Biological Characteristics of Early-Ripening Plum Varieties in the Central Old Mountain Region

Assessment of surface and groundwater resources and water availability for different sectors is a great challenge in Nepal mainly due to data limitations. In this study, the Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was used to simulate the hydrology and to calculate sub-basin wise water balances in the Koshi Basin, Nepal. The impacts of Climate Change (CC) projections from four GCMs (CNRM-CM3, CSIRO-Mk3.0,ECHam5 and MIROC 3.2) on the hydrology of the basin were also calculated. This paper summarizes some of the key results. The full report of the study is in preparation.The basin can be divided into the trans-mountain, central mountain, eastern mountain, eastern hill and central hill regions. Results show that current precipitation is highest in the central mountain and eastern mountain regions during both the dry and wet seasons. Water balance results showed that Actual ET as well as Runoff is also highest in the central and eastern mountain regions followed by the mid-hills. Results from climate change projections showed that average temperature will increase in the 2030’s by 0.7-0.9° Celsius. Results for 2030s projections also show that during the dry season, precipitation increases in the trans-mountain but decreases in the other regions for both A2 and B1 scenarios. During the wet season, the MarkSim projections show a decrease in precipitation in all the regions. Net water yields also increased for the trans-mountain zone during the dry season but show varying results during the monsoon. Assessment of projected future flow time series showed that there will be an increase in the number of extreme events; i.e., both low flows and large floods. There is however; a high degree of uncertainty in the projected climate data as the relative standard deviation was quite high.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/hn.v11i1.7198 Hydro Nepal Special Issue: Conference Proceedings 2012 pp.18-22

In cucumbers some of the F1 hybrids proved to be more resistant to diseases and more tolerant to a cool temperature. The most productive and the earliest F1 hybrids, having also the highest percentage of marketable fruits were obtained from crosses, when as a mother parent the inbred line No. 9 of Borszczagowski variety was used and as the father parent the variety 53 BSC white spine. The use of F1 hybrids seems to improve the possibilities of the production of sweet pepper in cooler countries, like Poland. In experiments, conducted in East Germany, Czechoslovakia and Poland in years 1961 and in Poland also in 1963 the F1 hybrids gave in all cases earlier and higher yields than the best local standard varieties. In tomatoes the most promising F1 hybrids seem to be the crosses between a Polish variety Mory 33 and Russian varieties Sztambowy Alpatiewa and Miczurinskij rannij. In the greenhouse trials some of F1 hybrids, like Nr. 10 x Bizon, Harzfeuer, Weibulls Immuna, Kecskemet Nr. 6, Eurocross gave higher early yields than standard varieties. With onions, most of the F1 hybrids obtained in the U.S.A. were too early and poor keepers under Polish climatic conditions. Work is conducted to obtain F1 hybrids of the type of our standard onion variety Wolska, globular in shape and straw yellow in color, but more uniform in all varietal characters. Good results with F1 hybrids have been also obtained with the Bulgarian F1 hybrid of Eggplant Nr. 12 x Delikates and also with a Danish F1 hybrid of Brussel sprouts.

Sioux is a uniform round, red, slightly scaly russet variety of medium maturity. The variety is resistant to scab (Streptomyces scabies) and susceptible to Fusarium, Verticillium and late blight. In Nebraska, Sioux produces moderate to high yields, but higher yields of U.S. #1 potatoes when compared with the standard red table varieties Norland and Bounty. The specific gravity of Sioux is higher than that of the standard red table and white chipping varieties Haig, Platte and Kennebec. The variety is suitable for chipping and the production of frozen products. When grown as a late summer crop, Sioux is of good color and carries to market in better condition than the standard red varieties. In the 12 States in the North Central Regional Trials, Sioux was equal to the standard variety Red Pontiac in total yield and superior in yield of U.S. #1 potatoes. The specific gravity of Sioux was higher than that of Irish Cobbler or any of the other standard varieties. The yield of Sioux was as high and the specific gravity was higher than any of the standard varieties in Texas and Alabama trials.

Holocene climate changes in the central Asia mountain region inferred from a peat sequence from the Altai Mountains, Xinjiang, northwestern China

The variety study of white lupine plants in the Belgorod region was carried out in field trials at the collection nursery of department of plant production, breeding and olericulture of the Belgorod State Agrarian University named after V.Ya. Gorin in 2018–2019. In the trial there were studied 4 varieties and 26 samples of white lupine of grain-fodder selection developed by the All-Russian Research Institute of Lupine, the variety ‘Michurinsky’ was taken as a standard one. Most of the samples in the trial significantly exceeded the standard variety in the value of seed productivity. In 2018 the highest yield of 4.86 t/ha was obtained from the sample ‘CH 40-15’, which was on 1.15 t/ha higher than that of the standard variety. A high yield from 4.19 to 4.82 t/ha was produced by the samples ‘СН 78-16’, ‘СН 20-13’, ‘СН 15-13’ and ‘СН 816-09’, which significantly exceeded the standard variety on 0.48–0.61 t/ha. Under the conditions of the year of 2019, a significant productivity increase (from 0.24 to 2.1 t/ha) in comparison with the standard variety was produced by 19 samples and two varieties ‘Pilgrim’ and ‘Timiryazevsky’. The largest productivity in the trial (5.26 and 5.24 t / ha) was produced by the samples ‘CH 54-08’ and ‘CH 12-13’. The yield increase of the samples ‘СН 77-17’, ‘СН 816-09’, ‘СН 1735-10’, ‘СН 17-14’ was 1.35–1.57 t/ha in comparison with the standard variety. The highest mean yield in the trial for 2 years (4.40–4.47 t/ha) was formed by the samples ‘СН 17-14’ and ‘СН 816-09’, their increase was 0.96–1.03 t/ha or 27.9–29.9% in comparison with the standard variety. The samples ‘СН 12-13’ and ‘СН 54-08’ showed the highest coefficient of adaptability in the trial at the level of 1.36–1.38. The most of the studied samples and the variety ‘Alyi Parus’ possessed the coefficient of adaptability >1, which characterizes them as highly adaptable to the arid conditions of the region. The most varieties and samples exceeded the standard value of the trait ‘seed weight per plant’ which is 4 g. The value of the trait ‘1000-seed weight’ in the trial varied from 234.8 g (the sample ‘CH 35-13’) to 302.6 g (the sample ‘CH 25-11’) in comparison with 264 g (the standard variety).

Jonah field in the northwestern part of the Greater Green River basin produces gas from the Lance Formation of Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) age. The Maastrichtian in the central Rocky Mountain region was a complex period of major transitions associated with the onset of the Laramide orogeny. This period of mountain building and basin development, which ultimately divided the central part of the Rocky Mountain foreland basin into much smaller Laramide basins and uplifts, began during latest Campanian and early Maastrichtian time and continued until near the end of the Eocene. The Maastrichtian section consists largely of continental rocks in the western part of the study area and interbedded continental and nearshore marine rocks in the eastern part. Marine shales deposited in the Maastrichtian seaway are effective seals of regional extent in many parts of the central Rocky Mountain region. Coaly source rocks occur throughout a broad area near the limit of maximum westward marine transgression during the Maastrichtian in this region. Jonah field, however, is located west of the marine shale seals and west of the area with significant Maastrichtian coaly intervals. Coaly intervals in the underlying Campanian Rock Springs Formation at Jonah may be the source of much of the gas, and a shale interval near the top of the Lance Formation may be the top seal for Jonah. An isopach map of Maastrichtian rocks reveals a complex pattern, including thickening trends toward newly developing Laramide uplifts as well as thickening toward areas of active thrusting along the Sevier orogenic belt. Jonah field is located in a deep, northwest-trending trough that developed southwest of the Laramide Wind River Range during the Maastrichtian. The Maastrichtian interval is overlain by lower Paleocene rocks throughout much of the study area, except near later Laramide uplifts. These thickening trends are the result of both variations in rates of subsidence during the Maastrichtian and differential erosion of Maastrichtian rocks prior to deposition of overlying Paleocene rocks. The Maastrichtian section is thin throughout a broad area in the southwestern part of the Greater Green River basin and Uinta basin. The lack of active thrusting and resultant thrust loading along the adjacent part of the Sevier orogenic belt during the Maastrichtian may be responsible for this thinning. Erosion of the Sevier highlands along this inactive portion of the orogenic belt may have instead produced broad uplift in the adjacent basin areas because of unloading. Paleocurrent studies in Maastrichtian rocks indicate that eastward-flowing drainage systems off the Sevier orogenic belt were maintained throughout the central Rocky Mountain region despite highly varying subsidence rates. Major Maastrichtian trunk streams tended to remain in place for extended periods of time, creating east–west-trending belts with thick stacks of fluvial sandstones surrounded by much less sandy intervals. Jonah field is located in a major southeast-flowing drainage system that was confined to the rapidly subsiding trough southwest of the Wind River Range. Stream systems that were flowing off rising Laramide uplifts appear to have been relatively short tributary streams to the major east-flowing trunk streams. These tributary streams were commonly mud choked as Cretaceous marine shale sequences were eroded off Laramide uplifts during the initial stages of uplift.

The introduction of new varieties of fruit crops remains an important direction in improving the assortment and is associated with their study in new soil and climatic conditions. The article presents the results of a variety study of new introduced varieties of plum (Prunus domestica L.) – Big Stanley, Blue Moon, August Delight and Chinese plum (Prunus salicina L.) – Dark Sunlight and Crimson Glo in conditions of southern gardening. The aim of the research was a comprehensive assessment of the introduced varieties of common plum and Chinese plum, the selection of varieties - sources of valuable traits for breeding use and renewal of a group of promising industrial varieties. It has been established that, according to the ripening time, the introduced plum varieties August Delight, Blue Moon belong to the group of medium-late ones, Big Stanley, Crimson Glo, Dark Sunlight - to the group of late ones. The duration of the fruit ripening period of the studied varieties is 137-152 days, depending on the characteristics of the variety. It was revealed that the trees of the Dark Sunlight variety are characterized by a restrained growth force, not exceeding 2.5 m. More active growth (3.0-3.5 m) was noted in the trees of the Big Stanley, Blue Moon, August Delight and Crimson Glo varieties. On the basis of "fruit weight", the studied varieties belong to the group of large-fruited. Chinese plum varieties Crimson Glo (71.5 g) and Dark Sunlight (79.0 g) are classified as very large-fruited, domestic plum varieties August Delight (44.6 g) and Big Stanley (48.0 g) are classified as large-fruited. It is confirmed that in the conditions of the southern region, new varieties of Chinese and domestic plums are productive. Higher yields were formed in Chinese plum varieties Dark Sunlight (36.4 t/ha) and Crimson Glo (34.6 t/ha), domestic plum Big Stanley (32.4 t/ha) and August Delight (29.0 t/ha), it was lower in the Blue Moon variety (24.7 t/ha). The introduced varieties Big Stanley, Blue Moon, Dark Sunlight have high taste qualities of fruits, confirmed by the sugar-acid index – 14.1-14.9. New introduced varieties Crimson Glo, Dark Sunlight, Blue Moon and Big Stanley, recommended for creating modern plum plantations and breeding for individual traits, have been identified based on a set of economically valuable traits.

Enhancement of orographic precipitation in Jeju Island during the passage of Typhoon Khanun (2012)

Central Asian area above 2000 m was studied to test the independence of the Central Asian Mountain region in the herpetogeographical map of the Palearctic Region and the neighboring Sahara-Gobi Desert region. According to the range and origin similarity, all species inhabiting this area were assigned to several groups: mountain Central Asian species (the bulk of the range lies within the studied area), Western Asian upland species (the bulk of the range lies in the Near Eastern uplands), plain desert species (the bulk of the range is below 2000 m), Indo-Malayan species (the bulk of the range lies within the Indo-Malayan Kingdom), European species (the bulk of the range lies in the forest and steppe zones of Europe and West Siberia), and mountain desert species (equal parts of the range lie in the deserts and mountains of Central Asia). The distribution of species density was mapped by range superposition for each group. The dominance (over 50% of the total number of species) of mountain Central Asian or other species groups allowed us to assign the studied area to either the Central Asian mountain region or Sahara-Gobi desert region. The areas where neither of the specified groups exceeded the 50% threshold were recognized as transitional. Considering a large number of endemic species (28% of the total fauna), the Central Asian mountain area should be recognized as an independent region rather than a subregion of the Sahara-Gobi Desert region.

The results of the study of collection oat samples of various ecological and geographical origin are presented. The experiments were carried out in Novosibirsk region in 1994-2018. The sources that combine the optimal density of the productive plant stand and the mass of grain from the panicle were identified according to the ripeness groups. There were 413 collection samples of spring oats studied from 42 countries of the world for 25 years. Collection varieties were evaluated in nurseries of the 2nd-3d year of study. To identify the best samples, a scoring evaluation system of the traits under consideration, i.e. the density of the productive plant stand and the mass of grain from the panicle, was used. Comparison of genotypes for these traits was carried out within a group of varieties with an equal score for the duration of the seedlings -wax ripeness period. The standard varieties Krasnoobsky and Rovesnik were studied for all 25 years, therefore, all years were divided into three groups according to the average biological yield of these varieties. The first group includes 5 years, in which the standard varieties formed a low yield - less than 300 g/m2. The second group includes 14 years with a standard yield of 300-600 g/m2. The third group includes 5 years with the most favorable conditions for the formation of a high biological yield - more than 600 g/m2. A significant correlation between biological productivity and panicle productivity was noted in the standard variety Krasnoobsky during the years with a medium yield and in the standard variety Rovesnik during the years with a high yield. With the traits being evaluated in points, biological productivity showed a strong positive correlation with panicle productivity in Krasnoobsky variety in all groups of years, and in Rovesnik variety only in groups of years with medium and high yield. The sources of biological productivity of oats were identified by ripeness groups: very early - VIR-14522 (Dukat, Poland); early-ripening - VIR-14223 (Ardo KR-FPTS, Czechoslovakia); mid-early - VIR-15340 (Uran, Omsk region), VIR-14729 (SG-K-93682, the Czech Republic), VIR-14588 (Gramena, Germany), VIR-14582 (Carl Theodor, Germany), VIR-15012 (Togurchanin, Tomsk region), VIR-14706 (Keeper, Great Britain), VIR-14581 (Borka, Germany), VIR-15178 (Begunok, Ulyanovsk region) and Novosibirsky 5 (Novosibirsk region); mid-ripening - VIR-14377 (Mutika 572, Omsk region), VIR-14520 (Kwant, Poland), VIR-15254 (AC Mustang, Canada), VIR-15280 (55h 2106, Moscow region) and VIR-14527 (OM 1385, Great Britain); medium-late - VIR-15065 (Irtysh 22, Omsk region), VIR-14860 (Malysh, Tyumen region) and VIR-15103 (R8N9 3037-3072, Krasnoyarsk region).

ABSTRACTEnhancing crop traits that increase grain yield under elevated CO2 concentrations is an important option for increasing the future productivity of rice. Here, we compared the growth and yield of five varieties with different genetic background under Free-Air CO2 Enrichment (FACE) conditions to identify traits responsible for varietal differences in yield increase under elevated CO2. Three high-yielding and two standard rice varieties grown under FACE conditions commonly had (1) shorter growth periods, (2) higher dry matter production, (3) higher numbers of spikelets (sink capacity) and panicles; and (4) higher yield than those grown under ambient CO2. Yield enhancement by elevated CO2 (FACE/Ambient), however, differed significantly among varieties, ranging from 1.10 to 1.25. The greater response of the sink capacity, defined as the product of spikelet number and single grain mass, was the main factor involved in yield increase. Three high-yielding varieties (Momiroman, Takanari, and Hokuriku 193) had greater sink capacity than two standard varieties and the sink capacity of these varieties significantly increased under FACE condition. However, yield enhancement in elevated CO2 was lower in Hokuriku 193 than in Momiroman and Takanari. In Hokuriku 193, sink production was relatively low while dry matter production was similar to the others. Therefore, larger increase in sink production efficiency per unit of dry matter production under FACE was found to be a particularly important varietal trait, suggesting that efforts to develop varieties suited to the predicted elevated CO2 condition should focus on this and the related traits.

Cutaneous melanoma incidence is increasing worldwide, especially for in situ and thin (<1 mm) lesions, while thick (≥1 mm) lesions have been generally stable in many studies; although epidemiological data on melanoma is readily available, population-based studies, especially on mountain regions, are rare. The aim of this study was to analyse cutaneous melanoma incidence and Breslow tumour thickness in the central Alpine mountain region of South Tyrol, northern Italy. All newly diagnosed cutaneous in situ and invasive melanomas in the resident population from 1998 to 2012 were taken from the Pathology Unit, Bolzano Hospital and South Tyrol Cancer Registry. Incidence and Breslow tumour thickness were analyzed. Statistical analyses included Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests. A total of 784 in situ melanomas and 1663 invasive melanomas were collected. In situ melanomas showed the highest increase: European age-standardized incidence rose from 2.44 per 100,000 inhabitants in 1998-2002 to 16.01 in 2008-2012. Invasive melanoma incidence increased from 12.69 in 1998-2002, to 22.88 in 2008-2012. The incidence rise was observed in thin melanomas (from 8.39 to 16.18) and in thick melanomas (from 4.30 to 6.70). Breslow distribution revealed a median value of 0.62 mm (mean 1.34; SD 2.24; range 0.09-30.0) and did not change significantly over time (P = 0.286). Higher Breslow values were observed at advanced age (P < 0.001), among males (P = 0.017), in nodular melanomas (P < 0.001) and at higher Clark levels (P < 0.001). Significant differences were also found in urban hospitals compared to rural hospitals during the whole period (P = 0.004), but not in the last 5 years (P = 0.053). Incidence of cutaneous melanoma is increasing in South Tyrol, especially for in situ and thin lesions, but also for thick lesions; no reduction in median tumour thickness is observed. Rural areas and elevated altitudes may contribute to this effect.

An extensive natural gas transmission pipeline system now exists on the North American continent and in the central and northern Rocky Mountain region embracing Wyoming, Montana, the Dakotas, Idaho, Utah, and Colorado. The regional interstate pipeline capacity is dominated by two major systems: Northwest Pipeline Corporation and Colorado Interstate Gas Company. In addition, there are over a dozen important area and intrastate systems. Not counting the lease, plant, and pipline fuel gas, the marketed produciton in the region totals nearly 1 tcf annually of 6% of the national total. Making some allowance for local import and export imbalances across state lines, approximately 45%, or 450 bcf, is consumed locally. Over 500 bcf (almost 1.5 bcf/day) are transported out of the region. Production and consumption in New Mexico, Arizone, and Nevada are not included in these figures. Regional natural gas enters the interstate and continental pipeline system at seven interconnecting points around the periphery of the mountain states. The regional gas must compete for capacity on the major pipelines. Several new projects are expanding pipeline capacity for transportation both within the region and to points outside the region.

Research Article| February 01, 1990 Paleogeographic and paleotectonic setting of Laramide sedimentary basins in the central Rocky Mountain region: Alternative interpretation and reply S. M. CATHER; S. M. CATHER 1New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources, Socorro, New Mexico 87801 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar C. E. CHAPIN; C. E. CHAPIN 1New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources, Socorro, New Mexico 87801 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar W. R. DICKINSON; W. R. DICKINSON 2Laboratory of Geotectonics, Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar M. A. KLUTE; M. A. KLUTE 2Laboratory of Geotectonics, Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar M. J. HAYES; M. J. HAYES 2Laboratory of Geotectonics, Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar S. U. JANECKE; S. U. JANECKE 2Laboratory of Geotectonics, Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar E. R. LUNDIN; E. R. LUNDIN 2Laboratory of Geotectonics, Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar M. A. MCKITTRICK; M. A. MCKITTRICK 2Laboratory of Geotectonics, Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar M. D. OLIVARES M. D. OLIVARES 2Laboratory of Geotectonics, Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information S. M. CATHER 1New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources, Socorro, New Mexico 87801 C. E. CHAPIN 1New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources, Socorro, New Mexico 87801 W. R. DICKINSON 2Laboratory of Geotectonics, Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 M. A. KLUTE 2Laboratory of Geotectonics, Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 M. J. HAYES 2Laboratory of Geotectonics, Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 S. U. JANECKE 2Laboratory of Geotectonics, Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 E. R. LUNDIN 2Laboratory of Geotectonics, Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 M. A. MCKITTRICK 2Laboratory of Geotectonics, Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 M. D. OLIVARES 2Laboratory of Geotectonics, Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (1990) 102 (2): 256–260. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1990)102<0256:PAPSOL>2.3.CO;2 Article history First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation S. M. CATHER, C. E. CHAPIN, W. R. DICKINSON, M. A. KLUTE, M. J. HAYES, S. U. JANECKE, E. R. LUNDIN, M. A. MCKITTRICK, M. D. OLIVARES; Paleogeographic and paleotectonic setting of Laramide sedimentary basins in the central Rocky Mountain region: Alternative interpretation and reply. GSA Bulletin 1990;; 102 (2): 256–260. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1990)102<0256:PAPSOL>2.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract No abstract available This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.

Loess deposits with varying thickness are widely distributed on the intermontane valleys and piedmont zones on the northern side of the central Shandong mountainous regions.However, the basal ages and material resources of the loess deposits are not clear.The paper studied the Qingzhou loess profile in Shandong with magnetostratigraphic and optical stimulated luminescence (OSL) methods and further investigated its main provenances with the mineralogical methods.The magnetostratigraphic results showed that the Brunhes/Matuyama (B/M) reversal boundary was not recognized, suggesting a basal age younger than 0.78 Ma.Extrapolations by sedimentation rates, based on the upper part depositional rate from the OSL age, the basal age of the Qingzhou loess is about 0.5 Ma.Until now, older loess deposits have not been reported on the northern side of the central Shandong mountainous regions.The results of the paper indicate that the loess deposits in this area might have strated from the Middle Pleistocene.The basal age of Qingzhou loess is approximately synchronous with the Xiashu loess in the middle-lower reaches of Yangtze River.Major components of clay minerals in the Qingzhou profile are dominated by illite.Other clay mineral compositions are mainly smectite, chlorite and kaolinite, which are similar with the Xifeng loess in the Loess Plateau.However, the contents of smectite and the ratios of illite and kaolinte in the Qingzhou loess samples are higher than those in the Xifeng loess samples of the Loess Plateau, indicating that the loess in the northern side of the central Shandong mountainous regions has different sources from that of the loess deposits in the Loess Plateau.The clay mineral analysis further reinforces the earlier conclusion that the marine strata exposed in the Laizhou Bay and the fluvial plain of the lower reaches of Yellow River during the glacier periods are the main material sources for the Qingzhou loess deposits, which is an indicator to the local aridification of the lower reaches of the Yellow River.Loess deposition in the central Shandong mountainous regions started at around 0.5 Ma.The age of Qingzhou loess is approximately synchronous with the ongoing high-latitude cold since the Middle Pleistocene, which indicates that strengthened East Asian winter monsoon was sufficiently energetic to bring substantial quantities of material from the marine strata exposed in the Laizhou Bay and the fluvial plain of the lower reaches of the Yellow River to the central Shandong mountainous regions.The results therefore suggest that both regional geological process and global changes were responsible for the formation of Qingzhou loess since Middle Pleistocene.