Journal Article

Tracing the Provenance of Long-Range Transported Dust Deposition in Cryospheric Basins of the Northeast Tibetan Plateau: REEs and Trace Element Evidences

Wei, Ting, Kang, Shichang, Dong, Zhiwen, Ulbrich, Sven

2018

Overview

Based on cryoconite and snow dust samples collected from various glaciers and snowpacks in northeast Tibetan Plateau (NETP) margin and surrounding areas, this study investigated the rare earth element (REE) and trace element composition of long-range transported (LRT) dust in glacier surfaces at the NETP locations, in order to trace its source areas and the transport over the region. Results showed that the deposited dust in NETP mainly originated from the adjacent Qaidam Basin, Badain Jaran and Taklimakan Deserts based on the similarity in (La/Sm)N, Th/YbN and Nb/YbN ratios. However, most samples collected at Miaoergou Glacier (MG) located in the Tianshan Mountains showed very different rare earth elements (REEs) ratios from the above locations attributed to the dominant contribution of LRT dust emitted by the southern Gobi Deserts. We found that large central Asian deserts rarely contributed LRT dust to Yuzhufeng (YG) in the hinterland Tibetan Plateau (TP). Taking the region as a whole, it was found that most of the glacier and snowpacks showed mixed dust sources and inputs from different parts of surrounding central Asian deserts that are characterized by different mineralogical settings. Geochemical data indicated that the NETP region acts as an important channel for aeolian transport from large Asian deserts into Loess Plateau and eastern regions, with atmospheric circulations bringing plenty of dust particles deposition to the high-altitude glacier surface in NETP margin. This work is of great importance in providing a new complete view of LRT aeolian emission and transport over the NETP region.

• Publisher: MDPI AG
• Subject: Aerosol particles / asian dust transport channel / Atmospheric circulation / Atmospheric particulates / Cold front / Cold fronts / Deserts / Direction / Dust / Dust deposition / Dust emission / Dust origin / Dust particles / Dust storms / Dust transport / Earth / Earth crust / Eolian transport / Geochemistry / Geology / glacier snowpack / Glaciers / Laboratories / Lanthanum / Locations (working) / long-range transported aeolian dust / Meteorological data / Mountain glaciers / Mountain regions / Mountains / northeast Tibetan plateau margin / Plateaus / Provenance / Rare earth elements / Ratios / REE and trace element geochemistry / Scientific imaging / Snowpack / Studies / Trace elements / Tracing / Transport / Troposphere / Upper troposphere / Zirconium