Quartz luminescence chronology reveals late Holocene coastal dune development in South China and its correlation with regional sea level fluctuations

• Published in: Palaeogeography, palaeoclimatology, palaeoecology Vol. 659; p. 112653
• Main Authors: Jin, Jianhui, Wei, Junjie, Ling, Zhiyong, Li, Zhizhong, Jiang, Feng, Hou, Chenyang, Xu, Daiyu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.02.2025
• Subjects: Aeolian dunes; Holocene; Quartz luminescence dating; Sea level change; South China; Aeolian dunes; Sea level change; South China; Holocene; Quartz luminescence dating
• ISSN: 0031-0182
• DOI: 10.1016/j.palaeo.2024.112653

The coastal zone has long been the primary area of human activity. Along China's eastern coastline, which stretches for a considerable distance, intermittent deposits of typical coastal aeolian sand can be found along the South China coast. Aeolian sand not only impacts human activities and living spaces in the region but also preserves valuable information about complex environmental changes in the coastal zone. Building upon recent studies on luminescence chronology of coastal aeolian sand in Fujian Province, this study analyzes the temporal and spatial deposition process of regional coastal aeolian sand while considering other climatic and environmental proxy indicators to explore the relationship between periods of coastal aeolian sand activity and regional sea level and climate change. The findings indicate that: 1) significant development of aeolian sediment occurred after the HII high sea level event. Coastal dune deposition can serve as a record for aeolian sand activity since 3 ka, providing insights into climate change during that period. Deposits from early to Middle Holocene containing records of aeolian sand activity and shoreline changes larger than 3 ka are primarily preserved in local low mountainous and hilly areas or geological boreholes within the coastal zone; 2) geochronological analysis reveals three stages (two active stages and one stable stage) in the deposition process of aeolian sediment since 3 ka: during the first stage, rapid regressive processes led to typical formation of aeolian sediments; in the second stage influenced by regional high sea levels, sedimentation rates were at their lowest with dunes entering a stable phase; finally, during third stage when sea levels approached modern levels, strong East Asian winter monsoon combined with increased coastal population and vegetation damage since the Song Dynasty led to a highly active period of coastal aeolian sand, becoming a major disaster type in South China's coastal areas. •Aeolian dunes formed along the South China coast since 3ka due to sea level changes caused by backwater effects in mid-low latitude regions.•The chronology of aeolian dunes in Fujian can be divided into three stages.•The distribution of aeolian dunes along the Fujian coast is closely linked to millennium-scale sea level changes and environmental background.