Climatic and environmental change in Yanchi Lake, Northwest China since the Late Glacial：A comprehensive analysis of lake sediments

doi:10.1007/s11442-013-1053-3

Abstract

Abstract:

Modern climate research has shown that the Asian summer monsoon water vapor transport is limited to the eastern part of the Qilian Mountains. On the Holocene millennial-scale, whether the northwest boundary of the summer monsoon varies according to climate change is a key scientific issue. Yanchi Lake is located in the northern Qilian Mountains and the middle of the Hexi Corridor, where the modern climate is less affected by the Asian summer monsoon. It is a key research area for examining the long-term variations of the Asian summer monsoon. Paleoclimatic data, including AMS ¹⁴C dates of pollen concentrates and bulk organic carbon, lithology, grain-size, mineral composition and geochemical proxies were acquired from sediments of Yanchi Lake. The chronological results show that the lower part of the lacustrine section is formed mainly in the Late Glacial and early Holocene period, while the proxies' data indicate the lake expansion is associated with high content of mineral salts. The middle part of this section is formed during the transitional period of the early and middle Holocene. Affected by the reworking effect, the pollen concentrates AMS ¹⁴C dates from the middle part of the section are generally older than those from the lower part. Since the mid-Holocene, Yanchi Lake retreated significantly and the deposition rate dropped obviously. The Yanchi Lake record is consistent with the Late Glacial and Holocene lake records in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the climatic records in typical monsoon domain, which indicate the lake expansion and the strong Asian summer monsoon during the Late Glacial and early Holocene. The long-term monsoonal pattern is different from the lake evolution in Central Asia on the Holocene millennial-scale. This study proves the monsoon impacts on the northwestern margin of the summer monsoon, and also proves the fact that the northern boundary of the summer monsoon moves according to millennial-scale climate change.

Key words: Yanchi Lake, Asian summer monsoon, Holocene, the Late Glacial, lake sediments, monsoon marginal zones

LI Yu, WANG Nai'ang, LI Zhuolun, ZHOU Xuehua, ZHANG Chengqi. Climatic and environmental change in Yanchi Lake, Northwest China since the Late Glacial：A comprehensive analysis of lake sediments[J]., 2013, 23(5): 932-946.

References

Brown T A, Nelson D E, Mathewes R W et al., 1989. Radiocarbon dating of pollen by accelerator mass spectrometry.Quaternary Research, 32: 204-212.
Chen F H, Cheng B, Zhao Y et al., 2006. Holocene environmental change inferred from a high-resolution pollen record, Lake Zhuyeze, arid China. The Holocene, 16: 675-684.
Chen F, Yu Z, Yang M et al., 2008. Holocene moisture evolution in arid Central Asia and its out-of-phase relationship with Asian monsoon history. Quaternary Science Reviews, 27: 351-364.
Chen L, Qu Y, 1992. Water-land Resources and Reasonable Development and Utilization in the Hexi Region.
Beijing: Science Press, 6-46. (in Chinese)
Denton G H, Anderson R F, Toggweiler J R et al., 2010. The last glacial termination. Science, 328: 1652-1656.
Ding Y, Chan J C L, 2005. The East Asian summer monsoon: An overview. Meteorology and Atmospheric Physics, 89: 117-142.
Dykoski C A, Edwards R L, Cheng H et al., 2005. A high-resolution, absolute-dated Holocene and deglacial Asian monsoon record from Dongge Cave, China. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 233: 71-86.
Fleitmann D, Burns S J, Mudelsee M et al., 2003. Holocene forcing of the Indian monsoon recorded in a stalagmite from Southern Oman. Science, 300: 1737-1739.
Geyh M A, Grosjean M, Nunez L et al., 1999. Radiocarbon reservoir effect and the timing of the late-glacial/early Holocene humid phase in the Atacama Desert (Northern Chile). Quaternary Research, 52: 143-153.
Herzschuh U, 2006. Palaeo-moisture evolution in monsoonal Central Asia during the last 50,000 years. Quaternary Science Reviews, 25: 163-178.
Huang D, 1997. Gansu Vegetation. Lanzhou: Gansu Science and Technology Press, 189-213. (in Chinese)
Kilian M R, van der Plicht J, van Geel B, 1995. Dating raised bogs: New aspects of AMS ¹⁴C wiggle matching, a reservoir effect and climatic change. Quaternary Science Reviews, 14: 959-966.
Jin L, Chen F, Morrill C et al., 2012. Causes of early Holocene desertification in arid Central Asia. Climate Dynamics, 38: 1577-1591.
Lea D W, Pak D K, Peterson L C et al., 2003. Synchroneity of tropical and high-latitude Atlantic temperatures over the last glacial termination. Science, 301: 1361-1364.
Li W, Wang K, Fu S et al., 2008. The interrelationship between regional westerly index and the water vapor budget in Northwest China. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology, 30(1): 34-38. (in Chinese)
Li Y, Morrill C, 2010. Multiple factors causing Holocene lake-level change in monsoonal and arid Central Asia as identified by model experiments. Climate Dynamics, 35: 1119-1132.
Li Y, Wang N, Cheng H et al., 2009a. Holocene environmental change in the marginal area of the Asian monsoon:A record from Zhuye Lake, NW China. Boreas, 38: 349-361.
Li Y, Wang N, Morrill C et al., 2009b. Environmental change implied by the relationship between pollen assemblages and grain-size in N.W. Chinese lake sediments since the Late Glacial. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 154: 54-64.
Li Y, Wang N, Li Z et al., 2011. Holocene palynological records and their responses to the controversies of climate system in the Shiyang River drainage basin. Chinese Science Bulletin, 56(6): 535-546.
Li Y, Wang N, Chen H et al., 2012a. Tracking millennial-scale climate change by analysis of the modern summer precipitation in the marginal regions of the Asian monsoon. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 58: 78-87.
Li Y, Wang N, Li Z et al., 2012b. Reworking effects in the Holocene Zhuye Lake sediments: A case study by pollen concentrates AMS ¹⁴C dating. Science China (Earth Sciences), 55(10): 1669-1678.
Li Y, Wang N, Li Z et al., 2012c. Basin-wide Holocene environmental changes in the marginal area of the Asian monsoon, Northwest China. Environmental Earth Sciences, 65: 203-212.
Liu X Q, Shen J, Wang S M et al., 2007. Southwest monsoon changes indicated by oxygen isotope of ostracode shells from sediments in Qinghai Lake since the Late Glacial. Chinese Science Bulletin, 52: 539-544.
Long H, Lai Z, Wang N et al., 2010. Holocene climate variations from Zhuyeze terminal lake records in East Asian monsoon margin in arid northern China. Quaternary Research, 74: 46-56.
Meyer B, Tapponnier P, Bourjot L et al., 1998. Crustal thickening in Gansu-Qinghai, lithospheric mantle subduction, and oblique, strike-slip controlled growth of the Tibet Plateau. Geophysical Journal International, 135: 1-47.
Meyers P A, Lallier-Vergas E, 1999. Lacustrine sedimentary organic matter records of late Quaternary paleoclimates.Journal of Paleolimnology, 21: 345-372.
Mischke S, Kramer M, Zhang C J et al., 2008. Reduced early Holocene moisture availability in the Bayan Har Mountains, northeastern Tibetan Plateau, inferred from a multi-proxy lake record. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology,Palaeoecology, 267: 59-76.
Morrill C, Overpeck J T, Cole J E et al., 2006. Holocene variations in the Asian monsoon inferred from the geochemistry of lake sediments in central Tibet. Quaternary Research, 65: 232-243.
Owen L A, Spencer J Q, Ma H et al, 2003. Timing of Late Quaternary glaciation along the southwestern slopes of the Qilian Shan, Tibet. Boreas, 32: 281-291.
Rasmussen S O, Andersen K K, Svensson A M et al., 2006. A new Greenland ice core chronology for the last glacial termination. Journal of Geophysical Research, 111: D06102.
Shen J, Liu X, Wang S et al., 2005. Palaeoclimatic changes in the Qinghai Lake area during the last 18, 000 years.Quaternary International, 136: 131-140.
Sun D, Bloemendal J, Rea D K et al., 2002. Grain size distribution function of polymodal sediments in hydraulic and aeolian environments and numerical partitioning of the sedimentary components. Sedimentary Geology, 152: 263-277.
Tapponnier P, Xu Z, Roger F et al., 2001. Oblique stepwise rise and growth of the Tibet Plateau. Science, 294: 1671-1677.
Wang B, Lin H, 2002. Rainy season of the Asian-Pacific summer monsoon. Journal of Climate, 15: 386-396.
Wang K, Jiang H, Zhao H, 2005. Atmospheric water vapor transport from westerly and monsoon over the Northwest China. Advances in Water Science, 16(3): 432-438. (in Chinese)
Wang N, Li Z, Li Y et al., 2012. Younger Dryas event recorded by the mirabilite deposition in Huahai Lake, Hexi Corridor, NW China. Quaternary International, 250: 93-99.
Wang R L, Scarpitta S C, Zhang S C et al., 2002. Later Pleistocene/Holocene climate conditions of Qinghai-Xizhang Plateau (Tibet) based on carbon and oxygen stable isotopes of Zabuye Lake sediments. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 203: 461-477.
Wen R L, Xiao J L, Chang Z G et al., 2010. Holocene precipitation and temperature variations in the East Asian monsoonal margin from pollen data from Hulun Lake in northeastern Inner Mongolia, China. Boreas, 39: 262-272.
Xiao J, Xu Q, Nakamura T et al., 2004. Holocene vegetation variation in the Daihai Lake region of north-central China: A direct indication of the Asian monsoon climatic history. Quaternary Science Reviews, 23: 1669-1679.
Yancheva G, Nowaczyk N R, Mingram J et al., 2007. Influence of the intertropical convergence zone on the East Asian monsoon. Nature, 445: 74-77.
Zhang H C, Ming Q Z, Lei G L et al., 2006. Dilemma of dating on lacustrine deposits in a hyperarid inland basin of NW China. Radiocarbon, 48: 219-226.
Zhao S, 1983. A new scheme for comprehensive physical regionalization in China. Acta Geographica Sinica, 38(1): 1-10. (in Chinese)
Zhao Y, Yu Z, Chen F H et al., 2008. Holocene vegetation and climate change from a lake sediment record in the Tengger Sandy Desert, northwest China. Journal of Arid Environments, 72: 2054-2064.
Zhou W, An Z, 1996. Discussion on the reliability of ¹⁴C dating of pollen concentrates from loess-paleosol sequence by accelerator mass spectrometry. Radiocarbon, 38: 132.
Zhu L, Zhen X, Wang J et al., 2009. A ~30,000-year record of environmental changes inferred from Lake Chen Co, Southern Tibet. Journal of Paleolimnology, 42: 343-358.

[1]	LI Gaocong,Gao Shu,WANG Yaping,LI Chunyan. Sediment flux from the Zhoushan Archipelago, eastern China [J]. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2018, 28(4): 387-399.
[2]	ZHANG Yifei,MO Duowen,HU Ke,BAO Wenbo,LI Wenying,Idilisi Abuduresule,Michael J. STOROZUM,Tristram R. KIDDER. Holocene environmental changes around Xiaohe Cemetery and its effects on human occupation, Xinjiang, China [J]. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2017, 27(6): 752-768.
[3]	LU Huayu,ZHUO Haixin,ZHANG Wenchao,WANG Shejiang,ZHANG Hongyan,SUN Xuefeng,JIA Xin,XU Zhiwei,WANG Xianyan. Earth surface processes and their effects on human behavior in monsoonal China during the Pleistocene-Holocene epochs [J]. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2017, 27(11): 1311-1324.
[4]	Li WU,Cheng ZHU,Chaogui ZHENG,Chunmei MA,Xinhao WANG,Feng LI,Bing LI,Kaifeng LI. Impact of Holocene climate change on the prehistoric cultures of Zhejiang region, East China [J]. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2014, 24(4): 669-688.
[5]	ZHA Xiaochun, HUANG Chunchang, PANG Jiangli, ZHOU Yali. Reconstructing the extraordinary palaeoflood events during 3200-2800 a BP in the upper reaches of Hanjiang River Valley, China [J]. , 2014, 24(3): 446-456.
[6]	KANG Yanyan, XIA Fei, DING Xianrong, ZHANG Changkuan, CHENG Ligang, GE Xiaoping, Jennifer GLASS. Coastal evolution of Yancheng, northern Jiangsu, China since the mid-Holocene based on the Landsat MSS imagery [J]. , 2013, 23(5): 915-931.
[7]	LI Yu, WANG Nai’ang, LI Zhuolun, MA Ning, ZHOU Xuehua, ZHANG Chengqi. Lake evaporation: A possible factor affecting lake level changes tested by modern observational data in arid and semi-arid China [J]. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2013, 23(1): 123-135.
[8]	CHENG Bo, CHEN Fahu, ZHANG Jiawu. Palaeovegetational and palaeoenvironmental changes since the last deglacial in Gonghe Basin, northeast Tibetan Plateau [J]. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2013, 23(1): 136-146.
[9]	HOU Guangliang, LAI Zhongping, XIAO Jingyi, E Chongyi. Reconstruction of cultivated land during mid- Holocene in the middle and lower reaches of Yellow River and human impact on vegetations [J]. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2012, 22(5): 933-945.
[10]	ZHA Xiaochun, HUANG Chunchang, PANG Jiangli, LI Yuqin. Sedimentary and hydrological studies of the Holocene palaeofloods in the middle reaches of the Jinghe River [J]. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2012, 22(3): 470-478 .
[11]	LI Qian, WEI Fengying, LI Dongliang. Interdecadal variation of East Asian summer monsoon and drought/flood distribution over eastern China in the last 159 years [J]. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2011, 21(4): 579-593.
[12]	WANG Wei, WU Zheng. Coastal dune rock development and Holocene climate changes in South China [J]. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2010, 20(3): 469-480.
[13]	ZHA Xiaochun, HUANG Chunchang, PANG Jiangli. Palaeofloods recorded by slackwater deposits on the Qishuihe River in the Middle Yellow River [J]. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2009, 19(6): 681-690.
[14]	LI Xinyan, HUANG Chunchang, PANG Jiangli, HE Zhong. Dust source of the Holocene loess-soil and pedogenic environmental changes in the upper Huaihe River [J]. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2009, 19(1): 107-117.
[15]	JIA Yaofeng, HUANG Chunchang, PANG Jiangli, NIU Junjie. Chronology of the Holocene loess-paleosol section and its deposition and pedogenesis on the south of Chinese Loess Plateau [J]. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2008, 18(4): 425-442.