The Yangtze River Delta (YRD) and its adjacent regions preserve abundant archives of Holocene paleoenvironmental evolution and prehistoric cultural relics, providing an ideal setting to investigate climate–culture interactions. This study applies environmental magnetic analysis, coupled with OSL chronology and grain-size data, to core YZ07 to reconstruct Holocene climatic events and assess their impacts on prehistoric civilizations. Our results indicate that magnetic parameters in core YZ07 record a warm and humid early Holocene (∼10.3–8.7 ka), followed by a cooling trend during ∼8.7–7.5 ka that corresponds to the "8.2 ka event". The subsequent Holocene Climatic Optimum (∼7.5–4.3 ka) coincided with the flourishing of the Majiabang, Songze, and Liangzhu cultures, as evidenced by a marked increase in the number and scale of archaeological sites. In contrast, a pronounced decline in magnetic mineral concentration and a shift to finer magnetic grain sizes during ∼4.3–3.4 ka reflect the "4.2 ka event". This climatic deterioration was accompanied by a sharp reduction in archaeological sites, implying a significant cultural response to environmental stress. These findings advance the application of environmental magnetism in deltaic systems and elucidate the Holocene climatic evolution of the YRD and its role in shaping prehistoric cultural development.

Thermomagnetic susceptibility ( κ ‐ T ) curves are used widely for magneto‐mineralogical analysis. Humps in heating curves below the Curie temperature of magnetite are observed frequently. We present κ ‐ T curves with hump features in magnetite‐bearing flood basalt samples. Heating‐cooling experiments combined with theoretical principles suggest that these humps reflect primarily the transition from the stable single domain (SSD) to the superparamagnetic (SP) state, with possible contributions from maghemite decomposition and stress release. Scanning electron microscopy confirms magnetite intergrowths with <100 nm size, which supports the presence of SSD‐SP domain states and the diversity of hump shapes. Changes in magnetic interactions, internal stress distribution, and internal subdivision due to maghemitization likely contribute to different hump shapes in heating and cooling curves. The findings indicate that humps provide a diagnostic feature associated with thermal relaxation in fine magnetite in diverse lithologies and suggest caution in interpreting κ ‐ T decreases at intermediate temperatures solely by maghemite decomposition.

Environmental magnetic analysis of profile NYQ-A from the second terrace of the Yellow River in Zoige Basin, Tibetan Plateau, provides insights into regional paleoenvironmental evolution. The results indicate that the magnetic minerals in these sediments are primarily composed of Pseudo-Single-Domain (PSD) magnetite and Single-Domain (SD) greigite. The paleo-deep lake deposits (A) represent sedimentation occurring before 51.82 f 2.34 ka, while paleo-deep lake deposits (B) formed between 39.18 f 2.03 and 36.77 f 1.66 ka. Higher values of chi, SIRM, chi ARM/chi, and chi ARM/SIRM indicate predominance of fine-grained magnetic minerals due to strong weathering in the watershed, suggesting a warm and humid climate with increased precipitation and meltwater. The paleo-shallow lake deposits (A) formed between 51.01 f 2.19 and 39.54 f 1.72 ka. Lower values of chi, chi ARM, SIRM, chi ARM/chi, and chi ARM/SIRM indicating dry and cold conditions that led to coarse-grained sediments with minimal weathering. The paleo-shallow lake deposits (B), formed between 36.73 f 2.04 ka and 31.44 f 1.97 ka, show increased hard magnetic minerals, reflecting enhanced Yellow River input of coarse sediments. Under the dual influence of a warm and humid climate and the neotectonics of the East Kunlun Fault, headward erosion of Yellow River has intensified, triggering a decline in paleo-lake water level. High magnetic minerals contents of two overbank flood deposits (OFD) suggest warm-climate weathering, while low chi ARM/chi and chi ARM/SIRM values indicate strong hydrodynamic conditions. The intensification of the East Asian Summer Monsoon and glacial melting initiated OFD1, which occurred between 30.43 f 3.76 ka and 27.47 f 3.57 ka, corresponding to MIS 3a period. OFD2 occurred between 15.30 f 1.04 ka and 12.93 f 1.63 ka, coinciding with the B & oslash;lling-Aller & oslash;d event. At these two periods, the water was mainly derived from the accelerated melting of mountain glaciers surrounding the basin and/or the large-scale precipitation, which led to the overbank floods. The research findings enhance the application of environmental magnetism in the study of river terrace sedimentary sequences.

The Yangtze River Delta (YRD), located at the confluence of terrestrial and marine environments, is influenced by various hydrodynamic factors, including oceanic, fluvial, and tidal processes, which together create a distinctive sedimentary environment. This research examined the sediment magnetic minerals of the upper 0-61 m of the core YZ07 in the northern YRD. Combined with optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating, various climatic and environmental indicators, the mechanisms about sedimentary magnetic parameters responding to palaeoenvironmental changes were discussed. The results indicate that the dominant magnetic minerals in the core YZ07 sediments were coarse-grained pseudo-single domain (PSD) and multidomain (MD) magnetite, with minor amounts of hematite. Between 53.0 and 37.5 ka B.P., chi and SIRM values were high, while chi ARM/chi and chi ARM/SIRM values were low. These indicated a relatively warm and humid climate characterized by higher precipitation and stronger hydrodynamic conditions in the Yangtze River basin. The concentration of magnetic minerals decreased and grain sizes became finer from 37.5 to 30.7 ka B.P., suggesting a decline in temperature and precipitation. During the Marine Isotope Stage 2 (MIS2), the values of chi and SIRM declined, whereas the values of chi ARM/chi and chi ARM/SIRM increased, reflecting a cooler climate with reduced precipitation and weakened hydrodynamic conditions. The sediments in the Holocene showed higher concentrations of magnetic minerals and coarser grain sizes, indicating a warm and humid climate with strong hydrodynamic conditions. Conversely, among the intervals of 8.4 to 7.5 ka B.P., 4.3 to 3.4 ka B.P., and 1.7 to 1.3 ka B.P., the contents of magnetic minerals decreased and the grain sizes became finer, corresponding to cold and dry climatic events within the Holocene period. Magnetic parameters of core YZ07 show a strong correlation with global and regional environmental changes, suggesting that climate changes result in alterations to the hydrodynamic conditions of the Yangtze River.

Identifying the variability in and driving forces of relative sea-level (RSL) change in the Yangtze River Delta during 30-50 ka B.P. is vital for understanding global climatic and RSL changes. In this study, the environmental magnetism of sediments in the Yangtze River Delta was systematically studied for the period 30-50 ka B.P. based on the optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dates. Detailed magnetic measurements, including hightemperature kappa-T, magnetic hysteresis loop, isothermal remanent magnetization acquisition, and demagnetization curve measurements illustrate that the predominant magnetic contribution of core YZ07 is from magnetite, with a small contribution from hematite. Detrital input may be the primary source of magnetic minerals according to the chi/chi(fd)% and chi(ARM)/chi correlations. In addition, the positive relationship between chi and the RSL curve indicates that chi is a valid indicator of RSL change. Additionally, comparing chi, RSL curves, and delta O-18 dates of the stalagmites demonstrated that climatic change influenced the RSL change, which mainly affected the concentration of magnetite. The results are conducive for understanding the response mechanism of magnetic indicators to relative sea-level change, and provide a scientific basis for encouraging for future work in understanding climate variability.

The Bohai Sea is facing multidirectional pressure from economic development and pollutant emissions. Magnetic minerals and heavy metal concentrations in the sediments of core M5 from the Bohai Sea were performed. The results of concentration-related magnetic parameters, heavy metal contents, and PLI (Tomlinson pollution load index) illustrate there are essential linkages of the sources, migration, and deposition. The predominant magnetic mineral was magnetite. Based on the chronological data from 210Pb and 137Cs activities, the increasing magnetic parameters and heavy metal concentrations at a depth of 81 cm were dated to 1950 CE, which corresponded to the establishment of the People's Republic of China; the decrease at depths of 37-45 cm and 16-18 cm may be related to the decline in steel production in 1960 CE and the Tangshan earthquake in 1978 CE, respectively. This study enriches relevant theories of environmental magnetism via the ecological and environmental protection of the coastal zones.

Paleoenvironmental research is critical for understanding delta evolution processes and managing delta sustainability, particularly for delta experiencing significant recent fluvial sediment discharge. Based on other previously reported optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) data, Holocene environmental changes of the Yangtze River delta in response to climate fluctuations and human activities were reviewed on the basis of grain-size analyses of core YZ07. The results of grain-size and end-member analysis (EMA) provide a detailed history of East Asian monsoon variability and environmental changes since ∼10,000 cal year B.P. The lower median values (Md) and sand content reflect relatively cool and dry climate conditions between 10,000 and 9,570 cal year B.P. During the early Holocene (9,570–7,630 cal year B.P.), the highest Md values and sand contents and the lowest end member 2 (EM2) contents suggest the Holocene transgression. The increased Md values and sand contents indicate that the climate conditions were warm and wet during the mid-Holocene thermal optimum. From 4,690 to 4,150 cal year B.P., the climate was cool and dry, corresponding to the cool event, as indicated by the finer grain size. Subsequently, between 4,150 and 2,850 cal year B.P., the grain size derived from the Md value and sand content increased, which reflect a wet and warm episode. The climate, which shifted from warm and wet to cool and dry between 2,850 and 1,020 cal year B.P., may have caused a reduction in the sand contents and Md values. After 1,020 cal year B.P., the lowest values of Md and Standard deviation (Sd) and the highest contents of EM2 and clay suggest that the Yangtze River delta has been severely affected by anthropogenic activity. The variability of the East Asian monsoon intensity in the Yangtze River delta strongly correlates with other East Asian monsoon paleoclimate records in China. These results are important for investigations into the interactions between regional systems and global change in monsoonal climatic regions and can provide an example of the evolution of a large scale geomorphic feature resulting from river-sea interaction.

Knowledge of climatic change during the past 2000 years in southwestern China is important for understanding the evolution of the Indian summer monsoon (ISM). For this study, we conducted systematic analysis of magnetic minerals in sediments from Lugu Lake in northwestern Yunnan Province. Magnetic measurements suggest that magnetite dominated the studied magnetic mineral assemblages. Both natural origins and anthropogenic activities are considered to be the sources of the magnetic minerals based on the correlations of chi vs. chi(fd)% and chi(ARM)/chi. The magnetic minerals of natural origins can be attributed to terrestrial detrital input rather than biogenic sources. Combined with diatom and geochemical records, magnetic parameters including chi, chi(fd)%, and Sratio can be used as sensitive indicators of ISM change, and suggest that two significant dry periods occurred in the Medieval Warm Period (MWP, 800-1300 CE) and Roman Warm Period (RWP, 0-400 CE) and two relatively wet intervals in the Dark Ages Cold Period (DACP, 400-800 CE) and Little Ice Age (LIA, 1300-1850 CE). Significant shifts of magnetic parameters in Lugu Lake samples revealed sensitivity to precipitation-controlled catchment erosion. The climatic patterns shown by the magnetic characteristics were generally similar to those in extensive areas dominated by the ISM. We speculate that rainfall caused by the ISM during the last 2000 years may be related to the variations of El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the mean position migration of the ITCZ.

Magnetic records in sedimentary sequences are often used as paleoclimate proxies. Climate‐specific alteration of magnetite during rock weathering in the catchment might contribute to proxy variations in sediment sinks. In an actualistic study, we investigated the effects of magnetite alteration using weathered pebble material on basaltic parent rock. We collected samples from the Deccan basalts (India) across a large difference of mean annual precipitation (MAP; ∼800–3,200 mm), and also from the Emeishan basalts (SW‐China) to compare alteration effects at similar MAP (∼1,100 mm) but ∼12°C–15°C lower mean annual temperature (MAT). We used rocks with lamellar magnetite‐ilmenite texture to ensure the best possible uniform parent rock magnetic mineralogy. We separated the weathered material into five groups by grain size, assuming that alteration increases in finer pebbles. Only magnetic susceptibility ( χ ) shows a systematic change, with an increase that is weakly stronger for higher MAP. Consistent with a simplified model, the χ ‐increase may represent progressive maghemitization. For the Emeishan basalts, we found a significantly stronger degree of alteration, including loss of magnetite. We explain this effect, which is surprising regarding the clearly lower MAT, by frost‐induced micro‐cracks due to physical weathering that opens pathways for oxygen and humidity into particle interiors. Based on these findings, we conclude that climate‐related alteration effects of magnetite during rock weathering are in most cases outweighed by parent rock heterogeneity, and magnetic proxy records in derived sediment archives are unlikely to record climate‐related magnetite alteration acquired during rock weathering, at least for catchment with basalts.

Soil and lake sediments are important paleoclimate archives often forming a source-sink setting. To better understand magnetic properties in such settings, we studied red soil on low-magnetic bedrock and subrecent sediments of Caohai Lake (CL) in Heqing Basin, China. Red soil is the only important source material for the CL sediments, it is highly magnetic with susceptibilities (chi) of similar to 10(-5) m(3)/kg. The red soil is dominated by pedogenic nano-magnetite (similar to 10-15 nm) arranged in aggregates of similar to 100 nm, with particle interaction that causes a wide effective grain size distribution in the superparamagnetic (SP) range tailing into stable single-domain behavior. Transmission electron microscopy and broadband frequency chi(f) suggest partial disintegration of the aggregates and increased alteration of the nanoparticles to hematite during transfer of red soil material to CL. This shifts the domain state behavior to smaller effective magnetic grain sizes, resulting in lower chi(fd)% and chi values, and a characteristic change of chi(f). The SP-stable single-domain distribution of the aggregates in red soil could be climate dependent, and the ratio of saturation remanence to chi is a potential bedrock-specific paleoclimate proxy reflecting it. Magnetic properties of the CL sediments are controlled by an assemblage of nanoparticle aggregates and larger-sized bedrock-derived magnetite. The results challenge the validity of the previous paleoclimate interpretation from the 168-m-long Core-HQ (900-30 ka) in Heqing Basin. Disintegration of aggregates could lead to SP behavior with low chi(fd)% without extinction of individual magnetite nanoparticles, and the chi(fd)%-based assumption of SP magnetite dissolution may be wrong.

The radial sand ridge field (RSRF), which is in the southwestern Yellow Sea, occupies an area of more than 20,000 km(2). It has a fan-like shape and extends for over 140 km seaward from the Jiangsu coast. This paper is based on the results of an analysis of a core recovered from the Dongsha area of the RSRF and includes downcore sedimentary facies analysis, C-14 dating, grain-size composition including end-member modeling analysis, loss-onignition (LOI) values, magnetic susceptibility and an interpretation of the environmental implications of these parameters. By means of stratigraphic correlation between this core and three other cores from the sand ridge field, progressive environmental changes in the Dongsha area since MIS3 have been reconstructed. The results show that the Dongsha area evolved from a flood plain environment (60-25 ka BP), through a period of paleosol formation (25-12 ka BP), to the radial tidal sand ridge field of today (7 ka BP-present). The successions of depositional environments have mainly been controlled by sea-level fluctuations. From the data it can be concluded that the flood plain and tidal sand ridge environments were exposed to stronger hydrodynamic conditions than the paleosol environments. This study thus not only performed a paleoenvironmental reconstruction of the area, but also provided constraints for exploring regional land-sea interactions.

The Holocene environmental evolution of the Zhengzhou region that is a major birthplace of Chinese civilization is of great interest to a wide community. In this study, we conducted a systematic investigation on grain size, total organic carbon (TOC), geochemistry, pollen and magnetic minerals of core PT sediments from the Zhengzhou region of the Henan Province in central China. Five units of sedimentary facies are identified as alluvial deposit, lacustrine deposit, swamp deposit, lacustrine deposit and alluvial deposit from bottom to top. Magnetic measurements indicate that magnetite and hematite dominate the magnetic mineral assemblages. The lacustrine and swamp deposits (1380-640 cm) were AMS C-14 dated to 5580-2670 yr BP and the chronology is further corroborated by the pedostratigraphic correlation to the adjacent cores in Zhengzhou region. Palynologically speaking, the period from 5580 to 5210 yr BP was characterized by lowest pollen percentages of Artemisia, Chenopodiaceae, Gramineae and Cyperaceae, higher values in clay contents, Sr contents and Fe/Mn ratios and also contents of magnetic mineral. The period from 5210 to 4760 yr BP was typified by rapid increases in Typha, Myriophyllum, Artemisia and Cyperaceae pollen percentages, gradual increases in ARM/SIRM and ARM/chi values, drastic drops in chi, ARM and SIRM values, with rather high values in clay contents, Sr contents and Fe/Mn ratios. The period between 4670 and 2670 yr BP was featured by gradual decreases in Gramineae, Artemisia, Typha and Myriophyllum pollen percentages, and increasing trends of chi, ARM and SIRM values, and decreasing trends of ARM/chi and ARM/SIRM values. Tracing the environmental changes since the mid-Holocene in the Zhengzhou region can provide an environmental reference for studying the human societal development in this birthplace of Chinese civilization.

Sediment grain-size distributions (GSDs) provide rich information about sedimentary sources and potentially about environmental and climatic changes. However, neither traditional descriptive statistics nor curving fitting methods are able to address this complexity fully. In this study, end-member modeling analysis (EMMA) was conducted on the GSDs of tidal flat samples from the Jiangsu coast. Based on the frequency and spatial distributions of the end members (EMs), the sedimentary sources of each EM were discussed. The results show that EM1 comprises 76.07-100% of the total grain sizes between YTJ and CM3 and represents Yangtze River as a dominant supplier. EM2 comprises 50.50% to 95.6% of the total grain sizes between DF and LSG, reflecting that the coast is the transitional zone influenced by Yellow River and Yangtze River. EM3 comprises 50.33% to 100% of the total grain sizes between GHK1 and DLG, showing Yellow River as a dominant supplier. EM4 comprises 88% to 97.53% of the total grain sizes between LD1 and LD3, reflecting that the tidal flat sediments of Liandao Island were mainly from the nearshore rock weathering. Compared to the traditional method of sediment grain size analysis, EMMA can determine the EMs and provide better explanations of the sediment provenance and regional sedimentary environment in the study area.

Nanjing is located in the subtropical monsoon climate zone of China. In this study, a series of monthly collections of atmospheric dustfall was performed in different directions from a high-rise building in Nanjing from February 2015 to March 2016. A series of magnetic parameters including χ, χfd%, χARM, SIRM, magnetic hysteresis loops, high-temperature κ-T curves and SEM images was measured from atmospheric dustfall samples. The research shows that the type and size of magnetic minerals within atmospheric dustfall samples in Nanjing are similar to those found in northern cities in China, but the atmospheric dustfall samples in Nanjing have higher magnetic mineral concentrations. Coarse-grained magnetite dominated magnetic minerals. The peak concentrations of magnetic minerals contained from atmospheric dustfall of Nanjing occurred in summer. The relationship between magnetic parameters and meteorological data shows that the high values are mainly influenced by precipitation rather than by wind direction. Combined with results of the SEM images and the weak relationship between magnetic parameters and the data of PM 2.5 and PM10, all these indicate that the atmospheric dustfall of Nanjing is mainly from near-source polluted dustfall rather than from long-distance dustfall. This research suggests that environmental magnetism as a simple, economic and nondestructive technology, will be a useful tool in atmospheric dustfall research.

本文通过圃田、大河村和张五寨等钻孔和剖面岩性、粒度、磁化率、孢粉和化学元素等环境指标分析,结合AMS 14C和释光年代标尺,探讨20000年来郑州地区古湖沼沉积与环境演变特征.结果 表明,郑州地区在15000-13000 yr BP和8900-2600 yr BP主要发育湖泊或沼泽沉积,其余时期为河漫滩和洪水沉积或文化层堆积.然而不同地点沉积序列虽然基本相同,但是沉积介质始末时间和延续时段略有差异.古湖泊可能为通江湖泊,洪水期水量剧增,湖盆扩大连成一片;枯水期分散为众多小湖塘,仅在低洼地区残留成河道型水域.受气候变干和人类大规模开垦影响,晚全新世湖沼最终消亡.这个沉积背景可能与郑州地区晚更新世晚期以来不同时期主导的沉积介质变化有关.

Proxy records from radial sand ridge fields are essential for understanding sedimentary environmental changes forced by climate-driven coast and sea level variations that affect large river inlets. We conducted a systematic environmental magnetic study on sediments from a radial sand ridge field in the South Yellow Sea, eastern China. From 41.6 to 0 m, the sediments of core YZ07 derive from river mouth, littoral and modem tidal flat environments. Magnetic measurements indicate that magnetite and hematite dominate the studied magnetic mineral assemblages. Magnetic mineral contents are highest in the river mouth environment and lowest in the modern tidal flat environment. The magnetic minerals in the core YZ07 sediments can be attributed primarily to detrital inputs rather than biogenic sources. The highest chi and SIRM values and lowest chi(ARM)/SIRM and chi(ARM)/chi values reflect relatively warm and humid climate conditions respectively during the period similar to 7000 to 2900 a B.P. (41.6-24.73 m). Compared with the period similar to 7000 to 2900 a B.P. (41.6-24.73 m), the period between similar to 2900 and 870 a B.P. (24.73-5.14 m) is characterized by lower chi, chi(ARM) and SIRM values and higher chi(ARM)/SIRM and chi(ARM)/chi values, which indicate cool and dry climatic conditions. Our results reconfirm known regional climatic events that demonstrate Holocene climatic instability. Gradual decreases in chi and SIRM and increases in chi(ARM)/SIRM, chi(ARM)/chi and chi(fd) characterize the sediments after 870 a B.P. (5.14-0 m). As indicated in previous studies, these changes were influenced by diversion of the Yellow River. Additionally, spectral analysis of the chi and chi(ARM)/SIRM records reveals rapid climatic fluctuations on millennial and centennial scales that coincide with those recorded in marine sedimentary records from adjacent regional seas. These results are important for investigations into the interactions between regional systems and global change in monsoonal climatic regions, thus providing an example of the evolution of a large scale geomorphic feature resulting from river-sea interaction.

Environmental magnetism, which is rapid, sensitive, economical, and non-destructive, has been used to assess heavy metal pollution in lake sediments based on the relationships between magnetic properties and heavy metal concentrations. We conducted a systematic environmental magnetic and heavy metal study of the sediments of the core LGS from Lugu Lake in Southwest China. The results show that the concentration-related magnetic parameters (χ, χARM, and SIRM) in the core LGS showed an increasing trend from bottom to top. The results of rock magnetism indicated that the dominant magnetic particles were magnetite. Two sources of magnetic minerals can be distinguished by the correlations of χ vs. χfd% and χ vs. χARM/χ: the surrounding catchment and anthropogenic activities. In addition, Pearson correlation analysis and principal component analysis showed that the concentration-dependent magnetic parameters have significant correlations with heavy metal (Al, Ti, Fe, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Cd) concentrations as well as the Tomlinson pollution load index (PLI), indicating that there are essential linkages of sources, deposition, and migration between magnetic particles and heavy metals. Based on previously reported 137Cs and 210Pb data, the historical trends of heavy metal pollution in Lugu Lake were successfully reconstructed, and the causes of heavy metal pollution were mainly agricultural practices and atmospheric metal depositions from anthropogenic sources. The significant correlations between magnetic parameters, heavy metals, and the PLI indicate that magnetic parameters can potentially be used as an index of heavy metal pollution in lacustrine deposits.

Understanding the sources of sediments deposited in tidal flats is critical for reconstructing the evolution of coastal regions impacted by large rivers. Environmental magnetism can be an effective tool to track sediment sources and analyze the sediment properties. We evaluate several magnetic parameters from the tidal flat sediments along the Jiangsu coast. The results show that the sediments of Liandao Island have the lowest values of magnetic susceptibility (χ), anhysteretic remanent magnetization (ARM) and saturation isothermal remanence magnetization (SIRM). In addition to these, the values of χ, ARM and SIRM display a generally increasing trend from the north to the south along the Jiangsu coast. The strong relations between χ, ARM and SIRM show that the changes of magnetization of the tidal flat sediments mainly reflect the changes of concentration rather than those in grain sizes of magnetic particles. The main magnetic phase is magnetite, with a small amount of hematite. The strong relationship between χ and the 2-16 μm grain-size fraction suggests that magnetite is enriched in the finer silt fraction. The sediment sources is the main factor that influences the magnetic properties of the tidal flat sediments from the Jiangsu coast. Combined with the previous studies, the results indicate that the tidal flat sediments of Liandao Island were mainly derived from the nearshore rock weathering. The Yellow River is the dominant supplier for the north of Dafeng, while the Yangtze River is the dominant supplier for the south of Rudong. The coast between Dafeng and Rudong is a transition zone influenced by both rivers. This study provides a basis against which possible future variations in sediment composition resulting from catchment changes can be assessed.

Sedimentary records of the continental shelves since Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5 are valuable for paleoenvironmental reconstruction and decipherment of land-sea interactions. Since the 1990s, different perspectives on global glacioclimate magnitudes and the associated evolution of major sedimentary environments during the Late Pleistocene have caused a distinctive understanding of marine transgressions and coastal deposits during MIS 3 and MIS 5. Moreover, the chronology of sediment sequences from this region was primarily determined based on radiocarbon dating, which might be problematic for deposits of 40-50 ka BP or older. In this study, we used both a 150-m-long sedimentary core (YZ07) as a typical record and 12 collected regional boreholes as a synthesis to resolve the issues. On the basis of an age model of accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating, the sedimentary sequences during the period from MIS 5 up to MIS 1 were documented by Core YZ07 drilled from the western coast of the South Yellow Sea (SYS), and the marine sediments were recognized by the paleontological fossils. The results indicate three terrestrial-marine sedimentary cycles since MIS 5, including the MIS 5, MIS 3, and MIS 1 marine transgressions as well as the MIS 2 and MIS 4 marine regressions in the coastal plain and offshore area of the SYS. Meanwhile, there was a major sedimentary hiatus during MIS 2 and MIS 4 due to strong erosions. Different dating methods on these regional cores, including AMS C-14 and OSL, have confirmed the existence of the MIS 3 marine transgression in the SYS. The intensity of marine transgression and the height of sea levels during MIS 3 and MIS 5 recorded in sediments were dominated by the changes of global climate-driven glaciers and regional tectonic movement.