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Elevation map of the Tarim Basin based on Shuttle Radar Topography Mission data (USGS, 2004) with historically documented rivers. The rivers of the Qing Dynasty are from Yang, Liu, et al. (2006), and those of the Han Dynasty are from Yu et al. (2016).
Source publication
Sediment provenance is a key issue in understanding the aeolian system of the Taklamakan Desert, an important source of global dust and the largest sand sea in the midlatitudes worldwide. In provenance research, it may be a mistake to assume that the sand and dust fractions of desert sediments have the same source, which has been the case in previo...
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Citations
... McLennan, 1989). In East Asia, these paleo-provenance proxies have been used to characterize the deserts and dune fields of northern China (Chen et al., 2007a;Ferrat et al., 2011;Hu and Yang, 2016;Jiang and Yang, 2019;Nakano et al., 2004;Rao et al., 2008Rao et al., , 2011Xie and Chi, 2016;Xie et al., 2020;Yang et al., 2009). The seminal work by Chen et al. (2007a) has shown that based on Sr-Nd isotopic compositions of specific size fractions (<75 μm and <5 μm), the drylands of East Asia can be divided into three distinct regions owing to the source material from which they are derived (Fig. 1). ...
... No eruptions have been reported around 13.0 cal ka BP, but tephra layers dated around 11.4 and 14.0 cal ka BP and geochemically linked to the Longgang volcanic field suggest there were some active volcanoes during that Taylor and McLennan, 1985)). Comparison with average composition of <75 μm (A) and fine <5 μm (B) fractions of deserts/dune fields (diamonds: Ferrat et al., 2011;Hu and Yang, 2016;Jiang and Yang, 2019;Rao et al., 2011;Xie et al., 2019;Xie et al., 2017;Zhang et al., 2018a) and loess (squares: Ferrat et al., 2011;Xie et al., 2017); (C) average composition of local sources: soils, volcanic rocks and volcanic deposits (triangles and dots: this study; Chen et al., 2007b;Liu et al., 2009;Schettler et al., 2006b) and volcanic ash (cross: Bailey, 1993). ...
The East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) is a major component of the global climate yet, the causes for the past spatiotemporal variability of EASM rainfall, its interactions and impacts remain unresolved. Here we use the Sr–Nd isotopes and rare earth elements composition of dust in a peat record from northeast (NE) China to investigate the relationship between aeolian dust, the East Asian monsoon and Westerly Jet (WJ) over East Asia since the Late Pleistocene (14 cal ka BP). The NE drylands of China dominate the dust fraction (Hunshandake, Horqin; 44–88%) with a contribution from the deserts of NW China (Badain Jaran, Tengger, Taklamakan; 10–44%), suggesting an influence of the WJ. Dust deposition varied during the Holocene, displaying a minimum between 8.0 and 6.0 cal ka BP and two peaks at 5.8–3.8 and 1.7–0.3 cal ka BP. Changes in dust flux are opposite to the East Asian winter monsoon intensity profile, suggesting a limited influence of the winter monsoon. The EASM appears to have played a more significant role in the dust cycle, with increasing dust fluxes corresponding with lower EASM precipitation. Variations in dust flux from NE drylands display shifts reflecting changes in EASM precipitations and dune activity along the EASM margin, where the dust originates from. To account for the influence of the WJ, we propose that the meridional position and intensity of the WJ also affected dust emission in the drylands’ region. A more northward position of the WJ allows the EASM front further north, generating more precipitations over the NE drylands, reducing the extent of arid areas, and resulting in less dust emission from dune activity, while the opposite occurs with a strong, more southerly WJ. Anthropogenic activities are likely to have had an increasing impact on the dust cycle over the late Holocene. Nevertheless, the presence of inconsistencies in records, coupled with a simultaneous decline in climatic conditions (mainly precipitations) during the same timeframe, hinders the precise assessment of the influence of human activities on dust emissions in the region.
... Grain size and chemical weathering only play a minor effect on the REEs geochemistry of river sediments (Yang et al., 2002;Um et al., 2013). Among REEs, Eu is the only element that can exist stably in a divalent state (Jiang and Yang, 2019). Crustal rocks have markedly negative and positive Eu anomalies, but mantle-derived rocks usually have no Eu anomalies (expressed as Eu/Eu* = 1) (Gao and Wedepohl, 1995). ...
... Crustal rocks have markedly negative and positive Eu anomalies, but mantle-derived rocks usually have no Eu anomalies (expressed as Eu/Eu* = 1) (Gao and Wedepohl, 1995). Therefore, the Eu anomalies were broadly used to trace sediment sources Jiang and Yang, 2019). After the sediments had deposited, elements like Ca, Na, and K were migrated to hydrosphere and were accumulated in the water body during chemical weathering. ...
... We first evaluate the feasibility of the use of SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3 and SiO 2 / TiO 2 ratios as indicators of changes in the detrital eolian grain size within the XF S1-L2 and LA S1-L3 intervals. The geochemical composition of clastic sediments is primarily determined by three factors: source rock composition, chemical weathering, and grain size sorting (Sawyer, 1986;Jiang and Yang, 2019;Jiang et al., 2023). For the CLP loess deposits, there is a stable and homogeneous provenance over Liu, 1985) and locations of sampled loess sections. ...
Identifying accretionary and non-accretionary paleosols is essential for deciphering the paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental records of loess-paleosol sequences. However, relatively little research has been conducted on the identification, either because the available methods are time-consuming, highly specialized, and expensive , or because they require knowledge of glacial-interglacial patterns of wind dynamics which may still be lacking. The available identification methods are based on dust deposition; however, in this study, we develop a rapid identification method based on pedogenesis by utilizing loess deposits on the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP) and the Xiashu loess deposits, both of which are in monsoonal China. Firstly, we identified non-accretionary paleosols in a typical Xiashu loess section from the perspective of dust deposition, using SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3 and SiO 2 / TiO 2 ratios, which are indicators of changes in the detrital eolian grain size. Then, we conducted a comparative analysis of a typical CLP accretionary paleosol-loess couplet and the Xiashu non-accretionary paleosol-loess couplets, using records of magnetic susceptibility (MS), chemical index of alteration (CIA), and grain size. The results show that the accretionary paleosol-loess couplet is characterized by an in-phase relationship between MS and CIA/<2 μm (%), whereas the non-accretionary paleosol-loess couplet has an out-of-phase relationship. The determination of the phase relationship between MS and CIA/<2 μm (%) is a new method that enables the rapid and direct identification of accretionary and non-accretionary paleosols.
... Most of the samples in this study belong to class I. The REY partitioning curves of these samples are relatively flat, with very weak positive Y anomalies and insignificant Ce and Eu anomalies, and their REY partitioning patterns are similar to those of Asian dust [53][54][55][56][57][58] and non-REY-rich sediments (250 ppm < ΣREY < 400 ppm) near Minamitorishima Island [6,16,17]. In addition, the Class I REY curves are somewhat similar to those of the micronodules, which usually present obvious positive Ce anomalies [6,59,60], but the ΣREY and Ce anomaly values of Class I are significantly lower than that of micronodules ( Figure 3). ...
... The REY content of the sediments is mainly related to the quantity of fish teeth [6,8,[62][63][64] and micronodules [11,59,60], which are intermediate carriers of REY in the early stage of sedimentation, and the REY will migrate from the micronodules to the fish teeth during diagenesis. Asian dust (black dotted line) after [53][54][55][56][57][58]; Marcus-Wake Seamounts sediment (light blue, green, yellow and red lines) after [6,16,17]; micronodules (blue line), bioapatite fossils (purple line) and philipsites (brown line) after [6]; basalt (pink line) after [65]; bottom water (light blue dotted line) after [36], and volcanic debris (red dotted line) after [66]. [44] REY pattern of all the samples in this study and some references. ...
... [44] REY pattern of all the samples in this study and some references. Asian dust (black dotted line) after [53][54][55][56][57][58]; Marcus-Wake Seamounts sediment (light blue, green, yellow and red lines) after [6,16,17]; micronodules (blue line), bioapatite fossils (purple line) and philipsites (brown line) after [6]; basalt (pink line) after [65]; bottom water (light blue dotted line) after [36], and volcanic debris (red dotted line) after [66]. ...
Deep-sea sediments enriched in rare earth elements and yttrium (REY-rich sediments) are widely distributed on the deep-sea floor, and their formation mechanism remains elusive. Although studies have recognized the link between seamounts and REY-rich sediments, in-depth analysis of the specific roles and effects of seamounts in the formation of REY-rich sediments is lacking. In this study, we analyzed surface sediments from the Marcus-Wake Seamounts for grain size, geochemistry, and mineral composition and classified the samples into three types: samples with moderate REY content and dominated by terrestrial detritus; samples with high REY and authigenic mineral content; and samples rich in CaCO3 but poor in REY. The REY in the sediments of the study area partly originate from Asian dust input and partly from seawater and/or pore water, and are mainly enriched in REY carrier particles including bioapatite fossils and micronodules. The amount of REY carrier particles influences the REY content in the sediments. The current field, primary productivity, weathering process, and depositional environment around seamounts are different from those of abyssal plains, which are conducive to the formation of REY-rich sediments. Strong bottom currents may exist in the southeastern direction of some large seamounts (e.g., Niulang Guyot), leading to the selective accumulation of REY-rich bioapatite fossils and micronodules, resulting in the formation of REY-rich sediments.
... The data compiled from a series of previously published studies on the trace and REE compositions of surficial sediments were also in accordance with our findings (Fig. 3c and d). The geochemical analyses conducted in previous studies were to analyze various types of surficial sediments from different regions in Central Asia, such as the loess deposits on the piedmont of the Pamir Plateau (Chauvel et al., 2014), loess, bedrock, desert sand, topsoil, and fluvial sediments in the Junggar Basin (Huang et al., 2018), topsoil on the eastern Pamir Plateau (Gu et al., 2020), dune sediments, loess, alluvium, and Proluvium from southeastern Kazakhstan and northern Kyrgyzstan (Li et al., 2020c), loess sediments in southern Tajikistan (Li et al., 2019), desert sand and surface soil from the Taklimakan desert (Chen et al., 2021a,b;Jiang and Yang, 2019;Song et al., 2022), and surface sediments in Junggar Basin and Tarim Basin (Lin et al., 2020). Based on the available data from these previous studies, PCA and K-means were applied to analyze the available elemental ratios, that are, LREE/HREE, La/Yb, Gd/Yb, Eu/ Eu*, and Ce/Ce*. ...
... The northernmost tip of the CAOB consists primarily of metasediments and volcanic rocks (Windley et al., 2002). The LREE/HREE ratios and Eu/Eu* values of the surficial sediments are consistent with those of the rocks in these two regions (Chang et al., 2000;Feng et al., 2017;Huang et al., 2018) (Chang et al., 2000;Chauvel et al., 2014;Chen et al., 2021a,b;Feng et al., 2017;Gu et al., 2020;Huang et al., 2018;Jiang and Yang, 2019;Li et al., 2020c;Li et al., 2019;Lin et al., 2020;Song et al., 2022;Zhang et al., 2018;Zhang et al., 2022b); data of the NPO cores are from (Serno et al., 2014;Zhang et al., 2016); data of loess on the CLP (Chauvel et al., 2014;Ding et al., 2001;Gallet et al., 1996;Jahn et al., 2001;Liang et al., 2009;Lin et al., 2020). (Fig. 5). ...
... Rivers or meltwater are potential transport agents carrying particles that are probably released by the grinding of mountain glaciers (Wright et al., 1998) to the piedmont of mountains as well as to the basins (Rao et al., 2015;Smalley, 1995;Song et al., 2022;Zhang et al., 2022b). For example, several rivers, such as the Keriya, Hotan, Niya, and Tarim, drain from the surrounding mountains and carry large amounts of material to the central part of the Taklimakan Desert (Jiang and Yang, 2019;Rao et al., 2015;Song et al., 2022). Previous comprehensive studies have also demonstrated that the Kunlun and Tianshan Mountains act as major sources for the Taklimakan Desert, based on various source tracers, including Nd and Sr isotopes, elemental compositions, and detrital-zircon age spectra (Chang et al., 2000;Chen et al., 2022;Chen et al., 2007;Jiang and Yang, 2019;Rao et al., 2015;Rittner et al., 2016;Song et al., 2022). ...
As one of the major mountain systems in Central Asia, the Tianshan Mountains provide vast amounts of sediment to adjacent areas. The elemental compositions of surficial sediments on the piedmont of the Tianshan Mountains were investigated to track surface processes. However, spatial comparisons of the elemental compositions of the sediments in the Tianshan Mountains and adjacent areas remain limited. To address this issue, this study investigated the trace element compositions (including rare earth elements (REEs)) of surficial sediments in a vast region ranging from the Pamirs, Tarim Basin, and Tianshan Mountains to the Junggar Basin. According to statistical analyses of the selected source tracers of trace element and REE ratios, this large region can be geochemically divided into two regions. One region comprises the Pamirs, Tarim Basin, and South and Central Tianshan Mountains (PTSC), where the sediments are characterized by contrary source tracer ratios compared with the other region comprising the Yili Basin, North Tianshan, and Junggar Basin (YNTJ). We suggest that the source bedrock is the primary factor controlling the trace element and REE compositions in these two regions. The trace element and REE compositions in the PTSC and YNTJ regions represent signatures of the two end-members of Asian dust. The trace compositions of loess deposits on the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP) and Asian dust archived in the North Pacific Ocean (NPO) mostly resemble those of sediments in the PTSC region, suggesting that Asian dust is mainly derived from sediments eroded from the North Tibetan Plateau. Our study enriches our understanding of the source materials of Asian dust archived in the CLP and NPO.
... However, the sand in different regions of the sand sea exhibits differences in sources, both because the directions of sediment transport agents in or near the sand sea are not precisely the same and because sediment availability differs among source regions. Such cases can be found in the Taklimakan Sand Sea (Jiang and Yang 2019), the Kumtagh Sand Sea (Liang et al. 2020), the Namib Sand Sea (Garzanti et al. 2012), and the Arabian Sand Sea (Garzanti et al. 2013). In addition, drilling records indicate that the Badain Jaran Sand Sea developed since ~ 1100 ka BP and expanded during the 1100-650 ka BP, 450-150 ka BP, and 70-10 ka BP (last glacial) periods (Wang et al. 2015a). ...
Purpose
Although the formation mechanism of the megadunes in the Badain Jaran Sand Sea has received considerable research attention, their provenance and sand accumulation processes are still poorly understood. Therefore, this study aims to identify the provenance of the megadunes and clarify the spatial and temporal characteristics of their source supply processes.
Materials and methods
We collected megadune sands in the Badain Jaran Sand Sea and sediments from their potential source regions (i.e., the Heihe-Altay alluvial fan, Heihe River, Beida-Yabrai alluvial fans, and Gulunai-Guaizi dry lakes). We analyzed the geochemical compositions of these sediments using X-ray fluorescence spectrometer. Source identification was conducted using robust K/Ba and K/Rb ratios and the multidimensional scaling (MDS) method. Based on fluvial-aeolian system distribution and comparison with drilling cores, the spatial and temporal source supply processes of the megadunes were determined.
Results and discussion
The K/Ba vs. K/Rb biplot showed that the Heihe-Altay alluvial sediment, Heihe River fluvial sand, and the Beida-Yabrai alluvial sediment samples were similar to the sand in the megadunes. Similarly, MDS result showed that these sources had similarities to the megadune sand, indicating that they were the sources of the megadune sand. Based on the distribution of fluvial-aeolian systems, we conclude that the sediments from the Qilian Mountains and Altay Mountains were first mixed in the Heihe River, after which they were sorted and transported by the northwest wind to the megadune field. The Beida-Yabrai Mountains delivered source sediments to the sand sea via short-lived runoff episodes and southeast winds, which were not as significant as those previously described. These sands finally built megadunes in two directions, namely from the northwest to the southeast and its opposite direction due to the prevailing northwest wind and local air circulation from the slipface. By comparing drilling cores from within and near the sand sea, we found that fluvial sediments were prevailing in the lower reaches of the Heihe River during Marine Isotopic Stage (MIS) 4 and MIS 2, when the megadunes rapidly migrated. However, the Heihe-Altay alluvial fan formed since the Late Pleistocene when the sand sea began to form, indicating a more extended source supply history.
Conclusions
Our results indicated that the Heihe-Altay alluvial sediments, the Heihe River fluvial sand, and the Beida-Yabrai alluvial sediments were the sources of the megadune sand. The sediments transported to the dune field by fluvial-aeolian systems at the sand sea scale and accumulated on the megadunes from both windward and leeward directions at the individual dune scale. Temporally, the Heihe-Altay alluvial fan may be a continuous source of sediments for the development of the megadunes, and the Heihe River may have contributed to their rapid migration during MIS 4 and MIS 2.
... Although Liang et al. (2020) inferred that the sorting process probably did not entirely overprint the provenance signatures of the sediment in the KMD, results from the Loess Plateau (S.L. and the Taklamakan Desert (Jiang and Yang, 2019) indicate that elemental distribution of the sediment depends on grain size to a considerable extent. However, previous studies also have demonstrated that the CPA and the (CaO + Na 2 O + MgO)/TiO 2 ratio are grain-size independent (S.L. Chen et al., 2021). ...
Sedimentary records from the Kumtag (also known as Kumtagh) Desert (KMD) in northwestern China are investigated to better understand Late Quaternary paleoenvironmental changes in this hyper-arid region. Presented here are the results of probably the first systematic survey of sedimentary sequences from the KMD, with the chronology determined by the optically stimulated luminescence dating. The variation of sedimentary facies, supported by granular and geochemical paleoenvironmental proxies, is used to decipher the history of Late Quaternary environment changes. The results demonstrate that a constantly dry condition characterized the eastern KMD since the last glacial maximum, but with occurrences of wetter periods. From ca. 17 to 15 ka, fluvial activity was probably triggered by melting of glaciers in mountains located south of the KMD. A distinctly drier stage (ca. 13–7 ka) was recognized due to the prominent occurrence of aeolian sands. A wetter environment likely persisted between ca. 4.4 and 2.2 ka, consistent with evidence of human activities. While the causes of paleoenvironmental changes in the eastern KMD are still a matter of debate, the melting of glaciers in the Altyn-Tagh Mountains in the south must be considered as an important factor.
... Grain-size variations can significantly affect the geochemical composition of individual clastic sediment samples because specific minerals tend to be concentrated within different grain-size fractions due to differences in weathering resistance (Garzanti et al., 2009;Laceby et al., 2017;Jiang and Yang, 2019;Li et al., 2021. Knowledge of grain-size effects on element ratios is indispensable for determining whether the abrupt transitions of the immobile element ratios are caused by grain-size sorting or by changes in sediment source. ...
... The primary transport agents of aeolian particles from the erosional source areas to the depositional sink are water and wind (Smalley et al., 2009;Jiang and Yang, 2019;Li et al., 2020aLi et al., , 2020bJiang et al., 2022). Recently, we demonstrated that the prevailing aeolian transport agent of the Xiashu loess is the East Asian winter monsoon (EAWM), as is also the case for the sediments of the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP) loess, based on grain-size analyses of widely-distributed Xiashu loess sections (Jiang et al., 2020). ...
Large river systems are reactive or buffered to large climate oscillations on orbital timescales, depending on whether their sedimentary response time is shorter or longer than the period of these climate oscillations. Estimating the sedimentary response time of large river systems is essential for understanding their sensitivity to climate change and their corresponding ability to reshape themselves, but few studies have estimated the sedimentary response time of real large river systems by geologic records. Provenance analysis of the Xiashu loess in China since ~1 Ma provides the opportunity to estimate the sedimentary response time of the adjacent Huanghe (Yellow River). Here, we conducted the first provenance analysis of such a Xiashu loess section, using measured data of element contents, Nd isotopes, and grain-size compositions. The results reveal changes in loess provenance at ~0.3 Ma and ~0.07 Ma. The provenance changes were caused by the expansion of the Huanghe alluvial plain at ~0.3 Ma and its contraction at ~0.07 Ma. The expansion and contraction can be attributed to the delayed sedimentary response of the Huanghe alluvial plain to the Mid-Pleistocene Transition and the Mid-Brunhes Transition, respectively. Therefore, the sedimentary response time of the Huanghe alluvial plain is estimated to be ~0.4 Ma, which is much longer than the duration of the high-amplitude Quaternary climate oscillations on orbital timescales. Our findings support that the Huanghe and similar large rivers are buffered to these climate oscillations. The alluvial plains of the Huanghe and similar rivers may play a key role in delaying and reducing the impacts of future climate change on the land surface.
... Geochemical tracers, particularly trace elements and rare earth elements (REEs), have proved to be effective for distinguishing provenance of aeolian sediments and revealing their transport processes (Chen et al., 2022a;Chen et al., 2022b;Ferrat et al., 2011;Garzanti et al., 2020;Han et al., 2019;Hao et al., 2010;Hu and Yang, 2016;Jiang and Yang, 2019;Li et al., 2022a;Li et al., 2018b;Li et al., 2020d;Liu and Yang, 2018;Muhs, 2017;Muhs et al., 2016;Wu et al., 2022). Besides, Sr-Nd isotopic compositions, which are determined at the time of crust-mantle differentiation, have also been extensively applied to trace the sources of aeolian sediments (Bird et al., 2020;Chen et al., 2007;Chen and Li, 2013;Dong et al., 2020;Rao et al., 2014;Rao et al., 2008;Rao et al., 2006;Sun, 2005;Wei et al., 2021;Xie and Chi, 2016;Xie et al., 2019;Xie et al., 2020;Zeng et al., 2020;Zhu et al., 2021). ...
... Our study benefits from publication of the data about trace elements (including REEs) and Sr -Nd isotopes of the loess deposits and the sandy deserts in different geographical provinces of East and Central Asia in the literatures (Biscaye et al., 1997;Chen et al., 2007;Chen et al., 2021;Feng et al., 2009;Jiang and Yang, 2019;Li et al., 2020d;Li et al., 2019b;Újvári et al., 2022;Ujvari et al., 2015;Wang et al., 2007;Wu et al., 2021;Zhang et al., 2018b;Zhang et al., 2022b;Zhao et al., 2015;Zhu et al., 2021). Specifically, the particle-size-specific trace elements of the Kyzylkum Desert sediments and the Sr-Nd isotope compositions of fine components (<5 μm) in the Central Asian loess are tested (Fig. 1c). ...
... Locations of samples used to identify provenances of fine-grained dust particles in loess deposits from the Chinese Loess Plateau based on trace element geochemistry (d) and Sr -Nd isotope (e). These data of the samples were compiled from the literatures (Biscaye et al., 1997;Chen et al., 2007;Chen et al., 2021;Feng et al., 2009;Jiang and Yang, 2019;Li et al., 2020d;Li et al., 2019b;Li et al., 2022b;Újvári et al., 2022;Ujvari et al., 2015;Wang et al., 2007;Wu et al., 2021;Zhang et al., 2018b;Zhang et al., 2022b;Zhao et al., 2015;Zhu et al., 2021). (For interpretation of the references to colour in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the web version of this article.) ...
... Total REE concentration (ΣREE) of sediment is generally dependent on grain size mainly due to the adsorption of clay-size minerals (Condie, 1991;Li et al., 2006;Ma et al., 2004). For example, the ∑ REE of loess deposits on the CLP increases with decreasing loess grain size (Wu et al., 1991); the fine (dust) fractions in dune sediment samples from the Taklamakan Desert contain prominently higher ∑ REEs than the coarse (sand) fractions (Jiang and Yang, 2019), a REE geochemical characteristic also observed in aeolian sands from the Mu Us Desert and Badain Jaran Desert, NW China Li et al., 2021b). Some representative source samples were also selected form the "Proximal source" to test their grain sizes (Text S4 and Fig. S3a). ...
Wind-blown loess, as the geological record of dust, is a promising archive to explore paleoclimate change and paleo-dust cycle from source to sink over the westerly-dominated Central Asia (CA). However, it is still not fully established how loess deposition in CA physically connects to the westerlies. In this study, based on trace element analyses of the Nilka (NLK) loess section from eastern Ili Basin, we used sediment source fingerprinting (SSF) and random forest (RF) to quantitatively restore loess provenance changes in North Tian Shan, CA, covering the past 71 ka. The results reveal that alluvium and proluvial on the piedmont slopes/plains over the region served as the primary sources for the NLK loess (averaging ~ 72 %), with less contributions of deserts (~28 %). The temporal variations of the major source contributions, combined with density plots of the RF results, suggest that the enhanced westerly-linked moisture transport controlled by both obliquity and precession forcings has largely suppressed the loess accumulation despite the possibility that the strengthened westerlies led to the increased supply of the distant sources. This indicates an intimate linkage between the SSF results, the local paleoenvir-onment and the large-scale paleoclimatic systems. In addition, the relatively smaller contributing proportions of the Kazakh deserts confirm that the CA loess is not mainly derived from the deserts. In conclusion, quantifying loess provenance changes here represents one potential approach for resolving the relationships between dust cycles and climate forcings, which is relevant for paleoclimate reconstruction based on the comparatively patchy (non-plateau) piedmont loess in CA.
https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1gqSi1Dk5AZEr3
