Variation of Zr/Rb ratios on the Loess Plateau of Central China during the last 130000 years and its implications for winter monsoon

To find a new index of winter monsoon without effects of chemical weathering and pedogenesis is an important task in loess research. Chemical analysis of five grain size fractions (i.e. >32 μm, 32–20 μm, 20–8 μm, 8–2 μm and <2 μm) show that Zr is enriched in coarser grain size, while Rb is concentrated in finer fractions. An excellent correlation occurs between Zr/Rb ratios and mean grain size in loess units (L₁LL₁ and L₁LL₂) from Huanxian and Xifeng sections, reflecting that Zr/Rb ratios increase when grain size is coarser. Due to immobility of the two elements during the postdepositional process, Zr/Rb ratios can eliminate the effect of weathering and pedogenesis and serve as an excellent proxy on winter monsoon variation. The Zr/Rb ratio curves of the Huanxian, Xifeng and Luochuan sections during the last 130000 years show that the winter monsoon strength was very weak during MIS 3, which corresponded to the intensity during MIS 5.     

Grain size distribution of quartz isolated from Chinese loess1 paleosol

Grain size distribution of bulk loess-paleosol and quartz chemically extracted from the loess/paleosol shows that mean size of the bulk samples is always finer than that of the quartz. The original aeolian depositions have been modified to various degrees by post-depositional weathering and pedogenic processes. The grain size distribution of the isolated quartz should be close to that of the primary aeolian sediment because the chemical pretreatment excludes secondary produced minerals. Therefore, the grain size of the quartz may be considered to more clearly reflect the variations of winter monsoon intensity.     

Grain size distribution of quartz isolated from Chinese loess/paleosol

Grain size distribution of bulk loess-paleosol and quartz chemically extracted from the loess/paleosol shows that mean size of the bulk samples is always finer than that of the quartz. The original aeolian depositions have been modified to various degrees by post-depositional weathering and pedogenic processes. The grain size distribution of the isolated quartz should be close to that of the primary aeolian sediment because the chemical pretreatment excludes secondary produced minerals. Therefore, the grain size of the quartz may be considered to more clearly reflect the variations of winter monsoon intensity.     

东亚夏季风变迁的灵敏的指标:黄土碳酸盐的~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr比值

对130ka以来陕西洛川黑木沟剖面的黄土和古土壤碳酸盐中银同位素进行的系统测定显示．在末次间冰期期间87Sr／86Sr平均值为0．71136,末次冰期期间87Sr／86Sr平均值为0．71079．古土壤碳酸盐的87Sr／86Sr比值明显高于黄土碳酸盐的87Sr／86Sr比值．导致这种差别的主要原因是化学风化强度的变化．研究表明,黄土和古土壤碳酸盐87Sr／86Sr比值的变化是现出一个由本次间冰期到未次冰期的约10万年的周期,在这个周期变化的总趋势之上又覆盖了一种波动周期约在2．5ka～2．7ka的高频波动变化．它与小冰期年龄（LittleIceAge）大致吻合．黄土碳酸盐87Sr／86Sr比值的这种高振幅和周期的变化．表明它可能是一种反映东亚夏季风变化的高灵敏度的替代指标．     

A 600-year flood history in the Yangtze River drainage: Comparison between a subaqueous delta and historical records

Based on grain size analysis and high-resolution elemental scanning of core YD0901, taken from the subaqueous Yangtze River delta, a 600-year flood history was reconstructed for the Yangtze River drainage system. Zr/Rb ratios were chosen as a proxy for Yangtze River floods. Zr resides mainly in the coarse-grained minerals, and Rb is found in the fine-grained minerals. When floods occur, the discharge of the Yangtze River increases, which carries more coarse-grained minerals into the East China Sea. Therefore, deposition of coarse-grained minerals significantly increases relative to fine-grained minerals on the subaqueous delta, and subsequently the Zr/Rb ratios also increase. The higher the Zr/Rb peaks, the greater number of coarse particles deposited by saltation processes. Zr/Rb peaks correlate very well with historical records for Yangtze River floods. Especially at about AD 1870, the Zr/Rb ratio reached a maximum value over the last 600 years, which is consistent with "the extreme flood event" in the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze River in AD 1870, as indicated in the historical records. Results show that floods have occurred at a relatively high frequency over the last 600 years, which is consistent with historical records when, during the Ming-Qing Dynasty, floods occurred once every 4 years. In addition, spectral analysis of the Zr/Rb ratio showed that there is close link between the Yangtze River floods and ENSO intensity.     

Comparisons of grain size characteristics of red earth from southern China with that of loess and dune sand from Beijing region

The comparisons of grain size distributions among eolian deposits along the monsoon wind trajectory are a fundamental task for the reconstruction of the past wind regimes. Here the authors sampled the dune sands in Hunsandak desert, loess deposits in Beijing region and red earth in southern China. Grain size analyses show that the distribution models of the loess and dune sand samples are unimodal whereas the red earth and paleosol are polymodal. The red earth, paleosol, loess and dune samples are distinguished and closely related to one another in grain size parameter diagrams. Moreover, the grain size distributions and parameters of the red earth and paleosol are similar, implying that the red earth in southern China and the paleosol in northern China had the same origin.     

Comparisons of grain size characteristics of red earth from southern China with that of loess and dune sand from Bering region

The comparisons of grain size distributions among eolian deposits along the monsoon wind trajectory are a fundamental task for the reconstruction of the past wind regimes. Here the authors sampled the dune sands in Hunsandak desert, loess deposits in Beijing region and red earth in southern China. Grain size analyses show that the distribution models of the loess and dune sand samples are unimodal whereas the red earth and paleosol are polymodal. The red earth, paleosol, loess and dune samples are distinguished and closely related to one another in grain size parameter diagrams. Moreover, the grain size distributions and parameters of the red earth and paleosol are similar, implying that the red earth in southern China and the paleosol in northern China had the same origin.     

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 soil formation to short-warm-episodes of Asian summer monsoon" and its seeded related international and 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 of pedogenesis and monsoons demonstrate that both Asian winter and summer monsoons were unstable and synchronously and inversely coupled during the last glaciation. During that time rapid 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, the former being stable and the later unstable. Soil formation seems to occur in surprisingly fast response to the summer monsoon warm enhancements, resulting in weakly or moderately developed paleosol sequences. North Atlantic and polar cold air surges though the westerlies and other paths, and the north-south swing of the westerlies beside the Tibetan Plateau, may be the alternative mechanisms for the rapid monsoonal changes during the last glacial. But in the last interglacial, the summer monsoons worked largely independently.     

鄱阳湖沙山高分辨率沙质地层及其冬季风气候信息记录的初步探究

位于鄱阳湖流域的长江、赣江等河谷、河漫滩的下风方向,由于处于冬季风强烈的东亚季风区,在高频率出现的大风、强风天气情况下,受风力吹蚀作用,常形成区域性的沙山堆积.沙山纵向垄状地形发育,其上风方向,槽、沟与碟形坑等侵蚀地貌发育,其下风方向,纵向沙垄发育.通过对样品的光释光年代测试和粒度频数分析,浅析星子PBL剖面的小冰期风积地层,揭示了小冰期晚期持续近60年左右的一次冷期,这个冷期以突变开始,以渐变结束,其清晰程度在其它地质记录中是不曾发现的.研究发现鄱阳湖沙山纵向沙垄往往具有缓倾斜的前积与侧积,层理(薄层与细层)往往较稳定,对揭露冬季风气候信息具有重要的意义.     

History of the temperature-dependence of susceptibility and its implications: Preliminary results along an E-W transect of the Chinese Loess Plateau

An investigation of rock magnetic properties using the temperature-dependence of susceptibility (TDS) and the coercivity of different IRM components was conducted on samples of the Malan loess (L1) and the last interglacial soil (S1) along an E-W transect of the Chinese Loess Plateau. We find that the behavior of the TDS is useful in identifying maghemite (γ-Fe_2O_3) in both loess and paleosol, and that it can be used as a new proxy of the degree of pedogenesis, which is closely linked to climatic conditions. Based on results from the TDS, we conclude that (1) the detrital magnetite grains predominate in the L1 unit to the west of Liupan Mts, where the weathering and pedogenetic processes were weakest; (2) a comparable degree of pedogenesis exists in the L1 at the east of the Liupan Mts and the S1 at the west of the Liupan Mts; (3) a higher concentration of maghemite is found in the S1 unit at the eastern sections, suggesting that the local climate was warmer and more humid in this interval. In addition, we propose that TDS measurements can be used as a rapid means of determining the reliability of the paleomagnetic secular variation (PSV) record in loess/poleoso/sequenees.     

中国风尘沉积环境磁学研究现状

中国黄土-古土壤-红黏土序列完整记录了7.5 Ma以来东亚季风演化历史。黄土-古土壤的低频磁化率已成为东亚夏季风演化的代用指标之一,并得到广泛的应用和全球对比。虽然古土壤磁化率增强的成土观点已得到广泛认可,但磁化率与成壤强度的相关性还不是十分清楚,磁化率应用方面仍存在问题。磁化率与成壤强度、生物化学作用和古气候关系尚在研究中。     

Origin of illites in the Luochuan loess section——Evidence from TEM study

Morphology and composition of illite from the Luochuan loess section were investigated by TEM. The results show that most of the illite grains are characterized by rounded shapes and chemical compositions are closely similar to those of anchizonal illites. The enrichment of illites in paleosol over loess was mainly caused by the weak winter monsoon during the interglacial periods, and was not related to the in situ pedogenesis. Illite can serve as an indicator for tracing eolian dust from Loess Plateau in pelagic and lacustrine sediments.     

Origin of illites in the Luochuan loess section

Morphology and composition of illite from the Luochuan loess section were investigated by TEM. The results show that most of the illite grains are characterized by rounded shapes and chemical compositions are closely similar to those of anchizonal illites. The enrichment of illites in paleosol over loess was mainly caused by the weak winter monsoon during the interglacial periods, and was not related to thein situ pedogenesis. Illite can serve as an indicator for tracing eolian dust from Loess Plateau in pelagic and lacustrine sediments.     

咸阳市区晚更新世黄土微结构特征及其环境意义

目的揭示咸阳市区晚更新世黄土的微结构特征,探讨黄土微结构特征与其形成环境的关系,为区域环境提供科学依据。方法应用粒度分析和扫描电子显微镜对咸阳市区晚更新世黄土．古土壤系列的微结构进行分析研究。结果粒度小于0．005 mm的黏粒级含量在黄土与古土壤中差异最大,S1古土壤高达39．7％,而L1黄土仅24％;S1古土壤黏粒中大量铁质黏粒胶膜呈流胶状出现并有次生伊利石的产出,结构密实;L1黄土微骨架颗粒相互支架,黏粒胶结物含量较少,胶结程度差,土质疏松。结论咸阳市区晚更新世S1古土壤形成在湿热的森林环境,L1黄土形成于干冷的草原环境,S0黑垆土形成于凉湿气候环境。     

Comparison of paleoclimatic characteristics between monsoon and westerly areas, China

For past decades there have been many studies on the climate features during the last interglacial and glacial periods. A comparison between the loess record of western China with that of monsoon areas shows some regional differences. ( i) Generally, the climate of the Yili region since the late Pleistocene was dry, with fluctuations. Late Pleistocene climate change in the study area can be divided into 5 stages, corresponding to 5 marine isotopic stages (MIS 1-MISS), (ii) Evidence from grain size composition, magnetic susceptibility, carbonate content, pollen assemblage and geochemistry shows that the climate during the last glacial period was instable. During MIS4 the westerly winds were strong and the humidity was relatively high. Compared with the early stage, MIS2 was dry. In MIS3, westerly winds were relatively weak; pedogenesis prevailed, forming paleo-sols. (iii) In contrast to the Loess Plateau the deposition rate of dust at the early stage was higher than at the late stage of the last galical in the Yili region. The strongest wind event occurred at about 24 kaBP instead of 18 kaBP. (iv) Variations in the grain size indicate that the westerly winds decreased since the deglaciation, but dust accumulation continued until the late Holocene. High carbonate contents, low ratio of Rb/Sr and lack of soil development imply that the climate was dry during the early and middle Holocene. Since the late Holocene the climate became relatively wet and the soil was developed.     

Possible displacement of the climate signal in ancient ice by premelting and anomalous diffusion

The best high-resolution records of climate over the past few hundred millennia are derived from ice cores retrieved from Greenland and Antarctica. The interpretation of these records relies on the assumption that the trace constituents used as proxies for past climate have undergone only modest post-depositional migration. Many of the constituents are soluble impurities found principally in unfrozen liquid that separates the grain boundaries in ice sheets. This phase behaviour, termed premelting, is characteristic of polycrystalline material. Here we show that premelting influences compositional diffusion in a manner that causes the advection of impurity anomalies towards warmer regions while maintaining their spatial integrity. Notwithstanding chemical reactions that might fix certain species against this prevailing transport, we find that-under conditions that resemble those encountered in the Eemian interglacial ice of central Greenland (from about 125,000 to 115,000 years ago)-impurity fluctuations may be separated from ice of the same age by as much as 50 cm. This distance is comparable to the ice thickness of the contested sudden cooling events in Eemian ice from the GRIP core.     

Variations of geochemical compositions and the paleoclimatic significance of a loess-soil sequence from Garzê County of western Sichuan Province, China

The West Sichuan Plateau is located in the southeast margin of the Tibetan Plateau, where the climate is mainly influenced by the Indian southwest summer monsoon and the Tibetan Plateau monsoon. In this study, detailed geochemical analysis has been carried out on Ganzisi loess-paleosol sequence in Ganzê County of western Sichuan Province. The results indicate that Ganzê loess and paleosol have experienced the incipient stage of chemical weathering in dust source regions, characterized by the decomposition of plagioclase which caused the depletion of mobile elements Na and Ca. The post-depositional chemical weathering is characterized by carbonate dissolution and oxidation of Fe2＋. The variations of some geochemical indexes （such as CIA values, Na/K and Fe2＋/ Fe3＋ ratios） in Ganzisi loess-paleosol sequence indicate a gradually decreased chemical weathering intensity in the dust source regions and deposition areas since 1.15 Ma BP consistent with the general increase of global ice volume, reflecting that the arid trend since 1.15 Ma BP in the southeast Tibetan Plateau is a regional response to the global climate change. The geochemical indexes in this section also reveal an obvious drying step occurred at about 250 ka BP in this region. We interpret this drying step as a result of decreased influence of the Indian southwest summer monsoon. This decrease in monsoon moisture is probably attributable to the uplift of the southeast margin of the Tibetan Plateau at about 250 ka BP.     

Evidence for Asian summer monsoon precipitation instability of the Younger Dryas phase

The loess and desert transitional zone of China responses sensitively to the Asian monsoon fluctuations. A high resolution loess-dust and aeolian sand-paleosols section records the climatic history of the Younger Dryas. Based upon AMS¹⁴C dating of pollen concentrates and proxy climate indices including magnetic susceptibilty, organic carbon content and grain size, it is demonstrated that the Asian monsoon climate manifests not only cooling as in other regions of the Northern Hemisphere, but also unusual oscillations in precipitation which were probably associated with atmospheric interactions between both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres and atmospheric pressure anomalies of topic Pacific Ocean (ENSO).     

A rock magnetic record of Asian cooling and aridification processes during 1.95-0.40 Ma in the southeastern Chinese Loess Plateau

The southeastern Chinese Loess Plateau is the terminal deposition area of dusts transported by the East Asian winter monsoon and the frontal area penetrated by the East Asian summer monsoon,and thus a climate sensitive region.This paper reports a rock magnetic study of a Quaternary loess-paleosol section in such a region.We tried to reconstruct the paleoclimate evolution history in the region during 1.95–0.40 Ma with magnetic parameters.The results show a general up-section decreasing trend of the ratio of HIRM/(SIRM–IRM100 mT),indicating a long-term decreasing trend of hematite coercivities in the deposits,which can be mainly related to the cooling and aridification trend of the environment in interglacial depositional area and glacial dust source region.The ratio,lf/ARM,widely used to reflect the variations of magnetic mineral grain size,manifests a long-term increasing trend of the magnetic mineral grain size and tends to indicate an overall weakening trend of the East Asian summer monsoon that controlled the pedogenic intensity.Although the regional multi-segmented paleoclimatic records revealed by several magnetic parameters in our study,the long-term Asian cooling and aridification trend inferred here is of global correlation significance.     

A chemical index of weathering without effect of wind sorting: Fe/Mg ratios in the acid-insoluble phases of loess deposits

Chemical analysis of acid-insoluble fractions in loess and paleosols shows that concentrations of Fe and Mg were under control of wind sorting and post-depositional weathering-pedogenesis. The former caused Fe and Mg concentrated in the finer grain-size fractions, displaying synchronous variations, while the latter made Fe and Mg separated, leading to Fe retained in the weathered section and Mg leached out. Therefore, Fe/Mg ratios in the acid insoluble fraction of loess and paleosols can eliminate the effect of wind sorting and serve as an excellent proxy record on intensity of weathering-pedogenesis. Based on calculation, leaching percentage of Mg in the paleosol S1 from the Luochuan, Xifeng and Huanxian sections is 15%, 11% and 2%, respectively, and on average 9% for the paleosols S₂—S₁₄ from the Luochuan section, with the highest value amounting to 22% in S_5-1, suggesting the strongest weathering-pedogenesis.