Determining topographic shielding from digital elevation models for cosmogenic nuclide analysis: a GIS model for discrete sample sites

Topographic shielding(TS) is an important factor in cosmogenic nuclide surface exposure dating. The development of geographic information systems(GIS) and the availability of digital elevation models(DEMs) make it possible to derive this factor directly from a DEM. Most available GIS models derive the TS factors for an area(all cells in a DEM) without the consideration of surface conditions of individual sites, such as the strike, dip,and height above ground, into the calculation. This paper presents a new GIS model to derive the TS factors for discrete sample sites. This model uses the Skyline and Skyline Graph functions in ArcGIS to extract the set of azimuth and elevation angles of topographic obstructions around each site from a DEM(considering the sample height above ground)and then incorporates the strike and dip information of the sample surface to derive the TS factor. All processing tools and steps are streamlined in ArcGIS modelbuilder and this model can be run like a standard ArcGIS geoprocessing tool. It provides an easy and user-friendly means to derive the TS factors for discrete samples based on a DEM and the measured strike, dip and sample height for each site.

Determining Topographic Shielding from Digital Elevation Models for Cosmogenic Nuclide Analysis:a GIS Approach and Field Validation

Topographic shielding of cosmic radiation flux is a key parameter in using cosmogenic nuclides to determine surface exposure ages or erosion rates.Traditionally,this parameter is measured in the field and uncertainty and/or inconsistency may exist among different investigators.This paper provides an ArcGIS python code to determine topographic shielding factors using digital elevation models(DEMs).This code can be imported into ArcGIS as a geoprocessing tool with a user-friendly graphical interface.The DEM-derived parameters using this method were validated with field measurements in central Tian Shan.Results indicate that DEM-derived shielding factors are consistent with field-measured values.It provides a valuable tool to save fieldwork efforts and has the potential to provide consistent results for different regions in the world to facilitate the comparison of cosmogenic nuclide results.

The use of in-situ cosmogenic ^(21)Ne in studies on long-term landscape development

Cosmogenic Ne isotopes are stable and are routinely used for constraining the timing of events and the rate of surface change beyond the limit that can be studied with radionuclides ^(10)Be,^(26)Al, and ^(36)Cl. Cosmogenic Ne analysis can be used in quartz and in a range of other minerals. Analysis typically requires significantly less material than do cosmogenic ^(10)Be and^(26)Al, opening up the technique for small samples—individual pebbles in river sediments, for example. Analysis is easier and faster than for radionuclides, not least because Ne measurements do not require significant chemical procedures. However, the presence of other sources of Ne in minerals tends to restrict the use of cosmogenic ^(21)Ne to old landscapes and long exposure durations. In this review we briefly outline the background of cosmogenic Ne production in rocks and minerals at the Earth's surface, then document the key uses of the technique by highlighting some earlier studies, and finish with a short perspective on the future of the technique.

Cosmogenic ^(10)Be and ^(26)Al Chronology of the Last Glaciation of the Palaeo-Daocheng Ice Cap,Southeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

The glacial landforms of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau （QTP） provide a unique opportunity to research hemispheric and global environmental changes. In this study, we focus on the glacial history of the palaeo-Daocheng Ice Cap （p-DIC） in the southeastern QTP during the last glacial cycle. Based on field investigations, morphostratigraphy, and surface exposure dating of roche moutonnée, polished surface and moraine debris through the terrestrial cosmogenic nuclides （TCN） ^10Be and ^26Al. We identify glacial deposits of the last deglaciation, with minimum ages of 14.9±1.3-18.7±1.7 ka, the Last Glacial Maximum （LGM） of 24.7±2.2 ka, and the early part of the last glacial period （marine oxygen isotope stage （MIS） 3） of 37.1±3.4-45.2±3.9 ka. Our results show that in this region, the extent of the glacial advance during MIS 3 was larger than that during the traditional LGM （MIS 2）. These ages are consistent with prior chronologies, and the ^10Be age is consistent with the ^26Al age for the same sample. Thus, these data provide reliable constraints on climate change in the QTP, during the last glaciation.

Late Pleistocene-Holocene slip history of the Langshan-Seertengshan piedmont fault(Inner Mongolia,northern China) from cosmogenic ^(10)Be dating on a bedrock fault scarp

Offset geomorphic features and deformed late Quaternary strata indicate active deformation along the Langshan-Seertengshan piedmont fault(LSPF),one of the most active faults in the Hetao fault zone in Inner Mongolia,North China.The widespread occurrence of bedrock fault scarps along the LSPF offers excellent opportunity to examine the faulting history.Using cosmogenic (10)~Be exposure dating,we measured the exposure ages of the western Langshankou scarp,located in the middle segment of the LSPF.Our data revealed at least two earthquakes that occurred at 22.2±3.3 ka and 7.2±2.4 ka,respectively.These events are consistent with previous paleoseismic trench studies.The regression of the relationship between the age and sampling height along the scarp yield a fault slip rate of 0.10 +0.05/-0.06 mm/yr,which issignificantly lower than the average post-late Pleistocene fault slip rate of ~1 mm/yr,as estimated from the offset of the T_2 terraces by previous studies.This indicates that the slip of the LSPF may have been accommodated by other fault branches.

延安典型丹霞地貌景观特征及发育演化研究

本文是在延安典型丹霞地貌景观特征分析的基础上,采用宇宙成因核素^(10)Be和^(26)Al技术获得暴露年龄和侵蚀速率,研究“黄土覆盖型沟谷丹霞”地貌景观的演化历史。研究结果显示:延安典型丹霞地貌的类型有狭缝式、石蘑菇式、天生桥式,其中狭缝式丹霞的景观特征为“窄狭、多弯、韵律、多彩”,同时也是典型的“黄土覆盖型沟谷丹霞”,石蘑菇式丹霞造型奇特,天生桥式丹霞地貌整体规模宏大,这两者发育都严格受控于垂直节理和外力作用的侵蚀;运用宇宙成因核素^(10)Be和^(26)Al技术,计算获得志丹猫巷狭缝式丹霞地貌的暴露年代有两期,分别为(0.75±18)~(0.83±0.14)ka和(1.14±13)~(1.29±0.30)ka,安塞王家湾石蘑菇式丹霞地貌暴露年代为(1.76±0.45)~(1.77±0.15)ka,这两处丹霞地貌暴露地表的年代都在全新世(Qh),前者晚于后者,地貌较年青;运用宇宙成因核素^(10)Be-^(26)Al计算获得两处典型丹霞地貌侵蚀速率为(39±3.3)~(104±24.4)cm·ka~(-1),与目前国内外学者研究地表和基岩得到的侵蚀速率对比,这两处典型丹霞地貌的侵蚀速率较大,结果还有待进一步研究;延安典型丹霞地貌景观发育的演化始于白垩纪红层的堆积,大致都经历了四个演化阶段,初步揭示了地质构造、上覆黄土盖层以及流水等多种因素共同控制和影响延安典型丹霞地貌的形成,演化阶段总体都处于青年晚期。

Deciphering non-steady landscape evolution by in-situ cosmogenic nuclide depth profile

In-situ cosmogenic nuclide s are receiving growing attention in surface Earth system science in which the steady-state denudation is an important assumption for estimating the surface denudation of long-lived(103-106 years)surfaces.However,distinguishing steady-state denudation and deciphering a reliable denudation rate from non-steady state denudation region are difficult.Recent depth profile models for investigating the denudation rate,exposure age and inheritance are widely used for sediment and regolith of steady-state denudation region.Here we present in-situ co smogenic nuclides^(10)Be and^(26)Al from two typical granite regolithes from Jixian in Tianjin and Tengchong in Yunnan to model non-steady landscape evolution process by using steady state(Model 1)and non-steady state(Model 2,continuous exposure;Model 3 a,changed denudation rate;Model 3 b,abrupt denudation event)models.The results of steady state model show that both regolithes are in non-steady state.^(10)Be non-steady state models of Jixian regolith reveal that the surface has likely experienced a denudation rate change or an abrupt denudation event during the past several millennia,resulting in a non-steady state.The similar Model 3 a and 3 b denudation rates of 14.6-12.9^(+9.4)and 14.7-14.7^(+9.0)mmkyr^(-1),respectively,might demonstrate the long-term denudation rate rather than the exaggerated rate s of 39.0-2.3^(+2.6)and 39.0-2.4+^(2.5)mm kyr^(-1)calculated by assuming steady-state denudation and ignoring inheritance.The non-steady state model results of Tengchong regolith suggest that the surface has likely experienced a strong denudation about 157 ka(^(10)Be)or 127 ka(^(26)Al)ago.This timing is basically consistent with the termination of the MIS 6(TII:130 ka)and the climate change events in the Tibetan Plateau,suggesting a strong surface landscape denudation during the transition from glacial to interglacial.The compiling of basin-wide denudation rates in the Tibetan Plateau shows a good positive correlation with the regional tectonic activity,indicating that the denudation rate derived from non-steady state region with strong tectonic activity is likely to be overestimated by assuming steady state.We suggest that a combination of steady state and non-steady state depth profile models should be used to quantify denudation rate and exposure age more accurately and effectively in strong tectonic activity or climate change regions.

宇生核素深度剖面暴露测年的原理与应用

宇生核素暴露测年技术是目前第四纪地貌年代测定最常用的方法之一,由于难以定量化继承性核素以及侵蚀对样品暴露年代的影响(通常假设继承性和侵蚀的影响为0),其测年结果难以反映地貌的真实暴露年代。通过测定地貌剖面不同深度样品的宇生核素浓度,建立“宇生核素浓度—深度”剖面曲线,可同时定量化研究地貌体的暴露年龄、继承性宇生核素浓度以及侵蚀速率,有效地弥补了宇生核素暴露测年中继承性核素以及侵蚀速率不确定性的缺陷。基于蒙特卡洛方法的宇生核素深度剖面暴露测年模型(简称蒙特卡洛深度剖面模型)是最常用的计算模式之一,然而,国内关于该方法的原理及其应用研究相对较少,大大限制了该方法的广泛使用。笔者等详细阐述了蒙特卡洛深度剖面模型的原理及其在冰川地貌、河流阶地、冲洪积扇等地貌测年中的应用。此外,介绍了深度剖面模型的复现、非稳态模型、线性反演模型等其他几种计算模式并进一步探讨了蒙特卡洛深度剖面模型暴露测年技术的野外采样方法,以使其能够广泛应用于第四纪地貌学和年代学研究中。

Cosmogenic^(10)Be dating of the oldest moraine in the Hengduan Mountains

The Hengduan Mountains is in the transitional zone between the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau(QTP)and the YunnanGuizhou Plateau in China,and a key area for elucidating the Quaternary environmental changes in Asia.The paleo-Daocheng ice cap was located on the Shaluli Hilly Plateau in the northeastern Hengduan Mountains,the oldest moraines in the Hengduan Mountains region were found in the ice cap area.Such glacial landforms provide key evidence to study the timing when this area entered the cryosphere with the uplift of the QTP.However,it is difficult to collect suitable glacial boulders from these moraines for traditional terrestrial in-situ cosmogenic nuclide(TCN)exposure dating because of long-term severe moraine degradation.Here,we collected clast samples from the moraine surface and depth profile to constrain the age of the oldest moraine in Kuzhaori(moraine E)using TCN^(10)Be dating technique.The minimum^(10)Be ages of five clast samples from the moraine surface range from 187.4±1.5 to 576.8±4.3 ka,implying that the moraine has been seriously degraded since deposition.Based on the TCN^(10)Be concentrations of the samples from a depth profile and simulations,the exposure-erosion-inheritance history of the profile was obtained.By fitting to the profile^(10)Be concentrations using the chi-square test,the simulations yielded a reliable age of 626.0±52.5 ka for the moraine.Therefore,the oldest moraine(moraine E)in Kuzhaori was most likely formed at about 0.63Ma ago,corresponding to the marine isotope stage(MIS)16.This glaciation represents the maximum Quaternary glaciation after the QTP was elevated into the cryosphere by the Kunlun-Yellow River Tectonic Movement.

Cosmogenic nuclide burial age of the Sanying Formation and its implications

The Pliocene fluvial/lacustrine sediments of the Sanying Formation lie along the Red River fault and its northwest extension;their majority outcrops appear around Eryuan.The Sanying Formation is characterized by multiple intercalated coal layers and its unconformities contact with the underlying Triassic limestone and the overlying Quaternary coarse sediments.Cosmogenic nuclide burial dating confirms the Pliocene age of the Sanying Formation.The burial ages of the overlying Quaternary sediments provide the lower age limit of the Sanying Formation:2 Ma.Detrital zircon U-Pb age distribution suggests provenance of the Sanying Formation traced to the Songpan-Ganzi flysch belt.From the spatial distribution as well as sedimentary and fault ages,we found a strong connection of the Sanying Formation with the Red River and the Jianchuan faults.We therefore propose that activation of the Red River and the Jianchuan faults during the Late Miocene resulted in subsidence of basins in the extensional areas around Eryuan and in the middle to south segments of the Red River fault.The basins were filled with water carried by the Jinsha River and overflow-lakes formed within the basins where the Sanying Formation was deposited.Most of the lakes were dried and sedimentation of the Sanying Formation ceased due to the uplift of the Yunling Mountains,which forced rerouting of the Jinsha River at the beginning of Quaternary.

青藏高原西北部晚第四纪以来的隆升作用——来自西昆仑阿什库勒多级河流阶地的证据

青藏高原的隆升是新生代最壮观的地质事件,关于青藏高原隆升研究一直是地学界的研究焦点。河流阶地的发育记录了丰富的构造运动和气候变化的信息,近年来被广泛应用于构造运动和气候演变的研究,但前人研究的河流阶地基本分布在青藏高原的周缘,阶地的形成可能是气候与构造运动共同作用的结果。本文通过高分辨率卫星影像的解译,在青藏高原内部的西昆仑阿什库勒地区发现了多达七级的河流阶地。对该处河流阶地结构、沉积特征、几何特征的研究表明该阶地是典型的构造成因阶地。野外利用全站仪对河流阶地地貌形态进行了精细的测量,获得了各级阶地的拔河高度分别为4～5m(T1)、9～10m(T2)、16～18m(T3)、28～31m(T4)、45～48m(T5)。通过宇宙成因核素10Be测年方法对各级阶地面的暴露年龄进行了测定,获得了各级阶地的形成时代分别为7.7±0.7ka(T1)、32.7±3.1ka(T2)、53.6±2.5ka(T3)、115.7±23.2ka(T4)、166.8±10.4ka(T5)、19.5±8.5ka(T6)。由此确定了晚第四纪166.8ka以来不同时期的河流下切速率总体介于0.2～0.35mm/yr,该速率代表了青藏高原西北部晚第四纪166.8ka以来的平均隆升速率。

青藏高原地区宇生核素暴露年代数据存在问题探讨

青藏高原是第四纪古冰川研究的理想区域也是宇宙成因核素(terrestrial cosmogenic nuclides,TCN)暴露测年技术应用的天然实验场所。然而,现有的TCN测年数据与先前学者基于其他测年手段的研究结果不一致,显得相对年轻。为了探索其原因,本文尝试对青藏高原1594个TCN测年数据进行统计分析。研究结果表明:1测年样品中97%的样品是漂砾样品,测年数据中约有93%的年代数据小于130 ka;2 280组(n≥3)漂砾样品年代数据中大约76%的漂砾组数据变异系数大于10%,而基岩和羊背石样品组测年数据变异系数较低、相对集中;3冰碛垄表面漂砾样品的不等时暴露与后期侵蚀可能是造成TCN年代数据结果偏年轻的主要原因。本研究可为青藏高原地区冰川地貌TCN暴露年代研究提供重要启示。

焉耆盆地北缘和静逆断裂-褶皱带中晚第四纪变形速率

焉耆盆地为南天山内部的一个山间盆地,盆地北缘发育1排第四纪新生褶皱带,即和静逆断裂-褶皱带。中晚第四纪以来,由于和静逆断裂-褶皱带的持续活动使得在褶皱生长过程中形成的多期洪积地貌面发生反向掀斜变形。利用高精度差分GPS,对褶皱带中部哈尔莫敦背斜区内的多期变形地貌面的地形形态进行了测绘,判定背斜的生长主要以翼旋转为主。利用背斜北翼不同地貌面的反向掀斜角度,分别计算了不同期次地貌面的隆升和缩短变形量。结合原地宇宙成因核素深度剖面法和光释光测年法,对背斜区内的F4,F3b,F2洪积台地面和T1阶地面的形成年龄进行了测定,发现背斜在距今约550ka、428.3+57.6-47.2ka和354.3+34.2-34.8ka不同时段的平均隆升速率从0.31±0.24mm/a下降至0.15±0.02mm/a,同时背斜北翼的翼旋转速度也呈逐渐减小的趋势。但背斜自起始变形开始,缩短速率却大致保持恒定为约0.3mm/a。而这一恒定的缩短速率与现今横跨和静逆断裂-褶皱带所观测的GPS速率具有很好的一致性,说明在天山内部的哈尔莫敦背斜区,短尺度的GPS速率可以代表长尺度的地壳应变速率,同时反映出山体内部一系列断层和褶皱构造在吸收和调节整体变形量时也起到一定的作用。

加速器质谱技术及其在地球科学中的应用

介绍了加速器质谱的基本原理、装置、技术发展以及在地球科学中的主要应用,并报道了中国原子能科学研究院加速器质谱实验室利用10Be2、6A l和36C l在地球科学如地质年代学、水文、海洋等相关领域开展的工作成果。

应用宇宙成因核素^(10)Be和^(26)Al估算剥蚀面的暴露时间及剥蚀速率和剥蚀厚度

宇宙成因核素10 Be和2 6Al的浓度记录着岩层剥蚀面的暴露时间和岩石剥蚀速率等信息。利用数学换算法分析影响10 Be和2 6Al浓度的因素 ,并利用10 Be和2 6Al的半衰期的近似倍数关系建立联立方程组 ,从理论上得到了年轻地质体中遭受快速埋藏的剥蚀面的暴露时间和剥蚀速率的估算公式。在此基础上 ,对整个剥蚀区不同位置剥蚀速率进行了分析。通过分析可以更准确地估算出整个剥蚀区不同位置的剥蚀厚度 ,从而可恢复剥蚀面的古地貌。

暴露测年样品中^(26)Al和^(10)Be分离及其加速器质谱测定

在已有实验流程基础上,建立并优化了石英样品中Be和Al提取、纯化等实验流程,设计的流程条件实验包括实验试剂、器皿和离子交换柱选择、离子交换树脂分离Be和Al时酸浓度选择等。结果表明,选择钢铁研究总院研制的9Be标准溶液作为10Be样品制备的载体;使用一次性实验器皿;选用4 cm规格的离子交换柱;用0.05 mol/L草酸和0.75 mol/L盐酸混合溶液洗脱吸附于阴离子树脂上的Al,可有效提取、纯化样品中的Be和Al。加速器质谱(AMS)测量结果显示,13组化学空白的10Be/9Be和26Al/27Al比值平均值分别为7.48×10-15和1.96×10-15,与国内已有宇宙成因核素实验室的结果(5×10-15～8×10-15)具有可比性。电感耦合等离子体发射光谱(ICP-AES)的测量结果表明,Be、Al回收率分别达90%和60%。基于新建立的实验流程分析了祁连山北侧金佛寺的一个岩石样品,获得了10Be和26Al的暴露年代分别为(10.7±1.0)ka和(10.0±1.2)ka,与前人研究结果一致。

祁连山北缘断裂带中段晚第四纪活动速率初步研究

佛洞庙-红崖子断裂属于祁连山北缘断裂带中段逆冲推覆的前锋断裂,也是酒东盆地与祁连山之间的边界逆断裂。断裂运动学速率的准确限定对于理解青藏高原现今构造变形机制及其区域地震危险性至关重要。文中选取该断裂中、西段丰乐河口、石羊圈2个地点,通过地质地貌填图,综合应用地形剖面测量、光释光定年、宇宙成因核素定年和^(14)C定年等手段,获得了约40ka以来的断裂平均垂直滑动速率约为1.1mm/a;考虑到断裂倾角为40°~50°,平均缩短速率为0.9~1.3mm/a。跨酒东盆地的GPS速度剖面给出的酒东盆地10a尺度缩短速率约为1.4mm/a,与地质缩短速率1.0~1.5mm/a几乎一致;酒东盆地内部的隐伏断裂或褶皱变形也可能吸收部分地壳缩短。酒东盆地总体地壳缩短速率约占整个祁连山造山带缩短速率的1/5,高原向NE方向扩展的前锋带现今仍具有强烈的地震活动性。

原地生成宇宙成因核素^(10)Be和^(26)Al样品采集及处理

着重介绍原地生成宇宙成因核素10Be和26Al理想样品的特点、野外采集注意事项、实验室分离与纯化以及加速器质谱测量用靶样制备等。

中国第四纪黄土地球化学研究进展

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