Regularity of paleowind directions of the Early Cretaceous Desert in Ordos Basin and climatic significance

Abstract

By the measurement of the wind directional indicator of the Cretaceous desert in Ordos Basin, the regularity of the paleoprevailing wind directions and pattern of the paleowind belts are revealed. It is considered that the desert was controlled by a planetary wind system. In the early stage, the subtropical high pressure zone drifted south and northwards with short cycles, resulting in the alternation of westerlies and northeast trades; in the late stage, the subtropical high pressure zone drifted southwards with a long cycle, placing the desert under the westerly belt and making the desert completely controlled by the westerly belt. The reconstruction of the paleowind belts has provided the evidence of the general circulation of the atmosphere for the pattern of the circulation before the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau.