Article
Environmental Sciences
Yukun Fan, Huan Jiang, Junli Ren, Xingxing Liu, Jianghu Lan, Peng Cheng, Qi Liu, Liangcheng Tan, Cheng Xue, Youbin Sun, Xiaolin Hou
Summary: Radionuclides are widely used for dating recent sediments, but their applicability can be limited by differences in sources, half-lives, environmental behavior, and measurement techniques. However, 239,240Pu shows significant advantages in sediment dating. Our study suggests that 239,240Pu can be a reliable tracer for rapidly accumulated sediment, and the input from surrounding soil erosion is an important source of sediment.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Takashi Taniwaki, Chris Elders, Michael Ernst Boettcher, Alex Holman, Kliti Grice
Summary: The study assesses the differences between photic zone euxinia (PZE) and microbialites in the Early Triassic of the northern Perth Basin. Biomarkers associated with green, purple, and green-brown sulfur bacteria were found in dark-colored mudstones, while they were absent in light-colored mudstones. The presence of microbialites suggests the sequestration of mercury (Hg) through sulfur compounds. Isotopic analysis reveals distinct carbon and sulfur cycling pathways between PZE and microbialites, possibly driven by differences in microbial community structure and the relative abundance of purple sulfur bacteria. The study highlights the development of multiple harsh environmental conditions in the northern Perth Basin.
GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Fengjiang Li, Naiqin Wu, Yajie Dong, Yiquan Yang, Yueting Zhang, Dan Zhang, Qingzhen Hao, Houyuan Lu
Summary: Using a time series of land-snail eggs from the Chinese Loess Plateau, researchers found that seasonal climatic instability during MIS 11 intensifies during glacial initiation or transition. The intensity of seasonal cooling events between low-eccentricity glacials and interglacials differs, with the former experiencing stronger events.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
Andrzej Wisniewski, Zdzis law Jary, Piotr Moska, Katarzyna Pyzewiez, Magdalena Ciombor, Marcin Krawczyk, Marek Kasprzak
Summary: This article presents the findings of a multi-faceted revision of the Dzierzyslaw 1 site in Central Europe, based on new samples and archaeological study of archives. The sedimentological data, spatial distribution of finds, raw material variation, and lithic artefacts indicate a combination of late Middle Palaeolithic and classical Upper Palaeolithic industries, with few pieces corresponding to indeterminate Early Upper Palaeolithic industry. The revision sheds light on the situation in the Moravian Gate and areas north of the Carpathians and Sudetes, suggesting a greater number of late Middle Palaeolithic sites compared to Early Upper Palaeolithic sites.
QUATERNARY INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Peng Gao, Junsheng Nie, Daniel O. Breecker, Timothy Gallagher, Lily Serach, Ana M. Alonso-Zarza
Summary: Insolation plays a dominant role in Asian precipitation during the late Pliocene, while the understanding of Pliocene European climate is limited due to the lack of European loess research. This study reveals a likely similar magnetic enhancement mechanism between Pliocene sediments from Spain and Chinese loess, providing an opportunity to improve understanding of Pliocene climate in Europe. It is demonstrated that insolation and ice sheets development are important factors in controlling European wet-dry variations during the Pliocene.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Tianyi Wang, Yanhui Dong, Fengyou Chu, Wen Zhang, Xiaohu Li, Rong Su, Liyan Tian
Summary: This study used LAMC-ICPMS, SEM, and LA-ICPMS techniques to accurately determine the stratigraphic chronology of REY-rich sediments in the CCZ of the Pacific Ocean. The study found that while fish teeth can be used for Sr isotope dating, continuous Sr isotope exchange with pore water affects their accuracy. However, certain fish teeth with a dense structure were found to resist early diagenesis alteration. This research provides a new method for in situ Sr isotope analysis of fish teeth, improving the accuracy of Sr isotope stratigraphy of pelagic sediments.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Mao-Yong He, Ji-Bao Dong, Zhangdong Jin, Chun-Yao Liu, Jun Xiao, Fei Zhang, He Sun, Zhi-Qi Zhao, Long-Fei Gou, Wei-Guo Liu, Chong-Guang Luo, You-Gui Song, Long Ma, Li Deng
Summary: The study investigated the Li contents and delta Li-7 values in loess deposits to understand pedogenic processes, showing that variations in [Li](leachate) and delta Li-7(leachate) can trace soil water migration processes and the magnitude of pedogenic processes in loess-paleosol sediment at different periods.
GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA
(2021)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Xiaoyu Zhu, Jessica Gray, Ying Gu, Tong He
Summary: This study investigated the sources of sediments in different areas of the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP) using SEM and material modal composite analysis. The results show that the formation of loess particles is related to differential weathering and precipitation mediated dissolution. The changes in hornblende concentrations provide evidence for sediment provenance in the deserts north and west of CLP. Understanding sediment sources is crucial for tracing Asian monsoon evolution and may challenge the interpretation of the monsoon mechanism.
GEOCHEMISTRY GEOPHYSICS GEOSYSTEMS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Studies
Yunzhi Zhang, Tongyan Zheng, Chen Yu, Jing Ren, Xuegang Gong, Hao Wang, Yihao Duan
Summary: This study comprehensively analyzes regional land use changes, landscape patterns, and the ecological environment's quality using high-resolution annual land use data from China. The research results show significant changes in land use in the area, with the grassland area having the largest increase and the forest area experiencing the fastest growth rate.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nora Exposito, Joaquim Rovira, Jordi Sierra, Jaume Folch, Marta Schuhmacher
Summary: The Mediterranean Sea is a significant accumulation zone for marine litter, with Western Mediterranean Sea identified as a region of microplastics accumulation. The study in Tarragona coastal region found high levels of MPs in seawater, sediments, and beaches, originating from various land-based sources, wastewater treatment plants, and discharge outlets. It is important to develop protocols and guidelines for MPs analysis to ensure harmonized and comparable results.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Geology
Yuanyuan Xiao, Shengying Wu, Peishan Sui, Yaoling Niu, Weidong Sun, Guodong Wang, Juanjuan Kong, Fengli Shao, Xiaohong Wang, Hongmei Gong, Meng Duan, Zihang Huang
Summary: The Chinese Loess Plateau is the largest loess deposit on Earth. It has been found that most elements in the loess samples are significantly correlated with La or Al2O3, indicating their presence in particle minerals during weathering, transport, and deposition.
INTERNATIONAL GEOLOGY REVIEW
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Jianguo Xiong, Ying Wang, Vincenzo Picotti, Huiping Zhang, Qingri Liu, Xudong Zhao, Xin Su, Xiuli Zhang, Youli Li, Peizhen Zhang
Summary: Previous studies suggest that the northeastern Tibetan Plateau is the major source area for the Chinese Loess Plateau. However, the origin of the eastern CLP and the relationship between loess and proximal river sediments have never been systematically studied, which hinders our understanding of the surface process between source and sink.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-EARTH SURFACE
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Kai Hou, Hui Qian, Yuting Zhang, Qiying Zhang, Wengang Qu
Summary: The Loess Plateau is crucial for studying global climate change and regional responses, with findings revealing ancient climatic information through microstructure analysis of loess and paleosols. The formation of loess layers is influenced by various transport and pedogenic forces, with a conceptual model established for the Weihe Basin. This research sheds light on regional climatic environmental evolution and the atmospheric circulation system in East Asia.
Article
Soil Science
Yongpeng Nie, Wankui Ni, Xiangfei Lu, Wenxin Tuo, Kangze Yuan
Summary: Understanding the mechanical behavior of compacted loess is crucial for construction on the Loess Plateau. Through a series of tests, including compression tests, shear tests, and scanning electron microscope imaging, the variations in compressibility, shear strength, and microstructure of compacted loess at different dry densities and water contents were investigated. The relationship between pore microscopic indicators and mechanical parameters was analyzed through statistical analysis. The results showed that the compression coefficient decreases with increasing dry density and cohesion and internal friction angle decrease with increasing water content. The structure of compacted loess evolves from overhead-mosaic-flocculation with increasing compactness and saturation.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Geology
Haobo Zhang, Junsheng Nie, Xiangjun Liu, Alex Pullen, Guoqiang Li, Wenbin Peng, Hanzhi Zhang
Summary: The loess sequences of the Chinese Loess Plateau provide a comprehensive paleoclimatic archive for the Neogene-Quaternary period. Geochronology data reveal spatial variability in sediment provenance across the plateau, with at least three distinct provenance zones recognized. This challenges the traditional view that attributes Quaternary loess primarily to deserts north and west of the plateau, suggesting a more significant role of fluvial processes and precipitation in dust production. The nonuniformity in sediment provenance raises questions about the validity of using CLP-derived paleoclimate information for regional interpretations.
Article
Geography, Physical
Huyue Song, Shixue Hu, Michael Benton, Dayong Jiang
Summary: This article examines the end Permian to Middle Triassic interval, which witnessed a significant marine mass extinction and delayed recovery. The focus is on Triassic marine sediments in South China, providing unique documentation of the collapse and recovery of marine ecosystems. Several papers analyze different fossils and their ecological significance, while others study biostratigraphy, reconstruct paleoenvironments, and link records to volcanic eruptions.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Geography, Physical
Mohammad Firoze Quamar, Upasana Swaroop Banerji, Biswajeet Thakur, Ratan Kar
Summary: The Indian Summer Monsoon is a crucial component of the Asian Monsoon System, impacting rainfall, agricultural productivity, and socio-economic growth in India and nearby regions. The central monsoon zone in India is more responsive to strong monsoon phases than weak ones.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Geography, Physical
Maria Laura Balestrieri, Valerio Olivetti, David Chew, Luca Zurli, Massimiliano Zattin, Foteini Drakou, Gianluca Cornamusini, Matteo Perotti
Summary: This study presents a multidisciplinary provenance study on legacy cores drilled in the central Ross Sea, Antarctica, providing insights into the oscillation of ice flows and advance and retreat phases of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Geography, Physical
P. Depuydt, S. Toucanne, C. Barras, S. Le Houedec, M. Mojtahid
Summary: This study provides a comprehensive overview of the dynamics of the upper branch of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) in the mid-latitudes of the Northeast Atlantic. It focuses on the European Slope Current (ESC) and its glacial equivalent known as the Glacial Eastern Boundary Current (GEBC). The study reveals significant changes in flow strength and ventilation during the glacial and deglaciation periods, as well as a gradual weakening of the slope current during the Holocene.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Geography, Physical
Junhee Park, Holly J. Stein, Judith L. Hannah, Svetoslav V. Georgiev, Oyvind Hammer, Snorre Olaussen
Summary: This study reports new Re-Os ages for black shales from Svalbard and evaluates the paleoenvironment during organic-rich shale deposition. The study also proposes correlations of specific Late Jurassic ammonite zones between the Boreal and Tethyan realms.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Geography, Physical
Guocheng Dong, Weijian Zhou, Feng Xian, Yunchong Fu, Li Zhang, Ling Tang, Pengkai Ding
Summary: The cause of ice-age cycles is still not fully understood, and studying the timing and magnitude of mountain glaciations can provide valuable insights. This study presents new dating results from the Niqingqu Valley in the Tibetan Plateau, showing multiple glacial activities prior to the Penultimate Glacial Maximum. The findings suggest that low atmospheric CO2 content and reduced summer solar insolation/high summer-monsoon precipitation played a role in these glacial fluctuations.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Geography, Physical
Haoran Dong, Zhitong Chen, Yucheng Wang, Jie Chen, Zhiping Zhang, Zhongwei Shen, Xinwei Yan, Jianbao Liu
Summary: Through sediment records from Lake Nanyi in the lower Yangtze, we found that anthropogenic fire activity played a dominant role in the region, and the temporal pattern of fire activity was asynchronous from east to west. Archaeological evidence suggests an inverse relationship between agricultural and population levels and fire intensity during the mid-Holocene, with fire intensity being influenced by the diversity of landscape types associated with pre-historic subsistence patterns. Overall, changes in regional water-level delayed the transition from hunting-gathering to agriculture in the lower Yangtze region.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Geography, Physical
Giovanni Coletti, Giulia Bosio, Alberto Collareta, Or Mordecai Bialik, Eleonora Regattieri, Irene Cornacchia, Gianni Insacco, John Buckeridge
Summary: This paper argues that sessile barnacles are an excellent proxy for palaeoenvironmental reconstructions. The shells of barnacles consist of diagenetically stable low-magnesium calcite and record short-term variations. Analyses of several Western Mediterranean barnacle-rich deposits demonstrate the utility of barnacles as proxies for water depth, distance from the coastline, and hydrodynamic conditions. Moreover, the stable isotope ratios of barnacle shells can provide detailed palaeoenvironmental information.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Geography, Physical
Feng Wu, Xinong Xie, Wen Yan, Youhua Zhu, Beichen Chen, Jianuo Chen, Mo Zhou
Summary: This paper describes the Quaternary evolution of Meiji Atoll in the southern South China Sea. The findings show how variations in sea surface temperature, eustatic sea level, and tectonics have influenced the development of the atoll. These findings have broader implications for understanding the Quaternary evolution of similar tropical carbonate atolls in the region.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Geography, Physical
Ana Mateos, Ericson Hoelzchen, Jesus Rodriguez
Summary: The Epivillafranchian and the transition to the Galerian was a period of environmental fluctuations and faunal turnover. Hominins and giant hyenas could coexist during the Epivillafranchian, but the transition to the Galerian led to a disruption of the scavenging niche, coinciding with the extinction of P. brevirostris.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Geography, Physical
Tianyu Du, Wensheng Zhang, Bing Li, Linjing Liu, Yuecong Li, Yawen Ge, Shiyong Yu
Summary: This article presents sedimentary evidence for a dramatic channel displacement of the lower Yellow River about 3000-2600 years ago, and explains the impact of this displacement on the geomorphology and human migration.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Geography, Physical
Johann Mueller, Michael M. Joachimski, Oliver Lehnert, Peep Mannik, Yadong Sun
Summary: The Late Ordovician mass extinction occurred during an ice age, with maximum ice coverage and a substantial drop in global sea level. This led to the exposure or shallowing of shallow tropical shelf environments. The study suggests that the burial rate of nutrient phosphorus (P) on shelves was minimal during this glacial period, leading to excess bioavailable P entering the open ocean and stimulating phytoplankton production, which in turn lowered oxygen concentrations.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Geography, Physical
Marina Addante, Patrizia Maiorano, Giovanna Scopelliti, Angela Girone, Maria Marino, Samanta Trotta, Antonio Caruso
Summary: This study presents the first high-resolution results on planktonic foraminiferal stable oxygen isotopes and calcareous plankton assemblages, providing insights into the glacial-interglacial variability and North Atlantic climate variability. The research also reveals evidence of the first significant southward migration of the Subarctic Front in the mid-latitudes.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Geography, Physical
Bing-Cai Liu, Rui-Wen Zong, Kai Wang, Jiao Bai, Yi Wang, Hong-He Xu
Summary: Phytogeography plays a vital role in the evolution of plants. This paper describes a new species of a spore-bearing plant from the upper Silurian period in West Junggar, China. By analyzing global Silurian macrofossil records, the study reveals the spatial-temporal distribution of Silurian plant macrofossils and identifies two phytogeographic realms during the Pridoli Epoch.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Geography, Physical
Francois Fournier, Thomas Teillet, Alexis Licht, Jean Borgomano, Lucien Montaggioni
Summary: This study investigates the temporal evolution of neritic carbonates in the proto-South China Sea to reconstruct East Asian monsoonal currents and winds during the middle to late Paleogene. The results highlight that many of the features of the summer East Asian Monsoon large-scale circulation are rooted in the middle Paleogene.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2024)