Leachate Lithium Characteristics of Loess-paleosol Sequences on the Chinese Loess Plateau and their Paleoclimatic Significance

The geochemical components of the leachate from loess-paleosol deposits can provide information about climaterelated post-depositional processes.For example,leachate lithium([Li]_(leachate))is a potential paleoclimate proxy because lithium is a typical lithophile element that is readily adsorbed by clay minerals during weathering and pedogenesis,and thus stratigraphic variations in[Li]leachatecan reflect these processes.We investigated the[Li]leachatevalues of two loess-paleosols profiles(the Luochuan and Weinan sections),on a north-south climatic gradient on the Chinese Loess Plateau.Independent paleoclimate information was provided by measurements of magnetic susceptibility,grain size,Rb/Sr ratios,and clay mineral content.During the last glacial-interglacial period,[Li]leachateincreased from 0.39 to 1.97μg/g at Luochuan and from 0.67 to 2.45μg/g at Weinan,mainly due to increasing pedogenesis.Based on these results we developed a conceptual model to explain the variations in[Li]leachate,Li^(+)within loess layers is mainly derived from dust input and the decomposition of primary minerals,influenced by the East Asian winter monsoon,while in paleosol layers Li is mainly derived from clay mineral adsorption during pedogenic processes,influenced by the East Asian summer monsoon.

Red Ratings for Loess-Paleosol Sequences on China’s Loess Plateau and Their Paleo-Climatic Implications

Comparisons of red ratings (RR) with Fe_d, Fe_d/Fet, clay content, andmagnetic susceptibility (x) of two loess-paleosol sequences at Luochuan and Lingtai on China's LoessPlateau were conducted to study the possible relationship between RR and pedogenic degrees of thetwo loess-paleosol sequences, and to discuss whether the RR could become new paleo-climaticindicators. Results showed that the RR of the two loess-paleosol sequences had positive, highlysignificant (P < 0.01) correlations with: 1) citrate-bicarbonate-dithionite (CBD) extracted iron(Fe_d), 2) ratios of CBD extracted iron to total iron (Fe_d/Fet), 3) clay (< 2 mum), and 4) magneticsusceptibility (x). This suggested that the RR of these loess-paleosol sequences could indicatedegreesof loess weathering and pedogenesis and were potential paleo-climatic proxies. The strongcorrelations of RR to Fe_d and x also implied that during pedogenic processes, pedogenic hematite inloess and paleosols were closely related to the amount of total secondary iron oxides and pedogenicferrimagnetic minerals (predominantly maghemite).

A preliminary study of the quantitative couplingbetween loess-paleosol sequences and summermon soon changes

The Loess Plateau-Northeastern Tibetan Plateau in China is famous for its deep andcontmuous distributed loess, in which soils (developed from loess) vary gradually with differentbiological climates changing from subhumid to arid, which provide a natural proving ground forstUd}' the coupling of loess-paleosol and climatic changes quantitatively. Thirty-two sections weresampled (collected) for measuring chemical element contents, clay content (and other items) and 60sections were collected for carbonate analysis to establish transfer functions between pedogenesisand climate. Finally, we estimated the paleoclAnate (P/T) in the region with transfer functions,It isrevealed that the variation of paleocldriate reflected by transfer functions accorded closely with theclimatic pattern resulted from recent work. Specifically, it was about 140 ha BP that summermonsoon reached Lanzhou or further, paleosol S1 (equaling to MIS 5 in deep sea records) developedstrongly in a large scale, even touching upon northeanstern Tibetan Plateau. And, the estimated P/Tinformation also indicated the cold and humid period during 50-30 ka BP, mean annual Precipitationwas about 400-500 nun in Angutan recorded by mega-interstadial paleosol Sm.

Magnetostratigraphy of a Loess-Paleosol Sequence from Higher Terrace of the Daduhe River in the Eastern Margin of the Tibetan Plateau and Its Geological Significance

The eolian deposits distributed in the river valleys in the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau （TP） are very useful in neotectonic and paleoclimatic studies. Firstly, the climate in the eastern margin of the TP is mainly controlled by the Indian summer monsoon, and detailed studies on the loess-paleosol sequences in this region can provide valuable terrestrial evidence of past changes in the Indian summer monsoon. Secondly, the river terraces in the eastern margin of the TP are considered to be a sensitive recorder of neotectonism to reflect the timing and amplitude of the TP uplift.

Variability of Carbonate Pedofeatures in a Loess-Paleosol Sequence and their Use for Paleoreconstructions

Carbonate pedofeatures were studied in details in a loess-paleosol pedocomplex near Kursk, in the central part of the European Plain. The soils studied included a modern Chernozem and five Pleistocene paleosols. Carbonate morphologies and distributions were described in the field. Various morphologies were sampled for further studies including micromorphology in thin sections and submicroscopic studies under a scanning electron microscope. The complex approach of investigation at macro-, micro-, and submicroscopic levels found that most of carbonate pedofeatures are secondary and multiphase. Many of them are related to cryogenic features. The general trend was of decreasing carbonate content in the older paleosols except for increased content in the 1St and 3rd paleosols. Most of carbonate morphologies are similar in the modern soil and paleosols, but pseudomycelium was found only in the modern Chernozem, while soft masses and impregnations are associated with the paleosols. Detailed study on carbonate attributes revealed their specific features in the modern soil and in paleosols. Veins have dissolution features under the modern environment and seem to reprecipitate in form of pseudomycelium. Coatings in paleosols at a depth of the Ist paleosol include specific fine tubes. Powdery soft masses and impregnations in the paleosols are strongly related to cryogenic fissures and paleopermafrost level. Under SEM they consist of tiny crystals, much smaller than in regular soft masses. Several types of hard concretions were identified：rounded, irregular and platy. Small concretions in the modern Chernozem have similar morphology and similar 14C-age as the rounded concretions of the upper paleosols. They are expected to represent the same generation of concretions. Platy concretions fill the bottom part of the large fissures. The 14C-age of hard concretions varies from 3310±80 yrs. B.P in the Ist paleosol up to 20 400 yrs. B.P. in the 3^rd. As a result we found the reflection of several wet-dry and cold-warm stages in carbonate morphologies and distributions. High variability of carbonates at macro-, micro- and submicroscopic levels indicates several generations and multiphase formation of carbonate pedofeatures in the loess-paleosol pedocomplex. Carbonate pedofeatures in the examined pedocomplex are more informative for the study of late Pleistocene and Holocene climatic cycles rather than characterization of a single paleosol.

Red Clay Sediment in the Central Chinese Loess Plateau and Its Implication for the Uplift of the Tibetan Plateau

The widely distributed red clay sediment underlying the Chinese Loess Plateau truly records the Neogene environmental evolution, and its genesis and development are intrinsically related to the uplift processes of the Tibetan Plateau and the evolution of East Asia monsoon system. In this paper, a detailed magnetostratigraphy of a loess-red clay section （107°13′E, 35°02′N） from the central Loess Plateau is reported. The loess-red clay sequence is composed of 175 m Quaternary loess-paleosol sequence and 128 m Neogene red clay sediments. Based on the correlation with the standard geomagnetic polarity time scale, the paleomagnetic results indicate that the age of Chaona red clay sequence extends to 08.1 Ma, which is the older red clay deposition in the central Chinese Loess Plateau. The commencement of red clay at -8.1 Ma may imply that the Ordos planation surface was broken by the movement of the Haiyuan-Liupanshan Faults, which was related to the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau induced by the collision of India Plate and Eurasian Plate. And the western part adjacent to the Tibetan Plateau was uplifted to form the embryo of the Liupan Shan （Mts.） and the eastern part was down-faulted to receive red clay deposition. We link this faulting to an initial uplift of the Tibetan Plateau. The undulating nature of the broken Ordos planation surface may explain the chronological differences and depth discrepancies among various cross-sections of red clay.

A warmer but drier Marine Isotope Stage 11 during the past 650 ka as revealed by the thickest loess on the western Chinese Loess Plateau

Marine Isotope Stage 11（MIS 11; ca. 423-362 ka） is generally considered to be the best analogue for the present interglacial（Holocene）, and investigation of it will improve our understanding of current climate variability and assist in predictions of future climate change. However, many recent studies primarily focus on the structure and duration of MIS 11. Little research has focused on climate warmth and stability recorded in the Chinese loess-paleosol sequences（LPS） during the S4 paleosol formation（equivalent to MIS 11）. On the basis of previous work, this study presents a high-resolution record（ca. 75 a/cm） that spans from MIS 1 to MIS 15, as preserved in the thickest known Jingyuan loess section on the western Chinese Loess Plateau（CLP）. This LPS is almost 165 m thick and was sampled from the upper part of L6 to the modern soil at 2-cm depth intervals. Measurements of magnetic susceptibility, mean grain size and ＆gt;63 μm particle content, carbonate content, total organic carbon, and soil color of samples were made to reconstruct the paleoclimate variation, and a grain-size age model was used to constrain the chronological framework. The primary results show that a generally warm-humid climate dominated the S4 paleosol development, but the climate condition was extremely unstable during the whole of MIS 11. Two obviously different climate regimes controlled the MIS 11 climate variation： the early part of MIS 11 was extremely warm and stable, but the latter part was relatively cool（non-glacial） and unstable. This climate pattern was consistent with records on the central CLP and wavelet analysis suggested that it was forced by the 65°N insolation variability modulated by a quasi-100-ka cycle. In addition, a multi-proxy comparative study on the climate conditions during S0 to S5 paleosol development indicates that the period of S4 development might be the warmest interglacial of the past 650 ka. However, the climate condition during S4 development was not the most humid episode as recorded in Xifeng and Luochuan loess sections on the central CLP. On the contrary, it was drier than both the MIS 15 and the present interglacial on the western CLP, which is somewhat similar to the present climate pattern on the central CLP.

Comparison of paleotemperature reconstructions using microbial tetraether thermometers of the Chinese loess-paleosol sequence for the past 350000 years

The recently proposed global and local calibrations for the mean annual air temperature(MAT) reconstruction on the basis of 5-and 6-methyl brGDGTs have rarely been applied to the Chinese LPS yet, leaving the applicability of these calibrations unclear. Here, we used the improved chromatography method to analyze 198 loess-paleosol samples from the Weinan section in the southern CLP for the past 350 kyr. The 6-methyl brGDGTs comprise a major proportion of total brGDGTs, pointing to alkaline conditions for most soil samples from the Weinan LPS. The decoupled profile variation of MBT′6ME and MBT′_(5ME) suggests their response to different enviromental factors, possibly soil pH(or soil moisture) and temperature, respectively. This discrimination further corraborates that temperature and monsoonal precipitation were not in phase during the last four deglaciations on the CLP. Temperature estimates for the six calibrations tested show similar trends but remarkably differ in amplitudes. The soil moisture appears to affect the global MBT′/CBT calibration, the global MATmr calibration(a calibration based on the multiple linear regression) and the Chinese local SSM(Stepwise Selection Method) calibration, resulting in a significant underestimation of late Holocene temperature. In contrast, the dry climate has no effect on the global MBT′5ME calibration. Of the six calibrations,only the Chinese local SSM calibration and global MATmr calibration produce temperature variation amplitude over the past 350 ka that is consistent with other independent proxy data. The recently proposed local calibrations based on 5-and 6-methyl brGDGTs for North China yield the amplitude of temperature changes that is much larger than the results determined by other approaches.All the six calibrations have their own weakness in the MAT reconstruction, due partly to the inconsistency between the brGDGT distribution in the Weinan LPS and the modern soils used to establish these calibrations.

Rock magnetic properties of a loess-paleosol couple along an N-S transect in the Chinese Loess Plateau

We have conducted detailed rock magnetic experiments on samples from loess unit 8 (L8) and paleosol unit 8 (S8) in Jingbian, Yichuan and Duanjiapo loess sections along an N-S transect in the Chinese Loess Plateau. Major rock magnetic results are as follows: (i) An increase of high field susceptibility (χh) in the same level of loess or paleosol from north to south is observed, suggesting an enhancement of pedogenesis. (ii) The low field susceptibility(χL) in loess unit L8 is almost the same in three sections. In contrast, the χL of paleosol unit S8 in Yichuan is highest, and the χL of Duanjiapo is lower than that in Yichuan section, suggesting that there is not correlation between the χL and the degree of pedogenesis in loess-paleosols. (iii) With the increasing of χL, both the contents of the superparamagnetic (SP) and the ferrimagnetic grains in loess-paleosol increase, however, the enhancement of magnetic susceptibility is probably dependent more on the increase of the ferrimagnetic concentration than on a change in the grain size. (iv) The content of the maghemite in loess unit 8 increases from the northern to the southern part of the Chinese Loess Plateau, and is positively correlated with the pedogenesis of the loess.

Paleo-environmental study on the growth of magnetotactic bacteria and precipitation of magnetosomes in Chinese loess-paleosol sequences

405 samples were collected from L5-S5-L6 in consideration of obvious variations in susceptibility of the geological sections, which are section Xifeng in Gansu Province and section Duanjiapo in Shaanxi Province for study of magnetotactic bacteria (MB) and magnetosomes (MS) in Chinese loess-paleosol sequences. MB in each sample were observed by TEM after being cultured under 8-18℃, room temperature (RT), 25℃, 26℃ and 30℃ conditions. In general, MB are distributed widely in loess-paleosol sequences, fewer in loess layers with predomination of vibriod in shape. However, there are more MB in paleosol layers with morphological varieties such as roddish, vibriod and occasionally approximately coccus. The magnetosomes (MS) in MB of paleosol are usually arranged in chains along the cells. It was also found that MB growth and MS formation are associated with the environment in which MB live. It can be inferred from the distributions of MB and MS that the paleoclimates fluctuated during the formation of

Transformation relationship among different magnetic minerals within loess-paleosol sediments of the Chinese Loess Plateau

The dominant magnetic minerals and carriers of magnetic signals within the Chinese Loess Plateau are magnetite, maghemite, hematite, and goethite. In this study, we investigated the provenance and evo- lution of magnetic minerals during loess pedogenesis, using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and optical and electron microscopy, including field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and high- resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Our results reveal that single- and multiphase mineral assemblages among magnetic minerals in the loess-paleosol sequence have been formed. Partial oxidation of coarse eolian magnetite has occurred in the desert source area and the oxidation degree is enhanced after deposition of the dust upon the Chinese Loess Plateau. This mode of origin resulted in a microtexture consisting of an inner magnetite core surrounded by a hematite rim, and strongly affected the magnetic characteristics of the loess. Goethite coexists with hematite in the loess and paleosol, and nanometer-scale hematite is formed upon goethite rims via dehydration. Our study provides direct mineralogical evidence of the magnetic record and paleoclimatic implications of the loess–paleosol sequence of the Chinese Loess Plateau.

Modeling and simulation of dynamic carbonate deposition in a loess-paleosol sequence

A compartment model of dynamic deposition processes has been developed and testedin the Potou loess section of China. There are four components in the model : carbonate input ofeolian dust, carbonate output of erosion, carbonate chemical equilibrium and soil water balance. Aclimate stochastic model software (CLIMAK) generates the daily weather data. The processes ofeolian dust deposition, erosion, and pedogenesis simulate the complex process of carbonatedeposition in a loess-paleosol sequence. We consider both climatic change and soil-forming factors.The results indicate that since the Late Pleistocene in Potou section, the mean carbonate fluxesfrom precipitation, eolian dust and erosion are 0.14g/cm^2/kg, 1.45g/cm^2/ka and 0.23g/cm^2/karespectively. Of this, 91.2% of the carbonate input is from eolian dust.

Geochemical characterization of loess-paleosol sequences:Comparison between the upper reaches of the Hanjiang and Weihe river valleys,China

This paper aims to compare the geochemical characteristics of loess-paleosol sequences in the upper reaches of the Hanjiang and Weihe river valleyswhich are located in the semi-humid temperate zone and humid subtropical zonerespectively. The Mituosi（MTS） profile in the upper reaches of the Hanjiang River valley and the Yaohecun（YHC） profile in the Weihe River valley were selected for this comparative research. The stratigraphic characteristicscompositionchemical weathering intensityleaching rates of Ca and Namobility of major elementsand transport features of Na and Fe were analyzed with respect to depth and compared between the two profiles. This study reached the following conclusions.（1） The composition of the loess-paleosol sequences in two regions are quite similar to the average composition of the upper continental crust（UCC）indicating that the loess in the two regions came from multiple sources and was mixed well. Thereforethe loess in the two regions is considered aeolian loess.（2） Compared with the loess-paleosol sequence in the Weihe River valleythe loess-paleosol sequence in the upper reaches of the Hanjiang River valley features a darker color; a higher chemical index of alteration（CIA） value; higher leaching rates of Na and Ca; higher migration ratio（relative to K） of AlSiMgand Na; and lower migration ratio of Fe and Ca. This evidence indicates that the loess-paleosol sequence in the humid subtropical environment experienced stronger chemical weathering intensity than the loess-paleosol sequence in the semi-humid temperate zone.（3） Both the YHC profile and MTS profile record a period of climate deterioration at 6000–5000 a BP. The period punctuated the mid-Holocene Climatic Optimum（8500–3100 a BP） in the study area.

Loess in Kunlun Mountains and its implications on desert development and Tibetan Plateau uplift in west China

Loess on the northern slope of Kunlun Mountains is the synchronous deposition of the Taklimakan Desert. The paleomagnetism and climatic records of an over 80 m loess-paleosol sequence on the highest river terrace at the foot of Kunlun Mountains show that the loess formed at ~ 880 ka B.P., suggesting a roughly synchronous occurrence of the present-like air circulation and extremely dry climate and the initial desert. The uplift of the Tibetan-Pamir Plateau and Tian-shan Mountains may initiate these events. The rise of the plateau and adjacent mountains caused the drying and desertification of China inland and Tarim Basin, which was dramatically enhanced at ~ 500 ka B.P., leading the desert to expand to its present scale. Global change just overprints this drying trend. Local climate response to global change both in long-term evolution and glacial-interglacial cycles manifests that the stronger the westerlies, the more the precipitation. But the heat-moisture pattern seems still similar to that in the Asian monsoon region.

Geochemical indicator of original eolian grain size and implications on winter monsoon evolution

Grain size of eolian deposits from the Loess Plateau in China has been widely used to reconstruct the history of the East Asian winter monsoon. However, the grain size of bulk samples is only partially indicative to the strength of the winter monsoon because post-depositional weathering processes have significantly changed the grain size of original eolian particles. Here, non-weathered loess samples were separated into eight different particle fractions, and major chemical elements were determined in order to establish a geochemical indicator of original eolian grain size. The results show that SiO2 and AI2O3 contents and the SiO2/AI2O3 ratio in different fractions vary regularly with grain size, and that a good linear relation exists between the SiO2/AI2O3 ratio and grain size for the fractions <50μm. Because Al and Si are among the most stable elements and pedogenic processes in the Loess Plateau cannot affect the SiO2/AI2O3 ratio, this index can be used to reflect the grain size of original eolian particles. Application of this index in the Weinan and Luochuan loess sections of the last climatic cycle shows that SiO2/AI2O3 is in good agreement with median grain size (Md) in the loess units. On the contrary, SiO2/AI2O3 has documented a series of fluctuations in the soil units that are not clearly indicated by the grain-size changes of bulk samples.

Pedosedimentary events in loess of China and Quaternary climatic cycles

In the Loess Plateau of China, the orbitally induced climatic oscillations are generally expressed by alternation of pedogenetic and sedimentary events (pedosedimentary events). In the last years, investigations at different localities revealed that complete loess-soil sequences contain 37 major soil stratigraphic units which are spatially correlativ. Recent studies have demonstrated that many of these soil units are polygenetic (polycyclic), which were formed by several pedogenetic stages interrupted by dust deposition stages, evidencing climatic oscillations within the interglacial periods. Some loess units contain also clearly ex-

Magnetic property of Chinese loess and its paleoclimate significance

The magnetic minerals of paleosol unit S8 and loess unit L8 in Weman section have been studied. The experiments show that the remanent magnetization of Chinese loess is mainly carried by magnetite, with small amounts of a higher coercivity mineral, presumable hematite, also present. The remanent stability is not affected by maghemite presenting loess and paleosol with instability property. The grain size of the magnitic minerals is dominated by pseudo-single domain (PSD). The coercivity (Hc), remanent coercivity (Hrc) and saturation magnetization (Mr) gradually change from paleosol to loess, which indicates that the change of the -egional climate from the interglacial to glacial stage is a gradual process.

Extension of drylands in northern China around 250 kaBP linked with the uplift of the southeast margin of Tibetan Plateau

Study on two loess sections, one located at Wu-wei near the Tengger Desert in northwestern China, another located near Ganzi at the southeast margin of the Tibetan Plateau in southwest China, reveals a coeval drying step occurred at -250 kaBP. It is expressed by the increase in eolian grain-size at Wuwei, and by a drastic extension of C4 plants and a decrease of loess chemical weathering intensity at Ganzi. Examination of the available eolian data indicates that the event has also been clearly documented in the loess sections near the deserts in northern China, and in the eolian records from the North Pacific. On the contrary, the signal is rather weak for the central and southern Loess Plateau regions as well as for Central Asia, where the climates are influenced by the southeast Asian monsoon and the westerlies, respectively. Since the climate at Ganzi is under strong control of the southwest Asian monsoon, we interpret this drying step as a result of decreased influence of the southwest summer

Transformation functions of soil color and climate

Measurements on modern soil color suggest well functional relationships between the soil formation process and the present climatic factors. The redness and yellowness of soil are chiefly caused by the contents of hematite and fullonite, and their correlations to climate are the best in humid regions in tropic and warm temperate regions. The lightness of soil mainly correlates to the organic accumulation, humification and carbonatization processes, and its correlation to climate can only be found in the humid-arid extratropical belt. The humidity and surface roughness of soil have so strong influence on soil color that there are great errors on the measurement of colorness in the field. The study on soil colors of typical loess sections shows that soil color can record the characteristics of Asia monsoon and the global climatic fluctuations well at millennial and ten-thousand-year scales. It can also indicate the pedogenesis and the climatic characteristics which magnetic susceptibility could not be reflected in humidity areas. Therefore, soil color can be used as a new climatic proxy which is easy and quick to measure, and will make an active influence on the study of global changes, geomorphology and Quaternary.

Millennial-scale monsoonal climatic change from paleosol sequences on the Chinese western Loess Plateau and Tibetan Plateau: a brief summary and review

This paper summarizes the work from the INQUA 1997 Project "Response of soilformation to short-warm-episodes of Asian summer monsoon" and its seeded related internationaland domestic grants. It reviews the effects of the millennial monsoonal changes on the loess-paleosols of the Chinese Loess and Tibetan Plateaus. High-resolution proxy records ofpedogenesis and monsoons demonstrate that both Asian winter and summer monsoons wereunstable and synchronously and inversely coupled during the last glaciation. During that timerapid episodic cycles of cold surges and warm enhancements spanned only ca. 1-2 ka in high-frequency domain. Sub-Milankovitch cycles (6-8 ka) of progressive cooling or weakening in low-frequency domain generally resembled the pattern of the North Atlantic climatic change. However,during the last interglacial, Asian winter and summer monsoons seemed to vary independently, theformer being stable and the later unstable. Soil formation seems to occur in surprisingly fastresponse to the summer monsoon warm enhancements, resulting in weakly or moderatelydeveloped paleosol sequences. North Atlantic and polar cold air surges though the westerlies andother paths, and the north-south swing of the westerlies beside the Tibetan Plateau, may be thealternative mechanisms for the rapid monsoonal changes during the last glacial. But in the lastinterglacial, the summer monsoons worked largely independently.