A new cranium and two mandibles of Ailuropoda melanoleuca from Xiangxi,Hunan Province are described here.The materials were discovered in a karst cave on the Bamian Mountain at an altitude of 1200 m,with AMC carbon-fo...A new cranium and two mandibles of Ailuropoda melanoleuca from Xiangxi,Hunan Province are described here.The materials were discovered in a karst cave on the Bamian Mountain at an altitude of 1200 m,with AMC carbon-fourteen isotope dating indicating an age of 2800±30 BP.Historically,the giant panda was widely distributed in southern China and parts of Southeast Asia during the Pleistocene epoch,but it is now confined and isolated to six mountain ranges in southwest China’s Sichuan,Shaanxi,and Gansu provinces.The subfossil materials reported here represent the first discovery of the living species of giant panda in Xiangxi,Hunan.This extends their geographical distribution in southern China during the Holocene epoch eastward to the eastern edge of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and their recent altitude range down to 1200 m.展开更多
Arid West Asia(AWA)is a critical hub of the Silk Road and one of the primary dust source regions in the Northern Hemisphere.Dust storms in AWA emitting substantial dust particles into the atmosphere,significantly infl...Arid West Asia(AWA)is a critical hub of the Silk Road and one of the primary dust source regions in the Northern Hemisphere.Dust storms in AWA emitting substantial dust particles into the atmosphere,significantly influencing air quality,climate change and marine productivity.However,the variability of dust storm activity in this region during the Holocene,particularly its links to vegetation and hydroclimatic changes,remains debated,hindering our understanding of the interconnected dynamics between climate change and surface environments.This study reconstructs dust storm variations in AWA over the past 9000 years using geochemical analyses(trace elements,Sr-Nd isotopes)from a well-dated,high-resolution sediment core from the Almalou Peatland,located on the western Iranian Plateau.Our results reveal a decline in dust storm frequency from the early to mid-Holocene,a minimum occurrence during the mid-Holocene,and a significant increase in the late Holocene.Provenance analysis indicates that the primary dust sources were the arid regions of Mesopotamia,located upwind of the study area.A comparison with proxy records and paleoclimate models suggests an inverse relationship between dust storm activity and regional hydroclimatic and vegetation changes,along with a positive correlation with wind speeds.The concentration of dust storms during the wetter month of May highlights wind speed as a more critical driving factor.Moreover,given the dominant influence of the subtropical high on hydroclimatic conditions and wind speeds in AWA,we propose that this system is the key regulator of regional dust storm dynamics.Our findings provide new insights into the drivers of dust storm activity in AWA and hold implications for developing targeted dust storm management strategies.展开更多
0 INTRODUCTION.The Asian drylands,encompassing the northern East Asian monsoon region(NMA),the westerlies-dominated arid central Asia(ACA)and arid west Asia(AWA),are ecologically fragile areas and among the most sensi...0 INTRODUCTION.The Asian drylands,encompassing the northern East Asian monsoon region(NMA),the westerlies-dominated arid central Asia(ACA)and arid west Asia(AWA),are ecologically fragile areas and among the most sensitive regions to global change.These regions are significant dust sources of the Northern Hemisphere(e.g.,Uno et al.,2009),playing a vital role in global climate change and marine biogeochemical cycles.展开更多
High-resolution,continuous Late Holocene lacustrine records are scarce in the Qaidam Basin,but is of especially important for our understanding the future climate variability in the western China.Here,we use grain siz...High-resolution,continuous Late Holocene lacustrine records are scarce in the Qaidam Basin,but is of especially important for our understanding the future climate variability in the western China.Here,we use grain size,element content and XRD-identified data from the Lake Hurleg in the eastern Qaidam Basin to present the Late Holocene climate variability,which have been temporally constrained using 210Pb-,137Cs-and AMS 14C dating.Our records demonstrate that decreased precipitation climate occurred at~800–1000 yr and~1300–1800 yr intervals,and increased precipitation occurred at~354–800 yr,~1000–1300 yr and~1800 yr to the present.The results show that the Qaidam Basin has undergone a process of warming and humidification since the Industrial Revolution,which is consistent with the meteorological records.The climate in the northeastern Qaidam Basin is dominated by the Asian Monsoon.展开更多
Investigating the timing and features of climate transitions in East Asia during the Holocene, via the sensitive response of ecosystems on the East Asian Summer Monsoon(EASM) boundary, is crucial for understanding the...Investigating the timing and features of climate transitions in East Asia during the Holocene, via the sensitive response of ecosystems on the East Asian Summer Monsoon(EASM) boundary, is crucial for understanding the underlying mechanisms that drive these transitions. This study presents highresolution palynological sequences for the period 6800–900 cal a B.P. from peat cores retrieved from the Arxan region in the Greater Khingan Range, northeast China. The lithological changes in the cores show that peat deposition began at 6430 cal a B.P. Regional vegetation was dominated by forest steppes, with Artemisia prevailing the vegetation landscape. Variations in Artemisia/Chenopodiaceae(A/C) pollen ratios, Principal Component Analysis(PCA) results, and charcoal concentration derived from the pollen data suggest that regional moisture availability increased from 6800 to 4200 cal a B.P., thereafter experiencing a marked decline. These changes in moisture availability causes fluctuations in the water table of the Arxan marshes, resulting in the expansion and reduction of the marshland, as demonstrated by swamp and aquatic palynomorphs, however did not disrupt subsequent peat deposition. In addition to the forcing of low-latitude summer insolation, the climate transition in northeast China around 4200 cal a B.P. aligns with a notable increase in sea ice in the western Okhotsk Sea during the late Holocene, which probably resulted in a reduction of EASM precipitation over the region. Our study offers new insights into the vegetation response observed in montane marshlands on the EASM boundary to climate transitions during the mid-late Holocene period.展开更多
Palaeoceanographic and palaeoclimatic reconstructions,particularly on the spatial and temporal evolution across different regions,can offer valuable insights into global changes.At present,abundant data recorded in se...Palaeoceanographic and palaeoclimatic reconstructions,particularly on the spatial and temporal evolution across different regions,can offer valuable insights into global changes.At present,abundant data recorded in sediments indicate a phase asynchrony from land to sea during the Holocene.This has raised great debate about the forcing mechanisms of paleoclimatic evolution.In this study,we reconstructed sea surface temperature and salinity during the Holocene from the northern South China Sea(SCS)by the Mg/Ca ratios andδ^(18)O values of Globigerinoides ruber sensu stricto(s.s.)in the core SH-CL38.By comparing the results with records from other cores in the SCS,it indicates that during the Holocene,the climatic changes in the SCS are mainly influenced by the East Asian summer monsoon driven by Northern Hemisphere summer insolation.The lower salinity in the early Holocene com-pared to the mid-late Holocene is mainly controlled by palaeogeographic changes in the SCS Basin related to sea level.The fitted sea surface temperature anomaly results from the northern and southern SCS show that the climate evolution in the entire SCS during the early Holocene was asynchronous.The multi-year mean air mass backward trajectory results indicate that the northern SCS is signifi-cantly influenced by moisture originating from the tropical western Pacific,while the southern SCS exhibits notable local or regional contributions.Therefore,the differences in the composition of moisture contributions caused by changes in the strength and path of the summer monsoon may be a factor driving the different spatial climate patterns in the SCS.展开更多
0 INTRODUCTION.The intensification of global warming is generating increasing risks to human society and sustainable development,which are of growing concern to the international scientific community and policymakers(...0 INTRODUCTION.The intensification of global warming is generating increasing risks to human society and sustainable development,which are of growing concern to the international scientific community and policymakers(Sun,2023).The ecosystems of the Asian drylands are fragile and highly sensitive to global changes;moreover,while these drylands are the most important areas of oasis agriculture on Earth,their water resources are being adversely impacted by ongoing climate change(Zhang et al.,2023).Hence,an improved understanding of the patterns of climate change in this region is important and attracting increasing research attention.展开更多
A total of 98 samples from two boreholes in shallow sea area and two oyster reefs in adjacent coastal plain in the northwestern coast of Bohai Bay were collected for diatom analyses and species identification.The rati...A total of 98 samples from two boreholes in shallow sea area and two oyster reefs in adjacent coastal plain in the northwestern coast of Bohai Bay were collected for diatom analyses and species identification.The ratio of the marine species Thalassionema nitzschioides to the intertidal-coastal species complex Cyclotella striata/stylorum serves as a novel proxy for assessing the strength of marine influence.Chronological data,corrected for the local residence time effect,facilitated the construction of a diatom proxy-based marine influence curve for the study area.This curve delineates the dynamics of marine influence and their correlations with paleo-climate fluctuations and the East Asian monsoon variability,as well as their role in chenier formation.Results include:(1)eight periods of intensified marine influence have been documented since 7000 a BP in the study area.The peak of each period,as determined by the diatom proxy,corresponds closely to the warm climatic phases and stronger East Asian summer monsoons,suggesting that the peaks marine influence indicate typically the periods of climatic warmth and monsoon activity intensification in the region;(2)a strong correlation exists between the development of cheniers and marine influence,and chenier formation began with the increasing marine influence and terminated at the end of warm periods as marine influence weakens.The climatic changes in the coastal area,as indicated by the diatom proxy,hold significant potential for future related research endeavors.展开更多
Mangrove wetlands are among the four most productive tropical and subtropical ecosystems.They are also a core component of the coastal blue carbon ecosystem,which is of great ecological significance to human beings,pl...Mangrove wetlands are among the four most productive tropical and subtropical ecosystems.They are also a core component of the coastal blue carbon ecosystem,which is of great ecological significance to human beings,plants,animals,and the global carbon balance.There has been a global decrease in the distribution of mangrove forests,and their ecological function has gradually degenerated since the Holocene.Sediment from coastal mangrove wetlands can provide records of climate change and human activities,and multiple proxies including palynology,leaf fossil,biomarkers,DNA,phytolith and stable isotopes,can be used to reconstruct the evolutionary stages of paleo-mangroves and to identify the effect of natural processes and human activities on the distribution and evolution of mangroves.This information can provide theoretical support for mangrove protection and for improving carbon sequestration capacity.This paper summarizes and compares the multiple proxies for mangrove reconstruction,reviews progress in the study of natural succession of global mangroves since the Holocene,expands on the influence mechanisms of human activities on mangrove growth and development and uses past information to lay a foundation for a model to predict future mangrove development.展开更多
High-resolution sea-level data and high-precision dating of corals in the northern South China Sea(SCS)during the Holocene provide a reference and historical background for current and future sea-level changes and a b...High-resolution sea-level data and high-precision dating of corals in the northern South China Sea(SCS)during the Holocene provide a reference and historical background for current and future sea-level changes and a basis for scientific assessment of the evolutionary trend of coral reefs in the SCS.Although sporadic studies have been performed around Hainan Island in the northern SCS,the reconstructed sea level presents different values or is controversial because the indicative meaning of the sea-level indicators were neither quantified nor uniform criteria.Here,we determined the quantitative relationship between modern living coral and sea level by measuring the top surfaces of 27 live Porites corals from the inner reef flat along the east coast of Hainan Island and assessed the accuracy of results obtained using coral as sea-level indicators.Additionally,three in situ fossil Porites corals were analyzed based on elevation measurements,digital X-ray radiography,and U-Th dating.The survey results showed that the indicative meanings for the modern live Porites corals is(146.09±8.35)cm below the mean tide level(MTL).It suggested that their upward growth limit is constrained by the sea level,and the lowest low water is the highest level of survival for the modern live Porites corals.Based on the newly defined indicative meanings,6 new sea-level index points(SLIPs)were obtained and 19 published SLIPs were recalculated.Those SLIPs indicated a relative sea level fluctuation between(227.7±9.8)cm to(154.88±9.8)cm MTL between(5393±25)cal a BP and(3390±12)cal a BP,providing evidences of the Mid-Holocene sea-level highstand in the northern SCS.Besides that,our analysis demonstrated that different sea-level histories may be produced based on different indicative meanings or criteria.The dataset of 276 coral U-Th ages indicates that coral reef development in the northern SCS comprised the initial development,boom growth,decline,and flourishing development again.A comparison with regional records indicated that synergistic effects of climatic and environmental factors were involved in the development of coral reefs in the northern SCS.Thus,the cessation of coral reef development during the Holocene in the northern SCS was probably associated with the dry and cold climate in South China,as reflected in the synchronous weakening of the ENSO and East Asian summer monsoon induced by the reduction of the 65°N summer insolation,which forced the migration of the Intertropical Convergence Zone.展开更多
The southern margin of the Gurbantunggut Desert,China,is characterized by alternating layers of aeolian and alluvial deposits.Investigating the characteristics of arenaceous sediment in this area is of significant imp...The southern margin of the Gurbantunggut Desert,China,is characterized by alternating layers of aeolian and alluvial deposits.Investigating the characteristics of arenaceous sediment in this area is of significant importance for understanding the interactive processes of wind and water forces,as well as the provenance of sediment.However,there are relatively few investigations on the characteristics of such sediment at present.In this study,we researched three aeolian-alluvial interactive stratigraphic profiles and different types of surface sediment on the desert-oasis transitional zone of southern margin of the Gurbantunggut Desert.Based on the optically stimulated luminescence(OSL)dating of aeolian sand and analyses of quartz sand grain size and surface micro-texture,we explored the aeolian-alluvial environmental change at southern margin of the desert in Holocene,as well as the provenance of sediment.The results indicated that the grain size characteristics of different types of sediment in the stratigraphic profiles were similar to those of modern dune sand,interdune sand,muddy desert surface soil,and riverbed sand.Their frequency curves were unimodal or bimodal,and cumulative probability curves were two-segment or three-segment,mainly composed of suspension load and saltation load.The quartz sand in the sediment at southern margin of the desert had undergone alternating transformation of various exogenic forces,with short transportation distance and time,and sedimentary environment was relatively humid.In Holocene,southern margin of the desert primarily featured braided river deposits,and during intermittent period of river activity,there were also aeolian deposits such as sand sheet deposits,stabilized dune deposits,and mobile dune deposits.The provenance for Holocene alluvial deposits at southern margin of the desert remains relatively constant,with the debris of the Tianshan Mountains being the primary provenance.Aeolian sand is mainly near-source recharge,which is formed by in situ deposition of fluvial or lacustrine materials in southern margin of the desert transported by wind erosion,and its provenance was still the weathered debris of the Tianshan Mountains.In addition,the sand in interior of the desert may be transported by northwest wind in desert-scale,thus affecting the development of dunes in southern margin of the desert.The results of this study provide a reference for understanding the composition and provenance changes of desert sand in the context of global climate change.展开更多
Ridges are common features found on continental shelves and understanding their formation processes is crucial for sedimentology,stratigraphy,and geological engineering.This study investigates the development of ridge...Ridges are common features found on continental shelves and understanding their formation processes is crucial for sedimentology,stratigraphy,and geological engineering.This study investigates the development of ridges on the broad shelf of the East China Sea using a core(DH03)and associated seismic profile.Lithology analysis of the core revealed a 50 m thick shallow sandy sequence which consisted mainly of silty fine sands with intercalations of mud beds composed of sand-mud couplets.Benthic foraminifera examination indicated the offshore species were dominant.The seismic profile indicated that the ridges were separated from the older delta layers due to a boundary formed by river erosion during the last glacial maximum.Radiocarbon dating of the sandy sequence revealed an irregular chronological sequence,with most age ranges falling within the past 3 ka.Based on the chronological data from DH03 and other cores,we propose that the ridges,which were formed during the early Holocene transgression,have been active on a shelf scale in the recent 3-2 ka.Synthetic analysis of the shelf-scale ridge formation processes indicates that the sea-level fluctuations during the mid-late Holocene sea-level highstand triggered the ridge activities.A center for ridge activity developed in the southern shelf,facilitated by thicker ridge deposits in the paleo-Changjiang River Estuary and stronger currents(tidal currents and possibly internal waves)induced by the remaining funnel-shaped estuary topography.Based on these findings,we propose a conceptual model for ridge development,which includes a ridge formation stage during the early Holocene transgression and a ridge activation stage during the mid-late Holocene sea-level highstand.展开更多
This research initiative, conducted along the coastal zones of Al Hamama and Susah in northeastern Libya, aimed to enhance our understanding of Holocene benthic foraminifera assemblages and the paleoenvironmental para...This research initiative, conducted along the coastal zones of Al Hamama and Susah in northeastern Libya, aimed to enhance our understanding of Holocene benthic foraminifera assemblages and the paleoenvironmental parameters in the region. We meticulously gathered five sediment samples to analyze the composition of foraminifera populations within the unconsolidated sedimentary deposits adjacent to these locations. We successfully identified nine distinct benthic foraminifera species, including Amphistegina lobifera, Eliphidium crispum, Sigmoilinita tenuis, Sorites orbiculus, Stomatorbina concentrica, Peneroplis planatus, Pseudotriloculina rotunda, Pyrgoella sphaera, and Triloculina schreberiana. Notably, Eliphidium crispum and Amphistegina lobifera emerged as the most prevalent species. These foraminifera species exhibited distinct ecological preferences, shedding light on paleoenvironmental conditions and climatic fluctuations during the Quaternary Period in the Susah and Al Hamama coastal regions. The presence of Orbulina universa, a planktonic foraminifera species, further enriched our understanding of the paleoenvironment by providing insights into specific water depths and temperature ranges. This research significantly contributes to paleoceanography and environmental reconstruction, highlighting the invaluable use of foraminifera as proxies for exploring past environmental changes. Additionally, the study investigated the impacts of anthropogenic influences on benthic ecosystems in the Al Hamama and Susah coastal areas. These influences included reworked foraminifera specimens and the effects of karst formations, acid rain, and eutrophication. Notably, human-induced factors have visibly affected biogenic fauna and ecosystem dynamics in the study area. Consequently, this research provides valuable insights into paleoenvironmental conditions and ecological dynamics within the Susah and Al Hamama coastal regions, emphasizing the crucial role of foraminifera in reconstructing historical environmental fluctuations.展开更多
According to the field survey and ^14C dating at Luhuitou, southern Hainan Island, a subsiding area, the authors conclude the high sea level history recorded by coral reef in the Holocene. At least 4 sea level high-st...According to the field survey and ^14C dating at Luhuitou, southern Hainan Island, a subsiding area, the authors conclude the high sea level history recorded by coral reef in the Holocene. At least 4 sea level high-stands can be identified from the distribution of coral reef ages： 7300 - 6000 cal.aBP, 4800 - 4700 cal.aBP, 4300 - 4200 cal.aBP and 3100 - 2900 cal.aBP. The highest sea level occurred around 7300 - 6700 cal.aBP, and biological-morphological zones took their shape during the stage. The later coral reefs developed in ponds, depressions, and developed outwards on both sides of Luhuitou peninsula. The modern coral reefs are developing in out reef flat and reef-front slope. Moreover, the time of high sea levels in the northern South China Sea recorded by coral reefs in the Luhuitou peninsula can link up with that in other parts of South China Sea. That means the high sea levels in the South China Sea during the Holocene, which are relative to the warming climate, have the global background.展开更多
Through the Pearl River Estuary Wan Qing-sha W2 core AMS 14^C dating of sediments, combining with paleomagnetic test, pollen analysis, and comprehensive comparison with other relevant records, the regional framework o...Through the Pearl River Estuary Wan Qing-sha W2 core AMS 14^C dating of sediments, combining with paleomagnetic test, pollen analysis, and comprehensive comparison with other relevant records, the regional framework of Holocene age was established. Using the combined feature grain size and magnetic susceptibility proxies for the environment, climate change information in the area since about 6 000 cal yr BP was obtained. The result showed the area since the middle Holocene had experienced three stages climate changes of warm and dry - cool and wet temperature and humidity South area of China in the late Holocene climate （especially rainfall） had important changes, corresponding to the Northern Hemisphere solar radiation reducing, air temperature decreasing, Asian monsoon weakening, and it had close ties with activities to strengthen El Nino - Southern Oscillation events.展开更多
Coastal dune rocks in China are eolian sands cemented by calcium carbonate under subaerial conditions, widely distributing on the tropical and subtropical coasts of South China. Particular temperature and precipitatio...Coastal dune rocks in China are eolian sands cemented by calcium carbonate under subaerial conditions, widely distributing on the tropical and subtropical coasts of South China. Particular temperature and precipitation as well as local wave and landform conditions are required for the formation of the dune rocks. A correspondence was found between Holocene environmental changes and coastal dune rock development by comparing the features of the sea-level and climate changes in the Holocene period with the ages, scales, and cementation of the dune rocks on the South China coasts. The findings provide well grounded explanation for some problems unresolved in the past researches on the coastal dune rock in South China： （1） There were no dune rocks with ages older than 6000 years in South China because the dune rocks formed before 6000 a BP were covered by the sea water that rose in the later period; （2） the dune rocks with ages of around 3000 a BP were widely found in South China today because the coastal dunes were cumulated on a large scale at that time as a result of temperature falling after the end of Megathermal; （3） Medieval Warm Period was the main period for the eolian dunes to be cemented into the coastal dune rocks in South China; （4） lack of dune rocks of younger than 1000 a BP was accounted for by that the climate conditions in recent one thousand years were not suitable for the cementation.展开更多
Based on the stratigraphic sequence formed since the last glaciation and revealed by 3000 km long high-resolution shallow seismic profiles and the core QDZ03 acquired recently off the southern Shandong Peninsula, we a...Based on the stratigraphic sequence formed since the last glaciation and revealed by 3000 km long high-resolution shallow seismic profiles and the core QDZ03 acquired recently off the southern Shandong Peninsula, we addressed the sedimentary characteristics of a Holocene subaqueous clinoform in this paper. Integrated analyses were made on the core QDZ03, including sedimentary facies, sediment grain sizes, clay minerals, geochemistry, micro paleontology, and AMS 14 C dating. The result indicates that there exists a Holocene subaqueous clinoform, whose bottom boundary generally lies at 15–40 m below the present sea level with its depth contours roughly parallel to the coast and getting deeper seawards. The maximum thickness of the clinoform is up to 22.5 m on the coast side, and the thickness contours generally spread in a banded way along the coastline and becomes thinner towards the sea. At the mouths of some bays along the coast, the clinoform stretches in the shape of a fan and its thickness is evidently larger than that of the surrounding sediments. This clinoform came into being in the early Holocene(about 11.2 cal kyr BP) and can be divided into the lower and upper depositional units(DU 2 and DU 1, respectively). The unit DU 2, being usually less than 3 m in thickness and formed under a low sedimentation rate, is located between the bottom boundary and the Holocene maximum flooding surface(MFS), and represents the sediment of a post-glacial transgressive systems tract; whereas the unit DU 1, the main body of the clinoform, sits on the MFS, belonging to the sediment of a highstand systems tract from middle Holocene(about 7–6 cal kyr BP) to the present. The provenance of the clinoform differs from that of the typical sediments of the Yellow River and can be considered as the results of the joint contribution from both the Yellow River and the proximal coastal sediments of the Shandong Peninsula, as evidenced by the sediment geochemistry of the core. As is controlled mainly by coactions of multiple factors such as the Holocene sea-level changes, sediment supplies and coastal dynamic conditions, the development of the clinoform is genetically related with the synchronous clinoform or subaqueous deltas around the northeastern Shandong Peninsula and in the northern South Yellow Sea in the spatial distribution and sediment provenance, as previously reported, with all of them being formed from the initial stage of the Holocene up to the present.展开更多
The goal of this research study is to describe academic issues which have been debated in the field of Chinese geosciences for a century. In 1922, Jonquei S. Lee(Li Siguang) discovered Quaternary glacial relics at Tai...The goal of this research study is to describe academic issues which have been debated in the field of Chinese geosciences for a century. In 1922, Jonquei S. Lee(Li Siguang) discovered Quaternary glacial relics at Taihang Mountainin eastern China. In 1947, he published his research findings in the magazine Mount Lushan in Glacial Age. The research results had established three Ice Ages: Poyang(Gonzi), Dagu(Minde), and Lushan(Lisi). However, at that time, no Wurm glacial relics of the last Ice Age had been found in Lushan Mountain. Since then, the research team represented by Shi Yafeng, who is considered to be "the father of glaciers in China", questioned Jonquei S. Lee’s research results and concluded that "Professor Jonquei S. Lee’s Quaternary glacier research in Lushan Mountain having misread the debris flow". In 2005, the "middle-low mountains" in eastern China were finally defined as follows: "We clearly and unambiguously believe that there were no glacial activities in the middle-low mountainous areas of eastern China(east of 102° to 104°E;below 3,000 and 2,500 m) during the Quaternary Period". Currently, the long-standing academic debate appears to have come to a conclusion. As of 2015, the author and others began to investigate and study the Quaternary glacial relics in Mengshan Mountain(1,156 m above sea level), Shandong Province, one of the "middle-low mountains" of eastern China. The relics have been observed to posses the systematic features of glacial erosion, trough and valley striations, and moraine deposits. The applied dating method shave confirmed that there were not only glacial relics of the last Ice Age(Wurm), but also Holocene glacial relics in the Mengshan Mountain area. Therefore, in order to further establish the corresponding relationship between the glacier, loess, stream sediment series, and MIS in the Mengshan Mountain area, a large number of chronological studies have been carried out regarding the various types of sediments in the area, and 24 dating datahave been obtained using OSL, CRN, and 14 Cmethods.On this basis, the corresponding relationship between the sedimentary sequences and the MIS was established for the first time in eastern China, which in dicates the environmental changes which had occurred in eastern China since 80 ka. These discoveries s and chronological study results confirm the existence of the Last Ice Age, as well as Holocene glacial relics at Mengshan Mountain, there by confirming that Quaternary glaciation had occurred in the middle-low mountain areas of eastern China.展开更多
The components of the primary elements in the dune sands for the MGS1 subsection of the Milanggouwan section in the Salawusu River valley, compared with those of modern dune sands, show that they were caused by East A...The components of the primary elements in the dune sands for the MGS1 subsection of the Milanggouwan section in the Salawusu River valley, compared with those of modern dune sands, show that they were caused by East Asian winter monsoon in the Mu Us desert during Holocene. The examined ages for the 11 layers of dune sands, based on the average sedimentary rate, are： 0 to 960, 1350-2240, 2470 to 3530, 4000 to 4180, 4290 to 4350, 4380 to 4760, 5040 to 5920, 6570 to 8270, 9020 to 9700, 9880 to 10160 and 10580 to 11080 a BP, respectively. The climatic events indicated by these dune sands are consistent with those records in the Huguangyan volcanic lake, Zoige peat bog, Hulu cave and Dunde ice core, particularly with the climatic fluctuations of the North Atlantic since 11 000 a BP. Among them, patterns from B0 to B8 correspond to the peak values of 0MD, 2D, 4D, 6D＋8D＋10D, 12D, 14D, 16D, 18D and 20D respectively. It might be caused by the North Atlantic ice age induced by the heat circulation, which strengthened the polar high pressure and Siberian-Mongolian high pressure and further led to the dominance of the winter monsoon over China＇s desert area.展开更多
The upmost segment （Holocene series） of the Milanggouwan stratigraphic section （MGS 1） in the Salawusu River valley shows 11 sedimentary cycles of dune sands and fluvio-lacustrine facies, or dune sands and paleoso...The upmost segment （Holocene series） of the Milanggouwan stratigraphic section （MGS 1） in the Salawusu River valley shows 11 sedimentary cycles of dune sands and fluvio-lacustrine facies, or dune sands and paleosols. The analysis of the magnetic susceptibility of this segment suggests that there are 11 magnetic susceptibility cycles with the value alternating from low to high, in which the layers of the dune sands correspond to the lower value of the magnetic susceptibility and the layers of fluvio-lacustrine facies and paleosols correspond to the higher peaks. The study reveals that the low and high magnetic susceptibility values indicate the climate dominated by cold-arid winter monsoon and warm-humid summer monsoon of East Asia, respectively, and the study area has experienced at least 22 times of milleunial-centennial scales climate alternation from the cold-arid to the warm-humid during the Holocene. In terms of the time and the climate nature, the variations basically correspond to those of the North Atlantic and some records of cold-warm changes in China as well. They might be caused by the alternation of winter and summer monsoons in the Mu Us Desert induced by global climate fluctuations in the Holocene.展开更多
文摘A new cranium and two mandibles of Ailuropoda melanoleuca from Xiangxi,Hunan Province are described here.The materials were discovered in a karst cave on the Bamian Mountain at an altitude of 1200 m,with AMC carbon-fourteen isotope dating indicating an age of 2800±30 BP.Historically,the giant panda was widely distributed in southern China and parts of Southeast Asia during the Pleistocene epoch,but it is now confined and isolated to six mountain ranges in southwest China’s Sichuan,Shaanxi,and Gansu provinces.The subfossil materials reported here represent the first discovery of the living species of giant panda in Xiangxi,Hunan.This extends their geographical distribution in southern China during the Holocene epoch eastward to the eastern edge of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and their recent altitude range down to 1200 m.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.42201170Young Elite Scientists Sponsorship Program by CAST,No.2022QNRC001。
文摘Arid West Asia(AWA)is a critical hub of the Silk Road and one of the primary dust source regions in the Northern Hemisphere.Dust storms in AWA emitting substantial dust particles into the atmosphere,significantly influencing air quality,climate change and marine productivity.However,the variability of dust storm activity in this region during the Holocene,particularly its links to vegetation and hydroclimatic changes,remains debated,hindering our understanding of the interconnected dynamics between climate change and surface environments.This study reconstructs dust storm variations in AWA over the past 9000 years using geochemical analyses(trace elements,Sr-Nd isotopes)from a well-dated,high-resolution sediment core from the Almalou Peatland,located on the western Iranian Plateau.Our results reveal a decline in dust storm frequency from the early to mid-Holocene,a minimum occurrence during the mid-Holocene,and a significant increase in the late Holocene.Provenance analysis indicates that the primary dust sources were the arid regions of Mesopotamia,located upwind of the study area.A comparison with proxy records and paleoclimate models suggests an inverse relationship between dust storm activity and regional hydroclimatic and vegetation changes,along with a positive correlation with wind speeds.The concentration of dust storms during the wetter month of May highlights wind speed as a more critical driving factor.Moreover,given the dominant influence of the subtropical high on hydroclimatic conditions and wind speeds in AWA,we propose that this system is the key regulator of regional dust storm dynamics.Our findings provide new insights into the drivers of dust storm activity in AWA and hold implications for developing targeted dust storm management strategies.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.42261144670,423B2103)。
文摘0 INTRODUCTION.The Asian drylands,encompassing the northern East Asian monsoon region(NMA),the westerlies-dominated arid central Asia(ACA)and arid west Asia(AWA),are ecologically fragile areas and among the most sensitive regions to global change.These regions are significant dust sources of the Northern Hemisphere(e.g.,Uno et al.,2009),playing a vital role in global climate change and marine biogeochemical cycles.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.41401059)Science and Technology Plan Project of Qinghai Province(2022-ZJ-732)West Light Foundation of Chinese Academy of Sciences(No.Y510091019)。
文摘High-resolution,continuous Late Holocene lacustrine records are scarce in the Qaidam Basin,but is of especially important for our understanding the future climate variability in the western China.Here,we use grain size,element content and XRD-identified data from the Lake Hurleg in the eastern Qaidam Basin to present the Late Holocene climate variability,which have been temporally constrained using 210Pb-,137Cs-and AMS 14C dating.Our records demonstrate that decreased precipitation climate occurred at~800–1000 yr and~1300–1800 yr intervals,and increased precipitation occurred at~354–800 yr,~1000–1300 yr and~1800 yr to the present.The results show that the Qaidam Basin has undergone a process of warming and humidification since the Industrial Revolution,which is consistent with the meteorological records.The climate in the northeastern Qaidam Basin is dominated by the Asian Monsoon.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant NO.2022YFF0801501)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant NOs.42171157,41907379,and 42101146)+2 种基金Postgraduate Research & Practice Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province (SJCX25_2041)Large Instruments Open Foundation of Nantong University (KFJN2474)Jiangsu Province College Students Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program (Grant NOs.S202510304190 and S202510304188)。
文摘Investigating the timing and features of climate transitions in East Asia during the Holocene, via the sensitive response of ecosystems on the East Asian Summer Monsoon(EASM) boundary, is crucial for understanding the underlying mechanisms that drive these transitions. This study presents highresolution palynological sequences for the period 6800–900 cal a B.P. from peat cores retrieved from the Arxan region in the Greater Khingan Range, northeast China. The lithological changes in the cores show that peat deposition began at 6430 cal a B.P. Regional vegetation was dominated by forest steppes, with Artemisia prevailing the vegetation landscape. Variations in Artemisia/Chenopodiaceae(A/C) pollen ratios, Principal Component Analysis(PCA) results, and charcoal concentration derived from the pollen data suggest that regional moisture availability increased from 6800 to 4200 cal a B.P., thereafter experiencing a marked decline. These changes in moisture availability causes fluctuations in the water table of the Arxan marshes, resulting in the expansion and reduction of the marshland, as demonstrated by swamp and aquatic palynomorphs, however did not disrupt subsequent peat deposition. In addition to the forcing of low-latitude summer insolation, the climate transition in northeast China around 4200 cal a B.P. aligns with a notable increase in sea ice in the western Okhotsk Sea during the late Holocene, which probably resulted in a reduction of EASM precipitation over the region. Our study offers new insights into the vegetation response observed in montane marshlands on the EASM boundary to climate transitions during the mid-late Holocene period.
基金supported by the Opening Foundation of the Key Laboratory of Submarine Geosciences and Pro-specting Techniques,MOE,Ocean University of China(No.SGPT-2023OF-04)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(Nos.202172002,202172003)the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Pro-vince(No.ZR2023MD029)。
文摘Palaeoceanographic and palaeoclimatic reconstructions,particularly on the spatial and temporal evolution across different regions,can offer valuable insights into global changes.At present,abundant data recorded in sediments indicate a phase asynchrony from land to sea during the Holocene.This has raised great debate about the forcing mechanisms of paleoclimatic evolution.In this study,we reconstructed sea surface temperature and salinity during the Holocene from the northern South China Sea(SCS)by the Mg/Ca ratios andδ^(18)O values of Globigerinoides ruber sensu stricto(s.s.)in the core SH-CL38.By comparing the results with records from other cores in the SCS,it indicates that during the Holocene,the climatic changes in the SCS are mainly influenced by the East Asian summer monsoon driven by Northern Hemisphere summer insolation.The lower salinity in the early Holocene com-pared to the mid-late Holocene is mainly controlled by palaeogeographic changes in the SCS Basin related to sea level.The fitted sea surface temperature anomaly results from the northern and southern SCS show that the climate evolution in the entire SCS during the early Holocene was asynchronous.The multi-year mean air mass backward trajectory results indicate that the northern SCS is signifi-cantly influenced by moisture originating from the tropical western Pacific,while the southern SCS exhibits notable local or regional contributions.Therefore,the differences in the composition of moisture contributions caused by changes in the strength and path of the summer monsoon may be a factor driving the different spatial climate patterns in the SCS.
基金supported by the NSFC-INSF Joint Research Project(No.42261144670)the National Key R&D Program of China(No.2018YFA0606401)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(No.2021M703315)。
文摘0 INTRODUCTION.The intensification of global warming is generating increasing risks to human society and sustainable development,which are of growing concern to the international scientific community and policymakers(Sun,2023).The ecosystems of the Asian drylands are fragile and highly sensitive to global changes;moreover,while these drylands are the most important areas of oasis agriculture on Earth,their water resources are being adversely impacted by ongoing climate change(Zhang et al.,2023).Hence,an improved understanding of the patterns of climate change in this region is important and attracting increasing research attention.
基金Supported by the Youth Fund of National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.41806109)the project of China Geological Survey(Nos.DD20230091,DD20211301)。
文摘A total of 98 samples from two boreholes in shallow sea area and two oyster reefs in adjacent coastal plain in the northwestern coast of Bohai Bay were collected for diatom analyses and species identification.The ratio of the marine species Thalassionema nitzschioides to the intertidal-coastal species complex Cyclotella striata/stylorum serves as a novel proxy for assessing the strength of marine influence.Chronological data,corrected for the local residence time effect,facilitated the construction of a diatom proxy-based marine influence curve for the study area.This curve delineates the dynamics of marine influence and their correlations with paleo-climate fluctuations and the East Asian monsoon variability,as well as their role in chenier formation.Results include:(1)eight periods of intensified marine influence have been documented since 7000 a BP in the study area.The peak of each period,as determined by the diatom proxy,corresponds closely to the warm climatic phases and stronger East Asian summer monsoons,suggesting that the peaks marine influence indicate typically the periods of climatic warmth and monsoon activity intensification in the region;(2)a strong correlation exists between the development of cheniers and marine influence,and chenier formation began with the increasing marine influence and terminated at the end of warm periods as marine influence weakens.The climatic changes in the coastal area,as indicated by the diatom proxy,hold significant potential for future related research endeavors.
基金financially supported by the Geological Survey Project of China Geological Survey(No.DD20190304)。
文摘Mangrove wetlands are among the four most productive tropical and subtropical ecosystems.They are also a core component of the coastal blue carbon ecosystem,which is of great ecological significance to human beings,plants,animals,and the global carbon balance.There has been a global decrease in the distribution of mangrove forests,and their ecological function has gradually degenerated since the Holocene.Sediment from coastal mangrove wetlands can provide records of climate change and human activities,and multiple proxies including palynology,leaf fossil,biomarkers,DNA,phytolith and stable isotopes,can be used to reconstruct the evolutionary stages of paleo-mangroves and to identify the effect of natural processes and human activities on the distribution and evolution of mangroves.This information can provide theoretical support for mangrove protection and for improving carbon sequestration capacity.This paper summarizes and compares the multiple proxies for mangrove reconstruction,reviews progress in the study of natural succession of global mangroves since the Holocene,expands on the influence mechanisms of human activities on mangrove growth and development and uses past information to lay a foundation for a model to predict future mangrove development.
基金The National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract Nos 42366002 and 41702182the National Key R&D Program of China under contract No.2017YFA0603300the Guangxi Scientific Projects under contract No.2018GXNSFAA281293。
文摘High-resolution sea-level data and high-precision dating of corals in the northern South China Sea(SCS)during the Holocene provide a reference and historical background for current and future sea-level changes and a basis for scientific assessment of the evolutionary trend of coral reefs in the SCS.Although sporadic studies have been performed around Hainan Island in the northern SCS,the reconstructed sea level presents different values or is controversial because the indicative meaning of the sea-level indicators were neither quantified nor uniform criteria.Here,we determined the quantitative relationship between modern living coral and sea level by measuring the top surfaces of 27 live Porites corals from the inner reef flat along the east coast of Hainan Island and assessed the accuracy of results obtained using coral as sea-level indicators.Additionally,three in situ fossil Porites corals were analyzed based on elevation measurements,digital X-ray radiography,and U-Th dating.The survey results showed that the indicative meanings for the modern live Porites corals is(146.09±8.35)cm below the mean tide level(MTL).It suggested that their upward growth limit is constrained by the sea level,and the lowest low water is the highest level of survival for the modern live Porites corals.Based on the newly defined indicative meanings,6 new sea-level index points(SLIPs)were obtained and 19 published SLIPs were recalculated.Those SLIPs indicated a relative sea level fluctuation between(227.7±9.8)cm to(154.88±9.8)cm MTL between(5393±25)cal a BP and(3390±12)cal a BP,providing evidences of the Mid-Holocene sea-level highstand in the northern SCS.Besides that,our analysis demonstrated that different sea-level histories may be produced based on different indicative meanings or criteria.The dataset of 276 coral U-Th ages indicates that coral reef development in the northern SCS comprised the initial development,boom growth,decline,and flourishing development again.A comparison with regional records indicated that synergistic effects of climatic and environmental factors were involved in the development of coral reefs in the northern SCS.Thus,the cessation of coral reef development during the Holocene in the northern SCS was probably associated with the dry and cold climate in South China,as reflected in the synchronous weakening of the ENSO and East Asian summer monsoon induced by the reduction of the 65°N summer insolation,which forced the migration of the Intertropical Convergence Zone.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(42071011)the 2023 Annual Postgraduate Research and Innovation Foundation of Fujian Normal University,China.
文摘The southern margin of the Gurbantunggut Desert,China,is characterized by alternating layers of aeolian and alluvial deposits.Investigating the characteristics of arenaceous sediment in this area is of significant importance for understanding the interactive processes of wind and water forces,as well as the provenance of sediment.However,there are relatively few investigations on the characteristics of such sediment at present.In this study,we researched three aeolian-alluvial interactive stratigraphic profiles and different types of surface sediment on the desert-oasis transitional zone of southern margin of the Gurbantunggut Desert.Based on the optically stimulated luminescence(OSL)dating of aeolian sand and analyses of quartz sand grain size and surface micro-texture,we explored the aeolian-alluvial environmental change at southern margin of the desert in Holocene,as well as the provenance of sediment.The results indicated that the grain size characteristics of different types of sediment in the stratigraphic profiles were similar to those of modern dune sand,interdune sand,muddy desert surface soil,and riverbed sand.Their frequency curves were unimodal or bimodal,and cumulative probability curves were two-segment or three-segment,mainly composed of suspension load and saltation load.The quartz sand in the sediment at southern margin of the desert had undergone alternating transformation of various exogenic forces,with short transportation distance and time,and sedimentary environment was relatively humid.In Holocene,southern margin of the desert primarily featured braided river deposits,and during intermittent period of river activity,there were also aeolian deposits such as sand sheet deposits,stabilized dune deposits,and mobile dune deposits.The provenance for Holocene alluvial deposits at southern margin of the desert remains relatively constant,with the debris of the Tianshan Mountains being the primary provenance.Aeolian sand is mainly near-source recharge,which is formed by in situ deposition of fluvial or lacustrine materials in southern margin of the desert transported by wind erosion,and its provenance was still the weathered debris of the Tianshan Mountains.In addition,the sand in interior of the desert may be transported by northwest wind in desert-scale,thus affecting the development of dunes in southern margin of the desert.The results of this study provide a reference for understanding the composition and provenance changes of desert sand in the context of global climate change.
基金The National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract No.T2192951the Basic Scientific Fund for National Public Research Institutes of China under contract Nos 2021Q09 and 2021S01。
文摘Ridges are common features found on continental shelves and understanding their formation processes is crucial for sedimentology,stratigraphy,and geological engineering.This study investigates the development of ridges on the broad shelf of the East China Sea using a core(DH03)and associated seismic profile.Lithology analysis of the core revealed a 50 m thick shallow sandy sequence which consisted mainly of silty fine sands with intercalations of mud beds composed of sand-mud couplets.Benthic foraminifera examination indicated the offshore species were dominant.The seismic profile indicated that the ridges were separated from the older delta layers due to a boundary formed by river erosion during the last glacial maximum.Radiocarbon dating of the sandy sequence revealed an irregular chronological sequence,with most age ranges falling within the past 3 ka.Based on the chronological data from DH03 and other cores,we propose that the ridges,which were formed during the early Holocene transgression,have been active on a shelf scale in the recent 3-2 ka.Synthetic analysis of the shelf-scale ridge formation processes indicates that the sea-level fluctuations during the mid-late Holocene sea-level highstand triggered the ridge activities.A center for ridge activity developed in the southern shelf,facilitated by thicker ridge deposits in the paleo-Changjiang River Estuary and stronger currents(tidal currents and possibly internal waves)induced by the remaining funnel-shaped estuary topography.Based on these findings,we propose a conceptual model for ridge development,which includes a ridge formation stage during the early Holocene transgression and a ridge activation stage during the mid-late Holocene sea-level highstand.
文摘This research initiative, conducted along the coastal zones of Al Hamama and Susah in northeastern Libya, aimed to enhance our understanding of Holocene benthic foraminifera assemblages and the paleoenvironmental parameters in the region. We meticulously gathered five sediment samples to analyze the composition of foraminifera populations within the unconsolidated sedimentary deposits adjacent to these locations. We successfully identified nine distinct benthic foraminifera species, including Amphistegina lobifera, Eliphidium crispum, Sigmoilinita tenuis, Sorites orbiculus, Stomatorbina concentrica, Peneroplis planatus, Pseudotriloculina rotunda, Pyrgoella sphaera, and Triloculina schreberiana. Notably, Eliphidium crispum and Amphistegina lobifera emerged as the most prevalent species. These foraminifera species exhibited distinct ecological preferences, shedding light on paleoenvironmental conditions and climatic fluctuations during the Quaternary Period in the Susah and Al Hamama coastal regions. The presence of Orbulina universa, a planktonic foraminifera species, further enriched our understanding of the paleoenvironment by providing insights into specific water depths and temperature ranges. This research significantly contributes to paleoceanography and environmental reconstruction, highlighting the invaluable use of foraminifera as proxies for exploring past environmental changes. Additionally, the study investigated the impacts of anthropogenic influences on benthic ecosystems in the Al Hamama and Susah coastal areas. These influences included reworked foraminifera specimens and the effects of karst formations, acid rain, and eutrophication. Notably, human-induced factors have visibly affected biogenic fauna and ecosystem dynamics in the study area. Consequently, this research provides valuable insights into paleoenvironmental conditions and ecological dynamics within the Susah and Al Hamama coastal regions, emphasizing the crucial role of foraminifera in reconstructing historical environmental fluctuations.
基金We gratefully acknowledge the financial supports from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.49976015).
文摘According to the field survey and ^14C dating at Luhuitou, southern Hainan Island, a subsiding area, the authors conclude the high sea level history recorded by coral reef in the Holocene. At least 4 sea level high-stands can be identified from the distribution of coral reef ages： 7300 - 6000 cal.aBP, 4800 - 4700 cal.aBP, 4300 - 4200 cal.aBP and 3100 - 2900 cal.aBP. The highest sea level occurred around 7300 - 6700 cal.aBP, and biological-morphological zones took their shape during the stage. The later coral reefs developed in ponds, depressions, and developed outwards on both sides of Luhuitou peninsula. The modern coral reefs are developing in out reef flat and reef-front slope. Moreover, the time of high sea levels in the northern South China Sea recorded by coral reefs in the Luhuitou peninsula can link up with that in other parts of South China Sea. That means the high sea levels in the South China Sea during the Holocene, which are relative to the warming climate, have the global background.
文摘Through the Pearl River Estuary Wan Qing-sha W2 core AMS 14^C dating of sediments, combining with paleomagnetic test, pollen analysis, and comprehensive comparison with other relevant records, the regional framework of Holocene age was established. Using the combined feature grain size and magnetic susceptibility proxies for the environment, climate change information in the area since about 6 000 cal yr BP was obtained. The result showed the area since the middle Holocene had experienced three stages climate changes of warm and dry - cool and wet temperature and humidity South area of China in the late Holocene climate （especially rainfall） had important changes, corresponding to the Northern Hemisphere solar radiation reducing, air temperature decreasing, Asian monsoon weakening, and it had close ties with activities to strengthen El Nino - Southern Oscillation events.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China, No.40871020 Guangdong Natural Science Foundation, No.7005836
文摘Coastal dune rocks in China are eolian sands cemented by calcium carbonate under subaerial conditions, widely distributing on the tropical and subtropical coasts of South China. Particular temperature and precipitation as well as local wave and landform conditions are required for the formation of the dune rocks. A correspondence was found between Holocene environmental changes and coastal dune rock development by comparing the features of the sea-level and climate changes in the Holocene period with the ages, scales, and cementation of the dune rocks on the South China coasts. The findings provide well grounded explanation for some problems unresolved in the past researches on the coastal dune rock in South China： （1） There were no dune rocks with ages older than 6000 years in South China because the dune rocks formed before 6000 a BP were covered by the sea water that rose in the later period; （2） the dune rocks with ages of around 3000 a BP were widely found in South China today because the coastal dunes were cumulated on a large scale at that time as a result of temperature falling after the end of Megathermal; （3） Medieval Warm Period was the main period for the eolian dunes to be cemented into the coastal dune rocks in South China; （4） lack of dune rocks of younger than 1000 a BP was accounted for by that the climate conditions in recent one thousand years were not suitable for the cementation.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 41306063 and 41330964)by the China Geological Survey (Nos. GZH200900501 and GZH201100203)
文摘Based on the stratigraphic sequence formed since the last glaciation and revealed by 3000 km long high-resolution shallow seismic profiles and the core QDZ03 acquired recently off the southern Shandong Peninsula, we addressed the sedimentary characteristics of a Holocene subaqueous clinoform in this paper. Integrated analyses were made on the core QDZ03, including sedimentary facies, sediment grain sizes, clay minerals, geochemistry, micro paleontology, and AMS 14 C dating. The result indicates that there exists a Holocene subaqueous clinoform, whose bottom boundary generally lies at 15–40 m below the present sea level with its depth contours roughly parallel to the coast and getting deeper seawards. The maximum thickness of the clinoform is up to 22.5 m on the coast side, and the thickness contours generally spread in a banded way along the coastline and becomes thinner towards the sea. At the mouths of some bays along the coast, the clinoform stretches in the shape of a fan and its thickness is evidently larger than that of the surrounding sediments. This clinoform came into being in the early Holocene(about 11.2 cal kyr BP) and can be divided into the lower and upper depositional units(DU 2 and DU 1, respectively). The unit DU 2, being usually less than 3 m in thickness and formed under a low sedimentation rate, is located between the bottom boundary and the Holocene maximum flooding surface(MFS), and represents the sediment of a post-glacial transgressive systems tract; whereas the unit DU 1, the main body of the clinoform, sits on the MFS, belonging to the sediment of a highstand systems tract from middle Holocene(about 7–6 cal kyr BP) to the present. The provenance of the clinoform differs from that of the typical sediments of the Yellow River and can be considered as the results of the joint contribution from both the Yellow River and the proximal coastal sediments of the Shandong Peninsula, as evidenced by the sediment geochemistry of the core. As is controlled mainly by coactions of multiple factors such as the Holocene sea-level changes, sediment supplies and coastal dynamic conditions, the development of the clinoform is genetically related with the synchronous clinoform or subaqueous deltas around the northeastern Shandong Peninsula and in the northern South Yellow Sea in the spatial distribution and sediment provenance, as previously reported, with all of them being formed from the initial stage of the Holocene up to the present.
文摘The goal of this research study is to describe academic issues which have been debated in the field of Chinese geosciences for a century. In 1922, Jonquei S. Lee(Li Siguang) discovered Quaternary glacial relics at Taihang Mountainin eastern China. In 1947, he published his research findings in the magazine Mount Lushan in Glacial Age. The research results had established three Ice Ages: Poyang(Gonzi), Dagu(Minde), and Lushan(Lisi). However, at that time, no Wurm glacial relics of the last Ice Age had been found in Lushan Mountain. Since then, the research team represented by Shi Yafeng, who is considered to be "the father of glaciers in China", questioned Jonquei S. Lee’s research results and concluded that "Professor Jonquei S. Lee’s Quaternary glacier research in Lushan Mountain having misread the debris flow". In 2005, the "middle-low mountains" in eastern China were finally defined as follows: "We clearly and unambiguously believe that there were no glacial activities in the middle-low mountainous areas of eastern China(east of 102° to 104°E;below 3,000 and 2,500 m) during the Quaternary Period". Currently, the long-standing academic debate appears to have come to a conclusion. As of 2015, the author and others began to investigate and study the Quaternary glacial relics in Mengshan Mountain(1,156 m above sea level), Shandong Province, one of the "middle-low mountains" of eastern China. The relics have been observed to posses the systematic features of glacial erosion, trough and valley striations, and moraine deposits. The applied dating method shave confirmed that there were not only glacial relics of the last Ice Age(Wurm), but also Holocene glacial relics in the Mengshan Mountain area. Therefore, in order to further establish the corresponding relationship between the glacier, loess, stream sediment series, and MIS in the Mengshan Mountain area, a large number of chronological studies have been carried out regarding the various types of sediments in the area, and 24 dating datahave been obtained using OSL, CRN, and 14 Cmethods.On this basis, the corresponding relationship between the sedimentary sequences and the MIS was established for the first time in eastern China, which in dicates the environmental changes which had occurred in eastern China since 80 ka. These discoveries s and chronological study results confirm the existence of the Last Ice Age, as well as Holocene glacial relics at Mengshan Mountain, there by confirming that Quaternary glaciation had occurred in the middle-low mountain areas of eastern China.
基金National Basic Research Program of China, No.2004CB720206 National Natural Science Foundation of China, No.40772118+1 种基金 No.49971009 Knowledge Innovation Project of CAS, No.KZCX2-SW-118
文摘The components of the primary elements in the dune sands for the MGS1 subsection of the Milanggouwan section in the Salawusu River valley, compared with those of modern dune sands, show that they were caused by East Asian winter monsoon in the Mu Us desert during Holocene. The examined ages for the 11 layers of dune sands, based on the average sedimentary rate, are： 0 to 960, 1350-2240, 2470 to 3530, 4000 to 4180, 4290 to 4350, 4380 to 4760, 5040 to 5920, 6570 to 8270, 9020 to 9700, 9880 to 10160 and 10580 to 11080 a BP, respectively. The climatic events indicated by these dune sands are consistent with those records in the Huguangyan volcanic lake, Zoige peat bog, Hulu cave and Dunde ice core, particularly with the climatic fluctuations of the North Atlantic since 11 000 a BP. Among them, patterns from B0 to B8 correspond to the peak values of 0MD, 2D, 4D, 6D＋8D＋10D, 12D, 14D, 16D, 18D and 20D respectively. It might be caused by the North Atlantic ice age induced by the heat circulation, which strengthened the polar high pressure and Siberian-Mongolian high pressure and further led to the dominance of the winter monsoon over China＇s desert area.
基金Under the auspices of National Basic Research Program of China (No. 2010CB833405)National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 40772118, 49971009)
文摘The upmost segment （Holocene series） of the Milanggouwan stratigraphic section （MGS 1） in the Salawusu River valley shows 11 sedimentary cycles of dune sands and fluvio-lacustrine facies, or dune sands and paleosols. The analysis of the magnetic susceptibility of this segment suggests that there are 11 magnetic susceptibility cycles with the value alternating from low to high, in which the layers of the dune sands correspond to the lower value of the magnetic susceptibility and the layers of fluvio-lacustrine facies and paleosols correspond to the higher peaks. The study reveals that the low and high magnetic susceptibility values indicate the climate dominated by cold-arid winter monsoon and warm-humid summer monsoon of East Asia, respectively, and the study area has experienced at least 22 times of milleunial-centennial scales climate alternation from the cold-arid to the warm-humid during the Holocene. In terms of the time and the climate nature, the variations basically correspond to those of the North Atlantic and some records of cold-warm changes in China as well. They might be caused by the alternation of winter and summer monsoons in the Mu Us Desert induced by global climate fluctuations in the Holocene.
