Science China Earth Sciences最新文献

Helium is an irreplaceable strategic mineral resource, and commercial helium-rich gas fields (He>0.1%) worldwide are typically discovered serendipitously during hydrocarbon exploration efforts. According to an analysis of 75 helium-rich gas fields and 1048 natural gas samples worldwide, helium in natural gas generally exhibits “scarce”, “accompanying”, and “complex” properties, and helium-rich gas fields often occur at depths <4500 m. Helium concentrations in He-CH₄ and He-CO₂ gas fields are notably lower than those in He-N₂ gas fields (He>1%). However, geological reserves in the former two types of gas fields are mainly in the range of 10⁷–10¹¹ m³, whereas in the latter, they are only in the range of 10⁵–10⁷ m³. There are nevertheless notable disparities in the genesis and migration patterns between helium and gaseous hydrocarbons. Helium necessitates carriers (such as formation water, hydrocarbon fluids, N₂, mantle-derived fluids, etc.) during both accumulation and long-distance migration processes, where migration conduits are not confined to sedimentary strata, and may extend to the basin’s basement, lower crust, and even lithospheric mantle. However, the accumulation conditions of both helium and gaseous hydrocarbons are generally considered equivalent. The presence of gaseous hydrocarbons facilitates both the rapid exsolution of helium within helium-containing fluids and subsequent efficient aggregation in gaseous hydrocarbons, while both reduce helium diffusion and diminish escape flux. In terms of caprock, gypsum, salt, and thick shale as sealing layers contribute to the long-term preservation of helium over geological timescales. Large helium-rich gas fields, predominantly crust-derived gas fields, are primarily concentrated in uplifted zones of ancient cratonic basins and their peripheries. Based on a diagram of the He concentration versus He/N₂ ratio, crust-derived helium fields can be categorized as basement, combined basement-sedimentary rock, and sedimentary rock helium supply types. Comprehensively given China’s helium grade, helium resource endowment, natural gas industrialization process, and current helium purification processes, the foremost deployment zones for the commercial production of helium should be the helium-rich gas fields located in the Ordos, Tarim, Sichuan, and Qaidam Basins in western and central China. In addition, certain (extra) large helium-containing gas fields serve as important replacement zones.

Warm-sector rainstorms are highly localized events, with weather systems and triggering mechanisms are not obvious, leading to limited forecasting capabilities in numerical models. Based on the ensemble Kalman filter (PSU-EnKF) assimilation system and the regional mesoscale model WRF, this study conducted a simulation experiment assimilating all-sky infrared (IR) radiance for a warm-sector rainstorm in East China and investigated the positive impact of assimilating the Himawari-8 moisture channel all-sky IR radiance on the forecast of the rainstorm. Results indicate that hourly cycling assimilation of all-sky IR radiance can significantly improve the forecast accuracy of this warm-sector rainstorm. There is a notable increase in the Threat Score (TS), with the simulated location and intensity of the 3-hour precipitation aligning more closely with observations. These improvements result from the assimilation of cloud-affected radiance, which introduces more mesoscale convective information into the model’s initial fields. The adjustments include enhancements to the moisture field, such as increased humidity and moisture transport, and modifications to the wind field, including the intrusion of mid-level cold air and the strengthening of low-level convergent shear. These factors are critical in improving the forecast of this warm-sector rainstorm event.

Methane dominated gas is one of the cleanest energy resources; however, there is no direct method to determine its source rock. Natural gases produced from the eastern Sichuan Basin together with seismic data were studied for their sources and secondary alteration by thermochemical sulfate reduction (TSR). Our results demonstrate that Upper Permian to Lower Triassic (P₃ch-T₁f) gases in the surrounding of the Kaijiang-Liangping area show volatile organic sulfur compounds (VOSCs) δ³⁴S values close to those of the associated H₂S, and may have been altered by methane-dominated TSR, resulting in positive shift in methane δ¹³C₁ values with increasing TSR extents. Other (or group 2) gases produced from the P₃ch-T₁f reservoirs from the southern area and the Upper Carboniferous to Middle Permian (C₂h-P₂q) from the eastern Sichuan Basin are not significantly changed by TSR, show similar δ³⁴S values between the kerogens and some VOSCs, and may have been derived from the Lower Silurian and Middle Permian source rocks. This study demonstrates a case for the first time showing the δ³⁴S values of VOSCs can be used as a tool for direct correlation between non-TSR altered gas and source rocks. Methane-dominated gas pools can be found using gas and source rock geochemistry combined with seismic data.

Temperature and precipitation are the main factors determining plant community succession and aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) in natural grasslands. However, most climate manipulative experiments have mainly focused on their impacts in isolation, especially in alpine regions. Here we explored the relative effects and interaction of warming and precipitation alteration on succession and ANPP using a 7-year experiment involving warming with precipitation alteration (increase (IP) or decrease (DP) in precipitation relative to ambient precipitation (AP)) on the Tibetan Plateau. Our results showed that warming and warm-wet conditions increased species richness, diversity index, height and cover of overall species. Conversely, decreasing precipitation reduced them, but increased S. purpurea and the rate of change in community composition. Importantly, warming mitigated the impacts of decreased precipitation on plant community composition, and the interactive effects of warming and altered precipitation on cover, height and plant ANPP varied with year and plant species. Generally, warming increased community ANPP through increases in forb ANPP or non-dominant species ANPP and biodiversity regardless of change in precipitation. However, decreased precipitation reduced community ANPP via decreases in the ANPP of sedges and forbs and biodiversity. Precipitation alteration affected the relationship between biodiversity and community ANPP regardless of warming (IP<AP<DP). Therefore, generally warming and decreased precipitation have opposite effects on ANPP in the alpine grassland, suggesting that warming mitigated the negative impacts of drought on the ANPP of the alpine grassland.

Refractory lithospheric deep roots are the cornerstone for the prolonged stability of cratons and mantle xenoliths are normally the key targets for study on the evolution of such deep roots. In regions with few mantle xenoliths, the basalts enriched in radiogenic isotopic compositions due to marked lithospheric mantle contribution are crucial to unmask the lithospheric mantle evolution based on a comprehensive study involving petrology, geochemistry and thermodynamic modelling. Here, the Early Cretaceous basalts from the northwest North China Craton with few mantle xenoliths are taken as an example to show the significance of enriched basalts on the study of lithospheric mantle. These basalts are characterized by high silica and alkali contents (SiO₂=45.8–59.8 wt.%, K₂O+Na₂O=4.81–9.88 wt.%), arc-type trace-element patterns and enriched radiogenic isotope compositions (e.g., ε_Nd=−2.64–−12.88,⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr=0.7063–0.7093). The TiO₂ and FeO (total) contents are higher than those of natural and experimental melts from refractory mantle peridotite but comparable to those of partial melts of fertile mantle rocks. The high contents of fluid-loving elements (e.g., Rb and Ba) suggest source metasomatism by aqueous fluids. Combined with thermodynamic modelling and regional tectonic history, these enriched basalts likely record simultaneous decompression melting of asthenosphere and low-extent melting of thin and fertile lithospheric mantle fluxed by aqueous fluids from the subducted Paleo-Asian oceanic slab. The newly unmasked lithospheric mantle under the western NCC contrasts with the coeval thick and refractory one supporting the eastern NCC, and highlights that the craton destruction, especially the loss of its ancient refractory mantle root, should take place in a diachronous manner related to the craton-girded subduction episodes. Our study illustrates the potential of enriched basalts to recover the nature and evolution of mantle lithosphere beneath craton margins and associated tectonic histories.

A climatological survey of Martian ionospheric plasma density irregularities was conducted by exploring the in-situ measurements of the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) spacecraft. The irregularities were first classified as enhancement, depletion, and oscillation. By checking the simultaneous magnetic field fluctuation, the irregularities have been classified into two types: with or without magnetic signatures. The classified irregularities exhibit diverse global occurrence patterns, as those with magnetic signatures tend to appear near the periphery of the crustal magnetic anomaly (MA), and those without magnetic signatures prefer to appear either inside of the MA or outside of the MA, depending on the type and solar zenith angle. Under most circumstances, the irregularities have a considerable occurrence rate at altitudes above the ionospheric dynamo height (above 200 km), and the magnetization state of the ions seems irrelevant to their occurrence. In addition, the irregularities do not show dependence on magnetic field geometry, except that the enhancement without magnetic signatures favors the vertical field line, implying its equivalence to the localized bulge. Other similarities and discrepancies exist in reference to previous studies. We believe this global survey complements previous research and provides crucial research clues for future efforts to clarify the nature of the Martian ionospheric irregularities.

Internal waves transport material and energy from the upper water column to the deep ocean, disturbing seabed sediments and resulting in phenomena such as seabed erosion and changes in topography. On the northern slope of the South China Sea and in many coastal margins worldwide, the zones with internal wave action closely overlap with areas where natural gas hydrates are present. However, due to significant differences in the spatial and temporal scales, understanding the influence of internal waves on methane releases from deep seabeds is challenging. In this study, in situ observations of seabed microseismicity and internal waves are conducted at water depths of 655 meters and 1450 meters in the Pearl River Canyon of the South China Sea. The microseismicity caused by internal waves and seabed methane releases is identified, and a method to establish the correlation between internal waves and seabed methane releases through the use of microseismic recordings is proposed, aiming to obtain direct observational evidence of internal waves intensifying seabed methane releases. The results show that internal waves and seabed methane releases generate significant microseismic signals, indicating the continuous influence of internal waves on the deep seabed of the northern slope of the South China Sea and revealing active methane release phenomena on the seabed. At both long and short time scales, internal waves increase the frequency of seabed methane releases by 4.2 times and 2.4 times, respectively, while also enhancing the intensity of these releases. These changes are influenced by the alterations in seabed flow velocity, pressure, and temperature that are induced by internal wave activities. This study emphasizes that microseismic signals are effective carriers of information for multiscale geological processes on seabeds and suggests that internal waves exacerbate marine geological hazards and contribute to global climate change by intensifying seabed methane releases.

As the primary interannual signal of variability in the tropical ocean-atmosphere interaction, the El Niño-Southern Oscillation has a considerable impact on tropical cyclone (TC) activity over the western North Pacific (WNP). Both 2018 and 2021 were La Niña decay years, but TC activity over the WNP during the two summers (June–August) showed notable differences. In 2018, summer TC activity was unusually high with a total of 18 TCs, and the region of TC genesis was mainly in the central and eastern WNP. In contrast, only 9 TCs were generated in summer 2021, and the region of TC genesis was primarily in the western WNP. By comparing the characteristics of the large-scale environmental conditions over the regions of TC genesis, the thermal factors of the tropical oceans, and the activity of the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO), this study revealed the possible causes for the marked differences in TC genesis over the WNP during the two summers, which both had a similar background of La Niña decay. The Indian Ocean Basin Mode (IOBM) transitioned of a cold anomaly in the winter of 2017/2018 and persisted until summer 2018. At the same time, the Pacific Meridional Mode (PMM) maintained a positive phase, leading to eastward and northward displacement of the Western Pacific Subtropical High in summer, and eastward extension of the tropical monsoon trough, which presented conditions conducive to TC genesis over the Northwest Pacific. Moreover, the days when the MJO stagnated in phases 5 and 6 in the summer of 2018 increased by approximately 150% relative to climatological state, providing dynamic conditions favorable for TC formation. In 2021, the IOBM quickly turned to a warm anomaly in March and persisted until summer, whereas the PMM became a negative phase in January and remained so until summer. At the same time, the MJO stagnated in phases 2 and 3 for up to 47 days, with the center of convection located over the western Maritime Continent, producing conditions unconducive to TC genesis over the Northwest Pacific. Thus, despite being under a similar background of La Niña decaying year, the distinct evolutions of the IOBM, PMM, and MJO in spring and summer of 2018 and 2021 were the main causes of the notable differences in TC activity over the WNP during these two summers, and the anomalies in IOBM and MJO contributed more significantly than those of the PMM.

Wildfires are major disturbances in permafrost ecosystems, with increasing frequency and intensity in recent years. In permafrost regions, wildfires not only burn surface and subsurface organic matter but also accelerate permafrost thawing, releasing significant amounts of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere. However, the contribution of high-latitude permafrost regions in the Northern Hemisphere to global wildfire carbon emissions remains poorly understood. This study integrates remote sensing data and ground observations to analyze the contributions of aboveground and belowground fuel combustion in high-latitude permafrost regions to global wildfire carbon emissions from 2002 to 2020, as well as the spatiotemporal variations in these contributions. Our findings indicate that permafrost regions contribute approximately 11.96% of global wildfire carbon emissions, with aboveground emissions accounting for approximately 3.94% of global aboveground emissions and belowground emissions contributing approximately 63.57% of global belowground emissions. The contribution of high-latitude permafrost regions to global emissions peaked in July and August, whereas the continuous permafrost zones (areas with more than 90% permafrost coverage) showed the most significant increase in June and July. The contributions of both aboveground and belowground emissions from high-latitude permafrost regions to global wildfire emissions have been increasing, primarily due to the reduction in global wildfire emissions, in contrast with the rising emissions from wildfires in high-latitude permafrost regions. This study highlights the significant role of wildfires, particularly the combustion of belowground biomass in high-latitude permafrost regions, in global carbon emissions. The decomposition and combustion of organic carbon in permafrost regions due to wildfires release more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, potentially amplifying the positive feedback between atmospheric greenhouse gas accumulation and climate warming.