Journal of Quaternary Science最新文献

{"title":"Long-term hydrologic connectivity on the Australian dryland margins: Evidence from the Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area over the last 60 ky","authors":"Kathryn E. Fitzsimmons,&nbsp;Markus L. Fischer,&nbsp;Tegan Smith,&nbsp;Tobias Lauer,&nbsp;Maike Nowatzki,&nbsp;Kanchan Mishra,&nbsp;Colin V. Murray-Wallace","doi":"10.1002/jqs.3717","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jqs.3717","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The semi-arid Australian continental inland is increasingly subject to climatic extremes such as drought and flooding. Combined with the exceptionally low topographic relief characteristic of this region, hydroclimatic extremes can have an enormous impact on the land surface. Nevertheless our understanding of dryland hydrologic connectivity and earth-surface response remains poorly understood and largely unquantified. Here we investigate the impact of past hydroclimate on the semi-arid Willandra Lakes over the last 60 ky, integrating sediment-based chronologies for filling and drying of multiple basins with water-flux modelling and reconstruction of palaeoclimate parameters. We quantify the threshold inflow volume required to fill the lake system to 2 km³. We establish that prior to 25 ka, permanent lakes persisted for protracted periods of time in response to increased catchment precipitation, consistent with regional geomorphic indicators for wetter conditions. By contrast, the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) oversaw rapid couplets of lake filling and drying despite lower precipitation, temperature, and increasing evaporation. We propose that seasonal snow melt from the highland headwaters during this cold phase, coupled with increased effective runoff due to reduced vegetation cover, was responsible for the large quantities of water entering the system at this time.</p>","PeriodicalId":16929,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Quaternary Science","volume":"40 5","pages":"876-892"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/jqs.3717","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144598463","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sedimentary ancient DNA from caves: Challenges and opportunities","authors":"Siobhan Evans,&nbsp;Bastien Llamas,&nbsp;Jamie R. Wood","doi":"10.1002/jqs.3712","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jqs.3712","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Caves are unique depositional environments that hold great potential for long-term preservation of DNA due to their typically cool and stable internal climates, buffered from external climate extremes. Bones from caves have long been recognised as an excellent source of ancient DNA, yet the potential for DNA preservation in cave sediments themselves has only recently begun to be explored. Here, we discuss features of caves that make them well-suited to the long-term preservation of sedimentary ancient DNA (sedaDNA), focussing specifically on sources, taphonomy and preservation of cave sedaDNA. We also highlight opportunities for future work to improve our understanding of the processes influencing long-term DNA preservation within cave sediments. These recommendations seek to improve our understanding of sedimentary ancient DNA taphonomy within caves and enhance the level of insights about the past that can be gained from it and include: (1) designation of reference sections and sample repositories; (2) routine collection of sediment, mineralogy and geochemistry data; (3) routine collection of cave climate data; (4) increased application of microstratigraphic and spatial analyses; (5) advocating use of multiple proxies when interpreting results and (6) ensuring ethical best practices are followed.</p>","PeriodicalId":16929,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Quaternary Science","volume":"40 4","pages":"565-578"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/jqs.3712","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143944714","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Grain-size evidence of Middle Pleistocene sedimentary environmental changes in the eastern Tai-hang Mountains, North China","authors":"Kang Qi,&nbsp;Chen Liang,&nbsp;HongJuan Jia,&nbsp;LiHong Chen,&nbsp;WenBo Hao","doi":"10.1002/jqs.3716","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jqs.3716","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Grain size is a proxy for climate and environmental change, and the results of grain size analyses can be used to infer the conditions and environment under which the sediments were formed. The eastern foothills of the Tai-hang Mountains in northern China are on the edge of the East Asian Summer Monsoon and are extremely sensitive to climate and environmental changes. Understanding the ecological changes in this region is vital for coping with future climate change and solving related climate and environmental problems. This study uses parametric grain size end-member analysis to discuss the depositional dynamics and ecological changes in the Middle Pleistocene of the Shijiazhuang JingXing YF profile. The results indicate that: (1) The OSL dates of the YF profile vary from 274 to 0.997 ka, and sedimentation began in the Middle Pleistocene. (2) The YF profile's sediments’ grain size is separated into four end elements: EM1 is the clay fraction produced by loam-forming action; EM2 and EM3 are long-distance transported fine silt and short-distance transported silt at low altitudes, representing the variation in East Asian Summer Monsoon intensity; EM4 represents the near-surface transported coarse silt fraction driven by East Asian Winter Monsoon power. (3) The grain size index reconstructed the paleoclimate of the Middle Pleistocene in the Shijiazhuang area, and it can be divided into four stages: 274–210 ka, the climate changed from cold to warm; 210–170 ka, was a warm period; 170–80 ka, the climate changed from warm to cold; and from 80–1 ka was a cold period. Multi-indicator comparisons show that the monsoon evolution recorded in the Middle Pleistocene YF loess-paleosol sequence is fundamentally consistent with changes in mid- to high-latitude solar radiation, and changes in solar radiation modulate that monsoon changes in East Asia.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":16929,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Quaternary Science","volume":"40 5","pages":"820-830"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144598461","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Glacier mass loss on the southeastern Tibetan Plateau since the Little Ice Age","authors":"Hongjie Zhang,&nbsp;Xiangke Xu,&nbsp;Yingkui Li,&nbsp;Yaqing Sun,&nbsp;Baiqing Xu,&nbsp;Jiule Li","doi":"10.1002/jqs.3715","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jqs.3715","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Maritime glaciers on the southeastern Tibetan Plateau (SETP) are experiencing rapid mass loss, yet both current rates and future projections lack centennial-scale context. Here, we mapped the outlines of 2454 glaciers at their Little Ice Age (LIA) maximum (~1300–1700 <span>CE</span>) on the SETP and reconstructed their thickness. The results show that there has been a 21.5% reduction in area and a loss of 152.9 km³ of ice (130 Gt) since the LIA at a rate of 0.19–0.43 Gt year⁻¹. We estimated the long-term average mass balance of glaciers to be between −0.028 and −0.065 m water equivalent (w.e.) year⁻¹. The rate of change between 2000 and 2019 CE was 10 to 23 times higher than LIA maximum to 2000 \u0000<span>CE</span>, far exceeding any centennial-scale rates of change recorded elsewhere in the world. Locally, lake-terminating glaciers lost mass faster than land-terminating glaciers. Spatial trends in the rate of glacier mass loss and the extent of equilibrium-line altitude (ELA) changes on the SETP are influenced by glacier size, as well as the topography and climate of the study area. Glaciers in the lowland of river valleys such as the Yarlung Zangbo-Brahmaputra show slower mass loss and larger ELA changes. The significant spatial heterogeneity of glacier change suggests that glacier evolution is influenced by both regional and local factors.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":16929,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Quaternary Science","volume":"40 5","pages":"807-819"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144598285","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Vegetation and climate history of the Tian Shan region of Xinjiang during the last millennium and their relations to past human civilization","authors":"Jian Huang,&nbsp;Fu-long Yao","doi":"10.1002/jqs.3713","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jqs.3713","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The arid Central Asia has long demonstrated a correlation between human activity and climatic fluctuations, particularly during the Holocene. However, Late Holocene palaeoclimate records remain sparse, limiting our understanding of the dynamic relationship between climate variability and human civilization over the past millennium. This study based on peat sediment samples from the Zhaosu Basin on the northern slopes of the Western Tian Shan Mountains, China, reconstructs vegetation and climate changes over the past millennium by employing precise dating techniques and high-resolution pollen analysis. The results were as follows: (1) grasslands have consistently dominated the northern slopes of the Western Tian Shan over the last millennium, as evidenced by the prevalence of pollen types, such as <i>Artemisia</i>, Chenopodiaceae, and Poaceae. During the Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA, 1046–1288 \u0000<span>ad</span>), frequently fluctuating <i>Artemisia</i>/Chenopodiaceae (A/C) ratios indicated a transition from warm–arid to warm–humid conditions. This trend shifted during the Little Ice Age (LIA, 1288–1476 \u0000<span>ad</span>), marked by increased <i>Picea</i> pollen and positive principal component analysis axis 2 scores, suggesting a cooler and wetter environment. Pollen concentrations of arborvitae and shrubs peaked during the LIA (1476–1606 \u0000<span>ad</span>), alongside high <i>Picea</i> content, signaling an intensified cold and wet climate. (2) Historical records correlate climate conditions with patterns of human habitation and development. The warm, humid climate during the MCA (1046–1288 \u0000<span>ad</span>) coincided with the Song Dynasty, fostering population growth and cultural development on both slopes of the Tian Shan region. Conversely, during the LIA (1288–1606 \u0000<span>ad</span>), cooling temperatures and frequent conflicts triggered significant migrations, particularly to the northern slopes, (i.e., during the Yuan-Ming period) where conditions were more favorable. The center of gravity of the population relocated to the northern slopes of the Tian Shan Mountains. This shift promoted agricultural advancements in later periods, despite the challenges posed by the harsher climate.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":16929,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Quaternary Science","volume":"40 5","pages":"794-806"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144598499","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A multi-proxy record of climate variability during the Loch Lomond Stadial (GS-1) at Old Buckenham Mere, East England, UK","authors":"Christopher P. Francis,&nbsp;Stefan Engels,&nbsp;Ian P. Matthews,&nbsp;Adrian P. Palmer,&nbsp;Katy Flowers,&nbsp;Ian Candy","doi":"10.1002/jqs.3708","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jqs.3708","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Northwest Europe experienced high-amplitude climate change at the onset and end of the Younger Dryas (YD; ca 12 800–11 600 cal a BP), a crucial period to develop our understanding of natural climate dynamics. European palaeoclimatological records generally suggest a bipartite structure of the YD, potentially due to a northward retreat of the polar front around 12 100 cal a BP. However, several recent studies have shown more complex climate dynamics during the YD. Here we present new high-resolution palaeotemperature records for the YD (Loch Lomond Stadial; LLS) at Old Buckenham Mere. We show cooling of ca 3°C at the onset of the LLS followed by an early LLS phase with relatively cool summer temperatures (ca 11.5°C). The mid LLS experienced milder temperatures of ca 13°C and was potentially characterised by wetter conditions. Summer temperatures initially decreased to values of ca 10°C at the onset of the late LLS, before a gradual increase. Temperatures abruptly increase by ca 3°C at the onset of the Holocene. This study is the first to show the occurrence of a tripartite LLS climate evolution in East England and fills an existing knowledge gap in our understanding of YD climate dynamics.</p>","PeriodicalId":16929,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Quaternary Science","volume":"40 5","pages":"778-793"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/jqs.3708","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144598364","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Corrigendum to “Within the boundaries of the Dnipro ice lobe: Biotic dynamics in the Middle Dnipro area (Ukraine) during deglaciation and postglacial stages”","authors":"","doi":"10.1002/jqs.3703","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jqs.3703","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":16929,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Quaternary Science","volume":"40 4","pages":"739"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143944675","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A 7500-year record of fire and precipitation dynamics from Clear Pond, South Carolina, USA","authors":"Zachary P. Taylor,&nbsp;Chelsea N. Anderson,&nbsp;Chad S. Lane,&nbsp;Grace X. Pleasant,&nbsp;Elizabeth Yanuskiewicz","doi":"10.1002/jqs.3711","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jqs.3711","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We analyzed a 2.38 m sediment core from Clear Pond, South Carolina, to reconstruct fire and effective moisture over the past 7500 years in a <i>Pinus</i>-<i>Quercus</i> forest. Our record of macroscopic charcoal, reconstructed precipitation isotopes from δ²H_{<i>n-alkane</i>} analysis, and other geochemical indicators provides a high-resolution record of the interplays between fire and effective moisture on the Atlantic Coastal Plain (ACP). Our work complements and updates an existing pollen and microscopic charcoal record from Clear Pond with additional analyses, including reconstructed effective moisture. δ²H_{<i>n-alkane</i>} values are indicative of soil moisture isotopic values, which are controlled by precipitation δ²H values and fractionation during evaporation and transpiration. Our results show that from ca. 7500–3670 cal yr \u0000<span>bp</span>, effective moisture was higher than modern conditions at Clear Pond, but fires were frequent. Our δ²H_{<i>n-alkane</i>} record of effective moisture indicates that conditions remained mesic from ca. 3670 cal yr \u0000<span>bp</span> until 2350 cal yr \u0000<span>bp</span>, but macroscopic charcoal data indicate that fires were much less frequent than before. This pattern is in opposition to several nearby records on the ACP, where much of this timespan was apparently somewhat dry with frequent fires. After ca. 2350 cal yr \u0000<span>bp</span>, effective moisture slightly increased, and frequent fires returned to the landscape. These conditions persisted until about ca. 860 cal yr \u0000<span>bp</span>, when δ²H-derived effective moisture values reached their most positive values, indicating xeric conditions, and charcoal data indicate a declining importance of fire on the landscape. Over the past 7500 years at Clear Pond, there is an apparent decoupling of reconstructed paleomoisture indicators and macroscopic charcoal records, which indicates that fire is not largely controlled by climate on the ACP and that landscape burning by Native Americans may be an important control on Holocene fire regimes at Clear Pond, especially from ca. 7500–2350 cal yr \u0000<span>bp</span>.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":16929,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Quaternary Science","volume":"40 5","pages":"764-777"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144598494","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Reconstruction and palaeoclimatic implications of Loch Lomond Readvance glaciers in the Southeast Grampians, Scotland","authors":"William Spicer","doi":"10.1002/jqs.3709","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jqs.3709","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The glaciation of Scotland during the Loch Lomond Stadial (LLS; 12.9–11.7 ka BP) left a distinct and well-preserved geomorphological signature, permitting detailed reconstructions of former glaciers and palaeoclimatic conditions. However, the extent and style of glaciation in the Southeast Grampians remains poorly constrained. This study employs geomorphological mapping and glacier surface profile modelling to reconstruct a ∼60 km² icefield covering much of the Mounth Plateau. The results suggest that plateau ice was thicker and more extensive than previously considered, with a polythermal regime inferred from the geomorphological evidence. Based on contrasting landform assemblages inside and outside of reconstructed glacial limits and basal radiocarbon dates, the icefield is attributed to the LLS. The geomorphological evidence and superimposed streamlining of recessional moraines within the study site suggest that deglaciation was active and interrupted by periods of re-advance occurring during fluctuating climatic conditions. An equilibrium line altitude of 738 m and a precipitation value at sea level of 845 ± 150 mm a⁻¹ are calculated for the Mounth Icefield, suggesting a slightly more arid climate than present. Comparison with published glacier-derived palaeoclimatic variables supports a strong west–east precipitation gradient across Scotland during the LLS.</p>","PeriodicalId":16929,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Quaternary Science","volume":"40 5","pages":"747-763"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/jqs.3709","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144598489","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Preservation of stable isotopic composition in charred grains: Implications for paleoenvironmental and archeological research","authors":"Natálie Pernicová,&nbsp;Otmar Urban,&nbsp;Josef Čáslavský,&nbsp;Jana Apiar,&nbsp;Marek Vlach,&nbsp;Balázs Komoróczy,&nbsp;Miroslav Trnka","doi":"10.1002/jqs.3707","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jqs.3707","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The charring process can preserve archaeobotanical remains, providing valuable insights into past climates, agricultural practices, and plant growth conditions. However, the impact of charring on stable isotopes, especially at temperatures above 300°C, remains poorly understood. To investigate this, wheat (einkorn, emmer) and millet grains were experimentally charred at 300°C, 450°C, and 550°C for 15 min to 48 h under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Consequently, the stable isotopic ratios of carbon (¹³C/¹²C; δ¹³C), nitrogen (¹⁵N/¹⁴N; δ¹⁵N), and oxygen (¹⁸O/¹⁶O; δ¹⁸O) were determined in fully charred grains with a blackened pericarp, visually comparable to archeological remains. Our results indicate that δ¹³C values are well preserved in charred grains, showing minimal shifts (&lt;0.55‰ for wheat and &lt;0.2‰ for millet), while δ¹⁵N values retained species-specific differences, with moderate variations (&lt;1.31‰ for wheat and &lt;0.68‰ for millet) influenced by charring conditions. In contrast, δ¹⁸O values showed high variability in experimentally charred grains, limiting their reliability for interpretative use. These findings underscore the potential of carbon and, to a lesser extent, nitrogen isotopes in charred grains, for reconstructing ancient growth conditions and improving the understanding of formation processes in archeological research.</p>","PeriodicalId":16929,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Quaternary Science","volume":"40 4","pages":"645-656"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/jqs.3707","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143944868","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}