Luminescence chronology record of Tamarix chinensis nebkhas in the Qaidam Basin

doi:10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2025.00117

Journal of Desert Research ›› 2026, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (2): 122-130.DOI: 10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2025.00117

Luminescence chronology record of Tamarix chinensis nebkhas in the Qaidam Basin

Yongxin Zeng¹(), Chongyi E¹^,²(), Yunkun Shi¹, Yongjuan Sun¹^,², Jiawei Wang¹, Zhaokang Zhang¹

^1.Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Land Surface Processes and Ecological Conservation （Ministry of Education） / Key Laboratory of Physical Geography and Environmental Process，Qinghai Normal University，Xining 810008，China
^2.Academy of Plateau Science and Sustainability，People's Government of Qinghai Province and Beijing Normal University，Xining 810008，China

Received:2025-02-21 Revised:2025-05-14 Online:2026-03-20 Published:2026-04-13
Contact: Chongyi E

Abstract

Abstract:

Nebkhas are crucial biological aeolian landforms in arid regions， playing a vital role in maintaining the structure of desert ecosystems and their ecosystem services. They are highly sensitive to regional environmental changes. The Qaidam Basin is located in the northeastern part of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau， where the present climatic systems are principally regulated by the Asian monsoon and westerlies circulations， respectively. Tamarix chinensis nebkhas are widely distributed in the southern floodplain fan. However， the formation age and climatic background of Tamarix chinensis nebkhas in the Qaidam Basin are not clear. In this study， seven representative profiles are selected in this region， and a total of 14 OSL samples are analyzed using optically stimulated luminescence （OSL） dating. Quartz and K-feldspar fractions of 63-90 μm were extracted， and because the intensity of the luminescence signal of quartz in the samples was too low to be detected， the K-feldspar pIR₅₀IR₁₇₀ method was chosen for systematic OSL dating. The study shows that K-feldspar particles with a grain size of 63-90 μm can be used to determine the depositional age of the Tamarix chinensis nebkha in this area more accurately by the pIR₅₀IR₁₇₀ method， and the age of the AMS¹⁴C samples obtained from the same location can also be matched. Combining the results of this study with those of previous researchers on the bottom of Tamarix chinensis nebkhas in the Dagele area， we found that the initial period of their formation was around 800 to 400 years before present， and they were mainly concentrated in the phases of 1220-1380 A.D. and 1470-1580 A.D. Comparing and analyzing the results with those from regional aeolian activity and climatic records， we determined that the formation and development of the Tamarix chinensis nebkhas were synchronized with the period of regional strong sandstorms and dust storms. Synchronized with periods of strong regional dust storms and sandstorms， they formed primarily during cold periods and did not respond significantly to changes in regional precipitation. Therefore， we believe that OSL dating of the nebkhas provides a reliable chronological framework for reconstructing the historical aeolian activity in the region. In addition， due to the complex mechanism of the formation and evolution of nebkhas， the response mechanism of the formation and evolution of nebkhas to the regional climate still needs to be further investigated.

Key words: Qaidam Basin, Tamarix chinensis nebkhas, optically stimulated luminescence （OSL） dating, AMS¹⁴C, aeolian activity

CLC Number:

P931.3

Yongxin Zeng, Chongyi E, Yunkun Shi, Yongjuan Sun, Jiawei Wang, Zhaokang Zhang. Luminescence chronology record of Tamarix chinensis nebkhas in the Qaidam Basin[J]. Journal of Desert Research, 2026, 46(2): 122-130.

Figures/Tables 11

References 34

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步骤	石英SAR-OSL	说明	钾长石pIR-IRSL	说明
1	再生剂量，D_i （i =0,1,2,3…）		再生剂量，D_i （i =0,1,2,3…)	i为循环数，i=0时为自然剂量
2	预热（240 ℃，10 s）		预热（320 ℃，60 s）
3	—		90%红光激发（50 ℃，200 s）	L_x_,IR50
4	90%蓝光激发（125 ℃，40 s）	L_x	90%红光激发（170 ℃，200 s）	L_x,_pIRIR170
5	辐照实验剂量		辐照实验剂量
6	预热（200 ℃，0 s）		预热（320 ℃，60 s）
7	—		90%红光激发（50 ℃，200 s）	T_x,_IR50
8	90%蓝光激发（125 ℃，40 s）	T_x	90%红光激发（170 ℃，200 s）	T_x,_pIRIR170
9	—		90%红光激发（325 ℃，200 s）
10	返回步骤1，开始下一循环		返回步骤1，开始下一循环

步骤	石英SAR-OSL	说明	钾长石pIR-IRSL	说明
1	再生剂量，D_i （i =0,1,2,3…）		再生剂量，D_i （i =0,1,2,3…)	i为循环数，i=0时为自然剂量
2	预热（240 ℃，10 s）		预热（320 ℃，60 s）
3	—		90%红光激发（50 ℃，200 s）	L_x_,IR50
4	90%蓝光激发（125 ℃，40 s）	L_x	90%红光激发（170 ℃，200 s）	L_x,_pIRIR170
5	辐照实验剂量		辐照实验剂量
6	预热（200 ℃，0 s）		预热（320 ℃，60 s）
7	—		90%红光激发（50 ℃，200 s）	T_x,_IR50
8	90%蓝光激发（125 ℃，40 s）	T_x	90%红光激发（170 ℃，200 s）	T_x,_pIRIR170
9	—		90%红光激发（325 ℃，200 s）
10	返回步骤1，开始下一循环		返回步骤1，开始下一循环

样品号	深度/m	K含量/%	Th含量/（mg·kg^-1）	U含量/（mg·kg^-1）	含水量/%	测片数	剂量率/(Gy·ka^-1)	De/Gy	OSL年代/ka BP
DGL-A	2.6	1.60±0.04	10.28±0.7	2.45±0.3	5±3	9	3.38±0.14	2.66±0.27	0.79±0.09
DGL-B-1	0.4	1.60±0.04	9.96±0.6	1.49±0.3	5±3	9	3.28±0.13	0.55±0.07	0.17±0.02
DGL-B-2	0.9	1.64±0.04	8.11±0.6	1.61±0.3	5±3	9	3.16±0.13	0.58±0.06	0.19±0.02
DGL-B-3	1.3	1.58±0.04	10.26±0.7	1.66±0.3	5±3	9	3.25±0.14	0.84±0.07	0.26±0.03
DGL-B-4	1.7	1.43±0.04	8.79±0.6	1.57±0.3	5±3	9	2.96±0.13	0.94±0.15	0.32±0.05
DGL-B-5	2.0	1.59±0.04	8.82±0.6	1.44±0.3	5±3	9	3.35±0.14	1.04±0.07	0.31±0.03
DGL-B-6	2.3	1.51±0.04	11.19±0.7	1.97±0.3	5±3	9	3.27±0.14	1.10±0.08	0.34±0.03
DGL-B-7	2.6	1.56±0.04	9.70±0.6	1.66±0.3	5±3	9	3.14±0.13	1.17±0.05	0.37±0.03
DGL-B-8	2.9	1.65±0.04	9.29±0.6	1.72±0.3	5±3	9	3.16±0.14	1.15±0.03	0.37±0.02
DGL-C	2.5	1.77±0.04	9.89±0.6	2.02±0.3	5±3	9	3.43±0.14	2.35±0.36	0.68±0.11
DGL-D	2.4	1.53±0.04	14.80±0.8	2.82±0.4	5±3	9	3.70±0.16	1.68±0.06	0.45±0.03
DGL-E	2.2	1.68±0.04	9.58±0.6	1.81±0.3	5±3	9	3.29±0.14	2.20±0.08	0.67±0.04
DGL-F	3.5	1.63±0.04	11.13±0.7	1.98±0.3	5±3	9	3.35±0.14	2.44±0.13	0.73±0.05
DGL-G	5.5	1.68±0.04	10.56±0.7	1.78±0.3	5±3	9	3.26±0.14	1.95±0.09	0.59±0.04

样品号	深度/m	K含量/%	Th含量/（mg·kg^-1）	U含量/（mg·kg^-1）	含水量/%	测片数	剂量率/(Gy·ka^-1)	De/Gy	OSL年代/ka BP
DGL-A	2.6	1.60±0.04	10.28±0.7	2.45±0.3	5±3	9	3.38±0.14	2.66±0.27	0.79±0.09
DGL-B-1	0.4	1.60±0.04	9.96±0.6	1.49±0.3	5±3	9	3.28±0.13	0.55±0.07	0.17±0.02
DGL-B-2	0.9	1.64±0.04	8.11±0.6	1.61±0.3	5±3	9	3.16±0.13	0.58±0.06	0.19±0.02
DGL-B-3	1.3	1.58±0.04	10.26±0.7	1.66±0.3	5±3	9	3.25±0.14	0.84±0.07	0.26±0.03
DGL-B-4	1.7	1.43±0.04	8.79±0.6	1.57±0.3	5±3	9	2.96±0.13	0.94±0.15	0.32±0.05
DGL-B-5	2.0	1.59±0.04	8.82±0.6	1.44±0.3	5±3	9	3.35±0.14	1.04±0.07	0.31±0.03
DGL-B-6	2.3	1.51±0.04	11.19±0.7	1.97±0.3	5±3	9	3.27±0.14	1.10±0.08	0.34±0.03
DGL-B-7	2.6	1.56±0.04	9.70±0.6	1.66±0.3	5±3	9	3.14±0.13	1.17±0.05	0.37±0.03
DGL-B-8	2.9	1.65±0.04	9.29±0.6	1.72±0.3	5±3	9	3.16±0.14	1.15±0.03	0.37±0.02
DGL-C	2.5	1.77±0.04	9.89±0.6	2.02±0.3	5±3	9	3.43±0.14	2.35±0.36	0.68±0.11
DGL-D	2.4	1.53±0.04	14.80±0.8	2.82±0.4	5±3	9	3.70±0.16	1.68±0.06	0.45±0.03
DGL-E	2.2	1.68±0.04	9.58±0.6	1.81±0.3	5±3	9	3.29±0.14	2.20±0.08	0.67±0.04
DGL-F	3.5	1.63±0.04	11.13±0.7	1.98±0.3	5±3	9	3.35±0.14	2.44±0.13	0.73±0.05
DGL-G	5.5	1.68±0.04	10.56±0.7	1.78±0.3	5±3	9	3.26±0.14	1.95±0.09	0.59±0.04

研究区域	形成年代/ka	测年方式
塔克拉玛干沙漠^[23]	~0.7	AMS¹⁴C
塔里木盆地^[24]	~0.8	OSL、AMS¹⁴C
阿拉善高原^[25]	≥0.65	AMS¹⁴C
柴达木盆地	~0.8~0.4	OSL

Luminescence chronology record of Tamarix chinensis nebkhas in the Qaidam Basin

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