1 Introduction
1.1 Aim and scope
1.2 Previous investigations
1.2.1 1961—1962 expeditions to Lake Qinghai
1.2.2 Sino-Swiss expedition in 1985
1.2.3 1987 drill-core project
1.2.4 Post-1990 investigations
1.3 Paleoclimate studv OfChina：a briefreview
1.3.1 East Asian monsoon—the modem climate syrstem
1.3.2 East Asian paleomonsoon
2 Geographic，Geologieal and Limnological Setting of Lake Qinghai
2.1 Geological setting
2.2 Geomorphological setting
2.3 Geographic setting
2.3.1 Climate
2.3.2 Vegetation
2.3.3 Rivgrs in the catchment
2.4 Limnological setting
2.4.1 Water chemistry
2.4.2 Physical characteristics
2.4.3 Biological characteristics
2.5 Peripheral lakes
2.5.1 Lake Erhai
2.5.2 Lake Gahai
2.5.3 Haiyan Bay
2.5.4 Sand.Island Lake
3 Investigation Methods
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Field investigation
3.2.1 Seismic profiling
3.2.2 Coring
3.3 Laboratory investigation
3.3.1 Radiometric dating
3.3.2 Magnetic suscelatibility：core logging
3.3.3 Total organic carbon and total nitrogen,and C／N ratio
3.3.4 Macrofossil indicator
3.3.5 Total inorganic carbon and carbonate content
3.3.6 X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)
3.3.7 Oxygen and carbon stable isotopes
3.4 Notes on investigation methods
4 Seismic Investigation，Lithologic Study of Sediment Cores and Radiometric Dating
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Sub—boRom profiles from the 3.5 kHz seismic investigations
4.3 Radiometric dating
4.3.1 Radiocarbon dating and sedimentation rates
4.3.2 210pb dating and sediment accumulation rates
4.4 Lithologic units
4.4.1 Lithologic units ofcore Q14B
4.4.2 Lithologic units ofcore Q16C
4.4.3 Core correlation and boundary description
5 Lake Levels and Climate Change During the Holoeene
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Results and interpretations
5.2.1 14c dated 1ithostratigraphy
5.2.2 TOC.TN and C／N ratio
5.2.3 TCC and carbonate mineral record
5.2.4 Fossil seeds from rooted aquatic plant-
5.2.5 Ostracode shell stable.isotopic record
5.2.6 Pollen record-
5.2.7 Magnetic susceptibility
5.3 Holocene lake levels and climate reconstruction
5.4 A correlation with proxy records from other studies
5.5 Holocene climate variability ofEast Asia
5.5.1 Early Holocene climate regime
5.5.2 Mid-Holocene climate and Holocene Optimum
5.5.3 Late Holocene climate
5.5.4 Climate forcing and feedbacks during the Holocene，
5.6 Summary and conclusions
6 Abrupt Changes in Climatic Conditions Across the Lateglacial／Holocene Transitit on the NE Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Resultsfromamulti-proxyinvestigationoncores Q14B and Q16C
6.2.1 Distinct lithostratigraphic units
6.2.2 Paleobotanic evidence
6.2.3 Core logs ofmagnetic susceptibility
6.2.5 Oxygen stable.isotopic record
6.2.6 Total nitrogen content
6.3 Reconstruction oflake levels and limnological conditions
……
7 Paleoenvironmental Signatures from Carbonate Minerals and Stable Isotopic Rations from Lake Qinghai
8 Paleoenvironment and Paleoclimate Conditions During the Marine Isotopic Stage 3 and the Last Glacial Maximum
References
Acknowledgments