Differences among sub-orbital time scale events recorded in two high-resolution loess sections, China, during the last deglaciation

Acquisition of high-resolution loess sections allows study of climate change events on sub-orbital time scales. Two high-resolution loess section records from China (Wangguan and Shagou, located east and west of the Liupanshan Mountains, respectively) are compared with the GRIP record to evaluate climatic changes during the last deglaciation. The results show that both sections recorded the Younger Dryas, the Heinrich-1 and the Bølling and Allerød events of the last deglaciation. Loess records of those events occurred almost simultaneously with those recorded in the GRIP. The characteristics of the climate change events in the two loess sections were quite different. It was found that (1) the Heinrich-1 event was more obvious in the Shagou section than in the Wangguan section; (2) the Bølling and Allerød events recorded in the Shagou section have more fluctuations than in the Wangguan section; (3) the Younger Dryas terminated suddenly in the Shagou section whereas in the Wangguan section it came to a gradual end; and (4) the records show a larger fluctuation range and higher frequency on the millennium scale in the Shagou section than in the Wangguan section. It is suggested that the differences were caused by the effects of latitudinal differences.