Abstract:

Based on the geological investigation in the vicinity of Lantian Town, Guanzhong area of Shaanxi Province, the vegetations since 10 000 aB.P. are reconstructed by using diagrams of pollen and spores in this area, and the climatic changes are revealed. Abundant pollen and spores from 17 samples of the loess section in the Dongcheng reservoir of Lantian Town are found, and three assemblage zones can be recognized during the Holocene. Zone I is characterized by abundant Artemisia. Zone Ⅱ is characterized by the sudden rise of arboreal pollen. The lower part of Zone Ⅱ is represented by temperate deciduous broad-leaf forest or conifers and broad-leaf forest. The upper part of Zone Ⅱ is represented by temperate broad-leaf tree grassland or mixed broad-leaf and pine tree grassland. Zone Ⅲ is characterized by woodland or forest grassland dominated by pine and wormwood. This indicates that in the Early Holocene the climate was cold and dry, and the vegetation was grassland dominated by Artemisia. During Middle Holocene, the climate was getting warm and wet, and the vegetation was tree grassland. The climate changed to dry and cold in Late Holocene, and vegetation changed to pine tree and wormwood grassland.

Key words: Holocene, vegetation and climate, sporopollens;Lantian, Guanzhong；climate change