Regarded as a sensitive indicator to paleoclimatic changes, the organic carbon isotope in western Loess Plateau is used to reflect paleoclimatic condition and paleoenvironmental evolution. On the basis of the high resolution organic carbon isotope materials, about 40-year at interval, CaCO_3 content, carbon and oxygen isotope of carbonates in Hongzuisi section, Lanzhou area, this paper is to discuss the climatic evolution of western Loess Plateau since Last Glacial Maximum. The results showed that the δ~(13)C_(org) values represent the ratios of C3 to C4 plants, indicating the changes of temperature of Lanzhou. The higher and lower values of δ~(13)C_(org) in sediment enable to be responsible to warmer and colder paleoclimate, respectively. The organic carbon isotope, together with other climatic indicators, hinted that the climate in Last Glacial Maximum was colder than that of Holocene and two cooling events occurred in 11.5 ka BP, 13.9 ka BP respectively, which respond to Younger Dryas event and H1 event. During Holocene, several hot oscillations were revealed in 8.8 ka BP, 5.0 ka BP and 3.2 ka BP,and three cool events were recognized in 8.0 ka BP, 6.8 ka BP and 5.3 ka BP respectively, with an indication of the complexity of the climatic system.
This paper examines the temporal patterns of historical droughts and floods and associated natural-anthropogenic variations in the middle Yangtze River Basin. Analyses are based principally on yearly meteorological data for 14 stations since late 15th century and monthly hydrological data for 14 stations over the past 50 years. Flood and drought cyclical patterns appear for the middle Yangtze River Basin with the aid of spectral analysis. Significant centennial-decadal scale droughts and floods are considered to be a function of sunspot activities and monsoonal climate, while the interdecadal meteorological hazards should be largely triggered by El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) variations and amplified, to a certain extent, by anthropogenic behaviors. The results show that the flood intensity has changed from decadal to interdecadal cycles in the middle Yangtze River Basin, possibly due to human behaviors leading to rapid expanse of urban populations, high shrinkage of river and lake systems, and fast construction of water facilities. This study can serve as a reference for similar studies in other geographical areas. The study leads to the general conclusion that it is crucially important in the current epoch (the Anthropocene) that public policy for urban development in the middle Yangtze River Basin, China, and likely elsewhere in the world, emphasize the harmonious development of human systems with natural ones in order to mitigate risks of meteorological hazards.
This paper gives an account of some of the indigenous characteristics of China's atmospheric sciences. We use the contributions of Academician Shiyan Tao to demonstrate how scientific advances in an international context were adapted to the evolving field of meteorology in China. The article outlines the major scientific contributions of Shiyan Tao, pays specific attention to his academic career in an international context, and highlights the possible implications of his achievements to the meteorological field in China. Tao came into meteorology while studying at the National Central University (NCU) in 1938. In 1944, he entered the Institute of Meteorology of Academia Sinica (IMAS), and in 1950 he joined the Joint Center for Weather Analysis and Prediction (JCWAP), where he furthered his experiences in weather prediction. In 1958, he published, with coauthors Tu-cheng Yeh and Chen-chao Koo, three important articles in Tellus, giving wider access to his academic contributions in the areas of satellite meteorology, rainstorms in China, East Asian Monsoon, and Tibetan atmospheric research. In this paper, we outline how the indigenous innovations of Tao integrated many international meteorological ideas into the Chinese setting, thereby promoting the development of atmospheric sciences in China. His successes benefited greatly from the desire to: pursue Chinese national requirements, integrate international advances into Chinese meteorology, coordinate research groups, and undertake practical research. He created a Practical School of Atmospheric Science in China and helped mold it with distinctive characteristics indigenous to contemporary China. By virtue of his position, Tao also trained numerous other Chinese meteorologists.
Climate change and geological shifts were pivotal in the survival and development of ancient human societies, especially in densely populated regions like the middle and lower Lishui River Basin. This study explored the dynamic interactions between ancient human cultures and the region’s natural environment, using field research alongside geological, geomorphological, and archaeological data spanning from the late Paleolithic to the Neolithic periods. Our findings showed that prehistoric sites in the middle and lower Lishui River Basin were primarily located in the low hilly areas surrounding the lower basin during the Paleolithic era, a pattern shaped by the region’s geomorphology. Early human settlements were strategically positioned near the Lishui River, offering access to vital resources while minimizing flood risk. These locations provided flat terrain, abundant vegetation, and materials for tool-making, factors that supported a hunting and gathering lifestyle. As the coldest phase of the last glacial period approached, the transition from the Paleolithic to the Neolithic eras marked a period of significant behavioral adaptation. In response to the harsher environment, humans began settling on lower terraces and miniaturizing their stone tools, signaling a shift to more specialized hunting techniques. This adaptability and resilience marked the refinement of hunting economies during this period. With the onset of the Holocene epoch and a warmer climate, conditions for human habitation became more favorable. Societies began migrating from the hills to the fertile lower Lishui River Basin, heralding the Neolithic period. This era saw the emergence of settlements and the onset of early rice cultivation, marking the transition from a hunting–gathering economy to one centered on agriculture. By the Daxi period, these settlements had expanded, extending their influence throughout the region. In conclusion, this study underscores the critical roles of climate change and geological features in shaping human settlement patterns, economic activities, and cultural evolution in the middle and lower Lishui River Basin. Our findings offer valuable insights into the evolutionary processes of ancient human cultures in the region and provide a foundation to understand future challenges in sustainable development.
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