Millennial-scale evolution of Hunshandake Desert and climate change during the Holocene in Inner Mongolia, northern China

\The Hunshandake Desert is located at the northern edge of the East Asian monsoon region, and its natural environment is sensitive to monsoonal changes. Geologic records suggest that desert evolution corresponding to climate change had experienced several cycles in the Holocene, and the evolutionary process can be distinguished by four dominant stages according to changing trends of the environment and climate. (1) Holocene Ameliorative Period (11.0-8.7 cal ka B. P.), when the desert area gradually shrank following an approaching warm-wet climate and strengthening summer monsoon. (2) Holocene Optimum (8.7-6.0 cal ka B. P.), when the majority of moving sand dunes were stabilized and vegetation coverage quickly expanded in a suitable warm-wet climate and a strong summer monsoon. (3) Holocene Multivariate Period (6.0-3.5 cal ka B. P.), during a low-amplitude desert transformed between moving and stabilized types under alternating functions of cold-dry with warm-wet climate, and winter monsoon with summer monsoon. (4) Holocene Decay Period (since 3.5 cal ka B. P.), when the desert area tended to expand along with a weakened summer monsoon and a dry climate.