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A record of Holocene climate change in the Guanzhong Basin, China, based on optical dating of a loess-palaeosol sequence

Key Laboratory of Desert and Desertification, Cold and Arid Regions Environment and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Science, Lanzhou 730000, China, hzhao{at}lzb.ac.cn, CAEP, MOE Key Laboratory of Western China's Environment, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China

Fa-Hu Chen

CAEP, MOE Key Laboratory of Western China's Environment, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China

Sheng-Hua Li

Department of Earth Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China

Ann G. Wintle

Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences, University of Wales, Aberystwyth SY23 3DB, UK

Yu-Xin Fan

CAEP, MOE Key Laboratory of Western China's Environment, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China

Dun-Sheng Xia

Key Laboratory of Desert and Desertification, Cold and Arid Regions Environment and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Science, Lanzhou 730000, China, CAEP, MOE Key Laboratory of Western China's Environment, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China

Optical dating was used to obtain a chronology for a loess-palaeosol sequence in the Guanzhong Basin on the Loess Plateau in China. The sedimentary sequence recorded two dry episodes (3.7~2.4 ka and 1.2~0.8 ka ago) in the Holocene as shown by the presence of two layers of loess within the Holocene deposits. These two arid events are consistent with records of global climate change in the Holocene and also coincident with major historic events in China. This finding suggests that loess-paleosol sequences in China can record global climate changes and implies that rapid climate change affected the progress of human civilization. In addition, changes in the sedimentation rate through the section suggest that agricultural expansion may have accelerated the rate of dust accumulation.

Key Words: Optical dating • China • loess-palaeosol sequence • Holocene • rapid climate change.

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