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Research Article| November 01, 2011 Qaidam Basin and northern Tibetan Plateau as dust sources for the Chinese Loess Plateau and paleoclimatic implications Alex Pullen; Alex Pullen * 1Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA *E-mail: alexpullen@ur.rochester.edu. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Paul Kapp; Paul Kapp 2Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Andrew T. McCallister; Andrew T. McCallister † 2Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA †Current address: Department of Geology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, USA. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Hong Chang; Hong Chang 3Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an 710075, China Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar George E. Gehrels; George E. Gehrels 2Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Carmala N. Garzione; Carmala N. Garzione 1Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Richard V. Heermance; Richard V. Heermance 4Department of Geological Sciences, California State University Northridge, Northridge, California 91330-8266, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Lin Ding Lin Ding 5Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2011) 39 (11): 1031–1034. https://doi.org/10.1130/G32296.1 Article history received: 28 Mar 2011 rev-recd: 23 May 2011 accepted: 17 Jun 2011 first online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Alex Pullen, Paul Kapp, Andrew T. McCallister, Hong Chang, George E. Gehrels, Carmala N. Garzione, Richard V. Heermance, Lin Ding; Qaidam Basin and northern Tibetan Plateau as dust sources for the Chinese Loess Plateau and paleoclimatic implications. Geology 2011;; 39 (11): 1031–1034. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G32296.1 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 SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract The Chinese Loess Plateau of central Asia is composed of interbedded loess and paleosol layers, deposited during glacial and interglacial cycles, respectively, during the past ∼2.5 m.y. Understanding the provenance of loess is fundamental to reconstructing wind patterns during Quaternary glacial periods. We determined and compared U-Pb ages on zircon crystals from Loess Plateau strata and potential source areas. The results indicate that the loess was largely derived from the Qaidam Basin and the northern Tibetan Plateau to the west, both of which exhibit spatially extensive geomorphic landforms indicative of past (interpreted as pre-Holocene) wind erosion and/or deflation by westerly winds. This challenges the current paradigm that the loess of the Chinese Loess Plateau was largely sourced from deserts located to the northwest, as observed in the modern interglacial climate. We propose that during glacial periods, the mean annual positions of the polar jet streams were shifted equatorward, resulting in more southerly tracks for dust-generating storms and suppression of the East Asian monsoon by inhibiting the subtropical jet from shifting northward across the Tibetan Plateau. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.