Spatial-temporal heterogeneity of ecological quality changes across the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau under the influence of climate factors and human activities

Over the last few decades,the ecological quality of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau(QTP)has significantly changed due to climate warming,humidification,and increasing human activities.Thus,evaluating this region's ecological quality and dominant factors is crucial for sustainable development.In this study,the changes in the ecological quality on the QTP from 2000 to 2020 were evaluated based on aggregated indices and Sen–MK trend analyses,and the dominant factors affecting the ecological quality of the QTP were quantitatively analyzed using decision tree classification.The results revealed that(1)the ecological quality of the QTP exhibited an overall high trend in the east and a low pattern in the west;(2)the ecological quality of the QTP significantly increased from 2000 to 2020,and human activities were the dominant factors causing this change;and(3)the changes in the ecological quality and dominant factors exhibited obvious spatiotemporal heterogeneity.The area with an improved ecological quality occurred mainly in the northern QTP region.It was governed by human activities and precipitation.In contrast,the area with a deteriorated ecological quality occurred largely in the southern QTP region and was dominated by human activities and temperature.The 2000–2010 period was the most significant period of heterogeneity regarding of ecological quality and its driving factors.(4)The change in the ecological quality was mainly affected by the synergistic relationship between human activities and climate change in this region,which encompassed multiple dominant factors.This study provides important information on the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of ecological quality change and its dominant factors on the QTP and offers systematic guidance for the planning and implementation of ecological protection projects.

Quantification of the concrete freeze–thaw environment across the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau based on machine learning algorithms

The reasonable quantification of the concrete freezing environment on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau(QTP) is the primary issue in frost resistant concrete design, which is one of the challenges that the QTP engineering managers should take into account. In this paper, we propose a more realistic method to calculate the number of concrete freeze–thaw cycles(NFTCs) on the QTP. The calculated results show that the NFTCs increase as the altitude of the meteorological station increases with the average NFTCs being 208.7. Four machine learning methods, i.e., the random forest(RF) model, generalized boosting method(GBM), generalized linear model(GLM), and generalized additive model(GAM), are used to fit the NFTCs. The root mean square error(RMSE) values of the RF, GBM, GLM, and GAM are 32.3, 4.3, 247.9, and 161.3, respectively. The R^(2) values of the RF, GBM, GLM, and GAM are 0.93, 0.99, 0.48, and 0.66, respectively. The GBM method performs the best compared to the other three methods, which was shown by the results of RMSE and R^(2) values. The quantitative results from the GBM method indicate that the lowest, medium, and highest NFTC values are distributed in the northern, central, and southern parts of the QTP, respectively. The annual NFTCs in the QTP region are mainly concentrated at 160 and above, and the average NFTCs is 200 across the QTP. Our results can provide scientific guidance and a theoretical basis for the freezing resistance design of concrete in various projects on the QTP.

Contribution of external forcing to summer precipitation trends over the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and Southwest China

在过去的60年中,全球气候经历了快速变暖和短暂的变暖停滞,而中国的区域降水也经历了多样而复杂的变化.本文分析了1961年至2014年外强迫因子对青藏高原和中国西南地区夏季降水趋势的影响.观测数据显示,青藏高原的夏季降水呈增加趋势,而中国西南地区的夏季降水呈减少趋势,这两个相邻地区的夏季降水变化趋势相反.利用CMIP6数据,本文研究了不同外强迫因子对两个区域夏季降水趋势的影响.结果表明,温室气体对青藏高原夏季降水的增加具有显著影响,而气溶胶在中国西南地区夏季降水减少中起主要作用。

Analysis of the Cooling Mechanism of a Crushed Rock Embankment in Warm and Lower Temperature Permafrost Regions along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway

Based on data monitored in situ and theoretical analysis,the characteristics of the temperature field and mechanism of thermal conduction of a crushed rock embankment were studied along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway.The results of experi-ments in the field revealed that the cooling effect of a crushed rock embankment is influenced mainly by the natural con-vection in winter and shield effect in summer,the ventilation of crushed rocks,and the ground temperature regime be-neath the embankment.Consequently,these three factors should be taken into account in numerical simulations,but it is as a result of natural convection only.

Characteristics of thawed interlayer and its effect on embankment settlement along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway in permafrost regions

The formation of thawed interlayer beneath embankment can result in embankment settlement in permafrost regions. Based on the data on ground temperatures and deformations beneath the embankment, observed in-situ along the QinghaiTibet Railway in permafrost regions from 2006 to2013, characteristics of the thawed interlayer beneath the embankment and its influence on the embankment settlement are studied. The results indicate that the thawed interlayer hardly forms beneath the natural field, and beneath the embankments from the Qinghai-Tibet Railway the thawed interlayer develops widely, and it can be refrozen totally in the regions with lower mean annual ground temperature, and developed further in the regions with higher mean annual ground temperature.The thawed interlayer is closely related to the embankment settlement. The ice content of permafrost underlying the thawed interlayer influences the settlement of embankment. The higher the ice content is, the larger the settlement is, and vice versa. The increase in thickness of thawed interlayer mainly results from the decline of artificial permafrost table in high-temperature permafrost regions.

Spatio-temporal evolution of Allium L. in the Qinghaie-Tibet-Plateau region: Immigration and in situ radiation

A plethora of studies investigating the origin and evolution of diverse mountain taxa has assumed a causal link between geological processes （orogenesis） and a biological response （diversification）. Yet, a substantial delay （up to 30 Myr） between the start of orogenesis and diversification is often observed. Evolutionary biologists should therefore identify alternative drivers of diversification and maintenance of biodiversity in mountain systems. Using phylogenetic, biogeographic, and diversification rate analyses, we could identify two independent processes that most likely explain the diversity of the widespread genus Allium in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau （QTP） region： （1） While the QTP-related taxa of the subgenus Melanocrommyum diversified in situ, （2） QTP-related taxa of other subgenera migrated into the QTP from multiple source areas. Furthermore, shifts in diversification rates within Allium could not be attributed spatially and temporally to the uplift history of the QTP region. Instead, global cooling and climate oscillations in the Quaternary were major contributors to increased speciation rates in three clades of AUium. Our study therefore adds to the growing evidence supporting the ＂mountain-geo-biodiversity hypothesis＂, which highlights the role of climate oscillations for the diversification of mountain organisms.

Characteristics of thawed interlayer and its effect on settlement beneath embankment in permafrost regions--A case study for the Qinghai-Tibet Highway

Based on ground temperatures and deformations monitored at the Xieshuihe site along the Qinghai-Tibet Highway(QTH)in permafrost regions from 2004 to 2015,variation of artificial permafrost table(APT),maximum frozen depth(MFD),thawed interlayer thickness(TIT)and ground temperature beneath embankment is analyzed,respectively.The results indicate that under the embankment,the change of APT occurred from October to December of that year and presented a deepening trend.The change of MFD occurred from April to June of that year with no obvious change trend,and TIT had an increasing trend year by year,which mainly resulted from the deepening artificial permafrost table.Mean annual ground temperature at 0.5 m depth was 3.91°C higher beneath the embankment center than that under the natural field.The rising ground temperature at shallow layer of embankment resulted in the development of thawed interlayer beneath the embankment and warming of underlying permafrost.Embankment settlement is closely associated with TIT.Greater settlement easily occurs when permafrost with higher ice content exists under the thawed interlayer,and in turn the settlement is smaller when permafrost with lower ice content exists under the thawed interlayer.

Spatial and temporal change patterns of net primary productivity and its response to climate change in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau of China from 2000 to 2015

The vegetation ecosystem of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau in China,considered to be the′′natural laboratory′′of climate change in the world,has undergone profound changes under the stress of global change.Herein,we analyzed and discussed the spatial-temporal change patterns and the driving mechanisms of net primary productivity(NPP)in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau from 2000 to 2015 based on the gravity center and correlation coefficient models.Subsequently,we quantitatively distinguished the relative effects of climate change(such as precipitation,temperature and evapotranspiration)and human activities(such as grazing and ecological construction)on the NPP changes using scenario analysis and Miami model based on the MOD17A3 and meteorological data.The average annual NPP in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau showed a decreasing trend from the southeast to the northwest during 2000–2015.With respect to the inter-annual changes,the average annual NPP exhibited a fluctuating upward trend from 2000 to 2015,with a steep increase observed in 2005 and a high fluctuation observed from 2005 to 2015.In the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau,the regions with the increase in NPP(change rate higher than 10%)were mainly concentrated in the Three-River Source Region,the northern Hengduan Mountains,the middle and lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River,and the eastern parts of the North Tibet Plateau,whereas the regions with the decrease in NPP(change rate lower than–10%)were mainly concentrated in the upper reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River and the Ali Plateau.The gravity center of NPP in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau has moved southwestward during 2000–2015,indicating that the increment and growth rate of NPP in the southwestern part is greater than those of NPP in the northeastern part.Further,a significant correlation was observed between NPP and climate factors in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau.The regions exhibiting a significant correlation between NPP and precipitation were mainly located in the central and eastern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau,and the regions exhibiting a significant correlation between NPP and temperature were mainly located in the southern and eastern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau.Furthermore,the relative effects of climate change and human activities on the NPP changes in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau exhibited significant spatial differences in three types of zones,i.e.,the climate change-dominant zone,the human activity-dominant zone,and the climate change and human activity interaction zone.These research results can provide theoretical and methodological supports to reveal the driving mechanisms of the regional ecosystems to the global change in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau.

Effects of Freeze–thaw Cycles on Soil Mechanical and Physical Properties in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau

Extreme freeze-thaw action occurs on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau due to its unique climate resulting from high elevation and cold temperature.This action causes damage to the surface soil structure, as soil erosion in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is dominated by freeze-thaw erosion.In this research,freezing–thawing process of the soil samples collected from the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau was carried out by laboratory experiments to determinate the volume variation of soil as well as physical and mechanical properties, such as porosity, granularity and uniaxial compressive strength, after the soil experiences various freeze–thaw cycles.Results show that cohesion and uniaxial compressive strength decreased as the volume and porosity of the soil increased after experiencing various freeze–thaw cycles, especially in the first six freeze–thaw cycles.Consequently, the physical and mechanical properties of the soil were altered.However, granularity and internal friction angle did not vary significantly with an increase in the freeze–thaw cycle.The structural damage among soil particles due to frozen water expansion was the major cause of changes in soil mechanical behavior in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau.

PRESENT LANDFORMS, ACTIVE TECTONIC ZONES, DEEP STRUCTURES AND UPLIFT MECHANISMS OF THE LONGSHOUSHAN BLOCK ON THE NORTHERN MARGIN OF THE QINGHAI—TIBET PLATEAU

Located in the northern margin of the Qinghai—Tibet Plateau, the Longshoushan Mt. is a small block between Qinghai—Tibet Landmass and Alashan Landmass.Traditional tectonic viewpoint does not consider that the Longshoushan Mt. is a single tectonic block. It is quite evident that there is only a hazy idea about the Longshoushan block. Though there is a very complex tectonic region between Qinghai—Tibet Landmass and Alashan Landmass, the Longshoushan block in the region shows unique tectonic landforms, deep structures and uplift mechanisms. Researching into the relationship between the Longshoushan block and the Qinghai—Tibet and Alashan Landmasses will contribute to the realization of boundary and orogenic belt on the northern margin of the Qinghai—Tibet block. It is a very important scientific subject.The Longshoushan Mt., longer than 150km in NWW direction and wider than 10km, is located on the northern side of Hexi corridor(100 5°～102 5°E,38 5°～39 3°N). It extends from the northwest of Zhangye to Hexibu, and from the south of Chaoshui basin to the north of Minle basin. From west to east, there are the highest peak, Dongdashan Mt.(3616m), the second peak, Dufengding(2937m) and Qianshan peak(2827m), height of the mountains is getting lower and lower, mean height above sea level is over 2000m, and relative height difference is about 1000m. The Longshoushan Mt. provides a natural defence for stopping the southward migration of sandstorm in the Hexi corridor, and forms a topographic step zone from the Alashan Plateau to the Qinghai—Tibet Plateau. In the Longshoushan area, developed landforms, such as planation surface, table\|land, terrace land, are general characters of all geomorphic units. It is shown that the Longshoushan Mt. is a intermittently uplifted block. An astonishingly similar of geometric patterns of Taohualashan Mt. and Hongshihu basin is very interesting natural landscape in the area. It is suggested that Taohualashan Mt. broke away from Hongshihu Basin in secular tectonic movement. The viewpoint is supported by major formation, lithofacies, limitation and style of active faulting. The Longshoushan block consists of two major active fault zones (the northern Longshoushan fault zone and the southern Longshoushan fault zone), the active Pingshanhu—Hongshihu fault basin belt and Taohualashan—Xieposhan tectonic uplift belt. In addition, there are the NNW\|trending West Polamading fault, NWW\|trending Maohudong fault trough, NNE\|trending Daxiahe rift valley and others on the block. the activity and formation style of these structures indicate that the block is acted not only by compressive stress, but also by tensile stress. The northern Longshoushan and southern Longshoushan fault zones are closely related to formation and evolution of the Longshoushan block, the two zones are active fault zones since late Pleistocene and boundary fault zones of the block. The genesis and activity style of the Pingshanhu\|Hongshihu basin are similar to the continental rift, which may be due to the mantle uplift.

FINITE STAIN MEASUREMENT AND SHORTENING ANALYSIS IN THE NORTHERN MARGIN OF QINGHAI—TIBET PLATEAU

Finite strain patterns of rocks The structural styles and crustal shortening in the northern margin of Qinghai—Tibet plateau are examined by systematic finite strain measurements. The finite strain patterns in this area are of following characteristics:① The orientation of & principal axes of strain ellipsoid varies regularly in regard to different tectonic locations. In fact, most of the measured X axes are parallel to the regional structure lines, striking east\|west or approximately east\|west with some X axes trending northeast\|southwest. The measured Z\|axes are approximately at right angle to the regional structure lines, trending north\|northeast or north\|northwest.② The Flinn parameter k is higher in the northern and southern margins of the basin than that in the basin center, indicating that the margins of basin experienced extensional strain and the middle of basin undergo strain.③ Rocks of different age possess different strain state and show k value of 1～2 for Tertiary rocks, 3～4 for Jurassic—Cretaceous rocks. The k value of the basement rocks is the highest of all.

Analysis on the Status of Farmers, Agriculture and Countryside, and Development Strategies and Measures in Tibet Autonomous Region

Coordinated and sustainable development of farmers, agriculture and countryside (FAC) is key to realize the national objective of comprehensively developed well-off society. Since the peaceful liberation of Tibet, outstanding achievements have been made in FAC work. However, compared with East and Middle China, there still exists a big gap. The farmers’ net income per capita in 2001 was 1,404 yuan, 962 yuan lower than the nation’s average. In late 90’s the farmers’ income growth slowed down. Agricultural industrialization is at low level, technologies play a small role in agricultural development, rural infrastructure is weak, the rural grass root organization is much underdeveloped, and construction of towns is behind the other regions of China. Based on the problems of FAC development there, this paper proposes FAC development strategies and measures for accelerating rural development in Tibet.

Early Permian–Late Triassic Magmatism in the Tuotuohe Region of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau: Constraints on the Tectonic evolution of the Western Segment of the Jinshajiang Suture

In this paper we present new zircon U-Pb ages,whole-rock major and trace element analyses,and zircon Hf isotopic data for magmatic rocks in the Tuotuohe region of the western segment of the Jinshajiang suture.Our aim is to constrain the Early Permian-Late Triassic tectonic evolution of the region.Zircons from the magmatic rocks of the Tuotuohe region are euhedralsubhedral in shape and display fine-scale oscillatory zoning as well as high Th/U ratios （0.4-4.6）,indicating a magmatic origin.The zircon U-Pb ages obtained using LA-ICP-MS are 281 ± 1 Ma,258 ± 1 Ma,244 ± 1 Ma,and 216 ± 1 Ma,which indicate magmatism in the Early Permian-Late Triassic.A diorite from Bashihubei （BSHN） has SiO2 =57.18-59.97 wt％,Al2O3=15.70-16.53 wt％,and total alkalis （Na2O ＋ K2O） =4.46-6.34 wt％,typical of calc-alkaline and metaluminous series.A gabbro from Bashibadaoban （BSBDB） belongs to the alkaline series,and is poor in SiO2 （45.46-54.03 wt％） but rich in Al2O3 （16.19-17.39 wt％） and total alkalis （Na2O ＋ K2O =5.48-6.26 wt％）.The BSHN diorite and the BSBDB gabbro both display an enrichment of LREEs and LILEs and depletion of HFSEs,and they have no obvious Eu anomaly; they have relatively low MgO contents （2.54-4.93 wt％）,Mg# values of 43 to 52,and low Cr and Ni contents （8.07-33.6 ppm and 4.41-14.2 ppm,respectively）,indicating they differentiated from primitive mantle magmas.They have low Nb/U,Ta/ U,and Ce/Pb ratios （1.3-9.6,0.2-0.8,and 0.1-18.1,respectively）,and their initial Hf isotopic ratios range from ＋9.6 to ＋16.9 （BSHN diorite） and ＋6.5 to ＋12.6 （BSBDB gabbro）,suggesting their primary magmas were derived mainly from the partial melting of a mantle wedge that had been metasomatized by subduction fluids.Taking all the new data together,we conclude that the western and eastern segment of the Jinshajiang suture regions underwent identical processes of evolution in the Early Permian-Late Triassic：oceanic crust subduction before the Early Permian,continental collision during the Early-Middle Triassic,and post-collisional extension from the Late Triassic.

Lithospheric Evolution and Geodynamic Process of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau: An Inspiration from the Yadong-Golmud-Ejin Geoscience Transect

Abstract The Tibet Geoscience Transect (Yadong-Golmud-Ejin) has revealed the basic structures, tectonic evolution and geodynamic process of the lithosphere of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau. The evidence of northward thrusting of the Indian plate beneath the Himalayans on the southern margin and to southward compression of the Alxa block on the northern margin has been found. They were the driving forces causing the plateau uplift. The plateau is a continent resulting from amalgamation of eight terranes. These terranes are separated by sutures or large-scale faults, and different terranes have different lateral inhomogeneities and multi-layered lithospheric structures. At depths of about 20–30 km of the crust in the interior of the plateau there commonly exists a low-velocity layer. It is an uncoupled layer of the tectonic stress; above the layer, the upper crustal slices were thrust and overlapped each other and the rocks underwent brittle deformation, thus leading to shortening and thickening of the upper crust. Below the layer, the lateral change of the structure of the lower crust varies most greatly and ductile deformation occurs. The lower crust velocity of southern Tibet shows the reversed feature; whereas the lower crust velocity of northern Tibet increases and displays strong gradient variation and the character of the double Moho. On the whole, the Moho of the plateau is greatly undulatory. Although the crust of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has a great thickness, the lithosphere does not thicken markedly. The plateau is in a state of bi-directional compression. The unstable change of the Moho, the interaction between the crust and mantle and between the lithosphere and asthenosphere caused by the sinking of the lithospheric mantle and the strike slip and extension of the crust are the major dynamic factors for maintaining the present height and scope of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Reconstruction of the Triassic Tectonic Lithofacies Paleogeography in Qiangtang Region, Northern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China

The Triassic petrostratigraphic system and chronologic stratigraphic sketch have been updated and perfected in the Qiangtang area, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau based on the integrated 1：250000 regional geological survey and the latest research progeny. The first finished 1：3000000 Triassic tectonic lithofacies paleogeographic maps in the Qiangtang area shows that the Triassic tectonic unit in the Qiangtang area can been divided into three parts from north to south： northern Qiangtang block; Longmucuo-Shuanghu suture zone; and southern Qiangtang block. The early-middle Triassic tectonic paleogeography in the Qiangtang area is divides into three sub- units： northern Qiangtang passive continental marginal basin （NQPB）, Longmucuo- Shuanghu residual basin （LSRB） and southern Qiangtang residual basin （SQRB）. The NQPB can be subdivided into four paleogeography units： The Tanggula-Zangxiahe shallow and bathyal sea; The Wangquanhe- Yingshuiquan carbonate platform; The Rejuechaka-Jiangaidarina littoral- shallow sea; and Qiangtang central uplift. The above units of The NQPB possess EW trend, geomorphology high in the south and low in the north, the seawater depth northward. The basinal paleo-current direction is unidirectional, and basinal tectonic subsidence center is in accord with the depo-center, located in the Tanggula-Zangxiahe belt, north of the basin. The sedimentation and tectonic evolution of the NQPB are characterized with passive continental marginal basin. The Qiangtang central orogenic denuded area （ancient land） may be as a sedimentary materials source of the NQPB. SQRB can be divided into two units： Duoma carbonate platform and southern Qiangtang neritic-deep sea. The late Triassic tectonic paleogeography in the Qiangtang area is the framework of the ＂archipelagic-sea＂ as a whole, and it may be divided into three sub-units： northern Qiangtang back- arc foreland basin（NQFB）, Longmucuo-Shuanghu residual basin（LSRB） and southern Qiangtang marginal-sea basin（SQMB）. Thereinto, NQFB can be divided into five paleogeography units： the Zangxiahe-Mingjinghu bathyal basin characterized with the flysch; the Tanggula shallow-sea shelf with the fine-clastics; the Juhuashang platform with carbonates; the Tumenggela-Shuanghu coastal- delta with coal-bearing clastics and the Nadigangri- Geladandong arc with volcanics and tuffs. In transverse section, the NQFB fills is wedge-shaped, and the sediments characterized with thicker in north and thinner in south, and with double materials derived from the Ruolagangri orogenic belt in north and the Shuanghu central orogenic belt in south. The late Triassic depocenter of NQFB is located in the middle of the basin, the Yakecuo-Bandaohu-Quemocuo belt, but the subsidence center in the north, the Zangxiahe- Mingjinghu belt, and basinal tectonic subsidence center not concordant with the depo-center. Late Triassic, the SQMB may be divided into three sub-units： Xiaochaka shallow-sea; Riganpeicuo platform~ and South Qiangtang southern bathyal basin. In transverse section, the basement of the SQMB is characterized with low in the northern and southern, but high in the middle; forming wedge shaped sediments with thicker in the north and thinner in the south; the sedimentary materials derived from the Qiangtang central uplift and Nadigangri arcs in north. The late Triassic subsidence centre of the SQMB is located in the northern （Xiaochaka area）, but the depocenter in the southern （Qixiancuo Suobucha area）. The sedimentation and tectonic evolution of the SQMB are characterized with marginal sea.

Progress of Geological Survey Using Airborne Hyperspectral Remote Sensing Data in the Gansu and Qinghai Regions

Hyperspectral remote sensing is now a frontier of the remote sensing technology. Airborne hyperspectral remote sensing data have hundreds of narrow bands to obtain complete and continuous ground-object spectra. Therefore, they can be effectively used to identify these grotmd objects which are difficult to discriminate by using wide-band data, and show much promise in geological survey. At the height of 1500 m, have 36 bands in visible to the CASI hyperspectral data near-infrared spectral range, with a spectral resolution of 19 nm and a space resolution of 0.9 m. The SASI data have 101 bands in the shortwave infrared spectral range, with a spectral resolution of 15 nm and a space resolution of 2.25 m. In 2010, China Geological Survey deployed an airborne CASI/SASI hyperspectral measurement project, and selected the Liuyuan and Fangshankou areas in the Beishan metallogenic belt of Gansu Province, and the Nachitai area of East Kunlun metallogenic belt in Qinghai Province to conduct geological survey. The work period of this project was three years.

Joint Inversion of the 3D P Wave Velocity Structure of the Crust and Upper Mantle under the Southeastern Margin of the Tibetan Plateau Using Regional Earthquake and Teleseismic Data

The special seismic tectonic environment and frequent seismicity in the southeastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau show that this area is an ideal location to study the present tectonic movement and background of strong earthquakes in China's Mainland and to predict future strong earthquake risk zones. Studies of the structural environment and physical characteristics of the deep structure in this area are helpful to explore deep dynamic effects and deformation field characteristics, to strengthen our understanding of the roles of anisotropy and tectonic deformation and to study the deep tectonic background of the seismic origin of the block＇s interior. In this paper, the three-dimensional （3D） P-wave velocity structure of the crust and upper mantle under the southeastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is obtained via observational data from 224 permanent seismic stations in the regional digital seismic network of Yunnan and Sichuan Provinces and from 356 mobile China seismic arrays in the southern section of the north-south seismic belt using a joint inversion method of the regional earthquake and teleseismic data. The results indicate that the spatial distribution of the P-wave velocity anomalies in the shallow upper crust is closely related to the surface geological structure, terrain and lithology. Baoxing and Kangding, with their basic volcanic rocks and volcanic clastic rocks, present obvious high-velocity anomalies. The Chengdu Basin shows low-velocity anomalies associated with the Quaternary sediments. The Xichang Mesozoic Basin and the Butuo Basin are characterised by low- velocity anomalies related to very thick sedimentary layers. The upper and middle crust beneath the Chuan-Dian and Songpan-Ganzi Blocks has apparent lateral heterogeneities, including low-velocity zones of different sizes. There is a large range of low-velocity layers in the Songpan-Ganzi Block and the sub-block northwest of Sichuan Province, showing that the middle and lower crust is relatively weak. The Sichuan Basin, which is located in the western margin of the Yangtze platform, shows high-velocity characteristics. The results also reveal that there are continuous low-velocity layer distributions in the middle and lower crust of the Daliangshan Block and that the distribution direction of the low-velocity anomaly is nearly SN, which is consistent with the trend of the Daliangshan fault. The existence of the low-velocity layer in the crust also provides a deep source for the deep dynamic deformation and seismic activity of the Daliangshan Block and its boundary faults. The results of the 3D P-wave velocity structure show that an anomalous distribution of high-density, strong-magnetic and high-wave velocity exists inside the crust in the Panxi region. This is likely related to late Paleozoic mantle plume activity that led to a large number of mafic and ultra-mafic intrusions into the crust. In the crustal doming process, the massive intrusion of mantle-derived material enhanced the mechanical strength of the crustal medium. The P-wave velocity structure also revealed that the upper mantle contains a low-velocity layer at a depth of 80-120 km in the Panxi region. The existence of deep faults in the Panxi region, which provide conditions for transporting mantle thermal material into the crust, is the deep tectonic background for the area＇s strong earthquake activity.

Sedimentary Evolution of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in Cenozoic and its Response to the Uplift of the Plateau

We have studied the evolution of the tectonic lithofacies paleogeography of Paleocene- Eocene, Oligocene, Miocene, and Pliocene of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau by compiling data regarding the type, tectonic setting, and iithostratigraphic sequence of 98 remnant basins in the plateau area. Our results can be summarized as follows. （1） The Paleocene to Eocene is characterized by uplift and erosion in the Songpan-Garze and Gangdise belts, depression （lakes and pluvial plains） in eastern Tarim, Qaidam, Qiangtang, and Hoh Xil, and the Neo-Tethys Sea in the western and southern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. （2） The Oligocene is characterized by uplift in the Gangdise--Himalaya and Karakorum regions （marked by the absence of sedimentation）, fluvial transport （originating eastward and flowing westward） in the Brahmaputra region （marked by the deposition of Dazhuka conglomerate）, uplift and erosion in western Kunlun and Songpan-Garze, and depression （lakes） in the Tarim, Qaidam, Qiangtang, and Hoh Xil. The Oligocene is further characterized by depressional littoral and neritic basins in southwestern Tarim, with marine facies deposition ceasing at the end of the Oligocene. （3） For the Miocene, a widespread regional unconformity （ca. 23 Ma） in and adjacent to the plateau indicates comprehensive uplift of the plateau. This period is characterized by depressions （lakes） in the Tarim, Qaidam, Xining-Nanzhou, Qiangtang, and Hoh Xil. Lacustrine facies deposition expanded to peak in and adjacent to the plateau ca. 18-13 Ma, and north-south fault basins formed in southern Tibet ca. 13-10 Ma. All of these features indicate that the plateau uplifted to its peak and began to collapse. （4） Uplift and erosion occurred during the Pliocene in most parts of the plateau, except in the Hoh Xil-Qiangtang, Tarim, and Qaidam. The continuous uplift and intensive taphrogeny in the plateau divided the original large basin into small basins, deposition of lacustrine facies decreased considerably, and boulderstone accumulated, indicating a response to the overall uplift of the plateau. Here, we discuss the evolution of tectonic lithofacies paleogeography in Cenozoic and its response to the tectonic uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in relation to the above characteristics. We have recognized five major uplift events, which occurred during 58-53 Ma, 45-30 Ma, 25-20 Ma, 13-7 Ma, and since 5 Ma. The results presented here indicate that the paleogeomorphic configurations of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau turned over during the late Miocene, with high elevations in the east during the pre-Miocene switching to high contours in the west at the end of Miocene.

Paleoclimate and Paleoenvironment of Gonghe Basin, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, During the Lastdeglacial: Weathering, Erosion and Vegetation Cover Affect Clay Mineral Formation

With the analysis of the sources and formation mechanism of the clay minerals in the sediment core from the Dalianhai lake in the Gonghe Basin,northeastern Tibet-Qinghai Plateau,clay mineral composition proxies,grain-size and carbonate contents have been employed for high-resolution study in order to reconstruct East Asian Summer Monsoon （EASM） over the northeastern Tibet-Qinghai Plateau during the lastdeglacial.The study also extended to establish a relationship between vegetation cover changes and erosion during the last 14.5 ka with pollen record and clay mineral proxies.Smectite/kaolinite and smectite/（illite＋chlorite） ratios allow us to assess hydrolysis conditions in lowlands and/or physical erosion process in highlands of the Gonghe Basin.Before 12.9 Cal ka BP,both mineralogical ratios show low values indicative of strong physical erosion in the basin with a dominant cold and dry phase.After 12.9 Cal ka BP,an increase in both mineralogical ratios indicates enhanced chemical weathering in the basin associated with a warm and humid climate.The beginning of Holocene is characterized by high smectite/（illite＋chlorite） and smectite/kaolinite ratios that is synchronous as with deposition of many peat laminae,implying the best warm and humid conditions specifically between 8.0 to 5.5 Cal ka BP.The time interval after 5.0 Cai ka BP is characterized by a return to high physical erosion and low chemical weathering with dry climate conditions in the basin.Comparing variations of clay mineral assemblages with previous pollen results,we observe a rapid response in terms of chemical weathering and physical erosion intensity to a modification of the vegetation cover in the basin.

Glacier extent changes and possible causes in the Hala Lake Basin of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Glacier is a common sensitivity indicator of environmental and global climate change.Examining the relationship between glacier area and climate change will help reveal glacier change mechanisms and future trends.Glacier changes are also of great significance to the regulation of regional water resources.This study selected the Hala Lake Basin in the northeastern Qinhai-Tibet Plateau as a study area,and examined the relationships between the temporal and spatial change of glaciers in the northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and climate change based on remote sensing imagery,climatological data,and topographic data during the past 30 years.Results showed that glacier area in the Hala Lake basin fluctuated and decreased from106.24 km2 in 1986 to 78.84 km2 in 2015,with a decreasing rate of 0.94 km2·yr-1.The number of glacier patches,mean patch area,and largest patch index all decreased from 1986 to 2015,while the splitting index increased from 1986 to 2015,indicating that the landscape fragmentation of glacier in the Hala Lake Basin was increasing significantly during the study period.Glacier area change was mainly concentrated in the slopes>25°with an altitude of 4500-5000 m,and the retreating rate of glacier of sunny slope was obviously higher than that of shady slope.Geometric center of glacier in the basin moved from southwest to northeast towards high altitude.Results of the response of glacier extent to climate change showed that temperature was the dominant factor affecting glacier area dynamic change in the Hala Lake Basin.It is predicted that in future several years,the glacier area will decrease and fragment continually as a result of global warming on the Tibetan Plateau.