Holocene study reveals East Asian monsoon evolution secrets.
The study analyzed soil samples from three locations in central China to understand how the Asian monsoon evolved during the Holocene period. They found differences in soil composition between different layers, reflecting changes in temperature and rainfall. The soil's origin remained consistent over time. The weathering in the area was moderate. The monsoon showed a two-stage evolution, increasing from 13.1 to 8.5 thousand years ago, then decreasing. Changes in summer sunlight and ice sheets influenced the monsoon's evolution.