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A summary of the extent and chronology of Quaternary glaciations in NE Russia is presented in this paper. The complex timing and style of glaciations include asynchronous development of alpine glaciers in the western and eastern part of the area. While in the eastern part of NE Russia well-preserved moraines have been dated to the global Last Glacial Maximum (18-24 ka), in the westernmost part of the area no glacial advance took place at this time. In general, glacial advances were more extensive earlier rather than later, in the last glacial cycle. Although only a handful of studies with reliable absolute ages in the vast area of NE Russia exist, it is clear that the number of advances throughout the region varies. Variable glacial response to global climate patterns is attributable to contrasting sources of precipitation. An Atlantic moisture source dominates in the western part of NE Russia, while a Pacific source influences the eastern part of the region. The glacial advances in the interior of NE Russia are largely unexplored and further research is needed in order to understand Quaternary climate change in the region.

19Lake high-stand sediments are found in three onshore terraces at Lake Donggi Cona, north-eastern 20Tibetan Plateau, and reveal characteristics of hydrological changes on lake shorelines triggered by 21 climate change, geomorphological processes, and neo-tectonic movements. The terraces consist of 22 fluvial, alluvial to littoral-lacustrine facies. End-member modeling of grain size distributions allowed 23 quantification of sediment transport processes and relative lake levels during times of deposition. 24Radiocarbon dating revealed higher than modern lake levels during the early and mid-Holocene. Lake 25 levels follow the trend of Asian monsoon dynamics, and are modified by local non-climatic drivers. 26Site-specific impacts explain fluctuations during the initial lake level rise ~11 cal ka BP. Maximum lake 27 extension reached ~9.2 cal ka BP, at ~16.5 m above present lake level (a.p.l.l.). Littoral and lacustrine 28 sediment deposition paused during a phase of fluvial activity and post-depositional cryoturbations at 29 ~8.5 cal ka BP, when the lake level fell to ~8 m a.p.l.l. After a second maximum at ~7.5 cal ka BP, lake 30 level declined slightly at ~6.8 cal ka BP, probably due to a non-climatic pulse that caused lake 31 opening. The level remained high until a transition towards drier conditions of ~4.7 cal ka BP. Though 32 discontinuous, high-stand sediments provide a unique, high-resolution archive.

Sediment distribution is investigated applying grain size analysis to 279 surface samples from the transitional zone between high mountains (Qilian Shan) and their arid forelands (Hexi Corridor) in north-western China. Six main sediment types were classified. Medium scale (10 3 m) geomorphological setting is carefully considered as it may play an important role concerning sediment supply and availability. A tripartite distribution of sedimentological landscape units along the mountain to foreland transition is evident. Aeolian sediments (e.g. loess and dune sands) are widespread. They are used to identify aeolian transport pathways. The mU/fS-ratio (5-11 μm/48-70 μm) among primary loess opposes the two grain size fractions being most sensitive to varying accumulation conditions. The first fraction is attributed to long-distance transport in high suspension clouds whereas the latter represents local transport in saltation mode. The ratio shows strong correlation with elevation (R 2 = 0.77). Thus, it indicates a relatively higher far-traveled dust supply in mountainous areas (>3000 m above sea level [a.s.l.]) compared to the foreland. The contribution of westerlies to high mountain loess deposits is considered likely. Hereby, the influence of the geomorphological setting on grain size composition of aeolian sediments becomes apparent: the contribution from distant dust sources is ubiquitous in the study area. However, the far-distance contribution may be reduced by the availability of fine sand provided in low topography settings. Plain foreland areas support fine sand deflation from supplying river beds, allowing the formation of sandy loess in foreland areas and intramontane basins. In contrast, high mountain topography inhibits strong sand deflation into loess deposits. Eastern parts of the Hexi Corridor show higher aeolian sand occurrence. In contrast, the western parts are dominated by gravel gobi surfaces. This is attributed to higher sand supply in eastern parts provided by the Badain Jaran Desert and fluvial storages as sand sources.

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