Huang Peihua
The paper discusses major processes of Quaternary climatic changes in China from new results of glacialogy, Quaternary geology, micropaleonto-logy, paleomagnetic stratigraphy and so on. The climatic changes have the following characterises:(1)Similar warm and cold climatic variations of the world in Quaternary period had also occurred in China.(2)Cold climatic attacks happened gradually southward with time.Northeast and Northwest China subjected to cold attacks in pliocene period, while North China and Central China in Early Pleistocene and Middle Pleistocene, respectively.But climatic fluctuation was small in South China.(3)From north to south, the amplitude of climatic fluctuation reduced gradually, about 15℃, 10-12℃ and 4-5℃ in North China, Central China and South China, respectively.(4)During ice age, the continent of China was mainly controlled by cold air mass, and glaciation developed in high mountains and dry climate in loess area. In North and Central China dry-cold climate prevailed, while in South China pluvial tropical.In inter-glacial age, the continent was mainly controlled by planetary polar front zone. Glacier in high mountains retreated. Humid climate prevailed in loess area, warm climate in North and Central China, and dry tropical climate in South China.(5)As seen from recent data, southeastern part of China was in a temperate climate in Quaternary cold period with an averge annual temperature at about 7℃.While in Lushan area, it was about 3-4 ℃ at an altidude of 1000-1200m a.s.l. Moreover, Lushan mountain body is small and climatic environment of Lushan area could not develop piedmont glacier.
