Holocene geomorphic process recorded by OSL dating of Linggo Co delta and outwash terraces from the Puruogangri area in the central Tibetan Plateau

Geomorphic processes are shaped by climate changes, tectonic movements and human activities. Investigating these interactions is crucial for understanding climate change and landform dynamics. However, the mechanisms driving landform development in high-altitude regions such as the Tibetan Plateau (TP), largely unaffected by human or tectonic activities since the Holocene, remain unclear. This study investigated the Puruogangri icefield region on the central Tibetan Plateau (TP), where diverse landforms such as lakes, rivers, sand dunes and glaciers could offer valuable insights for geomorphic research. Using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating, we analysed the Linggo Co delta and its outwash terraces. The results indicate that the lake maintained a higher water level from 6.2 to 3.5 ka, which dropped between 3.5 and 2.5 ka. The outwash terraces were formed during the periods of accelerated glacier melting around 5.0, 1.8 and 0.6 ka, with warm periods leading to the formation of delta foreset deposits and outwash terraces, while the cold periods characterised by reduced glacier meltwater resulted in the topset deposits as the lake levels decreased. These findings reveal that temperature could be the dominant factor influencing fluvial landform development in this region.