Evolution of the Asian summer monsoon during Dansgaard/Oeschger events 13–17 recorded in a stalagmite constrained by high-precision chronology from southwest China

• Published in: Quaternary Research
• Main Authors: Li, Ting-Yong, Han, Li-Yin, Cheng, Hai, Edwards, R. Lawrence, Shen, Chuan-Chou, Li, Hong-Chun, Li, Jun-Yun, Huang, Chun-Xia, Zhang, Tao-Tao, Zhao, Xin
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2017
• Subjects: General Earth and Planetary Sciences; Earth-Surface Processes; Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous); Hulu; Dansgaard-Oeschger events
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/qua.2017.22; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0033589417000229

Abstract A stalagmite with high 238 U content from Yangkou Cave, China, revealed the evolution of the Asian summer monsoon (ASM) between 49.1 and 59.5 ka, and the δ 18 O values recorded Dansgaard/Oeschger (D/O) events 13–17. The Yangkou record shows a relatively gradual transition into the D/O 14 and 16 events. The discrepancy between the abrupt and gradual transitions of D/O 14 in the records from northern and southern China, respectively, suggests different responses of the ASM to climate changes in the high northern latitudes. The higher resolution δ 18 O record and more precise 230 Th dating indicate that the timing of D/O 14 and 17 in the Hulu records at 53 and 58 ka should be shifted to 54.3 and 59 ka, respectively. The gradual strengthening of the ASM at the onsets of D/O 16 and 14 in our record is different from the abrupt temperature rise in the northern high latitudes. Some other factors must contribute to this relatively gradual ASM change in southern China, but the actual reason is still unknown.