CLIMATES AND ENVIRONMENTS OF THE HOLOCENE MEGATHERMAL MAXIMUM IN CHINA

Based on data from palynology, paleosols; paleolimnology, ice core, ar cheology, sea levels, etc., we reconstructed climates and environments of the Holocene Megathermal maximum (7.2-6.0 ka B. P.), particularly vegetation zones, temperatures, precipitation and sea-level fluctuatio ns. Annual mean temperature during that period was estimated at 1 degr ees C higher than today for South China, 2 degrees C higher for the Ch angjiang River Valley, about 3 degrees C higher for North China, North east China and Northwest China and up to 4-5 degrees C higher for sout hern Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. Relative winter temperatures increased mu ch more than average annual temperatures. The centennial-scale warming was accompanied by the expansion of summer monsoon and recession of w inter cold currents as well as northward and westward shift of vegetat ion zones, Higher lake levels registered in all inland lakes of Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Qinghai and Xizang indicated that precipitation in creased to a certain extent. The Holocene highest sea level in East Ch ina about 1-3 m higher than today, occurred within 6.5 and 5.0 kaB. P. and sea water covered coastal areas of about 7X10(4) km(2), which was the Holocene greatest scope of transpression.