| Abstract: | Field works show that the wetland/swamp layers were distributed ubiquitously in the western part of the Chinese Loess Plateau.
Universality of the wetland/swampy layer and the consistency of the age reveal that the layer was developed under the humid
climatic condition. Dated between 9 and 3.8 kaBP, the wetland/swampy layer is full of aquatic mollusks and has the highest
tree and shrub pollen, indicating a humid mid-Holocene. Variations of grain size suggest that winter monsoon weakened during
9-3.8 kaBP while climate change to humid and vegetation cover increased from 9 kaBP onward. After 5.9 kaBP, the humidity declined
gradually. In 3.8 kaBP, summer monsoon sharply retreated, and the climate changed to dry. |
