High-resolution climate recorded in the δ13 C of Porites lutea from Nansha Islands of China

A Porites lutea core from Yongshu Reef of Nansha Islands covering 50_year growth history is analyzed for carbon isotopic composition with monthly and seasonal resolution, and the results show that the coral δ 13 C generally has clear yearly cycles. The calibration indicates that the coral δ 13 C can record the sunshine duration, total cloud cast and rainfall of the Yongshu Reef, and it also shows significant association to El Nio events. From 1950 to 1999, the δ 13 C shows a clear long-term declining trend, which indicates a decrease in the sunshine duration and an increase in cloud cast and rainfall over Yongshu Reef over the past fifty years.     

The orbital scale evolution of regional climate recorded in a long sediment core from Heqing, China

Based on the analysis of carbonate content and loss on ignition for a long sediment core (737 m in length) drilled in Heqing, the orbital scale evolution of the Southwest Monsoon is revealed, by using overlapped spectral analysis and filter methods. It is shown that the obliquity cycle and precession cycle are the key factors for the Southwest Monsoon evolution and that the change of the global ice volume and the uplift of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau also impose great influences on it.     

The δ18O variation of a stalagmite from Qixing Cave, Guizhou Province and indicated climate change during the Holocene

A stalagmite from Qixing Cave, Guizhou Province was dated with the TIMS U-series method and its oxygen isotope composition was analyzed. On the basis of the ages and the variations of the δ¹⁸O of the stalagmite, the climate change of the last 7.7 ka has been reconstructed in this area: 7.7–5.8 ka, summer monsoon maximum period; 5.8–3.8 ka summer monsoon weakening period; 3.8–0.15 ka, weakened summer monsoon and high amplitude climate fluctuations period. We put forward that the increasing trend of δ¹⁸O of the stalagmite reflected not only the weakening of the summer monsoon, which was caused by the decreasing of solar radiation in the Northern Hemisphere, but also the possibly decreasing contribution of the southwest monsoon to the rainfall of this area. These results are consistent with the output of the numerical climate-model modeling. The high amplitude fluctuation of the δ¹⁸O may imply the quick shift of the contributions of different moisture sources to the precipitation in this area.     

Spring upper warm water of the Nansha Islands sea area in the South China Sea and the numerical study on its dynamic mechanism

According to the satellite remote sensing monthly mean sea surface temperature data and in situ observational Conductivity-Temperature-Depth data, it is shown that in spring, at the upper layer to the west of Palawan Island, there exists a relatively weak warm water tongue which is distinctly different from the cold water southeast of the Balabac Strait. The relative temperature difference between the warm and cold water reduces gradually from winter to spring. P-vector method is employed to calculate the current field based on the in situ observational data, which shows that the warm water is within an anticyclonic meander. Based on the remote sensing wind stress during the observational period, a coupled single-layer/two-layer model is employed to study the dynamic mechanism of this anticyclonic meander current field corresponding to the warm water tongue. According to the numerical results, it is suggested that this anticyclonic meander could be mainly the residue of the winter anticyclonic eddy, rather than formed by the inflow water from the Sulu Sea via the Balabac Strait.     

Characteristics of δ~(18)O in precipitation over Eastern Monsoon China and the water vapor sources

Monsoon circulation is an important carrier of water vapor transport, and it impacts the precipitation of the monsoonal regions through the constraints and controls of large-scale water vapor transport and distributions as well as the water vapor balance. An overall research on stable Hydrogen and Oxygen isotopes in precipitation over Eastern Monsoon China could benefit a comprehensive understanding of the monsoonal precipitation mechanism. Seventeen field stations of the Chinese Network of Isotopes in Prec...     

The early Holocene optimum inferred from a high-resolution pollen record of Huguangyan Maar Lake in southern China

A high-resolution pollen record of the past 13000 a from Huguangyan Maar Lake reveals the vegetation and environment changes in southern China during the Holocene. It shows that (i) pollen percentage of trees and shrubs reached 56% during the early Holocene (11600―7800 cal a BP), of which the pollen percentage of tropical trees reached a maximum at 9500―8000 cal a BP, reflecting a hot and wet envi- ronment; (ii) during the mid-Holocene (7800―4200 cal a BP), the pollen percentage of montane conif- erous trees and herbs increased, while the percentage of tropical-subtropical trees decreased, indi- cating lower temperature and humidity; (iii) in the late Holocene spanning from 4200 to 350 cal a BP, the pollen percentage of herbs and montane conifer increased significantly, indicating a marked decrease of temperature and humidity. Our pollen data reveal that the time period 9500―8000 cal a BP in south- ern China represents a climatic optimum for the Holocene characterized by hot and wet conditions. This is consistent with the Holocene optimum found in lower latitude regions globally. We speculate that strong insolation might cause the northward migration of the ITCZ and subtropical summer mon- soon front, which resulted in an early Holocene optimum in the Huguangyan area. The dry tendency and climate fluctuations of the middle and late Holocene could be associated with a decrease in solar insolation and frequent ENSO event.     

Spatial and temporal variations of zooplankton composition and quantity distribution in the upper waters around Nansha Islands

This study aims to examine spatial and temporal variations of zooplankton species composition, density and biomass distribution and community structure, based on the data obtained from three separate cruises carded out in November 1997, April and July 1999. Results show that 244 species of zooplankton and 8 groups of planktonic larvae were identified, which were dominated by copepods, followed by amphipods, ostracods and medusae. The total species were 201 and 198 for the cruises of November 1997 and July 1999, respectively, and no obvious seasonal variation of species richness was observed. The distribution of zooplankton species richness decreased from pelagic to coastal waters. Average richness of species in each station was higher in the cruises of November 1997（62） and April 1999（61） than in the cruise in July 1999 （56）, which was mainly a result from the pelagic or coastal water mass movement made by the monsoon. Zooplankton in the upper waters （0--100 m） around Nansha Islands belonged to the typical tropic pelagic fauna, most of them were pelagic warm-water species, followed by coastal warm-water species and euryhaline warm-water species. The number of dominant species ranged from 5 to 7 in each cruise. No obvious seasonal succession of dominant species was ob- served. Sagitta enflata, Cypridina narni, Cosmocalanus darwinii, Pleuromamma gracilis and Echino-pluteus larva were the main dominant species. The average of zooplankton biomass and density in three cruises were 31, 32, 28 mg·m^-3 and 31, 39, 35 ind·m^-3, respectively. Copepods were the most abundant, followed by chaetognaths. Zooplankton high biomass distributed mainly in the northwestern waters around Nansha Islands, and generally occurred in the areas of oceanic front and upweUing. The main reason for zooplankton quantity without obvious seasonal variation was the relative steady temperature dynamics in the waters around Nansha Islands.     

Crustal activities recorded in coral reefs in the northwestern South China Sea

Coral reefs in the northwest of South China Sea have recorded the information from not only the environmental variation but also the crustal activities there during their development. The main crustal activities correlated with the coral reef development include fault, seismic, and volcano activities, etc. The high-resolution spark seismic profiles in the northwestern South China Sea show that the fault activities in the coral reef region have been clearly recorded, and appear as neonatal faults incising reefs. Earthquakes in the coral reef region are rather intense, especially the two occurring on December, 31, 1994, and January, 10, 1995, around the southwest of Leizhou Peninsula, with the magnitude of 6.1 and 6.2, respectively. They have great influence on the growth of the local coral reefs. Quaternary volcanos are active in the northwestern South China Sea, especially around the southwest of Leizhou Peninsula, and they have obvious control of the coral reef development. Some submarine volcanoes form the substrates of coral reef, while a few emerge above the sea surface and form coral islands.     

A high-resolution climatic change since Holocene inferred from multi-proxy of lake sediment in westerly area of China

Multi-proxy data are presented and a discuss is made of paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental changes during Holocene from a 225-cm-long sediment core from Wulungu Lake, located in westerly area of China. The chronology is constructed from six AMS radiocarbon dates on the bulk organic matter. Analyses of pollen, TOC, TN, δ 13Corg, ostracod assemblages and the shell stable isotopes, suggest Holocene climate pattern as follows: temperate and dry (10.0―7.6 cal. ka BP)-warm and wet (7.6―5.3 cal. ka BP) -warm and moist (5.3―3.6 cal. ka BP) -temperate and dry (3.6―2.1 cal. ka BP)-temperate and moist (2.1―1.3 cal. ka BP) -cool and dry (1.3 cal. ka BP―present). With the climatic change, Wulungu Lake experienced two large-scale retreat (5.3―3.6 cal. ka BP and 1.3 cal. ka BP―present) and an obvious transgression (7.6―5.3 cal. ka BP). The records of climatic and environmental evolution of Wulungu Lake were in good accordance with those of adjacent areas. It responded to regional environmental change, global abrupt climate events and followed the westerly climate change mode.     

A high-resolution climatic chanse since Holocene inferred from multi-proxy of lake sediment in westerly area of China

Multi-proxy data are presented and a discuss is made of paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental changes during Holocene from a 225-cm-long sediment core from Wulungu Lake, located in westerly area of China. The chronology is constructed from six AMS radiocarbon dates on the bulk organic matter. Analyses of pollen, TOC, TN, δ^13Corg, ostracod assemblages and the shell stable isotopes, suggest Holocene climate pattern as follows： temperate and dry （10.0-7.6 cal. ka BP） -warm and wet （7.6-5.3 cal. ka BP） -warm and moist （5.3-3.6 cal. ka BP） -temperate and dry （3.6-2.1 cal. ka BP）-temperate and moist （2.1-1.3 cal. ka BP） -cool and dry （1.3 cal. ka BP-present）. With the climatic change, Wulungu Lake experienced two large-scale retreat （5.3-3.6 cal. ka BP and 1.3 cal. ka BP-present） and an obvious transgression （7.6-5.3 cal. ka BP）. The records of climatic and environmental evolution of Wulungu Lake were in good accordance with those of adjacent areas. It responded to regional environmental change, global abrupt climate events and followed the westerly climate change mode.     

Variations in air temperature during the last 100 years revealed by δ~(18)O in the Malanice core from the Tibetan Plateau

By comprehensive analyses,it was found that the variations in δ^18O recorded in Malan ice core from the Kekexili Region on the Tibetan Plateau could represent the changes in air temperature during the summer half year (from May to October) over the Kekexili Region and the northern margin of the Tibetan Plateau.The general increase trend in δ^18O in the ice core during the past century indicated climate warming,and it was estimated that air temperature during the summer half-year rose about 1.2℃ over there then.However,this ice core record documented that the study area has been cooling while most of the world has been dramatically warming since the late 1970s. A tele-connection was found between the variations in δ^18O in the Malan ice core and the North Atlantic Oscillation.Moreover,the variations in δ^18O in this ice core were similar to that in the summer half-year air temperature over the southern Tibetan Plateau on the centurial time scale,but opposite on the multidecadal time scale.     

The altitude effect of δ 18O in precipitation and river water in the Southern Himalayas

The lapse rate of water isotopes is used in the study of the hydrologic cycle as well as in the estimation of uplift of the Tibetan Plateau.The greater elevation contrast in the Southern Himalayas allows for a detailed discussion about this lapse rate.We analyze variations of 18δO in precipitation and river water between 1320 m and 6700 m elevations in the Southern Himalayas,and calculate the specific lapse rate of water 18δO.The results show that the multi-year average lapse rate in precipitation over this region is 0.15‰/100 m.The one-year average lapse rate is 0.17‰/100 m from three sites along the Southern Himalayas.The two results agree,but are much lower than the global average of 0.28‰/100 m.This work also shows that there is a difference in precipitation 18δO lapse rate between the monsoon and non-monsoon seasons.The calculated precipitation lapse rate is much lower than that in surface water.     

Characteristics of δ 18O in precipitation over Eastern Monsoon China and the water vapor sources

Monsoon circulation is an important carrier of water vapor transport, and it impacts the precipitation of the monsoonal regions through the constraints and controls of large-scale water vapor transport and distributions as well as the water vapor balance. An overall research on stable Hydrogen and Oxygen isotopes in precipitation over Eastern Monsoon China could benefit a compre-hensive understanding of the monsoonal precipitation mechanism. Seventeen field stations of the Chinese Network of Isotopes in Precipitation (CHNIP) have been selected to collect monthly composite precipitation samples during the years 2005―2006. Components of δD and δ¹⁸O have been analyzed to achieve the spatiotemporal distributions. The established Local Meteoric Water Line δD=7.46 δ¹⁸O+0.90 based on the 274 obtained monthly samples could be treated as isotope input functions across the region, due to basically reflecting the specific regional meteorological conditions over Eastern Monsoon China. The δ-value de-pleted from coastal to inner area. In Southern China and Northeastern China there were typical periodic patterns of δ¹⁸8O. Differ-ent dominant affecting metrological factors have been raised with different regions. From south to north, the temperature effect of δ¹⁸18O enhanced, while the amount effect changed from existing at an all-year-scale in Southern China to being only remarkable during the main rainy seasons in North China and Northeastern China. Main geographical controls varied from altitude in South-ern China and North China to latitude in Northeastern China. Furthermore, δ¹⁸O had an implication of advance and retreat of the monsoon as well as rainfall belt transfer δ¹⁸O was also a tracer for the movement path of typhoon and tropical storms.     

Cannibalism in a semi-aquatic reptile from the Early Cretaceous of China

Cannibalism or intraspecific predation is a particular form of feeding behavior that is far more common in lower vertebrates and invertebrates than in higher vertebrates such as reptiles, birds and mammals. Evidence for cannibalism in vertebrate fossils, however, is generally rare, and the best examples were recently found in the Madagascan dinosaur Majungatholus atopus , the Neanderthals. Here we report the presence of cannibal-ism in a semiaquatic reptile Monjurosuchus splendens from the Lower Cretaceous of China (Fig. 1), as shown by an adult individual containing seven skulls of juveniles of the same species in its abdominal cavity, indicating that it is an active cannibal that preys on young members of its own kind. This discovery also represents the earliest known and most gruesome cannibalism ever recorded among the prehistoric vertebrates.     

Ecosystem vulnerability of China under B2 climate scenario in the 21st century

This paper applies climate change scenarios in China based on the SRES assumptions with the help of RCMs projections by PRECIS （providing regional climates for impacts studies） system introduced to China from.the Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research at a high-resolution （50 kmx50 km） over China. This research focuses on B2 scenario of SRES. A biogeochemical model ＂Atmosphere Vegetation Integrated Model （AVIM2）＂ was applied to simulating ecosystem status in the 21st century. Then vulnerability of ecosystems was assessed based on a set of index of mainly net primary production （NPP） of vegetation. Results show that climate change would affect ecosystem of China severely and there would be a worse trend with the lapse of time. The regions where having vulnerable ecological background would have heavier impacts while some regions with better ecological background would also receive serious impacts. Extreme climate even would bring about worse impact on the ecosystems. Open shrub and desert steppe would be the two most affected types. When the extreme events happen, vulnerable ecosystem would extend to part of defoliate broad-leaved forest, woody grassland and evergreen conifer forest. Climate change would not always be negative. It could be of some benefit to cold region during the near-term. However, in view of mid-term to long-term negative impact on ecosystem vulnerability would be enormously.     

The distribution of the oil derived from Cambrian source rocks in Lunnan area, the Tarim Basin, China

There are great differences in biomarks between Cambrian oil and Middle-Upper Ordovician oil. In this stuty, the authors analyzed 40 oils found in Lunnan area by GC-MS and calculated the content of Cambrian oil in the 40 oils according to the steroid indexes of typical oil mixture and match experiment. The results show that it is a general phenomenon in Ordovician reservoir that the oil derived from Cambrian source rock mixed with the oil derived from Middle-Upper Ordovician source rock in Lunnan area, the mixture degree of the two oils is lower in Carboniferous reservoir than in Ordovician reservoir, and the oils kept in Triassic reservoir have single source, Middle-Upper Ordoviclan source rock. The mixture oils mainly composed of Cambrian oil （〉50%） distributed in Sangtamu fault zone, and the oils found in Lunnan fault zone are Middle-Upper Ordovician oil. This distribution of oils in Lunnan area is owing to that Lunnan fault zone is located in anticline axis part, Lunnan fault zone underwent serious erosion, and the oils from Cambrian source rock accumulated in Lunnan fault zone were degraded completely during Caledonian-Hercynian movement. But the Cambrian oil accumulated in Sangtamu fault zone was not degraded completely and some of them were left for the location of Sangtamu fault zone is lower than Lunnan fault zone. Later, the oil derived from Middle-Upper Ordovician source rock mixed with the remained Cambrian oil, and the mixture oil formed in Sangtamu fault zone.     

The distribution of the oil derived from Cambrian source rocks in Lunnan area,the Tarim Basin,China

There are great differences in biomarks between Cambrian oil and Middle-Upper Ordovician oil. In this stuty, the authors analyzed 40 oils found in Lunnan area by GC-MS and calculated the content of Cambrian oil in the 40 oils according to the steroid indexes of typical oil mixture and match experiment. The results show that it is a general phenomenon in Ordovician reservoir that the oil derived from Cambrian source rock mixed with the oil derived from Middle-Upper Ordovician source rock in Lunnan area, the mixture degree of the two oils is lower in Carboniferous reservoir than in Ordovician reservoir, and the oils kept in Triassic reservoir have single source, Middle-Upper Ordovician source rock. The mixture oils mainly composed of Cambrian oil (>50%) distributed in Sangtamu fault zone, and the oils found in Lunnan fault zone are Middle-Upper Ordovician oil. This distribution of oils in Lunnan area is owing to that Lunnan fault zone is located in anticline axis part, Lunnan fault zone underwent serious erosion, and the oils from Cambrian source rock accumulated in Lunnan fault zone were degraded completely during Caledonian-Hercynian movement. But the Cambrian oil accumulated in Sangtamu fault zone was not degraded completely and some of them were left for the location of Sangtamu fault zone is lower than Lunnan fault zone. Later, the oil derived from Middle-Upper Ordovician source rock mixed with the remained Cambrian oil, and the mixture oil formed in Sangtamu fault zone.     

Hf isotopes of zircon megacrysts from the Cenozoic basalts in eastern China

Cenozoic basalts are widely distributed in eastern China, and some of them contain zircon megacrysts which are considered to be constituent mineral of the subcontinental lithospheric mantle （SCLM） and petrogenetically related to mantle metasomatism induced by addition of crustal materials. Using the Laser Ablation Multiple Collector Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry （LA-MC-ICPMS）, zircon megacrysts from the Cenozoic basalts at Changle in Shandong, Mingxi in Fujian, and Penglai in Hainan provinces have been used for Hf isotopic analyses. The data indicate that there is no significant deviation for the different zircon grains in each locale, except those from Penglai. The obtained ^176Hf /^177Hf ratios are 0.28302- 0.28308 for Changle, 0.28297-0.28300 for Mingxi, and 0.28288-0.28293 for Penglai, with corresponding ear values of 8.7-10.8, 7.0-7.9, and 3.9-5.7, respectively. These data display that there existed some regional heterogeneity, but the Hf model ages clustere in the Phanerozoic. Therefore, it is inferred that metasomatism of the lithospheric mantle beneath eastern China took place in the Phanerozoic, most probably in the Mesozoic-Cenozoic. However, the formation time of the iithospheric mantle is not clearly constrained based on the present Hf isotopic data.