Evidence of the pan-lake stage in the period of 40-28 ka BP on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

The Qinghai-Tibet plateau is one of major saline lake regions in China, whe re saline lakes are widespread and constitute an important object of resear ches on the palaeoclimatic change in the region. On the basis of comprehens ive investigations of the evolution of the lake's surface and sediments on the plateau, the authors have further demonstrated the existence of a pan-l ake stage (river and lake flooding stage) on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau duri ng the period of about 40(+)-28 ka B.P. and analyzed the palaeoclimatic cha racteristics of the pan-lake period and relationships between the ancient m onsoons and the uplift of the plateau since the beginning of the Quaternary .