Late Weichselian deglaciation and sea level history of St Jonsfjorden,Spitsbergen: A contribution to ice sheet reconstruction

The elevation and age of surveyed shorelines in St Jonsfjorden, western Spitsbergen, provide a chronology for Late Weichselian deglaciation and a proxy for former ice thickness. Support is provided for previous reports of two sets of shorelines on NW Spitsbergen, the oldest (at 60 m in St Jonsfjorden) dating to a pre‐late Weichselian glaciation and the youngest documenting postglacial rebound. The remarkable survival of the older shorelines suggests that a large area of NW Spitsbergen was either covered by protective, cold‐based ice or was subject to only local glaciation during the late Weichselian even though glacier ice extended to the shelf edge in the Isfjorden Trough. A marine limit of 46 m at the mouth of St Jonsfjorden is compatible with the regional late Weichselian marine limit (LWML) dated to ～13 ka BP. A partial relative sea level curve and equidistant shoreline diagram are produced for St Jonsfjorden and used in conjunction with relative sea level curves based on data from previous studies to produce an isobase map for 9 ka BP. The curves indicate that western sites were subject to initial slow emergence followed by rapid emergence between 10 ka and 8.2 ka BP, trends characteristic of areas affected by a full glacial sea or at least subject to early break up of a thin or discontinuous glacier ice cover. A step in the 9 ka BP shoreline long profile over the western end of the peninsula separating Isfjorden and van Mijenfjorden suggests that Holocene neotectonics may have produced anomalously high rebound rates in that area.     

Archaeological Survey of Dynamic Coastal Landscapes and Paleoshorelines: Locating Early Holocene Sites in the Prince Rupert Harbour Area,British Columbia,Canada

We present and test a predictive archaeological survey model that targets early Holocene paleoshorelines in the Prince Rupert Harbour area using LiDAR bare earth digital terrain models and a 15,000-year reconstructed history of relative sea level change. Despite a century of archaeological research in the study area, no sites dating earlier than 6000 cal b.p. had been identified prior to our research. Our field survey identified three early Holocene sites associated with paleoshorelines 7–10?m above current sea level (masl). These locations demonstrate repeated use through the Holocene even as shoreline position changes. We discuss these new data in relation to the early Holocene archaeological record from the rest of the northern Northwest Coast and suggest that the region was ubiquitously occupied by this time and that the lack of recorded early Holocene sites in some areas is likely a result of survey and preservation bias, rather than historical reality.     

DEVELOPMENT OF THE CASPIAN SHORELINE UNDER THE PRESENT INCREASE IN ITS LEVEL

The authors, questioning the implications for the Caspian of a conventional model of shoreline dynamics on a flat, sandy coast upon a rise in sea level, present the findings of field observations made along the Dagestan shore during the period (post-1977) of the recent rise of the Caspian Sea level. They argue that changes in coastal morphology have varied largely according to the steepness of the offshore slope and, in general, sharply accelerated erosion was observed only on more steeply sloping sections of coast and in areas previously protected by rock benches (translated by Jay K. Mitchell; PlanEcon, Inc.; Washington, DC 20005).     

RESEARCH ON THE ARAL SEA AND ARAL REGION

The author, an expert in Central Asian toponymy, culture, and physical geography, examines major trends in research on the Aral region's geography by focusing on major themes of paleogeography, bottom and shoreline morphology, hydroclimatic conditions, migration of salts, and forecasting negative impacts of hydrological engineering projects on the region's environment. In the process he presents much interesting material on the early history of the sea and its hinterland (most notably, the deltas of the Syr Dar'ya and Amu Dar'ya) and about differences in the interpretation of quantitative information about the sea by scholars at different times and using different methodologies.     

OFFSHORE FINDS FROM THE BRONZE AGE IN NORTH-WESTERN EUROPE: THE SHIPWRECK SCENARIO REVISITED

Summary.   This article challenges received thinking relating to the interpretation of Bronze Age finds from the seabed in the waters of north-western Europe, especially the North Sea and Channel area. Metal objects recovered from the sea are traditionally presumed to be the result of shipwrecks. As such, their interpretation as casual, if unfortunate loss is unquestioned. However, abandoning the shipwreck scenario as a remnant of the 'sacred vs profane' heuristic, it is suggested that offshore finds could provide insight into deliberate Bronze Age maritime practice, rather than misadventure. Certain patterning in the data of offshore finds, including affinities with hoards on terra firma , urges another interpretive framework – that of considering the sea as a place for deposition. This appeared to be the case particularly in regions which experienced an intensity of maritime interaction, such as the Channel area during the later Bronze Age. From this it is hypothesized that rather than being considered outside the Bronze Age social realm, the sea, especially in the MBA to earlier LBA in the Channel area, was incorporated into Bronze Age cosmology in similar ways to other zones in the landscape.     

浙北土墩墓遥感考古研究

环太湖地区包括浙北地区是我国长江流域重要的古文化遗存分布区,仅浙北地区的土墩墓就有上万个。近四年来的遥感考古工作,已获得不少关于土墩墓的影象特征和土墩墓分布规律等的研究成果。航空遥感照片上的土墩墓的影象大小、色调、灰度、形态等是土墩墓解译的基本依据;同时影象所在的地貌部位,海拔高度是土墩墓解译的重要参考依据。浙北土墩墓主要集中在长兴和安吉两县,湖州市郊的西部也有较多分布,而德清和余杭土墩墓较少。浙北土墩墓的分布类型有山脊型、山麓型和平原高地型;浙北土墩墓就形态而言,有卵圆形、圆形;面积也有大中小之分,大者底径可达50余米,小者仅3-5米;另外就土墩墓的组合而言,有串珠型、集群型和离散型。土墩墓集中分布在海拔50-200米的丘陵缓坡上,海拔略高的平原岗地上也有较多分布,这种分布特征与古地理环境是有联系的,从一个侧面反映了古地理环境特征。     

中心城市形成前南通市域城镇的形成与时空演变特征

南通地处长江三角洲北隅的沿江沿海交界处,位于我国一级开发轴线"T"型的顶点,与上海隔江相望。南通市域城镇形成和空间结构演变是伴随着陆地的不断长成而自西北向东南推进,城镇数量由无到有,城镇空间结构由简单到复杂,城镇规模由小到大,城镇联系由松散至紧密。历史时期城镇的形成与发展可分为三阶段:城镇空白阶段,城镇形成阶段,中心城市出现阶段等。南通市域城镇的最初形成与煮盐业、水运及海防等因素密切相关,故城镇多沿海岸线呈不规则的弧形分布,沿运河均匀分布。中心城市通州形成后,挣脱了对扬州和泰州的依赖,在行政上与其并列,城镇多沿通州城分布。     

MANAGEMENT OF THE WATER BALANCE OF THE ARAL SEA

In view of the declining inflow into the Aral Sea, alternative proposals are advanced to save this inland sea by reducing its area as well as its salinity levels. The proposals involve the closing off of some portions of the sea, notably the Little Aral in the northeast and the Western Aral, from the large shallow eastern portion. Some portions of this fragmented sea would then be treated as active bodies of water with a throughflow regime, discharging surplus waters of high salinity into other portions, which would be allowed to become salt marshes. Various combinations of active water areas and residual water areas are examined, and possible trends in waterlevel and salinity are projected to the middle of the 21st century.     

Luminescence geochronology and paleoenvironmental implications of coastal deposits of southeast Cyprus

Quaternary stratigraphy and sea level changes have been extensively investigated in many areas of the Mediterranean. However, numerical dating of coastal deposits and the associated paleoenvironmental information are limited for the coasts of Cyprus, principally based on radiometric and radiation-exposure geochronological techniques on fossils which bear a range of limitations and uncertainties. As such, optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating techniques are deemed to be the most suitable in direct dating of the coastal sediments of Cyprus. In the southeastern Cyprus, coastal dunes (aeolianites) now forming elongated ridges appear as morphological features running parallel to the current shoreline presenting an indicator of sea level and climate changes of great paleoenvironmental significance. We present our first chronological results for the exposed aeolianites and underlying littoral deposits formed along the southeastern coastal Cyprus ranging from 78.4 ± 9.9 to 56.2 ± 7.4 ka. The post-infrared–infrared stimulated luminescence (pIR-IRSL) revealed that dune formation took place during the marine isotope stages (MISs) 3, 4, and possibly 5a. Late Holocene reworking is proposed for a distinctively isolated dune with an age of ~1.3 ka ago. This study also showed that pIR-IRSL dating of feldspars may be a reliable alternative to quartz OSL dating when the quartz luminescence characteristics are unsuitable.     

在海陆复合生态系统理论框架下:浅谈人地关系系统中海洋功能的介入

随着社会生产力的提高,人类认识和干预自然的能力逐渐增强,人地关系也随之向广度和深度发展。在人地关系发展初期,人与陆地之间的相互作用强度远大于人与海洋之间的相互作用,而人地关系发展至今天,"地"的概念已经扩展到陆地和海洋的总体。本文首先阐述海陆复合生态系统理论,在此基础上分析海洋功能介入到原本主要以陆地为基地的人地关系系统中的机制问题。文章认为,海陆生态系统的进化、系统开放性所决定的物质能量和信息的交流以及人类需求的拉动都可能解释海洋功能对人地关系系统的介入。     

The Impact of Large Water Engineering Projects on Geomorphic Processes in Stream Valleys

Large storage reservoirs have a significant effect on the landscape of river valleys. A rise of the base level, caused by dam construction, together with the resulting changes in the stream regime set off a sequence of interrelated geomorphic processes. Upstream from the edge of the backwater produced by the dam, regressive aggradation gradually spreads upriver, resulting both in a rise in the valley floor and a rise in water level. Within the reservoir itself, waves, longshore currents, seasonal changes in water level and gravitational processes on shoreline slopes combine to produce a distinctive shoreline relief, characterized by large areas of recurrent inundation, lagoon closed off by baymouth bars, and high cliffs retreating under the impact of wave abrasion. Downstream from the dam, heavy downcutting of the river channel gives rise to a stream terrace, whose relative height declines from the vicinity of the dam toward the mouth. Downcutting of the channel in the main stream in turn tends to lower the base level in the lower reaches of tributaries.     

苏东海陆交接带可持续发展的生态足迹分析

苏东海陆交接带是介于中国东海和华东地区之间的过渡区域,是一典型的海陆交接带。由于历史上长期受黄河和人类活动的影响,该区域的生态系统脆弱性较为显著,资源环境问题十分突出。以中部盐城段为例,对苏东海陆交接带生态足迹及其动态变化规律的计算和分析表明,该区域1996-2003年的人均生态足迹呈上升趋势、万元GDP生态足迹呈下降趋势、生态赤字呈上升势头,从而得到生态不可持续发展状态正在逐年加剧、而资源利用效率有一定程度的提高的结论。因此,应积极采取以控制人口数量、发展资源节约型经济、提高农业劳动率、加强资源环境管理和保护等为主的措施,缓解生态赤字增长势头,实现经济、社会和生态环境的可持续发展。     

Formation of beach‐ridge plains: an appreciation of the contribution by Jack L. Davies

A robust debate among coastal geomorphologists as to the processes by which beach‐ridge plains around Australia have formed was initiated by a former President of the Institute of Australian Geographers. This review gives special consideration to the work of Jack L. Davies, whose academic contributions to coastal geomorphology in Australia have not always been appropriately acknowledged when explaining how similar plains have evolved elsewhere in the world. Davies recognised that relatively steep storm waves caused erosion (cut) on beaches, whereas less steep long‐period swell waves returned sand (fill). He considered the beach berm to be the nucleus on which a beach ridge formed, which could subsequently develop into a foredune, in contrast to cobble ridges that were deposited during storms. Offshore conditions regulate supply of sand to the shoreline, partly through effects on wave refraction, with higher rates of supply where the nearshore is shallow. It was apparent to Davies that the elevation of successive ridges might, but not necessarily, provide evidence of past changes of sea level, despite adornment by variable amounts of windblown dune sand. Morphodynamic understanding of long‐term coastal evolution, based on radiocarbon dating chronologies, has demonstrated that Australian coastal plains formed over the past ~6,000 years when sea level has been close to its present level, in contrast to several documented locations in the northern hemisphere where the sea has been rising for the past few millennia. Particularly insightful were observations by Davies that ridge formation could be influenced by a range of factors including changes in sea level, storminess, or sediment supply. These factors acting singly or in combination seem likely to change in the future. Understanding such responses remains a high priority and can be addressed by new technologies, such as light detection and ranging, optically stimulated luminescence dating, ground‐penetrating radar, and computer simulation.     

The Mesolithic Maritime Landscape on the North Coast of Ireland

A combination of reconstruction of the former coastline and field survey of previously unrecorded sites provides the basis for the study of the maritime landscape and maritime activities around Portrush on the north coast of Ireland during the Mesolithic period. Movements in relative sea‐level and geological events indicate significant change in environment and availability of resources, particularly flint, for the coastal community. Evidence suggests that most Early Mesolithic material, deposited close to the then shoreline, is presently under water. Remnants of the Late Mesolithic are fast disappearing as coastal erosion continues. © 2010 The Author     

Indications of formation water flow and compartmentalization on the flank of a salt structure derived from salinity and seismic data

Vertical and lateral variations in lithology, salinity, temperature, and pressure determined from wireline LAS logs, produced water samples, and seismic data on the south flank of a salt structure on the continental shelf, offshore Louisiana indicate three hydrogeologic zones in the study area: a shallow region from 0 to 1.1 km depth with hydrostatically pressured, shale‐dominated Pleistocene age sediments containing pore waters with sea water (35 g l^?1) or slightly above sea water salinity; a middle region from 1.1 to 3.2 km depth with near hydrostatically pressured, sand‐dominated Pliocene age sediments that contain pore waters that range from seawater salinity to up to 5 times sea water salinity (180 g l^?1); and a deep section below 3.2 km depth with geopressured, shale‐dominated Miocene age sediments containing pore waters that range from sea water salinity to 125 g l^?1. Salt dissolution has generated dense, saline waters that appear to be migrating down dip preferentially through the thick Pliocene sandy section. Sand layers that come in contact with salt contain pore waters with high salinity. Isolated sands have near sea water salinity. Salinity information in conjunction with seismic data is used to infer fluid compartmentalization. Both vertical and lateral lithologic barriers to fluid flow at tens to hundreds of meters scale are observed. Fluid compartmentalization is also evident across a supradomal normal fault. Offset of salinity contours are consistent with the throw of the fault, which suggests that saline fluids migrated before fault formation.     

Trace Metal Distribution Within Marine and Estuarine Sediments of Western Moreton Bay,Queensland, Australia: Relation to Land Use and Setting

This broad‐scale investigation provides an overview of trace metal concentration and distribution within sediments in the subtropical setting of Moreton Bay on the eastern Australian coast. Samples of sediment in one‐metre long PVC cores were collected from the intertidal zone of the western shoreline of the Bay and within its main estuaries. The material is typically silty sand along the Bay shoreline, becoming more clayey within the estuaries. Downcore pH is typically between 7.0 and 8.0, with layers in some cores of pH 6.0 to 7.0. Locally, pH can fall below 5.0 due to pyrite oxidation or exceed 8.0 due to the presence of shell fragments. A comparison with results of similar studies in other highly populated centres in Australia shows that overall the Moreton Bay area sediments have relatively low metal content. Typically, concentrations are two to three times higher in fine‐grained, estuarine sediments than in sandy material along the Bay shoreline. Compared with Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council Guidelines for metal concentrations in sediments, the elements most commonly elevated and warranting further assessment are Ni, Hg, Pb, Zn, and occasionally Cd, As and Cr. The highest metal concentrations are found in estuaries, close to more populated or industrialised areas, notably along the Brisbane River. Overall, the distribution of metals in unconsolidated material is controlled by (a) the heavy metal affinity for Fe‐ and Mn‐rich oxidised sediments, (b) grain size, (c) background concentrations in local rocks, and (d) conditions of weathering and deposition. For example, natural elevation of Fe occurs in marine sediments adjacent to areas of Tertiary basalts and this has produced a relative increase in a number of trace metals in those sediments. Typically, trace metals correlate well with Al, and with Fe and Mn oxyhydroxides. The results of this study show that in the western Moreton Bay region, natural controls have the major influence over metal distribution; although urban and industrial inputs exist, for much of the area they are secondary. The main sources of introduced trace metals are presumed to be light industry (such as maritime and port facilities, petroleum refineries and storage, manufacturing and chemical processes), landfills, agriculture and intensive fertilising (for example, golf courses) as well as the composite effect of urban centres. Overall, higher concentrations of metals are closely related to intense development. If specific locations are targeted for focussed sampling, elevated concentrations of metals are likely to be found locally.     

Elk Heads at Sea: Maritime Hunters and Long‐Distance Boat Journeys in Late Stone Age Fennoscandia

Tumlehed is the most well‐preserved and complex prehistoric rock painting in the coastal region of south‐west Sweden. Originally reported and described in 1974, we re‐documented the panel using digital and IR photography, DStretch image enhancement software, and non‐destructive PXRF spectroscopy. This re‐documentation revealed a more complex image inventory with several previously unknown motifs and image details. The new data provide a better basis for identifying motif categories, the organization of the panel, the chronological sequence, and different frequentation periods. We report on the only known boats with an elk‐head stem in southern and western Scandinavian rock art, the emergence of rock art boat depictions in the region, and evidence for long‐distance maritime journeys and sea‐mammal hunting in the later Stone Age. Comparisons to similar images with shoreline data in Fennoscandia narrow the time range for the date of the painting to 4200–2500 BC.     

我国中部地区农村聚居现状及调控模式研究

本文在中部六省社会经济统计数据基础上,结合50个村529份问卷调查数据,从聚居形态、聚居空间、聚居功能、聚居主体以及聚居设施等方面对中部地区农村聚居现状进行全面分析,研究结论显示:中部地区农村聚居密度不均,规模各异,形态多样,总体分布较散;住宅占地面积较大,一户多宅现象明显,农户集中居住意愿强;生产生活形态多样化趋势开始出现,"劳务输出+传统农业"型村庄依然占主体;农户兼业行为增加,幸福感增强,但新型社会问题显现;基础设施相对滞后,公共服务有待完善。针对其现状特征及存在的问题,提出四种适宜的农村聚居调控模式,即转型升级模式、整治更新模式、保护控制模式、迁并转移模式,并深入比较分析了各类型模式的调控主体、调控对象、调控机制、调控路径差异,认为不同类型、不同区域的农村,应选择适宜的农村聚居调控模式,因地制宜,分类实施。     

跨世纪的广西区域开发战略格局

广西是中国唯一沿海沿边的少数民族自治区。亚热带农林土特产品、水电、铝锰锡建材为主的矿产、旅游资源丰富;作为西南出海大通道,地缘政治经济地位突出。迈向21世纪,将进一步完善大通道为主的交通、能源、通讯为主的基础设施结构,建成七大系列支柱产业基地,形成五大经济区的区域开发战略格局,由此而成为中国沿海新兴的少数民族经济发展热点地区。     

CHANGES IN THE LEVEL OF THE CASPIAN SEA AND THE POSSIBILITY OF FORECASTING THEM

A second paper devoted to problems of predicting the future level of the Caspian Sea attempts, as did the first, to discount overly simplistic explanations for its nearly century-long decline and recent slight rise. Long-term climatic changes within the drainage basin of the Caspian and the resultant change in discharge of tributary rivers are proposed as the basic mechanism controlling sea level fluctuations and not, as argued in the popular press, tectonic movements, groundwater discharge variations, or the damming of the Kara-Bogaz-Gol. Various models for predicting future levels are compared, although no specific forecasts are made (translated by Andrew R. Bond).