The northeast Tibetan plateau contains important inlbrmation on the northeastward growth of the Tibetan plateau. It is bounded by the Ordos Block to the east, the Alxa Block to the north, and the Tibetan Plateau to th...The northeast Tibetan plateau contains important inlbrmation on the northeastward growth of the Tibetan plateau. It is bounded by the Ordos Block to the east, the Alxa Block to the north, and the Tibetan Plateau to the south （inset in Fig. 1; Tapponnier et al., 2001）, and has undergone complex intracontinental deformation during the Cenozoic. In this region, the northeast-convex arcuate structures developed northeastward, and are composed of a series of Cenozoic NW-SE-trending basin-and-range terrain, i.e., the Haiyuan-Xingrenbu basin, Tongxin basin and Hongsipu basin, the Yueliang Shan-Nanhua Shan- Huangjiawa Shan, Xiang Shan-Xiangjing Shan, Yantong Shan and Luo Shan-Niushou Shah, which is geometrically similar with the American basin-range tectonics.展开更多
The relationship between the evolution of human societies and their living environments has been discussed intensively in recent decades.It is important to understand the patterns and mechanisms of human–environment ...The relationship between the evolution of human societies and their living environments has been discussed intensively in recent decades.It is important to understand the patterns and mechanisms of human–environment interaction and evolution in order to cope with rapidly changing environments in the modern world.We reviewed the results of dating,archaeobotanical,and zooarchaeological studies from 139 prehistoric sites in the Northeast Tibetan Plateau(NETP)and contiguous regions(NETP-CR:i.e.,the Hexi Corridor and western margin of the Chinese Loess Plateau)and compared them with paleoenvironmental records to study variations in spatiotemporal patterns of social development in the area and their relationships with climate and vegetation changes.Our results show that hunter-gatherer groups occupied vast areas of the NETP at low intensities during^15,000–5500 BP(years before present).This was directly related to forest cover and climate change.An increase in temperature and precipitation turnover of vegetation from desert steppe to alpine meadow/subalpine shrub,and recovery of animal population on the Tibetan Plateau created more food resources and space for hunter-gatherers.Millet farmers settled extensively below 2500 m a.s.l.(meters above sea level)in the NETP-CR between^5500 and 3600 BP,and might have coexisted with hunting groups above 2500 m a.s.l.via subsistence exchange.The distribution of human settlements during that period was affected by climate change,with the relatively warm and wet climate promoting the expansion of millet agriculture to the NETP-CR during 5500–4500 BP,while climate deterioration caused humans to retreat to lower altitudes.During 3600–2200 BP,a range of livelihoods emerged in different regions of the NETPCR.This was promoted by early trans-Eurasian exchange and the development of an agro-pastoral economy that utilized cold-tolerant crops and livestock.This eventually promoted the expansion of permanent human settlements to high-altitude areas in the NETP.This study found that human societies adopted various strategies to adapt to the changing living environment throughout late prehistoric times in the NETP-CR.The results provide a long-term perspective on the trajectory of regional socio-environmental co-evolution.展开更多
The Tianshui Basin,located inside the western Qinling orogenic belt and northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau （Fig.1）,is a NE-trending Late Cenozoic basin,which documents the neotectonic response of the northea...The Tianshui Basin,located inside the western Qinling orogenic belt and northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau （Fig.1）,is a NE-trending Late Cenozoic basin,which documents the neotectonic response of the northeastward growth of Tibetan Plateau.展开更多
On December 18,2023,an M_(s)6.2 earthquake occurred in Jishishan,Gansu Province,China.This earthquake happened in the eastern region of the Qilian Orogenic Belt,which is situated at the forefront of the NE margin of t...On December 18,2023,an M_(s)6.2 earthquake occurred in Jishishan,Gansu Province,China.This earthquake happened in the eastern region of the Qilian Orogenic Belt,which is situated at the forefront of the NE margin of the Tibetan Plateau(i.e.,Qinghai-Tibet Plateau),encompassing a rhombic-shaped area that intersects the Qilian-Qaidam Basin,Alxa Block,Ordos Block,and South China Block.In this study,we analyzed the deep tectonic pattern of the Jishishan earthquake by incorporating data on the crustal thickness,velocity structure,global navigation satellite system(GNSS)strain field,and anisotropy.We discovered that the location of the earthquake was related to changes in the crustal structure.The results showed that the Jishishan M_(s)6.2 earthquake occurred in a unique position,with rapid changes in the crustal thickness,Vp/Vs,phase velocity,and S-wave velocity.The epicenter of the earthquake was situated at the transition zone between high and low velocities and was in proximity to a low-velocity region.Additionally,the source area is flanked by two high-velocity anomalies from the east and west.The principal compressive strain orientation near the Lajishan Fault is primarily in the NNE and NE directions,which align with the principal compressive stress direction in this region.In some areas of the Lajishan Fault,the principal compressive strain orientations show the NNW direction,consistent with the direction of the upper crustal fast-wave polarization from local earthquakes and the phase velocity azimuthal anisotropy.These features underscore the relationship between the occurrence of the Jishishan M_(s)6.2 earthquake and the deep inhomogeneous structure and deep tectonic characteristics.The NE margin of the Tibetan Plateau was thickened by crustal extension in the process of northeastward expansion,and the middle and lower crustal materials underwent structural deformation and may have been filled with salt-containing fluids during the extension process.The presence of this weak layer makes it easier for strong earthquakes to occur through the release of overlying rigid crustal stresses.However,it is unlikely that an earthquake of comparable or larger magnitude would occur in the short term(e.g.,in one year)at the Jishishan east margin fault.展开更多
Human activities are usually considered to have had impacts on forest degradation and/or changes of forest composition in the past.The Tibetan Plateau,an environmentally sensitive area,has witnessed a high intensity o...Human activities are usually considered to have had impacts on forest degradation and/or changes of forest composition in the past.The Tibetan Plateau,an environmentally sensitive area,has witnessed a high intensity of human activities since the late Neolithic,but the evidence is still incomplete concerning how human activities affected the environment,especially vegetation changes.This may result,in part,from the fact that research on prehistoric wood utilization by humans in the northeast Tibetan Plateau(NETP)is scarce,especially from the perspective of charcoal analysis,which is an archaeological index directly related to human activities.To fill this gap,we report new data here concerning charcoal analysis from 24 archaeological sites dated 5200–2300 a BP in the NETP,where this period saw remarkable environmental and social changes.By coupling the results with published paleoenvironment records(especially pollen),we aim to explore the utilization of wood and its spatial-temporal changes,as well as the anthropogenic impacts on past forest dynamics in the NETP.The results suggest that the wood resources collected by humans were mainly needleleaf trees(Picea L.and Pinus L.),broadleaved trees(Populus L.,Salix L.,and Betula)as well as shrubs(Hippophae L.and Tamarix L.),and that these were distributed around the human habitation areas.There was a clear spatial difference in the woody assemblage collected by humans in the period 3600–2300 a BP.This was likely related to the diversity of natural environments in local areas,but there was an abnormal spatial pattern of forest composition with broadleaved trees dominant above 2500 masl caused not by climate change,but by the rapid increase of human settlement and wood collection in high altitude areas of the NETP since 3600 a BP.展开更多
The hydrogen isotopic composition of plant leaf wax（δDwax） is used as an important tool for paleohydrologic reconstruction. However, the understanding of the relative importance of environmental and biological fact...The hydrogen isotopic composition of plant leaf wax（δDwax） is used as an important tool for paleohydrologic reconstruction. However, the understanding of the relative importance of environmental and biological factors in determining δDwax values still remains incomplete. To identify the effects of soil moisture and plant physiology on δDwax values in an arid ecosystem, and to explore the implication of these values for paleoclimatic reconstruction, we measured δD values of soil water（δDwater） and δDwax values in surface soils along two distance transects extending from the lakeshore to wetland to dryland around Lake Qinghai and Lake Gahai on the northeast Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. The results showed that the δDwater values were negatively correlated with soil water content（SWC）（R^2=0.9166）, and ranged from –67‰ to –46‰ with changes in SWC from 6.2% to 42.1% in the arid areas of the Gangcha（GCh） and Gahai（GH） transects. This indicated that evaporative D-enrichment in soil water was sensitive to soil moisture in an arid ecosystem. Although the shift from grasses to shrubs with increasing aridity occurred in the arid area of the GH transect, the δDwax values in surface soils from the arid areas of the two transects still showed a negative correlation with SWC（R^2=0.6835）, which may be due to the controls of primary evaporative D-enrichment in the soil water and additional transpirational D-enrichment in the leaf water on the δDwaxvalues. Our preliminary research suggested that δDwax values can potentially be applied as a paleo-humidity indicator on the northeast Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.展开更多
基金supported by research grants from China Geological Survey (CGS) (No.1212011120100,1212011120099 and 1212011220259)
文摘The northeast Tibetan plateau contains important inlbrmation on the northeastward growth of the Tibetan plateau. It is bounded by the Ordos Block to the east, the Alxa Block to the north, and the Tibetan Plateau to the south （inset in Fig. 1; Tapponnier et al., 2001）, and has undergone complex intracontinental deformation during the Cenozoic. In this region, the northeast-convex arcuate structures developed northeastward, and are composed of a series of Cenozoic NW-SE-trending basin-and-range terrain, i.e., the Haiyuan-Xingrenbu basin, Tongxin basin and Hongsipu basin, the Yueliang Shan-Nanhua Shan- Huangjiawa Shan, Xiang Shan-Xiangjing Shan, Yantong Shan and Luo Shan-Niushou Shah, which is geometrically similar with the American basin-range tectonics.
基金supported by the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDA20040101)the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program(STEP)(2019QZKK0601)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(41825001,41671077).
文摘The relationship between the evolution of human societies and their living environments has been discussed intensively in recent decades.It is important to understand the patterns and mechanisms of human–environment interaction and evolution in order to cope with rapidly changing environments in the modern world.We reviewed the results of dating,archaeobotanical,and zooarchaeological studies from 139 prehistoric sites in the Northeast Tibetan Plateau(NETP)and contiguous regions(NETP-CR:i.e.,the Hexi Corridor and western margin of the Chinese Loess Plateau)and compared them with paleoenvironmental records to study variations in spatiotemporal patterns of social development in the area and their relationships with climate and vegetation changes.Our results show that hunter-gatherer groups occupied vast areas of the NETP at low intensities during^15,000–5500 BP(years before present).This was directly related to forest cover and climate change.An increase in temperature and precipitation turnover of vegetation from desert steppe to alpine meadow/subalpine shrub,and recovery of animal population on the Tibetan Plateau created more food resources and space for hunter-gatherers.Millet farmers settled extensively below 2500 m a.s.l.(meters above sea level)in the NETP-CR between^5500 and 3600 BP,and might have coexisted with hunting groups above 2500 m a.s.l.via subsistence exchange.The distribution of human settlements during that period was affected by climate change,with the relatively warm and wet climate promoting the expansion of millet agriculture to the NETP-CR during 5500–4500 BP,while climate deterioration caused humans to retreat to lower altitudes.During 3600–2200 BP,a range of livelihoods emerged in different regions of the NETPCR.This was promoted by early trans-Eurasian exchange and the development of an agro-pastoral economy that utilized cold-tolerant crops and livestock.This eventually promoted the expansion of permanent human settlements to high-altitude areas in the NETP.This study found that human societies adopted various strategies to adapt to the changing living environment throughout late prehistoric times in the NETP-CR.The results provide a long-term perspective on the trajectory of regional socio-environmental co-evolution.
基金supported by the study grants from China Geological Survey (No.1212011120100,1212011120099 and 1212011220259)
文摘The Tianshui Basin,located inside the western Qinling orogenic belt and northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau （Fig.1）,is a NE-trending Late Cenozoic basin,which documents the neotectonic response of the northeastward growth of Tibetan Plateau.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Project Nos.41804046 and 41974050)the Special Fund of the Key Laboratory of Earthquake Prediction,China Earthquake Administration(No.CEAIEF2022010100).
文摘On December 18,2023,an M_(s)6.2 earthquake occurred in Jishishan,Gansu Province,China.This earthquake happened in the eastern region of the Qilian Orogenic Belt,which is situated at the forefront of the NE margin of the Tibetan Plateau(i.e.,Qinghai-Tibet Plateau),encompassing a rhombic-shaped area that intersects the Qilian-Qaidam Basin,Alxa Block,Ordos Block,and South China Block.In this study,we analyzed the deep tectonic pattern of the Jishishan earthquake by incorporating data on the crustal thickness,velocity structure,global navigation satellite system(GNSS)strain field,and anisotropy.We discovered that the location of the earthquake was related to changes in the crustal structure.The results showed that the Jishishan M_(s)6.2 earthquake occurred in a unique position,with rapid changes in the crustal thickness,Vp/Vs,phase velocity,and S-wave velocity.The epicenter of the earthquake was situated at the transition zone between high and low velocities and was in proximity to a low-velocity region.Additionally,the source area is flanked by two high-velocity anomalies from the east and west.The principal compressive strain orientation near the Lajishan Fault is primarily in the NNE and NE directions,which align with the principal compressive stress direction in this region.In some areas of the Lajishan Fault,the principal compressive strain orientations show the NNW direction,consistent with the direction of the upper crustal fast-wave polarization from local earthquakes and the phase velocity azimuthal anisotropy.These features underscore the relationship between the occurrence of the Jishishan M_(s)6.2 earthquake and the deep inhomogeneous structure and deep tectonic characteristics.The NE margin of the Tibetan Plateau was thickened by crustal extension in the process of northeastward expansion,and the middle and lower crustal materials underwent structural deformation and may have been filled with salt-containing fluids during the extension process.The presence of this weak layer makes it easier for strong earthquakes to occur through the release of overlying rigid crustal stresses.However,it is unlikely that an earthquake of comparable or larger magnitude would occur in the short term(e.g.,in one year)at the Jishishan east margin fault.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.41825001,41820104008)the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program(STEP)(Grant No.2019QZKK0601)。
文摘Human activities are usually considered to have had impacts on forest degradation and/or changes of forest composition in the past.The Tibetan Plateau,an environmentally sensitive area,has witnessed a high intensity of human activities since the late Neolithic,but the evidence is still incomplete concerning how human activities affected the environment,especially vegetation changes.This may result,in part,from the fact that research on prehistoric wood utilization by humans in the northeast Tibetan Plateau(NETP)is scarce,especially from the perspective of charcoal analysis,which is an archaeological index directly related to human activities.To fill this gap,we report new data here concerning charcoal analysis from 24 archaeological sites dated 5200–2300 a BP in the NETP,where this period saw remarkable environmental and social changes.By coupling the results with published paleoenvironment records(especially pollen),we aim to explore the utilization of wood and its spatial-temporal changes,as well as the anthropogenic impacts on past forest dynamics in the NETP.The results suggest that the wood resources collected by humans were mainly needleleaf trees(Picea L.and Pinus L.),broadleaved trees(Populus L.,Salix L.,and Betula)as well as shrubs(Hippophae L.and Tamarix L.),and that these were distributed around the human habitation areas.There was a clear spatial difference in the woody assemblage collected by humans in the period 3600–2300 a BP.This was likely related to the diversity of natural environments in local areas,but there was an abnormal spatial pattern of forest composition with broadleaved trees dominant above 2500 masl caused not by climate change,but by the rapid increase of human settlement and wood collection in high altitude areas of the NETP since 3600 a BP.
基金supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (2013CB955901)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41073018)
文摘The hydrogen isotopic composition of plant leaf wax（δDwax） is used as an important tool for paleohydrologic reconstruction. However, the understanding of the relative importance of environmental and biological factors in determining δDwax values still remains incomplete. To identify the effects of soil moisture and plant physiology on δDwax values in an arid ecosystem, and to explore the implication of these values for paleoclimatic reconstruction, we measured δD values of soil water（δDwater） and δDwax values in surface soils along two distance transects extending from the lakeshore to wetland to dryland around Lake Qinghai and Lake Gahai on the northeast Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. The results showed that the δDwater values were negatively correlated with soil water content（SWC）（R^2=0.9166）, and ranged from –67‰ to –46‰ with changes in SWC from 6.2% to 42.1% in the arid areas of the Gangcha（GCh） and Gahai（GH） transects. This indicated that evaporative D-enrichment in soil water was sensitive to soil moisture in an arid ecosystem. Although the shift from grasses to shrubs with increasing aridity occurred in the arid area of the GH transect, the δDwax values in surface soils from the arid areas of the two transects still showed a negative correlation with SWC（R^2=0.6835）, which may be due to the controls of primary evaporative D-enrichment in the soil water and additional transpirational D-enrichment in the leaf water on the δDwaxvalues. Our preliminary research suggested that δDwax values can potentially be applied as a paleo-humidity indicator on the northeast Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.
