Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Holocene sediment-accumulation rates in the western Loess Plateau, China, and a 2500-year record of agricultural activity, revealed by OSL dating
AU - Roberts, Helen
AU - Wintle, Ann
AU - Maher, Barbara
AU - Hu, Menghu
PY - 2001/5
Y1 - 2001/5
N2 - High-resolution optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating of a terraced loess section in the western margins of the Chinese Loess Plateau provides evidence of continuous and varying accumulation of dust throughout the Holocene. From 12030 to 2500 years ago, the sediment-accumulation rate was approxi mately 0.2 mm/year. After this time, it increased to approximately 0.8 mm/year, during a historically docu mented period of agricultural expansion in adjacent areas. From 680 years ago, a further increase in accumu lation rate, to approximately 3.4 mm/year, is evident. Particle-size analysis indicates that this increase in accumulation rate was associated with anthropogenic addition of sandy sediment, probably for soil improve ment. The OSL dating also identifies the period when the terrace was first cut for agricultural use, between 2500 and 2070 years ago.
AB - High-resolution optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating of a terraced loess section in the western margins of the Chinese Loess Plateau provides evidence of continuous and varying accumulation of dust throughout the Holocene. From 12030 to 2500 years ago, the sediment-accumulation rate was approxi mately 0.2 mm/year. After this time, it increased to approximately 0.8 mm/year, during a historically docu mented period of agricultural expansion in adjacent areas. From 680 years ago, a further increase in accumu lation rate, to approximately 3.4 mm/year, is evident. Particle-size analysis indicates that this increase in accumulation rate was associated with anthropogenic addition of sandy sediment, probably for soil improve ment. The OSL dating also identifies the period when the terrace was first cut for agricultural use, between 2500 and 2070 years ago.
KW - Loess Plateau
KW - OSL dating
KW - loess
KW - China
KW - accumulation rates
KW - agriculture
KW - late Holocene
U2 - 10.1191/095968301678302913
DO - 10.1191/095968301678302913
M3 - Journal article
VL - 11
SP - 477
EP - 483
JO - Holocene
JF - Holocene
SN - 0959-6836
IS - 4
ER -