黄海、渤海陆架区可见黄河三角洲沉积的形成时代

对于黄河形成史的研究存在两种不同的意见，其一认为黄河在第三纪以前就已出现；其二认为黄河在晚更新切末期才最终得以贯通。黄河的贯通与青藏高原隆起密切相关，黄河不可能在海拔较高的源头出现之关就已存在。冰期海退时期的陆架不存在类似现在的黄河。现代长江口以北地区在末次冰期 非常恶劣的自然环境，部分地区为冻土带分布区，部分地区为古沙漠活动区。

AGES OF THE YELLOW RIVER DELTA IN SHELF REGIONS OF THE YELLOW SEA AND THE BOHAI SEA

There are two different opinions for the formation history of the Yellow River, one postulates that the Yellow River might have come into existence before Tertiary, the other supposes that it joined up into a long river only in the late stage of Upper Pleistocene.The presence of the whole course of the Yellow River is believed to be closely related to the uplifting of the Tibetan Plateau.It is not likely that it would come into being before the high elevation river head was formed.Today''s Yellow River is not known to occur during the recession of sea in glacial periods.In the last glacial stage, the climate was very harsh in the area north of the modern estuary of the Changjiang River, that some areas were permafrost and the others barren-deserts.At that time, the aeolation was the major exogenic force on the exposed shelf.Begining from 12ka BP, the global climate became warm, resulting in gradual disappear ance of continental glaciers retreat of mountain glaciers, and rise of sea level. Consequently, the Yellow River was replenished with water to become the modern river system.With continued rising of sea level, the Yellow River delta moved continuously towards the west and ushered in the history of human beings.