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Long-term trend and abrupt events of the Holocene Asian monsoon inferred from a stalagmite δ10O record from Shennongjia in Central China

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Chinese Science Bulletin

Abstract

A high-resolution oxygen-isotope record from a thorium-uranium-dated stalagmite from Shanbao Cave at Shennongjia reflects variations in the amount of monsoon precipitation for the period from 11.5 to 2.1 ka (1 ka = 1000 cal aBP). Between 11.5 and 9.3 ka, a sharp decrease in δ18O indicates a rapid increase in monsoon precipitation. An interval of generally high monsoon precipitation is observed between 9.3 and 4.4 ka. An arid period has prevailed between 4.4 and 2.1 ka. The long-term trend of Shanbao record appears to follow summer insolation at 33°N latitude. An abrupt decrease in monsoon precipitation around 4.3 ka is synchronous with the collapse of Neolithic culture in central China. This abrupt change could have resulted from the amplification of the gradually decreased summer insolation by the positive vegetation-atmosphere-aerosol feedback. The weakened Asian monsoon events were in concert with decreased Greenland temperature during the early Holocene, centered at 8.2, 8.6, 9.3, 10.2 and 11.0 ka. This correlation suggests that changes in low-latitude monsoon are connected with climate change in high-latitude polar region.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Geography Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210097, China

    Shao Xiaohua, Wang Yongjin, Kong Xinggong & Wu Jiangying

  2. Department of Geology and Geophysics, Minnesota University, MN, 55455, USA

    Cheng Hai & Edwards R. Lawrence

Authors
  1. Shao Xiaohua
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  2. Wang Yongjin
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  3. Cheng Hai
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  4. Kong Xinggong
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  5. Wu Jiangying
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  6. Edwards R. Lawrence
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Correspondence to Wang Yongjin.

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Shao, X., Wang, Y., Cheng, H. et al. Long-term trend and abrupt events of the Holocene Asian monsoon inferred from a stalagmite δ10O record from Shennongjia in Central China. CHINESE SCI BULL 51, 221–228 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-005-0882-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-005-0882-6

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