HIGH RESOLUTION STUDIES OF THE HOLOCENE LOESS STRATA OF THE LOESS TABLELAND IN THE WEIHE RIVER BASIN

A Holocene loess palaeosol profile at Xingdiancun, Fufeng County in Shaanxi province was studied by field investigations and laboratory analysis. It indicates that the loess palaeosol sequence of the loess tableland in this region is rather complete and continuous. This renders a higher resolution study of the Holocene strata and climatic change. The results show that the warm and humid climate during the Holocene Megathermal (8 500—3 100a B.P.) was actually not constant and continuous. There was an arid phase between 6 000—5 000a B.P. represented by a loess bed (L x) between palaeosols S 1 0 and S 2 0. Climate become dryer since 3 100a B.P. and therefore, eolian loess accumulation became intensified and the topsoil deteriorated.