A 350-cm-long sediment core sequence from Dahu Swamp situated in the eastern Nanling Mountains was selected for high-resolution paleoclimatic reconstruction since the Late Glacial period. The multi-proxy records of this paper reveal several evidently dry and cold events that may coincide with the Oldest Dryas, the Older Dryas, the Younger Dryas in the late deglacial period. Two relatively wetter and warmer phases occurred in ca. 15,000-14,400 cal yr B.P. and 13,500-12,800 cal yr B.P. respectively may correspond to the Boiling and Allerod warming events. The Younger Dryas event (ca. 12,800-11,500 cal yr B.P.) revealed by multi-proxies was characterized by relatively colder and drier climate. A warmer and wetter climate, occurred in ca. 10,000~5000 cal yr B.P., was consistent with the Holoeene Optimum, which coincided with the maximum Northern Hemisphere insolation. The "8.2kyr cool event" and even the "8.8kyr cool event" were indicated as well from our sediment core. A dry mid-Holocene period (ca. 60000 3000 cal yr B.P.) indicated by multi-proxies does not follow the traditional concept of the wet mid-Holocene conditions observed in other regions in China.
XUE JibinZHONG WeiZHENG YanmingMA QiaohongCAI YingOUYANG Jun
Although extensive studies have been performed on nitrogen isotopes in lake sediments, understanding the complexity of the δ15N variation related to past environmental and climatic conditions still remains unclear. Supported by multi-proxy records including litho-units, organic carbon isotopes, ration of total organic carbon and total nitrogen, organic matter content, bulk dry density, the accumulation rate of organic matter, median grain size, magnetic susceptibility, and Rb/Sr and Ca/Mg ratios obtained from a sedimentary sequence in a small lake (i.e., Dahu Swamp) in the eastern Nanling Mountains in South China, we deduce that variation in the δ15N values results primarily from the sources of organic matter, which are significantly influenced by climatic conditions over the past -16 000 years. A low (or high) lake level resulting from dry (or wet) conditions would lead to more (or fewer) vascular plant remains in the sediments and stronger (or weaker) denitrification associated with hypolimnetic anoxia, resulting in lower (or higher) 615N values. In addition, dry (or wet) conditions would favor weakened (or strengthened) biogeochemical activity in the catchment, which could result in less (or more) external input of δ15N-enriched OM, thus leading to decreased (or increased) δ15N values. Our results indicate that the lake sediment δ15N record in the Nanling Mountains has the potential to provide valuable insight into past East Asian monsoon climate- driven environmental changes.
南岭东部定南大湖盆地湖沼相沉积高分辨率记录揭示了16.0cal ka BP以来的水文变化过程。由于该盆地主要以降水补给为主,故其水文变化过程是该地区气候与环境变化的忠实反映。多气候代用指标揭示晚冰期以来的Oldest Dryas、Blling、Older Dryas、Allerd和Younger Dryas等短尺度气候快速变化事件。10.0~6.0cal ka BP期间,该地区降水最为丰沛,暗示了夏季风在该时期最强盛,但在约9.7~9.4cal ka BP和8.8~8.2calka BP前后出现过降水骤减事件;在6.0~3.0cal ka BP期间,研究区降水显著减少,夏季风势力明显减弱。大湖盆地全新世气候变化记录与我国低纬度区域近年来的研究记录具有很好的一致性,说明低纬地区全新世适宜期应在10.0~6.0cal ka BP期间。在全球气候变化对比上,大湖盆地降水减少时期大多对应于北大西洋深水流或温盐循环减弱时期,也对应于北大西洋浮冰砾高峰时期;早全新世(10.0~6.0cal ka BP)降水丰沛期对应于北大西洋深水流加强时期;表明北大西洋深水流变化所导致的高低纬地区热量差异与我国低纬季风区过去气候变化有某种遥相关。此外,大湖盆地晚冰期以来气候变化趋势与北半球夏季太阳辐射量变化趋势吻合。因此笔者认为东亚低纬季风区晚冰期以来气候变化机制与太阳辐射量变化、大洋温盐循环等有关。