,India

A study on two closed salt lake basins, Tal Chapar and Parihara in the eastern margin of the Thar Desert, Rajasthan, was carried out to unravel late Quaternary geomorphic evolution of these saline lakes. Both lakes are elliptical in shape bordered by stabilised dunes, and are oriented in a NE-SW direction, i.e., in the direction of the prevailing summer monsoon wind. Both lakes have been formed in the wind-shadow zones of isolated hills of Precambrian quartzite. Our study indicates that the late Quaternary sediments in the lakes began with the cyclic deposition of laminated fine silt layers (0.5 m thick), rich in organic matter, alternating with ripple cross-bedded sand layers (each ∼1.5–2 m thick). Sand layers that are moderately sorted are separated by laminated silt-clay layers with gypsum/calcite and this unit occurs in the upper most 4 m sequence in deeper sections. The presence of gypsum crystals within the laminated sediments suggests a high concentration of Ca in the inflowing water. At Parihara Lake the organic carbon-rich sediments at 95 cm depth was dated to 7,375 + 155/−150 year BP. At Tal Chapar radiocarbon dates of 7,190 + 155/−150 and 9,903 + 360/−350 was obtained from the sediments rich in organic carbon occurring at a depth of 1.35 m and 1.80 m, respectively. The study reveals strong hydrologic oscillations during the past ∼14,000 year BP (13,090 + 310/−300 year BP). Quaternary geomorphic processes, especially the strong aeolian processes during dry climatic phases, played a major role in the formation of the lake basins, as well as the fringing linear dunes. Geochemical and mineralogical analyses of the lacustrine sediments, supported by radiocarbon dates indicate the existence of an ephemeral lake earlier than ∼13,000 year BP as sediments began to be deposited in a lacustrine environment implying sustained runoff in the catchments. A freshwater lake formed between 9,000 year and 7,000 year BP. The lake dried periodically and this strong fluctuating regime continued until about ∼7,000 year BP. Mid-Holocene was wet and this was possibly due to higher winter rains A saline lake existed between 6,000 year and 1,300 year BP and finally present day semi arid conditions set in since 1,200 year BP. Remnants of a habitation site (hearth and charred bones) on stabilised dune at Devani near Tal Chapar were dated to 240 ± 120 year, while that at Gopalpura was dated to 335 ± 90 year. These historical sites on stabilised dunes were, according to the local accounts, settlements of people who used the lake brine for manufacturing salt.     

Stable carbon isotope variations in northwest Europe during the last glacial–interglacial transition

Stable carbon isotope data that span part of the last glacial–interglacial transition (ca. 14-9 ka ¹⁴C BP; ca. 15–11 ka cal. BP), and which derive from organ-specific plant macrofossils recovered from two lake sediment profiles in the UK and one in Norway, are compared. The recorded temporal variations show similar trends, which, over a millennial time-scale appear to parallel the main drift in δ¹⁸O as determined for the GRIP ice-core. It is postulated that some smaller scale variations in the δ¹³C profiles may reflect the shorter term oscillations in δ¹⁸O values evident in the GRIP record, although this is less certain. Overall, however, the results suggest that stable carbon isotope measurements based on organ-specific terrestrial plant macrofossils may provide (i) a means for establishing correlations between terrestrial successions and (ii) additional paleoenvironmental information, as the apparent ‘shadowing’ of the GRIP record indicates a common forcing mechanism for both Greenland δ¹⁸O and northwest European δ¹³C variations. From the evidence available we suggest that the recorded δ¹³C variations reflect fluctuations in air temperature and/or changes in water vapour pressure in the atmosphere. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Radiocarbon dating the Devensian Lateglacial in Britain: New evidence from Llanilid,South Wales

Radiocarbon dates are described from a section through Lateglacial and early Flandrian sediments at Llanilid, Mid-Glamorgan, South Wales. Comparisons between age determinations on the alkali soluble (humic) and alkali insoluble (humin) organic fractions from 12 biostratigraphic horizons reveal the extent of contamination by both older and younger carbon residues. The Llanilid time-scale suggests that for the Lateglacial, the earliest organic sediments date from around 13 200 yr BP, the early Interstadial Juniperus maximum occurred at ca. 12 400-12 500 yr BP with a marked decline some 200 years later, the main Betula phase lasted only from ca. 11 700 to 11 400 yr BP and the end of the Interstadial occurred around 11 100 yr BP. The beginning of the Flandrian dates from ca. 10 000 yr BP, the Juniperus maximum occurred approximately 200 years later, the expansion of birch woodland began around 9600 yr BP, while the first hazel arrived in the area at ca. 9300 yr BP. These age determinations are discussed in the context of radiocarbon dates from comparable biostratigraphic horizons in western Britain and the dating of Lateglacial events in the ocean core records from the North Atlantic.     

山西五台山-恒山地区晚太古-早元古代若干关键地质问题的再认识:单颗粒锆石离子探针质谱年龄提出的地质制约

大量准确度很高的单颗粒锆石迅谱(SHRIMP)年代学数据表明,五台山-恒山绿岩带形成于2500Ma之前,五台山-恒山绿岩带形成后即与较老的阜平块体拼合。因此,该过程中有大量火山,深成活动及变质作用,是一次重要的造山运动。在1800Ma之前,本区还经历了一次明显的构造热事件,主要表现为在地壳较深水平上大规模的冲断作用,使原来为不同地壳水平的块体处于同一地壳水平。本文还对原五台群下部层位板峪口组和金岗库组的归属及铁堡不整合面提出了新的看法。     

Wisconsinan Late-glacial environmental change in southern New England: A regional synthesis

A synthesis of vegetational and climatic history during the Wisconsinan Late-glacial (13-9 ka BP) is presented for the southern New England region. The interpretations are based on a number of pollen-stratigraphical investigations supported by plant macrofossil data. Chronology is based partly on AMS dates of plant macrofossils. Reference is made briefly to the controversial nature of the evidence for deglaciation in the region. A curve representing mean July temperature changes in the region during the period 13-9 ka BP is provided.     

Kīlauea summit overflows: their ages and distribution in the Puna District, Hawai'i

 The tube-fed pāhoehoe lava flows covering much of the northeast flank of Kīlauea Volcano are named the 'Ailā'au flows. Their eruption age, based on published and six new radiocarbon dates, is approximately AD 1445. The flows have distinctive paleomagnetic directions with steep inclinations (40°–50°) and easterly declinations (0°–10°E). The lava was transported ∼40 km from the vent to the coast in long, large-diameter lava tubes; the longest tube (Kazumura Cave) reaches from near the summit to within several kilometers of the coast near Kaloli Point. The estimated volume of the 'Ailā'au flow field is 5.2±0.8 km³, and the eruption that formed it probably lasted for approximately 50 years. Summit overflows from Kīlauea may have been nearly continuous between approximately AD 1290 and 1470, during which time a series of shields formed at and around the summit. The 'Ailā'au shield was either the youngest or the next to youngest in this series of shields. Site-mean paleomagnetic directions for lava flows underlying the 'Ailā'au flows form only six groups. These older pāhoehoe flows range in age from 2750 to <18,000 BP, and the region was inundated by lava flows only three times in the past 5000 years. The known intervals between eruptive events average ∼1600 years and range from ∼1250 years to >2200 years. Lava flows from most of these summit eruptions also reached the coast, but none appears as extensive as the 'Ailā'au flow field. The chemistry of the melts erupted during each of these summit overflow events is remarkably similar, averaging approximately 6.3 wt.% MgO near the coast and 6.8 wt.% MgO near the summit. The present-day caldera probably formed more recently than the eruption that formed the 'Ailā'au flows (estimated termination ca. AD 1470). The earliest explosive eruptions that formed the Keanakāko'i Ash, which is stratigraphically above the 'Ailā'au flows, cannot be older than this age. Received: 10 October 1998 / Accepted: 12 May 1999     

近40 年山西省初终霜日的变化特征

利用山西省境内分布较为均匀的52 个地面气象站1970-2009 年的霜日观测资料,采用线性倾向估计法、累积滤波器法结合非参数统计检验方法分析了初终霜日的基本特征及其变化趋势;利用M-K法分析了霜日的突变特征。结果表明：初霜日、终霜日的出现以及无霜期的长短与地理因素密切相关,随着纬度逐渐偏北、海拔逐渐升高,初霜日提前、终霜日推后、无霜期缩短。从全省平均情况看,初霜日呈现显著的推后趋势,无霜期呈现显著的延长趋势,而终霜日的变化则以波动为主,线性变化趋势不显著。从突变检测情况看,初霜日、终霜日和无霜期在40 年间均存在一次明显突变,初霜日的突变点出现在2000 年,终霜日和无霜期的突变点出现在1997 年。从变化趋势的空间分布看,初霜日显著推后的区域大片集中在晋中东部、吕梁北部和忻州西部,以及分散在运城南部、临汾西北部和大同南部。终霜日显著提前的区域位于晋中东部山区、吕梁山东部和忻州西部。无霜期显著延长的区域位于西北部黄河沿岸、省境中东部和运城南段。变化趋势为初霜日提前、终霜日推后和无霜期缩短的区域未通过显著性检验。     

The glacial and interstadial sediments at the Burn of Benholm,Kincardineshire: evidence for onshore pre‐Devensian ice movement in northeast Scotland

Pebbly clays and diamictons containing marine shell fragments and peat lenses exposed beneath subglacially deposited Late Devensian till at the Burn of Benholm provide new insights into the glacial history of Quaternary sequences in eastern Scotland. The peat yielded pollen of interstadial affinity (including Bruckenthalia spiculifolia) and non‐finite radiocarbon dates. Comparisons with other pre‐Late Devensian pollen records in northern Scotland suggest that the peat lenses are remnants of an Early Devensian interstadial deposit, of Oxygen Isotope Substage 5c or 5a age. Reworked faunal assemblages in the shelly sediments include Quaternary marine molluscs of low boreal aspect, as well as Mesozoic and Palaeozoic microfossils. Amino acid ratios from fragments of Arctica islandica suggest that the shells are of Oxygen Isotope Stage 9 age or older. The fabric and composition of the shelly sediments are consistent with their emplacement as deformation till during the onshore movement of glacially transported rafts of marine sediment. Folded and sheared contacts between the shelly deposits, peat lenses and the overlying Late Devensian till indicate that the fossiliferous sediments were glacitectonised during the main Late Devensian glaciation, when ice moved from Strathmore and overrode the site from the southwest. British Geological Survey. © NERC 2000.     

Rapid entrenchment of stream profiles in the salt caves of Mount Sedom,Israel

Rock salt is approximately 1000 times more soluble than limestone and thus displays high rates of geomorphic evolution. Cave stream channel profiles and downcutting rates were studied in the Mount Sedom salt diapir, Dead Sea rift valley, Israel. Although the area is very arid (mean annual rainfall ≈ 50 mm), the diapir contains extensive karst systems of Holocene age. In the standard cave profile a vertical shaft at the upstream end diverts water from a surface channel in anhydrite or clastic cap rocks into the subsurface route in the salt. Mass balance calculations in a sample cave passage yielded downcutting rates of 0–2 mm s^?1 during peak flood conditions, or about eight orders of magnitude higher than reported rates in any limestone cave streams. However, in the arid climate of Mount Sedom floods have a low recurrence interval with the consequence that long-term mean downcutting rates are lower: an average rate of 8·8 mm a^?1 was measured for the period 1986–1991 in the same sample passage. Quite independently, long-term mean rates of 6·2mm a^?1 are deduced from ¹⁴C ages of driftwood found in upper levels of 12 cave passages. These are at least three orders of magnitude higher than rates established for limestone caves. Salt cave passages develop in two main stages: (1) an early stage characterized by high downcutting rates into the rock salt bed, and steep passage gradients; (2) a mature stage characterized by lower downcutting rates, with establishment of a subhorizontal stream bed armoured with alluvial detritus. In this mature stage downcutting rates are controlled by the uplift rate of the Mount Sedom diapir and changes of the level of the Dead Sea. Passages may also aggrade. These fast-developing salt stream channels may serve as full-scale models for slower developing systems such as limestone canyons.     

The First Appearance of Cattle in Denmark Occurred 6000 Years Ago: An Effect of Cultural or Climate and Environmental Changes

Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios from bones of contemporaneous Late Atlantic aurochs and early cattle in eastern Denmark are significantly different and provide information on the origin and feeding strategies of the earliest domestic cattle. The data show that the early cattle were feeding on grass right from the beginning 4000 cal. yr BC. In contrast, the youngest aurochs population primarily browsed and grazed from the dense forest floor resulting in rather negative δ¹³C values measured on bone collagen. The oldest aurochs have similar isotope values to the earlier cattle, whereas the youngest aurochs have similar values to Late Atlantic red deer from the same locality. As eastern Denmark was largely covered by forest, speculations on the origin of the grazing areas are many. The grass may have grown in openings in the forest, at the forest fringe, or more likely on the newly reclaimed coastal land areas exposed by the decreasing rate of eustatic sea‐level rise contemporaneously with isostatic uplift, during the Littorina transgressions. The stable isotope values do not indicate that leaf foddering of the early cattle was of importance.