Article
Environmental Sciences
Xin Xu, Fang Li, Zhongda Lin, Xiang Song
Summary: This study investigates the spatiotemporal patterns of fire activity in China and discusses the possible impacts of climate and human activities on fires. Results show that the changes in Holocene fire activity are closely related to millennial scale moisture variations across China, and intensified human activities over the past 3,000 years may also contribute to the sharp increase in fire activity.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Paleontology
Ming-Li Wan, Wan Yang, Shan Wan, Jun Wang
Summary: The scarcity of wildfires in the Lower Triassic can be attributed to the lack of vegetation and low atmospheric oxygen levels during the Early Triassic. However, macroscopic charcoal remnants from the Olenekian in northwestern China suggest that ground/smoldering fires may have occurred in mid-latitudes of northeastern Pangaea. These findings indicate that wildfires continued to be a disturbance in terrestrial ecosystems during this critical time period in Earth's history.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bihong He, Wei Wang, Rongyue Geng, Zhe Ding, Dongxia Luo, Junli Qiu, Guodong Zheng, Qiaohui Fan
Summary: The study focused on the activity and fate of heavy metals (HMs) in farmland soil in a typical mining city in northwest China. It found that anthropogenic contributions of HMs in soils were high in certain areas, with a risk of excessive accumulation in crops. The research also revealed that HMs were mainly enriched in non-residual fractions in the soil and easily absorbed by crops, with higher concentrations in leaves compared to roots. The division and classification of crop planting in mining areas can help reduce the risk of HMs entering the human body through the food chain.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Antonia L. Reinhardt, Thomas Kasper, Maximilian Lochner, Marcel Bliedtner, Kim J. Krahn, Torsten Haberzettl, Lyudmila Shumilovskikh, Jean-Jacques Rahobisoa, Roland Zech, Charly Favier, Hermann Behling, Laurent Bremond, Gerhard Daut, Vincent Montade
Summary: Madagascar is one of the Earth's most biologically rich and endangered terrestrial ecoregions. This research reveals significant environmental changes on Nosy Be island in Madagascar over the past three millennia, indicating early human impact on the natural ecosystems as early as 1300 years ago and ongoing human influence in the region.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Xiuqing Yang, Jingwen Mao, Simon W. Poulton, Aiguo Dong, Ting Liang, Dachuan Wang, Xusheng Zhang
Summary: This study presents the discovery of early Paleozoic banded iron formation in Northwest China and provides detailed descriptions of its characteristics and geological significance, offering new evidence to understand the redox chemistry of the late Silurian oceans.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Jeremie Soldner, Chao Yuan, Karel Schulmann, Yingde Jiang, Pavla Stipska, Yunying Zhang, Zongying Huang, Xinyu Wang
Summary: The origins of early Paleozoic metabasites and their host metasedimentary rocks in the Dunhuang block, NW China, have been studied using new geochronological and geochemical data. It is suggested that the metabasites can be divided into two groups, with group I originating from an enriched lithospheric mantle and group II from a depleted asthenospheric mantle. The metasedimentary rocks are similar in composition to active-margin sediments and received detritus mainly from a neighboring Cambrian magmatic arc. High-grade metamorphism occurred during the Late Ordovician-early Silurian. A Cascadia-type evolution is proposed, involving stretching of the Cambrian active continental margin during the Ordovician-early Silurian and mantle upwelling.
GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Thermodynamics
Zhi Li, Qing Zhao, Hong Guo, Ruting Huang
Summary: This study empirically investigates the impact of fossil fuel subsidies on energy-saving technological change. The results show that there are significant differences in fossil fuel subsidies across different fuel types in China and these subsidies have a significant impact on energy-saving technological change. Therefore, strategic measures are needed to reform fossil energy subsidies and promote energy-saving technologies.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Shuoyang Li, Yanxiang Li, Rong Zhu, Hongyang Wang
Summary: This study investigated the source of lead in Bronze Age artefacts from the Central Plains in China. The results indicated that the smelting slag contained lead, lead-arsenic, and copper-lead-tin inclusions, with Pb-O as the main chemical state. The findings provide significant clues for exploring lead mineral production in the Central Plains during the Early Bronze Age.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Gong Cheng, Huikun Huang, Huan Li, Xiaoqing Deng, Rehan Khan, Landry SohTamehe, Asad Atta, Xuechong Lang, Xiaodong Guo
Summary: The study established inversion maps for metallic elements based on geochemical exploration data and remote sensing data, providing a reference for metallic ore prospecting. The research found that ASTER spectrum has higher accuracy than WorldView-2 in some element inversions, while the high spatial resolution of WorldView-2 enhances the precision of the inversion maps.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Maxim V. Bobrovsky, Dmitry A. Kupriyanov, Alexei L. Smirnov, Larisa G. Khanina, Maria V. Dobrovolskaya, Alexei V. Tiunov
Summary: Charcoal from various natural soil archives, including archaeological sites, forest and arable soils, and sediment, was studied. Radiocarbon dating was performed on 41 samples, and a total of 2277 charcoals were analyzed. The results indicated the presence of 13 woody species, with Pinus and Picea dominating. Charcoals older than 300 BC were only found in sediment and pits. The highest diversity of woody species was observed in cultural layers formed during the Early Iron Age. The burning for arable farming began in the 6th century AD. Woody taxa showed a decrease in species and proportion from the Early Iron Age to the present.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Pei Guo, Huaguo Wen, Luis Gibert, Jun Jin, Jian Wang, Haiyan Lei
Summary: This study describes and interprets the mineral and facies assemblages of lacustrine shales that occurred in an ancient volcanic-related alkaline playa-lake, considering the importance of diagenetic pathways. Differentiated laminated lithofacies in the Early Permian Fengcheng Formation were influenced by depositional environments, affecting subsequent diagenetic pathways.
MARINE AND PETROLEUM GEOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Honglong Zhang, Jun Yan, Jingping Niu, Haiping Wang, Xun Li
Summary: Exposure to both cadmium and lead can promote systemic inflammation, and the effects are exacerbated with increased exposure levels. Subjects in the polluted area had significantly higher levels of Cd and Pb in their blood compared to the control area, and differences were observed in immune inflammation biomarkers. High co-exposure to Cd and Pb resulted in higher levels of immune inflammation markers, indicating a correlation between exposure levels and systemic inflammation.
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sergio Almecija, Ashley S. Hammond, Nathan E. Thompson, Kelsey D. Pugh, Salvador Moya-Sola, David M. Alba
Summary: Humans diverged from apes around 9.3 to 6.5 million years ago, with the origins of the human lineage requiring an understanding of the morphology, behavior, and environment of the last common ancestor between chimpanzees and humans. While modern hominoids share some features, the fossil record indicates a diverse range of ancient species with varying locomotor adaptations, suggesting parallel evolution in response to similar selection pressures. Current evidence suggests that hominins originated from Miocene ape ancestors in Africa different from any living species.
Article
Geology
Xia Hu, Bing Xiao, Hongjun Jiang, Jianhan Huang
Summary: The Shaquanzi deposit is an important Fe-Cu deposit in the Yamansu Fe mineralization belt, Eastern Tianshan. Three types of magnetite were identified with distinct textural and mineral characteristics. The study indicates that magnetite in the Shaquanzi deposit was mainly formed through hydrothermal processes.
ORE GEOLOGY REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Yunxian Feng, Zhong Li
Summary: Microbial communities regained prominence in the Cambrian, controlled by nutrient concentrations of different sources. In deep-water settings, aeolian dust and suspension particles modified seawater geochemical characteristics. In shallow-water environments, microbes preferred quiet conditions for development.
GEOLOGICAL JOURNAL
(2022)
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)