16 ka以来黄土高原东亚夏季风变化的环境磁学记录

末次冰消期以来的气候变化是第四纪古气候研究的重要内容.本文对黄土高原西部和平镇剖面16 ka以来的黄土沉积序列(厚度为3.5 m)进行了高分辨率环境磁学研究.结果表明:该黄土序列的磁性颗粒主要由细颗粒磁铁矿主导.其磁化率和频率磁化率具有相同的变化特征,与黄土高原中部和东部的黄土磁化率变化机制一致,即黄土高原西部和平镇黄...     

Last glacial climate variations on the tropical Leizhou Peninsula,South China

Two cores were recovered from raised peat bogs on the tropical northern Leizhou Peninsula, south China. Multiple sediment variables including organic matter (OM) content, the stable carbon isotope signature of OM, low-frequency magnetic susceptibility and degree of humification, indicate that the regional paleoclimate played an important role in determining the nature of peat that accumulated. Based on comparison with other climate proxies, the bulk peat δ¹³C record was interpreted as an indicator of variation in the East Asian (EA) summer monsoon, and to a lesser extent, the Indian summer monsoon, during the last glacial period between ~49 and 10 cal ka BP. More negative bulk δ¹³C values reflect wetter and warmer conditions, and thus a strong EA summer monsoon. More positive values indicate drier and cooler conditions. A warm and wet period occurred between ~46 and 28 cal ka BP, implying a strengthening of the EA summer monsoon. A climate shift occurred at ~22 cal ka BP and the driest and coldest period appeared between ~19 and 16 cal ka BP, suggesting weakening of the EA summer monsoon. After ~12 cal ka BP, climate shifted towards wetter and warmer conditions again. It has been suggested that variations in orbitally induced solar insolation played a role in the last glacial climate of the study region. Several millennial—scale arid and cold phases characterized by C4 plants, or by more positive δ¹³C values during periods when C3 plants dominated, show agreement with the Greenland GISP2 ice core and the Chinese stalagmite records. Interactions between high northern latitude cold air advection and summer moisture transported across the tropical ocean, and the migration of the mean position of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) would have favored these millennial–scale phases. Additionally, changes in heat transport to the North Atlantic would also have influenced climate in the region.     

末次盛冰期以来青藏高原东北部共和盆地冬夏季风演化记录

对青藏高原东北部共和盆地冬其剖面的化学元素与粒度分析表明,末次盛冰期以来区域冬夏季风总体上呈现此消彼长的关系,气候出现多次冷干-暖湿旋回。15.82 ka BP之前冬季风最强,夏季风最弱,为末次盛冰期时的冷干气候,但21 ka BP之前气候可能寒冷偏湿。15.82~9.5 ka BP夏季风明显增强,冬季风衰弱,气候明显转暖,其中老仙女木时期（14.7~13.7 a BP）和新仙女木时期（12.1~9.5 ka BP）气候相对冷干,而B-A时期（13.7~12.1 ka BP）气候相对暖湿。全新世以来冬夏季风出现多次波动,9.5~7.0 ka BP夏季风相对较强,气候相对暖湿;7.0~5.1 ka BP冬夏季风强弱交替频繁,气候出现冷干-暖湿旋回;5.1~2.7 ka BP夏季风总体较强,气候温暖湿润;2.7 ka BP 之后冬季风明显增强,气候趋于冷干。此外,区域冬夏季风演变过程与极地冰芯记录的冷暖事件大体一致,可以认为共和盆地气候变化是全球气候变化的区域响应。     

常量元素记录的毛乌素沙地东南缘全新世气候变化

毛乌素沙地处于中国季风边缘的半干旱区,对气候变化响应敏感,是研究过去全球气候变化的理想场所。对沙地东南缘锦界剖面全新统砂质黄土-古风成砂-古土壤互层沉积序列进行研究,在OSL测年基础上,通过沉积物常量元素氧化物含量及其比值分析,结合粒度、磁化率特征,探讨了毛乌素沙地东南缘7.9ka BP以来气候变化。结果表明：（1）地层常量元素氧化物以SiO₂和Al₂O₃为主,其他元素含量依次为Na₂O、K₂O、Fe₂O₃、CaO、MgO。各种元素活动性不同,K、Na活动性较强,易淋失;Si活动性较稳定,风成砂中易富集;Ca、Mg、Al、Fe活动性较弱,古土壤中富集。（2）7.9ka BP以来气候变化分为6个阶段。7.9～7.3 ka最温暖湿润时段;7.3～6.8 ka,气候转冷干;6.8～4.3 ka,整体上温暖湿润,期间存在2次由暖湿变冷干的波动,并出现过6次风沙活动,即6.6～6.3、6.1、5.9、5.7～5.5、5.3～5.0、4.7～4.4 ka;4.3～2.5ka BP,气候转冷干;2.5～1.8ka BP出现过短暂湿润期,但暖湿程度不及全新世中期;1.8ka BP以来气候渐趋干旱并接近现代气候。（3）全新世气候变化与毗邻的萨拉乌苏河流域、浑善达克沙地等记录的气候变化具有很好的一致性,这是通过东亚冬夏季风强弱消长变化对全球变化的区域响应。     

毛乌素沙地东南缘全新世气候不稳定性

毛乌素沙地处于中国季风区的西北边缘,对气候变化敏感,是古气候演化和古环境变迁研究的理想场所。全新世气温回暖期,气候整体稳定但存在暖湿冷干的次级波动,不同类型沉积相组成的地层序列记录了全新世千年、百年尺度的气候不稳定性。对毛乌素沙地不同沉积序列的研究表明:(1)毛乌素沙地东南缘的沙漠/黄土边界带DLT、NB剖面粒度及Rb/Sr比值可作为气候变化的代用指标。>63 μm砂含量增加,Rb/Sr比值降低,揭示东亚冬季风增强,风成砂堆积,风沙活动加剧,气候干冷;反之,东亚夏季风增强,降水增多,风化成壤程度加大,气候暖湿。(2)毛乌素沙地东南缘沙漠/黄土边界带及低洼沟谷区年代概率密度函数的分析显示,全新世早期~8\^5 ka BP风成砂堆积,风沙活动加剧,气候表现为干冷;全新世中期8\^5 ka~3\^0 ka BP地势较高处古土壤广泛发育,地势低洼处发育湖沼相/泥炭层,但在6.0 ka BP左右存在气候转冷过程;全新世晚期3\^0 ka BP以来气候波动频繁。(3)毛乌素沙地气候变化与北大西洋冰筏冷事件、董哥洞石笋、季风边缘区湖泊、东部沙地等记录具有可对比性和相对一致性,反映出全新世千年和百年尺度上的气候变化主要受全球变化的影响,这对预测和模拟未来气候变化具有借鉴意义。     

全新世浑善达克沙地粒度旋回及其反映的气候变化

 利用浑善达克沙地北部锡林浩特风成砂/古土壤剖面的粗颗粒含量、标准偏差、中值粒径、平均粒径和粘粒含量等气候代用指标,对浑善达克沙地10 ka以来的沉积物粒度进行了系统分析研究\.结果表明气候变化存在4个阶段:10.7～9.6 ka BP气候相对干冷;9.6～6 ka BP气候温暖湿润; 6～3.4 ka BP气候干冷暖湿波动频繁;3.4 ka BP以来气候以干旱为主。     

Millennial-scale evolution of Hunshandake Desert and climate change during the Holocene in Inner Mongolia,northern China

The Hunshandake Desert is located at the northern edge of the East Asian monsoon region,and its natural environment is sensitive to monsoonal changes.Geologic records suggest that desert evolution corresponding to climate change had experienced several cycles in the Holocene,and the evolutionary process can be distinguished by four dominant stages according to changing trends of the environment and climate.(1) Holocene Ameliorative Period(11.0-8.7 cal ka B.P.),when the desert area gradually shrank following an approaching warm-wet climate and strengthening summer monsoon.(2) Holocene Optimum(8.7-6.0 cal ka B.P.),when the majority of moving sand dunes were stabilized and vegetation coverage quickly expanded in a suitable warm-wet climate and a strong summer monsoon.(3) Holocene Multivariate Period(6.0-3.5 cal ka B.P.),during a low-amplitude desert transformed between moving and stabilized types under alternating functions of cold-dry with warm-wet climate,and winter monsoon with summer monsoon.(4) Holocene Decay Period(since 3.5 cal ka B.P.),when the desert area tended to expand along with a weakened summer monsoon and a dry climate.     

GCM-simulated hydrology in the Arctic duringn the past 21,000 years

The Paleoclimates from Arctic Lakes and Estuaries (PALE) project has chosen to conduct high resolution data-model comparisons for the Arctic region at 21 and 10 (calendar) ka BP. The model simulations for 21, 10, and 0 ka BP were conducted with the GENESIS 2.0 GCM. The 10 ka BP simulation was coupled to the EVE vegetation model. The primary boundary conditions differing from present at 21 ka BP were the northern hemisphere ice sheets and lower CO2, and at 10 ka BP were the orbital insolation and smaller northern hemisphere ice sheets. The purpose of this article is to discuss the hydrological consequences of these simulations.At the Last Glacial Maximum (21 ka BP) the large ice sheets over North America and Eurasia and the lower CO2 levels produced a colder climate than present, with less precipitation throughout the Arctic, except where circulation was altered by the ice sheets. At 10 ka BP greater summer insolation resulted in a warmer and wetter Beringia, but conditions remained cold and dry in the north Atlantic sector, in the vicinity of the remnant ice sheets. Less winter insolation at 10 ka BP resulted in colder and drier conditions throughout the Arctic. Precipitation - evaporation generally correlated with precipitation except where changes in the surface type (ice sheets, vegetation at 10 ka BP, or sea level at 21 ka BP) caused large changes in the evaporation rate. The primary hydrological differences (from present) at 21 and 10 ka BP correlated with the temperature differences, which were a direct result of the large-scale boundary condition changes.     

冬夏季温度和降水变化对青海湖全新世环境变化的影响初探

青海湖是国内最大的内陆湖泊,位于青藏高原东北缘,因其处在东亚夏季风、印度季风和西风带的交替控制区域,对气候变化十分敏感,成为古环境变化研究的热点地区。有关青海湖的形成演化、环境变化和水文变化的研究也存在多种观点。本研究再分析了青海湖已报道的古环境指标和气候模式模拟的夏季、冬季温度和降水变化,力图更加全面地理解青海湖全新世以来的古环境变化。研究发现早全新世11~8 ka夏季降水量和表面蒸发量较大,冬季降水稀少,湖泊水位只有十余米深,使得青海湖周边风沙活动频繁。并且,早全新世的气候不稳定,经历了频繁和较大幅度的波动。全新世气候适宜期出现在8~6 ka,古环境指标指示这一时期为温暖湿润的气候环境,湖盆内植被以森林草原为主,湖泊水位不断上升。青海湖地区的夏季降水自6 ka开始减少,然而冬季降水增加,同时夏季温度和蒸发量减少,使得湖区植被组成由森林草原向高山草甸转变,湖区大范围形成古土壤。湖区古环境条件在晚全新世距今1.5 ka开始恶化,冬季和夏季降水同时减少,湖泊水位下降,风沙活动再次加强。     

欧亚大陆中北部末次盛冰期以来的湖泊水位变化及其古气候指示意义

湖泊水位高低通常能有效地指示湖盆内湿润条件的变化,进而反映区域有效降水（降水—蒸发）变化,成为重建第四纪古气候演变的重要指标之一。通过对苏联和蒙古国古湖泊数据库以及中国晚第四纪古湖泊数据库中149个湖泊水位变化资料的梳理总结,探讨了末次盛冰期（18 cal. ka BP）以来该地区干湿变化规律及区域分异。根据研究区气候特征、地理位置及已有研究成果将其分为东欧湖泊区、中东亚干旱区和中国北方季风区三大湖区。根据不同水位记录在整个湖泊历史中出现的频率,采用3级重新分类区分出高、中、低3级水量,并把每个湖泊数字化的3级古水量表示成与现代的差值,得到每个湖泊样点每千年时间间隔内相对现代的5级水量变化（很湿润、湿润、无变化、干旱和很干旱）。结果表明,三大湖区末次盛冰期以来可能经历了不同的干湿变化过程：东欧地区湖泊水量记录在晚冰期之前较少,至全新世逐渐增多,且基本表现为早全新世干旱、中晚全新世相对湿润的状况。中东亚干旱区整体呈现出末次盛冰期至中全新世均较湿润而晚全新世干旱的气候状况,但区域内部不同湖泊在起讫时间和强度上存在显著差异。中国北方季风区的湿润期主要发生在早中全新世,但是不同湖泊有所不同。对比分析显示,早全新世时东欧地区东部气候随着斯堪的那维亚冰流的逐渐消退而逐渐变湿润,中全新世由于夏季北欧反气旋东翼的气旋气流增强而达到最湿润状态,西部地区早全新世由于强劲的西伯利亚热高压存在而整体偏干旱,中全新世由于夏季亚洲季风的渗透而转为湿润。中东亚干旱区冰期内的湿润条件可能主要与西风带降水及低温低蒸发有关,而全新世则可能主要与夏季风深入内陆导致降水增加有关。中国北方季风区全新世湿度变化可能主要受东亚季风控制。     

瓦窑沟剖面记录的早中全新世毛乌素沙地东南缘气候变化

毛乌素沙地位于中国东亚季风边缘区,对气候变化响应敏感。区域内分布着大量河湖相沉积地层,忠实记录了全新世以来气候变化状况。选取毛乌素沙地东南缘河湖相沉积地层为主的瓦窑沟剖面（WYG）,在光释光（OSL）和¹⁴C（AMS ¹⁴C）测年基础上,对粒度、色度和有机质环境代用指标进行分析,反演得出毛乌素沙地早中全新世气候经历了3个阶段：约9.8 ka BP前气候干冷,广泛沉积沙层;9.8—9.6 ka BP气候逐渐回暖,为气候干冷转为暖湿的过渡期;9.6—5.2 ka BP气候相对暖湿,发育砂质泥炭层。推测计算得出,剖面地层沉积速率沙层>过渡层>砂质泥炭层,且各地层均存在次一级旋回,曲线旋回周期砂质泥炭层（480 a）>沙层（150 a）>过渡层（130 a）,指示砂质泥炭层沉积速率最慢、形成时期气候相对稳定。研究结果与东亚季风区域古气候记录具有很好的可比性,是对东亚冬夏季风强度变化的全球性响应。     

重庆地区末次冰期气候变化的石笋记录研究

对采自重庆金佛山梁天湾洞穴的1 根长达295 mm的石笋进行了高精度的TIMS-U系定年和碳氧同位素测试分析,建立了末次冰期晚期(31.90~15.21 ka B.P.)长江中游较高分辨率(平均为280 a/mm)的古气候变化序列。从石笋的氧同位素曲线中明显地检出Heinrich事件,并且氧同位素曲线与南京葫芦洞和贵州董歌洞的石笋记录有着良好的对比关系。但明显的差别是,重庆地区石笋的同位素记录表明,该地区末次冰期晚期古气候是受西南季风和东南季风双重影响的。     

广西北部山地沼泽20 ka以来的 碳同位素组成与气候变化

根据广西北部山地泥炭沼泽沉积的有机碳同位素组成、TOC和C/N等古气候指标对末次盛冰期以来该区植被与气候演变过程进行研究,结果发现：末次盛冰期（21―14 cal. ka B.P.）偏正的δ13Corg数据反映了山地植被面貌曾发生显著变化,指示冰期气候的冷干变化,但并未导致山地森林向地带性草地退化,C3植物仍占优势。沉积物岩性和TOC等数据表明：在14―10 cal. ka B.P.期间沼泽湿地逐渐形成,指示了东亚夏季风降雨的增强,与石笋指示的季风增强起始年代基本一致。冰消期碳同位素曲线负偏的变化要早于TOC指示的泥炭沼泽堆积,即10―9 cal. ka B.P.前后富有机质的泥炭堆积进入旺盛期。碳同位素组成在9―8 cal. ka B.P.存在一个正偏的变化波动,可能与8.2 ka降温事件或局地物源输入变化有关。7.0―2.8 cal. ka B.P.期间古田湿地的有机质输入较高,碳同位素偏负,指示气候暖湿。从1.7 cal. ka B.P.至今,δ13Corg值的再次正偏可能指示夏季风强度减弱,但考虑到该阶段为人类农业活动快速发展期,因此不排除人为因素的影响。此外,末次盛冰期广西山地与雷州半岛沿海低地的碳同位素值对比发现：沿海平原区与华南山地的沉积记录存在明显差别,其主要原因是山区因山地降雨效应使山区的湿度即便在盛冰期也能保持较高水平;而低地平原冰期阶段的降雨则显著减少,加上平原区较高的蒸发量使干旱程度增加,C4草本也相应增多。实际上,影响亚热带山地沼泽δ13Corg值变化的原因比较复杂,在利用δ13Corg值推论古气候时需要同时考虑气候因素和湿地沉积体的物源及其地貌环境等背景。     

9.5–2.3 ka BP燕辽地区考古文化演变及其遗址的时空分布（英文）

With basic information from 8353 archaeological sites, this study describes a holistic spatial-temporal distribution pattern of archaeological sites of the prehistoric culture sequence from 9.5 ka BP (ka BP = thousands of years before 0 BP, where "0 BP" is defined as the year AD 1950) to 2.3 ka BP in the region that extends from the Yanshan Mountains to the Liaohe River Plain(i.e., the Yan-Liao region) in northern China. Based on spatial statistics analysis – including the spatial density of the sites and Geographic Information System nearest-neighbour analysis, combined with a review of environmental and climatic data – this paper analyses cultural evolution, the spatial-temporal features of the archaeological sites and human activities against the backdrop of climatic and environmental changes in this region. The results reveal that prehistoric cultural evolution in the Yan-Liao region is extensively influenced by climatic and environmental changes. The Xinglongwa, Zhaobaogou and Fuhe cultures, which primarily developed during a habitable period from 8.5 ka BP to 6.0 ka BP with strong summer monsoons, have similar maximum density values, spatial patterns and subsistence strategies dominated by hunting-gathering. Significant changes occurred in the Hongshan and Lower Xiajiadian cultures, with a significant increase in numbers and densities of sites and a slump in average nearest-neighbour ratio when the environment began to deteriorate starting in 6.0 ka BP. Additionally, with the onset of a weak summer monsoon and the predominance of primitive agriculture, sites of these two cultures present a different type of concentric circle-shaped pattern in space. As the environment continuously deteriorated with increasing aridity and the spread of steppe, more sites were distributed towards the south, and primitive agriculture was replaced by livestock husbandry in the Upper Xiajiadian culture. The most densely populated areas of the studied cultures are centralized within a limited area. The Laohahe River and Jiaolaihe River basins formed the core area in which most archaeological sites were distributed during the strong summer monsoon period and the first few thousand years of the weak summer monsoon period.     

青藏高原扎布耶盐湖晚全新世气候环境演化

青藏高原晚全新世气候变化具有不稳定性.在高原中部扎布耶盐湖边缘取得158.5cm沉积物,通过年代、孢粉、介形虫、粘土矿物、地球化学等多种环境指标,给出了湖区3.8cal. ka BP以来的气候环境演化.孢粉中草本花粉占绝对优势,其中又以蒿属为主,植被类型为水分条件稍好些的半荒漠化草原.粘土矿物主要是伊利石和绿泥石,伊/蒙混层矿物少量,说明湖区风化作用主要是物理风化.(Ca Mg)/CO2-3摩尔比值为0.22～0.96,小于1,CO2-3与Na 结合形成大量钠碳酸盐矿物如单斜钠钙石、氯碳钠镁石、水碱等.硼砂的出现说明湖区沉积环境稳定,但3.8～1.99 cal. ka BP硼等元素和碳酸盐含量变化幅度较大,湖区气候寒冷干燥,但冷暖干湿波动频繁.3.4～3.34 cal. ka BP介形虫壳大多破碎,说明此阶段水动力条件强,水体不稳定.1.99 cal. ka BP至今,气候相对温暖潮湿,波动较少.太阳辐射和西南季风强度的变化是造成气候变化的主要原因,冰川冻土对寒冷气候的放大作用也是湖区气候变化的一个重要原因.     

A preliminary quantitative reconstruction of precipitation in southern Mu Us sandy land at margin of Asian monsoon-dominated region during late Quaternary

We present the first quantitative estimation of monsoon precipitation during the late glacial-Holocene in the sandy land of northern China, based on organic carbon isotopic composition data from a loess-sand sequence at margin of the Mu Us sandy land. We use the relationship between monsoon precipitation and the carbon isotopic composition of modern soils as an analogue, with a minor modification, to reconstruct precipitation back to c. 47 ka ago. The preliminary results indicate that annual monsoon precipitation was high after 8 ka, with an average of 435 mm; and it decreased during 18 and 8 ka with a mean value of 194 mm. The precipitation value of 47-18 ka varied between the two. We compare the reconstructed precipitation with other records and paleoclimatic modeling results, showing that our record agrees with reconstructions of the monsoon precipitation from other sources, even capturing short climatic events such as the Younger Dryas. We suggest that solar irradiance, high-latitude temperature/ice volume and local evaporation have together modified moistures in the sandy land.     

A MIS 3 charcoal and pollen record and quantitative precipitation inferences from the Jingerwa section of the Nihewan Basin,north-central China

Pollen and charcoal data from the Jingerwa section of the Nihewan Basin, north-central China, were used to reconstruct vegetation and climate changes during Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 3. Mean annual precipitation changes were quantified by applying pollen-climate transfer functions. Sparse vegetation cover dominated by herbs indicates relatively dry climate between 51 and 43 cal ka BP. Between 43 and 35 cal ka BP, a Pinus-dominated forest reached its maximum extent, implying that climate was wetter than today. Severe fire episodes during that period suggest warm temperatures. Between 35 and 32 cal ka BP, forest retreat and the expansion of dryland vegetation are indicative of drier climates. Slightly wetter conditions prevailed between 32 and 29 cal ka BP, as indicated by the expansion of ferns. Our results suggest that the climate conditions in the Nihewan Basin during middle and late MIS 3 were probably wetter than today. This may have been caused by intensification of Asian monsoon circulation in response to greater insolation in June at 30°N. However, increases in summer temperatures and evaporation, triggered by peak summer insolation levels, may have led to a reduction in humidity around 35 cal ka BP.     

Three modes of climate change since the Last Glacial Maximum in arid and semi-arid regions of the Asian continent

The westerly winds and East Asian summer monsoon play a leading role in climate change of southwestern North America and eastern Asia since the Last Glacial Maximum(LGM),respectively.Their convergence in arid and semi-arid regions of the Asian continent(AAC) makes the regional climate change more complicated on the millennial-scale.There are still limitations in applying paleoclimate records and climate simulations of characteristic periods to investigate climate change patterns since the LGM in this region.In this study,we adopt two indexes indicating effective moisture and rely on a continuous simulation,a time slice simulation,and numerous paleoclimate records to comprehensively investigate the cli-mate change modes and their driving mechanisms since the LGM in AAC.Results demon-strate a millennial-scale climate differentiation phenomenon and three climate change modes possibly occurring in AAC since the LGM.The western AAC largely controlled by the westerly winds is featured as wet climates during the LGM but relatively dry climates during the mid-Holocene (MH),coinciding with the climate change mode in southwestern North America.Conversely,dry conditions during the LGM and relatively wet conditions during the MH are reflected in eastern AAC governed by the East Asian summer monsoon,which leans to the climate change mode in eastern Asia.If climate change in central AAC is forced by the in-teraction of two circulations,it expresses wet conditions in both the LGM and MH,tending to a combination of the southwestern North American and eastern Asian modes.Precipitation and evaporation exert different intensities in influencing three climate modes of different periods.Furthermore,we identify the significant driving effects of greenhouse gases and ice sheets on westerly-dominated zones of AAC,while orbit-driven insolation on monsoon-dominated zones of AAC.     

Winter and summer monsoonal evolution in Gonghe Basin, northeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau since the Last Glacial Maximum

Geochemical and grain size analysis on the DQ (Dongqi) profile from Gonghe Basin, northeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, indicates that regional climate has experienced several cold-dry and warm-wet cycles since the last glacial maximum (LGM). The cold and dry climate dominated the region before 15.82 cal. ka B.P. due to stronger winter monsoon and weaker summer monsoon, but the climate was relatively cold and wetter prior to 21 cal. ka B.P.. In 15.82–9.5 cal. ka B.P., summer monsoon strength increased and winter monsoon tended to be weaker, implying an obvious warm climate. Specifically, the relatively cold and dry condition appeared in 14.7–13.7 cal. ka B.P. and 12.1–9.5 cal. ka B.P., respectively, while relatively warm and wet in 13.7–12.1 cal. ka B.P.. The winter and summer monsoonal strength presents frequent fluctuations in the Holocene and relatively warm and wet conditions emerged in 9.5–7.0 cal. ka B.P. due to stronger summer monsoon. From 7.0 to 5.1 cal. ka B.P., the cycle of cold-dry and warm-wet climate corresponds to frequent fluctuations of winter and summer monsoons. The climate becomes warm and wet in 5.1–2.7 cal. ka B.P., accompanying increased summer monsoon, but it tends to be cold and dry since 2.7 cal. ka B.P. due to enhanced winter monsoonal strength. In addition, the evolution of regional winter and summer monsoons is coincident with warm and cold records from the polar ice core. In other words, climatic change in the Gonghe Basin can be considered as a regional response to global climate change.     

Mid- to- late Holocene hydroclimatic changes on the Chinese Loess Plateau: evidence from <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-alkanes from the sediments of Tianchi Lake

We have reconstructed the history of mid-late Holocene paleohydrological changes in the Chinese Loess Plateau using n-alkane data from a sediment core in Tianchi Lake. We used P_aq (the proportion of aquatic macrophytes to the total plant community) to reflect changes in lake water level, with a higher abundance of submerged macrophytes indicating a lower water level and vice versa. The P_aq-based hydrological reconstruction agrees with various other lines of evidence, including ACL (average chain length), CPI (carbon preference index), C/N ratio and the n-alkane molecular distribution of the sediments in Tianchi Lake. The results reveal that the lake water level was relatively high during 5.7–3.2 ka BP, and decreased gradually thereafter. Our paleohydrological reconstruction is consistent with existing paleoclimate reconstructions from the Loess Plateau, which suggest a humid mid-Holocene, but is asynchronous with paleoclimatic records from central China which indicate an arid mid-Holocene. Overall, our results confirm that the intensity of the rainfall delivered by the EASM (East Asian summer monsoon) is an important factor in affecting paleohydrological changes in the region and can be considered as further evidence for the development of a spatially asynchronous “northern China drought and southern China flood” precipitation pattern during the Holocene.