Age of the MGS5 segment of the Milanggouwan stratigraphical section and evolution of the desert environment on a kiloyear scale during the Last Interglacial in China's Salawusu River Valley: Evidence from Rb and Sr contents and ratios

• Published in: Geochemistry
• Main Authors: Du, SH (Du, Shuhuan) 1, Li, BS (Li, Baosheng) 1,2, Niu, DF (Niu, Dongfeng) 1, Zhang, DD (Zhang, David Dian) 3, Wen, XH (Wen, Xiaohao) 1, Chen, DN (Chen, Deniu) 4, Yang, Y (Yang, Yi) 1, Wang, FN (Wang, Fengnian) 1
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: Salawusu River Valley; Last Interglacial; MGS5 segment; Rb and Sr; Kiloyear-scale climate fluctuations; Greenland; GRIP; NGRIP
• Online Access: http://ir.ieecas.cn/handle/361006/10289; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemer.2010.07.002

The MGS5 segment of the Milanggouwan stratigraphical section in China's Salawusu River Valley records 8.5 sedimentary cycles consisting of dune sands alternating with fluviolacustrine facies or/and paleosols. Based on a comprehensive analysis of the distribution of Rb and Sr within the segment and paleoecological evidence (fossils), it appears that the observed sedimentation cycles mainly resulted from fluctuations between dry-cold and warm-humid climates, which indicates that the MGS5 segment experienced at least eight cold-dry and nine warm-humid climatic fluctuations. Of these, 12 cold-warm climate fluctuations correspond to DO20-DO25 and stadia 21-26 recorded by the NGRIP ice cores. Another five cold-warm climatic fluctuations that occurred during MGS5e correspond to five substages (5e1-5e5) recorded by the GRIP ice cores from Greenland. This kind of high-frequency climatic fluctuation on a kiloyear scale was mainly subject to variations in the strength of the East Asian winter and summer monsoons.