Timing and structure of the Younger Dryas event in northern China

• Published in: Quaternary Science Reviews
• Main Authors: Ma, Zhi-Bang, Cheng, Hai, Tan, Ming, Edwards, R. Lawrence, Li, Hong-Chun, You, Chen-Feng, Duan, Wu-Hui, Wang, Xu, Kelly, Megan J.
• Other Authors: Department of Earth sciences
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2012
• Subjects: Asymmetrical Younger Dryas structure; Abrupt climate change; Asian monsoon; Kulishu Cave; Northern China; Greenland
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2012.03.006; http://ir.lib.ncku.edu.tw/handle/987654321/132825; http://ir.lib.ncku.edu.tw/bitstream/987654321/132825/-1/index.html

A high-resolution and absolute-dated stalagmite record from Kulishu Cave, Beijing characterizes Asian Monsoon (AM) history in northern China between ca 14 and 10.5 ka BP (thousand yrs before present, present = 1950), including the entire Younger Dryas (YD) event. Using Th-230 dates and counting of annual-layers, the shift into the YD began at 12,850 +/- 40 yr BP and took similar to 340 yrs and the shift out of the YD began at 11,560 +/- 40 yr BP and took <38 yrs (best estimate similar to 20 yrs), broadly similar to previously reported AM records from central and southeastern China. The more gradual nature of the start of the YD event as observed in the AM records appears to contrast with the more abrupt beginning observed in the Greenland ice records. The total amplitude of the AM YD event is also smaller than the amplitude of the AM Heinrich Stadial 1 event. In addition, the general rising trend of the AM during the Bolling-Allerod period contrasts with the general cooling trend in Greenland temperature during that time. The influence of rising insolation on the AM may explain this observation. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.