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This paper reconstructs the evolutionary history of the Pearl River delta over the last 9000 years and investigates land—sea interaction in a large deltaic complex which formed under the influence of Asian monsoon climate. Specifically, this research examines the delta evolution in the context of three driving mechanisms: (1) rising sea level that influences the available accommodation space, (2) fluvial discharge as influenced by monsoon climate and (3) human activities that alter sedimentation within the deltaic system. Results reveal that the formation of deltaic sequences was initiated as a consequence of rapid sea-level rise between 9000 and 7000 cal. yr BP. The rate of sea-level rise slowed down markedly around 7000 cal. yr BP and sedimentation switched from transgressive to regressive. Initially, both the progradation of the delta plains near the apex and aggradation of delta front sedimentation in the central and lower parts of the receiving basin were fast owing to strong monsoonal-driven runoff. The progradation rate gradually slowed down between 6800 and 2000 cal. yr BP as monsoonal-driven runoff weakened. Rapid shoreline advances during the last 2000 years were the result of significantly increased human activities, a practice that trapped sediments in the encircled tidal flats along the front of delta plains. The evolutionary history of the Pearl River delta demonstrates the interplay between the three driving mechanisms.

This study employs a multiproxy approach in the reconstruction of Holocene monsoon history from sedimentary sequences obtained from the Pearl River Estuary, southern China. A set of modern surface sediment samples were collected within and outside the estuary, and a sediment core was obtained from the mouth of the estuary. A range of modern environmental variables were recorded including water salinity (summer, winter and annual average) and water depth. The diatom results show a good relationship with water salinity, with marine diatoms dominating the more distal samples from outside the main estuary and freshwater diatoms dominating the proximal samples influenced by higher freshwater flux. This pattern is matched by the bulk organic carbon isotopes. The isotope values vary between -21.1 +0.3%0 for samples from the fully marine environment, between -23.2±0.8%. and -23.7±0.8%. for samples from the mid to outer estuary brackish water environment and less than -24.7 + 1.3%. for samples from the inner estuary close to the freshwater sources. Similarly, the C/N ratios vary from below 7+0.6 in the marine end-members to over 14.8 + 3.0 in the freshwater end-members. Both the diatom and carbon data from the sediment core reveal a significant increase in freshwater flux from 8500 cal. yr BP resulting from the enhanced summer monsoon regime in early Holocene. The strength of freshwater flux reached its highest between 7500 and 6000 cal. yr BP. In the last 6000 years, freshwater flux decreased towards present, reflecting a gradual weakening of the summer monsoon.

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This study examines the sedimentary evidence of human activities during the last 4000 years in the Pearl River deltaic area. The analyses are focused on indentifying agricultural signatures present in the sedimentary record and establishing the timing of a change from a simple, rice-based agriculture to a more advanced, diverse agriculture. The examination is based on modern sediment and plant samples and a sediment core collected from the deltaic area. The analyses include particle size and diatom analysis to determine the environmental conditions that were associated with the period of human activities. Organic carbon isotope ratios and major metal elements reveal an expansion in commercial crop production and metal smelting in the Pearl River delta area about 2000 years ago. The input of organic matter from introduced sugarcane, a C4 plant, elevates the bulk organic carbon isotope values in the estuarine sediments above that represented by other common agricultural crops in the study area, including rice, banana and lotus, which are all C3 plants. The increase in bulk organic isotopic value coincides with the rise in the concentration of copper, iron and lead in the sedimentary sequence, suggesting a wider use of metal tools. These results indicate that advanced agriculture started about 2000 years ago as an expansion in human population took place in the area. This record also provides sedimentary evidence that help ascertain the timing and type of human activities that are linked to subsequent land reclamation on the deltaic plain, resulting in rapid shoreline advancement in the last 2000 years.

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Understanding the mid-Holocene dynamics of the East Asian monsoon (EAM) is integral to improving models of the Holocene development of the global climate system. Here we reconstruct the mid-Holocene EAM history from the Pearl River estuary, southern China, using bulk organic carbon isotopes (δ13C), total carbon to total nitrogen (C/N) ratios and total organic carbon (TOC) concentration. Sedimentary δ13C, C/N and TOC are potentially good indicators of changes in monsoonal precipitation strength. Sediments buried during a period of high precipitation exhibit a high proportion of terrigenous material, and have low δ13C and high C/N, and vice versa during a period of low precipitation. Results suggest a general decreasing trend in monsoonal precipitation from 6650 to 2150 cal. yr BP because of the weakening Northern Hemisphere insolation most likely related to the current precession circle. Superimposed on this trend are apparent dry–wet oscillations at centennial to millennial timescales most likely in response to solar activity. Mismatches between our δ13C record and results from the Dongge Cave in southern China at millennial timescales may indicate that the δ13C from the Pearl River estuary reveals changes in precipitation over a broader area than the δ18O from Dongge Cave.