A PRELIMINARY RESEARCH ON THE CLIMATIC RECORDS OF LACUSTRINE DEPOSITS OF QINGTU LAKE IN THE LAST 6000 YEARS

Key words: 
• Qingtu Lake /
• Holocene /
• lacustrine deposits /
• climatic records /
• warm period of 355-480 A.D.

Abstract: A preliminary study on the advance and the retreat of Qingtu Lake and its climatic records of the Holocene lacustrine deposits has been made through comprehensive analysis. The study shows that the modes characteristics of climatic change in Eastern Hexi Corridor was provided with the corresponding relationship of warm moist and cold dry during the scale longer than hundred years. As a result of climatic changes and human activities, Qingtu Lake cycle has undergone four lake retreated and three lake advanced stages since 6000 a B.P. Based on the study on lacustrine sedimentary color, grain size, Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺ and organic matter, the authors put forward that a warm period existed during the phase of 335-480 A.D. in the studied area. This warm period could be further testified by a lot of evidences obtained from the historical documents and the natural records of Qingtu Lake. In brief, the evolution of lakes in Eastern Hexi Corridor is characterized by sedimentary continuity, fast sedimentary rate and high resolution, it not only indicate the paleoenvironmental and climatic change in Holocene, but also can reflect the intensity of Eastern Asia monsoon.