Variability of snail growing season at the Chinese Loess Plateau during the last 75 ka

Knowledge of seasonal climate change is one of the key issues facing Quaternary paleoclimatic studies and estimating seasonal climate change is difficult,especially changes such as seasonal length on glacial-interglacial timescales.The stable isotope composition from seasonal land snail shells provides the potential to reveal seasonal climatic features.Two modern land snail species,cold-aridiphilous Pupilla aeoli and thermo-humidiphilous Punctum orphana,were collected from different climatic zones in 18 localities across the Chinese Loess Plateau,spanning 11 degrees of longitude and covering a range of 1000 km2.The duration of the snail growing season(temperature ≥10℃) was shorter(202 ± 6 d) in the eastern Loess Plateau compared with in the western Loess Plateau(162 ±7 d).The δ13C of P.aeoli shells was ?9.1‰ to ?4.7‰ and ?5.0‰ to 0.3‰ for δ18O.For P.orphana,the δ13C ranged from ?9.1‰ to ?1.9‰ and ?8.9‰ to ?2.9‰ for δ18O.Both the δ13C and δ18O differences between the two snail species were reduced from the east to the western Loess Plateau(2.8‰ to 0.2 ± 1.1‰ for δ13C and 4.7‰ to 2.9 ± 1.3‰ for δ18O).These isotopic differences roughly reflect the difference in the growing season lengths between the east and west Loess Plateau indicating that the duration of the snail growing season shortens by 15 d or 19 d if the difference decreases by 1‰ in δ13C or δ18O,respectively.Thus,the difference in δ13C and δ18O between both snail species can be used to reveal the length of the snail growing season in the past.Based on our investigation,the length of the snail growing seasons from the Xifeng region during the last 75 ka was reconstructed.During the mid-Holocene(8-3 ka),the mean isotopic difference from both snail species reached maximum values of 2.6 ± 0.7‰ and 2.1 ± 1.4‰ for δ13C and δ18O,respectively.This was followed by MIS 3 that ranged from 2.5 ± 0.4‰ for δ13C and 1.6 ± 0.8‰ for δ18O.The Last Glacial Maximum changed by only 0.2‰ and 0.4‰ for δ13C and δ18O,respectively.Therefore,we estimate that the duration of the snail growing seasons to be ～200 ± 10 d during the mid-Holocene,190 ± 6 d in MIS 3 and 160 ± 3 d during the last glacial period.     

Analysis of carbon isotope in phytoliths from C3 and C4 plants and modern soils

The analysis of carbon isotope in phytoliths from modern plants and surface soils in China shows that the values of carbon isotope are consistent with those from C3 and C4 plants,and the processes of photosynthesis of the original plants can be clearly identified by carbon isotope in phytoliths.The value of carbon isotope varied from -23.8‰ to -28‰,with the maximum distributed in the latitude zone from 34° N to 40° N in North China and East China areas,and the minimum in the Northeast China and South China regions.The values of carbon of phytoliths tend to increase from low to high and then reduce to low value again as the latitude increases.In the same latitude zone,the carbon isotope in phytoliths from grassland soil under the trees is obviously lower than that from grassland soil without any trees with the difference of 1‰-2‰.     

A breakthrough of researching reservoir adsorption gas and its significance

GC-C-MS on linear isotope analysis equipment makes it possible to measure the hydrocarbon gases at the level of 10 -3-10 -2 μL- By applying this technique the carbon isotopes of C1-C3 of the adsorbed gas from the Triassic oil sand bed of the Aican-l Well in the Turpan-Hami basin were analysed. The δ13C values of C1-C3, are -55.1‰, -38.6‰ and -35.0‰ respectively. In terms of geochemical characteristics of natural gases and crude oils, in combination with basinal geological backgrounds, it is considered that the reservoir adsorbed gas was formed by crude-oil biodegradation, absorbed by reservoir rocks and its oil-gas source is related with the Permain (perhaps including the Carboniferous). The adsorbed gas is obviously different from the Jurassic coal-generated oil and gas.     

Secondary biogenic coalbed gas in some coal fields of China

The secondary biogenic coalbed gas, a new genetic and energy source type of coalbed gas in China, has been found in Xinji, Liyazhuang and Enhong areas. The essential characteristics of this type of gas are: (i) the major component of the gas is methane, with C1/C1-5 value higher than 0.99, indicating that the gas is part of dry gas; (ii) theδ13C1 value is in the range of -61.7‰to -47.9‰, mostly lower than -55‰, which is much lower than the estimatedδ13C1 value of thermogenic methane according to the thermal evolution degree of the coal rocks (with R0 value from 0.87% to 1.43%), showing the characteristics of the secondary biogenic gas; (iii) theδ5D value of methane ranges from -244‰to -196‰; (iv)δ13C 2 value ranges from -26.7‰to -15.9‰andδ13C 3 value ranges from -10.8‰to -25.3‰, indicating that the heavier hydrocarbons have a thermogenic origin; (v) the content of CO2 is very low, andδ13CCO2 value changes greatly, reflecting a characteristic of secondary change; (vi)δ15N2 value ranges mainly from -1‰to +1‰, indicating N2 derived significantly from air. The negative linear correlation between the contents of N2 and CH4 reflects the activity of bacteria bearing surface water infiltrating into coal beds. The comprehensive tracing indices show that the coalbed gas in the studied areas is the mixed gas of primarily secondary biogenic gas and a part of remnant thermogenic gas. The uplift of coal beds and the development of faults in the studied areas create favorable conditions for the formation of the secondary biogenic gas.     

Oxygen and carbon isotope records of calcareous nannofossils for the past 1 Ma in the southern South China Sea

Oxygen and carbon isotopic analyses have been carried out on calcareous nannofossils from ODP Site 1143 in the southern South China Sea. The results demonstrate that the δ18O values of calcareous nannofossils for the past 1 Ma vary systematically with those of planktonic and benthic foraminifera from the same site. But the average δ18O value of nannofossils is 1.869‰ higher than that of planktonic foraminifera, and is 3.855‰ lower than that of benthic foarminifera. There are systematic differences between the δ13C values of nannofossils, planktonic foarminifera and benthic foraminifera. The average δ13C of nannofossils is 0.756‰ higher than that of benthic foraminifera, and is 0.460‰ lower than that of planktonic foraminifera. The δ13C values of nannofossils exhibit a significant positive shift beginning near isotope stage 14 and lasting until stage 8. This study also finds that there is a close ralationship between the δ13C of nannofossils and the percentage of Florisphaera profunda. This implies that the δ13C of nannofossils can be used as an indicator of sea water surface paleoproductivity.     

Calcium isotope fractionation and its controlling factors over authigenic carbonates in the cold seeps of the northern South China Sea

In this study, we analyzed stable calcium isotope results of authigenic carbonates from two cold seep areas of the Dongsha area and the Baiyun Sag in the northern South China Sea. The stable isotopes of carbon and oxygen as well as the mineral composition of authigenic carbonates were used to investigate control calcium isotope fractionation. The δ44/40Ca ratios of the southwestern Dongsha area samples ranged from 1.21‰ to 1.52‰ and the ratio of the Baiyun Sag sample was 1.55‰ of the SRM915a isotope standard. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the carbonate samples consisted of dolomite, calcite and aragonite, with small amounts of high-Mg calcite and siderite. The δ13C values of the carbonates of the southwestern Dongsha area varied between δ49.21‰ and δ16.86‰ of the Vienna PeeDee Belemnite (VPDB) standard and the δ18O values ranged from 2.25‰ to 3.72‰ VPDB. The δ13C value of the Baiyun Sag sample was 2.36‰ VPDB and the δ18O value was 0.44‰ VPDB. The δ13C values of the carbonates of the southwestern Dongsha area revealed there is methane seeping into this area, with a variable contribution of methane-derived carbon. The sampled carbonates covered a range of δ13C values suggesting a dominant methane carbon source for the light samples and mixtures of δ13C values for the heavier samples, with possibly an organic or seawater carbon source. The δ18O values indicated that there is enrichment in 18O, which is related to the larger oxygen isotope fractionation in dolomite compared to calcite. The results of the Baiyun Sag sample exhibited normal seawater carbon and oxygen isotopic values, indicating that this sample is not related to methane seepage but instead to precipitation from seawater. The relatively high δ44/40Ca values indicated either precipitation at comparatively high rates in pore-water regimes with high alkalinity, or precipitation from an evolved heavy fluid with high degrees of Ca consumption (Raleigh type fractionation). The dolomite samples from the Dongsha area revealed a clear correlation between the carbon and calcium isotope composition, indicating a link between the amount and/or rate of carbonate precipitation and methane contribution to the bicarbonate source. The results of the three stable isotope systems, mineralogy and petrography, show that mineral composition, the geochemical environment of authigenic carbonates and carbon source can control the calcium isotope fractionation.     

Carbon isotopic composition of mantle xenoliths in alkali basalt from Damaping, Hebei

The carbon isotopic composition of CO-2, CO and CH-4 extracted by pyrolysis from spinel lherzolite and black pyroxenolite xenoliths in alkali basalt from Damaping has been measured with GC_MS. The results show that, at heating temperatures from 400 to 1 140℃, the δ 13C of CO-2 and CO is -22‰--27‰, and that of CH-4 -30‰--50‰. The data imply that the magma which was generated in the upper mantle by partial melting in the area has experienced the multistage degassing process, and the δ 13C values represent the carbon isotopic composition of CO-2, CO and CH-4 remaining in it, respectively.     

Foliar δ^13C and δ^15N values of C3 plants in the Ethiopia Rift Valley and their environmental controls

The foliar C and N stable isotopic compositions （δ^13C and δ^15N） and the relationships between these compositions and environmental factors of C3 plants in the Ethiopia Rift Valley were investigated. There were three distribution patterns for foliar δ^13C with mean values of -26.7‰±0.4‰, -29.7‰ ±0.6‰ , and -26.9‰± 1.2‰ in cold-moist, temperate-moist, and arid-hot environments, respectively. The δ^15N values ranged from -1.4‰ ±1.7‰ to 14.3‰ ± 0.1‰, with higher values under arid-hot conditions and the lowest values in plants growing at higher altitudes under cold-moist conditions. A strong negative relationship between mean annual precipitation and δ^15N explained more than half of the observed variation in the δ^15N values （r2= 0.54, P 〈 0.001）; a modest positive relationship was also found between δ^15N and temperature （r2 = 0.32, P 〈 0.01）. A weakly positive relationship existed between δ^13C and temperature, and changes in δ^13C values with precipitation and altitude followed quadratic curves. This suggests a shift in the effects of water and heat conditions caused by altitude on carbon isotopic discrimination.     

Treatment efficiency of integrated vertical-flow constructed wetland for saline wastewater

The integrated vertical-flow constructed wetland(IVCW) was simulated with three suits of designed experiment columns planted with Kandelia candel.Units A,B and C were irrigated with sewage of different salinity(A:10‰ B:20‰,C:30‰),respectively.The removal rates of dissolved organic carbon(DOC),NH3-N and NO3--N dropped 90.4%-48.6%,80.2%-40.3% and 84.8%-60.9%,respectively,when salinity increases from 10‰ to 30‰.The removal rate of TP increased 14%-31.2%,oppositely.A 20-day inflow salinity drastic change shock affective trial was done on units D and E.Unit D was used as a control and irrigated with saline sewage(20‰).Unit E was irrigated with sewage with low salinity(5‰) as a salinity drastic change shock on the third and fourth days.DOC,NH3-N and NO3--N removal efficiency of unit E showed a three-stage process of change,"rapidly decrease,increase beyond the normal standard,and then back to the normal standard".TP removal value was negative during the 2-day shock period.     

Variation of soil Δδ13C values in Xifeng loess-paleosol sequence and its paleoenvironmental implication

The carbon isotopic compositions of soil organic matter （SOM） and total carbonate （TC） in Xifeng Ioess-paleosol sequence have been studied. The δ^13CsoM values vary from -23.8‰ to -20.2‰, which are higher in interglacial than in glacial stages. Contrary to δ^13Csoi values, the δ^13CTc values vary from -8.5‰ to -3.6‰ and are lower in interglacial than in glacial stages. The differences （△δ^13C） between the δ^13CsoM and δ^13CTc values vary from 14.1‰ to 19.4‰. Our results from the Xifeng loesspaleosol sequence indicate that the △δ^13C values represent the ratio of primary carbonate （PC） to secondary carbonate （SC）. The △δ^13C values were high in the loess stages, and the maximal PC-to-SC ratio can reach 6：4. But in the paleosol stages, the △δ^13C values were low, with a small proportion of PC. The △δ^13C values in Ioess-paleosol sequence also indicate the contributions of the dust to the loess sediment in the Chinese Loess Plateau because the dust contains the PC.     

Petrographic and geochemical characterization of seep carbonate from Alaminos Canyon,Gulf of Mexico

Seep carbonates were collected from the Alaminos Canyon lease area, Gulf of Mexico. The carbonates are present as slabs and blocks. Bivalve shell and foraminifer are the dominant bioclasts in carbonate. Pores are common and usually filled with acicular aragonite crystals. XRD investigation shows that aragonite is the dominate mineral （98%）. Peloids, clotted microfabirc and botryoidal aragonite are developed in carbonate and suggest a genesis linked with bacterial degradation of the hydrocarbons. The δ^13C value of bioclasts in carbonate is from -4.9‰ to -0.6‰, indicating that the carbon source is mainly from sea water as well as the small portion incorporation of the seep hydrocarbon. The microcrystalline and sparite aragonite shows the δ^13C value from -31.3‰ to -23.4‰, suggesting that their carbon is derived mainly from microbial degradation of crude oil. ^14C analyses give the radiocarbon age of about 10 ka. Rare earth elements （REE） analyses of the 5% HNO3-treated solution of the carbonates show that the total REE content of the carbonates is low, that is from 0.752 to 12.725 μg·g^-1. The shale-normalized REE patterns show significantly negative Ce anomalies. This suggests that cold seep carbonate is most likely formed in a relatively aerobic environment.     

Natural gas geochemistry of low evolutionary stage of medium- and small-sized basins in Yunnan Province, southwestern China

The biogenic gas and premature-low mature associated gases in some medium and small-sized basins of Yannan Province, such as Luliang, Yanglin, Baoshan and Jinggu basins, have beed researched. The results show that the biogenic-gas consists mainly of methane which is more than 99% in gasous hydrocarbons and of lighter carbon isotopic composition with δ13C1 values from -60.0‰ to - 75.4‰. The methane carbon isotopic compositions in the Baoshan Basin is relatively heavy (δ13C1 - 60‰- - 65‰), but those in Luliang and Yanglin basins are lighter (δ13C1, less than -70‰), which implies that the gas field of the Baoshan Basin formed earlier than the others. In the Jinggu Basin, where crude oil is premature-lower mature, the natural gas of associated oil relatively wet and the relative content of methane about 58%-95% in gasous hydrocarbons. Constituently the gas composition is much similar to associated one, but the methane carbon isotopic compositions from - 53.8‰ to - 57.8‰ are obviously richer in 12C than those of general oil fields and similarly characterize the biothermo-catalytic transitional zone gas. Their ethane carbon isotopic compositions from - 34.6‰ to -29.0‰ show that they may be derived from type Ⅰ or Ⅱ source rock. But for the associated gas from lower evolutionary stage, the heavier ethane carbon isotopic composition as well as the reversed order among the carbon isotopic composition of ethane, propylane and butane also implies that some gases from the type Ⅲ organic matter are mixed. The δ13CCo2 of the samples essentially less than - 10‰ may be generated from organic matter.     

The specific carbon isotopic compositions of branched and cyclic hydrocarbons from Fushun oil shale

Various branched and cyclic hydrocarbons are isolated from the Fushun oil shale and their carbon isotopes are determined. The analytical results show that the branched and cyclic hydrocarbons are fully separated from n-alkanes by 5 A molecular-sieve adduction using long time and cold solvent. The branched and cyclic hydrocarbon fraction obtained by this method is able to satisfy the analytic requests of GC-IRMS. The carbon isotopic compositions of these branched and cyclic hydrocarbons obtained from the sample indicate that they are derived from photoautotrophic algae, chemoautotrophic bacteria (-33.4‰— -39.0‰) and methanotrophic bacteria (-38.4‰— -46.3‰). However the long-chain 2-methyl-branched alkanes indicate that their carbon isotopic compositions reflect biological origin from higher plants. The carbon isotopic composition of C30 4-methyl sterane (-22.1‰) is the heaviest in all studied steranes, showing that the carbon source or growth condition for its precursor, dinoflageilate, may be different from that of regular steranes. The variation trend of δ^13C ValUes between isomers of hopanes shows that ^13C-enriched precursors take precedence in process of their epimerization. Methanotrophic hopanes presented reveal the processes of strong transformation of organic matter and cycling of organic carbon in the water column and early diagenesis of oil shale.     

C－isotope composition and significance of the Sinian on the Tarim plate

102 samples of limestones,mudrocks shales and tillites from the Sinian in Kuluketage have been analyzed ,Four formations in the Sinian belong to glacial deposits in which the differences in δ^13C are distinct (-14.7‰- 4.2‰),Distinctly negative δ^13C excursions for three times support the viwe of three glacial deposits in this area suggested by previous authors,except for the durations of them ,δ^13C values are generally positive in the Beiyixi Formation of lower part of the Lower Sinian ,representing probably the rock records of a continental rift related to break-up of the Rodinian supercontinent,There are three times of distinct excursions of δ^13C curve in all strata,The first one is from positive values at the bottom to about -5‰ at the top of the Beiyixi Formation ,The second one,from 0‰-3‰ in the Arletonggou Formation of upper part of the Lower Sinian to -3.4‰---14.4‰ in the Teruiaiken Formation.The third one,from positive values in the Zhamoketi Formation of lower part of the Upper Sinian to negative values in glacial varves at the top of the Hankeerqiaoke Formation.     

Carbon isotopic fractionation during photolysis of hexachlorobenzene

The occurrence of carbon isotope fractionation during dechlorination of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) to pentachlorobenzene (penta-CB) has been evaluated under ultraviolet irradiation in a photo-reactor. Stable carbon isotope ratios (δ¹³C) of HCB and penta-CB increases from -27.3‰ to 18.8‰ and from -33.9‰ to -19.5‰, respectively. The isotopic fractionation of the reactants and products are described with the Rayleigh model, and the following enrichment factors (ε) are obtained: -14.8‰ for the dechlorination of HCB and 22.7‰ for the dechlorination product (penta-CB). With the initial δ¹³C value of HCB, this enrichment factor can be used to estimate the fraction (f) of HCB remaining by Rayleigh equation. Strong enrichment of δ¹³C in HCB and penta-CB during photochemical dechlorination might serve as a powerful tool to monitor the photolysis process, such information may provide additional evidence to aid in further understanding the biogeochemical processes of these compounds undergoing in the environment.     

9Cr?5Si?3Al铁素体耐热钢的高温氧化行为

To improve the oxidation properties of ferritic heat-resistant steels, an Al-bearing 9Cr?5Si?3Al ferritic heat-resistant steel was designed. We then conducted cyclic oxidation tests to investigate the high-temperature oxidation behavior of 9Cr?5Si and 9Cr?5Si?3Al ferritic heat-resistant steels at 900 and 1000°C. The characteristics of the oxide layer were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive spectroscopy. The results show that the oxidation kinetics curves of the two tested steels follow the parabolic law, with the parabolic rate constant k_p of 9Cr?5Si?3Al steel being much lower than that of 9Cr?5Si steel at both 900 and 1000°C. The oxide film on the surface of the 9Cr?5Si alloy exhibits Cr₂MnO₄ and Cr₂O₃ phases in the outer layer after oxidation at 900 and 1000°C. However, at oxidation temperatures of 900 and 1000°C, the oxide film of the 9Cr?5Si?3Al alloy consists only of Al₂O₃ and its oxide layer is thinner than that of the 9Cr?5Si alloy. These results indicate that the addition of Al to the 9Cr?5Si steel can improve its high-temperature oxidation resistance, which can be attributed to the formation of a continuous and compact Al₂O₃ film on the surface of the steel.     

Regional Δ<Superscript>14</Superscript>C patterns and fossil fuel derived CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> distribution in the Beijing area using annual plants

The level of atmosphericΔ14C and the fossil fuel derived CO 2 concentration in the Beijing area from May to September,2009, were systematically analyzed based on radiocarbon(14C)measurements of annual plants by accelerator mass spectrometry(AMS). The results show that the maximumΔ14C in Beijing was 29.6‰±2.2‰,and the minimum was–28.2‰±2.5‰,with a trend of decreasingΔ14C from the outer suburbs to inner suburbs to the urban center.This trend correlates well with increases in fossil fuel derived CO2 caused by human activities such as population density,industrial emissions and traffic,with lower values of atmosphericΔ14C associated with more intensive human activities.The fossil fuel derived CO 2 concentrations from May to September, 2009,ranged from 3.9±1.0 ppm to 25.4±1.0 ppm.It was calculated that each additional 1 ppm of CO2 from fossil fuels depleted the atmosphericΔ14C by approximately 2.70‰.This study suggests that 14C measurements of annual plants by AMS provide an effective method to rapidly trace fossil fuel derived CO2.     

Carbon isotopic compositions of individual terpenoids in heavy oils from Karamay oilfield

The carbon isotopic compositions of individual terpenoids in the heavy oils from the Karamay oilfield were determined by using the method of enrichment of terpanes with molecular sieve 13X and GC-IRMS technique. The terpanes, selectively enriched from the biodegraded oils with molecular sieve 13X, can meet the demand of GC-IRMS analysis. The carbon isotopic compositions of the hopanoids (δ13C -31.7‰--37.8‰ ) infer that their main source is probably non-methanotrophic bacteria, and that the depositional environment of source rocks is a strongly reductive, rapidly depositional, and closed-semi-closed saline lagoon.     

Diet control on carbon isotopic composition of land snail shell carbonate

Carbon isotope compositions for both the carbonate shells and soft bodies (organic tissue) of living land snails collected mostly from the Loess Plateau, China have been measured. The result shows that δ 13C values range from -13.1‰ to -4.3‰ for the aragonite shell samples and from -26.8‰ to -18.0‰ for the soft body samples. Although the shells are enriched in 13C relative to the bodies averagely by 14.2(±0.8)‰, the shell δ 13Ca values are closely correlated to the body δ 13Corg values, expressed as δ 13Ca = 1.021 δ 13Corg 14.38 (R = 0.965; N = 31). This relationship indicates that δ 13Ca is primarily a function of the isotopic composition of the snail diets since previous studies have proved that the snail body is the same as their food in carbon isotope composition. In other words, carbon isotope compo-sition of the carbonate shell can be used as a proxy to estimate the dietary 13C abundance of the land snails. The data also support that the 13C enrichment of the carbonate shells results mainly from the equilibrium fractionations between the metabolic CO2, HCO3-in the hemolymph and shell aragonite, and partially from kinetic fractionations when snail shells form during their activity.     

Indicators of δ13C and δ18O of gas hydrate-associated sediments

The analyses of δ13C and δ18O of gas hydrate-associated sediments from two cores on Hydrate Ridge in Cascadia convergent margin offshore Oregon, eastern North Pacific show the values of d 13C from -29.81‰ to -48.28‰ (PDB) and d 18O from 2.56‰ to 4.28‰ (PDB), which could be plotted into a group called typical carbonate minerals influenced by the methane in cold venting. Moreover, the values of d 13C and d 18O show a consistent trend in both cores from top to bottom with increasing of d 13C and decreasing of d 18O. This trend could be explained as an effect caused by the anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) in depth and the oxygen fraction during the formation of gas hydrate in depth together. These characteristics of d 13C and d 18O indicate that the gas hydrate-associated sediments are significantly different from the normal marine carbonates, and they are deeply influenced by the formation and evolution of gas hydrate. So, the distinct characteristics of d 13C and d 18O of gas hydrate-associated sediments could be undoubtedly believed as one of parameters to determine the presence of gas hydrates in other unknown marine sediment cores.