Holocene moisture variations in western arid central Asia inferred from loess records from NE Iran

In the present study, we sampled five loess profiles in NE Iran for optical luminescence dating, stratigraphic characterization, and measurement of various environmental proxies (stable carbon isotopic composition of bulk organic matter (δ¹³C_org), environmental magnetic parameters, and sediment color). We then compared the records with previously reported lake sediment records from adjacent areas and with loess records from central and eastern ACA, and with loess records from monsoonal Asia. Our aims were to characterize the spatial pattern of Holocene moisture/precipitation variations in the whole of ACA, and to attempt to determine the possible drivers of Holocene moisture/precipitation changes in western ACA on the sub-orbital scale.<b></b>