Vegetation and climate changes in Central Asia during the last 28,000 yrs: A high-resolution pollen record from Valikhanov section,Kazakhstan

A high-resolution pollen-based bioclimatic reconstruction from Valikhanov section in Kazakhstan, supported by 6 AMS dates reveals vegetation and climate change history during last glaciations and Holocene. The vegetation probably was Artemisia arid steppe during ²8,000- 28,000- ¹8,000 14C yr BP., then turned to be Artemisia steppe during 18,000 14C yr BP., then turned to be Artemisia steppe during ¹8,000- 18,000- ¹0,000 14C yr BP, an Atermisia-Chenopodiaceae desert steppe during 10,000 14C yr BP, an Atermisia-Chenopodiaceae desert steppe during ¹0,000- 10,000- ⁵,000 14C yr BP and a Chenopodiaceae-Artemisia steppe after 5,000 14C yr BP and a Chenopodiaceae-Artemisia steppe after ⁵,000 14C yr BP in this region. Climate is cold and slightly wet during 28,000-10,000 14C yr BP., dry and mild during 10,000-5,000 14C yr BP., wet after 5,000 14C yr BP in this region. Climate is cold and slightly wet during 28,000-10,000 14C yr BP., dry and mild during 10,000-5,000 14C yr BP., wet after ⁵,000 14C yr BP in this region. Climate in the Central Asian domain was constantly wetter than that in the East Asian domain during MIS2. The Central Asian domain experienced a wetter climate in late Holocene whereas the East Asian domain expereinced a wetter climate in early Holocene.