THE SIGNIFICANCE AND RELATIONSHIP OF MAIN CLIMATIC INDICATORS FOR THE HOLOCENE IN NORTHERN SHAANXI

The paleoclimatic indicators certainly contain some climate information, such as temperature, precipitation, monsoon, and so on. However, each indicator expresses the climate information to different degrees. The environmental significance and relationship of climatic indicators need further investigation. In this regard, three Holocene soil profiles in Northern Shaanxi are studied for the change in paleoclimatic indicators. The R/S analysis method was used in this study for the purpose. The results indicate that the magnetic susceptibility of soil (χ_If), total content of furrum (TFe), and pH can reflect the change in both temperature and rainfall during the soil formation, whereas the content of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) and the total organic carbon (TOC) are mainly influenced by rainfall and temperature, respectively. The particle size composition (clay fraction <0.005 mm and coarse silt 0.01~0.05 mm) can be used to describe the change of East Asian winter monsoon. This study has provided a theoretical basis and scientific reference for the research on Holocene evolution of paleoclimate.