Paleoclimatic change inferred from carbon isotope composition of organic matter in sediments of Dabusu Lake, Jilin Province, China

Study on the organic compounds and stable isotope composition of a sediment section in Dabusu Lake revealed that the organic materials in the sediments came mainly from terrestrial plants brought into the lake by runoff. The δ13 C of the organic materials had high values during warm-dry climatic stages and decreased in cold-wet stages. Analysis of data on carbonate content and14C age showed that the lake basin had experienced several wet-cold and warm-dry climatic cycles since 15000 a BP. Since 6700 a BP, the climate reached a relatively stable warm-dry stage, so that the lake water was gradually condensed and finally a saline lake was formed.