干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

Aeolian deposits from the Hulun Buir Desert of northeastern China are studied with optically stimulated luminescence dating methods to establish the chronology of dune building phases and climatic changes since the last deglaciation. Our results indicate that wet climate, marked by dune stabilization and soil development in the Hulun Buir Desert, commenced at similar to 11 ka ago, and this early episode of dune stabilization lasted until similar to 4.4 ka ago. This optimum climate between similar to 11 and similar to 4.4 ka ago is mostly the response to the strengthened monsoon circulation and increased precipitation in the Northern Hemisphere. The environment generally became arid after similar to 4.4 ka ago, but the dry climate was interrupted by three phases of weak soil development occurring at similar to 1.8-1.4, similar to 1.2-1.0 and similar to 0.84-0.5 ka ago, respectively. Such short events of dune stabilization were associated with the warm and humid climate in historical time. However, the present dune mobilization in the Hulun Buir Desert is mainly the result of poor land-use practices (land cultivation and overgrazing) since about 300 years ago.