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Journal of Desert Research ›› 2023, Vol. 43 ›› Issue (6): 98-110.DOI: 10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2023.00057

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Mid-Late Holocene climate change recorded by eolian sand deposition in the southern margin of Gurbantunggut Desert

Xiaojun Zou1,2(), Yunqiang Ma1,2, Zhizhong Li1,2,3(), Jianhui Jin1,2,3, Rui Liu1,2, Dianjia Tan1,2, Tonglian Tao1,2   

  1. 1.College of Geographical Science /, Fujian Normal University,Fuzhou 350117,China
    2.Key Laboratory for Humid Subtropical Eco-Geographical Processes of the Ministry of Education /, Fujian Normal University,Fuzhou 350117,China
    3.Institute of Geography, Fujian Normal University,Fuzhou 350117,China
  • Received:2023-03-10 Revised:2023-05-10 Online:2023-11-20 Published:2023-11-30
  • Contact: Zhizhong Li

Abstract:

The Gurbantunggut Desert is the largest fixed and semi-fixed desert in China which is affected by the westerly circulation most obviously. However, the spatio-temporal characteristics and causes of desert aeolian sand activities since the Holocene are still controversial. Therefore, we selected two sand dunes (sand ridges) profiles at the southern edge of the desert, sampled and measured optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) age and grain size composition of sand samples. Based on the probability density analysis of OSL ages and the end-member analysis of aeolian grain size, the information of aeolian climate changes recorded by OSL ages and grain size parameters was extracted comprehensively. The results show that: (1) The sensitive components extracted from the grain size end-member components of aeolian deposits are important climatic proxies for regional sand activity information. The coarse components transported from near sources reflect the aeolian activities signal at the dune scale, and the fine components transported from far sources reflect the aeolian activities signal at the desert scale. (2) The aeolian sand activity signals at dune scale were mostly recorded by the sand deposition in the upwind edge area with high sand drift potential, while the aeolian sand activity signals at desert scale were mostly recorded by the sand deposition in the downwind area with low sand drift potential. (3) Since the middle and late Holocene, the intensity of aeolian sand activity in the study area can be divided into three stages: 5.0-3.5 ka, 3.5-1.8 ka BP and 1.8 ka BP. The regional and periodic characteristics of aeolian sand activity were the results of the combined effects of westerly circulation changes in the Northern Hemisphere, arid and humid changes of climate, local-scale wind power, sand source, vegetation coverage and other factors.

Key words: sand deposition sequence, OSL age probability density, grain size end-member analysis, mid-late Holocene, Gurbantunggut Desert

CLC Number: