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- Title
The vegetation and monsoon variations at the desert-loess transition belt at Midiwan in northern China for the last 13 ka.
- Authors
Li Xiaoqiang; Zhou Weijian; An Zhisheng; Dodson, John
- Abstract
Fine-resolution palaeovegetation and palaeomonsoon proxies for the last 13 ka have been established at the desert-loess transition belt in northern China. These are based on pollen, organic carbon and δ[sup 13]C analysis of samples from a peat section at Midiwan. Results show that the palaeovegetation underwent nine major changes: desert-grassland, grassland, semi-desert, humid grassland, desert, sparse-wood-grassland, steppe, humid grassland and desert-grassland. An interval with semi-desert, humid grassland and desert is associated with rapid oscillation events of cold-dry conditions (11200-10600 [sup 14]C yr BP) to cool-humid conditions (10600-10200 [sup 14]C yr BP), followed by a change to a cold-dry climate (10200-10000 [sup 14]C yr BP). The Holocene optimum (10000-7500 [sup 14]C yr BP) and another humid interval (4500-3500 [sup 14]C yr BP) have also been detected in the area. During the last 3000 years, dry conditions have prevailed and human impact may have affected the location of desert-loess transition zone. The record therefore shows a sensitive response to climate on sub-Milankovitch timescales, and this suggests that possible forcing factors linked to processes in the north Atlantic and their influence on the Northern Hemisphere Westerlies, and the South China Sea and its influence on Summer Monsoon precipitation, have been important controls on climates and human activity in eastern Asia.
- Subjects
CHINA; ASIA; VEGETATION &; climate; MONSOONS; CARBON; POLLINARIA
- Publication
Holocene, 2003, Vol 13, Issue 5, p779
- ISSN
0959-6836
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1191/0959683603hl664rr