Utilizing sediment grain size characteristics to assess the effectiveness of clay–sand barriers in reducing aeolian erosion in Minqin desert area,China

The clay–sand barriers in Minqin desert area,China,represent a pioneering windbreak and sand fixation project with a venerable history of 60 a.However,studies on evaluating the long-term effectiveness of clay–sand barriers against aeolian erosion,particularly from the perspective of surface sediment grain size,are limited and thus insufficient to ascertain the protective impact of these barriers on regional aeolian activities.This study focused on the surface sediments(topsoil of 0–3 cm depth)of clay–sand barriers in Minqin desert area to explain their erosion resistance from the perspective of surface sediment grain size.In March 2023,six clay–sand barrier sampling plots with clay–sand barriers of different deployment durations(1,5,10,20,40,and 60 a)were selected as experimental plots,and one control sampling plot was set in an adjacent mobile sandy area without sand barriers.Surface sediment samples were collected from the topsoil of each sampling plot in the study area in April 2023 and sediment grain size characteristics were analyzed.Results indicated a predominance of fine and medium sands in the surface sediments of the study area.The deployment of clay–sand barriers cultivated a fine quality in grain size composition of the regional surface sediments,increasing the average contents of very fine sand,silt,and clay by 30.82%,417.38%,and 381.52%,respectively.This trend became markedly pronounced a decade after the deployment of clay–sand barriers.The effectiveness of clay–sand barriers in erosion resistance was manifested through reduced wind velocity,the interception of sand flow,and the promotion of fine surface sediment particles.Coarser particles such as medium,coarse,and very coarse sands predominantly accumulated on the external side of the barriers,while finer particles such as fine and very fine sands concentrated in the upwind(northwest)region of the barriers.By contrast,the contents of finest particles such as silt and clay were higher in the downwind(southeast)region of the sampling plots.For the study area,the deployment of clay–sand barriers remains one of the most cost-effective engineering solutions for aeolian erosion control,with sediment grain size parameters serving as quantitative indicators for the assessment of these barriers in combating desertification.The results of this study provide a theoretical foundation for the construction of windbreak and sand fixation systems and the optimization of artificial sand control projects in arid desert areas.

Effects of cement content, polypropylene fiber length and dosage on fluidity and mechanical properties of fiber-toughened cemented aeolian sand backfill

Using aeolian sand(AS)for goaf backfilling allows coordination of green mining and AS control.Cemented AS backfill(CASB)exhibits brittle fracture.Polypropylene(PP)fibers are good toughening materials.When the toughening effect of fibers is analyzed,their influence on the slurry conveying performance should also be considered.Additionally,cement affects the interactions among the hydration products,fibers,and aggregates.In this study,the effects of cement content(8wt%,9wt%,and 10wt%)and PP fiber length(6,9,and 12 mm)and dosage(0.05wt%,0.1wt%,0.15wt%,0.2wt%,and 0.25wt%)on fluidity and mechanical properties of the fibertoughened CASB(FCASB)were analyzed.The results indicated that with increases in the three aforementioned factors,the slump flow decreased,while the rheological parameters increased.Uniaxial compressive strength(UCS)increased with the increase of cement content and fiber length,and with an increase in fiber dosage,it first increased and then decreased.The strain increased with the increase of fiber dosage and length.The effect of PP fibers became more pronounced with the increase of cement content.Digital image correlation(DIC)test results showed that the addition of fibers can restrain the peeling of blocks and the expansion of fissure,and reduce the stress concentration of the FCASB.Scanning electron microscopy(SEM)test indicated that the functional mechanisms of fibers mainly involved the interactions of fibers with the hydration products and matrix and the spatial distribution of fibers.On the basis of single-factor analysis,the response surface method(RSM)was used to analyze the effects of the three aforementioned factors and their interaction terms on the UCS.The influence surface of the two-factor interaction terms and the three-dimensional scatter plot of the three-factor coupling were established.In conclusion,the response law of the FCASB properties under the effects of cement and PP fibers were obtained,which provides theoretical and engineering guidance for FCASB filling.

Single-factor analysis and interaction terms on the mechanical and microscopic properties of cemented aeolian sand backfill

The use of aeolian sand(AS)as an aggregate to prepare coal mine cemented filling materials can resolve the problems of gangue shortage and excessive AS deposits.Owing to the lack of research on the mechanism of cemented AS backfill(CASB),the response surface method(RSM)was adopted in this study to analyze the influence of ordinary Portland cement(PO)content(x_(1)),fly ash(FA)-AS(FA-AS)ratio(x_(2)),and concentration(x_(3))on the mechanical and microscopic properties of the CASB.The hydration characteristics and internal pore structure of the backfill were assessed through thermogravimetric/derivative thermogravimetric analysis,mercury intrusion porosimetry,and scanning electron microscopy.The RSM results show that the influence of each factor and interaction term on the response values is extremely significant(except x_(1)x_(3),which had no obvious effect on the 28 d strength).The uniaxial compressive strength(UCS)increased with the PO content,FA-AS ratio,and concentration.The interaction effects of x_(1)x_(2),x_(1)x_(3),and x_(2)x_(3) on the UCS at 3,7,and 28 d were analyzed.In terms of the influence of interaction items,an improvement in one factor promoted the strengthening effect of another factor.The enhancement mechanism of the curing time,PO content,and FA-AS ratio on the backfill was reflected in the increase in hydration products and pore structure optimization.By contrast,the enhancement mechanism of the concentration was mainly the pore structure optimization.The UCS was positively correlated with weight loss and micropore content but negatively correlated with the total porosity.The R^(2) value of the fitting function of the strength and weight loss,micropore content,and total porosity exceeded 0.9,which improved the characterization of the enhancement mechanism of the UCS based on the thermogravimetric analysis and pore structure.This work obtained that the influence rules and mechanisms of the PO,FA-AS,concentration,and interaction terms on the mechanical properties of the CASB provided a certain theoretical and engineering guidance for CASB filling.

Long-term Properties of Aeolian Sand-magnesium Oxychloride Cement Composites and Its Engineering Application

In order to prepare a new material with long-term stable performance,low cost,easy construction,and ecological environmental protection,the influence of aeolian sand on the compressive and flexural strength as well as micro morphology and phase composition of magnesium oxychloride cement(MOC)was studied.The experimental results indicate that,with the increase of content of doping sand,the compressive strength and flexural strength of MOC decrease significantly.However,when the quality ratio of aeolian sand and light burned magnesia powder is 1:8,the performance meets the actual engineering needs.Namely,the compressive strength of MOC is not less than 18 MPa,and flexural strength is not less than 4 MPa.Meanwhile,within 12 months of age,the compressive strength and flexural strength are stable.There is no obvious change in phase composition,and its main phase is still 5·1·8 phase.Microscopic appearance changes from needle-like to gel-like shape.Based on engineering applications,it is found that when the novel sand-fixing material is used in the field for one year,its macroscopic feature is not damaged,compressive strength and flexural strength are also more stable,phase composition negligibly changes,and micro morphology has also been turned into be gellike shape.These further confirm the long-term stability and weather resistance of MOC doping aeolian sand,providing theoretical and technical support for the widely application of MOC in the field of sand fixation in the future.

The Unsaturated Hydraulic Parameters for Aeolian Sand

The water characteristic curve for aeolian sand in two processes of wetting and drying was obtained by the negative water column technique.The values of fitting parameters were calculated according to Van Genuchten formula and the parameters that characterized the prosperities of aeolian sand such as the unsaturated infiltration coefficient and specific water capacity were obtained.The results showed that the water characteristic curve for aeolian sand in wetting process had greater hysteresis quality than ...

Sedimentary characteristics of paleo-aeolian dune sands of Salawusu Formation in the Salawusu River Valley

The Salawusu Formation of Milanggouwan section in Salawusu River Valley includes 7 layers of paleo-mobile dune sands, and 4 layers of paleo-fixed and semi-fixed dune sands. Their structures have been observed and their grain size, surface textural features and several main chemical elements have been analyzed. The results showed that： 1） Some of the aeolian structural characteristics of these dune sands are similar to that of the recent dune sands. 2） They are also similar to the recent dune sands in grain size components, and parameters of Mz,σ, Sk and Kg, as well as in several main chemical components. 3） The scattergrams of Mz-σ and SiO2-Al2O3＋TOFE and the probability curves of grain size showed that these paleo-dune sands are different from paleosols and fluvio-lacustrine facies, but are consistency with recent dune sands. 4） Quartz sands have well roundness and surface textural features such as dish-shaped pits, crescent-shaped pits, pockmarked pits, upturned cleavage plates, siliceous precipitates and siliceous crevasses, indicating that they had been carried for a long time by the wind. As the 11 layers of paleo-dune sands possess the aeolian characteristics in structure, grain size, surface textural features and chemical elements, the origin of their formation should be attributed to eolation.

Grain-size features of aeolian sand on the east coast of Hainan Island and the revealed evolutionary processes of the sedimentary environment

The Mudui stratigraphic section represents the typical records of sedimentation processes of sand dunes and interdune depressions on the east coast of Hainan Island.Based on high-density sampling and optically stimulated luminescence(OSL) dating of the strata of the section,the grain-size composition,grain-size parameters,cumulative distribution probability curve,and grain-size-sensitivity indexes(SC/D) were analyzed.The analyzed results show that the grain-size features of aeolian sand,weakly developed sandy paleosol,two-facies(aeolian and aqueous) deposits,and lagoon deposits are all different.This indicates four evolutionary phases of the sedimentary environment of the east coast of Hainan Island since 38 ka B.P.Phase I:38-22 ka B.P.;phase II:22-17 ka B.P.;phase III:17-10 ka B.P.;phase IV:10 ka B.P.-present.The climate experienced the hot-wet/hot-dry,hot-wet/hot-dry,and warm-wet/hot-wet fluctuations,and the sedimentary environment also underwent lagoon deposition,dune and interdune depression deposition,dune stabilization and soil development,shifting sand deposition,and evolutionary processes.

A wind tunnel investigation on the transverse motion of aeolian sand

A wind tunnel experiment was performed to investigate aeolian grain motions in the transverse direction, which is perpendicular to the incoming flow and parallels the sand bed. The trajectories in the horizontal plane were recorded by high-speed camera. Statistical analysis of 630 trajectories shows that both the motion orientation and the time-averaged speed follow Gaussian distributions. An exclusive method was used to analyze the driving mechanism. It was concluded that the three-dimensional turbulent air flow, rather than the spin of grain or grain-bed collisions, controls the transverse motion.

Mineralogical Characterization of Aeolian Sands from Inner Mongolia, China

Aeolian sand sample from Tengger desert, located in the southern part of Inner Mongolia (China) was characterized for major elemental composition and mineralogy by EPMA, XRF and XRD methods. The objective of this research was to provide data which would be a guide to aid future beneficiation of this sand, especially for the economic exploitation of feldspar and quartz which have a wide range of applications in various industries like plastic, paint, ceramics and glass industries. The elemental analysis of the sample was carried out by X-ray fluorescence spectrometer and chemical analysis while the minerals present were identified by an X-ray diffraction analyzer. The sand was discovered to contain basically SiO2 (82.43%), Al2O3 (7.68%), Na2O + K2O (4.37%) and TiO2 and Fe2O3 as the main impurities. It was also discovered that grinding of the sand is required to enhance the liberation of the minerals and the separation methods recommended are magnetic separation and flotation. It was therefore concluded that aeolian sand is a suitable source of quartz and feldspar for use in the industry.

A late Holocene winter monsoon record inferred from the palaeo-aeolian sand dune in the southeastern Mu Us Desert, northern China

The variation of the Asian winter monsoonal strength has seriously affected the climate and environmental conditions in the Asian monsoonal region, and even in marginal islands and the ocean in the East Asian region. However, relevant under-standing remains unclear due to the lack of suitable geological materials and effective proxies in the key study areas. Here, we present a grain-size record derived from the palaeo-aeolian sand dune in the southeastern Mu Us Desert, together with other proxies and OSL dating, which reflect a relatively detailed history of the winter monsoon and abrupt environmental events during the past 4.2 ka. Our grain-size standard deviation model indicated that 〉224 μm content can be considered as an indicator of the intensity of Asian winter monsoon, and it shows declined around 4.2–2.1 ka, enhanced but unstable in 2.1–0.9 ka, and obviously stronger since then. In addition, several typical climate events were also documented, forced by the periodic variation of winter monsoonal intensity. These include the cold intervals of 4.2, 2.8, 1.4 ka, and the Little Ice Age （LIA）, and relatively warm sub-phases around 3.0, 2.1, 1.8 ka, and the Medieval Warm Period （MWP）, which were roughly accordant with the records of the aeolian materials, peat, stalagmites, ice cores, and sea sediments in various latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere. Combined with the previous progresses of the Asian summer monsoon, we prelimi-narily confirmed a millennial-scale anti-correlation of Asian winter and summer monsoons in the Late Holocene epoch. This study suggests that the evolution of the palaeo-aeolian sand dune has the potential for comprehending the history of Asian monsoon across the desert regions of the modern Asian monsoonal margin in northern China.

CHARACTERISTICS,ORIGIN AND EVOLUTION AGES OF AEOLIAN SAND IN THE SAHELIAN REGION OF MALI

The Sahelian region of Mali is one of the areas seriously affected by sandy desertification in the world. Widely distributed aeolian sand lays a material basis for the development of sandy desertification. Aeolian sand in the region is dominated by fine sand, followed by very fine sand. Sand materials contained in various sand dunes are different in grain size to a certain extent and the mineral compositions of dune sand are dominated by stable and extreme stable minerals, with high stability and maturity. Aeolian sand in the region mainly comes from the reactivation of ancient sand dunes, the transportation of recent runing water and the sand supply of dry lakes and arroyos. Since the Pliocene this region has experienced four major evolution periods of aelian sand, namely from the Pliocene to the early Quaternary, last glacial period, the Holocene and present.

Effects of mixed-based biochar on water infiltration and evaporation in aeolian sand soil

Aeolian sandy soil in mining areas exhibits intense evaporation and poor water retention capacity.This study was designed to find a suitable biochar application method to improve soil water infiltration and minimize soil water evaporation for aeolian sand soil.Using the indoor soil column method,we studied the effects of three application patterns(A(0-20 cm was a mixed sample of mixed-based biochar and soil),B(0-10 cm was a mixed sample of mixed-based biochar and soil and 10-20 cm was soil),and C(0-10 cm was soil and 10-20 cm was a mixed sample of mixed-based biochar and soil)),four application amounts(0%(control,CK),1%,2%,and 4%of mixed-based biochar in dry soil),and two particle sizes(0.05-0.25 mm(S1)and<0.05 mm(S2))of mixed-based biochar on water infiltration and evaporation of aeolian sandy soil.We separately used five infiltration models(the Philip,Kostiakov,Horton,USDA-NRCS(United States Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service),and Kostiakov-Lewis models)to fit cumulative infiltration and time.Compared with CK,the application of mixed-based biochar significantly reduced cumulative soil water infiltration.Under application patterns A,B,and C,the higher the application amount and the finer the particle size were,the lower the migration speed of the wetting front.With the same application amount,cumulative soil water infiltration under application pattern A was the lowest.Taking infiltration for 10 min as an example,the reductions of cumulative soil water infiltration under the treatments of A2%(S2),A4%(S1),A4%(S2),A1%(S1),C2%(S1),and B1%(S1)were higher than 30%,which met the requirements of loess soil hydraulic parameters suitable for plant growth.The five infiltration models well fitted the effects of the treatments of application pattern C and S1 particle size(R2>0.980),but the R2 values of the Horton model exceeded 0.990 for all treatments(except for the treatment B2%(S2)).Compared with CK,all other treatments reduced cumulative soil water infiltration,except for B4%(S2).With the same application amount,cumulative soil water evaporation difference between application patterns A and B was small.Treatments of application pattern C and S1 particle size caused a larger reduction in cumulative soil water evaporation.The reductions in cumulative soil water evaporation under the treatments of C4%(S1),C4%(S2),C2%(S1),and C2%(S2)were over 15.00%.Therefore,applying 2%of mixed-based biochar with S1 particle size to the underlying layer(10-20 cm)could improve soil water infiltration while minimizing soil water evaporation.Moreover,application pattern was the main factor affecting soil water infiltration and evaporation.Further,there were interactions among the three influencing factors in the infiltration process(application amount×particle size with the most important interaction),while there were no interactions among them in the evaporation process.The results of this study could contribute to the rational application of mixed-based biochar in aeolian sandy soil and the resource utilization of urban and agricultural wastes in mining areas.

Simulating the effect of wind erosion on aeolian desertification process of Horqin sandy land and its significance on material cycle:a wind tunnel study

Samples from the Horqin sandy land were exposed to a series of wind velocities,and sink particles were collected at the end of the diffusion section of a wind tunnel.Grain sizes of collected samples show great variation because of the granularity difference of the surface samples.The original samples show lower average content of SiO_(2) and higher average content of Al _(2)O_(3),Fe_(2)O_(3),MgO,CaO,Na_(2)O,and K_(2)O than collected samples.Compared with other dust source areas in China,the Horqin sandy land had higher content of Zr,Ba,SiO_(2),Al_(2)O_(3) and K_(2)O.Compared with the average upper continental crust(UCC)composition,surface samples were rich in the content of Y,Zr,Nb,Ba,La,Nd.Geochemistry characteristics of fine grain components of the Horqin sandy land differ from those from other dust source regions,because fine-grained particles in the Horqin sandy land were mostly derived from various local deposits formed in its unique depositional environments influenced by several tectonic activities.

风积砂-黄土混合料与钢界面的环形剪切力学特性

黄土高原北侧与诸多沙漠接壤,形成了广泛分布的风积砂-黄土混合区。不同比例条件下的风积砂-黄土混合料会呈现不同的物理力学特征,且风积砂-黄土混合料地基现场施工和使用过程中常与其他材料产生界面接触力学行为,相关研究目前鲜有述及。鉴于此,本工作获得了不同掺砂率条件下的混合料最大干密度,配制相同压实度和不同掺砂率的风积砂-黄土混合料环状试样,开展不同竖向压力和剪切速率条件下的混合料与钢制界面的环形剪切试验,借助扫描电镜观测不同混合料的颗粒分布特征以及颗粒破碎特征,揭示风积砂-黄土混合料与钢制界面环形条件下的残余强度形成机制。结果表明,随着掺砂率的增大,风积砂-黄土混合料的物理力学特征由黄土向砂土过渡。竖向压力小于100 kPa条件下,混合料产生剪胀的概率增大。混合料与钢界面之间的残余强度与竖向压力呈线性关系,变化趋势符合摩尔-库仑定律。随着掺砂率的增大,风积砂颗粒破碎效应增大,混合料与钢界面之间的残余内摩擦角及残余黏聚力均会减小。剪切速率的增大会缩短混合料与钢界面之间的接触时间,两者之间的接触、咬合效应尚不足以发挥作用进而减小了界面残余强度。研究结果预测了风积砂中掺入黄土的比例,可以为风积砂地基处理提供有益参考,也可为风积砂-黄土混合料施工力学行为研究提供科学借鉴。

废弃玻璃粉风积沙混凝土柱抗震性能试验研究

为研究玻璃粉等质量取代20%水泥与风积沙等质量取代30%天然砂对混凝土柱抗震性能的影响,本文设计和制作4根混凝土柱试件。第1根是普通混凝土柱,第2根是玻璃粉等质量取代20%水泥的混凝土柱,第3根是风积沙等质量取代30%河砂的混凝土柱,第4根是同时用玻璃粉和风积沙分别等质量取代20%水泥和30%河砂的混凝土柱。通过低周往复荷载试验,对比分析各个试件的破坏形态、承载力、滞回性能、骨架曲线、耗能能力、延性系数、刚度退化规律和变形特点。结果表明:20%取代率的玻璃粉取代水泥和30%取代率的风积沙取代天然河砂均能提高混凝土柱的抗震性能,降低构件破坏程度;基于试验结果、Fajfar和Park-Ang提出的地震损伤模型,对其耗能因子β进行修正,得到了修正后的Park-Ang损伤模型,并与废弃玻璃粉风积沙混凝土柱的试验过程吻合较好。

风荷载和列车共同作用下风积沙包芯路基边坡稳定性研究

我国是世界上沙漠分布最多的国家之一,沙漠中蕴藏着丰富的矿产资源。西部大开发和“一带一路”倡议将进一步推进沙漠地区铁路建设。利用丰富的沙漠风积沙作为铁路路基填料具有重要的经济意义和推广应用前景,风积沙包芯路基是一种充分利用风积沙作为铁路路堤填料的新型结构。为研究列车荷载和风荷载共同作用下风积沙包芯路基边坡稳定性计算方法,基于折线滑动法原理,对路堤结构进行分层分区,采用极限平衡方法,推导出列车荷载和沙漠风荷载共同作用下铁路风积沙包芯路基的稳定性系数计算公式并编制计算程序。结合和若铁路风积沙包芯路基的工程实例,验证了该计算方法的可行性。基于该计算程序,研究了风荷载大小、风向角、路堤填筑高度、填料内摩擦角等影响因素对风积沙包芯路基边坡稳定性系数的影响,分析了风向角、填料内摩擦角等影响因素对风积沙包芯路基边坡砂卵石封层最小厚度的影响。计算结果表明,风积沙包芯路基边坡稳定性系数与风荷载大小近似呈线性负相关,与风向角大小呈非线性正相关。风积沙包芯路基边坡稳定性系数富余量与路堤填筑高度呈负相关。风积沙包芯路基边坡砂卵石封层最小厚度与风向角大小呈非线性负相关,与风积沙填料的内摩擦角大小近似呈线性负相关。建议风积沙包芯路基边坡设计中应考虑风荷载的影响。研究成果可供沙漠地区风积沙包芯路基设计借鉴和采用。

高温后风积沙混凝土力学性能与微观结构试验研究

本文将0%、10%、30%、50%的风积沙等质量替代普通河砂制备成风积沙混凝土,对其在温度20、200、400、600、800℃作用下的外观形貌变化、质量损失情况、抗压强度、抗折强度进行了试验研究;通过折压比的方法分析了风积沙混凝土在不同温度和不同风积沙掺量下力学性能的演变;通过扫描电子显微镜(SEM)研究了不同温度作用下风积沙混凝土内部微观结构的演化过程,并对微观结构机理进行了分析。结果表明:适量风积沙的掺入可以增加水化产物,优化混凝土的孔隙结构,减小混凝土内部界面过渡区厚度,使混凝土内部结构更密实,力学性能得以提升,并能延缓高温作用后混凝土裂缝与孔隙的生成;然而,风积沙掺量过多则会起到相反的效果,使高温后混凝土力学性能下降。本研究可为风积沙混凝土的应用及高温后风积沙混凝土结构的评定提供依据。

养护条件对风积砂混凝土强度及孔隙发展规律的影响

养护条件在混凝土强度发展过程中起到了重要作用,为了研究其对风积砂混凝土性能的影响,进行了立方体抗压试验确定最优风积砂替代率,在此基础上通过核磁共振试验,讨论自然养护、标准养护、水养护三种条件下混凝土微观结构发展规律。结果表明:混凝土较优风积砂替代率为20%,此时抗压强度达到最大;不同养护条件下风积砂混凝土抗压强度规律为:水养护>标准养护>自然养护;水养护与标准养护条件下风积砂混凝土T2图谱随养护龄期的增加逐渐向左移动,无害孔占比较高,但自然养护条件下,有害孔占比较高,不利于提高抗压强度;相较于标准养护,水养护条件下混凝土峰结束位置较早,平均孔径减小,无害孔占比增加。

长江武汉段天兴洲低滩沉积物粒度端元对河流-风成沙丘沉积环境的指示意义

河床沙波向风成沙丘演变的过程具有特殊的沉积动力机制。笔者等以68份长江武汉段天兴洲洲头低滩沉积物的粒度分布数据为例,利用端元分析方法从每个粒度分布中分离提取4个粒度端元组分(EM1、EM2、EM3和EM4),探讨了河流—风成沙丘不同沉积环境中粒度端元的异同。研究结果表明:EM1和EM3组分在粒度分布中占比与沉积物粒度中值分别呈较好的线性正相关和负相关;河流沉积物主要由EM1、EM2和EM3组成的跳跃方式搬运,对应滚动次总体的EM4组分占比5%~10%,少悬浮搬运;风成沙纹沉积物主要包括两段跳跃次总体,以EM2组分为主、EM1和EM3组分为辅,少EM4组分;沙丘背风面沉积物主要靠颗粒流顺坡滑塌,以EM2组分为主、EM1和EM3组分为辅,含占比约为5%的EM4组分;未被风成沙纹覆盖的沙丘波谷沉积物记录了河流和小型滞水洼地的沉积特征,代表滚动次总体的EM4组分占比7%~15%,悬浮次总体占比可达20%。本文提取的沉积物粒度端元为弱风环境中河道内局部小型河流—风成沙丘的沉积环境和演化过程研究提供了参考。

青海湖湖东地区近32 ka BP以来风沙沉积的粒度端元特征及环境意义

青海湖湖东地区出露典型的风成沉积,对气候变化响应敏感,为古气候环境的重建提供了良好研究窗口。本文选取湖东地区厚度10 m的风成砂-砂质古土壤剖面为对象,运用端元分析模型对沉积物粒度数据进行分析,提取对气候变化反映敏感的粒级组分,进一步结合粒度组分、磁化率指标,阐释各端元指示的环境意义以及近32 ka BP以来青海湖湖东地区的环境演化过程。结果表明,大水塘剖面粒度组成以砂粒物质为主,粉砂次之,黏粒最少。剖面的沉积物粒度组分可分解为3个端元:EM1是受冬季风影响的敏感粒径,指示冬季风的强弱变化;EM2指示的是区域环境受风沙作用的强弱,与EM1指示相反,但共同反映冬季风的强弱;EM3指示受区域性低空风系的影响,以尘暴的形式搬运沉积。青海湖湖东地区的环境演化过程可划分为4个阶段:(1)末次冰期间冰阶阶段(32~23.2 ka BP),气候整体较湿润,风沙活动较弱;(2)末次冰期冰盛期阶段(23.2~15.8 ka BP),气候冷偏干,风沙活动增强;(3)末次冰期冰消期阶段(15.8~9.5 ka BP),气候仍以冷偏干为主,冷暖波动,但存在小幅度升温;(4)全新世阶段(9.5 ka BP以来),早期转暖、中期最暖、晚期转凉,气候波动显著。