Climate warming is significantly influenced by rising summer maximum temperatures: insights from tree-ring evidence of the Western Tianshan Mountains, China

As one of the regions most affected by global cli-mate warming,the Tianshan mountains has experienced sev-eral ecological crises,including retreating glaciers and water deficits.Climate warming in these mountains is considered mainly to be caused by increases in minimum temperatures and winter temperatures,while the influence of maximum temperatures is unclear.In this study,a 300-year tree-ring chronology developed from the Western Tianshan Moun-tains was used to reconstruct the summer(June-August)maximum temperature(T_(max6-8))variations from 1718 to 2017.The reconstruction explained 53.1% of the variance in the observed T_(max6-8).Over the past 300 years,the T_(max6-8)reconstruction showed clear interannual and decadal vari-abilities.There was a significant warming trend(0.18°C/decade)after the 1950s,which was close to the increasing rates of the minimum and mean temperatures.The increase in maximum temperature was also present over the whole Tianshan mountains and its impact on climate warming has increased.The T_(max6-8) variations in the Western Tianshan mountains were influenced by frequent volcanic eruptions combined with the influence of solar activity and the sum-mer North Atlantic Oscillation.This study reveals that cli-mate warming is significantly influenced by the increase in maximum temperatures and clarifies possible driving mech-anisms of temperature variations in the Western Tianshan mountains which should aid climate predictions.

Climate warming is significantly influenced by rising summer maximum temperatures:insights from tree-ring evidence of the Western Tianshan Mountains,China

As one of the regions most affected by global climate warming,the Tianshan mountains has experienced several ecological crises,including retreating glaciers and water deficits.Climate warming in these mountains is considered mainly to be caused by increases in minimum temperatures and winter temperatures,while the influence of maximum temperatures is unclear.In this study,a 300-year tree-ring chronology developed from the Western Tianshan Mountains was used to reconstruct the summer(June-August)maximum temperature(Tmax6-8) variations from 1718 to2017.The reconstruction explained 53.1% of the variance in the observed Tmax6-8.Over the past 300 years,the Tmax6-8reconstruction showed clear interannual and decadal variabilities.There was a significant warming trend(0.18 ℃/decade) after the 1950s,which was close to the increasing rates of the minimum and mean temperatures.The increase in maximum temperature was also present over the whole Tianshan mountains and its impact on climate warming has increased.The Tmax6-8variations in the Western Tianshan mountains were influenced by frequent volcanic eruptions combined with the influence of solar activity and the summer North Atlantic Oscillation.This study reveals that climate warming is significantly influenced by the increase in maximum temperatures and clarifies possible driving mechanisms of temperature variations in the Western Tianshan mountains which should aid climate predictions.

Impact of typical environments in China’s western mountainous areas on the durability of railway concrete:a review

Purpose–This study aims to analyze the impact mechanism of typical environments in China’s western mountainous areas on the durability of railway concrete and propose measures to improve durability.Design/methodology/approach–With the continuous promotion of infrastructure construction,the focus of China’s railway construction has gradually shifted to the western region.The four typical environments of large temperature differences,strong winds and dryness,high cold and low air pressure unique to the western mountainous areas of China have adverse effects on the durability of typical railway structure concrete(bridges,ballastless tracks and tunnels).This study identified the characteristics of four typical environments in the western mountainous areas of China through on-site research.The impact mechanism of the four typical environments on the durability of concrete in different structural parts of railways has been explored through theoretical analysis and experimental research;Finally,a strategy for improving the durability of railway concrete suitable for the western mountainous areas of China was proposed.Findings–The daily temperature difference in the western mountainous areas of China is more than twice that of the plain region,which will lead to significant temperature deformation and stress in the multi-layered structure of railway ballastless tracks.It will result in cracking.The wind speed in the western plateau region is about 2.5 to 3 times that of the plain region,and the average annual rainfall is only 1/5 of that in the plain region.The drying effect on the surface of casting concrete will significantly accelerate its cracking process,leading to serious durability problems.The environmental temperature in the western mountainous areas of China is generally low,and there are more freeze-thaw cycles,which will increase the risk of freeze-thaw damage to railway concrete.The environmental air pressure in the western plateau region is only 60%of that in the plain region.The moisture inside the concrete is more likely to diffuse into the surrounding environment under the pressure difference,resulting in greater water loss and shrinkage deformation of the concrete in the plateau region.The above four issues will collectively lead to the rapid deterioration of concrete durability in the western plateau region.The corresponding durability improvement suggestions from theoretical research,new technology development and standard system was proposed in this paper.Originality/value–The research can provide the mechanism of durability degradation of railway concrete in the western mountainous areas of China and corresponding improvement strategies.

Geological Characteristics and Zircon U-Pb Dating of Volcanic Rocks from the Beizhan Iron Deposit in Western Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang, NW China

The Beizhan large iron deposit located in the east part of the Awulale metallogenic belt in the western Tianshan Mountains is hosted in the Unit 2 of the Dahalajunshan Formation as lens, veinlets and stratoid, and both of the hanging wall and footwall are quartz-monzonite; the dip is to the north with thick and high-grade ore bodies downwards. Ore minerals are mainly magnetite with minor sulfides, such as pyrite, pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite and sphalerite. Skarnization is widespread around the ore bodies, and garnet, diopside, wollastonite, actinolite, epidote, uralite, tourmaline sericite and calcite are ubiquitous as gangues. Radiating outwards from the center of the ore body the deposit can be classified into skarn, calcite, serpentinite and marble zones. LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating of the rhyolite and dacite from the Dahalajunshan Formation indicates that they were formed at 301.3±0.8 Ma and 303.7±0.9 Ma, respectively, which might have been related to the continental arc magmatism during the late stage of subduction in the western Tianshan Mountains. Iron formation is genetically related with volcanic eruption during this interval. The Dahalajunshan Formation and the quartz-monzonite intrusion jointly control the distribution of ore bodies. Both ore textures and wall rock alteration indicate that the Beizhan iron deposit is probably skarn type.

Discovery of Radiolarian Fossils from the Aiketik Group at the Western End of the South Tianshan Mountains of Chinaand Its Implications

The Aiketik Group, distributed at the western end of the South TianshanMountains, China, is an important lithostratigraphic unit involved in the South Tianshan orogen. Itis separated from the adjacent rocks by faults. Generally, the geologists ascribed it to the UpperCarboniferous according to Pseudostaffella sp., Profusulinella sp. and Fusulinella sp. found fromthe limestone and sandy limestone of Aiketik. Our radiolarian fossils were obtained from the chertsamples collected from the Haladaok section located at the upper Tuoshihan River. The fossils mainlyinclude Albaillella undulata Deflandre, Albaillella paradoxa Deflandre, Albaillella sp. aff. A.paradoxa Deflandre, Albaillella sp. cf. A. deflandrei Gourmelon, Albaillella sp., Albaillellaexcelsa Ishiga, Kito and Imoto (?), Belowea variabilis (Ormiston et Lane), Callella cf. C.parvispinosa Won, Entactinia cf. E. tortispina Ormiston et Lane, Entactinia aff. E. tortispinaOrmiston et Lane, Entactinia variospina Won, Entactinia sp., Eostylodictya rota (Won),Latentifistula impella (Ormistone et Lane) (?), Latentifistula turgita Omiston et Lane,Latentifistulidae gen. et. sp. indet. and Polyentactinia cf. aranea Gourmelon. Among them,Albaillella excelsa Ishiga, Kito and Imoto (?) is a Late Permian species with some elementsuncertain as there is only one poorly-preserved fossil of this species found so far. And tworadiolarian assemblages can be identified from the other fossils. One is the early EarlyCarboniferous assemblage represented by Albaillella undulata Deflandre, Albaillella paradoxa andAlbaillella sp. cf. A. deflandrei Gourmelon. And the other is the late Early Carboniferousassemblage represented by Eostylodictya rota (Won). This is the first discovery of radiolarianfossils in the Aiketik Group, also the first discovery of Late Permian radiolarian fossils in theSouth Tianshan Mountains. Meanwhile, this is the current westernmost sampling site of radiolarianfossils in the South Tianshan Mountains.

Upwelling Process of the Western Himalaya Mountains:Height and Velocity Estimation Evidenced by Formation and Evolution of the Zanda Basin,Tibet,China

Based on field geological survey, stratigraphic section measurement and indoor comprehensive investigation, the Zanda Basin＇s tectonic location in the Himalaya Plate was ascertained, and the formation and evolution of the Zanda Basin during the Pliocene to Early Pleistocene was classified as six stages： （a） primary rift-faulting stage, （b） quick rift-faulting Stage, （c） intensive rift-faulting stage, （d） stasis stage, （e） secondary rift-faulting stage, and （f） secondary quick rift-faulting stage. Based on this six-staged formation-evolution theory of the Zanda Basin, the upwelling process of the Western Himalaya Mountains from the Pliocene to Early Pleistocene was classified as the following five stages： （a） slow upwelling stage （5.4-4.4 Ma）, （b） mid-velocity upwelling stage （4.4-3.5 Ma）, （c） quick upwelling stage （3.5-3.2 Ma）, （d） upwelling-ceasing stage （3.2-2.7 Ma）, and （e） quick upwelling stage （2.7 Ma）. Research has shown that in the duration from the Early Pliocene （4.7 Ma） to the End of Pliocene （2.67 Ma）, which lasted 2.03 million years, the Himalaya Mountains had uplifted 1500 m at a velocity of 0.74 mm/a; this belongs to a mid-velocity upwening. During the 1.31 million years in the Early Stage of the Early Pleistocene, the Himalaya Mountains had risen up another 1500 m at a velocity of 1.15 mm/a; this is a rather quick upwelling. All of these data have shown that the upwelling of the Western Himalaya Mountains is along a complicated process with multi-stages, multi-velocities, and non-uniformitarian features.

Selenium Enrichment in Cambrian Stratabound Gold Deposits in the Western Qinling Mountains

Stratabound gold deposits in the western Qinling Mountains occur in Cambrian chert formation composed of carbonaceous chert and carbonaceous slate. The distinctive chert formation provides important grounds for the mineralization and controls on the formation of gold deposits. Study shows that Se is exceptionally higher in both host rocks and gold orebodies. It may be recovered as a valuable component in ores for total utilization, and in some localities even independent Se orebodies (which are mined exclusively for Se) may be delineated. In gold ore Se mainly occurs as independent minerals or in the isomorphous form in sulphides and there is a positive correlation between Se and Au.

Thrust Propagation in the Aqqikkol Lake Area, the East Kunlun Mountains, Northwestern China

The western segment of the East Kunlun Mountains is one of the poorly studied regions in northwestern China. Through a structural analysis of the typical sections, we have the following views: (1) There is a very well developed fault system in the western segment of the East Kunlun Mountains and thrust propagation, normal slip and decoupling are the chief deformation events in this area. (2) Although the thrusting started in the Late Carboniferous and Late Triassic-Early Jurassic, strong activity took place in the Miocene-Quaternary when the Kumkol basin was strongly downwarped. (3) The tectonic pattern of coexistence of N-directed thrust propagation and S-directed normal slip in this area is consistent with the general tectonic pattern of the northern Qinghai-Tibet plateau and also very similar to that of the Himalayan region on the southern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau, but their directions between the thrust propagation are opposite and all the strong thrust propagations occurred from the Miocene-Pliocene to Quaternary, a period featuring strong collision between the Indian plate and the Eurasian plate and abrupt uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau. This oppositely directed thrust propagation and normal slip reveal such kinematic characteristics as symmetric propagations of deep-seated materials towards the north and south beneath the Qinghai-Tibet plateau and gravitational sliding of superficial materials towards the interior of the plateau. Therefore, the establishment of the fault system in the study area may provide an approach to the study of deep processes of the northern Qinghai-Tibet plateau and the construction of a unified geodynamic model for the uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau.

Zircon Dating and Geological Implications of Granitic Gneiss in the Metamorphic Zone of Gaoligong Mountains in Western Yunnan, China

The general classification of intermediate-acid intrusive rocks in the metamorphic zone of Gaoligong Mountains as one of the metamorphic terranes of Proterozoic Gaoligong Mountains is problematic regarding the intrusion stage and age, as well as the subsequent metamorphism and deformation. In this study, we investigated granitic gneiss in the metamorphic zone of Gaoligong Mountains based on the 1：50,000 regional geological survey of Qushi Street （2011-2013） and SHRIMP U-Pb zircon geochronology. Results showed that the SHRIMP U-Pb zircon dating of granitic gneiss ranged from 163.5±5.7 Ma to 74.0±2.0 Ma. Thus, the granitic gneiss was grouped into orthometamorphic rocks （metamorphic intrusions）. The dating data of granite rocks associated with intense metamorphism and deformation were divided into three groups, 163.5±5.7 to 162.3±3.1 Ma, 132.2-101.0 Ma and 99.4±3.5-74.0±2.0 Ma, which respectively represented three independent geologic events including an important magma intrusion with superimposed metamorphic effects in the late Middle Jurassic, regional dynamic metamorphism and superimposed reformation of fluid action in the early Cretaceous, and dynamic metamorphism dominated by ductile shear and metamorphism starting from the late Cretaceous.

Soil Fertility Survey in Western Usambara Mountains, Northern Tanzania

Soil samples from thirty sites representing four agro-ecological zones in the Western Usambara Mountains (WUM) of the Lushoto District in northern Tanzania were collected and analyzed for different nutrients. The results suggested that the major soil fertility constraint was P deficiency. On the basis of critical levels established in other areas, 90% of the soils were ranked as P deficient. This was followed by N, which was ranked as inadequate in 73% of the sites. Magnesium, K, and Ca also appeared limiting with 67%, 53% and 50% of the soils falling below the established critical values, respectively. A few soils (10%) were also found to contain exchangeable Al. The metallic micronutrients (Cu, Fe, and Zn) were adequate in all soils. Two sites had excessive Mn that could lead to toxicity in crops, and one was Mn deficient.

Variations of Snow Temperature and their Influence on Snow Cover Physical Parameters in the Western Tianshan Mountains,China

This article discussed about snow temperature variations and their impact on snow cover parameters. Automatic temperature recorders were used to sample at lo-minute intervals at the Tianshan Station for Snow-cover and Avalanche Research, Chinese snow temperature Academy of Sciences. lo-layer and the snow cover parameters were measured by the snow property analyzer （Snow Fork） in its Stable period, Interim period and Snow melting period. Results indicate that the amplitude of the diurnal fluctuation in the temperature during Snow melting period is 1.62 times greater than that during Stable period. Time up to the peak temperature at the snow surface lags behind the peak solar radiation by more than 2.5 hours, and lags behind the peak atmospheric temperature by more than 0.2 hours during all three periods. The optimal fitted function of snow temperature profile becomes more complicated from Stable period to Snow melting period. 22 h temperature profiles in Stable period are the optimal fitted by cubic polynomial equation. In Interim period and Snow melting period, temperature profiles are optimal fitted by exponential equation between sunset and sunrise, and by Fourier function when solar radiation is strong. The vertical gradient in the snow temperature reaches its maximum value at the snow surface for three periods. The peak of this maximum value occurs during Stableperiod, and is 4.46 times greater than during Interim period. The absolute value of temperature gradient is lower than 0.1℃ cm-1 for 30 cm beneath snow surface. Snow temperature and temperature gradient in Stable period-Interim period indirectly cause increase （decrease） of snow density mainly by increasing （decreasing） permittivity. While it dramatically increases its water content to change its permittivity and snow density in Snow melting period.

Molecular Organic Geochemical Characteristics and Coal Gas Potential Evaluation of Mesozoic Coal Seams in the Western Great Khingan Mountains

Coal-bearing strata are widespread in the western Great Khingan Mountains. Abundant coal resources have been found in the Jurassic Alatanheli Groups, the Cretaceous Bayanhua Groups, the Damoguaihe Formation and the Yimin Formation. The organic geochemical characteristics were analyzed in combination with hydrocarbon source rock evaluation and molecular organic geochemistry experiments, and the coal gas potential of coal seams was evaluated. The source rock evaluation results indicated that the Mesozoic coal samples have the characteristics of high organic matter abundance(TOC>30%), low maturity(Ro values of approximately 0.6%), and type Ⅲ composition. The hydrocarbon generation potentials of the Alatanheli Groups and Bayanhua Groups are high, while the generation potentials of the Damoguaihe Formation and the Yimin Formation are low. The results of geochemistry show that the depositional environment of the coal seam was a lacustrine, oxidizing environment with a low salinity, and the source of the organic matter was mainly higher plants. Affected by weak degradation, the coal seams mainly formed low-maturity gas of thermal catalytic origin. The Cretaceous coal seams contain a large amount of phytoplankton groups deposited in a low-stability environment affected by a transgression event, and the potential range varied widely. For the Jurassic coal seams, the depositional environment was more stable, and the coal seams feature a higher coal-forming gas potential.

Geochemistry of Sediments from a Subalpine Lake Sedimentary Succession in the Western Nanling Mountains,Southern China:Implications for Catchment Weathering During the Last 15400 Years

In the present work,15400 yr old geochemical records of a core from the subalpine Daping swamp are presented with the aim to examine the relationship between the chemical weathering and the climatic changes in the region of the western Nanling Mountains,China.The climate of the study region was deeply controlled by the East Asian summer monsoon.The results indicate that,in the past 15400 yrs,the values of chemical index of alteration(CIA)ranged from 73.9%to 88.2%(mean:85.3%),suggested a medium and high intensity of chemical weathering.The local exogenous clastic materials,which were derived from the weathered residues,played a key role in contributing towards the sediments.Since the climate-induced chemical weathering exerted strong influences on the geochemical features of weathered residues,the geochemical characteristics of the sediments were deeply impacted by climatic conditions.Wetter and warmer conditions would favor increased chemical weathering,resulting in more leaching of soluble and mobile elements(e.g.,Ba and Sr)and leaving the resistant and immobile elements(e.g.,Al and Ti)enriched in the weathered residues.These materials were then eroded and transported into the lake,and led to the sediments characterized by the characteristic of having depleted soluble elements.In contrast,dry and cold conditions would result in an opposite trend.In this sense,the geochemical records can serve as proxies to indicate changes of chemical weathering intensity,which were closely related to the evolution of summer monsoon.

Spatiotemporal variations in the growth status of declining wild apple trees in a narrow valley in the western Tianshan Mountains, China

Malus sieversii(wild apple tree),only distributed in the Tianshan Mountains in Central Asia,is a tertiary relic species and an ancestral species of cultivated apples.However,existing natural populations of wild apple trees have been declining.To date,spatiotemporal variations in the growth status of declining wild apple trees and influencing factors in the narrow valley areas in the Tianshan Mountains remain unclear.In this study,field investigation and sampling were carried out in three years(2016-2018)at four elevations(1300,1400,1500,and 1600 m)in the Qiaolakesai Valley(a typical longitudinal narrow valley in the Yili River Valley)of the western Tianshan Mountains in Xinyuan County,Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region,China.Projective coverage,dead branch percentage,and 18 twig traits(these 20 parameters were collectively referred to as plant traits)were determined to comprehensively reflect the growth status of declining wild apple trees.The values of dead branch percentage ranged from 36%to 59%,with a mean of 40%.Year generally showed higher impact on plant traits than elevation.In 2017 and 2018,projective coverage,leaf size,leaf nitrogen concentration,and nitrogen to phosphorous ratio were markedly higher than those in 2016.However,dead branch percentage and leaf and stem phosphorous concentrations showed the opposite trend.Most of the topological parameters of plant trait networks differed in the three years,but the strength of trait-trait association increased year by year.The mean difference between day and night temperatures(MDT),annual accumulative precipitation,soil electrical conductivity,and soil pH had the greatest impact on the plant trait matrix.The growth status of declining wild apple trees was directly and positively affected by MDT and leaf size.In conclusion,the growth of declining wild apple trees distributed in the narrow valley areas was more sensitive to interannual environmental changes than elevation changes.The results are of great significance for further revealing the decline mechanism of wild apple trees in the Tianshan Mountains.

Survey of Ecotourism Landscape Resources and Shrub Landscape Resources in Western Sichuan Mountains

As a high-end tourism activity advocating back to nature and protecting the nature,ecotourism has won increasing attention in recent years home and abroad.Being endowed with outstanding topographical and natural landscape resources,Sichuan has been a major ecotourism province in China.Particularly,western Sichuan mountains is more scarcely populated area with great topographical fluctuations,thus it is more suitable for developing ecotourism activities than eastern Sichuan.Based on previous researches and statistical analysis,this paper reviewed the overall situation of ecotourism landscape resources in western Sichuan mountains,including its geomorphological landforms,hydrographic landscapes,biological landscapes,meteorological and climatic landscapes.More importantly,in view of the blank area found in the statistical analysis,the paper analyzed the shrub landscapes on the basis of fi eld investigation,to support further research on the development and utilization of local ecotourism resources.

The Key Influence of Fluid in the Preserves, Mineral Assemblages, Compositionsand Structures: Study from High-Pressure Eclogite and Its Amphibolization in the Western Dabie Mountains,Central China

Pseudosection modeling for the garnet amphibolite samples from the Western Dabie Mountains show they have experienced similar HP metamorphic evolution with that of the adjected eclogites.The common assemblage of

The Key Influence of Fluid in Metamorphic Rock Preserves, Mineral Assemblages, Compositions and Structures: Study from High-Pressure Eclogite and Its Amphibolization in the Western Dabie Mountains,Central China

The most of high/ultrahigh-pressure(HP/UHP)terranes of the world are characterized by the occurrence of numerous pods,lenses or layered blocks of eclogite and amphibolites(e.g.O’Brien,1997;Elvevold and Gilotti,2000;Zhang et al.,2003;and references there in).Field and petrological features suggest that amphibolites should

Naming and Distribution of Traditional Mountain Settlements in Mentougou in Western Beijing

Settlement naming is an important carrier of settlement society and culture,carries regional culture,historical information,beliefs and other information,and is an important clue to understand regional culture and development characteristics.In this paper,the naming of traditional mountain settlements in Mentougou in western Beijing was studied through literature review and field research,and the correlation between the naming and distribution characteristics of the settlements was discussed to provide reference for the protection and construction of mountain settlements in Mentougou.

渤海湾盆地临清坳陷西部山西组—太原组海陆过渡相泥页岩沉积环境及有机质富集

海陆过渡相页岩气勘探开发处于初级阶段,而渤海湾盆地临清坳陷西部石炭—二叠系山西组—太原组泥页岩具有良好的生烃潜力,也是中国海陆过渡相页岩气开发的重要层位。为研究山西组—太原组泥页岩沉积环境与有机质富集关系,以XJ1井为研究对象,系统开展了岩石矿物、有机地球化学、元素地球化学以及数值分析等工作。研究表明:研究区山西组—太原组泥页岩脆性矿物含量低、黏土矿物含量高,压裂难度大,TOC含量平均值为4.03%,属于优质烃源岩,具备页岩气勘探开发潜力;太原组泥页岩沉积时期处于温暖湿润的气候条件,具有频繁变化的陆源碎屑输入、较低的沉积速率以及低—中等古生产力水平,沉积水体为海水沉积,处于缺氧还原和中等滞留环境;山西组泥页岩沉积时期,古气候条件复杂多变,具有稳定且较高的陆源碎屑输入、中等的沉积速率以及中—高等古生产力水平,沉积水体为微咸水—海水沉积,处于缺氧还原和中等—强滞留环境。根据古环境条件与TOC含量的线性相关性、灰色关联度以及稳健回归分析,认为太原组泥页岩有机质富集主要受控于古气候、古氧化还原以及古水体盐度条件,而山西组泥页岩有机质富集主要受控于古气候以及陆源碎屑输入条件。

数字金融发展提升“两山”转化水平了吗?——来自西部民族地区的经验证据

在数字经济的大背景下,利用数字金融打破“资源诅咒”效应,提升西部民族地区“两山”转化水平,将“生态高地”转变为“经济高地”,对于实现全体人民共同富裕至关重要。本文利用2011—2020年我国西部民族地区省际面板数据,实证考察了数字金融发展对“两山”转化水平的影响和作用机制。基准回归结果表明,数字金融发展显著提升了我国西部民族地区“两山”转化水平。从分项指标来看,数字金融发展对“金山银山”的提升作用显著大于其对“绿水青山”的影响。异质性分析结果表明,在市场一体化程度更深、人力资本水平更高和资源禀赋更好的地区,数字金融发展对“两山”转化水平的提升作用更明显。机制分析结果表明,数字金融发展可以通过提高技术创新能力和促进产业结构优化升级提升“两山”转化水平。本文的研究为进一步提升我国西部民族地区“两山”转化水平,实现全体人民共同富裕提供了决策参考。