Low-field susceptibility and palaeorainfall estimates. New data along a N-S transect of the Chinese Loess Plateau

This paper reports palaeorainfall estimates from four loess sequences, comp rising the last two glacial cycles (about 130 kyr), from sections along a n orth-south transect of the Chinese Loess Plateau, to the east of the Liupan Mountains. Palaeorainfall was estimated using low-field magnetic susceptib ility data alone. Reduced rainfall occurred during glacial times (L1LL1 and L1LL2), while higher palaeorainfalls occurred during more humid and warmer interglacials and interstadial times (S0, L1SS1 and S1). Moreover, our est imates point out that glacial and interglacial times were characterized by a different rainfall gradient, from south to north of the transect. In the northernmost site (Yulin) the palaeorainfall estimations for the L1LL1 and L1LL2 cold intervals were obscured by the presence of coarse desert dust wi th very large grain size. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserve d.