Late Glacial and Holocene Climate Variability of the Southern Tibetan Plateau Based on a High-Resolution Grain Size Record in Lake Peiki Co.
Presentation Type
Poster
Faculty Advisor
Sandra Passchier
Access Type
Event
Start Date
26-4-2024 12:45 PM
End Date
26-4-2024 1:44 PM
Description
Lakes in the Tibetan Region are highly susceptible to climate change. The climate is influenced by the Westerlies, East Asian monsoon, Indian monsoon, and Siberian cold polar airflow. The position of the Intertropical Convergence Zone over the southern plateau makes it sensitive to climate change and Indian monsoon variations. While central Tibetan Plateau (TP) lakes have expanded and deepened since the late 1990s, those in the southern regions, have decreased in size. Understanding the responses of these high mountain lakes to climate change is crucial in the context of global warming. However, research in the southern regions remains scarce compared to the north. This study addresses the lacustrine sediment archives of an alpine lake, Peiku Co, situated in the southern TP, utilizing a high-resolution record of grain size analysis, published geochemical data, and radiocarbon dating. Our grain size distribution analysis for 352 samples of a ~7m core (PCO071B) using a Malvern Mastersizer 3000 reveals a predominance of silt and clay. Grain-size parameters show glacier retreat and variations in monsoon activity affecting lake levels throughout the Holocene. The presence of coarser grains (>250 mm) in sediments dated 9 ka BP to 15 ka BP indicates detrital input from glacial runoff. Through our results, we aim to contribute valuable insights into the historical climate variations that have shaped the southern TP. Understanding these variations is essential for predicting and managing the impact of ongoing global climate change on water resources and sensitive ecosystems in the region.
Late Glacial and Holocene Climate Variability of the Southern Tibetan Plateau Based on a High-Resolution Grain Size Record in Lake Peiki Co.
Lakes in the Tibetan Region are highly susceptible to climate change. The climate is influenced by the Westerlies, East Asian monsoon, Indian monsoon, and Siberian cold polar airflow. The position of the Intertropical Convergence Zone over the southern plateau makes it sensitive to climate change and Indian monsoon variations. While central Tibetan Plateau (TP) lakes have expanded and deepened since the late 1990s, those in the southern regions, have decreased in size. Understanding the responses of these high mountain lakes to climate change is crucial in the context of global warming. However, research in the southern regions remains scarce compared to the north. This study addresses the lacustrine sediment archives of an alpine lake, Peiku Co, situated in the southern TP, utilizing a high-resolution record of grain size analysis, published geochemical data, and radiocarbon dating. Our grain size distribution analysis for 352 samples of a ~7m core (PCO071B) using a Malvern Mastersizer 3000 reveals a predominance of silt and clay. Grain-size parameters show glacier retreat and variations in monsoon activity affecting lake levels throughout the Holocene. The presence of coarser grains (>250 mm) in sediments dated 9 ka BP to 15 ka BP indicates detrital input from glacial runoff. Through our results, we aim to contribute valuable insights into the historical climate variations that have shaped the southern TP. Understanding these variations is essential for predicting and managing the impact of ongoing global climate change on water resources and sensitive ecosystems in the region.