Water exchange between the subglacial Lake Vostok and the overlying ice sheet

It has now been known for several years that a 200-km-long lake, called Lake Vostok, lies beneath the ice sheet on which sits Vostok Station in Antarctica. The conditions at the base of the ice sheet above this subglacial lake can provide information about the environment within the lake, including the likelihood that it supports life. Here we present an analysis of the ice-sheet structure from airborne 60-MHz radar studies, which indicates that distinct zones of basal ice loss and accretion occur at the ice-water interface. Subglacial melting and net ice loss occur in the north of the lake and across its 200-km-long western margin, whereas about 150 m of ice is gained by subglacial freezing in the south. This indicates that significant quantities of water are exchanged between the base of the ice sheet and the lake waters, which will enrich the lake with gas hydrates, cause sediment deposition and encourage circulation of the lake water.     

Orbitally induced oscillations in the East Antarctic ice sheet at the Oligocene/Miocene boundary

Between 34 and 15 million years (Myr) ago, when planetary temperatures were 3-4 degrees C warmer than at present and atmospheric CO2 concentrations were twice as high as today, the Antarctic ice sheets may have been unstable. Oxygen isotope records from deep-sea sediment cores suggest that during this time fluctuations in global temperatures and high-latitude continental ice volumes were influenced by orbital cycles. But it has hitherto not been possible to calibrate the inferred changes in ice volume with direct evidence for oscillations of the Antarctic ice sheets. Here we present sediment data from shallow marine cores in the western Ross Sea that exhibit well dated cyclic variations, and which link the extent of the East Antarctic ice sheet directly to orbital cycles during the Oligocene/Miocene transition (24.1-23.7 Myr ago). Three rapidly deposited glacimarine sequences are constrained to a period of less than 450 kyr by our age model, suggesting that orbital influences at the frequencies of obliquity (40 kyr) and eccentricity (125 kyr) controlled the oscillations of the ice margin at that time. An erosional hiatus covering 250 kyr provides direct evidence for a major episode of global cooling and ice-sheet expansion about 23.7 Myr ago, which had previously been inferred from oxygen isotope data (Mi1 event).     

Physical, chemical and biological processes in Lake Vostok and other Antarctic subglacial lakes.

Over 70 lakes have now been identified beneath the Antarctic ice sheet. Although water from none of the lakes has been sampled directly, analysis of lake ice frozen (accreted) to the underside of the ice sheet above Lake Vostok, the largest of these lakes, has allowed inferences to be made on lake water chemistry and has revealed small quantities of microbes. These findings suggest that Lake Vostok is an extreme, yet viable, environment for life. All subglacial lakes are subject to high pressure (approximately 350 atmospheres), low temperatures (about -3 degrees C) and permanent darkness. Any microbes present must therefore use chemical sources to power biological processes. Importantly, dissolved oxygen is available at least at the lake surface, from equilibration with air hydrates released from melting basal glacier ice. Microbes found in Lake Vostok's accreted ice are relatively modern, but the probability of ancient lake-floor sediments leads to a possibility of a very old biota at the base of subglacial lakes.     

Constraints on hydrothermal processes and water exchange in Lake Vostok from helium isotopes

Lake Vostok, the largest subglacial lake in Antarctica, is covered by the East Antarctic ice sheet, which varies in thickness between 3,750 and 4,100 m (ref. 1). At a depth of 3,539 m in the drill hole at Vostok station, sharp changes in stable isotopes and the gas content of the ice delineate the boundary between glacier ice and ice accreted through re-freezing of lake water. Unlike most gases, helium can be incorporated into the crystal structure of ice during freezing, making helium isotopes in the accreted ice a valuable source of information on lake environment. Here we present helium isotope measurements from the deep section of the Vostok ice core that encompasses the boundary between the glacier ice and accreted ice, showing that the accreted ice is enriched by a helium source with a radiogenic isotope signature typical of an old continental province. This result rules out any significant hydrothermal energy input into the lake from high-enthalpy mantle processes, which would be expected to produce a much higher 3He/4He ratio. Based on the average helium flux for continental areas, the helium budget of the lake leads to a renewal time of the lake of the order of 5,000 years.     

Covariation of carbon dioxide and temperature from the Vostok ice core after deuterium-excess correction

Ice-core measurements of carbon dioxide and the deuterium palaeothermometer reveal significant covariation of temperature and atmospheric CO2 concentrations throughout the climate cycles of the past ice ages. This covariation provides compelling evidence that CO2 is an important forcing factor for climate. But this interpretation is challenged by some substantial mismatches of the CO2 and deuterium records, especially during the onset of the last glaciation, about 120 kyr ago. Here we incorporate measurements of deuterium excess from Vostok in the temperature reconstruction and show that much of the mismatch is an artefact caused by variations of climate in the water vapour source regions. Using a model that corrects for this effect, we derive a new estimate for the covariation of CO2 and temperature, of r2 = 0.89 for the past 150 kyr and r2 = 0.84 for the period 350-150 kyr ago. Given the complexity of the biogeochemical systems involved, this close relationship strongly supports the importance of carbon dioxide as a forcing factor of climate. Our results also suggest that the mechanisms responsible for the drawdown of CO2 may be more responsive to temperature than previously thought.     

南极海冰厚度数值模拟

主要进行南极地区海冰厚度的数值模拟研究,并考虑太阳短波辐射等因素对南极海冰厚度变化的影响。根据我国第22次南极科学考察现场观测数据,建立了辨识海冰厚度的最优控制模型,并用遗传算法求解该最优控制问题,仿真结果与现场观测数据吻合良好,表明所建模型和求解算法是准确有效的。     

Response of the East Asian climate system to water and heat changes of global frozen soil using NCAR CAM model

Under the condition of land-atmosphere heat and water conservation, a set of sensitive numerical experiments are set up to investigate the response of the East Asian climate system to global frozen soil change. This is done by introducing the supercooled soil water process into the Community Land Model (CLM3.0), which has been coupled to the National Center of Atmospheric Research Community Atmosphere Model (CAM3.1). Results show that:(1) The ratio between soil ice and soil water in CLM3.0 is clearly changed by the supercooled soil water process. Ground surface temperature and soil temperature are also affected. (2) The Eurasian (including East Asian) climate system is sensitive to changes of heat and water in frozen soil regions. In January, the Aleutian low sea level pressure circulation is strengthened, Ural blocking high at 500 hPa weakened, and East Asian trough weakened. In July, sea level pressure over the Aleutian Islands region is significantly reduced; there are negative anomalies of 500 hPa geopotential height over the East Asian mainland, and positive anomalies over the East Asian ocean. (3) In January, the southerly component of the 850 hPa wind field over East Asia increases, indicating a weakened winter monsoon. In July, cyclonic anomalies appear on the East Asian mainland while there are anticyclonic anomalies over the ocean, reflective of a strengthened east coast summer monsoon. (4) Summer rainfall in East Asia changed significantly, including substantial precipitation increase on the southern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, central Yangtze River Basin, and northeast China. Summer rainfall significantly decreased in south China and Hainan Island, but slightly decreased in central and north China. Further analysis showed considerable upper air motion along ~30°N latitude, with substantial descent of air at its north and south sides. Warm and humid air from the Northeast Pacific converged with cold air from northern land areas, representing the main cause of the precipitation anomalies.     

变速移动载荷激励浮冰层的位移响应特性

基于弹性薄板假设和势流理论,利用薄板振动微分方程以及运动学边界条件建立了变速移动载荷激励浮冰层位移响应的理论计算模型.采用傅里叶-拉普拉斯变换的方法进行求解,通过数值计算获得浮冰层的位移响应.将退化到匀速情况的计算结果与实冰实验数据进行比较,发现临界速度的值以及临界速度下冰层位移响应的波形特征与实验结果相一致;此外,以匀加速载荷为例,通过改变加速方式、冰厚、水深等参数,分析了不同加速方式下浮冰层位移响应的特征,明确了水深、冰厚等因素对浮冰层位移响应的影响,揭示了移动载荷加速度与破冰效率间的关系.     

Simulation of Greenland ice sheet during the mid-Pliocene warm period

One of the key uncertainties in future sea-level projections is attributed to the Greenland ice sheet(GrIS).Studying the response of the GrIS to climate changes during the past warm periods is helpful for understanding future changes in the GrIS.In this study,using three global climate models(Community Atmosphere Model version3.1 and version 4.0 and Norwegian Earth System Model)and a three-dimensional ice sheet model,we investigate the climate and ice sheet changes over Greenland during the mid-Pliocene warm period(*3 Ma BP).The results show that the regionally averaged summer temperature over Greenland is 9.4–13.4°C higher during the mid-Pliocene period than during the pre-industrial era and the annual mean precipitation is 65.2–108.3 mm a-1greater.In response to this warm-wet climate,the GrIS shows a substantial decrease in size during the mid-Pliocene,with little ice existing along the eastern coast of Greenland.Compared to that simulated in the control run,the global sea level is approximately 7.8–8.1 m higher during the mid-Pliocene due to the decrease in the size of the GrIS.In addition,paleoclimate proxies also indicate that it is unlikely that a large-scale ice sheet exists over Greenland during the mid-Pliocene warm period.     

洛河东湖水生生物现状调查及水质评价

洛河东湖是是洛阳市水生态文明城示范区的重要组成部分.为了合理开发利用河水资源,监测拦河坝修建前后洛河东湖水生生物资源和水质变化情况,2015年8月对洛河东湖的水生生物资源进行调查研究,根据生物多样性指数对湖水水质进行评价.结果表明:(1)洛河东湖浮游植物有6个门类41个种,浮游动物3个门类19个种,底栖动物3个门类8个种;(2)浮游植物优势种类主要为梅尼小环藻(Cyclotella meneghiniana)、盘星藻(Pediatrum sp.)、栅藻(Scenedesmus sp.)、尖尾蓝隐藻(Chroomonas acuta),浮游动物优势种主要是剪形臂尾轮虫(Brachionus forficula)和壶状臂尾轮虫(Brachionus urceus),底栖动物优势种主要是铜锈环棱螺(Bellamya aeruginosa)和中国圆田螺(Cipangopaludina chinensis);(3)浮游植物Shannon多样性指数(H)、Marglef指数(D)和物种均匀度指数(J)分别为3.19~3.91,2.94~3.48和0.71~0.88,浮游动物3种多样性指数分别为2.25~3.18,1.46~3.33和0.74~0.89,底栖动物分别为1.53~2.05,1.44~1.84和0.44~0.73,水质评价为清洁—轻度污染.     

Substantial contribution to sea-level rise during the last interglacial from the Greenland ice sheet

During the last interglacial period (the Eemian), global sea level was at least three metres, and probably more than five metres, higher than at present. Complete melting of either the West Antarctic ice sheet or the Greenland ice sheet would today raise sea levels by 6-7 metres. But the high sea levels during the last interglacial period have been proposed to result mainly from disintegration of the West Antarctic ice sheet, with model studies attributing only 1-2 m of sea-level rise to meltwater from Greenland. This result was considered consistent with ice core evidence, although earlier work had suggested a much reduced Greenland ice sheet during the last interglacial period. Here we reconsider the Eemian evolution of the Greenland ice sheet by combining numerical modelling with insights obtained from recent central Greenland ice-core analyses. Our results suggest that the Greenland ice sheet was considerably smaller and steeper during the Eemian, and plausibly contributed 4-5.5 m to the sea-level highstand during that period. We conclude that the high sea level during the last interglacial period most probably included a large contribution from Greenland meltwater and therefore should not be interpreted as evidence for a significant reduction of the West Antarctic ice sheet.     

East Antarctic rifting triggers uplift of the Gamburtsev Mountains

The Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountains are the least understood tectonic feature on Earth, because they are completely hidden beneath the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. Their high elevation and youthful Alpine topography, combined with their location on the East Antarctic craton, creates a paradox that has puzzled researchers since the mountains were discovered in 1958. The preservation of Alpine topography in the Gamburtsevs may reflect extremely low long-term erosion rates beneath the ice sheet, but the mountains' origin remains problematic. Here we present the first comprehensive view of the crustal architecture and uplift mechanisms for the Gamburtsevs, derived from radar, gravity and magnetic data. The geophysical data define a 2,500-km-long rift system in East Antarctica surrounding the Gamburtsevs, and a thick crustal root beneath the range. We propose that the root formed during the Proterozoic assembly of interior East Antarctica (possibly about 1 Gyr ago), was preserved as in some old orogens and was rejuvenated during much later Permian (roughly 250 Myr ago) and Cretaceous (roughly 100 Myr ago) rifting. Much like East Africa, the interior of East Antarctica is a mosaic of Precambrian provinces affected by rifting processes. Our models show that the combination of rift-flank uplift, root buoyancy and the isostatic response to fluvial and glacial erosion explains the high elevation and relief of the Gamburtsevs. The evolution of the Gamburtsevs demonstrates that rifting and preserved orogenic roots can produce broad regions of high topography in continental interiors without significantly modifying the underlying Precambrian lithosphere.     

Similar meltwater contributions to glacial sea level changes from Antarctic and northern ice sheets

The period between 75,000 and 20,000 years ago was characterized by high variability in climate and sea level. Southern Ocean records of ice-rafted debris suggest a significant contribution to the sea level changes from melt water of Antarctic origin, in addition to likely contributions from northern ice sheets, but the relative volumes of melt water from northern and southern sources have yet to be established. Here we simulate the first-order impact of a range of relative meltwater releases from the two polar regions on the distribution of marine oxygen isotopes, using an intermediate complexity model. By comparing our simulations with oxygen isotope data from sediment cores, we infer that the contributions from Antarctica and the northern ice sheets to the documented sea level rises between 65,000 and 35,000 years ago were approximately equal, each accounting for a rise of about 15 m. The reductions in Antarctic ice volume implied by our analysis are comparable to that inferred previously for the Antarctic contribution to meltwater pulse 1A (refs 16, 17), which occurred about 14,200 years ago, during the last deglaciation.     

Simultaneous teleseismic and geodetic observations of the stick-slip motion of an Antarctic ice stream

Long-period seismic sources associated with glacier motion have been recently discovered, and an increase in ice flow over the past decade has been suggested on the basis of secular changes in such measurements. Their significance, however, remains uncertain, as a relationship to ice flow has not been confirmed by direct observation. Here we combine long-period surface-wave observations with simultaneous Global Positioning System measurements of ice displacement to study the tidally modulated stick-slip motion of the Whillans Ice Stream in West Antarctica. The seismic origin time corresponds to slip nucleation at a region of the bed of the Whillans Ice Stream that is likely stronger than in surrounding regions and, thus, acts like an 'asperity' in traditional fault models. In addition to the initial pulse, two seismic arrivals occurring 10-23 minutes later represent stopping phases as the slip terminates at the ice stream edge and the grounding line. Seismic amplitude and average rupture velocity are correlated with tidal amplitude for the different slip events during the spring-to-neap tidal cycle. Although the total seismic moment calculated from ice rigidity, slip displacement, and rupture area is equivalent to an earthquake of moment magnitude seven (M(w) 7), seismic amplitudes are modest (M(s) 3.6-4.2), owing to the source duration of 20-30 minutes. Seismic radiation from ice movement is proportional to the derivative of the moment rate function at periods of 25-100 seconds and very long-period radiation is not detected, owing to the source geometry. Long-period seismic waves are thus useful for detecting and studying sudden ice movements but are insensitive to the total amount of slip.     

南极湖泊岩芯地球化学元素垂直分布特征及其对环境变化的响应

用中子活化分析技术分析了南极西湖岩芯（长146cm)中地球化学元素含量，结合^14C定年技术，发现近2000年来，地球化学元素在沉积物中的含量变化与沉积环境密切 相关，尤其是稀土元素总量∑REE出现峰值时，往往反映了温暖湿润的气候条件。而元素含量较稳定时，往往与干旱寒冷的气候条件相对应，近2000年来南极的气候变化特征是温暖－寒冷－温暖，气候的突变在沉积物上表现为元素含量的突变。     

中东地区砂玻器(Fritware)的起源与发展

Fritware是中东地区陶瓷体系中最重要的产品之一.从材料学角度来看,fritware制品的胎体原料和物相组成不同于陶器、瓷器和釉砂(faience),是一类特殊的陶瓷制品,对此提出了"砂玻器"的译法.梳理砂玻器的起源和发展,提出砂玻器起源地"百川归海"说,依据有三:一是公元9世纪两河流域创烧的"夹玻陶"是砂玻器的前...     

Stability of the Larsen B ice shelf on the Antarctic Peninsula during the Holocene epoch

The stability of the Antarctic ice shelves in a warming climate has long been discussed, and the recent collapse of a significant part, over 12,500 km2 in area, of the Larsen ice shelf off the Antarctic Peninsula has led to a refocus toward the implications of ice shelf decay for the stability of Antarctica's grounded ice. Some smaller Antarctic ice shelves have undergone periodic growth and decay over the past 11,000 yr (refs 7-11), but these ice shelves are at the climatic limit of ice shelf viability and are therefore expected to respond rapidly to natural climate variability at century to millennial scales. Here we use records of diatoms, detrital material and geochemical parameters from six marine sediment cores in the vicinity of the Larsen ice shelf to demonstrate that the recent collapse of the Larsen B ice shelf is unprecedented during the Holocene. We infer from our oxygen isotope measurements in planktonic foraminifera that the Larsen B ice shelf has been thinning throughout the Holocene, and we suggest that the recent prolonged period of warming in the Antarctic Peninsula region, in combination with the long-term thinning, has led to collapse of the ice shelf.     

Molecular dynamics simulation of the ice nucleation and growth process leading to water freezing

Upon cooling, water freezes to ice. This familiar phase transition occurs widely in nature, yet unlike the freezing of simple liquids, it has never been successfully simulated on a computer. The difficulty lies with the fact that hydrogen bonding between individual water molecules yields a disordered three-dimensional hydrogen-bond network whose rugged and complex global potential energy surface permits a large number of possible network configurations. As a result, it is very challenging to reproduce the freezing of 'real' water into a solid with a unique crystalline structure. For systems with a limited number of possible disordered hydrogen-bond network structures, such as confined water, it is relatively easy to locate a pathway from a liquid state to a crystalline structure. For pure and spatially unconfined water, however, molecular dynamics simulations of freezing are severely hampered by the large number of possible network configurations that exist. Here we present a molecular dynamics trajectory that captures the molecular processes involved in the freezing of pure water. We find that ice nucleation occurs once a sufficient number of relatively long-lived hydrogen bonds develop spontaneously at the same location to form a fairly compact initial nucleus. The initial nucleus then slowly changes shape and size until it reaches a stage that allows rapid expansion, resulting in crystallization of the entire system.     

Climatology of stable isotopes in Antarctic snow and ice: Current status and prospects

Stable isotopic composition in Antarctic snow and ice is commonly regarded as one of invaluable palaeoclimate proxies and plays a critically important role in reconstructing past climate change.In this paper we summarized the spatial distribution and the controlling factors of δD,δ18O,d-excess and 17O-excess in Antarctic snow and ice,and discussed their reliability and applicability as palaeoclimate proxies.Recent progress in the stable isotopic records from Antarctic deep ice cores was reviewed,and perspectives on bridging the current understanding gaps were suggested.