Qilu data

Here we summarize a 6200 year record of oxygen isotopes from Lake Qilu in Yunnan Province, China. The lake is sensitive to changes in precipitation-evaporation balance and precipitates calcite, potentially providing insight into past hydroclimate through oxygen isotope analysis.

Beginning at 5200 cal years BP, oxygen isotopes shift to higher values, indicative of a period of aridity and lower lake levels which persist until 3600 cal years BP. Thereafter, lake levels are extraordinarily stable until 1500 cal years BP. At 1500 cal years BP, measurable anthropogenic impacts occur resulting in the delivery of red, iron-rich catchment soil to the lake and higher oxygen isotope values.