Geomorphological Evolution and Palaeoenvironmental Change in the Western Alashan Plateau, China

Authors

  • Bingqi Zhu Key Laboratory of Water Cycle and Related Land Surface Processes, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/jgr.v2i1.1942

Abstract

Although neotectonic activity is considered to be the main factor of the terrain evolution of the Qinghai Tibet Plateau and its surrounding high-altitude areas, further geomorphological analysis and literature analysis areneeded for the understanding of the geomorphic evolution and the Quaternary environment change of the western area of the Alxa Plateau near the northern Tibet Plateau. The purpose of this study is to investigate the distribution of site-specific geomorphic units of the landforms developed in the vast topography of Ejina Basin (Western Alxa), in order to identify the geostructural and climatic causes of the geomorphic landscape and its impact on the change of paleoenvironment. At present, the climate and hydrological conditions in Ejina are relatively monotonous and stable. In addition to tectonic dynamic factors, the most widely distributed landform in the basin is climate landform. There are both geomorphological and sedimentological anomalies of Aeolian landforms occurred in the whole basin, indicating that the underlying surface effect (retention effect) of river (Ejina River) and its related uneven ground and weak wind erosion (deflation) process in the nearby area may be the important factors controlling the formation of Ejina dunes, rather than the arid climate. It is believed that the extensive interaction between the aeolian and fluvial processes is the main mechanism of the regional geomorphic difference in Ejina Basin. According to the comparability of regional geomorphology and sedimentology, the period of the formation of relic geomorphology in the edge of Ejina Basin can be reasonably attributed to the local glacial maximum of the last glacial. The geomorphic transformation from quasi plain and desert valley to desert plain, the appearance of widely moving sand dunes and the presence of large ancient lake geomorphology all indicate that the drought index of Ejina Basin is increasing on the scale of geomorphic formation. Paleogeomorphological and chronological evidences show that the climatic and hydrological conditions of the basin in the last glacial period and the early Holocene are much better than those at present. For example, the average annual precipitation in the area before 39-23ka BP is between 60-350 mm (about 36 mm today), but there are large waves in the Holocene. The coexistence of various climates and landforms in Ejina Basin and the resulting geomorphic diversity should be the composite result of various geomorphic processes and surface processes besides glaciation. The low aridity (relative humidity) in the Ejina Region in the late Pleistocene may be the result of the enhancement of the westerly rain belt and the weakening of the Asian Winter Monsoon in the arid region of Central Asia.

Keywords:

Relic Landform, Geomorphic processes, aeolian-fluvial interaction, Late Pleistocene, Holocene, Western Alashan

References

[1] Liu, T., Ding, M., Derbyshire, E.. Gravel deposits on the margins of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau,and their environmental significance. Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology, 1996, 120: 159-170.

[2] Liu, T., Zhang, X., Xiong, S., Qin, X., Yang, X.. Glacial environments on the Tibetan Plateau and global cooling. Quaternary International, 2002, 97-98: 133-139.

[3] Liu, T., Ding, Z.. Chinese loess and the paleomonsoon. Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences, 1998, 26: 111-145.

[4] Sun, J., Ding, Z., Liu, T.. Desert distributions during the glacial maximum and climatic optimum:example of China. Episodes, 1998, 21: 28-31.

[5] Feng, Z., Chen, F., Tang, L., Kang, J.C.. East Asian monsoon climates and Gobi dynamics in marine isotope stages 4 and 3. Catena, 1998, 33: 29-46.

[6] Yang, X., Rost, K.T., Lehmkuhl, F., Zhu, Z., Dodson,J.. The evolution of dry lands in northern China and in the Republic of Mongolia since the Last Glacial Maximum. Quaternary International,2004, 118-119:69-85.

[7] Yang, X., Scuderi, L. A., Paillou, P., Liu, Z., Li, H.,Ren, X.. Quaternary environmental changes in the drylands of China: a critical review. Quaternary Science Reviews, 2011, 30: 3219-3233.

[8] Yang, X., Li, H., Conacher, A.. Large-scale controls on the development of sand seas in northern China.Quaternary International, 2012, 250, 74-83.

[9] Ding, Y., Chan, J.C.L.. The East Asian summer monsoon: an overview“, Meteorology and Atmospheric Physics, 2005, 89: 117-142.

[10] Herzschuh, U.. Palaeo-moisture evolution in monsoonal Central Asia during the last 50,000 years.Quateranry Science Reviews, 2006, 25: 163-178.

[11] Wunnemann, B., Hartmann, K., Janssen, M., Zhang,H.C.. Responses of Chinese desert lakes to climate instability during the past 45,000 years. Developments in Quaternary Science, 2007, 9: 11-24.

[12] Stevens, T., Lu, H., Thomas, D.S.G., Armitage, S.J..Optical dating of abrupt shifts in the Late Pleistocene East Asian monsoon. Geology, 2008, 36: 415-418.

[13] Yang, S.L., Ding, Z.L.. Advance-retreat history of the East-Asian summer monsoon rainfall belt over northern China during the last two glacialeinterglacial cycles. Earth and Planetary Science Letters,2008, 274:499-510.

[14] Yang, S.L., Ding, Z.L., Li, Y.Y., Wang, X., Jiang,W.Y., Huang, X.F.. Warming-induced northwestward migration of the East Asian monsoon rain belt from the Last Glacial Maximum to the mid-Holocene. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2015, 112: 13178-13183.

[15] Mason, J.A., Lu, H., Zhou, X., Miao, X., Swinehart,J.B., Liu, Z., Goble, R.J., Yi, S.. Dune mobility and aridity at the desert margin of northern China at a time of peak monsoon strength. Geology, 2009, 37:947-950.

[16] Lu, H., Mason, J. A., Stevens, T., Zhou, Y., Yi, S.,Miao, X.. Response of surface processes to climatic change in the dunefields and Loess Plateau of North China during the late Quaternary. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 2011, 36: 1590-1603.

[17] Li, Q., Wu, H., Yu, Y., Sun, A., Markovic, S. B., Guo,Z.. Reconstructed moisture evolution of the deserts in northern China since the Last Glacial Maximum and its implications for the East Asian Summer Monsoon.Global and Planetary Change, 2014, 121: 101-112.

[18] Yang, X., Scuderi, L.A.. Hydrological and climatic changes in deserts of China since the late Pleistocene. Quaternary Research, 2010, 73: 1-9.

[19] Yang, X., Scuderi, L., Liu, T., Paillou, P., Li, H.,Dong, J., Zhu, B., Jiang, W., Jochems, A., Weissmann, G.. Formation of the highest sand dunes on Earth“, Geomorphology, 2011, 135: 108-116.

[20] Yang, X., Wang, X., Liu, Z., Li, H., Ren, X., Zhang,D., Ma, Z., Rioual, P., Jin X., Scuderi, L..Initiation and variation of the dune fields in semi-arid northern China - with a special reference to the Hunshandake Sandy Land, Inner Mongolia. Quaternary Science Reviews, 2013, 78: 369 - 380.

[21] Scuderi, L., Weissmann, G., Kindilien, P., Yang, X..Evaluating the potential of database technology for documenting environmental change in China’s deserts. Catena, 2015, 134: 87-97.

[22] Guo, Z.T., Ruddiman, W.F., Hao, Q.Z., Wu, H.B.,Qiao, Y.S., Zhu, R.X., Peng, S.Z., Wei, J.J., Yuan,B.Y. and Liu, T.S.. Onset of Asian desertification by 22 Myr ago inferred from loess deposits in China.Nature, 2002, 416: 159-163.

[23] Sun, J.. Provenance of loess material and formation of loess deposits on the Chinese Loess Plateau.Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 2002, 203: 845-859.

[24] Panizza, M.. The geomorphodiversity of the Dolomites (Italy): a key of geoheritage assessment.Geoheritage, 2009, 1: 33-42.

[25] Testa, B., Aldighieri, B., Bertini, A., Blendinger, W.,Caielli, G., de Franco, R., Giordano, D.,Kustatscher,E.. Geomorphodiversity of the San Lucano Valley(Belluno Dolomites, Italy): a well-preserved heritage.Geoheritage, 2013, 5: 151-172.

[26] Gordon, J.E., Barron, H.F., Hansom, J.D., Thomas,M.F.. Engaging with geodiversitydwhy it matters.Proceedings of the Geologists’ Association, 2012,123: 1-6.

[27] Beggs, P.J.. New directions: climatediversity: a new paradigm for climate science“, Atmospheric Environment, 2013, 68: 112-113.

[28] Wang, X., Hua, T., Zhang, C.. Aeolian salts in Gobi deserts of the western region of Inner Mongolia:Gone with the dust aerosols. Atmospheric Research,2012, 118: 1-9.

[29] Natsagdorj, L., Jugder, D., Chung, Y.S.. Analysis of dust storms observed in Mongolia during 1937-1999.Atmospheric Environment, 2003, 37: 1401-1411.

[30] Wang, X., Zhou, Z., Dong, Z.. Control of dust emissions by geomorphic conditions, wind environments and land use in northern China: An examination based on dust storm frequency from 1960 to 2003.Geomorphology, 2006, 29: 292-308.

[31] Wang, X., Xia, D., Wang, T.. Dust sources in arid and semiarid China and southern Mongolia:Impacts of geomorphologic setting and surface materials“, Geomorphology, 2008, 97:583-600.

[32] Liu Z.J., Tapponnier, P., Gaudemer, Y., Ding, L..Quantifying landscape differences across the Tibetan plateau: implications for topographic relief evolution.Journal of Geophysical Research, 2008,113: F04018.DOI: 10.1029/2007JF000897

[33] Zhu, B., Yu, J., Rioual, P., Ren, X.. Particle size variation of aeolian dune deposits in the lower reaches of the Heihe River basin, China. Sedimentary Geology,2014, 301: 54-69.

[34] Zhu, B., Yu, J., Rioual, P., Gao Y., Zhang, Y., Min,L.. Geomorphoclimatic characteristics and landform information in the Ejina Basin, Northwest China. Environmental Earth Sciences, 2015, 73:7547-7560.

[35] Gutierrez, M.. Climatic Geomorphology. Amsterdam,Elsevier, 2005.

[36] Mabbutt, J.A.. Desert Landforms“, Cambridge, MA,The MIT Press, 1977.

[37] Guo, H., Liu, H., Wang, X., Shao, Y., Sun, Y.. Subsurface old drainage detection and paleoenvironment analysis using spaceborne radar images in Alxa Plateau. Science in China Series D,1977, 43: 439-448.

[38] Hoevermann, J.. Das System der klimatischen Geomorphologie auf landschaftskundlicher Grundlage.Zeitschrift fur Geomorphologie Neue Folge, 1985,56 (Supplementary Band): 143-153.

[39] Hoevermann, J., Hoevermann, E., Lehmkuhl, F.Geomorphologische Untersuchungen im noerdlichen Vorland des Qilian Shan, China. Berliner geographische Abhandlungen, 1998, 63: 83-98.

[40] Yang, X.. Late Quaternary evolution and paleoclimates, western Alashan Plateau, Inner Mongolia,China. Zeitschrift fur Geomorphologie Neue Folge,2001, 45: 1-16.

[41] Mensching, H.G.. Inselberge, Pedimente und Rumpfflaechen im Sudan (Repubhk) - Ein Beitrag zur morphogenetischen Sequenz in den arid Subtropen und Tropen Afrikas. Zeitschrift fuer Geomorphologie,1978, 30 (Supplementband): 1.

[42] Peltier, L.C.. The geographic cycle in periglacial regions as it is related to climatic geomorphology.Annals of the Association of American Geographers,1950, 40: 214-236.

[43] Meigs, P.. The world distribution of arid and semiarid homoclimates. Riviews of Research on Arid Zone Hydrology, Paris, UNESCO, 1953: 203-209.

[44] Cooke, R.U., Warren, A., Goudie, A.. Deserts Geomorphology. London, UCL Press, 1993.

[45] Zhu, B., Yu, J.. Aeolian sorting processes in the Ejina desert basin (China) and their response to depositional environment. Aeolian Research, 2014, 12: 111-120.

[46] Yu, L., Lai, Z., An, P., Pan, T., Chang, Q.. Aeolian sediments evolution controlled by fluvial processes,climate change and human activities since LGM in the Qaidam Basin, Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Quaternary International, 2015, 372: 23-32.

[47] Ferguson, R., Hoey, T., Wathern, S., Werritty, A..Field evidence for rapid downstream fining of river gravels through selective transport. Geology, 1996,24: 179-182.

[48] Frings, R.M.. Downstream fining in large sand-bed rivers. Earth-Science Reviews, 2008, 87:39-60.

[49] Tooth, S.. Arid geomorphology: investigating past,present and future changes. Progress in Physical Geography, 2007, 31: 319-335.

[50] Bullard, J.E., Mctainsh, G.H.. Aeolian-fluvial interactions in dryland environments: examples, concepts and Australia case study. Progress in Physical Geography, 2003, 27: 471-501.

[51] Thomas, D.S.G., Stokes, S., Shaw, P.A.. Holocene aeolian activity in the southwestern Kalahari Desert,southern Africa: significance and relationships to late-Pleistocene dunebuilding events. The Holocene,1997, 7: 273-81.

[52] Sweet, M.L., Nielson, J., Havholm, K., Farrelley, J..Algodones dunefield of southern Caifornia: a case history of a migrating modern dunefield. Sedimentology, 1988, 35: 939-52.

[53] Warren, A.. The dunes of the Wahiba Sands. Special Report 3: the Scientific Results of the Royal Geographical Society’s Oman Wahiba Sands Project 1985-1987. Journal of Oman Studies Special Report,1988, 3: 131-60.

[54] Lehmkuhl, F., Haselein, F.. Quaternary paleoenvironmental change on the Tibetan Plateau and adjacent areas (Western China and Western Mongolia). Quaternary International, 2000, 65/66:121-145.

[55] Goudie, A. S.. Dust storms in space and time. Progress in Physical Geography, 1983, 7: 503-530.

[56] Hoevermann, J.. Morphogenetic regions in Northeast Xizang (Tibet). In, Hovermann, J., Wang, W.(Eds.).Reports of the Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet) Plateau. Beijing, Science Press, 1987: 112-139.

[57] Hoevermann, J., Lehmkuhl, F., Portge, K.H.. Pleistocene glaciations in eastern and central Tibet -Preliminary results of Chinese-German joint expeditions.Zeitschrift fur Geomorphologie Neue Folge,1993,92 (Supplementary Band): 85-96.

[58] Lehmkuhl, F.. The spatial distribution of loess and loess-like sediments in the mountain areas of Central and High Asia. Zeitschrift fur Geomorphologie Neue Folge, 1997, 111 (Supplementary Band): 97-116.

[59] Chen, K., Bowler, J.. Late Pleistocene evolution of salt lakes in the Qaidam Basin, Qinhai Province China. Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology, 1986, 54: 87-104.

[60] Thompson, L.G., Mosley-Thompson, E., Davis, M.E., Bolzan, J. F., Dai, J., Yao, T., Gundestrup,N., Wu,X., Klein, L., Xie, Z.. Holocene-Late Pleistocene climatic ice core records from the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Science, 1989, 246: 474-477.

[61] Fang, J. Q.. Lake evolution during the past 30,000 years in China, and its implications for environmental change. Quaternary Research, 1991, 36: 27-60.

[62] Li, S., Shi, Y.. Glacial and lake fluctuations in the area of West Kunlun mountains during the last 45,000 years. Annals of Glaciology, 1992, 16: 79-84.

[63] Owen, L.A., Windley, B.F., Cunningham, W.D.,Badamgarov, G., Dorjnamjaa, D.. Quaternary alluvial fans in the Gobi of southern Mongolia: evidence for neotectonics and climate change. Journal of Quaternary Science, 1997, 12: 239-252.

[64] Zhang, H., Ma, Y., Wunnemann, B., Pachur, H.. A Holocene climatic record from arid northwestern China. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 2000, 162: 389-401.

[65] Ye, W., Ji, F.. Comparision of paleoclimatic characteristics between monsoon and westerly areas,China.Chinese Science Bulletin, 2001, 46 (Supplementary):119-124.

[66] Yang, X., Liu, T., Xiao, H.. Evolution of megadunes and lakes in the Badain Jaran Desert, Inner Mongolia, China during the last 31,000 years. Quaternary International, 2003, 104: 99-112.

[67] Zhu, B., Yang, X.. Chemical Weathering of Detrital Sediments in the Taklamakan Desert,Northwestern China. Geographical Research, 2009, 47: 57-70.

[68] Mischke, S., Herzschuh, U., Zhang, C., Bloemendal,J., Riedel, F.. A Late Quaternary lake record from the Qilian Mountains (NW China): lake level and salinity changes inferred from sediment properties and ostracod assemblages. Global and Planetary Change,2005, 46: 337-359.

[69] Goudie, A. S.. Global deserts and their geomorphological diversity. In, Parsons, A.J., Abrahams A.D.,(Eds.). Geomorphology of Desert Environments.Springer Science + Business Media, 2009: 9-20.

[70] McFadden, L.D., Wells, S.G., Jercinovich, M.J..Influences of eolian and pedogenic processes on the origin and evolution of desert pavements. Geology,1987, 15: 504-508.

[71] Feng, Z.. Gobi dynamics in the Northern Mongolian Plateau during the past 20,000+ yr: preliminary results. Quaternary International, 2001, 76/77: 77-83.

[72] Zhang, H., Ming, Q., Lei, G., Zhang, W., Fan, H.,Chang, F., Wunnemann, B., Rtmann, K..Dilemma of dating on lacustrine deposits in a hyperarid inland basin of NW China. Radiacarbon,2006, 48: 219-226.

[73] Lv, Y., Gu, Z., Ala, A., Zhang, H., Goran, P., Lei,G.. 10Be in quartz gravel from the Gobi Desert and evolutionary history of alluvial sedimentation in the Ejina Basin, Inner Mongolia, China. Chinese Science Bulletin, 2010, 55: 3802-3809.

[74] XETCAS (Xinjiang Expedition Team of the Chinese Academy of Sciences), IGCAS (Institute of Geography of the Chinese Academy of Sciences), DGBNU (Department of Geography of Beijing Normal University). Geomorphology in Xinjiang. Beijing, Science Press, 1978 (in Chinese).

[75] Oguchi, T., Saito, K., Kadomura, H., Grossman, M..Fluvial geomorphology and paleohydrology in Japan.Geomorphology, 2001, 39: 3-19.

[76] Wunnemann, B., Pachur, H., Li, J., Zhang, H.. The chronology of Pleistocene and Holocene lake level fluctuations at Gaxun Nur/Sogu Nur and Baijian Hu in Inner Mongolia, China. Petermanns Geographische Mitteilungen, 1998, 142: 191-206.

[77] Jin, M., Li, G., Li, F., Duan, Y., Wen, L., Wei, H.,Yang, L., Fan, Y., Chen, F.. Holocene shorelines and lake evolution in Juyanze Basin, southern Mongolian Plateau, revealed by luminescence dating. The Holocene, 2015, 25: 1898-1911.

[78] Li, G., Jin, M., Duan, Y., Madsen, D.B., Li, F., Yang,L., Wei, H., Chen, F.. Quartz and K-feldspar luminescence dating of a Marine Isotope Stage 5 megalake in the Juyanze Basin, central Gobi Desert,China.Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology,2015, 440: 96-109.

[79] Chen, F., Wu, W., Holmes, J.. A mid-Holocene drought interval as evidenced by lake desiccation in the Alashan Plateau, Inner Mongolia China. Chinese Science Bulletin, 2003, 48: 1401-1410.

[80] Chen, F., Yu, Z., Yang, M.. Holocene moisture evolution in arid central Asia and its out-of-phase relationship with Asian monsoon history“, Quaternary Science Reviews, 2008, 27: 351-364.

[81] Wunnemann, B., Hartmann, K., Altmann, N., Hambach, U., Pachur, H. J., Zhang, H.. Interglacial and Glacial fingerprints from lake deposits in the Gobi Desert, NW China. Developments in Quaternary Sciences, 2007b, 7: 323-347.

[82] Yu, J., Kelts, K.R.. Abrupt changes in climatic conditions across the late-glacial/Holocene transition on the N.E. Tibet-Qinghai Plateau: Evidence from Lake Qinghai, China. Journal of Palaeolimnology, 2002,28: 195-206.

[83] Yu, Y., Yang, T., Li, J.. Millennial-scale Holocene climate variability in the NW China drylands and links to the tropical Pacific and the North Atlantic. Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology, 2006,233: 149-162.

[84] Zhang, H., Peng, J., Ma, Y.. Late quaternary palaeolake levels in Tengger Desert, NW China.Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology, 2004:211, 45-58.

[85] Norin, E.. Sven Hedin Central Asia Atlas. Memoir on maps, Stockholm, 1980.

[86] Hartmann, K., Wunnemann, B.. Hydrological changes and Holocene climate variations in NW China, inferred from lake sediments of Juyanze palaeolake by factor analyses. Quaternary International,2009, 194:28-44.

[87] Benn, D., Owen, L.. The role of the Indian summer monsoon and the mid-latitude westerlies in Himalayan glaciation: review and speculative discussion.Journal of Geological Society London, 1998,155:353-363.

[88] Grunert, J., Lehmkuhl, F., Walther, M.. Palaeoclimatic evolution of the Uvs Nuur basin and adjacent areas (Western Mongolia). Quaternary Internation, 2000,65/66: 171-192.

[89] Yang, X., Preusser, F., Radtke, U.. Late Quaternary environmental changes in the Taklamakan Desert,western China, inferred from OSL-dated lacustrine and aeolian deposits. Quaternary Science Reviews,2006, 25: 923-932.

[90] An, Z., Wu, X., Lu, Y., Zhang, D., Sun, X., Dong,G., Wang, S.. Paleoenvironmental changes of China during the last 18,000 years. In, Liu, T. (Ed.). Quaternary Geology and Environment in China.Beijing,Science Press,1991: 228-236.

[91] Ding, Z., Liu, T., Rutter, N. W., Yu, Z., Guo, Z., Zhu,R.. Ice volume forcing of Asian winter monsoon variations in the past 800,000 years. Quaternary Research, 1995, 44: 149-159.

[92] Pachur, H.J., Wunnemann, B., Zhang, H.C.. Lake evolution in the Tengger Desert, northwestern China,during the last 40,000 years. Quaternary Research,1995, 44: 171-180.

[93] Herzschuh, U., Tarasov, P., Wunnemann, B., Hartmann, K.. Holocene vegetation and climate of the Alashan Plateau, NW China, reconstructed from pollen data. Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology, 2004, 211: 1-17.

Downloads

How to Cite

Zhu, B. (2020). Geomorphological Evolution and Palaeoenvironmental Change in the Western Alashan Plateau, China. Journal of Geological Research, 2(1), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.30564/jgr.v2i1.1942

Issue

Article Type

Articles