Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences

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Holocene environmental change in the marginal area of the Asian monsoon: a record from Zhuye Lake, NW China

Yu Li (1,2) and Carrie Morrill (1)

(1) CIRES/NOAA National Climatic Data Center Paleoclimatology Branch, (2) Lanzhou University

Holocene environment records were obtained for the QTH01 and QTH02 sections in Zhuye Lake. The fluctuations in grain size, pollen, total organic carbon content and C/N ratios record notable environmental variations. The early Holocene (11.0-7.4 cal kyr BP) was relatively arid, while vegetation coverage was sparse and primary productivity low. The optimal environment prevailed during the mid-Holocene (7.4-4.7 cal kyr BP). During the late Holocene (4.7-0 cal kyr BP), the environment became arid, as shown by low lake level and sparse vegetation coverage. In this area, the environment was likely influenced by both the Westerlies and the East Asian monsoon during the Holocene.