Characteristics of peat humification, magnetic susceptibility and trace elements of Hani peatland, northeastern China: paleoclimatic implications

• Published in: Atmospheric Science Letters
• Main Authors: Xiao, He, Cheng, Shenggao, Mao, Xumei, Huang, Ting, Hu, Zhongxia, Zhou, Ying, Liu, Xiaotong
• Other Authors: National Natural Science Foundation of China
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2017
• Subjects: Hani; North Atlantic
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/asl.736; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fasl.736; https://rmets.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/asl.736

Abstract A high‐resolution peat humification record is obtained from Hani peatland, northeastern China to study climate change. An absorbance value time series from alkali‐extraction is used as a peat humification indicator. In addition, Hani peat magnetic susceptibility and trace elements have also been investigated. There is a sensitive response to abrupt climate changes when comparing a high‐resolution peat humification record with a Hani δ 18 O temperature proxy record and a drift ice record from the North Atlantic Ocean. Based on analyses of factors that affect peat decomposition, we suggest similar paleoclimate significance between the Hani and Dajiuhu peat on the degree of humification with a higher peat humification indicating colder and drier climate conditions. In contrast, a warm and moist climate provides a deoxidized condition that results in lower peat humification. Moreover, the Rb/Sr ratios and χ lf in Hani peatland also indicate different climate conditions, especially in late Holocene. According to the Hani peat data, regional paleoclimate variations can be divided into the following five phases: 11.5–10.0 cal. kyr BP with warm climate conditions; 10.0–8.8 cal. kyr BP with sharply cooling and warming climate conditions; 8.8–4.8 cal. kyr BP with alternating cooling and warming climate conditions; 4.8–1.6 cal. kyr BP with warm climate conditions overall and 1.6–0 cal. kyr BP with cold climate conditions.