Holocene environmental changes in Mongolia: A review

Abstract

Holocene environmental change in Mongolia is reconstructed on the basis of recently published paleoclimate records, including lake levels, pollen assemblages, and eolian sediment records. These data indicate that the early Holocene of Mongolia is characterized by increasing temperature and humidity. Paleosol development, high lake-stands, and a more southward distribution of forest-steppe environments suggest the early-mid Holocene was humid. The mid-Holocene however is characterized by enhanced aridity, even though the onset and termination of the dry interval differs from place to place. Finally, humidity increased again during the late Holocene, as evaporation decreased in concert with dropping temperatures in Mongolia.

Arctic river discharge trends since 7ka BP

“…Webb et al (1993), Tarasov et al (1994), Cheddadi et al (1996), Harrison et al (1996), Yu and Harrison (1996), Grunert et al (2000), Andreev et al (2002), and An et al (2008). The hydrological trend signals of the lake level studies are highly variable on a regional scale.…”

Late Pleistocene–Holocene records from Lake Ulaan, southern Mongolia: implications for east Asian palaeomonsoonal climate changes

“…Due to the lack of study in southern Mongolia coeval paleoclimatic data from northern China have been used for understanding the regional paleoclimate changes (i.e. An et al ., ). The pattern of Holocene climate evolution in Central Asia inferred from loess deposits and lacustrine sediments has been recently reported by An et al .…”

“…Due to the lack of study in southern Mongolia coeval paleoclimatic data from northern China have been used for understanding the regional paleoclimate changes (i.e. An et al, 2008). The pattern of Holocene climate evolution in Central Asia inferred from loess deposits and lacustrine sediments has been recently reported by An et al (2012), Peng et al (2005) and Xiao et al (2004Xiao et al ( , 2008, but it still remains poorly understood due to the discontinuity of these records, the lack of suitable material for radiocarbon dating, and the absence of useful paleoclimatic proxies.…”

Strengthening of paleo‐typhoon and autumn rainfall in Taiwan corresponding to the Southern Oscillation at late Holocene

“…Extant studies on Asian Holocene climate tend to focus on examining the decline in the East Asian summer monsoon and the correlation between summer monsoon activity and solar insolation (An ZS et al ., 2000; An CB et al , 2008). Substantial reliance of these studies on stalagmite (Wang et al ., 2005; Cosford et al ., 2008) and lake records (Wang and Feng, 1992; Chen et al ., 2010) in Asia have led to a dire lack in the literature of records relating to Asian winter monsoon activity and tropical cyclones (TC).…”