Magnetostratigraphy and provenance of the Qingzhou loess in Shandong province

Loess deposits with varying thickness are widely distributed on the intermontane valleys and piedmont zones on the northern side of the central Shandong mountainous regions. However, the basal ages and material resources of the loess deposits are not clear. The paper studied the Qingzhou loess profile in Shandong with magnetostratigraphic and optical stimulated luminescence （OSL） methods and further investigated its main provenances with the mineralogical methods. The magnetostratigraphic results showed that the Brunhes/Matuyama （B/M） reversal boundary was not recognized, suggesting a basal age younger than 0.78 Ma. Extrapolations by sedimentation rates, based on the upper part depositional rate from the OSL age, the basal age of the Qingzhou loess is about 0.5 Ma. Until now, older loess deposits have not been reported on the northern side of the central Shandong mountainous regions. The results of the paper indicate that the loess deposits in this area might have strated from the Middle Pleistocene. The basal age of Qingzhou loess is approximately synchronous with the Xiashu loess in the middle-lower reaches of Yangtze River. Major components of clay minerals in the Qingzhou profile are dominated by illite. Other clay mineral compositions are mainly smectite, chlorite and kaolinite, which are similar with the Xifeng loess in the Loess Plateau. However, the contents of smectite and the ratios of illite and kaolinte in the Qingzhou loess samples are higher than those in the Xifeng loess samples of the Loess Plateau, indicating that the loess in the northern side of the central Shandong mountainous regions has different sources from that of the loess deposits in the Loess Plateau. The clay mineral analysis further reinforces the earlier conclu- sion that the marine strata exposed in the Laizhou Bay and the fluvial plain of the lower reaches of Yellow River during the glacier periods are the main material sources for the Qingzhou loess deposits, which is an indicator to the local aridification of the lower reaches of the Yellow River. Loess deposition in the central Shandong mountainous regions started at around 0.5 Ma. The age of Qingzhou loess is approximately synchronous with the ongoing high-latitude cold since the Middle Pleistocene, which indicates that strengthened East Asian winter monsoon was sufficiently energetic to bring substantial quantities of material from the marine strata exposed in the Laizhou Bay and the fluvial plain of the lower reaches of the Yellow River to the central Shandong mountainous regions. The results therefore suggest that both regional geological process and global changes were responsible for the formation of Qingzhou loess since Middle Pleistocene.

Effects of microtopography on spatial point pattern of forest stands on the semi-arid Loess Plateau,China

Microtopography may affect the distribution of forests through its effect on rain redistribution and soil water distribution on the semi-arid Loess Plateau,China.In this study,we investigated the characteristics of microtopography on two shady slopes（slope A,5 hm2,uniform slope;slope B,5 hm2,microtopography slope） and surveyed the height,the diameter at breast height and the location（x,y coordinates） of all selected individual trees（Robinia pseudoacacia Linn.,Pyrus betulifolia Bunge,Populus hopeiensis Hu ＆ Chow,Armeniaca sibirica Lam.,Populus simonii Carr.and Ulmus pumila Linn.） on slope A and slope B in the watersheds of Wuqi county,Shaanxi province.Subsequently,the effects of microtopography on the spatial pattern of forest stands were analyzed using Ripley＇s K（r） function.The results showed that：（1） The maximal aggregation radiuses of the tree species on the uniform slope（slope A） were larger than 40 m,whereas those of the tree species on the microtopography slope（slope B） were smaller than 30 m.（2） On slope B,the spatial association of R.pseudoacacia with P.betulifolia,A.sibirica,P.simonii and U.pumila varied from being strongly negative to positive at microtopography scales.The spatial association of Populus hopeiensis Hu ＆ Chow with U.pumila also varied from being strongly negative to positive at microtopography scales.However,there was no spatial association between P.betulifolia and P.hopeiensis,P.betulifolia and A.sibirica,P.betulifolia and P.simonii,P.betulifolia and U.pumila,P.hopeiensis and A.sibirica,P.hopeiensis and P.simonii,A.sibirica and P.simonii,A.sibirica and U.pumila,and P.simonii and U.pumila.On slope A,the spatial association between tree species were strongly negative.The results suggest that microtopography may shape tree distribution patterns on the semi-arid Loess Plateau.

Evaluation of Ecological Environment Quality of Typical Forest Parks

Forest tourist areas have an excellent ecological environment,which is conducive to people's physical and mental health.In this study,Fuzhou National Forest Park and Wuying National Forest Park were selected as typical representatives of the southern and northern forest parks,respectively,which were compared by qualitative and quantitative research methods from such five aspects as air quality,climate quality,water environment quality,acoustic environment quality and biological population in some forest areas.The results showed that Fuzhou National Forest Park has a concentration of negative oxygen ions much higher than Wuying National Forest Park,and is thus more conducive to people's health;and it has the characteristics of warm and comfortable climate throughout the year and high biodiversity,but the noise is 4.35 db higher than Wuying National Forest Park,and the water quality is slightly poorer than that of Wuying National Forest Park.And its DO value is about 3.89 smaller in autumn than in summer.In Wuying National Forest Park,the concentration of negative oxygen ions is 53.6% lower than Fuzhou National Forest Park,but it is also above the national standard.The climate is only comfortable in June-August,and is colder or cooler in other months.The water quality is better than that of Fuzhou National Forest Park.In particular,the PH value is about 0.38 lower than that of Fuzhou National Forest Park.It has its own unique biological characteristics.The number of tourists in summer is higher,resulting in higher noise in summer than in autumn.The two forest parks in the north and the south are both good places for people to relax and enjoy.

Analysis of Drought Characteristics in the Inland Areas of Shandong Province from 1960 to 2013

Drought is one of the major meteorological disasters affecting the climate in China.In this paper,the interannual variation and seasonal distribution changes of drought at different time scales were analyzed with the standardized precipitation index( SPI) as the drought evaluation criterion to the precipitation data of the 5 meteorological stations of Jinan,Tai'an,Yiyuan,Shen County and Yanzhou from 1960 to 2013.The results showed that:(1) the frequency of drought was low in spring and summer in inland areas of Shandong Province,while autumn had frequent occurrences of moderate drought,and winter had frequent occurrences of heavy and severe droughts.(2) In the 1960 s,1980 s and early 21^(st) century,the number of droughts increased significantly,and the SPI values showed a significant decrease.(3) The 3-month time scale range was wide,during which the frequency of occurrence was high.The trend of SPI changes at the 12-month time scale was affected by the accumulation of antecedent precipitation,and the change was slow.The research results can provide a scientific reference for arid climate analysis and water resources management in agriculture and production in inland areas of Shandong Province.

Study on Spatial Variation Characteristics of Air Pollutants in Typical Cities of Shandong Province

Air pollution has become the most concerned regional environmental problem in China at present.According to the data of typical cities in Shandong Province from January,2014 to December,2015,the air quality status,pollution status and spatial variation characteristics of air pollutants were classified and analyzed,thereby providing a scientific basis for air pollution control.The conclusions of this study are as follows:(1) PM_(2.5) was the most important atmospheric pollutant in Shandong Province;(2) Qingdao had the best air quality with a good air quality rate of 73.7%,while Jinan had the worst air quality with a good air quality rate only of 31.3%; and(3) the days with heavy pollution were mainly concentrated in winter,mainly due to coal-fired heating in winter.

Detrital-Zircon Evidence for the Origin of the Late Quaternary Loess in Qingzhou,Shandong Province and Its Implications for the Evolution of the Yellow River

The loess depositions in Shandong Province are important parts of loess records in eastern China,but their origin and genetic linkage between the Yellow River and the Chinese Loess Plateau are still unclear.This paper presents the detrital-zircon evidence for the origin and provenance evolution of the Qingzhou loess in Shandong Province.The results show that:(1) the Qingzhou loess was sourced from the sandy lands within the North China Plain that were fed by the silty materials from the Chinese Loess Plateau,the mountainous region in central Shandong Province,and the Yanshan and Taihang Mountains;(2) the Qingzhou loess was mainly sourced from the loess materials transported by the Yellow River,and the basal age of the Qingzhou loess indicates the timing of intensified aridification of the North China Plain and integration of the Yellow River was not later than 0.5 Ma;and(3) the provenance and grain-size of the Qingzhou loess underwent a significant transition at ~0.22 Ma,which was related to the expansion of the sandy land within the North China Plain.Our results indicate that the origin of the loess on the North China Plain are obviously different from the loess on the Chinese Loess Plateau,and the increase of grain-size and accumulation rate in the loess records on the North China Plain at ~0.22 Ma was due to the environmental deterioration of the eastern China.

Sr-Nd-Pb Isotopic Compositions of the Neogene Eolian Deposits in the Xining Basin and Implications for Their Dust Sources

The Neogene eolian deposits in the Xining Basin are valuable archive for studying the evolution of the Asian monsoon system and geomorphic processes of Northwest China. The Neogene eolian deposits that paleomagnetically dated at about 14 Ma probably were sourced from the middle and west Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau（QTP） as indicated by elemental compositions and magnetic properties. This study provides the Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic ratios of different sediments（gravels from the river terraces, Neogene eolian deposits and Quaternary loess） in the Xining Basin. The results show that：（1） Sr-Nd isotopic compositions of terrace gravels are different from those of the Neogene and Quaternary eolian deposits, although the Nd isotope ratios of gravel on the 10 th terrace（T10） and eolian deposits are similar.（2） Pb isotopic compositions of river gravels are obviously different from the eolian deposits in the Xining Basin. However, Pb isotopic compositions of eolian deposits in the basin are similar to those of eolian deposits in the central Chinese Loess Plateau.（3） Sr-Nd-Pb isotope results indicate that the Neogene eolian deposits in the Xining Basin were probably sourced from remote areas outside of the basin by long-distance transportation. The Qaidam Basin is probably an important source area for the eolian deposits in the Xining Basin.