THE OXYGEN AND CARBON ISOTOPIC RECORDS OF MIOCENE SEDIMENTS IN THE TIANSHUI BASIN OF THE NORTHESTERN TIBETAN PLATEAU AND THEIR PALEOCLIMATIC IMPLICATIONS

HOU Zhanfang; ZHANG Jun; SONG Chunhui; LI Jijun; LIU Jia; LIU Shanpin; HUI Zhengchuang; PENG Tingjiang

doi:10.3724/SP.J.1140.2011.03069

2011 Vol. 31, No. 3

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HOU Zhanfang, ZHANG Jun, SONG Chunhui, LI Jijun, LIU Jia, LIU Shanpin, HUI Zhengchuang, PENG Tingjiang. THE OXYGEN AND CARBON ISOTOPIC RECORDS OF MIOCENE SEDIMENTS IN THE TIANSHUI BASIN OF THE NORTHESTERN TIBETAN PLATEAU AND THEIR PALEOCLIMATIC IMPLICATIONS[J]. Marine Geology & Quaternary Geology, 2011, 31(3): 69-78. doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1140.2011.03069

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HOU Zhanfang, ZHANG Jun, SONG Chunhui, LI Jijun, LIU Jia, LIU Shanpin, HUI Zhengchuang, PENG Tingjiang. THE OXYGEN AND CARBON ISOTOPIC RECORDS OF MIOCENE SEDIMENTS IN THE TIANSHUI BASIN OF THE NORTHESTERN TIBETAN PLATEAU AND THEIR PALEOCLIMATIC IMPLICATIONS[J]. Marine Geology & Quaternary Geology, 2011, 31(3): 69-78. doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1140.2011.03069

THE OXYGEN AND CARBON ISOTOPIC RECORDS OF MIOCENE SEDIMENTS IN THE TIANSHUI BASIN OF THE NORTHESTERN TIBETAN PLATEAU AND THEIR PALEOCLIMATIC IMPLICATIONS

1 Key Laboratory of Western China's Environmental Systems, Ministry of Education, Institute of Western Environment and Climate Change, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000;
2 Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Environmental Change and Ecological Construction & College of Geography, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210097

Received Date: 05 October 2010

Revised Date: 22 March 2011

Abstract

Abstract

The Tianshui basin of the northeastern Tibetan Plateau is located in the intersection of the eastern monsoon area, the northwest arid area and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau cold and arid regions, so it is very sensitive to climatic change. Based on the δ18O, δ13C and TOC data along the Xiashan section, this paper deals with the Miocene climatic evolution of the Tianshui basin. The climatic change in the region can be divided into five stages in 17.02~12.26 Ma, 12.26~10.92 Ma, 10.92~8.50 Ma, 8.50~7.050 Ma, 7.05~6.05 Ma respectively. During the period of 17.02~12.26 Ma, the climate was very warm and humid under high precipitation; in the interval from 12.26 to 10.92 Ma, the climate was relative cold and humid; from 10.92 to 8.50 Ma, with less precipitation, the climate was relative cold and dry; in the phase 8.50~7.05 Ma, the climate was relative warm and humid; from 7.05 to 6.05 Ma, the climate was relative cold and dry. Global cooling may be the reason for the relative cold and wet climate during 12.26~10.92 Ma. The average δ18O values during the 10.92~8.50 Ma period are 1.5‰ more positive than that of the period prior to 10.92 Ma, probably due to the elevation of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau that was sufficient to change the atmospheric circulation, by blocking the moisture from the Indian Ocean or south Pacific into the Tianshui basin. Since 7.05 Ma, the climate has been relatively cold and dry, marking the initiation of aridification in the inland Asian. All of the information is important to the understanding of the history of up-lifting of the Tibetan Plateau in-depth, the aridification in Asia interior as well as the climatic evolution in this region.
- the Tibetan Plateau /
- the Tianshui basin /
- carbon and oxygen isotope /
- Miocene

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