Abstract
The application of magnetic proxies in paleoclimate studies has the advantage of fast and non-destructive measurement procedures, which is an important precondition for obtaining high-resolution datasets within a manageable time frame. Here we demonstrate the advantage of using magnetic proxies for a ∼940-m-long drill core comprising lacustrine sediments from the Qaidam Basin (NE Tibetan Plateau), which was previously dated by magnetostratigraphy and optical stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating. Comparison of three independent mass-specific magnetic susceptibility (χ) datasets confirms the horizontal homogeneity of the drill core at scales of several cm3. The potential linkage of χ to astronomical forcing is suggested by spectral analysis. Magnetic grain size- and mineralogy-dependent parameters were used to evaluate possible scenarios explaining the χ variation. Moreover, using additional palynological results we demonstrate the correlation of χ with climatic constraints, thereby showing the climate sensitivity of χ. Higher and lower χ values are related to dry and more humid conditions, respectively. Our results lead us to conclude that χ variations are caused by the interference of two driving mechanisms: low-temperature oxidation in the catchment area and a changing catchment area. In summary, this study confirms the informative value of magnetic proxies for detecting paleoenvironmental change in high resolution.
Published Version
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