A grain size and n-alkanes record of Holocene environmental evolution from a groundwater recharge lake in Badain Jaran Desert, Northwestern China

A groundwater recharge lake in the Badain Jaran Desert, Northwestern China, reveals distinct phases of Holocene environmental evolution linked to monsoon activity. The study identifies a shift from humid conditions during the early and mid-Holocene (11–5.8 ka) to arid conditions in the late Holocene (2.5–0.8 ka), with a brief return to humidity during the Little Ice Age. This pattern, synchronized with moisture trends on the northeastern Tibetan Plateau, suggests groundwater recharge intensity—rather than regional precipitation—dominated lake dynamics. The research combines sediment grain size analysis and n-alkane biomarkers to reconstruct environmental changes, providing insights into groundwater output from the monsoon margin area and its implications for water resource allocation in arid regions.

Kai, N., Naiang, W., Xiaonan, L., Zhuolun, L., Jiaqi1, S., Ran, A., & Lvlv, Z. (2019). A grain size and n-alkanes record of Holocene environmental evolution from a groundwater recharge lake in Badain Jaran Desert, Northwestern China. The Holocene, 29(6), 1045–1058. https://doi.org/10.1177/0959683619831430