Catena最新文献

{"title":"Human activities drive accelerated soil aggregation in Quaternary red soil","authors":"Si-Yi Duan ,&nbsp;Zhong-Xiu Sun ,&nbsp;Hong-Bin Liu ,&nbsp;Feng-Kui Qian ,&nbsp;Qiu-Bing Wang ,&nbsp;Ying-Ying Jiang ,&nbsp;Xiao-Dong Song","doi":"10.1016/j.catena.2025.109232","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.catena.2025.109232","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Understanding aggregate formation is crucial for enhancing soil fertility and ecosystem quality and promoting the sustainable utilization of soil resources. This study examines the long-term evolution of aggregates and binding agents in Quaternary red soil (QRS) under various anthropogenic land use activities. Using a quantitative soil reconstruction method, dynamics of aggregates, crystalline iron oxides (Fec), poor crystalline iron oxides (Feo), and soil organic carbon (SOC) were analyzed since 91.01 ka BP. Results showed significant decreases in 0.25–0.5 mm (MAA₅), 0.053–0.25 mm (MIA), and &lt;0.053 mm aggregates (SCF), while significant increases in &gt; 5 mm (MAA₁), 2–5 mm (MAA₂), 1–2 mm (MAA₃), and 0.5–1 mm (MAA₄) aggregates under anthropogenic activities. SOC and Feo contents increased in MAA₁–MAA₅ and showed a positive correlation (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.05), whereas Fec decreased in MAA₅, MIA, and SCF, with a notable positive association between Fec loss and MAA₅ content (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.05). A model of aggregate formation in QRS influenced by anthropogenic activities was proposed, encompassing four stages: importation of SOC, activation of Fec, decomposition of SOC, and crystallization of Feo. The primary aggregate formation processes revealed that SCF was bound into MAA₁ while MAA₅ broke up. Aggregate aggregation was more pronounced than breakdown. The cumulative aggregation rate of MAA was higher in sparse forest grassland [0.60 g/(cm²·ka)] and woodland [0.38 g/(cm²·ka)] compared to grassland [0.29 g/(cm²·ka)] and cultivated land [0.27 g/(cm²·ka)]. Thus, anthropogenic land use activities accelerate aggregate aggregation in QRS by promoting the formation of SOC and crystallization of Feo.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9801,"journal":{"name":"Catena","volume":"258 ","pages":"Article 109232"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144264006","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Slope effects on soil moisture migration and evolution in shallow layers of loess high-fill slopes in the Gully Land Consolidation","authors":"Han Bao ,&nbsp;Chenlin Ji ,&nbsp;Hengxing Lan ,&nbsp;Han Zheng ,&nbsp;Changgen Yan ,&nbsp;Jianbing Peng ,&nbsp;Langping Li ,&nbsp;Juntian Wang ,&nbsp;Guanmiao Guo","doi":"10.1016/j.catena.2025.109206","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.catena.2025.109206","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Many loess high-fill slopes have been constructed in the Loess Plateau of China, which are susceptible to shallow diseases and disasters owing to water migration and evolution. The existence of a slope surface profoundly affects soil moisture dynamics, thus potentially altering the slope instability. According to long-term, multi-point, and multi-depth on-site monitoring, shallow soil moisture’s migration and evolution characteristics under slope effects were investigated. The influence of the microtopography on the slope effects is also clarified. The results showed that the characteristics under sloped conditions significantly differed from those under flat terrain conditions. During water infiltration and redistribution, the sloping topography shifts the depth of influence of rainfall infiltration downward; the lateral flow duration and the peak of the change rate of moisture content (CRMC) at the slope step were significantly smaller than those at the slope face. During the drainage stage, the slope effect enhances the draining capacity and range of soil layers, with the slope step exhibiting greater draining efficiency. Besides, the slope effect reduces the magnitude and amplitude of soil water potential gradients (SWPG), thereby weakening the intensity of driving force evolution. Among the factors influencing the slope effect, large rainfall events and root plant development promote the slope effects, whereas high initial water content and shallow groundwater tend to suppress it. These findings are of great significance for advancing the understanding of slope soil moisture migration patterns and ensuring the stability of shallow slope layers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9801,"journal":{"name":"Catena","volume":"258 ","pages":"Article 109206"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144264007","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Shrub encroachment and degradation impact water balance by altering water fluxes in alpine meadows","authors":"Lirong Zhao ,&nbsp;Kexin Li ,&nbsp;Nufang Fang ,&nbsp;Suyuan Jia ,&nbsp;Zeng Cui ,&nbsp;Yi-Fan Liu ,&nbsp;Shixiong Li ,&nbsp;Xiaoli Wang ,&nbsp;Yu Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.catena.2025.109231","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.catena.2025.109231","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Shrub encroachment and degradation in alpine meadow (AM) are global ecological problem that may profoundly impact water fluxes. However, the water flux dynamics after shrub encroachment and degradation are poorly understood. Here, changes in evaporation, transpiration, water infiltration, and water recharge for severe shrub-encroached meadow (SM) and severe degraded meadow (DM) on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau were explored through field experiments and stable water isotope methods. The results showed that the soil water evaporation ratios of the SM and DM were 21.4 % and 19.8 % lower than that of the AM, respectively. The average transpiration rates (TR) of the predominant plants in the SM and DM were 33.6 %-39.0 % and 11.8 %-14.7 % higher than that in the AM, respectively. However, the TR of <em>L. virgaurea</em> in DM was 3.7 g H₂O h⁻¹g⁻¹, which was lower than that of <em>K. pygmaea</em> (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). Furthermore, the groundwater recharge and river recharge increased significantly in the SM (2.4 times and 1.4 times) and in the DM (2.4 times and 2.2 times) compared to that in the AM. Our findings highlight the influence of shrub encroachment and degradation on the water balance. The results provide a theoretical basis for water resource conservation and vegetation restoration in the AM ecosystem of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9801,"journal":{"name":"Catena","volume":"258 ","pages":"Article 109231"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144262165","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Plateau zokor mounds decrease soil respiration by shifting microenvironment","authors":"Fanglong Su ,&nbsp;Fuwei Wang ,&nbsp;Donghui Li ,&nbsp;Yueqing Xu ,&nbsp;Zhongling Yang ,&nbsp;Yue Du ,&nbsp;Renhui Miao","doi":"10.1016/j.catena.2025.109234","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.catena.2025.109234","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The mound-building activity of plateau zokor is a common disturbance to alpine meadow on the Tibetan Plateau, which greatly impacts ecosystem processes and threatens ecosystem stability. However, the effects of zokor mounds on soil respiration (SR) and the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. Here, we conducted an in-situ experiment to learn about the effects of new and old zokor mounds on SR in an alpine meadow on the Tibetan Plateau. The results showed that both new and old zokor mounds significantly decreased SR, and SR in new mounds was significantly lower than that in old mounds. Structural equation modeling showed that the negative effects of zokor mounds on SR were caused by soil moisture (SM) and soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC). Since SM and MBC will still be negatively affected by the mounds due to their microtopography, the findings not only showed that SR in soil mounds was significantly decreased during the plant recovery but also suggested that zokor mounds might still negatively affect SR for a long period after recovery. This study revealed the effects of zokor mounds on SR and soil biotic/abiotic factors, highlighted the importance of SM and soil microbes in regulating SR in zokor mounds, and provided a basis for estimating the impact of plateau zokors on grassland carbon cycling.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9801,"journal":{"name":"Catena","volume":"258 ","pages":"Article 109234"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144264010","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of slope aspect and tillage type on soil microbial biomass and its stoichiometric ratios in karst trough valley","authors":"Xiaohong Tan ,&nbsp;Lisha Jiang ,&nbsp;Wuyi Li ,&nbsp;Yuanyue Xia ,&nbsp;Xin Cheng ,&nbsp;Xiuying Xu ,&nbsp;Fengling Gan ,&nbsp;Youjin Yan ,&nbsp;Yuchuan Fan ,&nbsp;Junbing Pu","doi":"10.1016/j.catena.2025.109235","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.catena.2025.109235","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Soil microbial biomass and its stoichiometric ratios are key indicators of soil quality, driving soil nutrient cycling. Microbial Biomass Carbon (MBC), Microbial Biomass Nitrogen (MBN), Microbial Biomass Phosphorus (MBP) and its stoichiometric ratios is linked to slope aspects and tillage type- related changes, but little is regarded about how slope aspects and tillage types influence soil microbial biomass and its stoichiometric ratios in karst trough valley with severe rocky desertification and complex geological structures. Therefore, our study examined two slope aspects (sunny and shady slopes) and two tillage types (tillage lands and abandoned farmlands) to assess their impacts on soil microbial biomass and its stoichiometric ratios in karst trough valley. The results revealed that the Natural moisture Content (NC), Organic Carbon (OC), Total Nitrogen (TN), C:P, and N:P ratios were lower on sunny slope than on shady slope. Moreover, we observed that the MBC, MBP, and MB_N:P ratios on sunny slope were significantly lower than on shady slope (4.87%, 17.09%, and 79.94%, respectively). Meanwhile, the MBC, MB_C:P, and MB_N:P ratios in abandoned farmlands were greater than those in tillage lands. Additionally, the results of the Pearson correlation analysis and path analysis indicated that the C:P and N:P ratios are pivotal factors influencing microbial biomass and its stoichiometric ratios. Overall, our research revealed that slope aspect and tillage type are key factors influencing the cyclic response of soil microbial biomass. This study provides valuable insights into the effective mitigation of rocky desertification and the enhancement of land quality in karst trough valley.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9801,"journal":{"name":"Catena","volume":"258 ","pages":"Article 109235"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144264008","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Understanding organic carbon dynamics in a river catchment through improved sediment fingerprinting","authors":"C. Wiltshire ,&nbsp;J. Meersmans ,&nbsp;T.W. Waine ,&nbsp;R.C. Grabowski ,&nbsp;S. Addy ,&nbsp;M. Glendell","doi":"10.1016/j.catena.2025.109216","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.catena.2025.109216","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Agricultural practices accelerate the rates of soil erosion and organic carbon (OC) loss, increasing the input of nutrient rich sediment to surface waters. As climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of hydrological disturbances that drive erosion, it is of vital importance to quantify the terrestrial to aquatic fluxes of OC to inform sustainable management strategies and mitigate the impacts of soil OC loss in river catchments. In this study, OC sediment fingerprinting was used to determine seasonal sources of sediment to a freshwater stream from different land uses in a river catchment. Multiple lines of evidence (soil and stream sediment sampling, local climate and agronomic data) were used to evaluate tracer properties and sources in order to improve the sediment fingerprinting technique. Within a mixed land-use catchment, four potential sources of sediment (arable, forest, pasture and moorland) were characterised between June 2018 and December 2019. Spatio-temporal differences in OC sources were observed at different times of year. Arable soil was the dominant contributor to suspended sediment OC, ranging from 37% to 61% at the catchment outlet. Increased rainfall, discharge, livestock poaching, and bare or sparsely vegetated areas were found to be the drivers of change in seasonal sources of sediment relative to land use. This study demonstrated a holistic approach to inform sustainable catchment management; using multiple lines of evidence to improve the characterisation of sediment sources and highlight remaining uncertainties in the sediment fingerprinting technique.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9801,"journal":{"name":"Catena","volume":"258 ","pages":"Article 109216"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144262164","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Age and pedogenesis of alpine grassland soils on the northeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau: Insights from optical dating","authors":"Jingjing Chen ,&nbsp;Haoran Zong ,&nbsp;Zihan Yan ,&nbsp;Yujie Guo ,&nbsp;Deguo Zhang ,&nbsp;Xiaoping Yang ,&nbsp;Yuxin He ,&nbsp;Xiao Fu","doi":"10.1016/j.catena.2025.109217","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.catena.2025.109217","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Grassland soils in alpine regions of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) constitute a crucial component of the QTP ecosystem. Understanding their formation requires accurate chronologies and insights into key pedogenic processes. This study applied multi-grain (MG) and single-grain (SG) post-infrared infrared stimulated luminescence (pIRIR) dating to alpine grassland soils around the Gonghe Basin in the northeastern (NE) QTP to gain new insights into their ages and pedogenic processes. In addition, ¹⁴C dating was performed on soil organic matter, with the resulting ¹⁴C ages compared with optical ages to evaluate their reliability for soil age determination. pIRIR dating showed that bioturbation-induced soil reworking is common in alpine grassland soils. SG pIRIR dating allows more accurate soil age estimation by effectively identifying grains associated with original deposition and pedoturbation, while ¹⁴C dating yields underestimated ages due to younger carbon contamination. We proposed an SG pIRIR-based approach that can be applied to alpine grassland soils to constrain their ages and quantify bioturbation. Combined with a synthesis of regional alpine loess and palaeosol/soil chronologies and a comparison with regional climatic records, the influence of climate on alpine soil pedogenesis and bioturbation was explored. Our results showed that pedogenesis in the studied profiles started at ∼11–5 ka, following an aeolian dust aggradation pedogenic mode. The intensity of soil mixing decreases with depth, with the most intensive mixing occurring in a near-surface zone of tens of centimetres depth. Integrating SG dating results with a new conceptual model, we for the first time estimated the recent and past downward soil mixing rates and the timing of intensified bioturbation for alpine soils on the QTP. Chronological synthesis revealed that alpine soil development on the NE-QTP was most pronounced since ∼6 ka. Effective moisture is a key factor that affects both soil development and bioturbation intensity in alpine grassland soils.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9801,"journal":{"name":"Catena","volume":"258 ","pages":"Article 109217"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144253748","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Interactions and feedback mechanisms in oasis wetland hydrology–soil–vegetation systems, northwestern China","authors":"Bing Liu ,&nbsp;Ying Zhao ,&nbsp;Arash Malekian ,&nbsp;Xiao Wang ,&nbsp;Wenzhi Zhao ,&nbsp;Maliheh Behrang Manesh ,&nbsp;Bin Wang ,&nbsp;Changkun Yang ,&nbsp;Weihao Sun ,&nbsp;Wen Li ,&nbsp;Pouyan Dehghan Rahimabadi ,&nbsp;Yangyang Meng ,&nbsp;Chan Liu ,&nbsp;Zhaocen Zhu ,&nbsp;Rui Si","doi":"10.1016/j.catena.2025.109220","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.catena.2025.109220","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Wetlands play a crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance and supporting the sustainable development of arid oases. However, the interactions and feedback mechanisms within oasis hydrology–soil–vegetation systems remain unclear. A five-year field study was conducted in northwestern China across swamp, riparian, grassland, shrubland, and reclaimed wetlands to analyze hydroclimatic processes, soil physicochemical properties, vegetation characteristics, and their interactions and feedback mechanisms. Precipitation in the study area was low (122.5 ± 12.3 mm yr⁻¹). Significant differences were observed among wetland types in hydrological variables: average annual evapotranspiration ranged from 598.2 to 654.53 mm yr⁻¹, groundwater depth ranged from 85.4 ± 5.3 to 130.1 ± 14.8 mm, and soil water content (SWC) ranged from 0.26 ± 0.03 to 0.39 ± 0.09. Groundwater depth significantly affected SWC, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), nutrient and ion concentrations, and microbial and vegetation diversity. Reclamation for agriculture significantly increased Cl⁻, CO₃²⁻, Mg²⁺, and K⁺ concentrations, while significantly decreasing SO₄²⁻, HCO₃⁻, Ca²⁺, and Na⁺ concentrations. The overall vegetation community comprised 17 families, 42 genera, and 46 species, with dicotyledonous species dominating, accounting for 56.52 % of the total species count. Path modelling showed that groundwater depth directly affected soil water content (88 %), soil ion content (56 %), and nutrient content (32 %), thereby indirectly affecting soil microbial and vegetation diversity. SWC exerted a stronger influence on vegetation diversity than did groundwater depth, with a total effect of 86.1 % (direct effect: 62.9 %, indirect effect: 23.2 %). These findings indicate that interactions among hydroclimatic processes, soil physicochemical properties, and human activities significantly affect species diversity and vegetation characteristics in oasis wetlands.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9801,"journal":{"name":"Catena","volume":"258 ","pages":"Article 109220"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144264009","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Palaeosol structures and isotopic records of sulfates and carbonate horizons in Neogene Poznań clays of the Polish Lowlands, western Poland","authors":"Agata Duczmal-Czernikiewicz ,&nbsp;Beata Gebus-Czupyt ,&nbsp;Maciej Swęd","doi":"10.1016/j.catena.2025.109120","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.catena.2025.109120","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study examines two profiles of Neogene fossil soils within the Poznań clays formation in the Polish Lowlands, where well-developed carbonate and sulfate nodules are present. The clay fraction in these profiles indicates a mineral composition consistent with Vertisols, shaped by fluctuations in temperature and water availability that promoted the formation of carbonate nodules and gypsum crystallisation. Chemical analysis further elucidates the dominant hydrologic regime during palaeosol formation. Stable isotope data from gypsum horizons and carbonate concretions were crucial for characterising the sedimentary environments.</div><div>The δ³⁴S and δ¹⁸O values in gypsum ranged from + 1.1 to + 6.1 ‰ and − 6.0 to − 3.4 ‰, respectively, suggesting formation through sulfide oxidation, likely from pyrite. These sulfur and oxygen isotopic signatures indicate continental conditions with an arid to semi-arid climate during palaeosol development, along with gypsum recrystallisation and intercalations of clay minerals and organic matter.</div><div>Carbon isotopic composition (δ¹³C) ranges from − 37.7 to − 16.6 ‰, while oxygen isotopic composition (δ¹⁸O) ranges from − 6.1 to − 3.3 ‰, reflecting a combination of pedogenic and post-sedimentary processes. The δ¹³C values of pedogenic carbonates (PCs) (− 27.3 to − 23.3 ‰) suggest that the primary carbon source is likely the biomineralisation of C3 plants remains, with C3 photosynthesis contributing to carbonate precipitation in the topsoil. The minimal δ¹⁸O variability (approximately 1 ‰) in these carbonates may correspond to short-term environmental fluctuations. Additionally, some carbonates exhibit isotopic patterns indicative of modification by vegetation and contemporary weathering processes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9801,"journal":{"name":"Catena","volume":"258 ","pages":"Article 109120"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144253747","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The links between Na/K ratios in eolian sands and mean annual precipitation in the deserts of arid region, northern China","authors":"Jiaqi Wang,&nbsp;Shipei Dong,&nbsp;Zhuolun Li,&nbsp;Jiaming Qu,&nbsp;Yuhan Kuai,&nbsp;Dianjia Tan,&nbsp;Jie Luo","doi":"10.1016/j.catena.2025.109219","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.catena.2025.109219","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The scarcity of precipitation and unique desert landscapes drive distinct surface processes, making the quantitative reconstruction of precipitation changes in deserts a challenge in past global change and landscape evolution studies. Establishing non-biological proxy–precipitation transfer functions not only provides new methods for quantitatively reconstructing desert hinterland environments but also offers an effective comparison and validation approach for the reliability of biological proxies. However, it remains uncertain whether the geochemistry element ratio can reliably serve as a proxy for precipitation in desert regions. In this study, 47 surface eolian sand samples were collected across the Alashan Desert in the arid region of northwestern China, and their bulk and 40 different grain size fractions (&gt; 250 μm and 125–250 μm) samples were analyzed for Na₂O and K₂O concentrations by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. By combining previously published data in this region, we calculated and analyzed the spatial variation of the Na/K ratio using a total of 161 bulk eolian sand samples. The results show that the spatial variation of the Na/K ratio primarily reflects mean annual precipitation (MAP), rather than being influenced by source rocks or sedimentary sorting, with the Na/K ratio decreasing as precipitation increases. Furthermore, in the arid desert regions (the Alashan Desert, Taklimakan Desert, Qaidam Desert, and Kumtagh Desert, MAP &lt; 200 mm) of northern China, the Na/K ratio shows a strong and significant negative correlation with MAP (MAP = −156.84 × Na/K + 300.36, R² = 0.86, RMSE = 30 mm), indicating that Na/K ratios can provide valuable quantitative estimates of paleo-precipitation changes in the arid desert regions of northern China.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9801,"journal":{"name":"Catena","volume":"258 ","pages":"Article 109219"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144240878","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}