Pervasive autocorrelation of the chemical index of alteration in sedimentary profiles and its palaeoenvironmental implications |
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Authors: | SHANGBIN XIAO WEIGUO LIU ANCHUN LI SHOUYE YANG ZHONGPING LAI |
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Institution: | 1. State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi’an 710075, China (E‐mail: shangbinx@163.com);2. Key Laboratory of Salt Lake Resources and Chemistry, Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, China;3. Key Laboratory of Marine Geology and Environment, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China;4. Department of Marine Geology, State Key Laboratory of Marine Geology, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, ChinaAssociate Editor – Susan Marriott |
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Abstract: | The chemical index of alteration has been used widely for reconstruction of the palaeoclimate. However, the mechanisms and environmental factors controlling the chemical index of alteration of sediments are not yet fully understood. In this study, autocorrelations of the chemical index of alteration in nine sedimentary profiles, from both the land and the sea, spanning different geological times, are discussed. The sediments of these profiles have different origins (dust, fluvial or ocean sediments) and are from various climate situations and sedimentary environments. Autocorrelations of chemical index of alteration series are ubiquitously evident in all profiles. It is suggested here that autocorrelations may be caused by post‐depositional changes such as persistent weathering and diagenesis. As a result, the chemical index of alteration may not reflect climatic conditions during the time of sediment deposition. This study strongly recommends the confirmation of the reliability and veracity of the chemical index of alteration before it is adopted to evaluate the weathering degree of parent rocks and to reconstruct the past climate. Significant autocorrelations in loess profiles were specifically observed, suggesting that the existing understanding of loess deposition in terms of climate conditions requires re‐examination, and that previous reconstructions of rapid climate changes (for example, in centennial‐millennial scales) should be treated with caution. |
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Keywords: | Autocorrelation chemical index of alteration palaeoclimate change post‐sedimentation sedimentary profiles |
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