Environmental changes in the Ulan Buh Desert, southern Inner Mongolia, China since the middle Pleistocene based on sedimentology, chronology and proxy indexes

Li, Guoqiang; Jin, Ming; Chen, Xuemei; Wen, Lijuan; Zhang, Jiawu; Madsen, David B.; Zhao, Hui; Wang, Xin; Fan, Tijun; Duan, Yanwu; Liu, Xiaokang; Wu, Duo; Li, Fangliang; Chen, Fahu

doi:10.1016/j.quascirev.2015.09.010

Cited by 38 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 58 publications

(70 reference statements)

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“…Qinghai Lake, which is the terminal lake for drainages on the western side of the Qilian Mountains, also reached its maximum highstand during MIS 5 (Madsen et al ., ; Rhode et al ., ). In addition to the contemporaneity of highstands in these Qilian Mountain drainage systems, luminescence chronologies and proxy index studies of lacustrine sequences from deep drill cores in the Ulan Buh Desert on the eastern Alexia Plateau suggest that a Yellow River‐filled freshwater paleolake covered both the Ulan Buh Desert and the adjacent Hetao Plain ∼150–80 ka, generally corresponding to MIS 5 (Li et al ., , ). The contemporaneity of these records suggests that all the paleolakes of the Alexia Plateau experienced highstands during MIS 5.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Late Quaternary lake evolution in the Gaxun Nur basin, central Gobi Desert, China, based on quartz OSL and K‐feldspar pIRIR dating of paleoshorelines

Jin

et al. 2017

J Quaternary Science

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Paleoenvironmental changes in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia are of global significance because fluvial and lacustrine deposits in the region constitute one of the dominant sources of Northern Hemisphere dust. A series of well‐preserved geomorphic shoreline features at different elevations around the Gaxun Nur basin, central Gobi Desert, indicate past fluctuations of the basin's terminal lake. We measured the exact elevation of shorelines in the basin using a Differential Global Positioning System, and found six shorelines at ∼24, ∼20, ∼18, ∼16, ∼15 m and ∼8 m above the modern basin floor. Quartz optically stimulated luminescence and K‐feldspar post‐infrared infrared stimulated luminescence methods were used to date these shoreline features. The reliability of the dates was confirmed using internal checks of luminescence characteristics and by comparing the quartz and K‐feldspar ages. Our results suggest a lake developed in the Gaxun Nur basin by at least ∼121 ka. Lake levels increased from ∼8 to ∼24 m from ∼121 to ∼85 ka. A 20–13‐m‐deep lake again formed in the basin between ∼8.4 and 0.8 ka. Monsoonal precipitation and temperature variations during Marine Isotope Stage 5 and the mid–late Holocene were the likely causes of paleolake formation and lake level fluctuations.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Late Quaternary lake evolution in the Gaxun Nur basin, central Gobi Desert, China, based on quartz OSL and K‐feldspar pIRIR dating of paleoshorelines

Jin

et al. 2017

J Quaternary Science

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“…Multiproxy indicators of loess records from the CLP also showed that the intensified ASM precipitation and temperature after 600 ka (Ao et al., 2020; Guo et al., 1998; Meng, et al., 2018; Sun et al., 2010). In addition, the lacustrine environment formed or further enlarged in the inland deserts of northern China including Tengger Desert (Li et al., 2014), Badain Jaran Desert (Gao et al., 2006; Wang et al., 2015), Gobi Desert (Li et al., 2017), and Ulan Buh Desert (Li et al., 2015) during the interglacial intervals from MIS15‐13, suggesting the intensification of ASM. These periodical increases significantly altered the original atmospheric circulation pattern of the Badain Jaran area and regional ecological composition inducing the increasing C4 plants under the long‐term desert background.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A 1200 ka Stable Isotope Record From the Center of the Badain Jaran Desert, Northwestern China: Implications for the Variation and Interplay of the Westerlies and the Asian Summer Monsoon

Wang

Sun

et al. 2021

Geochem Geophys Geosyst

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The variation and interplay of westerlies and the Asian summer monsoon (ASM) are important for understanding climate change in the Northern Hemisphere. Yet their spatial and temporal evolution is still debatable. Here, we present a stable isotopic record from the center of the Badain Jaran Desert, in Northwestern China, which records the variations and interplay of the two climate systems during the past 1200 ka. The results indicate that the westerlies dominated the Badain Jaran area at least from 1200 to 600 ka, and possibly earlier. Associated with ASM enhancement since 600 ka, the westerlies and ASM alternatively dominated the regional warm season precipitation during glacial‐interglacial cycles, respectively. Meanwhile, the δ18Ocarb of the Badain Jaran area showed high‐frequency fluctuations which may reveal the joint impact of ASM and westerlies on regional hydrology after 450 ka. Affected by the westerlies and ASM changes, the C4 plants stepwise expanded at 600, 450, and 300 ka. These stepwise variations of westerlies and ASM are response to the global climate change which significantly influenced the ASM at 600 and 450 ka, and westerlies at 300 ka, respectively. In addition, the uplift of the Pamir‐Tibetan Plateau during the middle Pleistocene also exerts a profound effect on westerlies and ASM pattern across the East Asia on a long‐term time scale.

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“…For example, dramatic landscape change ca. 2000 a BP has been reported from the Ulan Buh Desert in southwestern Inner Mongolia at the margin of the Qin Dynasty realm preceding the Han Dynasty (Li et al 2015). Tectonic activity and climate change were suggested as causes of aridification in the Ulan Buh Desert so far (Li et al 2015).…”

Section: Lake Records Which Indicate Significant Drying During or Aftmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…2000 a BP has been reported from the Ulan Buh Desert in southwestern Inner Mongolia at the margin of the Qin Dynasty realm preceding the Han Dynasty (Li et al 2015). Tectonic activity and climate change were suggested as causes of aridification in the Ulan Buh Desert so far (Li et al 2015). Further to the east and within the Qin Dynasty realm, sand mobilization and dune formation occurred apparently already as a result of a massive migration of people and farming intensification in the Mu Us Desert region during the earlier half of the Han time, the Western Han (206 BCE-9 CE; Sun 2000).…”

Section: Lake Records Which Indicate Significant Drying During or Aftmentioning

confidence: 99%

Landscape Response to Climate and Human Impact in Western China During the Han Dynasty

Mischke

Zhang

Liu

et al. 2019

Socio-Environmental Dynamics Along the Historical Silk Road

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The Chinese empire experienced a large expansion to the arid regions in the west during the Han Dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE). The Hexi Corridor, the Yanqi Basin, the southeastern part of the Junggar Basin and the Tarim Basin became part of the empire. The expansion of the Han Dynasty was accompanied by the significant intensification of irrigation farming along rivers draining the Qilian, Tianshan and Kunlun Mountains. Sedimentological and geochemical analyses and dating of lake sediments and shorelines revealed that four large lakes in the region experienced falling levels, or were almost or completely desiccating. The level of Zhuyeze Lake was falling rapidly ca. 2100 years before present (a BP), and the accumulation of lake sediments was replaced by an alluvial fan setting in large parts of the basin. Lake Eastern Juyan desiccated ca. 1700 a BP. Lake Bosten experienced low levels and increasing salinities at ca. 2200 a BP. Lake sediments in the Lop Nur region were mostly replaced by aeolian sands during a period of near-desiccation at 1800 a BP. In contrast, records from fifteen lakes farther in the west, north or south of the Han Dynasty realm indicate relatively wet climate conditions ca. 2000 years ago. Thus, dramatic landscape changes including the near and complete desiccation of large

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Environmental changes in the Ulan Buh Desert, southern Inner Mongolia, China since the middle Pleistocene based on sedimentology, chronology and proxy indexes

Cited by 38 publications

References 58 publications

Late Quaternary lake evolution in the Gaxun Nur basin, central Gobi Desert, China, based on quartz OSL and K‐feldspar pIRIR dating of paleoshorelines

Late Quaternary lake evolution in the Gaxun Nur basin, central Gobi Desert, China, based on quartz OSL and K‐feldspar pIRIR dating of paleoshorelines

A 1200 ka Stable Isotope Record From the Center of the Badain Jaran Desert, Northwestern China: Implications for the Variation and Interplay of the Westerlies and the Asian Summer Monsoon

Landscape Response to Climate and Human Impact in Western China During the Han Dynasty

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