Viscoelastic stress change from the 1931 M_(w)7.8 Fuyun earthquake and its impacts on seismic activity around the Altai mountains

The 1931 M_(w)7.8 Fuyun earthquake occurred around the Altai mountains, an intracontinental deformation belt with limited active strain-rate accumulation. To explore whether seismic activity in this deformation belt was affected by stress interaction among different active faults, we calculate the Coulomb failure stress change(ΔCFS) induced by the Fuyun earthquake due to coseismic deformation of the elastic crust and postseismic viscoelastic relaxation of the lower crust and upper mantle. Numerical results show that the total ΔCFS at a 10-km depth produced by the Fuyun earthquake attains approximately 0.015-0.134 bar near the epicenter, and just before the occurrence of the 2003 M_(w)7.2 Chuya earthquake, which distances about 400 km away from the Fuyun earthquake. Among the increased ΔCFS,viscoelastic relaxation from 1931 to 2003 contributes to approximately 0.014-0.131 bar, accounting for>90% of the total ΔCFS. More importantly, we find that for the recorded seismicity in the region with a radius of about 270 km to the Fuyun earthquake from 1970 to 2018, the percentage of earthquakes that fall in positive lobes of ΔCFS resolved on the NNW-SSE Fuyun strike-slip fault, on the NWW-SEE Irtysh strike-slip fault, and on the NW-SE Kurti reverse fault is up to 67.22%-91.36%. Therefore, the predictedΔCFS suggests that the impact of the 1931 M_(w)7.8 Fuyun earthquake on seismic activity around the Altai mountains is still significant as to hasten occurrence of the 2003 M_(w)7.2 Chuya earthquake at a relatively far distance and to trigger its aftershocks in the near-field even after several decades of the mainshock.

Mass Loss from Glaciers in the Chinese Altai Mountains between 1959 and 2008 Revealed Based on Historical Maps, SRTM, and ASTER Images

Mass loss of glaciers in the Chinese Altai was detected using geodetic methods based on topographical maps(1959), the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission(SRTM) Digital Elevation Model(DEM)(2000), and the Advanced Space-borne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer(ASTER) stereo images(2008). The results indicate that a continued and accelerating shrinkage has occurred in the Chinese Altai Mountains during the last 50 years, with mass deficits of 0.43 ± 0.02 and0.54 ± 0.13 m a-1 water equivalent(w.e.) during the periods 1959-1999 and 1999-2008, respectively.Overall, the Chinese Altai Mountains have lost 7.06 ±0.44 km3 in ice volume(equivalent to-0.43 ± 0.03 m a-1 w.e.) from 1959-2008. The spatial heterogeneity in mass loss was potentially affected by comprehensive changes in temperature and precipitation, and had a substantial correlation withglacier size and topographic settings. Comparison shows that in the Chinese Altai Mountains glaciers have experienced a more rapid mass loss than those in the Tianshan and northwestern Tibetan Plateau(TP), and the mass balance of glaciers was slightly less negative relative to those in the Russian Altai, Himalaya, and southern TP.

Rare and endangered plant species of the Chinese Altai Mountains

Altai (also named Altay in China) Mountain Country (Mountain System) is a unique natural region,located on the border between different floristic regimes of the Boreal and ancient Mediterranean sub-kingdoms,where distribution of plant species is actually limited. It is known to have sufficient endemic floral biodiversity in the Northern Asia. Many plants of Altai Mountain System need effective care and proper conservation measures for their survival and longer-term protection. Important Plant Area identified as the IUCN (the International Union for Conservation of Nature),specified criteria attract global attention for protection of floral biodiversity across the world. The records of 71 plant species from the Chinese Altai Mountains attributed to the criterion A and the dark conifer forests of Chinese Altai Mountains satisfied the criterion C,which may help qualify to fulfill the national obligation of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Peat humification-and δ^(13)C_(cellulose)-recorded warm-season moisture variations during the past 500 years in the southern Altai Mountains within northern Xinjiang of China

To predict future spatio-temporal patterns of climate change, we should fully understand the spatio-temporal patterns of climate change during the past millennium. But, we are not yet able to delineate the patterns because the qualities of the retrieved proxy records and the spatial coverage of those records are not adequate. Northern Xinjiang of China is one of such areas where the records are not adequate. Here, we present a 500-yr land-surface moisture sequence from Heiyangpo Peat(48.34°N, 87.18°E, 1353 m a.s.l) in the southern Altai Mountains within northern Xinjiang. Specifically, peat carbon isotope value of cellulose(δ^(13)C_(cellulose)) was used to estimate the warm-season moisture variations and the degree of humification was used to constrain the δ^(13)C_(cellulose)-based hydrological interpretation. The climatic attributions of the interpreted hydrological variations were based on the warm-season temperature reconstructed from Belukha ice core and the warm-season precipitation inferred from the reconstructed Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillations(AMO). The results show that humification decreased and the δ^(13)C_(celluose)-suggested moisture decreased from ~1510 to ~1775 AD, implying that a constant dryingcondition may have inhibited peat decay. Our comparison with reconstructed climatic parameters suggests that the moisture-level decline was most likely resulted from a constant decline of precipitation. The results also show that humification kept a stable level and the δ^(13)C_(celluose)-suggested moisture also decreased from ~1775 to ~2013 AD, implying that peat decay in the acrotelm primarily did not depend on the water availability or an aerobic environment. Again, our comparison with reconstructed climatic parameters suggests that the land-surface moisturelevel decline was most likely resulted from a steady warming of growing-season temperature.

Temperature regime of mountain permafrost in the Russian Altai Mountains

This study presents the long-term temperature monitoring in the Russian Altai Mountains. In contrast to the Mongolian and Chinese parts, the modern temperature regime of the Russian Altai remains unclear. The complexity of a comprehensive understanding of permafrost conditions in the Russian Altai is related to the high dissection of the terrain, the paucity of the latest observational data, and the sparse population of permafrost areas. The general objective of this study is to determine the temperature regime on the surface,in the active layer, and in the zero annual amplitude(ZAA) layer, based on the known patterns of permafrost distribution in the region. Using automatic measuring equipment(loggers), we obtained information on the temperature of frozen and thawed ground within the altitudes from 1484 to 2879 m a. s. l. during the period from 2014 to 2020.An array of 15 loggers determined the temperature regime of bare and vegetated areas within watersheds,slopes, and valleys. N-factor parameters and surface temperature are similar to those in the Mongolian Altai, but the mean annual ground temperature at the depth of 1 m has a wide range of fluctuations(more than 32℃) based on research results, and we allocated it into three groups based on altitudinal zonality. Snow cover has a strong influence on the temperature regime, but the determination of the fine-scale variability requires additional study.Ground temperature regime during the observation period remained stable, but continued monitoring allows a more detailed assessment of the response to climatic changes.

Influence of atmospheric circulation on precipitation in Altai Mountains

We analyzed the changes in precipitation regime in the Altai Mountains for 1959-2014 and estimate the influence of atmospheric circulations on these changes. Our study showed that during last 56 years the changes in the precipitation regime had a positive trend for the warm seasons(April-October),but weakly positive or negative trends for the cold seasons(November-March). It was found that these changes correspond to the decreasing contribution of "Northern meridional and Stationary anticyclone(Nm-Sa)" and "Northern meridional and East zonal(Nm-Ez)" circulation groups and to the increasing contribution of "West zonal and Southern meridional(Wz-Sm)" circulation groups,accordingly to the Dzerdzeevskii classification. In addition,it was found that the variation of precipitation has a step change point in 1980. For the warm seasons,the precipitation change at this point is associated with the reduced influence of "West zonal(Wz)","Northern meridional and Stationary anticyclone(Nm-Sa)" and "Northern meridional and Southern meridional(Nm-Sm)" circulation groups. For the cold seasons,a substantialincrease of "Wz-Sm" and a decrease of "Nm-Sa","Nm-Ez" circulation groups are responsible for the precipitation change in the two time periods(1959-1980 and 1981-2014).

Response of snow hydrological processes to a changing climate during 1961 to 2016 in the headwater of Irtysh River Basin, Chinese Altai Mountains

With changing climatic conditions and snow cover regime, regional hydrological cycle for a snowy basin will change and further available surface water resources will be redistributed. Assessing snow meltwater effect on runoff is the key to water safety, under climate warming and fast social-economic developing status. In this study, stable isotopic technology was utilized to analyze the snow meltwater effect on regional hydrological processes, and to declare the response of snow hydrology to climate change and snow cover regime, together with longterm meteorological and hydrological observations, in the headwater of Irtysh River, Chinese Altai Mountains during 1961-2015. The average δ^(18) O values of rainfall, snowfall, meltwater, groundwater and river water for 2014–2015 hydrological year were-10.9‰,-22.3‰,-21.7‰,-15.7‰ and-16.0‰, respectively.The results from stable isotopes, snow melting observation and remote sensing indicated that the meltwater effect on hydrological processes in Kayiertesi River Basin mainly occurred during snowmelt supplying period from April to June. The contribution of meltwater to runoff reached 58.1% during this period, but rainfall, meltwater and groundwater supplied 49.1%, 36.9% and 14.0% of water resource to annual runoff, respectively. With rising air temperature and increasing snowfall in cold season, the snow water equivalent(SWE) had an increasing trend but the snow cover duration declined by about one month including 13-day delay of the first day and 17-day advancement of the end day during 1961–2016. Increase in SWE provided more available water resource. However, variations in snow cover timing had resulted in redistribution of surface water resource, represented by an increase of discharge percentage in April and May, and a decline in Juneand July. This trend of snow hydrology will render a deficit of water resource in June and July when the water resource demand is high for agricultural irrigation and industrial manufacture.

A tale of elemental accumulation and recycling in the metamorphosed Keketale VMS-type Pb-Zn deposit,Altai Mountains

The elemental accumulation and recycling in the metamorphosed Keketale VMS-type Pb-Zn deposit of the Altai Mountains are presented in this study.Based on detailed fieldwork and microscopic observation,the formation of the deposit involved syngenetic massive sulfide mineralization and epigenetic superim-posed mineralization.Different generations of iron sulfides(i.e.,pyrite and pyrrhotite)with contrasting textural,elemental,and sulfur isotopic features were generated in primary mineralization(including hydrothermal iron sulfides,colloform pyrite)and secondary modification(including annealed iron sul-fides,oriented iron sulfides,and vein-pyrite).It is revealed that the spatial variation in textures and ele-ments of hydrothermal iron sulfides depends on the inhomogeneous fluid compositions and varied environment in VMS hydrothermal system.Both leached sulfur from the footwall volcanic rocks and reduced sulfur by the TSR process are regarded as important sulfur sources.Furthermore,large sulfur iso-topic fractionation and negativeδ^(34)S values were mainly caused by varied oxygen fugacity,and to a lesser extent,temperature fluctuation.The epigenetic polymetallic veins that contain sulfides and sulfosalts(e.g.,jordanite-geocronite,bournonite-seligmannite,boulangerite)were considered as the products of metamorphic fluid scavenged the metal-rich strata.All things considered,it is indicated that two epi-sodes of fluid with distinct origins were essential for the formation of the deposit.The predominant evolved seawater along with subordinate magmatic fluid mobilized metals from volcanic rocks and pre-cipitated massive sulfides near the seafloor are vital for primary mineralization.The metamorphic fluid remobilized metals(i.e.,FMEs:fluid mobile elements,e.g.,Pb,As,Sb)from neighboring volcanic and pyroclastic rocks and destabilized them within the fractured zone are responsible for secondary miner-alization,which enhances the economic value of the deposit.Accordingly,metal-rich Devonian strata had been successively swept by different origins of fluid,leading to progressively elemental enrichment and the formation of a large deposit.Furthermore,the current study enlightens that FME-bearing veins with economic benefits can be discovered near the metamorphosed VMS deposits.

Oxygen and hydrogen isotope characteristics of different water bodies in the Burqin River Basin of the Altay Mountains,China

Characterization of the spatial and temporal variability of stable isotopes in surface water is essential for interpreting hydrological processes.In this study,we collected the water samples of river water,groundwater,and reservoir water in the Burqin River Basin of the Altay Mountains,China in 2021,and characterized the oxygen and hydrogen isotope variations in different water bodies via instrumental analytics and modeling.Results showed significant seasonal variations in stable isotope ratios of oxygen and hydrogen(δ18O andδ2H,respectively)and significant differences inδ18O andδ2H among different water bodies.Higherδ18O andδ2H values were mainly found in river water,while groundwater and reservoir water had lower isotope ratios.River water and groundwater showed differentδ18O-δ2H relationships with the local meteoric water line,implying that river water and groundwater are controlled by evaporative enrichment and multi-source recharge processes.The evaporative enrichment experienced by reservoir water was less significant and largely influenced by topography,recharge sources,local moisture cycling,and anthropogenic factors.Higher deuterium excess(d-excess)value of 14.34‰for river water probably represented the isotopic signature of combined contributions from direct precipitation,snow and glacial meltwater,and groundwater recharge.The average annual d-excess values of groundwater(10.60‰)and reservoir water(11.49‰)were similar to the value of global precipitation(10.00‰).The findings contribute to understanding the hydroclimatic information reflected in the month-by-month variations in stable isotopes in different water bodies and provide a reference for the study of hydrological processes and climate change in the Altay Mountains,China.

A system-integrated approach for the design of tourist areas at the local level under changing conditions:A case study in the Altay Mountains

The existing approaches for the design of tourist areas often lead to limited flexibility in project implementation.To realize a more flexible approach,in this study,we formulated a model for planning and designing tourist areas at the local level.Moreover,specific tools for analyzing tourist areas and ensuring sustainable development under changing conditions were developed.This study was conducted in two tourist regions,Biryuzovaya Katun tourist complex and Belokurikha destination(including Belokurikha City with Belokurikha 2 Gornaya tourist complex and surrounding areas),in the Altay Mountains.We employed the recreation opportunity spectrum and proposed a system-integrated programming approach for the design of tourist areas at the destination and site levels.The key of this approach was the collection and analysis of current spatial data,including the spatial distribution of attractions and visitor flows.We constructed heat maps using video recording and unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV)observation data.Moreover,we analyzed the video stream using an image-analyzing framework You Only Look Once(YOLO)v5 software.The heat map of visitor flows based on video recording data in the Andreevskaya Sloboda museum of Belokurikha 2 Gornaya tourist complex allowed us to highlight the most attractive sites in this area and classify them into one of three types:points of functional concentration,points of transitional concentration,and points of attractions.The heat maps in Biryuzovaya Katun tourist complex,created using UAV observation data,allowed us to determine the spatiotemporal patterns of visitor flows and tourists’preferences throughout the day within four time intervals:09:00-12:00,13:00-14:00,14:00-15:00,and 16:00-18:00(LST).The maximum visitor flow density occurred from 16:00 to 18:00 in the beach area of the artificial lake.A comparison between the visitor-concentrated sites and the current facilities provided insights into the demand for attractions and facilities and the lacking areas.Heat maps are useful in analyzing the land use at the site level,while zoning based on the recreation opportunity spectrum can be used to design tourist areas at the destination level.The proposed methods for analyzing the use of tourist areas contribute to the development of adaptive tourism design.

Impacts of landscape and climatic factors on snow cover in the Altai Mountains,China

Snow properties and their changes are crucial to better understanding of hydrological processes,soil thermal regimes,and surface energy balances.Reliable data and information on snow depth and snow water equivalent(SWE)are also crucial for water resource assessments and socio-economic development at local and regional scales.However,these data are extremely limited and unreliable in northern Xinjiang,China.This study thus aims to investigate spatial variations of snow depth,SWE,and snow density based on winter snowfield surveys during 2015 through 2017 in the Altai Mountains,northwestern China.The results indicated that snow depth(25-114 cm)and SWE(40-290 mm)were greater in the alpine Kanas-Hemu region,and shallow snow accumulated(9-42 cm for snow depth,26-106 mm for SWE)on the piedmont sloping plain.While there was no remarkable regional difference in the distribution of snow density.Snow property distributions were strongly controlled by topography and vegetation.Elevation and latitude were the most important factors affecting snow depth and SWE,while snow density was strongly affected by longitude across the Altai Mountains in China.The influence of topography on snow property distributions was spatially heterogenous.Mean snow depth increased from 13.7 to 31.2 cm and SWE from 28.5 to 79.9 mm,respectively,with elevation increased from 400 to 1000 m a.s.l.on the piedmont sloping plain.Snow depth decreased to about 15.1 cm and SWE to about 28.5 mm from 1000 to 1800 m a.s.l.,then again increased to about 98.1 cm and 271.7 mm on peaks(-2000 m a.s.l.)in the alpine Kanas-Hemu.Leeward slopes were easier to accumulate snow cover,especially on north-,east-,and southeast-facing slopes.Canopy interception was also the cause of the difference in snow distribution.Snow depth,SWE,and snow density in forests were reduced by 8%-53%,2%-67%and-4%to+48%,respectively,compared with surrounding open areas.Especially when snow depth was less than 40 cm,snow depth and SWE differences in forests were more exaggerated.This study provides a basic data set of spatial distributions and variations of snow depth,SWE and snow density in the Altai Mountains,which can be used as an input parameter in climate or hydrological models.These first-hand observations will help to better understand the relationship between snow,topography and climate in mountainous regions across northern China and other high-mountain Asian regions.

Chemical Characteristics of Snow-Firn Pack in Altai Mountains and Its Environmental Significance

In order to study the chemical characteristics of snow-firn pack in Altai Mountains and its environmental significance, a 1.5-m deep snow-firn pack was dug in the accumulation zone （3 300 m a.s.I.） of the Kanas Glacier in August 2009. A total of 15 samples were analyzed for major ions. Results show that the concentrations of major ions in the snow-firn pack are NH4＋〉SO4 2-〉Ca2＋〉NO3＋〉 Na＋〉CI〉K＋〉Mg2＋. NH4＋ is the dominant cation with a medium value of 4.7 ueq-L-1, accounting for 39.8% of the total cations, and SO42- is the dominant anion, with a medium value of 4.0 ueq.L-I, which accounts for 33.9% of the total cations. Compared with Belukha Glacier （Altai）, Urumqi Glacier No. 1, and the Inilchek Glacier （Tienshan）, there is a lower ion concentrations in the Kanas snow-firn pack. Potential sources of these chemical species are explored using correlation and empirical orthogonal function （EOF） analyses. The analyses indicate that major ion concentrations （except NH4＋） originate from crustal dust. Backward trajectory analysis was applied to get the origin of the air mass to Kanas Glacier. The results suggest that air pollutants emitted by forest fires in Siberia could be transported and influence the NH4＋, NO3, and SO42 concentrations on the Kanas Glacier.

Spatiotemporal variations in surface albedo during the ablation season and linkages with the annual mass balance on Muz Taw Glacier,Altai Mountains

Melt-albedo feedback on glaciers is recognized as important processes for understanding glacier behavior and its sensitivity to climate change.This study selected the Muz Taw Glacier in the Altai Mountains to investigate the spatiotemporal variations in albedo and their linkages with mass balance,which will improve our knowledge of the recent acceleration of regional glacier shrinkage.Based on the Landsat-derived albedo,the spatial distribution of ablation-period albedo was characterized by a general increase with elevation,and significant east–west differences at the same elevation.The gap-filling MODIS values captured a nonsignificant negative trend of mean ablation-period albedo since 2000,with a total decrease of approximately 4.2%.From May to September,glacier-wide albedo exhibited pronounced V-shaped seasonal variability.A significant decrease in annual minimum albedo was found from 2000 to 2021,with the rate of approximately−0.30%yr−1 at the 99%confidence level.The bivariate relationship demonstrated that the change of ablation-period albedo explained 82%of the annual mass-balance variability.We applied the albedo method to estimate annual mass balance over the period 2000–2015.Combined with observed values,the average mass balance was−0.82±0.32 m w.e.yr−1 between 2000 and 2020,with accelerated mass loss.

Vegetation dynamics and its response to climate change during the past 2000 years in the Altai Mountains,northwestern China

Over the past 2000 years,a high-resolution pollen record from the Yushenkule Peat(46°45′-46°57′N,90°46′-90°61′E,2374 m a.s.l.)in the south-eastern Altai Mountains of northwestern China has been used to explore the changes in vegetation and climate.The regional vegetation has been dominated by alpine meadows revealed from pollen diagrams over the past 2000 years.The pollen-based climate was warm and wet during the Roman Warm Period(0-520 AD),cold and wet during the Dark Age Cold Period(520-900 AD),warm and wet during the Medieval Warm Period(900-1300 AD),and cold and dry during the Little Ice Age(1300-1850 AD).Combined with other pollen data from the Altai Mountains,we found that the percentage of arboreal pollen showed a reduced trend along the NW-SE gradient with decreasing moisture and increasing climatic continentality of the Altai Mountains over the past 2000 years;this is consistent with modern distributions of taiga forests.We also found that the taiga(Pinus forest)have spread slightly,while the steppe(Artemisia,Poaceae and Chenopodiaceae)have recovered significantly in the Altai Mountains over the past 2000 years.In addition,the relatively warm-wet climate may promote high grassland productivity and southward expansion of steppe,which favors the formation of Mongol political and military power.

Environmental significance and hydrochemical characteristics of rivers in the western region of the Altay Mountains,China

Analysis of environmental significance and hydrochemical characteristics of river water in mountainous regions is vital for ensuring water security.In this study,we collected a total of 164 water samples in the western region of the Altay Mountains,China,in 2021.We used principal component analysis and enrichment factor analysis to examine the chemical properties and spatiotemporal variations of major ions(including F-,Cl-,NO_(3)-,SO_(4)^(2-),Li+,Na+,NH4+,K+,Mg^(2+),and Ca^(2+))present in river water,as well as to identify the factors influencing these variations.Additionally,we assessed the suitability of river water for drinking and irrigation purposes based on the total dissolved solids,soluble sodium percentage,sodium adsorption ratio,and total hardness.Results revealed that river water had an alkaline aquatic environment with a mean pH value of 8.00.The mean ion concentration was ranked as follows:Ca^(2+)>SO_(4)^(2-)>Na+>NO_(3)->Mg^(2+)>K+>Cl->F->NH_(4)+>Li+.Ca^(2+),SO_(4)^(2-),Na+,and NO_(3)-occupied 83%of the total ion concentration.In addition,compared with other seasons,the spatial variation of the ion concentration in spring was obvious.An analysis of the sources of major ions revealed that these ions originated mainly from carbonate dissolution and silicate weathering.The recharge impact of precipitation and snowmelt merely influenced the concentration of Cl-,NO_(3)-,SO_(4)^(2-),Ca^(2+),and Na+.Overall,river water was in pristine condition in terms of quality and was suitable for both irrigation and drinking.This study provides a scientific basis for sustainable management of water quality in rivers of the Altay Mountains.

中国雪都阿尔泰山暖区暴雪水汽特征分析

为进一步做好中国雪都阿勒泰山冬季冰雪旅游暴雪预报预警服务,利用阿尔泰山固态降水数据、NCEP/NCAR再分析和GDAS数据,应用天气学诊断和不同水汽分析方法对2021年阿尔泰山区3次暴雪过程环流背景和水汽特征进行分析。结果表明:①3次暴雪过程均为新疆北部典型的暖区暴雪过程。②欧拉方法分析表明,该区水汽主要源于大西洋及其沿岸,阿尔泰山西边界为水汽输入,东边界和南边界为水汽输出,中、低层的水汽输入量与暴雪量关系密切,水汽通量散度辐合区位于对流层低层。③HYSPLIT(拉格朗日)方法分析表明,水汽源地主要来自北冰洋、欧洲,其次是中亚和加拿大,与上述结论明显不同;对暴雪区综合贡献较大的是对流层低层的水汽。④构建了阿尔泰山区暴雪过程水汽贡献模型,700 hPa及以上水汽自源地到达关键区后主要从偏西(西南)路径输入暴雪区,700 hPa以下水汽到达关键区后,在环流合适时主要从东南路径输入暴雪区,但从偏西(西南)和西北路径输入暴雪区的水汽也不容忽视;水汽主要在对流层低层聚集,并辐合抬升。

新疆阿尔泰山不同泥炭地记录的全新世大气粉尘信息及其影响因素

本文以中国西北阿尔泰山铁力沙汗和哈拉萨孜泥炭地为研究对象,结合AMS^(14)C年代框架,高分辨率测定两处泥炭地柱芯中的微量元素和常量元素,分析中国西北高山区泥炭记录的全新世大气粉尘历史沉降过程及其影响因素。研究发现:铁力沙汗和哈拉萨孜记录的全新世大气粉尘通量分别为22.74~76.92 g/(m^(2)·a)和18.60~198.38 g/(m^(2)·a)。与铁力沙汗相比,哈拉萨孜泥炭中矿物元素主要来源于大气沉降,表现为早全新世和早−中全新世时期粉尘通量较高,中全新世后粉尘通量较低,更能代表区域粉尘活动历史变化。阿尔泰地区泥炭记录的全新世粉尘通量高于季风区,且在中全新世后通量下降的特征,与季风区泥炭记录的高粉尘通量的结论相反。粉尘来源和气候环境是导致不同区域粉尘通量变化存在差异的主要原因。中国西北干旱区粉尘源区的湿度和温度通过影响植被覆盖状况,对区域大气沉降过程产生影响,但局地环境和冻土变化差异,也会导致区域内不同载体记录的大气粉尘信息存在明显差异。本研究对更全面更准确地认识区域大气环境变化过程及其主要影响因素,具有科学意义。

新疆阿尔泰山多年冻土区泥炭剖面有机碳结构变化及其影响机理

多年冻土泥炭地是重要的陆地碳库之一,在区域碳循环及气候变化过程中扮演重要作用。前期研究集中于区域气候变化对泥炭有机碳稳定性影响研究,但局地环境变化对其影响并不明确。新疆阿尔泰山多年冻土泥炭地是中国西北高山泥炭重要的分布地区之一,对气候变化响应敏感。本文选取阿尔泰山三处多年冻土区泥炭地(黑湖、哈拉萨孜和三道海子)剖面,利用傅里叶变换红外光谱(FTIR)技术对比分析泥炭剖面易分解的碳水化合物和结构较稳定的芳香族化合物的含量变化特征,揭示不同局地环境条件下泥炭剖面中有机碳结构变化及差异特征;并结合泥炭剖面中总有机碳(TOC)、腐殖化度(HD)和灰分等理化指标以及局地环境特征,探讨阿尔泰山多年冻土区泥炭沉积过程,揭示泥炭有机碳结构稳定性变化的影响机理。结果表明,(1)阿尔泰山不同环境条件下多年冻土区泥炭剖面中有机碳结构含量特征存在明显差异。黑湖和哈拉萨孜泥炭剖面中芳香族化合物含量(26.63%和26.58%)显著高于三道海子泥炭剖面中芳香族化合物含量(21.21%);三道海子泥炭剖面中碳水化合物含量(36.12%)明显高于黑湖(21.84%)和哈拉萨孜(24.21%)泥炭剖面。(2)芳香族化合物与碳水化合物含量比值结果表明,黑湖泥炭剖面中有机碳结构稳定性(1.33)高于哈拉萨孜(1.14)和三道海子(0.60);黑湖和哈拉萨孜泥炭剖面中有机碳稳定性随深度增加而增加,三道海子则随深度增加而下降。(3)阿尔泰山不同环境条件下的多年冻土泥炭地植被种群和微生物活性的差异,是导致泥炭有机碳稳定性变化的主要因素。本研究可为科学评估高山多年冻土区有机碳库动态变化及对环境变化的响应提供参考。

2002—2021年北半球中高纬度典型山脉积雪的时空变化对比分析

积雪是冰冻圈的重要组成部分,其对气候变化的响应存在明显的空间差异。阿尔泰山脉、阿尔卑斯山脉和喀斯喀特山脉分别是亚洲、欧洲和北美洲最重要的山脉之一,三条山脉同处于北半球中高纬度,具有丰富的积雪资源。本文基于MODIS每日积雪产品,获得阿尔泰山脉、阿尔卑斯山脉和喀斯喀特山脉的积雪覆盖率、积雪日数、积雪初日和积雪终日四个积雪参数,对比分析了三条山脉2002—2021年积雪的时空变化,并研究了气候因子对积雪参数的影响。结果表明,三条山脉积雪参数的空间分布差异明显。阿尔泰山脉积雪覆盖率最大,积雪日数最长,积雪初日最早,积雪终日最晚,分别为38.00%、141 d、66 d、207 d;阿尔卑斯山脉的积雪覆盖率、积雪日数、积雪初日、积雪终日分别为21.68%、79 d、97 d、194 d;喀斯喀特山脉的积雪覆盖率最小,积雪日数最短,积雪初日最晚,积雪终日最早,分别为15.18%、56 d、103 d、183 d。就趋势而言,阿尔泰山脉积雪覆盖率增大,更早的积雪和更晚的融雪使积雪日数增加;阿尔卑斯山脉积雪覆盖率减小,更早的融雪使得积雪日数减少;喀斯喀特山脉积雪覆盖率增大,更晚的融雪使得积雪日数增加。各气候因子中,地表温度对三条山脉积雪的影响比降水大。对三条山脉积雪时空变化的一致性对比分析,有助于全面了解北半球中高纬度山区积雪对气候变化响应的时空差异。

阿尔泰山河谷林径向生长对气候的响应

阿尔泰山林区是新疆十分重要的生态屏障,研究阿尔泰山树木的生长规律及其对气候的响应十分重要。基于树木年轮学为基础,选择布尔津、哈巴河和北屯3个采样点,采用相关性分析及Mann-Kendall突变检验探究阿尔泰山河谷林径向生长变化特征及其对气候变化的响应。结果表明:(1)布尔津树轮宽度年表平均敏感度、标准差、树间相关系数和第一特征向量百分比最大,说明该标准化年表包含的气候信息最丰富的,其次是北屯。(2)河谷林3个样点树轮宽度指数变化均呈上升趋势,且经Mann-Kendall突变检验,哈巴河、北屯样点树轮年表的突变时间均在年平均气温和年降水量突变时间之后,说明树轮生长有“滞后效应”。(3)哈巴河样点树轮宽度指数与前一年降水量呈显著正相关(P<0.01),北屯样点树轮宽度指数与当年降水量呈显著正相关(P<0.01),说明树轮宽度指数与降水相关性较强,与气温相关性较弱。(4)布尔津树轮年表受温度影响大,从生长季开始到生长季中后期,均与气温呈显著正相关,北屯树轮年表与降水呈显著正相关,与生长季末期的平均温度呈显著负相关。研究表明即使在相似生境下树木生长的影响因素也不同,布尔津样点树木受到开始生长时温度和结束时降水的影响较大,而北屯和哈巴河受生长季降水因素影响更为突出。