Organic Carbon Isotope Records of Paleoclimatic Evolution since the Last Glacial Period in the Tangjia Region, Tibet

Lingkang Chen; Xulong Lai; Yinbing Zhao; Haixia Chen; Zhongyun Ni

doi:10.1007/s12583-011-0221-6

Volume 22 Issue 6

Dec 2011

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Journal of Earth Science > 2011 > 22(6): 704-717.

Lingkang Chen, Xulong Lai, Yinbing Zhao, Haixia Chen, Zhongyun Ni. Organic Carbon Isotope Records of Paleoclimatic Evolution since the Last Glacial Period in the Tangjia Region, Tibet. Journal of Earth Science, 2011, 22(6): 704-717. doi: 10.1007/s12583-011-0221-6

Citation:

Lingkang Chen, Xulong Lai, Yinbing Zhao, Haixia Chen, Zhongyun Ni. Organic Carbon Isotope Records of Paleoclimatic Evolution since the Last Glacial Period in the Tangjia Region, Tibet. Journal of Earth Science, 2011, 22(6): 704-717. doi: 10.1007/s12583-011-0221-6

Citation:

Lingkang Chen, Xulong Lai, Yinbing Zhao, Haixia Chen, Zhongyun Ni. Organic Carbon Isotope Records of Paleoclimatic Evolution since the Last Glacial Period in the Tangjia Region, Tibet. Journal of Earth Science, 2011, 22(6): 704-717. doi: 10.1007/s12583-011-0221-6

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Organic Carbon Isotope Records of Paleoclimatic Evolution since the Last Glacial Period in the Tangjia Region, Tibet

doi: 10.1007/s12583-011-0221-6

1.
Faculty of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
2.
Faculty of Resource and Environmental Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Tecchnology, Ganzhou, 341000, China
3.
College of Tourism and Urban-Rural Planning, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, 610059, China

Funds:

the China Geological Survey 1212010818085

More Information

Corresponding author: Lingkang CHEN, xzclk@126.com
Received Date: 20 Dec 2010
Accepted Date: 10 Apr 2011
Publish Date: 01 Dec 2011

Abstract

Abstract

We firstly present the description of the river terrace at Tangjia (唐家) Village in Lhasa, Tibet, collect soil samples, and select the climate indicators including δ¹³C, total organic carbon (TOC), and the Rb/Sr ratios to study its paleoclimate in this area. Ancient climate changes have been reconstructed since the last glacier period. The results show that the δ¹³C, TOC, and the Rb/Sr ratio are good indicators of ancient climate fluctuations. Paleoclimatic evolution in the Lhasa Tangjia region could be divided into seven stages. In stages II (11.7–10.2 kaB.P.) and IV (8.1–6.1 kaB.P.), δ¹³C was positive and TOC was high, indicating that the climates in these two stages were relatively warm and humid. In stages III (10.2–8.1 kaB.P.) and V (6.1–4.9 kaB.P.), δ¹³C showed cyclical fluctuations, but TOC exhibited less change, suggesting that the climates displayed variation on the millennial scale. Moreover, the climatic variations were on a century-long scale during the later Middle Holocene. Compared with δ¹³C from Sumxi Co (松木希错) and δ¹⁸O from the Guliya (古里雅) ice core, the study confirmed that four cold events occurred during the Holocene (9.4, 8.2, 5.4, and 4.2 kaB.P.). The climate indicators were limited to the river terrace based on the geological characteristics of the Lhasa region. Unexpectedly, δ¹³C was a sensitive indicator of climate change.
- organic carbon isotopes,
- TOC,
- paleoclimate,
- Lhasa

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References(69)

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