Cosmogenic ^(10)Be and ^(26)Al Chronology of the Last Glaciation of the Palaeo-Daocheng Ice Cap,Southeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

The glacial landforms of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau （QTP） provide a unique opportunity to research hemispheric and global environmental changes. In this study, we focus on the glacial history of the palaeo-Daocheng Ice Cap （p-DIC） in the southeastern QTP during the last glacial cycle. Based on field investigations, morphostratigraphy, and surface exposure dating of roche moutonnée, polished surface and moraine debris through the terrestrial cosmogenic nuclides （TCN） ^10Be and ^26Al. We identify glacial deposits of the last deglaciation, with minimum ages of 14.9±1.3-18.7±1.7 ka, the Last Glacial Maximum （LGM） of 24.7±2.2 ka, and the early part of the last glacial period （marine oxygen isotope stage （MIS） 3） of 37.1±3.4-45.2±3.9 ka. Our results show that in this region, the extent of the glacial advance during MIS 3 was larger than that during the traditional LGM （MIS 2）. These ages are consistent with prior chronologies, and the ^10Be age is consistent with the ^26Al age for the same sample. Thus, these data provide reliable constraints on climate change in the QTP, during the last glaciation.

The glacial extent and glacial advance/retreat asynchroncity in East Asia during Last Glaciation

New dates for last glacial cycle in Tibetan bordering mountains and in East Asia show the glacial extent during the early/middle （MIS3-4） stage is larger than that of the late stage （MIS2） in last glacial cycle. It is asynchronous with the Northern Hemisphere ice sheets maximum and changes in oceanic circulation that predominately control global climate. In research areas, three seasonal precipitation patterns control the accumulation and ablation of glaciers. The modes of the westerlies and the East Asian mountains/islands in and along the Pacific Ocean are favorable to glacier advance with mainly winter precipitation accumulation. There was a global temperature-decreasing phase in the middle stage （MIS3b, 54-44 ka BP）, when the glacier extent was larger than that in Last Glaciation Maximum due to the low temperature combined with high moisture. It is revealed that the Quaternary glaciers not only evolved with localization, but also maybe with globalization. The latest studies show a fact that the developmental characteristics of glaciers in high mountains or islands along the western Pacific Ocean are not in accord with those inland areas. Therefore, it can be concluded that glacier development exhibits regional differences. The study validates the reasonableness of the asynchronous advance theory, and ascertains that both the synchronous and asynchronous advance/retreat of glaciers existed from 30 ka BP to 10 ka BP. It is not suitable to emphasize the synchronicity between global ice-volume and glacier change.

The morphological characteristics of glacial deposits during the Last Glaciation, taking the Parlung Zangbo River Basin as an example

Moraine morphology is a valuable indicator of climate change. The glacial deposits of ten valleys were selected in the Parlung Zangbo River Basin, southeastern Tibetan Plateau, to study the glacial characteristics of the Last Glaciation and the climate change processes as revealed by these moraines. Investigation revealed that a huge moraine ridge was formed by ancient glacier in the Marine Isotope Stage 2 （MIS2）, and this main moraine ridge indicates the longest sustained and stable climate. There are at least two smaller moraine ridges that are external extensions of or located at the bottom of the main moraine ridge, indicating that the climate of the glacial stage before MIS2 was severer but the duration was relatively shorter. This distribution may reflect the climate of MIS4 or MIS3b. The glacial valleys show multi-channel, small-scale moraine ridges between the contemporary glacial tongue and the main moraine ridge. Some of these multi-channel mo- raine ridges might be recessional moraine, indicating the significant glacial advance during the Younger Dryas or the Heinrich event. The moraine ridges of the Neoglaciation and the Little Ice Age are near the ends of the contemporary glaciers. Using high-precision system dating, we can fairly well reconstruct the pattern of climate change by studying the shape, extent, and scale characteristics of glacial deposits in southeastern Tibet. This is valuable research to understand the relationship between regional and global climate change.

Correlation between high-resolution climate records from a Nanjing stalagmite and GRIP ice core during the last glaciation

A 400-mm-long stalagmite from Tangshan Cave, Nanjing has beenanalyzed by a high-precision TIMS-U series dating method and also determined for oxygen and carbon stable isotopic compositions. The results provided a high-resolution paleoclimate record for eastern China during a time interval (from 54 000 to 19 000 aBP) of the last glaciation. The continuous record of oxygen-18 variations in the stalagmite, indicating a precipitation history of the East Asian monsoon, shows not only signals of the Heinrich events, but also the Dansgaard-Oeschger cycles which are first found in the last glacial climate record of the East Asian monsoon area. Although the stalagmite-based climatic signals match well with the GRIP ice core record, some differences between the two re-cords can be recognized: (1) The last glacial climate changes in eastern China exhibited a long-term remarkably cooling trend, superimposed on which were four successive Bond’s cycles illus-trated by the δ18O curve. This strong cooling tendency may be an effect of the strong summer mon-soon event during the MIS 3 over the Tibetan Plateau. (2) There exist some phase differences of 1000—2000 years between the cooling events in the stalagmite-based climate signal and the GRIP ice core record. Such differences should be further verified by calibrations of multiple dating meth-ods.

Spatiotemporal variations of deep-sea sediment components and their fluxes since the last glaciation in the northern South China Sea

Sediment components and their fluxes of Cores MD12-3428(water depth: 903 m), MD12-3433(water depth: 2125 m),and MD12-3434(water depth: 2995 m), obtained along a transect on the continental slope of the northern South China Sea, have been conducted to reveal the spatiotemporal variations and the controlling factors of the sediment components and of their fluxes.Results show that deep-sea sediments in the northern South China Sea are composed mainly of terrigenous(59–89%) and carbonate(6–38%) particles, with minor components of opal(1.6–9.4%) and organic matter(0.7–1.9%). Fluxes of terrigenous and carbonate particles reach up to 2.4–21.8 and 0.4–6.5 g cm–2 kyr–1, respectively, values that are one to two orders of magnitude higher than the fluxes of opal and organic matter. Temporal variations of the percentages and fluxes of deep-sea sediment components have displayed clear glacial-interglacial cyclicity since the last glaciation. Terrigenous, opal, and organic matter percentages and their fluxes increas clearly during marine isotope stage 2, while carbonate percentages and fluxes show an opposite variation pattern or are characterized by an unremarkable increase. This implies that deep-sea carbonate in the South China Sea is affected by the dilution of terrigenous inputs during the sea-level lowstand. With increasing water depth along the transect, the terrigenous percentage increases but with largely decreased fluxes. Both the percentage and flux of carbonate decrease, while the percentages and fluxes of opal and organic matter display much more complicated variational features. The spatiotemporal variations of deep-sea sediment components and of their fluxes since the last glaciation in the northern South China Sea are strongly controlled by sea-level fluctuations. Simultaneously, terrigenous supply associated with monsoonal rainfall, marine primary productivity,and the dilution effect between terrigenous and biogenic particles, also play interconnected roles in the sediment accumulation processes.

The monsoon and El Nio events during the last glaciation as recorded in core MD98-2182 from the western equatorial Pacific Ocean

Based on an analysis of δ18O and δ13C, the planktonic foraminiferal assemblage, and sedimentary grain size, and the study of multiproxy data such as paleothermocline depth, paleoproductivity, and paleosalinity during the last glaciation in core MD98-2182 from the central equatorial western Pacific warm pool, together with the data from other sites in this region, we found that sedimentary rates, terrestrial sediment grain size distribution, and paleoproductivity were markedly influenced by glacial-interglacial sea level changes in the study area. In late Marine Isotope Stage 3 （MIS3）, which was affected by glaciation and southeast summer monsoon action restricted by precession-modulated insolation, sedimentary rates and the coarse grain content of the terrestrial sediment in the study area were the highest in the past -38 ka BP, and paleoproductivity was higher during late MIS3 than the Last Glacial Maximum. A La Nifia state dominated in the two intervals of late MIS3 and the early Holocene, and the thermocline deepened. Correlated with the strong East Asian winter monsoon in the glacial period, an El Nifio state dominated during MIS2, the thermocline shoaled, and the sea surface salinity （SSS） trended lower from the west to the east owing to the precipitation zone as the locus of atmospheric convection shifted eastward.

Late Pleistocene glaciation of the Hulifang Massif of Gongwang mountains in Yunnan Province

Late Pleistocene glaciation was restricted to only a few high mountains in eastern China. The Gongwang mountains constitute one of the typical places once glaciated. Geomorphic mapping of the area and the TL dating provides evidence for at least four distinct glaciations. YJT-Ⅰ glacial advance occurred about 100 ka BP and two TL absolute ages （101,100 ± 7780 a BP; 104,000± 8300 a BP） indicate this advance happened during the Penultimale Glaciation. The early stage glacial advance （YJT-Ⅱ advance） during the last glaciation occurred about 40,920 ± 3400 a BP. The last glacial maximum advance （YJT-Ⅲ advance） about 18-25 ka BP, which sustained by two TL ages （18,230 ±1420 a BP; 25,420 ± 2110 a BP）. The Penultimale and the early stage glaciations were more extensive and the last glacial maximum （LGM） and the late-glacial period （YJT-Ⅳ advance, 10 ka BP） were progressively less extensive. Correlated with the other mountains in eastern China, these glacial advances in the Gongwang mountains just like the advances in the western part such as Diancang mountains, Yulong mountains of Yunnan Province and the glacier series are more complete than the adjacent mid-latitude regions such as Taibai mountain and Taiwan mountains and are roughly representative of climate changes during the last glacial cycle in Yunnan Province.

The marine environmental evolution in the northern Norwegian Sea revealed by foraminifera during the last 60 ka

Both planktonic and benthic foraminifera were identified in a sediment core collected from the northern Norwegian Sea to reconstruct the paleoceanographic evolution since the last glaciation.The assemblages and distribution patterns of dominant foraminiferal species with special habitat preferences indicated that three marine environments occurred in the northern Norwegian Sea since 62 ka BP:(1)an environment controlled by the circulation of the North Atlantic Current(NAC);(2)by polynya-related sinking of brines and upwelling of intermediate water surrounding the polynya;(3)by melt-water from Barents Sea Ice Sheet(BSIS).At 62-52.5 ka BP,a period with the highest summer insolation during the last glaciatial period,intensification of the NAC led to higher absolute abundances and higher diversity of foraminiferal faunas.The higher abundance of benthic species Cibicidoides wuellerstorfi indicates bottom water conditions that were well-ventilated with an adequate food supply;however,higher abundances of polar planktonic foraminiferal species Neogloboquadrina pachyderma(sin.)indicate that the near-surface temperatures were still low.During mid-late Marine Isotope Stage(MIS)3(52.5-29 ka BP),the marine environment of the northern Norwegian Sea alternately changed among the above mentioned three environments.At 29-17ka BP during the last glacial maximum,the dominant benthic species Bolivina arctica from the Arctic Ocean indicates an extreme cold bottom environment.The BSIS expanded to its maximum extent during this period,and vast polynya formed at the edge of the ice sheet.The sinking of brines from the formation of sea ice in the polynyas caused upwelling,indicated by the upwelling adapted planktonic species Globigerinita glutinata.At 17-10 ka BP,the northern Norwegian Sea was controlled by melt-water.With the ablation of BSIS,massive amounts of melt water discharged into the Norwegian Sea,resulting in strong water column stratification,poor ventilation,and an oligotrophic bottom condition,which ledto a drastic decline in the abundance and diversity of foraminifera.At 10-0 ka BP,the marine environment was transformed again by the control of the NAC,which continues to modern day.The abrupt decrease in relative abundance of Neogloboquadrina pachyderma(sin.)indicates a rise in near-surface temperature with the strengthening of the NAC and without the influence of the BSIS.

“Greatest lake period” and its palaeo-environment on the Tibetan Plateau

The “greatest lake period” means that the lakes are in the stage of their maximum areas. As the paleo lake shorelines are widely distributed in the lake basins on the Tibetan Plateau, the lake areas during the “greatest lake period” may be inferred by the last highest lake shorelines. They are several, even tens times larger than that at present. According to the analyses of tens of lakes on the Plateau, most dating data fell into the range of 40-25 ka BP, some lasted to 20 ka BP. It was corresponded to the stage 3 of marine isotope and interstitial of last glaciation. The occurrence of maximum areas of lakes marked the very humid period on the Plateau and was also related to the stronger summer monsoon during that period.

Evolution of permafrost in Northeast Chinasince the Late Pleistocene

In Northeast China, permafrost advanced and retreated several times under the influences of fluctuating paleo-climatesand paleo-environments since the Late Pleistocene. During the last 60 years, many new data were obtained and studies wereconducted on the evolution of permafrost in Northeast China, but so far no systematic summary and review have been made.Based on sedimentary sequences, remains of past permafrost, paleo-flora and -fauna records, and dating data, permafrostevolution since the Late Pleistocene has been analyzed and reconstructed in this paper. Paleo-temperatures reconstructedfrom the remains of past permafrost and those from paleo-flora and -fauna are compared, and thus the southern limitof permafrost （SLP） in each climate period is inferred by the relationship of the permafrost distribution and the meanannual air/ground temperatures （MAAT/MAGT）. Thus, the evolutionary history of permafrost is here divided into fivestages： （1） the Late Pleistocene （Last Glaciation, or LG） （65 to 10–8.5 ka）, the Last Glaciation Maximum （LGM, 21–13 ka）in particular, the coldest period in the latest history with a cooling of about 6~10 °C, characterized by extensive occurrencesof glaciation, flourishing Mammathas-Coelodonta Faunal Complex （MCFC）, widespread aeolian deposits, and significantsea level lowering, and permafrost greatly expanded southwards almost to the coastal plains （37°N–41°N）; （2） the HoloceneMegathermal Period （HMP, 8.5–7.0 to 4.0–3.0 ka）, 3~5 °C warmer than today, permafrost retreated to about 52°N; （3） theLate Holocene Cold Period （Neoglaciation） （4.0–3.0 to 1.0–0.5 ka）, a cooling of 1~3 °C, some earlier thawed permafrost wasrefrozen or attached, and the SLP invaded southwards to 46°N; （4） the Little Ice Age （LIA, 500 to 100–150 a）, the latestcold period with significant permafrost expansion; and （5） climate warming since the last century, during which NortheastChina has undergone extensive permafrost degradation. The frequent and substantial expansions and retreats of permafrosthave greatly impacted cold-region environments in Northeast China. North of the SLP during the HMP, or in the presentcontinuous permafrost zone, the existing permafrost was largely formed during the LG and was later overlapped by thepermafrost formed in the Neoglaciation. To the south, it was formed in the Neoglaciation. However, many aspects ofpermafrost evolution still await further investigations, such as data integration, numerical reconstruction, and merging ofChinese permafrost history with those of bordering regions as well as collaboration with related disciplines. Of these, studies on the evolution and degradation of permafrost during the past 150 years and its hydrological, ecological, and environmentalimpacts should be prioritized.