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The ability of anthropogenic aerosols to freeze supercooled cloud droplets remains debated. In this work, we present observational evidence for the glaciation of supercooled liquid-water clouds at industrial aerosol hot spots at temperatures between −10° and −24°C. Compared with the nearby liquid-water clouds, shortwave reflectance was reduced by 14% and longwave radiance was increased by 4% in the glaciation-affected regions. There was an 8% reduction in cloud cover and an 18% reduction in cloud optical thickness. Additionally, daily glaciation-induced snowfall accumulations reached 15 millimeters. Glaciation events downwind of industrial aerosol hot spots indicate that anthropogenic aerosols likely serve as ice-nucleating particles. However, rare glaciation events downwind of nuclear power plants indicate that factors other than aerosol emissions may also play a role in the observed glaciation events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) dissolution at the Southern Ocean seafloor has hypothetically contributed to lowering the atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration by increasing ocean alkalinity during glacial periods. We present new CaCO3 burial and dissolution records from two sediment cores obtained off the Chilean margin in the subantarctic SE Pacific and covering the past 140 kyr since Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 6. These records include CaCO3 contents and mass accumulation rates, and microfossil-based analysis results, including fragmentation ratios, sieve-based weights (SBWs), and ultrastructural observations of planktic foraminiferal tests. Our bulk CaCO3-based analyses and Globorotalia inflata SBWs revealed three major CaCO3 dissolution events during colder stages of MIS 5d and 5b and at the MIS 5/4 boundary that are traceable events in the eastern South Pacific along the Chilean margin and in the Drake Passage. Furthermore, CaCO3 burial exhibited pronounced glacial/interglacial fluctuations, with almost no burial during glacials (MIS 6, 4, 3, and 2) and recovery during interglacials (MIS 5e and 1) and early glacials (MIS 5d–a). This pattern agrees with previous observations over a wide area of the Southern Ocean, except in the deep Cape Basin > 4600 m in the South Atlantic Ocean. Considering that our sites were located upstream of the Drake Passage, the Circumpolar Deep Water, which was influenced by carbon-rich Pacific Deep Water, likely propagated from the subantarctic eastern Pacific to the South Atlantic at least at depths of ~ 3000 to ~ 4000 m and decreased CaCO3 burial during glacials. These findings supported the importance of carbonate compensation in the Southern Ocean for the carbon cycle on the glacial/interglacial timescale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stromatoporoids were major reef-builders during the middle Paleozoic; however, no Carboniferous stromatoporoid reefs have been reported. The Akiyoshi Limestone Group of southwest Japan formed on a seamount in the Panthalassa Ocean from the Mississippian (Visean) to the middle Permian (Capitanian). The Early Pennsylvanian (Bashkirian) reefcore setting was well developed and laterally differentiated into several reef environments. Laminated skeletons made up of cystose or flat laminae and pillar-like vertical structures were abundant and, together with Chaetetes, contributed greatly to reef construction in most reef-core environments. The morphology of the laminated skeletons clearly indicates a stromatoporoid, probably labechiid, affinity. Thus, a lineage of reef-building stromatoporoids reappeared on a Panthalassan seamount in a locally warm-water tropical setting after the Late Devonian extinctions. Ongoing global glaciation may have resulted in enhanced ocean circulation, upwelling, and nutrient supply, especially around shallow-water seamounts, culminating in elevated carbonate saturation, which should have favored hypercalcified stromatoporoids and Chaetetes. The Chaetetes–stromatoporoid reefs remained in the Moscovian, but probably died out during the Kasimovian with intensive global cooling and frequent subaerial exposure, to be replaced by Palaeoaplysina–phylloid algal reefs. The occurrence of Bashkirian reef-building stromatoporoids indicates that Paleozoic stromatoporoids continued as reef-builders long after the Late Devonian extinction, at least in Panthalassa. This occurrence emphasizes the significance of rarely preserved open, but isolated oceanic settings like Akiyoshi for global biogeography and evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article attempts to interpret folk narratives featuring the motif of producing millstones from erratic boulders and their subsequent reuse in new functional contexts. According to our assumptions, in folk narratives originating from the northern regions of Germany and Poland, where these motifs are present, one can find references to the methods of obtaining stone materials characteristic of these areas. These narratives also include information about the occurrence of erratic boulders – consistent with the geomorphology of regions affected by the last glaciation, and residual information regarding the distribution of millstones as well as semi-finished products. Thus, folk narratives can often serve as an interesting point of reference not only for ethnologists and folklorists but also for geologists and geographers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laurentide Ice Sheet (LIS) reconstructions beyond the last glacial maximum (LGM) are difficult due to the incomplete stratigraphic record that has largely been eroded by the most recent glaciation. The Hudson Bay Lowland (HBL) is a key region to understanding the long-term evolution of the LIS, as it contains an extensive pre-LGM stratigraphic record of glacial and nonglacial events. This study uses a hybrid lithostratigraphy–allostratigraphy approach to decipher the stratigraphic record in the Kaskattama highland region of the western HBL, Manitoba, Canada. We identify five glacial (till) units and three nonglacial (sorted sediment) units that were deposited during at least three glacial–interglacial cycles, which are constrained by radiocarbon and optical ages. The provenance of till units is identified using clast-lithology and detrital hornblende 40Ar/39Ar ages and supported by matrix geochemistry. The new stratigraphic framework for this western HBL region indicates that the ice emanating from the Quebec–Labrador dome advanced into the region at the start of the last two glaciations, suggesting accelerated early growth of the Quebec–Labrador dome relative to the Keewatin Dome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sedimentary deposits in lakes across the upper Midwest record the co-evolution of climate and biogeochemistry since the retreat of the Laurentide Ice Sheet at the end of the last glacial period. Here, we report on a Holocene lake sediment record from Chub Lake, a shallow (3 m depth) eutrophic lake system in south-central Minnesota. High-resolution elemental data from scanning XRF along with variations in organic matter, carbonate minerals, clastic material, biogenic silica, charcoal, and carbon isotopes reveal internally consistent patterns of hydroclimatic influence on this shallow lake system from 11,300 years BP to present. In particular, authigenic carbonate mineral formation and preservation in Chub Lake appears to be well suited as a moisture proxy beginning around 9700 BP up until ∼2300 BP, when a combination of more humid climates and basin-infilling change the hydrology of Chub Lake. This work emphasizes the importance of evaluating shallow lake sediment records both as important archives of climate proxies and case studies on how changing climates impact aquatic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A complex of sedimentological, geochemical, and micropaleontological methods was used to study and compare five new sediment cores along a submeridional transect from the middle to the north of the Norwegian Sea. A combined analysis of the distribution of ice-rafted debris, polar/subpolar foraminifera, calcium carbonate, organic carbon, and continuous geochemical scanning records revealed an alternation of Middle–Late Quaternary glacial and interglacial intervals over the last 260 000 years. In the Late Middle Pleistocene glaciation (MIS 6, 8), the supply of terrigenous material had a much greater influence on regional sedimentation than in the Late Pleistocene (MIS 2–4). Local (between the central and northern parts of the Norwegian Sea) differences in glacial and interglacial sedimentation are shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The freshwater red alga Batrachospermum gelatinosum has a well‐documented distribution spanning historically glaciated and unglaciated eastern North America. This alga has no known desiccation‐resistant propagule; thus, long‐distance dispersal events are likely rare. We predicted strong genetic structure among drainage basins and admixture among sites within basins. We predicted greater genetic diversity at lower latitude sites because they likely serve as refugia and the origin of northward, post‐Pleistocene range expansion. We used 10 microsatellite loci to investigate genetic diversity from 311 gametophytes from 18 sites in five major drainage basins: South Atlantic Gulf, Mid‐Atlantic, Ohio River, Great Lakes, and Northeast. Our data showed strong genetic partitioning among drainage basins and among sites within basins, yet no isolation by distance was detected. Genetic diversity varied widely among sites and was not strictly related to latitude as predicted. The results from B. gelatinosum provide strong support that each stream site contributes to the unique genetic variation within the species, potentially due to limited dispersal and the prevailing reproductive mode of intragametophytic selfing. Simulations of migration suggested post‐Pleistocene dispersal from the Mid‐Atlantic. Batrachospermum gelatinosum potentially persisted in refugia that were just south of the ice margins rather than in the southernmost part of its range. Research of other taxa with similar ranges could determine whether these results are generally applicable for freshwater red algae. Nevertheless, these results from B. gelatinosum add to the growing literature focused on the patterns and genetic consequences of post‐Pleistocene range expansion by eastern North American biota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Engineering Ocean Seismic 3D system, which enables ultra-high-resolution seismic surveys on a smaller survey scale, was deployed in Yeongil Bay, Pohang, South Korea. The region is renowned for abundant shallow gas deposits and faults. Based on acoustic impedance contrast and abnormal behavior observations, two seismic anomalies termed channel and polka-dot anomalies have been identified in the seismic volume. Seismic attribute analysis based on the signal amplitude and structural characteristics reveals that these anomalies correspond to shallow biogenic gas deposits. Structural interpretation of the seismic volume revealed that the contractional deformation resulting from post-Miocene neotectonics has resulted in uplift and reverse faulting in the Pohang region, contributing to the formation of anomalies. The channel anomalies correspond to gas-saturated tidal channels that formed during eustatic sea-level changes in the post-Last Glacial Maximum period. The polka-dot anomalies are located in topographic lows and are overlain by neotectonic sediment. The different behaviors of these anomalies in a seismic volume can be attributed to the different thicknesses of overburden overlying each of the anomalies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A species' demographic history gives important context to contemporary population genetics and a possible insight into past responses to climate change; with an individual's genome providing a window into the evolutionary history of contemporary populations. Pairwise sequentially Markovian coalescent (PSMC) analysis uses information from a single genome to derive fluctuations in effective population size change over the last ~5 million years. Here, we apply PSMC analysis to two European nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus) genomes, sampled in Northwest and Southern Europe, with the aim of revealing the demographic history of nightjar in Europe. We successfully reconstructed effective population size over the last 5 million years. Our analysis shows that in response to global climate change, the effective population size of nightjar broadly increased under stable warm periods and decreased during cooler spans and prolonged glacial periods. PSMC analysis on the pseudo‐diploid combination of the two genomes revealed fluctuations in gene flow between ancestral populations over time, with gene flow ceasing by the last‐glacial period. Our results are tentatively suggestive of divergence in the European nightjar population, with timings consistent with differentiation being driven by restriction to different refugia during periods of glaciation. Finally, our results suggest that migratory behaviour in nightjar likely evolved prior to the last‐glacial period, with long‐distance migration seemingly persisting throughout the Pleistocene. However, further genetic structure analysis of individuals from known breeding sites across the species' contemporary range is needed to understand the extent and origins of range‐wide differentiation in nightjar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clarifying the genetic structure and population history of a species can reveal the impacts of historical climate and geological changes, providing critical insights for developing effective conservation strategies for ecologically significant fish. The Markakol grayling (Thymallus brevicephalus), an endangered species found in the Altai‐Sayan Mountain region of Central Asia, serves as an ideal model for studying these factors. In this study, populations of a grayling (Thymallus) species discovered in the upper Irtysh River headwaters in Xinjiang, China, were analyzed to assess genetic diversity and population structure. Mitochondrial DNA sequences (cytochrome b and control region), along with 10 microsatellite markers, were used to examine genetic variation. Phylogenetic and genetic distance analyses confirmed the species, long misidentified as Arctic grayling (T. arcticus), as T. brevicephalus. This species can be divided into two distinct geographic groups: eastern and western, with the Crane River acting as the boundary. The divergence between these groups likely corresponds to refugia formed during the Pleistocene glaciation of the Altai Mountains, approximately 0.48 MA (million years ago) (range: 0.30 to 0.71 Ma). High haplotype diversity (Hd > 0.5) and low nucleotide diversity (π < 0.005) suggest that, despite the species' genetic richness, T. brevicephalus remains vulnerable to genetic drift, which could threaten its long‐term survival. This vulnerability may stem from inbreeding within small refugial populations during the glacial period, followed by gradual population expansion. Our study offers novel insights into grayling populations, with results that have direct implications for management by serving as a tool for the identification of conservation units. This study reveals the impact of past climate events on a fish species (Thymallus brevicephalus) in China. Genetic analysis suggests the species split into eastern and western populations during a past glaciation event. While the fish show genetic diversity, specific management plans are needed to conserve both eastern and western populations due to their unique evolutionary histories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Grassland caterpillars in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) region are notorious for inflicting severe damage to the alpine meadow ecosystem. Currently, scarce research has been conducted on the spatial distribution patterns and potential habitats for these insect species. A significant difference between the potential habitats of Gynaephora menyuanensis and G. qinghaiensis is reported. The areas of their suitable habitats are significantly and positively correlated with the area of grassland among all land use types of QTP. The potential habitats of both species during the paleoclimate period were located in the eastern and southeastern boundary areas of the QTP. During the paleoclimate period, their potential habitats expanded towards the Hengduan Mountains (low-latitude regions) in the south compared with their current period suitable habitats. With the subsequent temperature rising, their distribution centers were shifted towards the northeast (high-latitude) regions. This study provides an important reference for designating the prevention and control areas for Gm and Gq. This study has systematically investigated and compared the geographical distribution patterns and population density of G. menyuanensis (Gm) and G. qinghaiensis (Gq), which are endemic to the QTP region and inflict severe damage. Using a method combining the BIOMOD2 integration model (incorporating nine ecological niche models) and current species distribution data, this study has compared changes in potential habitats and distribution centers of these two species during ancient, present, and future climate periods and conducted a correlation test on the prediction results with land use types. The study results indicate that there are differences in geographical distribution patterns, distribution elevations, and population density of these two species. Compared with single models, the integration model exhibits prominent accuracy and stability with higher KAPPA, TSS, and AUC values. The distribution of suitable habitats for these two species is significantly affected by climatic temperature and precipitation. There is a significant difference between the potential habitats of these two species. Gm and Gq are distributed in the northeastern boundary area and the central and eastern areas of the QTP, respectively. The areas of their suitable habitats are significantly and positively correlated with the area of grassland among all land use types of QTP, with no correlations with the areas of other land use types of QTP. The potential habitats of both species during the paleoclimate period were located in the eastern and southeastern boundary areas of the QTP. During the paleoclimate period, their potential habitats expanded towards the Hengduan Mountains (low-latitude regions) in the south compared with their current suitable habitats. With the subsequent temperature rising, their distribution centers shifted towards the northeast (high-latitude) regions, which could validate the hypothesis that the Hengduan Mountains were refuges for these species during the glacial period. In the future, there will be more potential suitable habitats for these two species in the QTP. This study elucidates the ecological factors affecting the current distribution of these grass caterpillars, provides an important reference for designating the prevention and control areas for Gm and Gq, and helps protect the alpine meadow ecosystem in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glacial periods have been considered as inhospitable environments that consist of treeless vegetation at higher latitudes. The fossil record suggests many species survived the Last Glacial Maximum within refugia, usually at lower latitudes. However, phylogeographic studies have given support to the existence of previously unknown high-latitude refugia that were not detected in the fossil record. Here, we test the hypothesis that cold-tolerant trees of Patagonia survived cold periods in microclimatically favourable locales where hybridization occurred between sister taxa. To study local presence through glacial periods in multiple refugia, we used pollen records and genetic information (isozymes, microsatellites, and combined nuclear and chloroplast DNA sequences) of population pairs of Nothofagus antarctica and N. pumilio that belong to the ancient subgenus Nothofagus which can potentially hybridize in nature, along their entire latitudinal range in Patagonia. Studied species share the N. dombeyi type pollen, which was abundant at >20% in the northernmost latitudinal bands (35–43°S), even during the Last Glacial Maximum. Mid- and southern latitudinal records (44–55°S) yielded lower abundances of ~10% that increased after c. 15.0 cal. ka BP. Therefore, fossil pollen evidence suggests a long-lasting local presence of Nothofagus throughout glacial–interglacial cycles but mostly as small populations between 44°S and 51°S. We found species-specific and shared genetic variants, the latter of which attained relatively high frequencies, thus providing evidence of ancestral polymorphisms. Populations of each species were similarly diverse, suggesting survival throughout the latitudinal range. Estimates of coalescent divergence times were broadly synchronous across latitudes, suggesting that regional climates similarly affected populations and species that hybridized through climate cycles, fostering local persistence. Graphical Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated population genetics of the native tree species Acer velutinum Boiss., Fagus orientalis Lipsky, and Quercus castaneifolia C.A. Mey. in the Hyrcanian forests of northern Iran and also F. orientalis populations in the Euro-Siberian and Colchic subregions of northern Türkiye. We used the double-digest RADseq method and genotyped 90 populations and 1,589 individuals across the distribution range of the species. Genome-wide SNPs from 28 populations of A. velutinum, 32 populations of F. orientalis, and 30 Q. castaneifolia revealed higher genetic differentiation among A. velutinum populations than among F. orientalis and Q. castaneifolia. The global FST value was lowest for F. orientalis populations and highest for A. velutinum populations, while the global FIS value was negative for A. velutinum. Demographic history analysis revealed a bottleneck during the last glacial period (11,500—115,000 Kya) for the A. velutinum populations with reduced effective population size (Ne). All three species show multiple bottlenecks and reduced Ne during the Quaternary. Pronounced genetic divergence among A. velutinum populations in the Hyrcanian forests compared to the other two species suggests cryptic speciation. Conversely, F. orientalis and Q. castaneifolia populations showed low levels of genetic structure, suggesting that species-specific factors, such as pollen production and pollination efficiency, may have influenced the genetic patterns within these species in similar environments. The nucleotide diversity of F. orientalis populations in Iran is negatively correlated with altitude (p = 0.046). In contrast, A. velutinum populations show a significant correlation between nucleotide diversity and longitude (p = 0.008). Furthermore, the F. orientalis populations from Türkiye showed a distinct west–east genetic structure and were highly diverged from the Iranian F. orientalis populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ciénegas are desert wetlands that are strongly correlated with the stability of the hydrologic cycle in arid landscapes. However, these environments are particularly vulnerable to climate change, drought, water diversion, and fire suppression which all have contributed to the degradation of ciénegas along the U.S.-Mexican borderlands. Therefore, identifying the timing of precipitation patterns in this region is of particular interest because of its relationship to many ecological responses of the landscape such as groundwater recharge and fire. Here, we present the first-ever fire paleoenvironmental record from Ciénega Chimeneas, a ciénega complex in the Sierra de Juárez of Baja California. We explore how changes in the amount and seasonality of moisture affected ciénega complexes and fire activity from across the southwestern North American region over the past 45,000 years. Our record suggests that during the late glacial period, 41,000–21,000 cal yr BP, the increase of Larrea and Quercus indicate an increase in summer precipitation. Subsequently, when summer precipitation increased, pollen preservation and pollen accumulation rates (PAR) also increased. Increased vegetation allowed for increased fire activity during the late glacial period. Regionally, most of the comparison sites also indicated wet conditions during the full glacial period. However, around 21,000 cal yr BP, effective moisture decreased resulting in a dramatic change in the vegetation assemblage. Specifically, the summer wet taxa disappeared, while pollen preservation and PAR decreased, suggesting a dry period until ∼14,000 cal yr BP. Little fire activity is recorded after 21,000 cal yr BP, likely due to the absence of fuels. At ∼14,000 cal yr BP, Larrea and Quercus reappear suggesting increased summer precipitation. However, the appearance of Cyperaceae and increases in grasses suggest increased winter precipitation. We suggest that the combination of summer wet and winterwet taxa ∼14,000 cal yr BP represents an increase in ENSO conditions, while the summer moisture controls remained relatively constant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At least two global "Snowball Earth" glaciations occurred during the Neoproterozoic Era (1000-538.8 million years ago). Post-glacial surface environments during this time are recorded in cap carbonates: layers of limestone or dolostone that directly overlie glacial deposits. Postulated environmental conditions that created the cap carbonates lack consensus largely because single hypotheses fail to explain the cap carbonates' global mass, depositional timescales, and geochemistry of parent waters. Here, we present a global geologic carbon cycle model before, during, and after the second glaciation (i.e. the Marinoan) that explains cap carbonate characteristics. We find a three-stage process for cap carbonate formation: (1) low-temperature seafloor weathering during glaciation generates deep-sea alkalinity; (2) vigorous post-glacial continental weathering supplies alkalinity to a carbonate-saturated freshwater layer, rapidly precipitating cap carbonates; (3) mixing of post-glacial meltwater with deep-sea alkalinity prolongs cap carbonate deposition. We suggest how future geochemical data and modeling refinements could further assess our hypothesis. A new formation mechanism is proposed to explain the presence and characteristics of "cap carbonates": enigmatic rocks leftover from Snowball Earth events, during which Earth was globally ice-covered for millions of years in the distant past. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mixed-phase clouds affect precipitation and radiation differently from liquid and ice clouds, posing greater challenges to their representation in numerical simulations. Recent laboratory experiments using the Pi Cloud Chamber explored cloud glaciation conditions based on increased injection of ice-nucleating particles. In this study, we use two approaches to reproduce the results of the laboratory experiments: a bulk scalar mixing model and large-eddy simulation (LES) with bin microphysics. The first approach assumes a well-mixed domain to provide an efficient assessment of the mean cloud properties for a wide range of conditions. The second approach resolves the energy-carrying turbulence, the particle size distribution, and their spatial distribution to provide more details. These modeling approaches enable a separate and detailed examination of liquid and ice properties, which is challenging in the laboratory. Both approaches demonstrate that, with an increased ice number concentration, the flow and microphysical properties exhibit the same changes in trends. Additionally, both approaches show that the ice integral radius reaches the theoretical glaciation threshold when the cloud is subsaturated with respect to liquid water. The main difference between the results of the two approaches is that the bulk model allows for the complete glaciation of the cloud. However, LES reveals that, in a dynamic system, the cloud is not completely glaciated as liquid water droplets are continuously produced near the warm lower boundary and subsequently mixed into the chamber interior. These results highlight the importance of the ice mass fraction in distinguishing the mixed-phase clouds and ice clouds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following the first phase of the Late Ordovician mass extinction (LOME), the globally distributed Hirnantia brachiopod fauna exhibited homogeneity both latitudinally and longitudinally. The uniform global palaeobiogeography of the Hirnantia fauna, based solely on occurrence data, might obscure its heterogeneous nature during the glaciation. In this study, leveraging diversity and abundance data from well‐sampled collections in South China, along with non‐metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) using the Raup–Crick measure, network analysis (NA), and abundance models, we unveil the palaeo‐ecogeography of the Hirnantia fauna for the first time. The distribution of the Hirnantia fauna in South China is categorized into three areas: the deep water area, the shallower water area, and the very shallow water area, based on NMDS and NA. Drastically different benthic assemblages among these areas reveal diverse environmental settings, with an approximate westward shallower trend and a deeper trend extending both northward and southeastward. Analysis of species‐abundance models for eight well‐sampled collections demonstrates different best‐fitted models, suggesting that competitive ecology operated in varied contexts despite common BA3 environmental settings and close geographical proximity. While a substantial global sea level fall and climate cooling around the Katian–Hirnantian boundary played important roles in the LOME, the palaeo‐ecogeography of the Hirnantia fauna in South China was predominantly influenced by the expansion of the Cathaysian oldland and the Qianzhong uplift. The interval between the two LOME phases, marked by kinetic conditions, witnessed the heterogeneous development of the Hirnantia fauna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pleistocene climatic oscillations caused periodic decline and rise of sea levels, leading to dispersion and retraction cycles of island flora. Yet, the role of island refugia in the current Sino-Japanese Floristic Region remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the population genetic structure of the widespread Sino-Japanese Floristic Region tree Machilus thunbergii to infer the potential impact of island refugia. We collected 1378 samples from 64 locations across the distribution ranges. Using chloroplast DNA and microsatellite markers, we found a pronounced genetic differentiation between mainland and island populations, which can be divided further into two and three groups, respectively. Furthermore, comparable numbers of private alleles and haplotypes are present in both mainland and island populations. No essential current gene flow was detected between mainland and island populations after their separation 14 000 years ago. Such patterns are hypothesized to result from the influence of multiple glacial island refugia during Pleistocene climatic oscillations, with limited pollen and seed dispersal of the species. Our findings underscore that the islands and submerged land bridge can act as refugia for plants during glacial periods and have essentially shaped the genetic structure of M. thunbergii populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The value of deep‐water sedimentary successions as reliable records of environmental change has been questioned due to their long response times and sediment pathways leading to complex responses to climatic change and tectonic signals over differing timescales. We studied the Gulf of Corinth, Greece, to test the value of deep‐water stratigraphic successions as records of external controls on sediment flux in a setting with short response times and transport distances. The confinement of the rift basin allows for a near‐complete accounting of clastic sediment volumes. The recent acquisition of high‐resolution seismic reflection data, utilisation of International Ocean Discovery Programme Expedition 381 cores and a robust chronological framework, enable evaluation of the stratigraphy at a high temporal resolution. Combining borehole and high‐resolution seismic reflection data, distinct seismic units can be correlated to multiple paleoenvironmental proxies, permitting quantification of sediment flux variation across successive glacial–interglacial cycles at ca. 10 kyr temporal resolution. Trends in average sediment flux since ca. 242 ka show ca. 2–9 times greater sediment flux in cooler glacials compared to warmer interglacial conditions. The Holocene is an exception to low sediment flux for the interglacials, with ca. 5 times higher rates than previous interglacials. The short and steep configuration of the Sythas canyon and its fan at the base of an active submarine normal fault results in deep‐sea deposition at all sea‐level stands. In contrast, adjacent canyon systems shut down during warm intervals. When combined with palynology, results show that periods of distinct vegetation re‐organisation correlate to sediment flux changes. The temporal correlation of sediment flux to palynology in the Gulf of Corinth over the last ca. 242 kyr is evidence that variability of sediment supply is largely governed by climate‐related changes in hinterland catchments, with sea‐level and tectonics being second‐order controls on sediment flux variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wolf spider Pardosa astrigera L. Koch, 1878, an important biological control agent for pests in agriculture, is widely distributed in various ecosystems across East Asia. This study used mitochondrial DNA and aimed to provide an in-depth understanding of population genetic structure and evolutionary history throughout the species. Mitochondrial gene sequences from 107 samples of P. astrigera from 25 East Asian populations were used for genetic analyses. Our data revealed an asymmetric phylogeographic distribution in two sympatric lineages (1–2) of P. astrigera in continental East Asia. The spatio-temporal pattern of two mitotypes of P. astrigera in this region gives strong support for a Northeast Asian origin during the late Pleistocene (~1.69 million years ago) and the population expansion time of ~74,340 (58,832–104,236) years ago (during the last glacial period) and dual colonization around East Asia from two directions: from North to South and from East to West. Our phylogeographic results suggested that Pleistocene climate oscillations with subsequent fragmentation events and secondary contacts were the major impact factors of the diversification, geographic distribution, and expansion patterns of P. astrigera, and human activities and ballooning probably accelerated its recent dispersal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Hydrocera triflora is primarily distributed across southeastern and southern Asia and is classified as endangered within China. The impact of climate change on the spatial distribution of this species remains uncertain. In this study, we employed the MaxEnt model to examine the migration patterns of H. triflora under the influence of climate change. Our findings indicate that the current potential distribution area is more extensive than during the three historical periods analyzed. Furthermore, projections suggest that the potential habitable area for H. triflora will continue to expand to higher altitudes by the year 2100. It is advised that protected areas be established within the current core distribution regions. Concurrently, public awareness and educational initiatives should be enhanced to mitigate the impact of human activities on wild populations. Strengthening the conservation of wild resources is imperative. Hydrocera triflora is a perennial herb found in southeastern and southern Asia. In China, it is only found in Hainan Province. With global climate change, studying the impact of climate change on the distribution of H. triflora can provide a theoretical basis for the scientific protection of this species. In this study, the MaxEnt model was used to predict the potential distribution area of H. triflora in China under historical, current, and future periods based on 66 distribution points and 12 environmental variables. The results were as follows: (i) The main environmental variables affecting the distribution of H. triflora were precipitation in the coldest month and in the wettest quarter, with elevation also being a significant factor. (ii) Over the past three periods, the last interglacial, last glacial maximum, and mid-Holocene, the suitable area for H. triflora initially decreased and then increased. The suitable area reached the lowest value in the last glacial maximum period, at only 27.03 × 104 km2. (iii) The current potential distribution area is 67.81 × 104 km2, and the optimal area is mainly distributed in the Guangxi, Guangdong, and Hainan provinces. (iv) Under future climate scenarios, the potential distribution area of H. triflora is projected to increase by 11.27~90.83 × 104 km2. It is expected to reach a maximum value (158.64 × 104 km2) in 2081~2100 under the SSP-585 climate scenario, with the distribution centroid shifting to higher latitudes. The newly gained optimal habitats will provide potential areas for introduction and ex situ conservation of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: In northern environments, periods of isolation during Pleistocene glaciations and subsequent recolonization and secondary contact have had a significant influence on contemporary diversity of many species. The recent advent of high‐resolution genomic analyses allows unprecedented power to resolve genomic signatures of such events in northern species. Here, we provide the highest resolution genomic characterization of Atlantic salmon in North America to date to infer glacial refugia and the geographic scales of post‐glacial secondary contact. Location: North America. Taxon: Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar. Methods: Samples were collected for 5455 individuals from 148 populations, encompassing the majority of the Atlantic salmon's native range in North America, from Labrador to Maine. Individuals were genotyped using a 220K single nucleotide polymorphism array aligned to the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) genome. Spatial genetic structure (principal component analysis, k‐means clustering, admixture) was evaluated in conjunction with genomic comparisons of these identified lineages to infer the refugia during the last glacial maximum and regions of secondary contact following recolonization. Results: Spatial genomic analyses identified three phylogeographic groups, consistent with the northward recolonization from two southern glacial refugia in North America (a western Maritime lineage and an eastern Newfoundland and Labrador lineage), with subsequent differentiation of the eastern lineage into two separate groups. Secondary contact among these North American groups was observed within the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence, and evidence of trans‐Atlantic secondary contact was detected within the eastern Newfoundland and Labrador lineage. Comparison of groups from insular Newfoundland with those from mainland Labrador suggests genomic regions displaying high differentiation were characterized by elevated European admixture, suggesting a possible role of European secondary contact in population divergence. Main Conclusions: These findings present the first evidence suggesting that genomic diversity in extant North American Atlantic salmon populations has resulted from allopatric isolation in two glacial refugia followed by both regional and trans‐Atlantic recolonization and secondary contact and demonstrate the power of genomic tools to resolve historical drivers of diversity in wild populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural analogues are systems that have evolved over geological timescales with features similar to one or several components of a deep geological repository (DGR). Natural analogues complement short-duration laboratory studies since they are existing reflections of many long-term processes that might affect the performance of a repository. Mathematical models are often used for the post-closure safety assessment of a DGR. Confidence in the models' predictions is enhanced when the models successfully simulate the past evolution of a natural analogue. This paper summarizes the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission's (CNSC's) recent research on natural analogues to inform on (1) glacial erosion, (2) engineered barrier system, and (3) uranium reactive transport in the context of DGRs for radioactive wastes. Glaciation and its erosion are prominent factors impacting the performance of future DGRs at high latitudes in the northern hemisphere. The authors have reviewed the field data from the Greenland Analogue Project, developed a conceptual and mathematical model for the simulation of the thermal conditions within the Greenland ice sheet, as well as the thermal-hydraulic conditions at its base and the ice sheet velocity, and eventually estimated the erosion rate at the site. The Cigar Lake Analogue demonstrates the long-term radionuclide containment capability of the illite clay zone enveloping the ore body, serving as an analogy to the engineered clay barriers. The CNSC and University of Ottawa analyzed 129I in the Cigar Lake core samples, and modeled and correlated the diffusion-dominated transport of radionuclides over the geological evolution of the Cigar Lake deposit. The results provide information on the mobility of fission products and significant radionuclides in conditions analogous to the source, engineered barriers, and near-field host rock of a DGR. The reactive transport and geochemistry of the Kiggavik-Andrew Lake uranium deposit mineralization and remobilization was another natural uranium deposit analogue studied by the CNSC. A reactive transport model was established according to the conceptualized geochemical processes and run under specified boundary and initial conditions to validate the geochemical processes. The geometry, timing, geochemistry, and fluid composition were used as model constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • U-Pb tuff ages internationally calibrate and correlate Bowen Basin sequences/biozones. • Deep-time climate-change and mass extinction related to arc super-volcanism. • Changhsingian arc volcanism contributed to demise of P4 glaciation and LPME. Eight new high-precision 206Pb/238U CA-IDTIMS ages from the Bowen Basin are integrated with previous CA-IDTIMS ages to further the calibration of Lopingian sequences that record a period of climatic change, extensive volcanism and mass extinction. Numerous tuffs occur within the late Permian as the basin develops and shifts towards increasingly terrestrial sedimentation and coal measures which record a series of super-eruptions spanning c. 2.5 million years between ∼254 and 252 Ma. One, the Yarrabee Tuff, represents a basin-wide event that has been used as a correlative surface, previously dated at a number of locations as 252.88 ± 0.07 Ma. These correspond to the Eastern Australia magmatic arc flare-up peaking at c. 253 Ma. A new CA-IDTIMS age is reported from the (upper) Black Alley Shale, at 257.8 ± 1.2 Ma (upper Black Alley). The Wuchiapingian-Changhsingian Boundary is in the lower Black Alley Shale. The Black Alley Shale/Peawaddy boundary is marked by the Micrhystridium evansii Acritarch Acme Zone and "Mantuan Productus Beds" here dated to c. 254.5 Ma (latest Wuchiapingian). This level and age may also mark the termination of the P4 glaciation of the Late Paleozoic Ice Age. Our Fort Cooper Coal age of 256.0 ± 1.4 Ma is consistent with ages from the Peawaddy and Tinowan formations. The Platypus Tuff, dated 256.58 ± 0.73 Ma, is another basin-wide marker of mid-Wuchiapingian age and represents a major super-volcanic event. The top of the Ingelara Formation is dated by our age of 257.33 ± 0.52 Ma. The Protohaploxypinus microcorpus and Playfordiaspora crenulata palynozones are of late Changhsingian age. The Permian-Triassic Boundary is placed in the lower Rewan Group and within the lower Lunatisporites pellucidus Zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since prehistoric times, indigenous residents of southwest British Columbia, Canada, collected water-worn nephrite specimens from the gravel bars along the Fraser River, using the stone for the manufacture of tools that were widely traded with other tribes. Allochthonous nephrite occurs in another geologic setting. Late Pleistocene continental glaciers transported nephrite and many other rock types from western Canada to northwest Washington State, producing extensive sediment deposits that border the Salish Sea coast in Whatcom and Island Counties, Washington. This material was little utilized by indigenous residents, but "black jade" specimens are prized by modern collectors. The depositional history and mineralogy of this material has received little attention. X-ray diffraction and SEM/EDS analyses indicate that the Salish Sea "black jade" is a form of impure nephrite that probably originated from metamorphism of a mafic igneous parent material (metabasite). The texture consists of prismatic amphibole crystals (ferro-actinolite) set in a matrix rich in plagioclase feldspar. Pyrite inclusions are locally present. A second material, sometimes erroneously labelled "muttonfat jade" by amateur collectors, consists of an intermixture of quartz and sillimanite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This commentary underscores the importance of the recent discovery of the oldest in situ Holocene mangrove sediments found to date in the Caribbean region. It also emphasizes the implications of this finding for understanding postglacial sea level rise and the subsequent recolonization of current Caribbean coasts by mangrove communities. These communities likely survived the last glaciation in small microrefugia located beyond the present continental shelf, from where they expanded to form the present-day mangrove biogeographical patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the end of the Pleniglacial and the first half of the Late Glacial period, approximately between 18 and 14 ka BP, rivers of the central and southern parts of the East European Plain had channels up to 10 times as large as the present day channels of the same rivers. These ancient channels, called large meandering palaeochannels, are widespread in river floodplains and low terraces. The hydrological regime of these large rivers is of great interest in terms of the palaeoclimatology of the late Marine Isotope Stage 2 (MIS 2). In this study, we aimed at quantitative estimation of maximum flood discharges of rivers in the Dnepr, Don and Volga basins in the late MIS 2. To approach this, we used massive measurements of the morphometric characteristics of large palaeochannels on topographic maps and remote sensing data—palaeochannel width, meander wavelength and their relationships with river flow parameters. The runoff depth of the maximum flood, which corresponds to the maximum depth of daily snow thaw during the snowmelt period, was obtained for unit basins with an area of <1000 km2. The mean value for the southern megaslope of the East European Plain was 44.2 mm/day (6 times the modern value), with 46 mm/day for the Volga River (5.5 times), 45 mm/day (6.3 times) for the Don River and 39 mm/day (8 times the modern value) for the Dnepr River basins. In general, the Dnepr basin was drier than the Don and Volga basins, which corresponds well to the modern distribution of humidity. At the same time, the westernmost part of the Dnepr River basin was relatively wet in the past, and the decrease in humidity from the past to the modern situation was greater there than in the eastern and central regions. The obtained results contradict the prevailing ideas, based mainly on climatic modeling and palynological data, that the climate of Europe was cold and dry during MIS 2. The reason is that palaeoclimatic reconstructions were made predominantly for the LGM epoch (23–20 ka BP). On the East European Plain, the interval 18–14 ka BP is rather poorly studied. Our results of paleoclimatological and palaeohydrological reconstructions showed that the Late Pleniglacial and the first half of the Late Glacial period was characterized by a dramatic increase in precipitation and river discharge relative to the present day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unraveling the phylogeographic histories of species remains a key endeavor for comprehending the evolutionary processes contributing to the rich biodiversity and high endemism found in East Asia. In this study, we explored the phylogeographic patterns and demographic histories of three endemic fishfly and dobsonfly species (Neochauliodes formosanus, Protohermes costalis, and Neoneuromus orientalis) belonging to the holometabolan order Megaloptera. These species, which share a broad and largely overlapping distribution, were analyzed using comprehensive mitogenomic data. Our findings revealed a consistent influence of vicariance on the population isolation of Neoc. formosanus and P. costalis between Hainan, Taiwan, and the East Asian mainland during the early Pleistocene, potentially hindering subsequent colonization of the later diverged Neon. orientalis to these islands. Additionally, we unveiled the dual function of the major mountain ranges in East Asia, serving both as barriers and conduits, in shaping the population structure of all three species. Notably, we demonstrated that these co-distributed species originated from Southwest, Southern, and eastern Central China, respectively, then subsequently migrated along multi-directional routes, leading to their sympatric distribution on the East Asian mainland. Furthermore, our results highlighted the significance of Pleistocene land bridges along the eastern coast of East Asia in facilitating the dispersal of mountain-dwelling insects with low dispersal ability. Overall, this study provides novel insight into the synergistic impact of Pleistocene geological and climatic events in shaping the diversity and distribution of aquatic insects in East Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To extract climatically relevant chemical signals from the deepest, oldest Antarctic ice, we must first investigate the degree to which chemical ions diffuse within solid ice. Volcanic sulfate peaks are an ideal target for such an investigation because they are high-amplitude, short-duration (∼3 years) events with a quasi-uniform structure. Here we present an analysis of the EPICA Dome C sulfate record over the last 450 kyr. We identify volcanic peaks and isolate them from the non-sea-salt sulfate background to reveal the effects of diffusion: amplitude damping and broadening of peaks in the time domain with increasing depth and age. Sulfate peak shape is also altered by the thinning of ice layers with depth that results from ice flow. Both processes must be simulated to derive effective diffusion rates. This is achieved by running a forward model to diffuse idealised sulfate peaks at different rates while also accounting for ice thinning. Our simulations suggest a median effective diffusion rate of sulfate ions of 2.4±1.7×10-7 m 2 yr -1 in Holocene ice, slightly faster than suggested by previous work. The effective diffusion rate observed in deeper ice is significantly lower, and Holocene ice shows the highest rate of the last 450 kyr. Beyond the Holocene, there is no systematic difference between the effective diffusion rates of glacial and interglacial periods despite variations in soluble ion concentrations, dust loading, and ice grain radii. Effective diffusion rates for 40 to 200 ka are relatively constant and of the order 1×10-8 m 2 yr -1. Our results suggest that the diffusion of sulfate ions within volcanic peaks is relatively fast initially, perhaps through an interconnected vein network, but slows significantly after 40 kyr. In the absence of clear evidence for a controlling influence of temperature on sulfate diffusivity with depth and age, we hypothesise that the rapid decrease in effective diffusion rate from the time of deposition to ice of 50 ka age may be due to a switch in the mechanism of diffusion resulting from the changing location of sulfate ions within the ice microstructure and/or interconnectedness of veins and grain boundaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ediacaran Period is of interest for the emergence of multicellular life, one or more glaciations, and the occurrence of the largest δ13C excursion in Earth history (the Shuram). The Ediacaran stratigraphic succession in the Flinders Ranges of South Australia is distinctive also for well‐exposed outcrop examples of palaeocanyons and salt diapirs. We present data placing a level of salt‐sheet breakout during deposition of the Wonoka Formation, within the time span of the Shuram, and at a datum indistinguishable from the canyon incision level. We hypothesize that canyon incision and salt breakout were triggered by subaerial erosion and non‐deposition associated with sea‐level drawdown in a temporarily isolated embayment. This mechanism provides support for the idea that the palaeocanyons were fluvially incised, and imposes a new constraint on the palaeoenvironmental setting of Australia at the time of the Shuram and the Ediacara fauna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the resizing, reshaping and connectivity of islands by examining ongoing relations between land and sea in the context of the Channel Island of Guernsey. Ideas of materiality, temporality and vertical depth are employed to explore how contemporary tides and past sea‐level change impact island–island connections, and island–mainland connections between Guernsey and France. By focusing on the littoral zone as a space of encounter between land and sea, the paper explores some of the processes that challenge the notion of an island having fixed edges, emphasising the island's shape and size as always in flux. The paper then explores how tides alternatively reveal and hide material structures such as rocks and causeways, making the underwater scape temporally visible and differently accessible as an extension of land. It enables connections to be made and remade. This is demonstrated through the example of Guernsey and the tidal island of Lihou. The paper subsequently considers these ideas in the context of Quaternary sea‐level change. The land known as Guernsey alternated between literal island surrounded by water, and a steep‐sided plateau on the Normanno‐Breton plain, coinciding with interglacials and glacials. This connection is referred to as geologic. I argue that by acknowledging Guernsey's former visible connection with France, lack of contemporary visibility in the underwater scape does not render this a disconnection. Rather, the geologic, as further evidenced in the contemporary natural and built environment of Guernsey, continues through an underwater scape. It reappears in other Channal Islands and France, demonstrating ongoing connections at a land–sea–geologic interface. The paper argues for geology as a form of vertical depth. It calls for greater consideration of the geologic in the human geographical study of islands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the position and intensity changes of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) over Asia (50°E−135°E) relative to the preindustrial period annually and seasonally during the Last Interglacial (LIG), Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), and mid‐Holocene (MH) using available models from phases 3 and 4 of the Paleoclimate Modeling Intercomparison Project. The multi‐model mean shows that the June–July–August ITCZ variations generally dominate the annual changes. The Asian ITCZ shifts northward over western Asia and southward over the eastern side in both the LIG and MH, and the opposite occurs in the LGM. Its intensity varies with longitude similarly for the LIG and MH and generally weakens in the LGM. Precipitation changes associated directly with ITCZ indices are primarily caused by the dynamic term in the LIG and MH, while both dynamic and thermodynamic terms play roles in the LGM, with major contributions from the convergence components. Plain Language Summary: As an intense rain belt, the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) has an important influence on the regional climate, particularly over Asia. However, its future and past behaviors remain unclear. Based on multi‐model experiments, we investigate Asian ITCZ changes in location and intensity during the past three typical periods: the interglacial periods of the Last Interglacial and the mid‐Holocene and the glacial period of the Last Glacial Maximum. The Asian ITCZ overall strengthens and regionally moves northward over the western part and southward over the eastern part during the two interglacial periods relative to its preindustrial state, which are generally opposite to the position and intensity changes in the glacial period. These ITCZ changes are directly caused by uneven precipitation changes, which are dominated by atmospheric circulation changes during interglacial periods and additionally contributed from water vapor content changes during glacial periods, primarily through the vertical motion of air. Key Points: Asian Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) shifts northward over western Asia and southward over the eastern side in Last Interglacial (LIG) and mid‐Holocene (MH), and the opposite occurs in Last Glacial Maximum (LGM)Asian ITCZ intensity varies with longitude similarly for LIG and MH, while it weakens during LGMDynamic term dominates the ITCZ‐related precipitation changes in LIG and MH, while both dynamic and thermodynamic terms play roles in LGM [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The last glacial period is known to have greatly influenced the demographic history of temperate forest trees, with important range contractions and post‐glacial expansions that led to the formation of multiple genetic lineages and secondary contact zones in the Northern Hemisphere. These dynamics have been extensively studied for European and North American species but are still poorly understood in other temperate regions of rich biodiversity such as the Caucasus. Our study helps filling that gap by deciphering the genomic landscapes of F. orientalis across the South Caucasus. The use of genome‐wide data confirmed a past demographic history strongly influenced by the Last Glacial Maximum, revealing two disjunct glacial refugia in the Colchis and Hyrcanian regions. The resulting patterns of genetic diversity, load and differentiation are not always concordant across the region, with genetic load pinpointing the location of the glacial refugia more efficiently than genetic diversity alone. The Hyrcanian forests show depleted genetic diversity and substantial isolation, even if long‐distance gene flow is still present with the main centre of diversity in the Greater Caucasus. Finally, we characterize a strong heterogeneity of genetic diversity and differentiation along the species chromosomes, with noticeably a first chromosome showing low diversity and weak differentiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pliocene global temperatures periodically exceeded modern levels, offering insights into ice sheet sensitivity to warm climates. Ice-proximal geologic records from this period provide crucial but limited glimpses of Antarctic Ice Sheet behavior. We use an ice sheet model driven by climate model snapshots to simulate transient glacial cyclicity from 4.5 to 2.6 Ma, providing spatial and temporal context for geologic records. By evaluating model simulations against a comprehensive synthesis of geologic data, we translate the intermittent geologic record into a continuous reconstruction of Antarctic sea level contributions, revealing a dynamic ice sheet that contributed up to 25 m of glacial-interglacial sea level change. Model grounding line behavior across all major Antarctic catchments exhibits an extended period of receded ice during the mid-Pliocene, coincident with proximal geologic data around Antarctica but earlier than peak warmth in the Northern Hemisphere. Marine ice sheet collapse is triggered with 1.5 °C model subsurface ocean warming. Geologically validated ice-sheet model reconstructions show large-scale fluctuations between glacial and interglacial periods, suggesting that the Antarctic Ice Sheet is highly sensitive to past and future warm conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Earth's rotation has been decelerating throughout its history due to tidal dissipation, but the variation of the rate of this deceleration through time has not been established. We present a detailed analysis of eight geological datasets to constrain the Earth's rotational history from 650 to 240 Mya. The results allow us to test physical tidal models and point to a staircase pattern in the Earth's deceleration from 650 to 280 Mya. During this time interval, the Earth-Moon distance increased by approximately 20,000 km and the length of day increased by approximately 2.2 h. Specifically, there are two intervals with high Earth rotation deceleration, 650 to 500 Mya and 350 to 280 Mya, separated by an interval of stalled deceleration from 500 to 350 Mya. The interval with stalled deceleration is attributed mainly to reduced tidal dissipation due to the continent-ocean configuration at the time, not to changes in Earth's dynamical ellipticity from continental assembly or glaciation. Modeling indicates that, except for the very recent time, tidal dissipation is the main driver for decelerating Earth rotation. One potential implication of our findings is that the Earth's tidal dissipation, along with Earth's rotation deceleration, may play a role in the evolving Earth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding spatial patterns of biodiversity within the context of long‐term climatic shifts is of high importance, particularly in the face of contemporary climate change. In comparison to aboveground taxa, subterranean organisms respond to changing climates with generally much lower dispersal and recolonization potential, yet possible persistence in refugial groundwater habitats under ice‐shields. However, knowledge on general and geographically large‐scale effects of glaciation on contemporary groundwater biodiversity patterns is still very limited. Here, we tested how Late Pleistocene glaciation influenced the diversity and distribution of 36 groundwater amphipod species in Alpine and peri‐Alpine regions, characterized by extensive glaciation cycles, and how its legacy explains contemporary diversity patterns. We based our analysis on an unprecedented density of ~ 1000 systematic sampling sites across Switzerland. Using presence–absence data, we assessed biodiversity and species' ranges, and calculated for each site within‐catchment distance to the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) glacier extent. We then applied a sliding window approach along the obtained distance gradient from LGM ice‐covered to ice‐free sites to compute biodiversity indices reflecting local richness, regional richness, and differentiation, respectively. We found a strong signal of the LGM ice extent on the present‐day distribution of groundwater amphipods. Our findings revealed pronounced species turnover and spatial envelopes of individual species' occurrences in formerly ice‐covered, ice‐free, or transitional zones, respectively. While local richness remained constant and low along the LGM distance gradient, groundwater communities in LGM ice‐covered areas were more similar to each other and had lower gamma diversities and decreased occurrence probabilities per sliding window compared to communities in Pleistocene ice‐free areas. These results highlight the significant impact of Pleistocene glaciation on shaping biodiversity patterns of subterranean communities and imprinting contemporary distribution of groundwater organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glacier‐Like Forms (GLFs) are a subset of ice‐rich landforms known as Viscous Flow Features that populate Mars' mid‐latitudes. GLFs are morphologically similar to terrestrial valley glaciers and are thought to result from the redistribution of water ice from the Martian poles during periods of high obliquity throughout the Amazonian period. Their ages, formation, and evolutionary processes are poorly constrained. We selected the 100 largest GLFs from the most recent GLF population data set, and by analyzing their superimposing crater morphologies and populations, we calculated their Crater Retention Ages (CRAs) and identified any relationships between CRAs, crater morphologies, and GLF geometries. We also organized the crater morphologies into states of degradation based on the understood erosional sequences. 3,630 craters were mapped, which we classified into 15 different crater morphologies. We calculated 98 CRAs, ranging from ∼2.88 Ma to ∼3.5 Ga. On average, GLFs in the southern hemisphere have younger CRAs, higher average slopes, smaller crater populations, and show less variability in crater morphological development than in the northern hemisphere. GLFs with higher mean slopes display less crater morphology variety, suggesting that shallow GLFs experience less reworking than steeper GLFs. We propose that these regional and hemispheric differences are due to a combination of favorable topography and climate conditions, both during and between high obliquity periods. We present several scenarios for the GLFs observed in this study and suggest that the glacial and erosional processes that affect GLF evolution are likely locale‐dependent. Plain Language Summary: Glacier‐Like Forms (GLFs) are ice‐rich landforms located in the mid‐latitudes of Mars and are similar in appearance to valley glaciers found on Earth. They are thought to be a result of the redistribution of water ice from the Martian poles during periods when Mars' axis tilts to a higher angle, exposing the poles to more heat from the sun. We selected the 100 largest glaciers to estimate the age of their surfaces via impact crater counting, to identify impact crater morphologies, and to compare this data to existing data on GLF geometrics. We mapped 3,630 craters, identified 15 different impact crater morphologies, and determined the surface ages of 98 glaciers, which ranged from 2.88 million years to 3.5 billion years old. Our analysis shows that glaciers with lower than average slopes have impact craters with a wider range of morphologies than glaciers with higher average surface slopes. Overall we find that glaciers in the southern hemisphere of Mars have young surface ages, and fewer and less developed craters compared with the northern hemisphere. We suggest different regional processes are occurring across Mars, with some areas favoring resurfacing processes more than others, and that glacier surface evolution is specific to the local environment. Key Points: The surface ages, crater morphologies, and metrics of the 100 largest Glacier‐Like Forms (GLFs) on Mars were explored to determine any trendsSurface ages range from 3430 to 2.88 Ma with 15 different crater morphologies. Slope exerts a substantial control on crater morphology developmentResurfacing processes occurring in certain regions of Mars have a greater effect on GLF surfaces than in others [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date, the most complete paleolake‐level reconstructions for the late Pleistocene water bodies that once occupied the Dead Sea depression have been based on the combination of dating of lake sediments and terrestrial materials. However, despite these major accomplishments, there is still limited spatial control regarding the water levels, suggesting some degree of uncertainty concerning the magnitude and rate of lake‐level changes. Here, we re‐examine the late Pleistocene lake‐level changes in the Dead Sea during the transition from paleolake Lisan to the present‐day Dead Sea. We rely on systematic dating of fossil stromatolites including 84 radiocarbon and 15 U‐series ages, stable‐isotope measurements, paleobiology, high‐resolution topography, and numerical modeling to assess lake‐level changes. Our results indicate that the highstand of paleolake Lisan was of shorter duration and the transition between Lake Lisan and the Dead Sea occurred at least 5 Kyrs earlier than previously indicated. By refining the timeline and accuracy of lake‐level positions during the transition paleolake Lisan—Dead Sea, our study offers new insights into the regional and local paleo‐climatic conditions during the last glacial period in this region. Plain Language Summary: Index points, reflecting the unique position of the water levels in space and time, have been broadly used in marine realms to reconstruct past sea‐level changes. Here we study lake‐level variations using index points based on geomorphic and biological markers collected along the western and eastern coasts of the Dead Sea. Previous studies indicate that during the last glacial period (20–30 ka), the Dead Sea depression was filled by paleolake Lisan, which lasted 10 Kyrs. As it dried, dozens of paleo‐shorelines remained etched in the landscape. Lake level index points estimated from 99 radiometric ages in these paleo‐shorelines suggest that Lisan's highstand was shorter and the transition to the Dead Sea occurred 5 Kyrs earlier than previously thought. These novel results suggest an initial and wet period followed by drier conditions, altering the regional paleo‐climatic narrative during the last glacial period. Key Points: Lake paleo‐shorelines and fossil stromatolites are used to reconstruct lake‐level changes during the transition paleolake Lisan‐Dead SeaFossil stromatolites were dated using radiocarbon and U‐series applying temporal and vertical correctionsThe transition between paleolake Lisan and the Dead Sea occurred ∼5 Kyrs earlier than estimated by previous reconstructions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comprehensive paleoecological study of permafrost peat deposits from three locations in the middle reaches of the Yuribei River in the subzone of modern subarctic shrub tundra of the Yamal Peninsula has been performed. Based on the results of palynological and carpological methods and of radiocarbon dating, the changes in regional and local vegetation and climatic conditions of Central Yamal in the Late Glacial and the Postglacial periods are reconstructed. It is found that shrubby tundra with Betula nana was widespread in this area under climatic conditions close to modern ones in the Younger Dryas about 12.6–11.7 cal ka BP. The penetration of tree species (Betula sect. Betula, Picea obovata, and Larix sibirica) and accompanying boreal herbaceous plants began due to more favorable climatic conditions during the Early Holocene warming about 10.2–9.7 cal ka BP. The most favorable conditions for the growth of birch tree, larch, and spruce existed in Central Yamal in the Early and the Middle Holocene in the range of 10.2–4.4 cal ka BP. At that time, open woodlands or even closed forests were common, and the climate was much warmer than the modern one. Forest vegetation degraded and open landscapes with tundra communities were formed at the end of the Middle Holocene (4.5–4.4 cal ka BP). The climatic conditions became similar to modern ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge of the behaviour of marine‐based ice sheets during times of climatic warming, such as the last deglaciation, provides important information to understand how ice sheets respond to external forcing. We analysed swath bathymetric and acoustic sub‐bottom profiler data from Wrigley Gulf on the western Amundsen Sea shelf, West Antarctica, to identify glacial features and reconstruct past changes in the extent of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) and ice flow directions. Glacial bedforms mapped within a bathymetric cross‐shelf trough include features showing cross‐cutting and overprinting relationship and indicate changes in ice‐flow orientation. Here, we distinguish at least two phases of different ice‐flow patterns on the Wrigley Gulf shelf. During the earlier phase, seaward ice stream flow on the inner shelf was deflected towards the east due to the existence of an ice dome on the middle‐outer continental shelf. Retreat of grounded ice towards the centre of this dome is indicated by the asymmetric cross profile of recessional moraines mapped on the middle shelf. The later glaciation phase was characterized by fast, NNW‐directed ice flow across the shelf along a broad front and subsequent stepwise landward retreat, which is evident from the common occurrence and orientation of mega‐scale glaciation lineations and grounding zone wedges on the middle‐inner shelf. It is uncertain whether the two phases of glaciation recorded on the seafloor occurred during the last and penultimate glacial periods or at different times of the last glaciation. Reliable chronological constraints from sediment cores and additional geomorphological information are needed to understand the cause of the changes in WAIS dynamics reflected by the two ice‐flow phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chironomids of the genus Diamesa (Meigen, 1835, Diptera: Chironomidae) inhabit cold, oxygen-rich running waters. We have investigated the presence of Diamesa and other freshwater macroinvertebrates at 22 stream sampling sites in 3 European high mountain regions (the Central Pyrenees, the Ötztal Alps, and the Tatra Mountains) to establish suitable temperature conditions for Diamesa dominance. It has been generally accepted that their high abundance was linked to the presence of glaciers; however, we have shown that in the Tatra Mountains, where there are no glaciers, the conditions for the dominance of Diamesa species are created due to permanent snowfields, the geographical orientation of the valley and shading by the surrounding high peaks. The historical connection of Diamesa to glaciers was investigated from the paleolimnological records of subfossil chironomid assemblages from the Bohemian Forest, where glaciers disappeared before or during the Late Glacial period. As expected, water temperature seems to be the main driver of Diamesa distribution, and we determined that the relative abundance of Diamesa species was significantly higher at the sites with a mean July water temperature below 6.5 °C. The Diamesa -dominated stream communities seems to be endangered due to ongoing climate warming and this assumption is supported by our paleolimnological results from the Bohemian Forest lakes, where Diamesa has disappeared due to warming of lake inflows at the beginning of the Holocene. These findings strengthen the former suggestions that some Diamesa species could be used as an indicator for tracking recent environmental changes in vulnerable ecosystems of cold mountain streams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of alluvial terraces helps in reconstructing the past geometries of rivers and makes it possible to assess the rate and pattern of fluvial incision and bedrock uplift. The fluctuations of river base levels are particularly variable and complex during the Late Quaternary in the lower course of rivers due to the interplay of responses to sea‐level fluctuations, tectonics and glacio‐isostasy. In this paper, the geometry and chronology of Manoir Brésil, an outcrop of alluvial terraces of the Lower Seine River, northern France, are investigated through a multidisciplinary study. Fluvial incision during MIS 8 in the Lower Seine in relation to sea‐level drop is recorded by an erosional surface cut into the chalk bedrock. This surface is covered by MIS 7 tidal deposits and then by younger, mostly periglacial colluvium (head). Manoir Brésil is therefore considered to be a chronological equivalent of the nearby, well‐studied Tourville‐la‐Rivière outcrop. The deposits are affected by post‐MIS 7 cryoturbation processes. Based on the local elevation of MIS 7 tidal deposits and erosional surfaces at Manoir Brésil, a minimum bedrock uplift rate of 25–40 m/Ma and an erosion rate of 125 m/Ma during glacial periods can be proposed. A regional correlation of the MIS 8 erosional surface is increasingly deformed by uplift towards the North, making it difficult to correlate the fluvial deposits along the Seine without precise chronological control. We interpret this regional tilt as the result of isostasy rebound after glaciations, consistent with the distribution of the elevations of MIS 5e and MIS 7 marine deposits along the English Channel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A pre‐Late Wisconsinan, post‐Illinoian, till sheet has long been recognized in north‐central Iowa, but has not been formally recognized or defined until now. Early researchers referred to these deposits as the 'Tazewell', and the term 'Sheldon Creek' was more recently used informally by the Iowa Geological Survey in guidebooks and reports. Recent mapping has extended the eastern margin significantly past previous interpretations. The Sheldon Creek Formation has similar lithologic characteristics to the overlying Alden Member of the Dows Formation, and the two units are distinguished mainly by stratigraphic position. Differentiation from underlying Pre‐Illinoian till units is accomplished using lithology, primarily matrix grain‐size and sand fraction lithology. A suite of 22 radiocarbon ages indicate two distinct, separate groupings within the Sheldon Creek data. These data strongly suggest ice advanced south to 42° N twice, once during Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 3 and again during late MIS 3 or possibly early MIS 2. The presence of the Laurentide Ice Sheet in northern Iowa during MIS 3 has significant implications for ice sheet reconstructions during this interval. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbonyl sulfide (COS) is the most abundant sulfur gas in the atmosphere with links to terrestrial and oceanic productivity. We measured COS in ice core air from an intermediate-depth ice core from the South Pole using both dry and wet extraction methods, recovering a 52 500-year record. We find evidence for COS production in the firn, altering the atmospheric signal preserved in the ice core. Mean sea salt aerosol concentrations from the same depth are a good proxy for the COS production, which disproportionately impacts the measurements from glacial period ice with high sea salt aerosol concentrations. The COS measurements are corrected using sea salt sodium (ssNa) as a proxy for the excess COS resulting from the production. The ssNa-corrected COS record displays substantially less COS in the glacial period atmosphere than the Holocene and a 2 to 4-fold COS rise during the deglaciation synchronous with the associated climate signal. The deglacial COS rise was primarily source driven. Oceanic emissions in the form of COS, carbon disulfide (CS2), and dimethylsulfide (DMS) are collectively the largest natural source of atmospheric COS. A large increase in ocean COS emissions during the deglaciation suggests enhancements in emissions of ocean sulfur gases via processes that involve ocean productivity, although we cannot quantify individual contributions from each gas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the glacial cycles of the past 800 000 years, Eurasia and North America were periodically covered by large ice sheets, causing up to 100 m of sea-level change. While Late Pleistocene glacial cycles typically lasted 80 000–120 000 years, the termination phases were completed in only 10 000 years. During these glacial terminations, the North American and Eurasian ice sheets retreated, which created large proglacial lakes in front of the ice-sheet margin. Proglacial lakes accelerate deglaciation as they facilitate the formation of ice shelves at the southern margins of the North American and Eurasian ice sheets. These ice shelves are characterized by basal melting, low surface elevations, and negligible friction at the base. Here, we use an ice-sheet model to quantify the (combined) effects of proglacial lakes on Late Pleistocene glacial terminations by examining their interplay with glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) and basal sliding. We find that proglacial lakes accelerate the deglaciation of ice sheets mainly because there is an absence of basal friction underneath ice shelves. If friction underneath grounded ice is applied to floating ice, full deglaciation is postponed by a few millennia, resulting in more ice remaining during interglacial periods and no extensive ice shelves forming. Additionally, the large uncertainty in melt rates underneath lacustrine ice shelves translates to an uncertainty in the timing of the termination of up to a millennium. Proglacial lakes are created by depressions in the landscape that remain after an ice sheet has retreated. The depth, size, and timing of proglacial lakes depend on the rate of bedrock rebound. We find that if bedrock rebounds within a few centuries (rather than a few millennia), the mass loss rate of the ice sheet is substantially reduced. This is because fast bedrock rebound prevents the formation of extensive proglacial lakes. Additionally, a decrease in ice thickness is partly compensated for by faster bedrock rebound, resulting in a higher surface elevation; lower temperatures; and a higher surface mass balance, which delays deglaciation. We find that a very long bedrock relaxation time does not substantially affect terminations, but it may lead to a delayed onset of the next glacial period. This is because inception regions, such as northwestern Canada, remain below sea level throughout the preceding interglacial period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disentangling inputs of aeolian dust, ice-rafted debris (IRD), and eroded continental detritus delivered by ocean currents to marine sediments provide important insights into Earth System processes and climate. This study uses Sr-Nd-Pb isotope ratios of the continent-derived (lithogenic) fraction in deep-sea core TN057-6 from the subantarctic Southern Ocean southwest of Africa over the past 150,000 y to identify source regions and quantify their relative contributions and fluxes utilizing a mixing model set in a Bayesian framework. The data are compared with proxies from parallel core Ocean Drilling Program Site 1090 and newly presented data from potential South America aeolian dust source areas (PSAs), allowing for an integrated investigation into atmospheric, oceanic, and cryospheric dynamics. PSA inputs varied on glacial/interglacial timescales, with southern South American sources dominating up to 88% of the lithogenic fraction (mainly Patagonia, which provided up to 68%) during cold periods, while southern African sources were more important during interglacials. During the warmer Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 3 of the last glacial period, lithogenic fluxes were twice that of colder MIS2 and MIS4 at times, and showed unique isotope ratios best explained by Antarctic-derived IRD, likely from the Weddell Sea. The IRD intrusions contributed up to 41% at times and followed Antarctic millennial warming events that raised temperatures, causing instability of icesheet margins. High IRD was synchronous with increased bioavailable iron, nutrient utilization, high biological productivity, and decreased atmospheric CO2. Overall, TN057-6 sediments record systematic Southern Hemisphere climate shifts and cryospheric changes that impacted biogeochemical cycling on both glacial/interglacial and subglacial timescales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reconstruction of the seawater carbonate system is essential for an improved understanding of glacial‐interglacial oceanic carbon cycling and climate change. However, continuous high‐resolution ocean carbonate chemistry data are generally lacking for the Plio‐Pleistocene. Here, we present a deep Pacific carbonate ion saturation state (Δ[CO32−]) record spanning the last 5.1 Myr, reconstructed from the size‐normalized shell weight of planktonic foraminifer in the western tropical Pacific. Deep Pacific Δ[CO32−] has been modulated primarily by orbital obliquity since 5.1 Ma, during which it has exhibited in‐phase behavior with the 40‐Kyr obliquity cycle. Significantly, the amplitude of the 40‐Kyr Δ[CO32−] cycles has responded linearly to obliquity forcing throughout the Plio‐Pleistocene, independent of the late Pliocene intensification of Northern Hemisphere glaciation. We speculate that the obliquity signal in the deep Pacific Δ[CO32−] record reflects an ocean‐atmosphere circulation feedback mediated by migration of the Southern Hemisphere Westerlies. Plain Language Summary: The ocean has played an important role in controlling glacial‐to‐interglacial atmospheric pCO2 variation through changes in its carbon inventory. To decipher the patterns and drivers of the oceanic carbon cycle and climate change through glacial cycles, we provide a continuous Plio‐Pleistocene deep Pacific carbonate ion saturation state (Δ[CO32−]) at orbital time scales. The deep PacificΔ[CO32−] has been modulated by orbital forcing since 5.1 Ma, a time interval during which it has exhibited in‐phase behavior with the 40‐Kyr obliquity cycle as well as a linear response of Δ[CO32−] amplitude to obliquity range. We speculate that Plio‐Pleistocene glacial cycles of the deep Pacific carbon storage were linked to variation in Southern Hemisphere upwelling rates yoked to meridional migration of the Westerlies. Key Points: Deep Pacific Δ[CO32−] has been modulated primarily by orbital obliquity since 5.1 Ma40‐Kyr Δ[CO32−] cycles were in‐phase with and responded linearly to 40‐Kyr band obliquity forcingPlio‐Pleistocene glacial cycles of deep Pacific carbon storage were linked to meridional migration of the Southern Hemisphere Westerlies [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Japanese islands were originally included in the Eurasian Continent as part of the southern and northern landmasses. The two landmasses were detached from the continent 18 million years ago. After that, the former was repeatedly connected to the Korean peninsula during glacial periods, but most of the latter was under seawater. Thus, all Japanese amphibians are undoubtedly derived from this nearby continent. However, it is unclear where the amphibians moved during the formation of the Japanese islands. To address the issue, we selected Glandirana rugosa as a representative of Japanese amphibians because this frog is the only species among amphibians in which nucleotide sequences of the mitochondrial genes and sex chromosome evolution have been deeply investigated. Then, we constructed time‐calibrated and RAxML phylogenetic trees based on nucleotide sequences of the mitochondrial genes of the Glandirana frogs in Japan and South Korea. Various sites were used to select SNP data from the Glandirana species and their sex chromosome evolution, and the cladograms we obtained suggest that ancient Glandirana frogs except for one group moved along with the southern landmass, when it was separated from the continent. The movements of the Glandirana frogs in Japan and South Korea obtained as results of this study will help scientists to understand the geographical changes that took place during the formation of the Japanese islands. This strategy is applicable to studying and understanding the movements of other amphibian species of the Eurasian and other continents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate contrasts across drainage divides, such as orographic precipitation, are ubiquitous in mountain ranges, and as a result, mountain topography is often asymmetric. During glacial periods, these climate gradients can generate asymmetric glaciation, which may modify topographic asymmetry and drive divide migration during glacial‐interglacial cycles. Here we quantify topographic asymmetry caused by asymmetric glaciation and its sensitivity to different climate scenarios. Using an analytical model of a steady‐state glacial profile, we find that the degree of topographic asymmetry is primarily controlled by differences in the equilibrium line altitude across the divide. Our results show that glacial erosion can respond to the same climate asymmetry differently than fluvial erosion. When there are precipitation differences across the divide, glacial erosion produces greater topographic asymmetry than fluvial erosion, all else equal. These findings suggest that glaciations may promote drainage reorganization and landscape transience in intermittently glaciated mountain ranges. Plain Language Summary: In mountainous regions, the amount of rain, snow, and ice that falls and builds up often varies from one side of a mountain to the other. Over thousands to millions of years, these variations can make the length and steepness of the mountain sides differ, too. When glaciers form during ice ages, they can make this asymmetry in the topography even more pronounced. Our study looks at how glaciers affect the landscape and how glaciers and landscapes change in different climate conditions. Using a computer model, we discovered that the landscape becomes even more asymmetric when it is shaped by glaciers compared to when it is shaped by rivers. Our findings suggest that glaciers can cause landscapes to constantly change between ice ages. Key Points: We quantify topographic asymmetry caused by asymmetric glaciationGlacial erosion causes greater topographic asymmetry than fluvial erosion all else equalGlacial‐interglacial cycles can cause divide migration [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]