In contrast to glaciological studies in Mexico,periglacial studies are very recent and limited to the analysis of the general permafrost cover in the high mountains of the country.Although some of the studies on the r...In contrast to glaciological studies in Mexico,periglacial studies are very recent and limited to the analysis of the general permafrost cover in the high mountains of the country.Although some of the studies on the reconstruction of Pleistocene glaciers in Mexico mention the existence of rock glaciers,to date no work has been done to study their physical properties or determining their state of conservation.Since rock glaciers are the most important visible indicators of mountain permafrost(along with features such as gelifluction lobes and patterned ground)and given that the“Nevado”rock glacier is the main example of its kind in Mexico,this study analyzes its internal temperature and assesses its state of conservation.The investigation was carried out by drilling and thermal monitoring of rock profiles as well as air.The results indicate that at present,the“Nevado”seems to lack permafrost inside.Although there is evidence of surface freezing during the winter months in the upper part of the rock glacier,in the lower portion it is almost unnoticed;and in both parts the internal temperature shows a tendency towards positive values as depth increases,a situation that predominates throughout the year.In addition,according to the records of the climatological station located in the lower part of the rock glacier,although the annual rainfall regime could be favorable for the formation and feeding of interstitial or segregated ice,the air temperature conditions throughout the year prevent permanent freezing.The sum of the above determines that at present the“Nevado”could be considered as an inactive and relict-type rock glacier;the presence of vegetation on the surface of the debris that make it up corroborates its inactivity.展开更多
The glacial history of Pico de Orizaba indicates that during the Last Glacial Maximum,its icecap covered up to~3000 m asl;due to the air temperature increasing,its main glacier has retreated to 5050 m asl.The retracti...The glacial history of Pico de Orizaba indicates that during the Last Glacial Maximum,its icecap covered up to~3000 m asl;due to the air temperature increasing,its main glacier has retreated to 5050 m asl.The retraction of the glacier has left behind an intense climatic instability that causes a high frequency of freeze-thaw cycles of great intensity;the resulting geomorphological processes are represented by the fragmentation of the bedrock that occupies the upper parts of the mountain.There is a notable lack of studies regarding the fragmentation and erosion occurring in tropical high mountains,and the associated geomorphological risks;for this reason,as a first stage of future continuous research,this study analyzes the freezing and thawing cycles that occur above 4000 m asl,through continuous monitoring of surface ground temperature.The results allow us to identify and characterize four zones:glacial,paraglacial,periglacial and proglacial.It was found that the paraglacial zone presents an intense drop of temperature,of up to~9℃ in only sixty minutes.The rock fatigue and intense freeze-thaw cycles that occur in this area are responsible for the high rate of rock disintegration and represent the main factor of the constant slope dynamics that occur at the site.This activity decreases,both in frequency and intensity,according to the distance to the glacier,which is where the temperature presents a certain degree of stability,until reaching the proglacial zone,where cycles are almost non-existent,and therefore there is no gelifraction activity.The geomorphological processes have resulted in significant alterations to the mountain slopes,which can have severe consequences in terms of risk and water.展开更多
Abandoned chemical smelting sites containing toxic substances can seriously threaten and pose a risk to the surrounding ecological environment.Soil samples were collected from different depths(0 to 13 m)and analyzed f...Abandoned chemical smelting sites containing toxic substances can seriously threaten and pose a risk to the surrounding ecological environment.Soil samples were collected from different depths(0 to 13 m)and analyzed for metal(loid)s content and fractionation,as well as microbial activities.The potential ecological risk indices for the different soil depths(ordered from high to low)were:1 m(D-1)>surface(S-0)>5 m(D-5)>13 m(D-13)>9 m(D-9),ranging between 1840.65-13,089.62,and representing extremely high environmental risks,of which Cd(and probably not arsenic)contributed to the highest environmental risk.A modified combined pollution risk index(MCR)combining total content and mobile proportion of metal(loid)s,and relative toxicities,was used to evaluate the degree of contamination and potential environmental risks.For the near-surface samples(S-0 and D-1 layers),the MCR considered that As,Cd,Pb,Sb,and Zn achieved high and alarming degrees of contamination,whereas Fe,Mn,and Ti were negligible or low to moderate pollution degrees.Combined microcalorimetry and enzymatic activity measurements of contaminated soil samples were used to assess the microbial metabolic activity characteristics.Correlation analysis elucidated the relationship between metal(loid)s exchangeable fraction or content and microbial activity characteristics(p<0.05).The microbial metabolic activity in the D-1 layer was low presumably due to heavy metal stress.Enzyme activity indicators and microcalorimetric growth rate(k)measurements were considered sensitive indicators to reflect the soil microbial activities in abandoned chemical smelting sites.展开更多
文摘In contrast to glaciological studies in Mexico,periglacial studies are very recent and limited to the analysis of the general permafrost cover in the high mountains of the country.Although some of the studies on the reconstruction of Pleistocene glaciers in Mexico mention the existence of rock glaciers,to date no work has been done to study their physical properties or determining their state of conservation.Since rock glaciers are the most important visible indicators of mountain permafrost(along with features such as gelifluction lobes and patterned ground)and given that the“Nevado”rock glacier is the main example of its kind in Mexico,this study analyzes its internal temperature and assesses its state of conservation.The investigation was carried out by drilling and thermal monitoring of rock profiles as well as air.The results indicate that at present,the“Nevado”seems to lack permafrost inside.Although there is evidence of surface freezing during the winter months in the upper part of the rock glacier,in the lower portion it is almost unnoticed;and in both parts the internal temperature shows a tendency towards positive values as depth increases,a situation that predominates throughout the year.In addition,according to the records of the climatological station located in the lower part of the rock glacier,although the annual rainfall regime could be favorable for the formation and feeding of interstitial or segregated ice,the air temperature conditions throughout the year prevent permanent freezing.The sum of the above determines that at present the“Nevado”could be considered as an inactive and relict-type rock glacier;the presence of vegetation on the surface of the debris that make it up corroborates its inactivity.
基金support from the Programa de Apoyos para la Superación del Personal Académico (DGAPA)the support by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundationpart of the SIREI project num 531062023178 developed at CCT-UV
文摘The glacial history of Pico de Orizaba indicates that during the Last Glacial Maximum,its icecap covered up to~3000 m asl;due to the air temperature increasing,its main glacier has retreated to 5050 m asl.The retraction of the glacier has left behind an intense climatic instability that causes a high frequency of freeze-thaw cycles of great intensity;the resulting geomorphological processes are represented by the fragmentation of the bedrock that occupies the upper parts of the mountain.There is a notable lack of studies regarding the fragmentation and erosion occurring in tropical high mountains,and the associated geomorphological risks;for this reason,as a first stage of future continuous research,this study analyzes the freezing and thawing cycles that occur above 4000 m asl,through continuous monitoring of surface ground temperature.The results allow us to identify and characterize four zones:glacial,paraglacial,periglacial and proglacial.It was found that the paraglacial zone presents an intense drop of temperature,of up to~9℃ in only sixty minutes.The rock fatigue and intense freeze-thaw cycles that occur in this area are responsible for the high rate of rock disintegration and represent the main factor of the constant slope dynamics that occur at the site.This activity decreases,both in frequency and intensity,according to the distance to the glacier,which is where the temperature presents a certain degree of stability,until reaching the proglacial zone,where cycles are almost non-existent,and therefore there is no gelifraction activity.The geomorphological processes have resulted in significant alterations to the mountain slopes,which can have severe consequences in terms of risk and water.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2019YFC1803500)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.42230716)+3 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.42007289)the 111 Project(No.B21017)the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique(No.CNRS PRC1416,France)the 1000-Talents Plan project(No.WQ2017110423)。
文摘Abandoned chemical smelting sites containing toxic substances can seriously threaten and pose a risk to the surrounding ecological environment.Soil samples were collected from different depths(0 to 13 m)and analyzed for metal(loid)s content and fractionation,as well as microbial activities.The potential ecological risk indices for the different soil depths(ordered from high to low)were:1 m(D-1)>surface(S-0)>5 m(D-5)>13 m(D-13)>9 m(D-9),ranging between 1840.65-13,089.62,and representing extremely high environmental risks,of which Cd(and probably not arsenic)contributed to the highest environmental risk.A modified combined pollution risk index(MCR)combining total content and mobile proportion of metal(loid)s,and relative toxicities,was used to evaluate the degree of contamination and potential environmental risks.For the near-surface samples(S-0 and D-1 layers),the MCR considered that As,Cd,Pb,Sb,and Zn achieved high and alarming degrees of contamination,whereas Fe,Mn,and Ti were negligible or low to moderate pollution degrees.Combined microcalorimetry and enzymatic activity measurements of contaminated soil samples were used to assess the microbial metabolic activity characteristics.Correlation analysis elucidated the relationship between metal(loid)s exchangeable fraction or content and microbial activity characteristics(p<0.05).The microbial metabolic activity in the D-1 layer was low presumably due to heavy metal stress.Enzyme activity indicators and microcalorimetric growth rate(k)measurements were considered sensitive indicators to reflect the soil microbial activities in abandoned chemical smelting sites.
