Potential chemical link between continental wind deposits, marine aerosol and pelagic sediments—an example from Chinese loess

Although the flux of chemical elements to deep-sea sediments is affected significantly by in situ biogeochemical processes and volcanic events, a close correlation is noted between the chemical compositions of Chinese loess, marine aerosol and pelagic clays from the North Pacific Ocean. Our study strengthens the knowledge that Asian soil dust (especially from China) has an important effect on the sedimentation in the North Pacific Ocean throughout the Quaternary.