Grain size and surface micro-texture characteristics and their paleoenvironmental significance of Holocene sediment in southern margin of the Gurbantunggut Desert,China

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.

Coral records of Mid-Holocene sea-level highstands and climate responses in the northern South China Sea

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.

Diversity, Ecology, and Environmental Significance of Foraminifera in Al Hamama and Susah Coastal Regions, Northeastern Libya: Insights from Holocene Sediments

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.

Late Holocene glacier variations indicated by theδ18O of ice core enclosed gaseous oxygen in the central Tibetan Plateau

Theδ18O of ice core enclosed gaseous oxygen(δ18Obub)has been widely used for climate reconstruction in polar regions.Yet,less is known about its climatic implication in the mountainous glaciers as the lack of continuous record.Here,we present a long-term,continuousδ18Obub record from the Tanggula glacier in the central Tibetan Plateau(TP).Based on comparisons of its variation with regional climate and glacier changes,we found that there was a good correlation between the variation of theδ18Obub in this alpine ice core and the accumulation and melting of this glacier.The more developed the firn layer on glacier surface,the more positive theδ18Obub.Conversely,the more intense the glacier melting,the more negative theδ18Obub.Combined with the chronology of ice core enclosed gases,the glacier variations since the late Holocene in the central TP were reconstructed.The result showed that there were four accumulation and three deficit periods of glaciers in this region.The strongest glacier accumulation period was 1610-300 B.C.,which corresponds to the Neoglaciation.The most significant melting period was the last 100 years,which corresponds to the recent global warming.The Medieval Warm Period was relatively significant in the central TP.However,during the Little Ice Age,there was no significant glacier accumulation in the central TP,and even short deficit events occurred.Comparisons of the late Holocene glacier variation in the central TP with glacier and climate variations in the TP and the Northern Hemisphere showed that it was closely related to the North Atlantic Oscillation.

Sedimentological Study of Alluvial Deposits on the Congolese Coast: Highlighting the Erosive Character of the Holocene Wet Climatic Phases

A granulometric, mineralogical, morphoscopic and exoscopic study and Rock-Eval analysis carried out on samples taken in the Loango Bay and at Kivesso on the Congolese coast have made it possible to highlight the highly erosive character of the well-documented wet phases ca 9000 - 3000 years B.P. and ca 320 B.P. in the sub-region. Supported by carbon-14 dating, total organic carbon analyses highlight two major phases of peat deposit emplacement. The first, ca. 7000 years B.P., corresponds to the beginning of the deposition of the yellow formation in the entire Loango Bay;the second, ca. 320 years B.P., is contemporary with the deposition of peat in the Kivesso sector. The granulometric analysis of the sediments shows that they are essentially sandy-clay and very poor in silt, alternating with beds of silty clay sometimes rich in organic matter. These sands have a predominant mode of 0.200 mm and an average varying between 0.150 and 0.300 mm. They constitute the flood phase of the carrier current. They are associated with a population of mode 0.125 mm sometimes 0.050 mm with an average varying between 0.100 mm and 0.126 mm which corresponds to the settling phase. Morphoscopic examination showed several varieties of quartz that argue for a source of supply close to the depositional sites.

Glacier Relics of the Last Glacial and Holocene Periods Discovered in the Middle-low Mountains of Eastern China: Sedimentary Sequences and Environmental Evolution of Mengshan Mountain in Shandong Province since 80 ka

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.

The Younger Dryas Event and Holocene Climate Fluctuations Recorded in a Stalagmite from the Panlong Cave of Guilin

Comprehensive studies on a stalagmite from the Panlong cave, Guilin, have shown that the isotopic records and sedimentary characteristics can reflect the changes of both palaeotemperatures and palaeorainfall, that is to say, it is possible to get some information about the changes in climate of the area from the speleothem. The results suggest that: (1) the Younger Dryas event might have persisted in the area from 11 300 to 10 800 a B.P.; (2) from 9000 to 7000 a B.P., the climate got warmer and wetter, and the summer monsoon was gradually enhanced; (3) from 7000 to 4500 a B.P., the climate was warm and wet, and the summer monsoon prevailed; and (4) from 4500 a B.P. on, the summer monsoon was weakened and the modern climate pattern appeared, but there were several cold and dry periods, namely, from 4000 to 2500 a B.P., ca. 2400 a B.P. and 【 1000 a B.P.

HOLOCENE SALINE SEDIMENTARY RECORD IN TIBETAN DONG CO(LAKE) AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE ON PALAEOCLIMATE

Based on the sedimentary characteristics study of Holocene borax\|bearing mirabilite beds of Dong Co(lake) two sections, DZ01 and DZ02, in the center of North\|Tibetan Plateau,combined with dating of 14 C, applied theory and method of comparative salinology, it is determined that the palaeoclimate framework of Dong Co during early\|middle Holocene, and reckoned the range of the temperature variation. Furthermore, after completing regional analogue, discovered that the palaeoclimate environment is fully comparative and consistent with the synchronous lake\|water retreating trace of Zhaduixiong spits in Zabuye Lake basin, with palaeoclimate changes recorded by pollen in adjacent Zabuye Lake, with Holocene plaeoclimate environment indicated by drilling\|hole in Bangong Co,with palaeoclimate significance traced by δ 18 O value in Qinghai Lake and Siling Co and with the palaeoclimate framework during the 5th Level Arid (Salinization) Extension Period of Quaternary arid center of Western China.

Holocene Moisture Variation Recorded by Aeolian Sand-Palaeosol Sequences of the Gonghe Basin, Northeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China

The northeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau(QTP) of China is located at the triple junction of the Asian winter and summer monsoons and the westerlies, where paleoclimatic evolution has an important scientific significance for recognizing the spatial-temporal pattern of Asian monsoons in the past and predicting environmental change in the future. Nevertheless, the framework of the Holocene moisture variation and related mechanisms remain controversial, owing to complex hydroclimatic conditions triggered by the landform of the large mountain-arid basin. Here, we employed geochemical proxies from typical aeolian sand-palaeosol sequences in the Gonghe Basin, northeastern QTP, together with Optically Stimulated Luminescence(OSL) dating, to reconstruct the pattern of effective moisture variation and associated mechanisms in this region. Our results indicate that the regional effective moisture was at its lowest until 9–8 ka, and approached a maximum during 8–4/3 ka of the middle Holocene. Afterwards, the climate became relatively dry in general, but with a transient humid interval around 2–1 ka. Our geochemical evidence indicates that the dry early Holocene probably can be attributed to a strong winter monsoon forced by remnant ice sheet, combined with the high evaporation caused by solar insolation. Also, shifts of humid-dry are closely linked to the Asian summer monsoonal strength and therefore the balance of evaporation-precipitation in the middle and late Holocene. Thus, the pattern of the Holocene effective moisture variation is characterized as the ‘monsoon model’ in a closed intermontane arid and semi-arid basin near the western Asian monsoonal limit.

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.

Late Holocene mangrove development and response to sea level change in the northwestern South China Sea

Mangroves,widely distributed along the coasts of tropical China,are influenced by Asia monsoon,relative sea level change and enhanced human activity.To predict the impacts of future climate change on mangrove ecosystems,it can be understood by reconstructing past mangrove dynamics using proxies preserved in coastal sediments.In this study,we quantitatively partitioned buried organic matter(OM)sources,collected from a vulnerable mangrove swamp in the Qinzhou Bay of northwestern South China Sea,using a ternary end-member mixing model of δ^13C and C:N values.Mangrove-derived OM(MOM)contribution was used as a tracer for mangrove development since 2.34 cal ka BP.This information,together with paleoclimate records(i.e.,speleothem δ^18O values,sea level change,grain size parameters)and human activity,was used to divide mangrove development into three stages during the late Holocene:relative flourish(2.34-1.13 cal ka BP),relative degradation(1.13-0.15 cal ka BP)and further degradation(0.15-0 cal ka BP).Before 1.13 cal ka BP,mangroves flourished with a high MOM contribution((88.9±10.6)%),corresponding to stable and high sea level under a warm and humid climate.After 1.13 cal ka BP,rapid fall in relative sea level coupled with the strengthening of the Asian winter monsoon,resulted in mangrove degradation and MOM reduction((62.4±18.9)%).Compared with air temperature and precipitation,the relative sea level fall was the main controlling factor in mangrove development before entering the Anthropocene(the time of the Industrial Revolution).After^150 cal a BP,reclamation of mangrove swamps to shrimp ponds is the main factor causing mangrove degradation and MOM reduction.

PALYNOLOGICAL RECORD OF PALEOVEGETATIONCHANGE DURING HOLOCENE AT NORTH TUMDPLAIN IN INNER MONGOLIA,CHINA

In this paper, the Holocene paleoenvironment change sequence in middle Inner Mongolia was primarily reconstructed on the basis of palynological analysis at the resolution of 70 years on a peat profile, which was located in thenorthern part of Tumd Plain with its oldest age of 9100 a. B. P. As the consequence indicated, the Holocene climatechange in the middle Inner Mongolia had undergone cool→temperate→ warm→ temperate→ cool series, and the historycould be divided into 5 epochs: 9100 - 7400 a B. P., with slightly arid and cold climate; 7400 - 5000 a B. P., transitoryclimate with dynamic fluctuation, earlier period temperate and slightly arid, and later period temperate and slightly humid; 5000 - 4100 a B. P., with warm and humid climate; 4100 - 1350 a B. P., with transitory climate getting arid, asthe result of human being’s growing influence; 1350 a B. P. - present, with temperate and slightly arid climate, understrong influence of human being. The warm period of Holocene occurred in 7400 - 4000 a B. P., while the optimal periodoccurred in 5000 - 4100 a B. P.

Holocene activities of the Taigu fault zone,Shanxi Province, and their relations with the 1303 Hongdong M=8 earthquake

The Taigu fault zone is one of the major 12 active boundary faults of the Shanxi fault-depression system, locatedon the eastern boundary of the Jinzhong basin. As the latest investigation indicated, the fault zone had dislocatedgully terrace of the f1rst order, forming fault-scarp in front of the loess mesa. It has been discovered in many placesin ground surface and trenches that Holocene deposits were dislocated. The latest activity was the 1303 Hongdongearthquake M=8, the fault appeared as right-lateral strike-slip with normal faulting. During that earthquake, theTaigu fault together with the Mianshan western-side fault on the Lingshi upheaval and the Huoshan pediment faulton the eastern boundary of the Linfen basin was being active, forming a surface rupture belt of 160 km in length.Moreover, the Taigu fault were active in the mid-stage of Holocene and near 7 700 aB.P. From these we learnt that,in Shanxi fault-depression system, the run-through activity of two boundary faults of depression-basins mightgenerate great earthquake with M=8.

Impact of climate change on dynamic of plant communities, lakes and swamps in Beijing area during Holocene period

From 400-60 cm 26 samples were obtained in an 820 cm profile at Dongganchi of Fangshan in Beijing. They provided a continuous record of vegetation and environmental changes over ca .7000 aB.P., as inferred from Spore-pollen. loss-on-ignition (LOI), and charcoal analysis,impacts of natural fire and human activities on plant communities and lakes and swamps were considered. 1) From 7000-5960 aB.P, the forest development was limited, probably in response to climate Warming. Aquatic and marsh plants began to increase, bat the lakes and swamps in some areas were limited. 2) About 5960-3390 aB.p, presumably in responded to climate warming which was warmer than that at present Aquatic plants began to become abundant,reflected the widespread development of the lakes and swamps, the climate was wet with annual precipitation higher than that at present 3) About 3390-1000 aB.P, human activities have kept to be the dominating factor in the evolution of vegetation and climatic change. Temperature decreased, and the annual precipitation rapidly reduced in Baijing area. the lakes and swamps gradually shrank back, some of them even disappeared. 4) After 1000 aB.P, there was a severe fluntuction, and early during this time, it was comparatively warm and humid, but became cool and dry later. In the meantime. human activities were intensified. agricultural activity was flourished. and large area of water field was

ISOTOPIC EVIDENCE FOR HOLOCENE CLIMATIC CHANGES IN BOSTEN LAKE,SOUTHERN XINJIANG,CHINA

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Geochemical and Grain-Sized Implications for Provenance Variations of the Central Yellow Sea Muddy Area Since the Middle Holocene

Based on high-resolution analysis to a 280-cm long sediment core obtained from the muddy area in the central Yellow Sea, we examined the provenance of muddy sediments and discussed the changing marine sedimentary environment since the middle Holocene. The results indicated that fine-grained sediments in the muddy area were mainly derived from the Huanghe(Yellow River) and Changjiang(Yangtze River) with considerable stepwise variations during the past 6.6 kyr. The Yellow Sea Warm Current was initiated at 6 kyr when the sea level was high together with the enhanced East Asian Winter Monsoon. These in combination established the framework of shelf circulation in the Yellow Sea that began to trap the river-derived fine-grained sediments. From 4.9 kyr to 2.8 kyr, both the Kushiro Current and East Asian Monsoon were significantly weakened, reducing the delivery of Changjiang sediments to the muddy area. As a result, the sediments were mainly originated from the Huanghe. From 2.8 kyr to 1.5 kyr the continuously weakened East Asian Winter Monsoon and enhanced Yellow Sea Warm Current entrapped more fine-grain sediments. Whereas the enhanced East Asian Winter Monsoon and the human caused increase in sediment load of the Huanghe since 1.5 kyr, and direct delivery of Huanghe sediments to the Yellow Sea during 1128–1855 AD might dominated the sedimentation in the study area. The stepwise variations of the sediment provenance and composition of the Central Yellow Sea muddy sediments are of importance to understanding the formation of muddy deposit in the central Yellow Sea and the associated variations of marine environment since the middle Holocene.

Palaeoceanological significance of Holocene ostracean banks in Tianjin area

On the basis of the study of ostracean banks in Tianjin area, the present study recognized that the ostracean banks at Ninghe County in Tianjin area are well developed along the west coast of the Bohai Sea; they consist of thanato-coenose and taphocoenose from Crassistrea gigars and C. revularis. From the 14C datings it can be known that the banks had formed from early Middle-Holocene and continued up to over 2 ka BP (14C age). The top has different reliefs . Although there is an effect of spatial shift of estuary position, the top is only distributed in the range of-0. 50--2. 50 m(Huanghai elevation minus National elevation system). The banks cannot explain the sea-level fluctuation. As the string ostracean banks are distributed near E-W direction, it suggests that the direction of tidal currents was then similar to that of the present day.

Anti-Phase Relationship Between the East Asian Winter Monsoon and Summer Monsoon During the Holocene?

The relationship between the East Asian winter monsoon(EAWM) and East Asian summer monsoon(EASM) during the Holocene is complicated and remains controversial.In this study,analysis of grain size and benthic foraminiferal oxygen isotope,as well as accelerator mass spectrometry ^(14)C dating was performed on a sediment core retrieved from the newly revealed muddy deposit on the northern South China Sea continental shelf.The history of the EAWM and EASM were reconstructed for the last 8200 a BP.Further analysis in conjunction with previously published paleo-climate proxies revealed that the relationship between the EAWM and EASM during the Holocene is more complex than a simple and strict anti-phase one-both negative and positive correlations were identified.The EAWM and EASM are negatively correlated around 7500,4800,4200,3200,and 300 a BP(cooling periods),while positively correlated around 7100,3700,and 2100 a BP(warm periods).In particular,both the EAWM and EASM intensified during the three positive correlation periods.However,we also found that the relationship between these two sub-monsoons is anti-phase during the final phase of particularly hot periods like Holocene Optimum and Medieval warm period.The possible impact from variations of solar irradiance on the relationship between the EAWM and EASM was also discussed.

Linking moisture and near-surface wind with winter temperature to reveal the Holocene climate evolution in arid Xinjiang region of China

An increasing number of palaeo-climatic records have been reported to identify the Holocene climate history in the arid Xinjiang region of northwest China. However, few studies have fully considered the internal linkages within the regional climate system, which may limit our understanding of the forcing mechanisms of Holocene climate change in this region. Here, we systematically consider three major issues of the moisture/precipitation, temperature and near-surface wind relevant to the Holocene climate history of Xinjiang. First, despite there still has debated for the Holocene moisture evolution in this region, more climatic reconstructions from lake sediments, loess, sand-dunes and peats support a long-term regional wetting trend. Second, temperature records from ice cores, peats and stalagmites demonstrate a long-term winter warming trend during the Holocene in middle-to high-latitudes of Asia. Third, recent studies of aeolian sedimentary sequences reveal that the near-surface winds in winter gradually weakened during the Holocene, whereas the winter mid-latitude Westerlies strengthened in the Tienshan Mountains. Based on this evidence, in the arid Xinjiang region we propose an early to middle Holocene relatively cold and dry interval, with strong near-surface winds;and a warmer, wetter interval with weaker near-surface winds in the middle to late Holocene during winter. Additionally,we develop a conceptual model to explain the pattern of Holocene climate changes in this region.From the early to the late Holocene, the increasing atmospheric COcontent and winter insolation,and the shrinking of high-latitude continental ice-sheets, resulted in increasing winter temperatures in middle to high latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere. Subsequently, the increased winter temperature strengthened the winter mid-latitude Westerlies and weakened the Siberian high-pressure system,which caused an increase in winter precipitation and a decrease in near-surface wind strength. This scenario is strongly supported by evidence from geological records, climate simulation results, and modern reanalysis data. Our hypothesis highlights the important contribution of winter temperature in driving the Holocene climatic evolution of the arid Xinjiang region, and it implies that the socio-economic development and water resources security of this region will face serious challenges presented by the increasing winter temperature in the future.

Comparison of Climate and Environment Change of the Last Interglacial Period and Holocene in Beijing Area, China

Research on climate changes between the last interglacial period and Holocene renders a speculation on the tendency of present climate. Fully understanding the nature of the changes will play a significant role in a better understanding of global climate change. This work discussed the climate change of the last interglacial period and Holocene in Beijing area to discover the mechanism of local palaeo-climate change. The palaeo-vegetation of the last interglacial period in Xishan Mountain of Beijing was reconstructed by pollen analysis and thermo-luminescence dating to represent the change of palaeo-climate and palaeo-environment. Palaeo-vegetation indicators demonstrated that the climate change of the last interglacial period included 6 stages and was homologous to that reflected by the records from deep sea depositions and polar ice cores, respectively corresponding to Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5e, 5d, 5c, 5b, 5a and the interim from MIS5 to MIS4 from the early to the late. Millennial climate abrupt events occurred in MIS 5e, which had an agreement with the records of GRIP. In addition, a climate warming event appeared in the interim from MIS5 to MIS4 and it also was found in other regions of the world. Compared with the vegetation and environment indicators of Holocene in Beijing area, it was found that the vegetation, climate and environment of the last glacial period were better than those of Holocene. The climate abrupt events not only appeared in the last interglacial period and MIS 5e, but also occurred in Holocene, whose mechanism and pattern were analogical. After analyzing the records of millennial climate abrupt change events from this work, Ice Cores and others, it was concluded that climate was instability in the interglacial period.