Global CO_(2) concentration change induced by“trigger-connectors”model,especially since about 24 Ma?A preliminary hypothesis

Background,aim,and scope The tectonic uplift of the Cenozoic Tibetan Plateau has produced a chain effect,which is an excellent location for Earth system science research,and its uplift process,mechanism and environmental effects are the hot spot and frontier of the current research.The“Tibetan Plateau uplift-weathering-CO_(2) concentration-global climate change”model was put forward by Raymo and Ruddiman to interpret the Late Cenozoic climate change.However,there are still some questions suspended,such as does the weathering of the Tibetan Plateau have the ability to control the global climate?How to explain the modern-like global CO_(2) concentration starting at about 24 Ma?Here,a short space was taken to present a brainstorm about the above questions on account of existing geological pieces of evidence.Materials and methods In this paper,we integrate the formation and evolution of the Yangtze River and Pearl River,the origin and development of the Asian inland aridification-monsoon system,the Cenozoic tectonic uplift process of the Tibetan Plateau,and the westerly winds to discuss and analyze the relationship between the Cenozoic CO_(2) concentration changes and the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau and why the CO_(2) concentration similar to the present was formed at about 24 Ma.Results Similar correspondence of the surface uplift history of Xizang,other global mountains,and the declining CO_(2) concentration could support the theory Tibetan Plateau weathering inf luences CO_(2) concentration.Starting from 24 Ma,the most important character was the uplift and erosion of Xizang and Himalaya,collaborating with Ocean Iron Fertilization(OIF)together as an entity to control the atmospheric CO_(2) concentration because the great Asian rivers,Asian monsoons,and westerlies connected Xizang and surrounded seas together through materials transportation.Discussion Paleogeographic reconstructions from 40 Ma to 20 Ma illustrate that the main topographic change occurred in the Andes,Cordillera orogenic belt,and Xizang.We comprise a comprehensive set of evidence from independent data,which correspond temporally with the tipping point(about 24 Ma)of the atmospheric CO_(2) and we noticed that modern-like Asia monsoon,inland aridity,Asian great rivers,and climate zone formed at about 24 Ma and also there are tectonic activities for the Andes and Rockies.We raised the possibility that the modern-like atmospheric CO_(2) concentration at about 24 Ma was caused by the above geological factors.Here the rivers,monsoon,and westerlies are termed as“connectors”.In addition,these Asian rivers originated from Xizang,the monsoon,and inner Asian aridification are strongly a function of the uplift and growth of Xizang,thus,Xizang here is named as“trigger”.The distinct character of“trigger-connectors”model is that this not only takes the monsoon,westerlies,and the global great rivers into consideration but also expands the range which inf luences atmospheric CO_(2) concentration,from local points to a vast area since about 24 Ma,such as from Tibetan Plateau to Asia,including surrounded seas,after about 24 Ma.However,because the opening of the Late Oligocene-Early Miocene Antarctic periphery straits is highly coincident with the onset of modern-like global atmospheric CO_(2) concentration,we are forced to consider that they also had a significant impact on the reduction of atmospheric CO_(2) concentrations at this time.Conclusions“Trigger-connectors”was put forward to explain the Cenozoic CO_(2) variation,especially modern-like global CO_(2) concentration since about 24 Ma.Recommendations and perspectives Here we use the“trigger-connectors”model to explain the formation of modern-like CO_(2) concentrations starting at about 24 Ma,but there are still some problems.The most important premise for the“trigger-connectors”model is the constructed Cenozoic CO_(2) concentration record is reliable,which is the foundation of our hypothesis.In the future,potential improvements should focus on topographic reconstructions of Xizang and the global mountains.Here we have concentrated on Xizang in the considered timeslices but still,pay less attention to other global orogenic belts.Collaborations with geologist experts in those regions could provide valuable feedback to evaluate their potential role of them in CO_(2) evolution.What is more,considerable progress may be achieved with the addition and consideration of more and new geological data.

Surface Reactivity in Tropical Highly Weathered Soils and Implications for Rational Soil Management

Highly weathered soils are distributed in the humid and wet-dry tropics, as well as in the humid subtropics. As a result of strong weathering, these soils are characterized by low activity clays, which develop variable surface charge and related specific properties. Surface reactions regarding base exchange and soil acidification, heavy metal sorption and mobility, and phosphorus sorption and availability of the tropical highly weathered soils are reviewed in this paper.Factors controlling surface reactivity towards cations and anions, including ion exchange and specific adsorption processes, are discussed with consideration on practical implications for rational management of these soils. Organic matter content and pH value are major basic factors that should be controlled through appropriate agricultural practices, in order to optimise favorable effects of colloid surface properties on soil fertility and environmental quality.

Geochemistry of Trace and Rare Earth Elements in Red Soils from the Dongting Lake Area and Its Environmental Significance

Trace element(TE) and rare earth element(REE) contents in red soils from the Dongting Lake area of China were determined to understanding the provenance and weathering characteristics of the red soils.The results showed similar REE distribution patterns among red soils from the Dongting Lake area,Xiashu loess from Zhenjiang,loess and Pliocene red soil from the Loess Plateau.These patterns implied a similar provenance from dust-storms,except for red soil R5 which formed by bedrock weathering and had significant light REE(LREE) enrichment and heavy REE(HREE) depletion due to longer weathering periods and higher intensity of weathering.Trace element,especially the Rb/Sr and Li/Ba ratios,and REE,especially the LREE/HREE ratio and δEu could trace weathering intensity.Higher Rb/Sr,Li/Ba,and LREE/HREE ratios and negative Eu anomalies were present in the red soils from the Dongting Lake area.The weathering intensity was in the decreasing order of R5 in the Dongting Lake area > red soils from the Dongting Lake area(including reticulate red soil,weak reticulate red soil,and homogeneous red soil formed by dust storms) > Xiashu loess from Zhenjiang > loess-paleosol and Pliocene red soil from the Loess Plateau.Variations in the TE and REE contents of soil could be effectively used to study the provenance and the weathering intensity.

Seasonal variability of salinity budget and water exchange in the northern Indian Ocean from HYCOM assimilation

Based on HYbrid Coordinate Ocean Model (HYCOM) assimilation and observations, we analyzed seasonal variability of the salinity budget in the southeastern Arabian Sea (AS) and the southern part of the Bay of Bengal (BOB), as well as water exchange between the two basins. Results show that fresh water flux cannot explain salinity changes in salinity budget of both regions. Oceanic advection decreases salinity in the southeastern AS during the winter monsoon season and increases salinity in the southern BOB during the summer monsoon season. In winter, the Northeast Monsoon Current (NMC) carries fresher water from the BOB westward into the southern AS; this westward advection is confined to 4°-6°N and the upper 180 m south of the Indian peninsula. Part of the less saline water then turns northward, decreasing salinity in the southeastern AS. In summer, the Southwest Monsoon Current (SMC) advects high-salinity water from the AS eastward into the BOB, increasing salinity along its path. This eastward advection of high-salinity water south of the India Peninsula extends southward to 2°N, and the layer becomes shallower than in winter. In addition to the monsoon current, the salinity difference between the two basins is important for salinity advection.

Interannual variations of surface winds over China marginal seas

In a study of surface monsoon winds over the China marginal seas, Sun et al. （2012） use singular value decomposition method to identify regional dominant modes and analyze their interdecadal variability. This paper continues to evaluate the interannual variability of each dominant mode and its relation to various atmospheric, oceanic and land factors. The findings include： 1） The intensity of the winter monsoon over the East China Sea is highly correlated with the Siberian High intensity and anti-correlated with the latitudinal position of the Aleutian Low as well as the rainfall in eastern China, Korean Peninsula and Japan; 2） The western Pacific subtropical high is significantly correlated with the summer monsoon intensity over the East China Sea and anti-correlated with the summer monsoon over the South China Sea; 3） The winter monsoon in a broad zonal belt through the Luzon Strait is dominated by the ENSO signal, strengthening in the La Nifia phase and weakening in the E1 Nifio phase. This inverse relation exhibits interdecadal shift with a period of weak correlation in the 1980s; 4） Analysis of tidal records validates the interdecadal weakening of the East Asian summer monsoon and reveals an atmospheric bridge that conveys the ENSO signal into the South China Sea via the winter monsoon.

Numerical simulation of wave fi eld in the South China Sea using WAVEWATCH III

Wave fields of the South China Sea （SCS） from 1976 to 2005 were simulated using WAVEWATCH III by inputting high-resolution reanalysis wind field datasets assimilated from several meteorological data sources. Comparisons of wave heights between WAVEWATCH III and TOPEX/Poseidon altimeter and buoy data show a good agreement. Our results show seasonal variation of wave direction as follows： 1. During the summer monsoon （April-September）, waves from south occur from April through September in the southern SCS region, which prevail taking about 40% of the time; 2. During the winter monsoon （December-March）, waves from northeast prevail throughout the SCS for 56% of the period; 3. The dominant wave direction in SCS is NE. The seasonal variation of wave height Hs in SCS shows that in spring, Hs〉l m in the central SCS region and is less than 1 m in other areas. In summer, Hs is higher than in spring. During September- November, influenced by tropical cyclones, Hs is mostly higher than 1 m. East of Hainan Island, Hs〉2 m. In winter, Hs reaches its maximum value influenced by the north-east monsoon, and heights over 2 m are found over a large part of SCS. Finally, we calculated the extreme wave parameters in SCS and found that the extreme wind speed and wave height for the 100-year return period for SCS peaked at 45 m/s and 19 m, respectively, SE of Hainan Island and decreased from north to south.