『Abstract
Nd-Sr isotopic signatures of loess, modern dust, and their potential
source materials are systematically investigated to discriminate
the natural and anthropogenic sources of eastern Asian dust. Chinese
loess is an eolian deposit that has accumulated over the past
few million years, and is characterized by a negative Nd-Sr isotopic
correlation that implies binary sources for the natural background
of eastern Asian dust. Loess in northeastern China shows the highest
εNd (0) value, while loess in western China
has the lowest εNd (0) . Considering the
Nd-Sr isotopic signatures of the potential sources, we propose
that the high εNd (0) end member is derived
from the arid lands around the northern boundary of China while
the low εNd (0) end member originates from
the deserts on the northern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. Chinese
Loess Plateau deposits are dominated by northern margin Tibetan
Plateau dust, suggesting a strong link between the thick eolian
deposit in this region and the evolution of the Tibetan Plateau.
The long-range transported spring dust in both Nanjing (south
China) and Japan has an Nd-Sr isotopic composition similar to
that of loess. however, spring dust in Beijing (north China) has
a much lower εNd (0) value, indicating an
additional anthropogenic contribution of low εNd
(0) material, possibly from the sandy lands in the adjacent north
and west.』
Introduction
Sampling and methods
Natural sources of East Asian dust
Implications for modern East Asian dust
Acknowledgments
References cited