The Evolution of Dust Storms Since Last Interglacial in Gansu as Reconstructed from Loess Record

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  • 1. Department of Geography, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062;
    2. Department of Geography, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000;
    3. Lanzhou Institute of Geology, CAS, Lanzhou 730000;
    4. The State Key Laboratory of Frozen-soil Engineering, Lanzhou Institute of Glaciology and Geocryology, CAS, Lanzhou 730000

Received date: 1998-09-16

  Revised date: 1999-01-08

  Online published: 1999-09-15

Supported by

Supported by Natural Science Foundation of Gansu Province,No.ZR-96-012;the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.49871068

Abstract

The present dust storms in Gansu are severe. The records show that about six extraordinary dust storms have happened in the corridor area since 1950 A.D.. The evolution history of dust storm during the last interglacial are reconstructed through analyzing the particle size of loess, and by comparing it with the present extraordinary heavy dust storm numbered “930505”. The main information on dust storm from loess record includes: The deposition rate of loess may indirectly reflect the frequency of dust storm. The general grain size has the good relationship with the intensity of dust storm. While the coarse grains (fine sand) in loess implies an extraordinary dust storm event (EDS). The grain size curves of some proxies gave a general process of the dust storm. Comparing the grain size curves with the magnetic susceptibility curve of loess, we may analyse factors influencing the formation and evolution of the dust storm. Also we can discuss the possible mechanism of dust storm formation. The loess samples were taken from a newly dug loess well (45 m deep) at Gaolanshan in Lanzhou, Gansu province. This well penetrates S 1 paleosol and spans over the past 150 000 years. Since the resolution of loess record in this area is high and the paleosols are poorly developed, a new loess division method called the loess magnetic susceptibility stage (LOMSS), which is basically corresponding to the marine isotope stage MIS), is adopted in this paper. 180 samples of loess of LOMSS-5 and partly LOMSS-4 and LOMSS-6 at 5 cm interval were analyzed by using the SKC 2000 Particle size Analytical System. According to the magnetic susceptibility proxy and some grain size proxies of loess (<4 25φand 4 25~4 50φ), the high resolution loess formed during the last interglacial (LOMSS-5) can be divided into five sub stages, LOMSS-5a to LOMSS-5e, that are corresponding to MIS-5a to MIS-5e respectively. Studies show that the LOMSS-5 dust storms might be significantly weaker than those in LOMSS-4 and LOMSS-6. During 5a, 5c and 5e sub stages, the dust storms were comparatively weaker, and it must have been impacted by the orbital factors (Precession Cycle). 5b and 5d sub stages are a little stronger. From beginning to end, the Last Interglacial dust storms have experienced a growing process in intensity. According to the deposition rate of loess and the content of coarse materials in loess, the occurring frequency of dust storm can be lined up as 5c>5b>5a>5d5e, with 5d>5b>5a>5e>5c in intensity.

Cite this article

DAI Xue rong, LI Ji jun, YU Li zhong, SHI Yu xin, WANG Jia cheng . The Evolution of Dust Storms Since Last Interglacial in Gansu as Reconstructed from Loess Record[J]. Acta Geographica Sinica, 1999 , 54(5) : 445 -453 . DOI: 10.11821/xb199905008

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