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| The stability of Earth's critical zone is intimately linked with erosion, chemical weathering and the vegetation type and density, therefore affecting the global biogeochemical processes and in turn the global climate. However, there is a lack of knowledge on how Earth's critical zone processes have changed over time. Here we rebuild erosion-weathering-vegetation interactions since ~14.7 ka using geochemical records of a radiocarbon-dated sediment core from Gonghai Lake in North China. Our results revealed distinct, millennial, late deglacial-Holocene erosion and weathering patterns and transitions. Chemical Index of Alteration (CIA) molar, a humidity proxy, indicated low humidity during the late deglacial ~11.5-14.7 ka, high humidity during the early-mid Holocene ~11.5-3.2 ka, and intermediate humidity during the late Holocene interval since ~3.2 ka. Comparison of our records with other climate reconstructions further suggested an orbital-phased humidity changes in North China. This study provides evidence for the solar-forcing controlled Earth's surface processes in the mid-latitude China under natural climate conditions. |
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| Keywords:Geochemistry; Earth's critical zone; Earth's surface processes; East Asia; last deglaciation |
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