Abstract:
A series of sand hills formed under specific climatic conditions and are widely distributed on both sides of the river channel of Poyang Lake and the lower reaches of Ganjiang River. The developed lacustrine and aeolian sand interbedded sediments is important information for the reconstruction of regional paleoclimatic environment. The “lacustrine-paleosol-dune sand” sedimentary sequence in the Liaohua section on the west side of Poyang Lake was studied. The chronological sequence was established using OSL and
14C dating, and the characteristics of paleoclimate change during the mid-late of the Last Glacial Period (48.8~14.5 ka) were discussed. Results show that, (1) the dune sand layer exhibits low magnetic susceptibility; the coarsest mean grain size (Mz), low zircon-tourmaline-rutile index (ZTR), and high values of the heavy mineral weathering index (HW) and the garnet-zircon index (GZi), indicate low degree of weathering and formation under cold-dry conditions with strong winter monsoon activity. The paleosol layer displayed high magnetic susceptibility, and the finest Mz, higher ZTR index, and lower HW and GZi indices, indicate a higher degree of weathering and formation in a warm-humid climate dominated by summer monsoon. The lacustrine facies has the lowest magnetic susceptibility, finer Mz, higher ZTR index, and the lowest HW and GZi indices compared to the other sedimentary facies, indicating a reducing environment during warm periods, during which weathering was intense. (2) The climate during the mid-late of the Last Glacial Period underwent significant periodic changes: the early stage (48.8~39.5 ka) was cold and dry, with a strong winter monsoon; the middle stage (39.5~28.1 ka) transitioned to a warm and humid period dominated by the summer monsoon; and the late stage (28.1~14.5 ka) re-entered a cold and dry period but exhibited short-term warm and wet fluctuations. These findings provide new insights for studying regional climate and environmental changes.