Late Pleistocene-Holocene records from Lake Ulaan, southern Mongolia: implications for east Asian palaeomonsoonal climate changes

Abstract

A 5.88-m-long core taken from Lake Ulaan was studied for high-resolution paleoclimatic changes during the last 17000 years. These sediments were transported by local westerly winds and fluvial processes. The records of total organic carbon, C/N ratio and weathering intensity suggest that paleoclimate in the source area of Lake Ulaan sediment was most humid during the Early Holocene, humid during the mid-Holocene and dry in the Late Holocene. The decrease of humidity through the Holocene is a typical characteristic of the East Asian monsoon region. Comparison with lacustrine records of other Mongolia regions suggests that the northern boundary of East Asian summer-monsoon influence could have been located further north than previously assumed.on, C/N ratio and weathering intensity suggest that paleoclimate in the source area of Lake Ulaan sediment was most humid during the Early Holocene, humid during the mid-Holocene and dry in the Late Holocene. The decrease of humidity through the Holocene is a typical characteristic of the East Asian monsoon region. Comparison with lacustrine records of other Mongolia regions suggests that the northern boundary of East Asian summer-monsoon influence could have been located further north than previously assumed.