Late pleistocene evolution of Lake Manas in western China with constraints of OSL ages of lacustrine sediments

Lake Manas, located in northwestern China, has been formed in a structure depression since early Quaternary. Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating is applied to the lacustrine and aeolian deposits collected from the lake to construct a chronological frame for lake level fluctuations since the last inter-glacial period. The results yielded two stages of high lake stands (∼20 m above the present lake bed) occurred before 66 ka and 38–27 ka ago. No evidence for Holocene high lake level was found in the studying area.

► Late Quaternary sediments from Manas Lake in China were studied using OSL dating of quartz grains.
► Two stages of high lake levels (>20 m) were recorded in the site at 27–38 ka ago and before 66 ka ago.
► No Holocene high lake level was found in studying areas of Manas Lake.