The China loess sequences provide one of the most important records of past climate on the continents. The sediments deposited there can be used to determine many aspects of past atmospheric circulation including wind intensity and direction, precipitation and evaporation in central China, and the relationship between climate in the continental interior and the south Asian monsoons. The most difficult problem associated with studying loess sequences is developing an accurate chronology of loess deposition. This proposal requests support to continue analyzing the amino acid, thermoluminescence, and radiocarbon ages of sediments deposited in these sequences. During an initial two-year grant, the PIs noted a number of contradictory results between the dating methods. This project is important because it will resolve these discrepancies and develop an accurate chronology which will be useful to many other investigators.
