Dune mobility and aridity at the desert margin of northern China at a time of peak monsoon strength

Research Article| October 01, 2009 Dune mobility and aridity at the desert margin of northern China at a time of peak monsoon strength J.A. Mason; J.A. Mason 1Department of Geography, University of Wisconsin Madison, 550 N. Park Street, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar H. Lu; H. Lu 2School of Geographical and Oceanographical Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Y. Zhou; Y. Zhou 3College of Tourism and Environment, Shaanxi Normal University, 199 Chang'an South Road, Xi'an, 710062, China Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar X. Miao; X. Miao 4Illinois State Geological Survey, 615 E. Peabody Drive, Champaign, Illinois 61820-6964, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar J.B. Swinehart; J.B. Swinehart 5School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68583-0996, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Z. Liu; Z. Liu 6Center for Climatic Research and Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1225 W. Dayton Street, Madison, Wisconsin 53706-1695, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar R.J. Goble; R.J. Goble 7Department of Geosciences, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar S. Yi S. Yi 2School of Geographical and Oceanographical Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2009) 37 (10): 947–950. https://doi.org/10.1130/G30240A.1 Article history received: 13 Mar 2009 rev-recd: 26 May 2009 accepted: 28 May 2009 first online: 03 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation J.A. Mason, H. Lu, Y. Zhou, X. Miao, J.B. Swinehart, Z. Liu, R.J. Goble, S. Yi; Dune mobility and aridity at the desert margin of northern China at a time of peak monsoon strength. Geology 2009;; 37 (10): 947–950. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G30240A.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Wind-blown sands were mobile at many sites along the desert margin in northern China during the early Holocene (11.5–8 ka ago), based on extensive new numerical dating. This mobility implies low effective moisture at the desert margin, in contrast to growing evidence for greater than modern monsoon precipitation at the same time in central and southern China. Dry conditions in the early Holocene at the desert margin can be explained through a dynamic link between enhanced diabatic heating in the core region of the strengthened monsoon and increased subsidence in drylands to the north, combined with high evapotranspiration rates due to high summer temperatures. After 8 ka ago, as the monsoon weakened and lower temperatures reduced evapotranspiration, eolian sands were stabilized by vegetation. Aridity and dune mobility at the desert margin and a strengthened monsoon can both be explained as responses to high summer insolation in the early Holocene. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.