Early and mid-Holocene hydroclimate change recorded in tufa deposits in the Jiuzhaigou gully, eastern Tibetan Plateau

Abstract

Rhythmic nature of tufa deposits and analysis of hydrochemical proxies offer the potential to reconstruct the history of regional palaeo-hydrological and palaeo-climatic change. This paper investigates the tufa deposits of Sparkling Lake in the Jiuzhaigou gully of the eastern Tibetan Plateau (ETP). Detailed analysis of mineral composition, major elements and stable isotope (δ13C, δ18O) distinguished seven “dirty tufa layers” that are characterized by quartz-rich sediments, high kaolinite and high K, Na and Al. Compared with clean tufa deposits, dirty components in the tufa deposits were a result of surface soil erosion activity during strong monsoon rainfall periods within the catchment. The chronology of tufa deposits is established by using radiocarbon (14C) dating of organic material from the dirty tufa layers. Seven flood-rich periods and eight flood-poor periods during the early and mid-Holocene were recorded by the dirty tufa layers interbedded with clean tufa layers in the Jiuzhaigou gully. The tufa records are more sensitive response to regional hydroclimate change, in comparison with the peat, lake sediments and stalagmite records. The low values of δ18O and δ13C in the dirty tufa layers indicate the flood-rich periods (10310–8390, 7120, 6910, 6340, 5900, 5620, 5020 a BP) were mainly triggered by strong monsoon rainfall events during early and mid-Holocene. Considering the chronological uncertainties and sampling resolution, some other abrupt climate events (i.e, 8200 a BP and 5500 a BP) may be also recorded in the tufa deposits. These results greatly improve our understanding of hydroclimate change in the ETP during the early and mid-Holocene.