Trace-element variations in an annually layered stalagmite as recorders of climatic changes and anthropogenic pollution in central China

Liangcheng Tan; Chuan Chou Shen; Yanjun Cai; Li Lo; Hai Cheng; Zhisheng An

doi:10.1016/j.yqres.2013.12.001

Trace-element variations in an annually layered stalagmite as recorders of climatic changes and anthropogenic pollution in central China

Liangcheng Tan, Chuan Chou Shen, Yanjun Cai, Li Lo, Hai Cheng, Zhisheng An

Earth and Environmental Sciences-Twin Cities

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

27 Scopus citations

Abstract

We analyzed variations in the Sr/Ca, Ba/Ca, REE/Ca (REE: rare earth element), Zn/Ca, and Pb/Ca ratios preserved in an annually layered stalagmite, XL21, from central China. The stalagmite record spans the 95year period AD 1914-2008. The Sr/Ca and Ba/Ca ratios have a significant positive correlation with the stalagmite's growth rate, suggesting that they were primarily controlled by growth-rate variations. Variations in REE/Ca ratios are consistent with local temperature changes, suggesting temperature influenced REE concentrations in the stalagmite over decadal to annual timescales. Higher temperature in this humid area can increase vegetation cover, microbial activity, and organic decomposition in the soil, resulting in enhanced pCO₂, organic matter concentration and reduced pH, and consequently increased REE mobilization from the overlying soil layer and host rock. Higher temperatures may also increase the natural Zn mobilization from the overlying soil mediated by organic matter and consequently may have led to increased Zn retention in XL21. An increasing trend is seen in the Pb/Ca ratios from XL21 since 1985, which is consistent with increased lead production in this area, and indicates an increase in mine-derived lead pollution in the local environment over the past 30years.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	181-188
Number of pages	8
Journal	Quaternary Research (United States)
Volume	81
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yqres.2013.12.001
State	Published - Mar 2014

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We acknowledge A. Osincev, S. Breitenbach and H. Zhang for surveying and drawing the cave. The final version of the manuscript benefited for constructive suggestions from two anonymous reviewers and Prof. Alan Gillespie and Prof. John Dodson. This work was supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (grant 2013CB955902 ; 2010CB833405 ); Key Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (grant KZZD-EW-04-01 ); and National Science Foundation of China (grant 41023006 ; 41230524 ; 41001061 ; 41372192 ). We also thank financial supported by Taiwan NSC ( 98-2116-M002-012 , 99-2628-M002-012 , 99-2611-M002-005 , and 100-3113-M-002-002 to CCS) and National Taiwan University ( 101R7625 to CCS).

Keywords

Annually layered stalagmite
Central China
Climate change
Environmental pollution
REE geochemistry
Trace elements

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.yqres.2013.12.001

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title = "Trace-element variations in an annually layered stalagmite as recorders of climatic changes and anthropogenic pollution in central China",

abstract = "We analyzed variations in the Sr/Ca, Ba/Ca, REE/Ca (REE: rare earth element), Zn/Ca, and Pb/Ca ratios preserved in an annually layered stalagmite, XL21, from central China. The stalagmite record spans the 95year period AD 1914-2008. The Sr/Ca and Ba/Ca ratios have a significant positive correlation with the stalagmite's growth rate, suggesting that they were primarily controlled by growth-rate variations. Variations in REE/Ca ratios are consistent with local temperature changes, suggesting temperature influenced REE concentrations in the stalagmite over decadal to annual timescales. Higher temperature in this humid area can increase vegetation cover, microbial activity, and organic decomposition in the soil, resulting in enhanced pCO2, organic matter concentration and reduced pH, and consequently increased REE mobilization from the overlying soil layer and host rock. Higher temperatures may also increase the natural Zn mobilization from the overlying soil mediated by organic matter and consequently may have led to increased Zn retention in XL21. An increasing trend is seen in the Pb/Ca ratios from XL21 since 1985, which is consistent with increased lead production in this area, and indicates an increase in mine-derived lead pollution in the local environment over the past 30years.",

keywords = "Annually layered stalagmite, Central China, Climate change, Environmental pollution, REE geochemistry, Trace elements",

author = "Liangcheng Tan and Shen, {Chuan Chou} and Yanjun Cai and Li Lo and Hai Cheng and Zhisheng An",

note = "Funding Information: We acknowledge A. Osincev, S. Breitenbach and H. Zhang for surveying and drawing the cave. The final version of the manuscript benefited for constructive suggestions from two anonymous reviewers and Prof. Alan Gillespie and Prof. John Dodson. This work was supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (grant 2013CB955902 ; 2010CB833405 ); Key Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (grant KZZD-EW-04-01 ); and National Science Foundation of China (grant 41023006 ; 41230524 ; 41001061 ; 41372192 ). We also thank financial supported by Taiwan NSC ( 98-2116-M002-012 , 99-2628-M002-012 , 99-2611-M002-005 , and 100-3113-M-002-002 to CCS) and National Taiwan University ( 101R7625 to CCS).",

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month = mar,

doi = "10.1016/j.yqres.2013.12.001",

language = "English (US)",

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journal = "Quaternary Research (United States)",

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T1 - Trace-element variations in an annually layered stalagmite as recorders of climatic changes and anthropogenic pollution in central China

AU - Tan, Liangcheng

AU - Shen, Chuan Chou

AU - Cai, Yanjun

AU - Lo, Li

AU - Cheng, Hai

AU - An, Zhisheng

N1 - Funding Information: We acknowledge A. Osincev, S. Breitenbach and H. Zhang for surveying and drawing the cave. The final version of the manuscript benefited for constructive suggestions from two anonymous reviewers and Prof. Alan Gillespie and Prof. John Dodson. This work was supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (grant 2013CB955902 ; 2010CB833405 ); Key Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (grant KZZD-EW-04-01 ); and National Science Foundation of China (grant 41023006 ; 41230524 ; 41001061 ; 41372192 ). We also thank financial supported by Taiwan NSC ( 98-2116-M002-012 , 99-2628-M002-012 , 99-2611-M002-005 , and 100-3113-M-002-002 to CCS) and National Taiwan University ( 101R7625 to CCS).

PY - 2014/3

Y1 - 2014/3

N2 - We analyzed variations in the Sr/Ca, Ba/Ca, REE/Ca (REE: rare earth element), Zn/Ca, and Pb/Ca ratios preserved in an annually layered stalagmite, XL21, from central China. The stalagmite record spans the 95year period AD 1914-2008. The Sr/Ca and Ba/Ca ratios have a significant positive correlation with the stalagmite's growth rate, suggesting that they were primarily controlled by growth-rate variations. Variations in REE/Ca ratios are consistent with local temperature changes, suggesting temperature influenced REE concentrations in the stalagmite over decadal to annual timescales. Higher temperature in this humid area can increase vegetation cover, microbial activity, and organic decomposition in the soil, resulting in enhanced pCO2, organic matter concentration and reduced pH, and consequently increased REE mobilization from the overlying soil layer and host rock. Higher temperatures may also increase the natural Zn mobilization from the overlying soil mediated by organic matter and consequently may have led to increased Zn retention in XL21. An increasing trend is seen in the Pb/Ca ratios from XL21 since 1985, which is consistent with increased lead production in this area, and indicates an increase in mine-derived lead pollution in the local environment over the past 30years.

AB - We analyzed variations in the Sr/Ca, Ba/Ca, REE/Ca (REE: rare earth element), Zn/Ca, and Pb/Ca ratios preserved in an annually layered stalagmite, XL21, from central China. The stalagmite record spans the 95year period AD 1914-2008. The Sr/Ca and Ba/Ca ratios have a significant positive correlation with the stalagmite's growth rate, suggesting that they were primarily controlled by growth-rate variations. Variations in REE/Ca ratios are consistent with local temperature changes, suggesting temperature influenced REE concentrations in the stalagmite over decadal to annual timescales. Higher temperature in this humid area can increase vegetation cover, microbial activity, and organic decomposition in the soil, resulting in enhanced pCO2, organic matter concentration and reduced pH, and consequently increased REE mobilization from the overlying soil layer and host rock. Higher temperatures may also increase the natural Zn mobilization from the overlying soil mediated by organic matter and consequently may have led to increased Zn retention in XL21. An increasing trend is seen in the Pb/Ca ratios from XL21 since 1985, which is consistent with increased lead production in this area, and indicates an increase in mine-derived lead pollution in the local environment over the past 30years.

KW - Annually layered stalagmite

KW - Central China

KW - Climate change

KW - Environmental pollution

KW - REE geochemistry

KW - Trace elements

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SN - 0033-5894

VL - 81

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EP - 188

JO - Quaternary Research (United States)

JF - Quaternary Research (United States)

IS - 2

ER -

Trace-element variations in an annually layered stalagmite as recorders of climatic changes and anthropogenic pollution in central China

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

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