Transmission of oxygen isotope signals of precipitation-soil water-drip water and its implications in Liangfeng Cave of Guizhou,China

According to systemically monitoring results of oxygen （hydrogen） isotope compositions of precipitation, soil waters, soil CO2, cave drip waters and their corresponding speleothems in Liangfeng Cave （LFC） in Guizhou Province, Southwest China, it is found that local precipitation is the main source of soil waters and drip waters, and that the amplitudes of those δ18O values of three waters （precipitation, soil water and drip water） decrease in turn in the observed year, which are 0‰ to -10‰, -2‰ to -9‰ and -6‰ to -8‰, respectively. Moreover, the δ18O values for three waters show a roughly simultaneous variation, namely, that those values are lighter in the rainy seasons, weightier in the dry seasons, and that the average δ18O value of drip waters is about 0.3‰ weightier than that of precipitation, which is modified by surface evaporation processes. We also find that oxygen isotope equilibrium is reached or neared in the formation processes of speleothems in LFC system, and that it is feasible to reconstruct paleotemperature and paleoprecipitation by using δ18O values of speleothems. However, it should be noted that surface evaporation would affect the oxygen isotope values in the study area.     

The seasonal variations of δ~(18)O , Cl~- , Na~+ , NO_3~- and Ca~(2+) in the snow and firn recovered from Princess Elizabeth Land, Antarctica

Snow and firn samples recovered from two snow pits (2.5 and 4.5m deep) and one 50-m firn core along the route of the 1996/1997 Chinese First Antarctic Inland Traverse Expedition in Princess Elizabeth Land, East Antarctica, have been measured for chemical composition and oxygen isotope ratio. In the two snow pits, the variations of NO3- are partly in phase with that of δ18O, while the variations of Cl~ and Na+ are in inverse phase with that of δ18O. The variations of CI- , Na+ , NO3- and δ18O show obvious seasonal variations and annual stratag-raphy. However, with the depth increasing, the seasonal variations of δ18O are gradually smoothed below 3 m (corresponding to about 10-year mass accumulation) in depth while the seasonal variations of Cl- , Na+ and NO3- are kept fairly well in the whole profile of the 50-m firn core (corresponding to about 250-year mass accumulation). The results provide a useful tool for dating the snow stratum in this region. On the contrary, no obvious seasonal variations of Ca2 + are found in the profiles.     

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.     

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.     

Validating a dust production model by field experiment in Mu Us Desert, China

It is essential for validation and improvement of a dust production model to perform field observations on dust emissions. The dust production model (DPM model) consists of two physically explicit sub-models, namely saltation model [1, 2] (eq. (1)) and sandblasting model [3] (eqs. (2) and (3)). Fh is saltation flux, E is fraction of erodible surface, C is a dimensional constant, ρa is air density, g is gravitational acceleration, U* is the wind friction velocity, Ut*(Dp) is threshold frict…     

Preliminary study of microscale zircon oxygen isotopes for Dabie-Sulu metamorphic rocks： Ion probe in situ analyses

151 in situ analyses of oxygen isotopes were carried out by ion micro-probe for zircons from 8 localities of HP-UHP metamorphic rocks including eclogites in the Dabie-Sulu terrane. The results show significant heterogeneity in δ^18O values, with variation in different rocks from -8.5‰ to 9.7‰ and within one sample from 2‰ to 12‰. No measurable difference in δ^18O was observed between protolith magmatic (detrital) zircons and metamorphic recrystallized zircons within analytical uncertainties from the ion micro-probe measurements. This indicates that the metamorphic zircons have inherited the oxygen isotopic compositions of protolith zircons despite the HP to UHP metamorphism. According to their protolith ages from zircon U-Pb in situ dating by the same ion micro-probe, two groups of oxygen isotope composition are recognized, with one having δ^18O values of 6‰-7‰ for old protolith of 1.9-2.5 Ga ages and the other 0‰-2‰ for young protolith of 0.7-0.8 Ga ages. The latter anomalously low δ^18O values of zircons indicate that the magma has had the obvious involvement of meteoric water when forming the young protolith of high-grade metamorphic rocks. This may be correlated with the snowball Earth event occurring in South China and the world elsewhere during the Neoproterozoic.     

Investigation of novel zirconium based perovskite-type mixed conducting membranes for oxygen separation

A series of BaZr_0.2Co_0.8-xFe_xO_3-δ materials for oxygen separation were synthesized through a citric and EDTA acid combined complexing method, and their crystal structures, oxygen permeabilities, sintering and sealing abilities were investigated. The results showed that the cubic perovskite structure was formed for materials in the composition range investigated. Oxygen permeation flux and stability, as well as sintering and sealing abilities of the synthesized materials were increased or improved apparently due to the introduction of zirconium. For example, the oxygen permeation flux reached 0.8 mL/min·cm² when x = 0.2 or 0.3 at 950℃, and a stable time-related oxygen permeation flux was found for the BaZr_0.2Co_0.3Fe_0.5O_3-δ membrane at 800℃.     

The biomarkers of 2,6,10,15, 19-pentamethylicosenes and their carbon isotopic composition in the sediments from the Gulf of Mexico

The methanogenic archaea and sulfate reduction bacteria are flourishing in the sediments associated with gas venting and gas hydrate settings on the sea floor, where the anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) me-diated by these bacteria is the dominant path…     

<Superscript>1</Superscript>H MAS NMR spectra of kaolinite/formamide intercalation compound

The high spinning speed ¹H magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H MAS NMR) technique was employed to distinguish the two groups of surface hydroxyls of kaolinite and investigate the intercalation mechanism of kaolinite/formamide compound. The proton chemical shifts of the inner hydroxyl and inner surface hydroxyl of kaolinte are in the range of δ−1.3–−0.9 and δ 2.4–3.0 respectively. After formamide intercalation three proton peaks were detected. The proton peak of the inner surface hydroxyls of the intercalation compound shifts to high-field with δ 2.3–2.7, which is assigned to the formation of the hydrogen bond between the inner surface hydroxyl and formamide carbonyl group. Whereas, the proton peak of the inner hydroxyl shifts to δ −0.3 toward low-field, that is attributed to van der Waal’s effect between the inner hydroxyl proton and the amino group proton of the formamide which may be keyed into the ditrigonal hole of the kaolinite. The third peak, additional proton peak, is in the range of δ5.4–5.6, that is ascribed to the hydrogen bond formation between the amino group proton of formimide and SiO₄ tetrahedral oxygen of the kaolinite.     

Observation of small-scale processes over shelf break in the East China Sea

The turbulent dissipation along with temperature and salinity was measured on board R/V Dong Fang Hong 2 over the shelf break of the East China Sea from March 7 to 9, 2004. Applying the Turner angle, it is found that the ＇diffusive＇ double diffusion, salt-fingering, and stable stratification coexist in the upper water column of about 50 m. Below that depth, there exists weak salt-fingering. The turbulent dissipation rates are enhanced along the ray paths of M2 internal tides emanating from the shelf break with values ranging from 1.0×10^-9 W·kg^-1 to 1.2×10^-6 W·kg^-1. The corresponding diapycnal mixing rates are from 1×10^-6 m^2· s^-1 to 1×10^-2 m^2· s^-1. The spatially averaged mixing rate over the whole observation section is 2.3×10^-3 m^2· s^-1, which is much larger than 1×10^-5 m^2·s^-1 of the background diapycnal mixing rate in the open ocean.     

Fast and accurate measurement of diffusion coefficient by Taylor’s dispersion analysis

This investigation aimed at improving the performance of Taylor's dispersion analysis for the fast and accurate measurement of diffusion coefficient of a minute solute in various solvents. The investigation was carried out on a capillary electrophoresis instrument by monitoring the UV absorption peak of a solute pulse and calculating the diffusion coefficient by peak efficiency. With L-phenylalanine as a main testing solute, some key factors were afterward disclosed including especially the capillary size, carrier flow velocity, injection volume and capillary conditioning. Peak tailing, large volume of sample injection and slow migration were found to underestimate the diffusion coefficient while very fast migration and high sample concentration caused overestimation. At a moderate flow velocity of 0.1―1 cm/s with a capillary of 72.44 μm I.D.×60 cm (50 cm effective) maintained at 25℃, the diffusion coefficient of aqueous L-phenylalanine was determined, giving a value of 7.02×10-6 cm2/s with error＜2% and relative standard deviation＜0.2% (n=3). The method was shown to be applicable to the measurement of various samples such as aqueous phenylalanine, acetone, phenol, toluene and benzene, and nonaqueous benzene (in ethanol or 1-butanol).     

Determination and geological implication of O-Si isotope of the sediment core in the CC area, the Pacific Ocean

Conclusions  

Southwest monsoon changes indicated by oxygen isotope of ostracode shells from sediments in Qinghai Lake since the late Glacial

The δ 18O records of ostracode shells in sediments of core QH-2000 from Qinghai Lake can be used as a better proxy to reflect monsoon changes. Low monsoon precipitation between 17.5 and 11 cal. ka BP is indicated by positive δ 18O values averaging 2.37‰. A fast shift in δ 18O from positive at 11 cal. ka BP to negative at 10 cal. ka BP indicates sharp increase of monsoon precipitation. An interval of generally high monsoon precipitation is observed between 10 and 6 cal. ka BP with δ 18O values averaging -2.15‰. Decrease of monsoon precipitation between 6 and 2.5 cal. ka BP is indicated by positive δ 18O values. δ 18O keeps positive values averaging 3.0‰ between 2.5 and 0 cal. ka BP suggesting low high monsoon precipitation. The climatic changes indicated by δ 18O records of ostracode shells in sedi- ments of core QH-2000 from Qinghai Lake and our broader regional comparison show that the climate in Qinghai Lake since the late Glacial is probably controlled by southwest monsoon other than southeast monsoon.     

Precipitation variability in central Himalayas and its relation to Northern Hemisphere temperature

Agriculture, industry and hydroelectric power in south Asia are heavily dependent on the performance of the summer (June to September) monsoon rainfall, which provides 75—90% of the annual rainwater over most parts of the area. A weak monsoon year generally corresponds to low crop yields. And strong monsoon usually produces abundant crops, although too much rainfall may produce devastating floods. However, modeling efforts to forecast the monsoon have met with only moderate success[1]. Prev…     

Identification of the deposited layers in landslides reservoir and investigation of the sediment yields during the later sixteenth century on the Hill Loess Plateau,China

There are many sediment trapping reservoirs in the Hill Loess Plateau. The Huangtuwa small catchment is selected as a research field where samples were collected in a sediment deposit profile with a vertical length of 12.73 m. By the variation of fine particle content and pollen concentration, 54 flood couples were identified. Taking the freeze-thawing disturbed texture as the sign of the latest flood couple in a year, it is ascertained that those 54 floods should happen in 31 years. Using pyramid volume calculation formula, the sediment yields of flood ranged between 716-30376 t· km^-2, The average sediment yield was 7106 t· km^-2, The annual sediment yields varied between 968-55579 t· （km^2· a）^-1, and the average value is 12629 t· （km^2· a）^-1. Compared with the modern annual sediment discharge of the Huaining River, the erosion rate in the Huangtuwa region 450 years ago was similar to the modern erosion rate. In the period from the 27th year to the 31st year, the average annual sediment yield increased sharply to 31309 t· （km^2· a）^-1. It implied that re-reclamation of the abandoned land in the catchment since the landslide disaster, where vegetation had rehabilitated already, caused very severe soil erosion in the catchment.     

The carbon isotopic compositions of Non-methane Hydrocarbons in atmosphere

Carbon isotopic compositions of atmospheric Non-methane Hydrocarbons(NMHCs) in the urban areas of Taiyuan and Lanzhou in summer were reported and the sources of NMHCs are discussed.Carbon isotopic ratios(δ 13C) of vehicle exhaust,coal-combustion exhaust,fuel volatiles and cooking exhaust were also measured with thermal desorption-gas chromatography-isotope ratio-mass spectrometry(TD-GC-IR-MS).δ 13C values of NMHCs in the urban areas of Lanzhou and Taiyuan range from-32.3‰ to-22.3‰ and from-32.8‰ to-18.1‰.δ ...     

Restricted allowable generalized quantum gates

An allowable generalized quantum gate (introduced by Long, Liu and Wang) has the form of U = Σ _k=0 ^d−1 c _k U _k , where U _k’s are unitary operators on a Hilbert space H and |Σ _k=0 ^d−1 c _k |⩽1 and |c _k |⩽1 (0⩽k⩽d−1). In this work we consider a kind of AGQGs, called restricted allowable generalized quantum gates (RAGQGs), satisfying 0 < Σ _k=0 ^d−1|c _k |⩽1. Some properties of the set RAGQG(H) of all RAGQGs on H are established. Especially, we prove that the extreme points of RAGQG(H) are exactly unitary operators on H and that B(H)=R ⁺ RAGQG(H).     

Characterization of Fe-S minerals influenced by buried ancient woods in the intertidal zone, East China Sea

An ancient wood layer dated at about 5600 cal. a BP by AMS14C dating was discovered in the intertidal zone, East China Sea. Samples affected by ancient woods, including fresh coast bedrock, weathering bedrock, seepage water from coast, seepage water from ancient wood layer, intertidal seawater, fresh water, beach mud, ancient wood barks and ancient peat, were collected for geochemical analysis. The beach mud and the bacteriogenic iron oxides （BIOS） in coastal seepage water were analyzed by min- eralogical and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy （HRTEM）-selected area electron dif- fraction （SAED） analysis. Inorganic sulfur compositions and b＇34S of the ancient peat and the beach mud were determined. The results showed that Fe, Mn, S （SO~-） were enriched in the intertidal area at different levels, very likely caused by fermentation of ancient woods. The presence of abundant iron- oxidizing bacteria （FeOB） and sulfate-reducing bacteria （SRB） in this intertidal zone was confirmed by HRTEM-SAED observation, and these bacteria were involved in Fe-S cycle to induce extracellular biomineralization. The negative ~4Sv.cDT （--2.9%o） likely indicated the biogenic origin of iron-sulfide minerals in the beach mud at high sulfate reduction rate （SRR）. These findings are helpful for under- standing the biogeochemical Fe-S cycle and biomineralization process at high organic matter deposition rate and high SRR in the intertidal zone, estuary, or near shoreline.     

A study on responses of soil erosion and sediment yield to closing cultivation on sloping land in a small catchment using 137Cs technique in the Rolling Loess Plateau, China

By comparison of volumes and ¹³⁷Cs contents of the deposited sediments before and after 1993, changes of specific sediment yields and relative sediment contributions from the gully area and from the inter gully area after closing cultivation on the later area on a small catchment of Zhaojia Gully, in the Rolling Loess Plateau, are analyzed in this paper. Closing cultivation in a large scale has not resulted in decrease but increase of specific sediment yield of the catchment, in sharp decrease of the sediment yield and the relative sediment contribution of the inter-gully area, and in increase of the sediment yield and the contribution of the gully area, for a short term. The mean specific sediment yield of 29650 t km⁻² a⁻¹ of 1994–1996 in the catchment was 2.2 times the average value of 13413 t km⁻² a⁻¹ for a long term. The specific sediment yield of the inter-gully area decreased from the 14335 t km⁻² a⁻¹ in 1994 to 7034 t km⁻² a⁻¹ in 1995 and 3517 t km⁻² a⁻¹ in 1996, while the yield of the gully area varied between 44944 and 62136 t km⁻² a⁻¹ during the period of 1994–1996 which was much greater than the value of 21118 t km⁻² a⁻¹ before 1993. The relative sediment contribution from the inter-gully area decreased from 23% in 1994 to 15% in 1995 and 6% in 1996, while the contribution from the gully area increased from 77% in 1994 to 85% in 1995 and 94% in 1996. It is suggested that compacting of ploughed soils resulted in increasing of the erosion resistance but in decreasing of the precipitation infiltration, therefore, the soil erosion reduced but the runoff amount increased on the inter-gully area. Increase of delivering runoff from the inter-gully area to the gully area should result in activeness of gully erosion and mass movements, consequently, in increase of the total sediment yield from the catchment.     

Variations of organic carbon isotopic composition and its environmental significance during the last glacial on western Chinese Loess Plateau

The last glacial period is characterized by a cold and dry climate with low atmospheric CO2 concentration. The relatively arid climate and low CO2 concentration are favorable to the growth of C4 plants, but the low temperature limits the development of th…