Holocene temperature and cold events recorded in arid Central Asian peatlands

Abstract

Despite being exceptionally sensitive to global warming, Holocene temperature records for Central Asia are sparse. Here we report on two high-resolution peatland humification records from Northwestern China. These provide a continuous warm-season temperature record for this region during the Holocene. Warm-season temperatures generally followed summer insolation in the early Holocene. However, these deviated from summer insolation trends in the mid- and late-Holocene, likely due to intensified greenhouse gas forcing at that time. We identify 17 cold events that lasted from ∼1 to 6 centuries that are associated with solar activity. Severe cold events that occurred during the early and late Holocene appear to be related to strengthened westerlies.