End-member analysis of the grain size of surface sediments used to synthesize Holocene aeolian activity across the Ordos Plateau in northern China
The deserts of northern China comprise a major terrestrial ecosystem in the middle latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, and aeolian activity and dust emissions of these deserts have affected the evolution of climate and ecosystems on both continental and global scales. However, previous reconstruct...
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Elsevier
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Geoderma |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706125002381 |
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| author | Bing Liu Heling Jin Hui Zhao Jianhui Jin Aijun Sun Xingfan Wang Xiaomei Zhang Jianhui Ge Yujie Xu Jianbao Liu |
| author_facet | Bing Liu Heling Jin Hui Zhao Jianhui Jin Aijun Sun Xingfan Wang Xiaomei Zhang Jianhui Ge Yujie Xu Jianbao Liu |
| author_sort | Bing Liu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The deserts of northern China comprise a major terrestrial ecosystem in the middle latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, and aeolian activity and dust emissions of these deserts have affected the evolution of climate and ecosystems on both continental and global scales. However, previous reconstructions of Holocene aeolian activity within this region are controversial due to the erosional susceptibility of the dunefields on the Asian summer monsoonal boundary (ASMB), the diverse proxies used to reconstruct aeolian dynamics, and the spatial heterogeneity of the sedimentary environment across the various studied archives. Using the spatiotemporal substitution approach, we developed a new proxy of aeolian activity based on end-member analysis (EMA) of the grain size of surface samples from various types of aeolian deposit. We then applied the results to six aeolian sand-palaeosol sequences on the Ordos Plateau to reconstruct Holocene aeolian activity. We then produced a synthesis of regional aeolian activity based on records from sedimentary sequences, with their ages constrained by luminescence dating, and quantitatively estimated the contributions of various environmental factors. The results indicated that components EM2 + 3 are transported mainly via saltation and creep, and their abundances gradually increase with increases in the intensity of aeolian activity and decreasing vegetation cover. Our regional synthesis demonstrated that the strongest aeolian activity was in the Early Holocene, especially during 12–10 ka, whereas it was weakest during 7.5–3.5 ka and especially during 6–5 ka; however, strong aeolian activity was renewed at ∼ 2–1 ka. These findings agree with the integrated results from typical dunefields in the eastern-central parts of the ASMB. Quantitative analyses of the potential drivers indicated that vegetation cover was the principal control on Holocene aeolian activity. This finding emphasizes that protecting the natural vegetation cover should be the principal measures used to combat aeolian activity in this region. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-41e2a18fb8f74852bf0609eaffcdfca4 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1872-6259 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
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| series | Geoderma |
| spelling | doaj-art-41e2a18fb8f74852bf0609eaffcdfca42025-08-20T03:43:54ZengElsevierGeoderma1872-62592025-08-0146011740010.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117400End-member analysis of the grain size of surface sediments used to synthesize Holocene aeolian activity across the Ordos Plateau in northern ChinaBing Liu0Heling Jin1Hui Zhao2Jianhui Jin3Aijun Sun4Xingfan Wang5Xiaomei Zhang6Jianhui Ge7Yujie Xu8Jianbao Liu9State Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; Corresponding author.State Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, ChinaSchool of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350007, ChinaCollege of Hydraulic and Architectural Engineering, Tarim University, Alear 843300, ChinaCollege of Water Conservancy and Hydropower Engineering, Gansu Agriculture University, Lanzhou 730070, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, ChinaCollege of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, ChinaThe deserts of northern China comprise a major terrestrial ecosystem in the middle latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, and aeolian activity and dust emissions of these deserts have affected the evolution of climate and ecosystems on both continental and global scales. However, previous reconstructions of Holocene aeolian activity within this region are controversial due to the erosional susceptibility of the dunefields on the Asian summer monsoonal boundary (ASMB), the diverse proxies used to reconstruct aeolian dynamics, and the spatial heterogeneity of the sedimentary environment across the various studied archives. Using the spatiotemporal substitution approach, we developed a new proxy of aeolian activity based on end-member analysis (EMA) of the grain size of surface samples from various types of aeolian deposit. We then applied the results to six aeolian sand-palaeosol sequences on the Ordos Plateau to reconstruct Holocene aeolian activity. We then produced a synthesis of regional aeolian activity based on records from sedimentary sequences, with their ages constrained by luminescence dating, and quantitatively estimated the contributions of various environmental factors. The results indicated that components EM2 + 3 are transported mainly via saltation and creep, and their abundances gradually increase with increases in the intensity of aeolian activity and decreasing vegetation cover. Our regional synthesis demonstrated that the strongest aeolian activity was in the Early Holocene, especially during 12–10 ka, whereas it was weakest during 7.5–3.5 ka and especially during 6–5 ka; however, strong aeolian activity was renewed at ∼ 2–1 ka. These findings agree with the integrated results from typical dunefields in the eastern-central parts of the ASMB. Quantitative analyses of the potential drivers indicated that vegetation cover was the principal control on Holocene aeolian activity. This finding emphasizes that protecting the natural vegetation cover should be the principal measures used to combat aeolian activity in this region.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706125002381End-Member Analysis (EMA)Surface soilHolocene aeolian activityQuantitative analysisOrdos Plateau |
| spellingShingle | Bing Liu Heling Jin Hui Zhao Jianhui Jin Aijun Sun Xingfan Wang Xiaomei Zhang Jianhui Ge Yujie Xu Jianbao Liu End-member analysis of the grain size of surface sediments used to synthesize Holocene aeolian activity across the Ordos Plateau in northern China Geoderma End-Member Analysis (EMA) Surface soil Holocene aeolian activity Quantitative analysis Ordos Plateau |
| title | End-member analysis of the grain size of surface sediments used to synthesize Holocene aeolian activity across the Ordos Plateau in northern China |
| title_full | End-member analysis of the grain size of surface sediments used to synthesize Holocene aeolian activity across the Ordos Plateau in northern China |
| title_fullStr | End-member analysis of the grain size of surface sediments used to synthesize Holocene aeolian activity across the Ordos Plateau in northern China |
| title_full_unstemmed | End-member analysis of the grain size of surface sediments used to synthesize Holocene aeolian activity across the Ordos Plateau in northern China |
| title_short | End-member analysis of the grain size of surface sediments used to synthesize Holocene aeolian activity across the Ordos Plateau in northern China |
| title_sort | end member analysis of the grain size of surface sediments used to synthesize holocene aeolian activity across the ordos plateau in northern china |
| topic | End-Member Analysis (EMA) Surface soil Holocene aeolian activity Quantitative analysis Ordos Plateau |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706125002381 |
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