Geochronological and Geochemical Evidence for the Sedimentary Transformation from the Banxi Period to Nanhua Glacial Period

Objective There has been considerable debate about the definition of the lower boundary of Nanhua System by far.One definition is based on sedimentary sequence of different stages of basin evolution,focusing on whether deposits of the Banxi Period should be classified as Nanhua System.Another is the onset time of Nanhua glacial period.

North Atlantic Abrupt Climate Signals during the Last Glacial Period in Central Asia：Evidences from Aeolian Loess Sediments

Objective Climate fluctuations over suborbital or millennial timescale display significant instability during the last glacial period,which are often superimposed upon the orbital periodicity.They triggered some abrupt climate events,

Climate change during the last glacial period on the southeast margin of Badain Jaran Desert, Northwest China

Reconstruction of the desert paleoclimate is important to understand the mechanisms that triggered and/or enhanced climate change.Through optically stimulated luminescence(OSL)dating,grain size,magnetic susceptibility,X-ray powder diffraction(XRD)and geochemical indicators,we provide a welldated record of a sedimentary outcrop on the southeast margin of the Bardain Jaran Desert,Northwest China,during the last glacial period.Four Qz-OSL ages are obtained,41.0±3.4 ka,54.7±4.4 ka,59.5±5.0 ka and 66.8±5.8 ka,corresponding to the depths of 35 cm,70 cm,150 cm and 200 cm respectively.Indicators like grain size,clay content,magnetic susceptibility,XRD and geochemical index(e.g.Sr,Ba,Sr/Ca)jointly indicate abrupt climate changes at the depth of 35 cm(age,ca.41.0 ka)and200 cm(age,ca.67 ka).Namely,the 280 cm sedimentary outcrop perfectly records a warm wet climate stage,corresponding to the late Marine Isotope Stages(MIS)4 to the early MIS 3.Besides,there is a trend of grain size increase after around 40ka BP,which is most likely a signal of wind strength change.Our research supports that enhancing Siberian High pressure system during the late MIS 3played a key role in NW East Asia climate evolution.

Provenance of Sediments Filling a Paleo-Channel that Formed on the Western Yellow Sea Continental Shelf During the Last Glacial Period

Several buried paleo-channels are located on the continental shelf of the western Yellow Sea. Research on the paleochannels is significant for both theoretical studies and practical applications. In this paper, we analyse and discuss the mineralogy of sediments in a core(SYS-0803) recovered from a buried paleo-channel on the continental shelf of the western Yellow Sea. The aim is to determine the provenance of sediments that fill the paleo-channel. The heavy mineral assemblage of sediments in the core consists of schistose minerals, common hornblende, epidote, and ilmenite. The light mineral assemblage consists of plagioclase, quartz, lithic fragments, and K-feldspar. Analysis of the compositional maturity of the sand fraction revealed a quartz/feldspar ratio of < 1. A relatively high percentage of smectite is recorded throughout the entire paleo-channel fill, with the greatest percentage in the middle to lower parts. The detrital mineral assemblage and clay mineral content indicate that the paleo-channel sediments were sourced mainly from the Huanghe River during the last glacial period.

Palaeoclimatic Cycles, Global Environmental Changes and New Glacial Periods Induced by the Impact of Extraterrestrial Bodies

In terms of Earth\|Sun geometry, the Milankovitch theory has successfully explained most of the cyclic palaeoclimatic variations during the history of the Earth, especially in the Quaternary. In this paper, the authors suggest that the impact of extraterrestrial bodies on the Earth may be another mechanism to cause palaeoclimatic cycles, global environmental changes and new glacial periods. Based on geological and geochemical records in the boundary layers produced by six huge Cenozoic bolide\|impact events (65, 34, 15, 2.4, 1.1, 0.73 Ma B.P.), including those at 34, 15, 1.1 and 0.73 Ma B.P. which are represented by four famous tektite\|strewn fields, the process and mechanics of palaeoclimatic cycles and global environmental catastrophes induced by extraterrestrial impact are discussed in detail. Impact\|generated dust, soot and aerosol floating in the stratosphere could result in short\|term (<1 year), rapid drop in temperature immediately after impact. Through self\|regulation of the Earth’s climate system, the temperature at the surface slowly went up within 100a and maintained stable for a long time at 250K. If there were no other factors leading to the break\|down of the newly\|established equilibrium, a new glacial period would be initiated. Estimating from the thickness of \{δ\{\}\+\{13\}C\} and \{δ\{\}\+\{18\}O\} anomalies in sediments across the impact boundary layer and deposition rate, the duration of two stages of the palaeoclimate cycle in the form of cold weather—greenhouse effect—normal weather was 10\+4-10\+5a, respectively. The conclusion deduced from the above model is supported by palaeotemperature change recorded by oxygen isotope in sediments across the impact boundary layer.

Ice-volume and insolation influences on hydroclimate changes in central eastern China during the antepenultimate glacial period

The rainfall changes in East Asian summer monsoon(EASM)regions on the orbital timescale remain controversial due to the lack of reliable rainfall records.Here,we present new multiproxy records(δ^(18)O,δ^(13)C,Sr/Ca and Mg/Ca)of a230Thdated stalagmite from Hulu Cave in central eastern China.Multiproxy records reconstruct a regional hydroclimate history from 340 to 261 kyr BP(thousand years before present),approximately covering the antepenultimate glacial period.Theδ^(18)O record is dominated by the precessional cycles,suggesting that EASM responds to changes in Northern Hemisphere summer insolation(NHSI)on the orbital timescale.Significant correlations amongst theδ^(13)C,Sr/Ca and Mg/Ca suggest that a common factor,i.e.,the local hydrological cycle,controlled their variability,and their leading principal component can be used as a proxy linked to regional rainfall.This composite record bears a good similarity to those from the Chinese Loess Plateau,showing a gradually decreasing rainfall during the antepenultimate glacial period,consistent with changes in global ice volume.Superimposed on the long-term trend,three relative wetter intervals were responding to the higher NHSI periods,suggesting that EASM rainfall variability was induced by integrated effects of global ice volume and NHSI.The increased ice sheets and lower NHSI resulted in an increased meridional temperature gradient and southward shift of the westerlies,which shortened the duration of Meiyu and midsummer rainfall.The differences between the rainfall record and the stalagmiteδ^(18)O record indicate that the latter represents the overall EASM intensity linked to monsoon circulation,but does not directly reflect the rainfall changes at the cave sites.

Vast laminated diatom mat deposits from the west low-latitude Pacific Ocean in the last glacial period

Diatoms are one of the predominant contributors to global carbon fixation by accounting for over 40% of total oceanic primary production and dominate export production. They play a significant role in marine biogeochemistry cycle. The diatom mat deposits are results of vast diatoms bloom. By analysis of diatom mats in 136°00′―140°00′E,15°00′―21°00′N, Eastern Philippines Sea, we identified the species of the diatoms as giant Ethmodiscus rex (Wallich) Hendey. AMS 14C dating shows that the sediments rich in diatom mats occurred during 16000―28600 a B.P., which means the bloom mainly occurred during the last glacial period, while there are no diatom mat deposits in other layers. Preliminary analysis indicates that Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW) expanded northward and brought silicate-rich water into the area, namely, silicon leakage processes caused the bloom of diatoms. In addition, the increase of iron input is one of the main reasons for the diatom bloom.

Preliminary reconstruction of the desert and sandy land distributions in China since the last interglacial period

The desert and sandy land are the products of arid climate. The spatial distribution of modern deserts and sandy land in China and their relation to climate show following characteristics: arid and hyper-arid desert zones, at isohyet of less than 200 mm, are dominated by mobile dunes; semi-arid steppe and arid desert steppe with the precipitation between 200-400mm, are dominated by semi-fixed and fixed sand dunes; the precipitation of sub-humid forest grassland and humid forest zones with scattered fixed sand land is higher than 400 mm. With this as reference, in combination with considerable amount of paleoclimatic data in desert regions and adjacent regions, the distributions of desert and sandy land in China during the last interglacial period, the last glacial maximum (LGM), and the Holocene megathermal, were preliminarily reconstructed. The results compared with that of today show that the distribution of desert and sandy land in China was greatly dwindled during last interglacial period, and the mobile dune area was about two-thirds of that of today's, but greatly expanded during LGM. However, the dwindling area of desert and sandy land in the Holocene megathermal was smaller than that in the last interglacial period. The forcing mechanism was mainly related to the changes of East Asian winter and summer monsoon, south-northward swing of the westerlies and the variations of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau monsoon intensity caused by global climate changes during the cold and warm intervals since the last interglacial period.

Palaeoclimatic cycles and new glacial periods induced by the impact of extraterrestrial bodies

THE consequence of "nuclear winter" induced by nuclear war and climatic catastrophe induced by extraterrestrial impact were widely studied for fear of the potential danger of the basic nuclear war (the totalexplosive equivalent 5 000Mt TNT). Using zero-dimensional energy balance model authors reportedthe short-term climatic effect induced by six huge Cenozoic bolide-impact events (65, 34, 15, 2.4,1.1, 0.73 MaBP). However, only the direct climatic effect of dusts yielded by the impact was considered in the previous study. In this note, based on the previous simulation results the effect of variance ofglobal reflectance with temperature on the long-term climatic change was further taken into consideration.Combined with the strata records of palaeoclimatic change the relationship of impact energy with its in-

张掖盆地晚更新世至中全新世气候变化:孢粉学和重矿物学证据

为确定张掖盆地晚第四纪沉积地层时代和探讨其蕴含的古气候信息,笔者利用孢粉分析、重矿物分析、光释光测年等方法对研究区晚更新世以来气候变化特征进行了重建,并确认了当地全新世和晚更新世地层界限。结果表明:地层自下而上划分为4个孢粉组合带和植被类型及气候特征:①深度为56.8~26.4 m,年龄为112.7~63.3 ka,属末次间冰期,粉组合为松–板栗–藜–菊–蒿,针阔叶混交林草原植被,为晚更新世温暖较湿润气候。②深度为26.4~2.6 m,年龄为63.3~11.8 ka,与末次冰期相当,孢粉组合为松–麻黄–藜–蒿,植被类型为针阔叶混交林草原植被,为晚更新世干燥寒冷气候。③深度为2.6~0.8 m,年龄为11.8~8.9 ka,全新世早期,孢粉组合为松–藜–蒿,稀树针阔叶混交林草原植被,较凉较干气候。④深度为0.8~0.15 m,年龄为8.9~7.8 ka,全新世早期向中期过渡期,孢粉组合为松–藜–菊–蒿,稀树针阔叶混交林草原植被,为温暖较干气候。孢粉组合所揭示的晚更新世—中全新世气候变化特征,对于揭示张掖盆地甚至西北干旱区的古气候变化具有重要意义。

末次冰期东海嵊山岛黄土粒度端元分析及其环境意义

【目的】东海岛屿晚更新世风尘黄土堆积是我国黄土在东部长三角及外延海域重要的拓展,深化这一区域风尘黄土沉积的物源特征和后期演化问题研究,对于认识晚更新世区域古环境变化尤为重要。【方法】在OSL测年和磁化率测试基础上,基于东海岛屿典型风尘黄土剖面(嵊山岛黄土)的粒度分析,开展了粒度组成的端元分析,探讨了其蕴含的古环境信息。【结果与结论】嵊山岛黄土沉积可提取出3个粒度端元(EM1~EM3),进一步分析发现EM1可能代表通过高空西风气流传输的远源黏粒组分,EM2可能代表以浮尘形式远距离悬浮搬运并随风力减弱而沉降堆积的细粉砂组分,EM3可能代表冬季风驱动下的近地表短距离搬运堆积的粗粉砂组分。粒度端元分析结果表明,高空西风输送的黏粒端元组分和远距离悬浮运移的浮尘端元组分可能是沉积剖面主要粉尘来源;综合年代学结果、百分频率磁化率和颗粒中值粒径等参数分析,认为东海嵊山岛黄土沉积过程在MIS3阶段先后经历暖湿—冷干—暖湿的旋回波动;并且,所记录的MIS3阶段气候波动以及MIS2阶段末次冰盛期和冰消期的古环境变化同深海氧同位素和古海平面变化趋势相对应,说明东海陆架区域该时期环境演变与全球性气候波动相协同。

基于Sentinel-1时序数据的山地冰川表面消融变化研究--以老虎沟12号冰川为例

冰川是影响气候变化的主要因素,合成孔径雷达(SAR)不仅具有较高空间分辨率和多极化等特点,而且对冰雪融化引起的介电常数变化较为敏感,已成为山地冰川表面消融变化监测的重要数据源。基于Sentinel-1时序数据,提出了一种综合应用多时相多极化SAR变化检测算法和Sigmoid函数的冰川表面消融监测方法。以祁连山老虎沟12号冰川为研究区,利用“中心线-圆”方法获得的冰川东、西支64个样区,通过各点2019-2020年124个时相的SAR后向散射系数变化特征确定了7个典型样区及2019和2020年冰川消融期;基于同轨道参考影像与多时相融雪影像对比,分别获得变化监测影像VV和VH极化后向散射系数,对其进行权重组合后提取湿雪像元;通过Sigmoid函数并结合湿雪平均海拔高度提取干雪,从而得到2年冰川消融期内16个时相的冰川表面干湿雪分布。利用2019年09月01日无人机数字正射影像(DOM)以及与Sentinel-1邻近日期5景Sentinel-2影像对提取结果进行精度验证,并结合冰川上气象站点气温和降水数据对误差结果进行深入分析。实验结果表明,该方法能够有效提取冰川表面干、湿雪分布,总体分类精度OA高达96%,Kappa系数高达0.84。老虎沟12号冰川消融期及覆盖各类型消融变化规律存在年际变化:2019年冰川的消融期为5月初至9月中下旬,2020年的消融期为6月中下旬至9月初;2019年从消融季开始,冰川表面干雪面积迅速减小,而湿雪与冰川冰面积在整个消融期均较大,但随着强降雪出现,干雪面积骤然上升,2020年冰川冰和湿雪面积变化明显,冰川冰面积持续增加,湿雪面积持续减小,而干雪面积在高海拔区趋于稳定。

The Glacial(MIS 3-2)Outlet Glacier of the Marsyandi Nadi-icestream-network with its Ngadi Khola Tributary Glacier(Manaslu-and Lamjung Himalaya):The Reconstructed Lowering of the Marsyandi Nadi Ice Stream Tongue down in to the Southern Himalaya Foreland

For the reconstruction of past climate variations,investigations on the history of glaciers are necessary.In the Himalaya,investigations like these have a rather short tradition in comparison with other mountains on earth.At the same time,this area on the southern margin of Tibet is of special interest because of the question as to the monsoon-influence that is connected with the climate-development.Anyhow,the climate of High Asia is of global importance.Here for the further and regionally intensifying answer to this question,a glacial glacier reconstruction is submitted from the CentralHimalaya,more exactly from the Manaslu-massif.Going on down-valley from the glacial-historical investigations of 1977 in the upper Marsyandi Khola(Nadi) and the partly already published results of field campaigns in the middle Marsyandi Khola and the Damodar- and Manaslu Himal in the years 1995,2000,2004 and 2007,new geomorphological and geological field- and laboratory data are introduced here from the Ngadi(Nadi) Khola and the lower Marsyandi Nadi from the inflow of the Ngadi(Nadi) Khola down to the southern mountain foreland.There has existed a connected ice-stream-network drained down to the south by a 2,100-2,200 m thick and 120 km long Marsyandi Nadi main valley glacier.At a height of the valley bottom of c.1,000 m a.s.l.the Ngadi Khola glacier joined the still c.1,300 m thick Marsyandi parent glacier from the Himalchuli-massif(Nadi(Ngadi) Chuli) – the south spur of the Manaslu Himal.From here the united glacier tongue flowed down about a further 44 km to the south up to c.400 m a.s.l.(27°57'38 "N/84°24'56" E) into the Himalaya fore-chains and thus reached one of or the lowest past ice margin position of the Himalayas.The glacial(LGP(Last glacial period),LGM(Last glacial maximum) Würm,Stage 0,MIS 3-2) climatic snowline(ELA = equilibrium line altitude) has run at 3,900 to 4,000 m a.s.l.and thus c.1,500 altitude meters below the current ELA(Stage XII) at 5,400-5,500 m a.s.l.The reconstructed,maximum lowering of the climatic snowline(ΔELA = depression of the equilibrium line altitude) about 1,500 m corresponds at a gradient of 0.6°C per 100 altitude meters to a High Glacial decrease in temperature of 9°C(0.6 × 15 = 9).At that time the Tibetan inland ice has caused a stable cold high,so that no summer monsoon can have existed there.Accordingly,during the LGP the precipitation was reduced,so that the cooling must have come to more than only 9°C.

深沪湾末次冰期以来的地层结构及古环境演变

通过深沪湾高分辨率浅地层剖面声学地层和地质钻孔沉积地层的对比,并结合沉积物的粒度、微体古生物以及AMS14C测年的综合分析,揭示了研究区晚更新世末次冰期以来的地层层序,探讨了深沪湾的古环境演变。深沪湾高分辨率浅地层剖面自上而下划分的5个声学地层单元与钻孔岩芯划分的5个沉积地层单元具有较好的对应关系。8.2 ka BP左右,全新世海侵使得海水进入深沪湾海域,海平面低于现今海平面10~12 m,气候凉爽;7 ka BP左右海水到达现今海平面位置,并于6 ka BP左右到达最高,约比现今海平面高2~3 m,气候温暖湿润,这一时期,近岸大量裸子植物被海水淹没并被沉积物快速掩埋;5 850~5 642 a BP研究区温度降低,该降温活动持续到2 ka BP左右,气候凉爽干燥;2 ka BP以来温度逐渐上升,600 a BP左右有一个相对冷期,之后温度又逐渐上升至现今水平。

辽宁新元古代各阶段升降界面的再认识

【研究目的】辽宁地区位于华北板块东北缘,传统观点认为华北板块自吕梁-四堡运动之后直至古生代末期,一直处于构造稳定期,没有受到明显的构造运动影响。近年来研究结果表明,辽宁地区新元古代时期构造运动相对较为频繁。前人根据大连地区1/25万区调(2001)确认的风化夷平面,将辽宁新元古代时期的构造运动统称为晋宁运动,并划分为四个次一级构造运动,分别为万福升降运动(相当芹峪升降运动)、驼山升降运动、茶叶沟升降运动和大连升降运动,其中驼山升降运动和茶叶沟升降运动的划分定义存在不准确性,其命名有待商榷,需进一步研究探讨。【研究方法】本文以辽宁地区的新元古代地层为研究对象,以区域地质调查资料为基础,结合同位素测年资料对辽宁省新元古代升降运动进行了重新划分与定义。【研究结果】通过区域对比研究划分出晋宁运动和大连运动两个旋回和七个次一级的升降运动,并将其对应于三次冰期、两次间冰期以及冰期前和冰期后。七个次一级的降运动分别命名为芹峪升降、殷屯升降、大孤山升降、太子河升降、复州升降、南关岭升降和大连升降。殷屯升降、大孤山升降、太子河升降、复州升降和南关岭升降等五个次一级构造运动,本次统称之为晋宁运动,代表新元代早期的构造运动;新元古代中晚期(约890~541 Ma),辽宁地区缺失原兴民村组之上地层,代表新一期构造运动抬升的产物,本次将该期运动称之为大连运动,与西北的柯坪运动和南方的澄江运动基本相当。芹峪升降界面标志着四堡运动的结束和晋宁运动的开始;青白口系周家崴子组和王家坦子组之间的沉积间断称为南关岭升降,南关岭升降界面标志着晋宁运动的结束和大连运动的开始;大连升降界面(约541 Ma)的确认,标志着新元古代大连运动的结束和早古生代兴凯运动的开始。【结论】辽宁地区新元古代早期构造运动较为频繁,存在三次冰碛作用和多处平行不整合界面,可划分为晋宁运动和大连运动两个旋回以及七个次一级的升降运动,为区域地层研究对比提供重要参考资料。

南运河冬季输水冰情及对策研究

南运河的冬季输水工作开展较少,冰期输水经验不足。2022—2023年度,南水北调东线北延输水为线路启用以来首次冬季输水。输水期间,在南运河段设立安陵、北陈屯2个观测站点,对冰期输水各个阶段的冰情特点进行观测,从而了解并掌握冰情的变化规律,并提出冰期输水对策,为今后的冰期输水工作提供参考。

A New High-resolution Late Glacial-Holocene Climatic Record from Eastern Nanling Mountains in South China

A 350-cm-long sediment core sequence from Dahu Swamp situated in the eastern Nanling Mountains was selected for high-resolution paleoclimatic reconstruction since the Late Glacial period. The multi-proxy records of this paper reveal several evidently dry and cold events that may coincide with the Oldest Dryas, the Older Dryas, the Younger Dryas in the late deglacial period. Two relatively wetter and warmer phases occurred in ca. 15,000-14,400 cal yr B.P. and 13,500-12,800 cal yr B.P. respectively may correspond to the Blling and Allerd warming events. The Younger Dryas event (ca. 12,800-11,500 cal yr B.P.) revealed by multi-proxies was characterized by relatively colder and drier climate. A warmer and wetter climate, occurred in ca. 10,000-6000 cal yr B.P., was consistent with the Holocene Optimum, which coincided with the maximum Northern Hemisphere insolation. The "8.2kyr cool event" and even the "8.8kyr cool event" were indicated as well from our sediment core. A dry mid-Holocene period (ca. 6000- 3000 cal yr B.P.) indicated by multi-proxies does not follow the traditional concept of the wet mid-Holocene conditions observed in other regions in China.

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

Geochemical and grain size analysis on the DQ （Dongqi） profile from Gonghe Basin, northeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, indi- cates that regional climate has experienced several cold-dry and warm-wet cycles since the last glacial maximum （LGM）. The cold and dry climate dominated the region before 15.82 cal. ka B.E due to stronger winter monsoon and weaker summer monsoon, but the climate was relatively cold and wetter prior to 21 cal. ka B.E. In 15.824.5 cal. ka B.E, summer monsoon strength in- creased and winter monsoon tended to be weaker, implying an obvious warm climate. Specifically, the relatively cold and dry condition appeared in 14.7-13.7 cal. ka B.E and 12.14.5 cal. ka B.R, respectively, while relatively warm and wet in 13.~12.1 cal. ka B.E. The winter and summer monsoonal strength presents frequent fluctuations in the Holocene and relatively warm and wet conditions emerged in 9.5~.0 cal. ka B.E due to stronger summer monsoon. From 7.0 to 5.1 cal. ka B.E, the cycle of cold-dry and warm-wet climate corresponds to frequent fluctuations of winter and summer monsoons. The climate becomes warm and wet in 5.1 2.7 cal. ka B.E, accompanying increased summer monsoon, but it tends to be cold and dry since 2.7 cal. ka B.R due to en- hanced winter monsoonal strength. In addition, the evolution of regional winter and summer monsoons is coincident with warm and cold records from the polar ice core. In other words, climatic change in the Gonghe Basin can be considered as a regional re- sponse to global climate change.

临汾盆地晚冰期至中全新世黄土-古土壤序列的风化特征及指示的气候意义

了解中国北方晚冰期和全新世时期的气候环境变化及其驱动机制,有助于预测未来气候变化的可能情景。基于黄土高原东南缘临汾盆地的黄土-古土壤剖面,在3个AMS14C年代的支持下,通过粒度、磁化率、土壤有机碳以及地球化学元素等指标,重建了临汾盆地晚冰期至中全新世晚期的气候变化历史。结果表明:宋村沟剖面的黄土和古土壤分别处于初等和中等化学风化阶段,而不同地区风成堆积物的化学风化强度存在明显差异,主要受控于东亚夏季风的区域变化。多指标综合分析表明,晚冰期以来临汾盆地的气候演变经历了4个阶段:晚冰期东亚冬季风较强,气候干冷;早全新世东亚夏季风强化,气候向暖湿转变;早中全新世东亚夏季风达到峰值,为最暖湿的适宜期;中全新世晚期东亚夏季风减弱,气候再次转向干冷;临汾盆地的气候变化主要受控于北半球太阳辐射强度和冰量的变化。

过去64万年以来湖北三宝洞石笋生长速率变化及其古气候意义

利用石笋平均生长速率变化来重建古气候环境变迁已成为洞穴古气候研究的重要领域。文章以湖北三宝洞横跨22~64万年的5支石笋167个230Th年龄数据为材料,结合过去的工作,重建了晚更新世64万年以来长江中下游地区东亚夏季风降水变化过程。结果表明:深海氧同位素(MIS)1,5.3,5.5,7.3,7.5,9,15.1,15.5阶段石笋生长速率显著增大,指示东亚夏季风强度增强,降水增多;相反,冰期阶段生长速率缓慢或者不发育,指示夏季风强度减弱,降水明显减少,但平均生长速率指标并不能定量指示夏季风强度变化。当石笋生长速率低于10μm·a^(−1)时,不能有效地指示冰期—间冰期旋回变化。在轨道尺度上,平均生长速率所揭示的冰期—间冰期波动可能归因于全球冰量和太阳辐射共同作用的结果。