Identifying eco-functional zones on the Chinese Loess Plateau using ecosystem service bundles

Optimizing the function of ecosystem services(ESs)is vital for implementing regional ecological management strategies.In this study,we used multi-source data and integrated modelling methods to assess the spatiotemporal variations in eight typical ESs on the Chinese Loess Plateau from 2000 to 2015,including grain production,raw material provision,water conservation,carbon storage service,soil conservation,oxygen production,recreation,and net primary productivity(NPP)services.Then,we divided the ecosystem service bundles(ESBs)according to relationships among the eight ESs,obtaining four types of eco-functional areas at the county(city or banner or district)level based on the spatial clustering of similarities in different ES types.We also identified and assessed the contributions of influencing factors to these eco-functional areas using principal component analysis(PCA)across spatiotemporal scales.We found that the spatiotemporal variations in different ESs were noticeable,with an overall increase in grain production and soil conservation services,no significant change in carbon storage service,and overall decreases in raw material provision,water conservation,oxygen production,recreation,and NPP services.From 2000 to 2015,the number of significant synergistic ES pairs decreased,while that of significant trade-off pairs increased.To the changes of ESBs in the eco-functional areas,the results indicated that the indirect loss of these ESs from forest and grassland due to urban expansion should be reduced in ecological development area(ESB 2)and multi ecological functional area(ESB 3).Meanwhile,crop planting structures and planting densities should be adjusted to reduce ES trade-offs associated with water conservation service in grain-producing area(ESB 4).Lastly,ESB-based ecofunctional zoning can be used to improve ecological restoration management strategies and optimize ecological compensation schemes in ecologically fragile area(ESB 1).

Vegetation and environmental changes in western Chinese Loess Plateau since 13.0 ka BP

Pollen records from the Chinese Loess Plateau revealed a detailed history of vegetation variation and associated climate changes during the last 13.0 ka BP. Before 12.1 ka BP, steppe or desert-steppe vegetation dominated landscape then was replaced by a coniferous forest under a generally wet climate （12.1-11.0 ka BP）. The vegetation was deteriorated into steppe landscape and further into a desert-steppe landscape between 11.0 and 9.8 ka BP. After a brief episode of a cool and wet climate （9.8-9.6 ka BP）, a relatively mild and dry condition prevailed during the early Holocene （9.6-7.6 ka BP）. The most favourable climate of warm and humid period occurred during mid-Holocene （7.6-4.0 ka BP） marked by forest-steppe landscape and vegetation alternatively changed between steppe and desert-steppe from -4.0 to -1.0 ka BP.

Chronology of the Holocene loess-paleosol section and its deposition and pedogenesis on the south of Chinese Loess Plateau

Optically stimulated luminescence （OSL） dating for polymlneral fine-grained loess samples, collected in Laoguantai （LGT） section on the south of the Chinese Loess Plateau, was made by application of single-aliquot regenerative-dose （SAR） protocol. A ＇Double-SAW procedure in which aliquots are subjected to both infrared （IR） and blue stimulations was used and two sets of equivalent dose （De） determinations were produced and assumed to relate predominantly to feldspathic and quartz fine grain populations respectively, The OSL ages estimated from IRSL signals are smaller than those estimated from [post-IR] OSL signals due to the anomalous fading of feldspar IR signals, based on fading experiment, The young ages of the samples near ground surface may be originated from the post-depositional disturbance by the intensifying humanity＇s cultivation since 3.0 ka BP in the Guanzhong Basin, south of the Chinese Loess Plateau. Based on OSL dating, as well as field observations and stratigraphic correlation, we determine the chronology of the LGT Ioess-paleosol sequence. In combination with climate proxy records, it is indicated that aeolian loess deposition and pedogenesis underwent polyphase changes during the Holocene, likely to have been driven by shifts in the East Asian monsoon. This suggests that aeolian loess deposition is episodic and highly variable, with contributions from non-aeolian processes such as alluvial deposition found in the area.

Reliability of Relative Paleointensity Recorded in Chinese Loess-Paleosol Sediments

A detailed paleomagnetic and rock-magnetic investigation spanning loess L7 to paleosol S8 has been carried out at the Baoji and Xifeng sections. Results of anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility confirm that the studied loess-paleosol sediments retain primary sedimentary fabrics. Stepwise thermal demagnetization shows that two well-defined magnetization components can be isolated from both loess and paleosol specimens. A low-temperature component, isolated between 100°C and 200°C, is consistent with the present geomagnetic field direction, and a high-temperature component, isolated between 200-300°C and 620-680°C, includes clearly normal and reversed polarities. Isothermal remanent magnetization and thermomagnetic analyses indicate that characteristic remanent magnetization is mainly carried by magnetite and hematite. The Day plot, together with the stratigraphic variations of rock-magnetic parameters, shows that the uniformity of magnetic mineralogy and grain size fulfills the criteria for relative paleointensity （RPI） studies. RPI records have been constructed using natural remanent magnetization （NRM） intensity after thermal demagnetization at 300°C normalized by low-frequency magnetic susceptibility （NRM 300 /χ）. The results show that the RPI record from the Baoji section, where pedogenesis is quite weak, is compatible with the stacked PISO-1500 paleointensity record, suggesting that it might reflect the paleointensity variation of the geomagnetic field. The RPI record from the Xifeng section, where pedogenesis is rather strong, indicates a clear dissimilarity with the stacked PISO-1500 paleointensity record, implying that it does not reflect the paleointensity variation of the geomagnetic field. Our new results show that the NRM 300 /χ from the strongly pedogenetic paleosols does not completely eliminate the pedogenetic （climatic） influence, so it might be unsuitable for a reliable paleointensity study.

Progress of loess research in China

Progress in Chinese loess research made in recent 15 years was introduced in this paper, including mainly distribution and paleoenvironment significance of Chinese loess, new development of loess formation age, red-brown paleosol types and environmental change, loess-paleosol sequence and climate cycles, monsoon strength change during last interglacial and last glacial periods in the Loess Plateau, climate events, and source areas of loess and material.

Dynamics of NDVI and its influencing factors in the Chinese Loess Plateau during 2002-2018

Understanding the spatio-temporal changes of vegetation and its climatic control factors can provide an important theoretical basis for the protection and restoration of eco-environments.In this study,we analyzed the normalized difference vegetation index(NDVI)in the Chinese Loess Plateau(CLP)from 2002 to 2018 via trend analysis,stability analysis,and Mann-Kendall mutation test to investigate the change of vegetation.In addition,we also used the skewness analysis and correlation analysis to explore the contribution of climate change and human activities on regional vegetation changes.The results indicated that the overall increasing trend of NDVI from 2002 to 2018 was significant The areas showing increased NDVI were mainly distributed in the south-eastern CLP and the irrigation districts of the Yellow River to the north and west of the CLP,while the areas showing decreased NDVl were concentrated in the desert of the westem Ordos Plateau,Longzhong Loess Plateau,and the built-up and adjacent areas.Precipitation was the dominant factor contributing to vegetation growth in the CLP,while vegetation was less dependent onprecipitation in the irigation districts.The increasement of NDVI has led to a prolonged responsetime of vegetation to water stress and a lag effect of less than two months in the CLP.The effect of temperature on NDVI was not significant;significant negative correlations between NDVI and temperature were found only in the desert,the Guanzhong Plain,the southem Liupan Mountains,and the southeastem Taihang Mountains,owing to high temperatures,urban heat islands,and large cloud cover in mountainous areas.Affected by the"Grain for Green Program"(GGP),NDVIin the CLP increased from 2002 to 2018;however,the increasing trends of NDNI for differentvegetation cover types were significantly different owing to the difference in background status.The increasing contribution rate of NDVI in the CLP mainly came from crops and steppes.Urban not only led to the destruction of vegetation but also had radiation effect causing negative impact of NDVI around the cities.This resulted in the aggravation of the negative bias of NDVI with time in the CLP.The results provide a long-term perspective for regional vegetation protection and utilization in the CLP.

Spatial-temporal pattern and formation mechanism of county urbanization on the Chinese Loess Plateau

Urbanization is a comprehensive and complex socioeconomic phenomenon that plays an influential role in promoting global socioeconomic development.The Loess Plateau region is an important part of the China’s ecological security pattern,and occupies an important position in the implementation of China’s new-type urbanization strategy and the realization of the urban dream.The characteristics of the staged changes and regional differentiation of urbanization in the area from 1990 to 2018 were studied with focus on regions and subregions by selecting 341 county-level administrative units on the Chinese Loess Plateau as the research area,and employing partition analysis and geographic detector methods.This revealed the formation mechanism of the spatial differentiation pattern of urbanization on the Loess Plateau.We found that the urbanization of the Loess Plateau,previously in a slow growth phase,entered the accelerated development phase,presenting a macro pattern of high rates of urbanization in central and eastern areas and low rates in western areas.The formation of the regional differentiation patterns of urbanization on the Loess Plateau were the combined results of natural geographical and socioeconomic factors.Among these factors,the interaction of any two factors had a stronger impact on regional urbanization patterns than a single factor,which was specifically manifested as nonlinear or bi-factor enhancement effects.The findings of this paper may provide a theoretical reference and scientific basis for the scientific promotion of healthy urbanization on the Chinese Loess Plateau and the ecologically fragile areas of developing countries around the world.

Failure mechanisms and risk mitigation of check dams on the Chinese Loess Plateau: A case study at the Gutun Gully

Loess is long-term aeolian dust deposition, characterized by loose structure, concentrated participle distribution and unstable mineral composition, and thus easy to cause extensive collapsibility and have general water sensitivity. To reveal the difference in water sensitivity between naturally intact(NI) loess and mechanically compacted(MC) loess used for the check dam, the transient water release and imbibition method(TRIM) was used to acquire the suction stress–expanded hydraulic characteristic curves for the NI and MC loess and explore possible approaches for formulating the potential of loess water sensitivity. Based on the Local Field of Safety(LFS) associated with slope stability, we constructed a finite element model of a check dam to depict its failure processes under different rainfall scenarios. The results revealed the strong water sensitivity in NI loess, while the MC loess retained a certain water-sensitive potential. This capacity depends on the ‘water sensitivity coefficient’ obtained from the suction-stress characteristic curve,which better presented the deformation potential of the two loess samples at different water content levels. In the context of LFS, we identified two failure patterns in the dam body that were involved in loess water sensitivity under hydromechanical conditions: rainfall erosion-induced shallow mudflow failure, and preferential-infiltration progressive failure. These patterns may provide new insights into dam-breakage mechanisms and potential chain effects of check dams on the Chinese Loess Plateau from the perspective of soil–water interactions, which is vital for predicting the position and timing of check dam failure, and mitigating risks.

A New Model for Correlation between the Marine Benthic Oxygen Isotope and Red Clay Magnetic Susceptibility on the Chinese Loess Plateau

Objective Aeolian sediments on the Chinese Loess Plateau contain some of the best continental archives of palaeoclimate change in the Late Cenozoic. The consensus that alternating MS in loess-paleosols in China was due to the strengthening and weakening of the East Asian palaeomonsoon provides an excellent climate record when correlated with global ice volume. Significantly, new basal dates from the red clay underlying the loess-paleosol sequence indicate that wind-blown dust began to accumulate on the Chinese Loess Plateau at least 22 million years ago. There are differences of opinion,

Paleoenvironmental Record from Wuqi Paleolake in Northern Chinese Loess Plateau

Jinding core(ZK04,36°47′35.36″N,108°19′05.24″E)is located in the northern area of Luohe river basin,northern Chinese loess plateau,lying to the southeast of Wuqi County about 20 km.The total depth of Core ZK04 is 92.20

Spatial-temporal Characteristics of Holocene Paleosols in the Chinese Loess Plateau and Paleoclimatic Significance

The evolution of Holocene climate was investigated using grain size and magnetic susceptibility of the Holocene paleosols from Baicaoyuan(BCY),Xifeng(XF) and Linyou(LY) sections in the northwest,central and southern Chinese Loess Plateau(CLP).The results show that the Holocene in the B CY,XF and LY paleosol sections could be divided into three phases:during the early Holocene(11.8-10.5 kyr B.P.),increased magnetic susceptibility(χ) and frequency-dependent magnetic susceptibility(χ) and decreased median grain size(Md) indicate that the East Asian Summer Monsoon(EASM) has become more intense and the climate has changed from cold to warm.During the middle Holocene(10.5-5.0 kyr B.P.),the values of χ,χand 2-5 μm grain-size fraction(GT2/5) are higher and Md and 30-63 μm grain-size fraction(GT3 0/6 3) are the lowest,which reflect a warm and humid regional climate.At~8.0 kyr B.P.,there was a transient dry-cold climatic spike corresponding to a Heinrich Event,the cold event was likely due to the collapse of the Laurentide ice sheet.During the late Holocene(5.0-0 kyr B.P.),χ and χvalues are the lowest,while Md and GT30/63 are high,as proxies of a weakened EASM,when the dry-cold climate prevailed in the region.Decreased irradiance since 5.0 kyr B.P.may have caused climatic cooling and drying.Spatially,the increased main peak values and skewness from BCY,XF to LY sections show that the grain size became fine,the East Asian Winter Monsoon(EAWM) reduced,and climate was warmer and wetter from northwest to southeast.In addition,Md can be used as alternative proxy for EAWM,while χis positive with the intensity of EASM under semiarid climate conditions in CLP.

Formation mechanisms and remediation techniques for low-efficiency artificial shelter forests on the Chinese Loess Plateau

The construction of artificial shelter forests(ASFs)has resulted in substantial ecological,economic,and societal benefits to the Chinese Loess Plateau(CLP).However,the health and benefits of ASFs are being increasingly threatened by the formation of low-efficiency artificial shelter forests(LEASFs).In this study,LEASFs are systematically analyzed in terms of their status,formation mechanisms,and developmental obstacles.The key restoration techniques and schemes were summarized to improve the quality and efficiency of LEASFs.LEASFs are formed by relatively complex mechanisms,but they arise mainly due to poor habitat conditions,improper tree species selections,mismatch between stands and habitat,extensive forest management measures,and human interferences.The restoration and improvement of LEASFs are hindered by water deficits,mismatch between stands and habitat,single management purpose,and low efficiency.LEASFs are becoming more complex due to their wide range,the challenges associated with their restoration,and insufficient technological measures for their restoration.The key techniques of the quality and efficiency improvement of LEASFs include basic forest tending methods,near-natural restoration,multifunction-oriented improvement,and systematic restoration.An understanding on the formation mechanisms of LEASFs and a scientific approach toward their restoration are urgently needed and critical for the ecological protection and high-quality development of LEASFs on the CLP.Based on these analyses,we recommend strengthening the monitoring and supervision of LEASFs,considering the bearing capacity of regional water resources,implementing multiple restoration techniques,promoting multifunction-oriented ecological development,and exploring new management concepts to achieve the sustainable development of ASFs on the CLP.

Large-scale extraction of check dams and silted fields on the Chinese loess plateau using ensemble learning models

Check dams have been widely constructed in the Chinese Loess Plateau and has played an important role in controlling soil loss during last 70 years.However,the large-scale and automatic mapping of the check dams and the resulting silted fields are lacking.In this study,we present a novel methodological framework to extract silted fields and to estimate the location of the check dams at a pixel level in the Wuding River catchment by remote sensing and ensemble learning models.The random under-sampling method and 23 features were used to train and validate three ensemble learning models,namely Random Forest,Extreme Gradient Boosting and EasyEnsemble,based on a large number of samples.The established optimal model was then applied to the whole study area to map check dams and silted fields.Our results indicate that the imbalance ratio of the samples has a significant impact on the performance of the models.Validation of the results on the testing set show that the F1-score of silted fields of three models is higher than 0.75 at the pixel level.Finally,we produced a map of silted fields and check dams at 10 m-spatial resolution by the optimal model with an accuracy of ca.90%at the object level.The proposed framework can be used for the large-scale and high-precision mapping of check dams and silted fields,which is of great significance for the monitoring and management of the dynamics of check dams and the quantitative evaluation of their eco-environmental benefits.

Spatiotemporal variations in ecosystem services and their trade-offs and synergies against the background of the gully control and land consolidation project on the Loess Plateau,China

Studying the spatiotemporal variations in ecosystem services and their interrelationships on the Loess Plateau against the background of the gully control and land consolidation(GCLC)project has significant implications for ecological protection and quality development of the Yellow River Basin.Therefore,in this study,we took Yan'an City,Shaanxi Province of China,as the study area,selected four typical ecosystem services,including soil conservation service,water yield service,carbon storage service,and habitat quality service,and quantitatively evaluated the spatiotemporal variation characteristics and trade-offs and synergies of ecosystem services from 2010 to 2018 using the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs(InVEST)model.We also analysed the relationship between the GCLC project and regional ecosystem service changes in various regions(including 1 city,2 districts,and 10 counties)of Yan'an City and proposed a coordinated development strategy between the GCLC project and the ecological environment.The results showed that,from 2010 to 2018,soil conservation service decreased by 7.76%,while the other three ecosystem services changed relatively little,with water yield service increasing by 0.56% and carbon storage service and habitat quality service decreasing by 0.16% and 0.14%,respectively.The ecological environment of Yan'an City developed in a balanced way between 2010 and 2018,and the four ecosystem services showed synergistic relationships,among which the synergistic relationships between soil conservation service and water yield service and between carbon storage service and habitat quality service were significant.The GCLC project had a negative impact on the ecosystem services of Yan'an City,and the impact on carbon storage service was more significant.This study provides a theoretical basis for the scientific evaluation of the ecological benefits of the GCLC project and the realization of a win-win situation between food security and ecological security.

Climatic Fluctuation of Marine Isotope Stage 9: A Case Study in the Southern Margin of the Chinese Loess Plateau

Marine Isotope Stages(MIS) 9 has been proposed as an analog for the present warm period. However, detailed studies of this geological time period are rare in loess-paleosol sequence. In the Chinese Loess Plateau(CLP), the corresponding stratum is the third paleosol layer(S3). Here, we report the terrestrial reconstruction of climatic fluctuations during MIS 9 by analyzing the paleo-climate indexes of S3 with high sampling density. Our results showed that:(1) During the period of MIS 9, the main climatic sub-cycle was 29 ka;(2) MIS 9 could be divided into five sections, MIS 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, and 9e. Among them, MIS 9a, 9c, and 9e were warm stages, while MIS 9b and 9d were cool intervals;and 3) There were also three swift warm-wet events and one cool-dry event, which occurred around 332 –331, 324–323, 311–310, and 331–329 ka BP, respectively. The overall trend of paleo-climate fluctuation correlated approximately with SPECMAP, LR04 stack and Iberian margin deep-sea cores. This study suggested that the paleosol records in the southern margin of the CLP have global significance and contain more detailed climatic signals than marine deposits.

New eolian red clay sequence on the western Chinese Loess Plateau linked to onset of Asian desertification about 25 Ma ago

The expansion of inland Asia deserts has considerably influenced the environmental, social and economic activities in Asia. Aridification of inland Asia, especially timing of the initiation of Asian desertification, is a contentious topic in paleoclimatology. Late Cenozoic eolian loess-red clay sequences on the Chinese Loess Plateau, which possess abundant paleoclimatic and paleo-environmental information, can be regarded as an indicator of inland Asia desertification. Here we present a detailed magnetostratigraphic investigation of a new red clay sequence about 654 m in Zhuanglang located at the western Chinese Loess Plateau. Sedimentological, geochemical, mineralogical, and quartz morphological lines of evidence show that the red clay is of eolian origin. Magnetostratigraphic correlations indicate that this core sequence spans from 25.6 to 4.8 Ma, and typical eolian red clay appears as early as 25 Ma. This extends the lower limit of the red clay on the Chinese Loess Plateau from the previously thought early Miocene back into the late Oligocene. This new red clay record further implies that the inland Asia desertification was initiated at least by the late Oligocene. This sequence provides a unique high-resolution geological record for understanding the inland Asia desertification process since the late Oligocene.

High-resolution anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility record in the central Chinese Loess Plateau and its paleoenvironment implications

We analyze high-resolution anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) of the loess-paleosol successions at Luochuan, central Chinese Loess Plateau, in order to investigate the AMS characteristics and their climatic implications. Our results indicate a normal sedimentary magnetic fabric for almost of all samples, characterized by minimum susceptibility axes grouped in an almost vertical direction. Magnetic foliation and anisotropy degree show upwards decreasing trend due to decreasing post-depositional compaction. Magnetic lineations show no preferred directions and thus cannot indicate paleowind patterns. AMS parameters at Luochuan are controlled by particle size, pedogenesis, and sedimentary compaction. The high peaks of magnetic foliation and anisotropy degree of L2, L3, L6, L9, and L15 correspond to the coarse particle sizes of these loess beds, indicating the grain-size dependence of AMS.

Paleoclimatic significance of grain size of loess-palaeosol deposit in Chinese Loess Plateau

Particle size analysis for samples from three last glacial cycle loess-palaeosol profiles along a northwestsoutheast transection on the Chinese Loess Plateau has been carried out. The paleoclimatic significance of grain size indices has been obtained by analyzing the fraction content variations and their comparisons with global ice volume and solar radiation variations. The results show that (i) paleoclimatic significance of the grain size indices of loess-palaeosol deposit is different with grain size fraction content and sampling points in Chinese Loess Plateau; (ii) the sub-coarse grain fraction is a good proxy index of East Asia winter monsoon strength and therefore can be used to detect the global climate changes; (iii) the content of sub-fine and fine grain fractions is influenced by both the input of sub-coarse grain fraction and pedogenesis; (iv) the sub-coarse fraction exhibits a negative relationship with the sub-fine and fine fractlon.

Loess magnetic properties in the Ili Basin and their correlation with the Chinese Loess Plateau

Over the past two decades, magnetoclimatological studies of loess-paleosol sequences in the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP) have made outstanding achievements, which greatly promote the understanding of East Asian paleomonsoon evolution, inland aridification of Asia, and past global climate changes. Loess magnetic properties of the CLP have been well studied. In contrast, loess magnetic properties from outside the CLP in China have not been fully understood. We have little knowledge about the magnetic properties of loess in the Ili Basin, an intermontane depression of the Tianshan (or Tien Shan) Mountains. Here, we present the results of rock magnetic measurements of the Ili loess including mass magnetic susceptibility (χ) and anhysteretic remanent magnetization (ARM), high/low temperature dependence of susceptibility (TDS) and hysteresis, as well as X-ray diffraction (XRD) for mineral analysis. Based on the comparison with loess-paleosol sequences in the CLP (hereafter referred to as the Chinese loess), we discuss the possible magnetic susceptibility enhancement mechanism of the Ili loess. The results show that 1) the total magnetic mineral concentration of the Ili loess is far lower than that of the Chinese loess, though they have similar magnetic mineral compositions. The ferrimagnetic minerals in the Ili loess are magnetite and maghemite, and the antiferromagnetic mineral is hematite; XRD analysis also identifies the presence of ilmenite. The ratio of maghemite is lower in the Ili loess than in the Chinese loess, but the ratios of magnetite and hematite are higher in the Ili loess than in the Chinese loess. 2) The granularity of magnetic minerals in the Ili loess, dominated by pseudo-single domain (PSD) and multi-domain (MD) grains, is generally much coarser than that of the Chinese loess. Ultrafine pedogenically-produced magnetic grains have a very limited contribution to the susceptibility enhancement. Rather, PSD and MD particles of magnetite and maghemite are the main contributors to the enhancement of susceptibility in the Ili loess. 3) The susceptibility enhancement mechanism for the Ili loess is complicated and superimposes both a wind velocity/vigor model (Alaskan or Siberian model) and the in situ ultrafine grain pedogenic model; the former might play an important role in the Ili loess. 4) Magnetic susceptibility enhancements of the Ili loess are related not only to the eolian input of the source area, but also to the local climate, landform, and geological background. Therefore, great care should be taken when reconstructing paleoclimate using magnetic susceptibility data from the Ili loess.

History and variability of Asian interior aridity recorded by eolian flux in the Chinese Loess Plateau during the past 7 Ma

Eolian flux in the Chinese Loess Plateau was reconstructed by measuring the dry bulk density and CaCO3 content of the late Cenozoic loess-paleosol-red clay sequences in the Lingtai profile. Comparison of eolian flux variation between the Lingtai profile and the ODP sites 885/886 in the North Pacific shows a significant wet-dry variability in addition to a gradual drying trend in the dust source regions in interior Asia. Especially, the increase of eolian fluxes from both continental and pelagic eolian sediments indicates a sharp drying of the dust source regions between 3.6 and 2.6 MaBP, which might be attributed to the tectonic uplift of the Tibetan Plateau, which cut down the moisture input to the interior Asia. The average value and variability of eolian flux are higher after 2.6 MaBP than before, which may be related to the Quaternary climatic fluctuations on the glacial-interglacial timescale after the commencement of major Northern Hemisphere Glaciations. The eolian fluxes of the Lingtai profile and Core V21-146 in northwest Pacific show a synchronous variation on the 103-105 a timescale, indicating that the flux variations from both continental and marine records are closely correlated to the Quaternary climatic fluctuation forced by the ice volume changes on a global scale.