Investigating the mechanisms leading to the deglaciation of past continental northern hemisphere ice sheets with the CLIMBER–GREMLINS coupled model

A coupling procedure between a climate model of intermediate complexity (CLIMBER-2.3) and a 3-dimensional thermo-mechanical ice-sheet model (GREMLINS) has been elaborated. The resulting coupled model describes the evolution of atmosphere, ocean, biosphere, cryosphere and their mutual interactions. It is used to perform several simulations of the Last Deglaciation period to identify the physical mechanisms at the origin of the deglaciation process. Our baseline experiment, forced by insolation and atmospheric CO₂, produces almost complete deglaciation of past northern hemisphere continental ice sheets, although ice remains over the Cordilleran region at the end of the simulation and also in Alaska and Eastern Siberia. Results clearly demonstrate that, in this study, the melting of the North American ice sheet is critically dependent on the deglaciation of Fennoscandia through processes involving switches of the thermohaline circulation from a glacial mode to a modern one and associated warming of the northern hemisphere. A set of sensitivity experiments has been carried out to test the relative importance of both forcing factors and internal processes in the deglaciation mechanism. It appears that the deglaciation is primarily driven by insolation. However, the atmospheric CO₂ modulates the timing of the melting of the Fennoscandian ice sheet, and results relative to Laurentide illustrate the existence of threshold CO₂ values, that can be translated in terms of critical temperature, below which the deglaciation is impeded. Finally, we show that the beginning of the deglaciation process of the Laurentide ice sheet may be influenced by the time at which the shift of the thermohaline circulation from one mode to the other occurs.     

Late Quaternary vegetation changes around Lake Rutundu,Mount Kenya,East Africa: evidence from grass cuticles,pollen and stable carbon isotopes

Woody, subalpine shrubs and grasses currently surround Lake Rutundu, Mount Kenya. Multiple proxies, including carbon isotopes, pollen and grass cuticles, from a 755‐cm‐long core were used to reconstruct the vegetation over the past 38 300 calendar years. Stable carbon‐isotope ratios of total organic carbon and terrestrial biomarkers from the lake sediments imply that the proportion of terrestrial plants using the C₄ photosynthetic pathway was greater during the Late Pleistocene than in the Holocene. Pollen data show that grasses were a major constituent of the vegetation throughout the Late Pleistocene and Holocene. The proportion of grass pollen relative to the pollen from other plants was greatest at the last glacial maximum (LGM). Grass cuticles confirm evidence that C₄ grass taxa were present at the LGM and that the majority followed the cold‐tolerant NADP‐MEC₄ subpathway. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Numerical modeling for analyzing thermal surface anomalies induced by underground coal fires

Coal seams burning underneath the surface are recognized all over the world and have drawn increasing public attention in the past years. Frequently, such fires are analyzed by detecting anomalies like increased exhaust gas concentrations and soil temperatures at the surface. A proper analysis presumes the understanding of involved processes, which determine the spatial distribution and dynamic behavior of the anomalies.In this paper, we explain the relevance of mechanical and energy transport processes with respect to the occurrence of temperature anomalies at the surface. Two approaches are presented, aiming to obtain insight into the underground coal fire situation: In-situ temperature mapping and numerical simulation. In 2000 to 2005, annual temperature mapping in the Wuda (Inner Mongolia, PR China) coal fire area showed that most thermal anomalies on the surface are closely related to fractures, where hot exhaust gases from the coal fire are released. Those fractures develop due to rock mechanical failure after volume reduction in the seams. The measured signals at the surface are therefore strongly affected by mechanical processes.More insight into causes and effects of involved energy transport processes is obtained by numerical simulation of the dynamic behavior of coal fires. Simulations show the inter-relation between release and transport of thermal energy in and around underground coal fires. Our simulation results show a time delay between the coal fire propagation and the observed appearance of the surface temperature signal. Additionally, the overall energy flux away from the burning coal seam into the surrounding bedrock is about 30-times higher than the flux through the surface. This is of particular importance for an estimation of the energy released based on surface temperature measurements. Finally, the simulation results also prove that a fire propagation rate estimated from the interpretation of surface anomalies can differ from the actual rate in the seam.     

艾比湖地区冰消期以来气候演化的植物学证据

本文根据植物生态学分析方法，通过对艾比湖ＺＫｏｏＢ孔中孢粉组合及植被生态的定量分析，阐述了北疆内陆干旱区冰消期以来的气候演化状况。孢粉组合特征及其植被生态的定量分析研究表明，受大气降水以及大气和土壤中相对湿度波动变化的影响，艾比湖地区的生态环境特征在最近１５０００ａ中至少经历了１０次比较明显的波动变化，并且与全球气候变化过程基本符合，表明中国西部干旱半干旱地区晚更新世以的气候环境演化过程是在全球变     

Comparisons between the influences of habitat, body size and season on the dietary composition of the sparid Acanthopagrus latus in a large marine embayment

Seasonal samples from Shark Bay on the west coast of Australia were used to determine (1) the habitats occupied by the juveniles and adults of Acanthopagrus latus in this large subtropical marine embayment and (2) the extent to which the dietary composition of this sparid is influenced by habitat type, body length and season. Sampling was undertaken in two habitat types in which A. latus was known to be abundant, namely mangrove (Avicennia marina) creeks and nearby rocky areas, the latter comprising sandstone boulders and/or limestone reefs. The mean total length ±95% CLs of A. latus was far lower in mangrove creeks, 126 ± 6.1 mm, than in rocky areas, 313 ± 4.7 mm. As A. latus attains maturity at ca. 245 mm, the juveniles of this species typically occupy mangrove areas and then, with increasing body size, move to nearshore rocky areas, where they become adults. The species composition of the food ingested by juvenile A. latus in mangrove creeks differed markedly from that of large juveniles and adults in rocky areas. Based on analyses of data for both habitat types combined, this difference was far greater than that between size classes and season, which was negligible. There were indications, however, that, overall within each habitat, the dietary composition did change seasonally, although not with body size. Acanthopagrus latus fed predominantly on mangrove material, sesarmid crabs and small gastropods in mangrove habitats, and mainly on Brachidontes ustulatus in rocky areas, where this mytilid bivalve is very abundant. The mangrove material, which contributed nearly 40% of its overall dietary volume in mangrove creeks, consisted mainly of lateral root primordia. This apparently unique food source for a teleost is presumably ingested through subsurface nipping, which would be facilitated by the mouth and dentitional characteristics of sparids. The almost total lack of correspondence in the dietary compositions of fish in the length class that was well represented in both mangrove and rocky areas illustrates the extent to which this sparid is capable of opportunistic feeding behaviour.     

Geochemistry and environment evolution of Core E in the Laizhou Bay since last stage of Middle Pleistocene

IwrincrIONOn the evolution of palcoenvironment, salt-water encroachmnt and the distributionof subsurface brine in the LaizhOu Bay area, many researches had been carried out, and muchknowledge abeut the gcolOgical features in this area since Late QUaternary was aCquired' ) (H8nand Wu, l992; Han and Meng, l994; Wen et al. l989). However there was IittIe studyon the sediment geOChemical characteristics since Quaternary. In this Paper, the element strati-graphic characteristics and evolut…     

南海东北部末次冰期以来的沉积环境演变

利用南海东北部上陆坡处所取的D孔柱样进行硅藻分析,结合粒度与碎屑矿物分析结果,探讨该海域末次冰期以来沉积环境演变过程.结果表明：粒度与硅藻分析结果较为吻合,共同显示D孔柱样可分为上下两层.上表层（0～2 cm）的砂质沉积层为冰后期海进过程改造的晚更新世残留沉积层,即变余沉积;下层（2～130 cm）主要是末次冰期形成的浅海沉积.整个柱样可反映出海洋同位素MIS 4期海退至MIS 3期海进与MIS 2期海退至冰后期海进的沉积变化韵律.     

250kaB.P.以来西太平洋暖池中心区——Ontong Java海台古生产力演化

多年平均表层水温超过28℃的"西太平洋暖池",是全球海平面高度的加热中心和大气三大环流的辐散中心。为评价西太平洋暖池中心区域海洋生物泵的演化特征、规律与机制,本文以位于热带西太平洋暖池核心区——Ontong Java海台的WP7柱状样为材料,通过提取浮游有孔虫^δ13C组成、底栖有孔虫群落和钙质超微化石下透光带属种Florisphaera profunda相对百分含量变化等指标,反演该区250kaB.P.以来的古生产力的演化历史。研究结果表明,250kaB.P.以来西太平洋暖池中心区的古生产力演化与地球轨道变化控制的冰期-间冰期旋回以及岁差控制的太阳辐照率密切相关。在冰期-间冰期尺度上,西太平洋暖池中心区距今250ka以来的生产力变化间冰期明显低于冰期,而且在间冰期阶段生产力相对稳定,冰期波动幅度较大。在冰期或间冰期背景下显著的岁差周期是该区古生产力演化的又一重要特征。而且在岁差波段生物生产力的变化可能领先极地冰体积变化2～4ka左右。热带东西太平洋的古生产力演化在冰期-间冰期变化和岁差尺度上存在ENSO式的变动机制,而且二者互相调谐,产生了似30ka和19ka周期,并出现了"半30ka周期"和半岁差周期。此外,WP7孔Neogloboqudrina dutertrei的^δ13C显示在MIS 1/2,MIS 3/4和MIS 5e/6的冰期向间冰期的过渡期的冰消期阶段存在变轻事件,可能与数千年尺度的大洋环流演化有关。     

优化配置模型在莱州市水资源规划中的应用

介绍了水资源优化配置模型的原理,并通过模型在莱州水资源规划中的实例分析,得到了莱州现状及不同规划水平年的水量优化供需计算结果,对莱州市水资源规划提供了依据,体现了计算机模拟优化模型的优越性。     

内蒙古桌子山煤田火区特征及灭火方法探讨

内蒙古自治区桌子山煤田赋存着较为稀缺的煤种一焦煤,煤田内存在的火区不仪烧掉了宝贵的焦性煤炭资源,给煤矿生产带来严重的事故隐患,对当地生态环境也造成极大的破坏。经查明区内有26处子火区,分布面积约760万m^2,通过煤田地质特征、煤质特征、地表指示特征、同位素氡气的浓度相对分布特征、物性特征分析了区内煤层发火原因,根据桌子山煤田火区特点,建议采用浅剥、深灌与覆盖相结合的灭火方法,并对火区进行动态监测。