CORRELATION OF PALEOSOL DEVELOPMENT IN THE CHANGJIANG DELTA WITH SEA LEVEL FLUCTUATIONS IN THE LATE PLEISTOCENE
长江三角洲古土壤发育与晚更新世末海平面变化的耦合关系

The paleo environment reconstruction was made based on sedimentological, geochemical features and δ 13 C values of the paleosol, developed on flood plain sediments, in Changjiang delta. δ 13 C values imply that climate changed from humid and warm in the early stage of the paleosol development to dry and cold in the late stage. Grain size distribution shows that the sedimentary dynamic weakened as the incised valley deepened. Variations of CIA and contents of active elements demonstrate chemical weathering is primarily controlled by sedimentary process in the early stage, and by the climate change later on. Combination of the depositional environments and paleoclimatic changes indicates that the paleosol was formed during the transition from the last interstadial to Last Glacial Maximum while the sea level was falling.