Vegetation, climate, and sea level in the past 55,000 years, Hanjiang Delta, southeastern China

Authors
Citation
Z. Zheng et Qy. Li, Vegetation, climate, and sea level in the past 55,000 years, Hanjiang Delta, southeastern China, QUATERN RES, 53(3), 2000, pp. 330-340
Citations number
33
Categorie Soggetti
Earth Sciences
Journal title
QUATERNARY RESEARCH
ISSN journal
00335894 → ACNP
Volume
53
Issue
3
Year of publication
2000
Pages
330 - 340
Database
ISI
SICI code
0033-5894(200005)53:3<330:VCASLI>2.0.ZU;2-9
Abstract
Pollen in Quaternary deposits from the subtropical Hanjiang Delta records t hree major phases in the local vegetation and climate history during the la st 55,000 yr: (1) a prevalent cool-to-temperate and humid climate at ca. 24 ,000 C-14 yr B.P. is indicated by abundant pollen of temperate trees includ ing conifers; (2) between 20,000 and 15,000 C-14 Yr B.P., a cold, dry envir onment was associated with low sea level during the last glaciation, leadin g to subaerial exposure, weathering, and interruption of sedimentation, as well as departure from the region of Dacrydium and Sonneratia; (3) a short- term expansion of grassland at ca. 10,300 C-14 yr B.P. reduced the predomin ant Lauraceae-Fagaceae evergreen forest, possibly corresponding to the Youn ger Dryas cooling. The combined data indicate a maximum sea-level rise in t he mid-Holocene (7500-4000 C-14 yr B.P.) and a marine influence in the late Pleistocene at 45,000-20,000 C-14 yr B.P. The Holocene warming, however, d id not bring back moisture-sensitive taxa, indicating high seasonal aridity probably caused by renewed monsoon conditions. (C) 2000 University of Wash ington.