The effects of the last glacial paleo-aeolian sands on desertification in northern China |
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| Authors: | Le-ping Yue Li-rong Yang Zhi-pei Li Min Wang Wei-ji Zhang Hao-gang Nie |
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| Institution: | (1) State Key Laboratory for Continental Dynamics of the Ministry of Education, Geology Department, Northwest University, Xi’an, 710069, China;(2) State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Xi’an, 710075, China;(3) Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China;(4) Xi’an Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources, Xi’an, 710054, China |
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| Abstract: | In this paper, nine sediment sequences in the inner desert, desert-loess transitional zone (agro-pastoral transitional zone)
and the northern margin of the Loess Plateau were investigated to study the sediments of Mu Us (Maowusu) and Otindaq (Hunshandake)
sandy land in northern China since the last glaciation. All of these sequences consisted of the upper Holocene dark paleosol
and the lower aeolian sand formed during the last glacial stage. The Mu Us and Otindaq sandy land became the active desert
since the last glaciation and covered a larger sandy area than at present. Mu Us sandy land began to show a landform of sandy
desert and expanded southward towards the northern boundaries of the Loess Plateau. The Holocene was characterized by the
advent of warmer and wetter climatic conditions in northern China, resulting in the rapid growth of surface vegetation and
Mu Us and Otindaq sandy land became a steppe. The thickness of surface soil reached up to as much as 50–80 cm. Thick paleosol
covered the drift sands, and served as a protective layer for the steppe and farmland. Although the last glacial cycle is
far away, paleo-aeolian sands formed during that period are still the material sources of regional desertification. Unreasonable
cultivation destroying the Holocene paleosol, combined with dry climate and strong wind would result in activation of paleo-
aeolian sand leading to the desertification of the study areas. |
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| Keywords: | Desertification Paleo-aeolian sand The last glaciation Northern China |
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