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Among various climate drivers, direct evidence for the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) control of sediment supply on the millennial scale is lacking, and the changes in ITCZ migration demonstrated in paleoclimate records need to be better investigated. Here, we use clay minerals and Sr–Nd isotopes obtained from a gravity core on the Ninetyeast Ridge to track the corresponding source variations and analyze the relationship between terrestrial material supply and climatic changes. On the glacial–interglacial scale, chemical weathering weakened during the North Atlantic cold-climate periods and falling sea level hindered the transport of smectite into the study area due to the exposure of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. However, the influence of the South Asian monsoon on the sediment supply was not obvious on the millennial scale. We suggest that the north–south migration of the ITCZ controlled the rainfall in Myanmar and further directly determined the supply of clay minerals on the millennium scale because the transport of smectite was highly connected with the ITCZ location; thus, the regional shift of the ITCZ induced an abnormal increase in the smectite percentage during the late Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) in our records. The smectite percentage in the studied core is similar to distinct ITCZ records but different in some periods, revealing that regional changes in the ITCZ were significantly obvious, the ITCZ is not a simple north–south displacement, and closer connections occurred between the Northern–Southern Hemisphere in the eastern Indian Ocean during the late LGM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the evolution of sediment provenances and transport processes in the central Bay of Bengal (BoB) since the Last Glacial Maximum, we present a comprehensive study on the grain size, clay minerals, rare earth elements, and accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS)14C analyses of the core BoB-24 sediments. Six AMS14C dates were obtained from planktonic foraminiferal Neogloboquedrina dutertrei (N. dutertrei) extracted from the core to reconstruct a reliable age model. The assemblage of clay minerals and the (La/Yb) UCC –δEu relationship indicated that the core contained a mixture of sediments from the Himalayas and Indian Peninsula. These results showed that the Himalayas were the main source of erosional materials during 25–6.5 ka BP, whereas those from the Indian Peninsula increased since the mid-Holocene. Between 25 ka BP and 12 ka BP, the sea level was relatively low, and a large amount of terrigenous detrital material were directly transported from the Himalayas and the Tibet Plateau to the study area by submarine canyons, forming a deposition center on the Bengal Fan. Between 12 ka BP and 6.5 ka BP, the sea level gradually rose and the Indian summer monsoon gradually strengthened, whereas the sedimentation rate and the amount of material transported from the Ganges–Brahmaputra River decreased greatly; the deposition center transferred from the Bengal Fan to the shelf of the BoB. Since 6.5 ka BP, the sea level has risen, reaching its present position. A high sea level and a strengthened East Indian Coastal Current resulted in an increase of material contribution from India, while the deposition center was on the shelf of the BoB. Overall, this study confirmed that both sea level fluctuations and variations of the Indian summer monsoon controlled the evolution of sediment provenances in the central BoB and transfer of the deposition center from the Bengal Fan to the continental shelf. This typical sedimentary pattern observed in the northeastern Indian Ocean improves our general understanding of past land–sea interactions. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The Irrawaddy River and Ganges-Brahmaputra rivers are the main sediment sources of the northern Ninetyeast Ridge over the last 50 kyr. • Millennial-scale periodic changes of weathering and terrigenous input are revealed during the last glacial period. • Shift of depositional center from Bengal Fan to the continental shelf is controlled by sea level changes. The Ninetyeast Ridge is situated within the world's largest sediment "source-sink" system, which extends from the Tibetan Plateau to the Bay of Bengal (BoB). Modest and stable sedimentation rate makes it a suitable region for studying long-term land-sea interaction. Recent research has primarily focused on the northern Bengal Fan, leaving limited knowledge about sedimentary processes on the distant Ninetyeast Ridge. This study aims to address this gap by investigating sediment transport pattern and its response to climatic and environmental changes since the last glacial period, using the gravity core (CJ04–50) selected from the northern Ninetyeast Ridge. The provenance discrimination based on δEu-(Gd/Yb) N revealed that the Irrawaddy (Irr) River, along with the Ganges-Brahmaputra (G-B) Rivers, represented the primary sources of the study area. Quantitative analysis equations indicated that the contribution of the G-B Rivers decreased from the last glacial period (22%) to the Holocene period (16%), while that of the Irr River increased (from 78% to 84%). Chemical index of alteration (CIA*) values, and terrigenous input proxy indicators (Ti/Ca, Rb/Sr) were used to indicate the changes of weathering and terrigenous input over the past 50 kyr. During the last glacial period, CIA*, Ti/Ca and Rb/Sr revealed significantly millennial-scale periodic changes, including the distinct declining trend during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and Heinrich 2–4 (H2-H4) periods, followed by recovery trend during subsequent warm periods. During these cold periods of LGM and H2–H4, weakened Indian monsoon condition, reduced precipitation, cold climate, and expanding ice sheets, adversely affected physical erosion and chemical weathering in the source area, and the reduced river runoff impeded sediment transport. Conversely, these environmental factors reversed during relatively warm periods. Since the Holocene, CIA*, Ti/Ca and Rb/Sr declined, which was contrast to the climate change, and the sea level changes became the dominant factor. The rapidly rising sea level submerged the main terrigenous input channel (the Swatch of No Ground) of the G-B Rivers, made the depositional center shift from the Bengal Fan to the continental shelf, causing the decline of terrigenous input and lower CIA* values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reconstruction of monsoon evolution in the tropical Indian Ocean and evaluation of its influence on large-scale ocean circulation and sea-air interaction processes can help us understand climate driving mechanisms. Herein, we used a gravity core SO184-10043 to present the marine sedimentary record from the southernmost Sumatra, spanning the past 35 kyr. The age model is well constrained by 12 accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon dates determined in mixed planktic foraminifera. We also measured sediment grain size and major and trace elements to reconstruct the variations in hydrodynamic conditions and chemical weathering intensity. These data were then used to reveal the evolution of the northwest (Indonesian) monsoon system over the past 35 kyr. The results showed that both monsoon current and chemical weathering coincided with summer insolation in the Northern Hemisphere and responded to glacial-interglacial climate changes in the northern Atlantic. Higher grain-size values of sensitive components, increased chemical index of alteration (CIA), and Ba/Sr ratios, together with lower CaO/MgO ratios, reflect a stronger monsoon current and chemical weathering during the late marine isotope stage 3 and Holocene. Higher intensity of chemical weathering might be attributed to a stronger northwest monsoon carrying warm and moist air from the Asian continent to Indonesian waters. Lower values of sensitive components, CIA, and Ba/Sr, along with higher CaO/MgO values, reveal a weaker monsoon current and lower intensity of chemical weathering during the last glaciation-deglaciation phase, which was controlled by a weaker monsoon system. At a millennial timescale, cold events occurred during the following intervals: 30–26 ka BP, Heinrich Stadial 1 (HS1; 18–15 ka BP), Last Glacial Maximum (LGM; 23–18 ka BP), Younger Dryas (YD; 11–10 ka BP), and 8.2 ka BP. The same cold events were identified from core SO184-10043, indicating a perfect match with climatic cooling in the Northern Hemisphere. We also observed periodicities of ~ 7.9 ka, 3.0–3.1 ka, 2.2–2.3 ka, and ~ 1.0 ka in our core records. These periodicities are coincident with solar-induced climate changes and support the hypothesis that monsoon evolution in the tropical Indian Ocean during the late Pleistocene coincided with the climate change in the Northern Hemisphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithogenic grain-size, geochemical elements of core sediments from the central Bay of Bengal (BoB) were analyzed to identify sediment provenance and explore the regional "source-sink" processes since 25 ka. Based on the geochemical compositions of core BoB-88, relative contributions of three end-member sources (Himalayan, Myanmar, Indian Peninsula) were calculated and support the general understanding that Himalayan sources were dominant since the last glacial period, which could reach 70% on average in our study. However, sediments from the Indian Peninsula and Myanmar also contributed nonnegligible materials to the central BoB since 25 ka, especially the former shows an obvious increase since 7.5 ka, which was neglected in the previous studies. To trace the sedimentary processes of different provenance terrigenous materials and reveal their response to climate changes, four typical stages with obvious provenance percent variation, including the Last Glacial Maximum period (LGM), Heinrich 1 (H1), Early Holocene Climate Optimum (EHCO), and mid-late Holocene period, were highlighted and discussed. Sea-level change played a dominant role in the glacial-interglacial scale by controlling the transition of deposition center between the shelf/subaquatic delta and the Bengal Fan, especially for sediment from the Himalayan source, exerting influence on contributions from different provenance end-members between the Holocene and the last glacial period. The opposite directions of the southwest and northeast monsoon current in the BoB have a significant influence on the transfer of the Indian Peninsula and Myanmar materials to the studied core, which led to an increase of up to 11% than the average of the Indian Peninsula and a decrease of up to 9% than the average of the Myanmar source during the Holocene. The balance between sea level (limited transport to the deep sea) and ISM (improved erosion production and output to the BoB) during the mid-late Holocene period maintained the stability of Himalayan source percent. Due to the control of the ISM variations, the Himalayan source showed a decrease of up to 20% and 21% than average during the LGM and H1 period, respectively, and an increase of up to 14% than average during the EHCO. The Myanmar source exhibited fluctuations around the average value during the LGM period, but an obvious increase of up to 21% during the H1 period and a decrease up to 8% during the EHCO, while the Indian Peninsula source percent showed little variations during the LGM and H1, but a decrease of up to 6% during the EHCO. Obvious 1/4 processional and millennial periodic changes (5.0 kyr and 1.1 kyr) of contribution proportions from three end-members provide additional evidences for the climate control on the regional source-sink processes and proved the controlled mechanisms of the orbital parameters and possible influence from the solar activity on millennial scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Millennial-scale climate variability in the Bay of Bengal is reconstructed by TEX 86. • Warming trend during millennial-scale cold events is revealed in the northern Indian Ocean. • Atmospheric CO 2 force SST change during the millennial-scale cold events over the past 40 kyr. To better understand the process of hydrographic and temperature changes in the Indian Ocean, we present Glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraether data on core BoB-56 from the Bay of Bengal to reconstruct the sea surface temperature (SST) variability during the last glaciation. The results indicate that the TEX 86 -derived SST ranged from 22.00 to 28.30 °C with several fluctuations since 40 ka BP and that the evolution pattern matched well with the marine isotope stage (MIS). During MIS 3, the SST kept around 24.60 °C with some small amplitudes. The SST showed more significant fluctuations during MIS 2 and increased gradually with a ~3 °C cooling during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). After the Younger Dryas (YD) stage, Holocene SST values exhibited miniscule variations. During the last glaciation climate variability process, the cold signals of the YD and Heinrich events were recorded well in our core SST series, revealing a regional response to global climate changes. The warming trend during these millennial-scale cold events in the northern Indian Ocean was also identified, and SST increased in the range of 2 °C. A comparison of SST records and atmospheric CO 2 concentration shows that the warming process during the YD, LGM, and Heinrich (1–4) events matched the gradual increase in atmospheric CO 2 concentration in the northern Indian Ocean. Hence, this study implies millennial-scale hydroclimate change linked with atmospheric CO 2 forcing that could improve our knowledge of the role of atmospheric CO 2 in triggering abrupt Indian Ocean climate changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes of marine paleoproductivity could reflect the history of marine biogenic cycle process, and exploring the evolution and mechanism of marine productivity are important for understanding the global biogenic factor cycle and its roles in past, present and future climate change. Based on the analysis of biogenic silica (BSi) in core ADM-159 and core BoB-56 from the northeastern Indian Ocean, high-resolution curves of paleoproductivity evolution were obtained. The results show that the BSi contents in these two core sediments are less than 1.8%, mainly affected by the low supply of silica skeleton and the high dissolution and dilution of terrigenous materials. Distinct fluctuations in BSi contents could still be reflected, and their relative values were controlled by chemical weathering processes and terrigenous material supply. The power spectrum analysis of BSi content shows reliable periodicities of 5.86 kyr, 1.95 kyr, 1.35 kyr and 1.09 kyr, suggesting that millennial-scale BSi value might be affected by solar activity. Based on the BSi mass accumulation rates (MAR), lower paleoproductivity during the glacial period and higher level during the Holocene were revealed in our records, which matched well with the global climate changes. Temperatures controlled by low latitude insolation changes could influence the nutrient substance supply, further promote productivity variations at the glacial–interglacial scale. Some millennial events, such as the Heinrich stadial 1 (HS1) and Younger Dryas (YD) periods, showed relatively low paleoproductivity, while the Bølling/Allerød (B/A) period and the middle Holocene showed higher paleoproductivity. These millennial paleoproductivity fluctuations may be due to the changes of nutrient supply caused by Indian summer monsoon (ISM). In addition, the BSi MAR of core ADM-159 and core BoB-56 are well correlated with the isotopic compositions of Greenland ice core and Chinese speleothem, providing robust evidence for the link between northeastern Indian Ocean paleoproductivity and global climate change. • paleoproductivity variability since LGM was reconstructed by BSi in the northeastern Indian Ocean. • BSi content were controlled by supply of silica skeleton, dissolution and dilution of terrigenous materials. • Indian summer monsoon have been proved linked with tropic Indian Ocean paleoproductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paleoclimatic teleconnections between monsoon-dominated regions and the northern Atlantic has been revealed in the tropical Indian Ocean. Millennial-scale climate variability, as registered in Greenland ice cores, was transferred to the low-latitude regions by changes in the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC). However, there is still some disputes regarding the mechanism of climatic variation in the tropical Indian Ocean. To explore the interplay responses to regional monsoons and global in the northeastern Indian Ocean, here we present new evidence of trace elements (Mg/Ca and Ba/Ca) and stable isotopes measured from the planktonic foraminifera Globigerinoides ruber (white) in core ADM-159, which was collected from the central Andaman Sea. Twelve accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon dates of the planktonic foraminifera Neogloboquedrina dutertrei from the core provide a reliable age model. Our results indicate gradual surface warming with several short-lived fluctuations since ~42 kyr ago. The SST during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) was ~3 °C colder than the present SST, and a sharp increase in warming beginning at 18.5 cal ka BP indicated the transition from the LGM to the Holocene; these matched well with the warming trend in the Antarctica and the Southern Ocean and the rise in atmospheric CO 2 levels. The seawater δ18O record (defined as δ18O sw , presumably salinity-driven) and the Ba/Ca record, which is a measure of the continental riverine runoff from Myanmar, revealed a prominent millennial-scale variability pattern controlled by the Indian summer monsoon (ISM) as seen in speleothem records. The higher salinity values that suggested weakened ISM precipitation and a decrease in freshwater output from the Irrawaddy-Salween rivers were seen at 41.1 cal ka BP–39.9 cal ka BP, 34.9 cal ka BP–32.8 cal ka BP, 29.3 cal ka BP–28 cal ka BP, 25.7 cal ka BP–23.8 cal ka BP, 19.3 cal ka BP–15.8 cal ka BP, 13 cal ka BP–11.4 cal ka BP, and 4.0 cal ka BP–2.3 cal ka BP, reflecting strong correspondence with cold events in North Atlantic. Thus, this study provides evidence that climatic changes in the tropical Indian Ocean responded well to both regional monsoon and global climate changes, and during that atmospheric CO 2 , solar insolation, and AMOC played the most important roles in those responses. • Millennial-scale climate variability was reconstructed by sea surface temperature and δ18O of seawater in the Andaman Sea. • Indian summer monsoon have been proved linked with northern hemisphere climate events. • Climatic changes in the tropical Indian Ocean responded well to both regional monsoon and global teleconnections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying marine sedimentary archives from the Indian Ocean have provided great opportunities to assess the forcing/response relationship between the Indian monsoons, millennial-scale climate variability as revealed in Greenland ice cores, and possible roles of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) changes that are most likely responsible for driving both. Here we present new evidence of sea surface temperature (SST) estimates and δ18O of seawater (δ18O sw , presumably salinity-driven) from the paired data of Mg/Ca and δ18O measured from planktonic foraminifer Globigerinoides ruber (white) in core BoB-24 collected from the central Bay of Bengal (BoB), tropical Indian Ocean. Eleven accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon dates on planktonic foraminifera Neogloboquedrina dutertrei from the core provide a reliable age model. Our results indicate a gradual surface warming with several short-lived fluctuations since ~42 kyr ago, and a ~3 °C cooling during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and a ~3 °C warming from the last glacial to the Holocene. Our δ18O sw revealed an increased salinity during the Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 2, which is likely attributable to a weakening of Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM) precipitation and associated river discharge in the BoB. Our record also indicates clearly a phase of strengthening ISM during the mid-MIS 3 (37.5–32 ka) as evidenced by low foraminiferal δ18O sw values of ~0.2‰. Lower than present δ18O sw values during the Bølling/Allerød (B/A) event (14.5–12.6 ka) and the early Holocene (10–5 ka) in core BoB-24 indicate lower salinity that in turn suggest enhanced ISM precipitation and increased freshwater output from the Ganges-Meghna-Brahmaputra-Irrawaddy (GMBI) rivers together with peninsular rivers and Irrawaddy-Salween rivers from Myanmar. This study brings data evidence that implies weakened ISM was linked with Northern Hemisphere cooling events, especially during the MIS 2. Furthermore, the millennial-scale hydroclimate changes in the BoB presented in this study support the dynamic role of AMOC in driving a teleconnection between the North Atlantic and Indian Ocean monsoon regions. • Millennial-scale climate variability reconstructed by SST and δ18O sw in the BoB. • Weakened ISM have been proved linked with Northern Hemisphere cooling events. • A teleconnection between the North Atlantic and Indian Ocean by dynamic role of AMOC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The long-term evolution of deep-sea turbidity current activity is closely related to climate and sea level changes; however, the impact of abrupt climate change (e.g. millennial-scale events in high northern latitudes) is poorly known. In this paper, deep-sea turbidite records in the western part of the lower Bengal Fan were identified since the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) to investigate the effects of abrupt climate change on the development of the Earth's largest deep-sea fan. Our records show a termination of turbidite activity in the western lower fan at 16.6 ka–15.4 ka almost contemporaneous with Heinrich 1 event (a cooling stadial in high northern latitudes). The trigger of this termination in turbidite activity may have been a sharp decrease in erosion rates during a time of relatively stable sea level and rapid source-sink processes. The subsequent episodes of the Bolling/Allerod warm interstadial and Younger Dryas cold stadial and the rapid sea level rise event that followed possibly induced adjustment of turbidity current activities in the Bengal Fan, as indicated by other published records. In summary, we show that close links exist between abrupt climate changes in the high-latitude Northern Hemisphere and deep-sea turbidity current activity in the low-latitude South Asia. • Deep-sea turbidite records in the Bengal Fan since LGM were recovered. • Termination of turbidite in the western lower fan was triggered by HS1 event. • Links between high latitudes climate and low latitudes sedimentation were revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Bengal Fan, as the largest submarine fan in the world, receives a large amount of sediments discharged from the Himalayas through the Ganges-Brahmaputra (G-B) river system. However, previous studies of this system seldom focused on the role of channels, which are widely developed in the Bengal Fan, in sediment transportation over the last glacial cycle. Here, we discuss the coupled sedimentary archive in two gravity cores along the Active Channel in the Bengal Fan. Our findings are based on grain size, clay minerals, and Sr and Nd isotope compositions of these two sediment cores. End-member modeling of grain-size data reveals that the intermediate end-member represents the flux of distal fluvial particles from the G-B river system, the fine end-member denotes regional sediment supply of weathered volcanic materials, especially from the eastern Indian Peninsula, and the coarse end-member probably reflects nearby terrigenous input, aeolian input and/or volcanic glass. Sediment provenance analysis based on clay minerals, and Sr and Nd isotopes confirmed sediment supply from the G-B river system which was characterized by high illite percentage, high 87Sr/86Sr ratios and low ε Nd values, especially during five stages (50–45 ka, 42–37 ka, 31–28.5 ka, 24–20 ka and 14–9 ka). During these stages, heavy fine-grained sediment supply from the G-B river system was discharged into the study area under the influence of climate change rather than sea-level fluctuation, additionally emphasizing the importance of channels in the sediment transport process. Moreover, we find a significant alteration of sediment sources at ∼26 ka, which may be related to conversion of the deep-water currents in the Bay of Bengal. • There is staged sediment supply from the G-B Rivers into the Bay of Bengal. • Heavy sediment supply of the G-B Rivers was affected by climate change. • The channels developed on the Bengal Fan are important in the sediment transport process. • Sediment source change at ∼26 ka may be related to conversion of deep-water currents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Major and trace elements of sediments from two gravity cores (10YDY09 and 12I712) in the northeastern Indian Ocean have been analyzed for sediment provenance and the relationship of the sediments with climate change since 50 ka. The rare earth element (REE) compositions were analyzed, and the sediment contributions were estimated for the major potential sources, including the Ganges-Brahmaputra (G-B), Godavari-Krishna (G-K) and Mahanadi Rivers. Our results showed that the sediments in the study area were a mixture of sediments discharged from the above three rivers. The sediment contribution of the G-K Rivers increased notably during the Holocene when the rainfall increased, which may be caused by the strengthening of the East Indian Coastal Current (EICC) and the resulting large amounts of sediments supplied by the G-K Rivers. The higher sediment contribution from the G-B Rivers demonstrated the role of the Active Channel in transporting sediments to the distal Bengal Fan. During the last glacial maximum (LGM), especially in the late period, the Indian summer monsoon weakened, but the winter monsoon strengthened, resulting in a decrease in chemical weathering and elemental enrichment in the northeastern Indian Ocean. Conversely, when the rainfall was low, the chemical weathering strengthened and K 2 O/TiO 2 ratios were lowered due to the longer weathering time and resulting sediment potassium loss. However, when the sea level reached a certain height during the Holocene, the fluvial sediments could not easily enter deep-water environments through submarine channels, which were well developed in the Bengal Fan. Highlights • The major and trace elements of two cores were analyzed for sediment provenance. • The role of the Active Channel in the formation of the Bengal Fan was discussed. • The influence of the sea level fluctuations and rainfall changes over the past 50 ka was evaluated. • Coastal currents driven by the monsoon winds are key forces in sediment transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on clay mineralogy, siliciclastic grain sizes and geochemical records from deep-sea sediments in the central Bay of Bengal (BoB), the evolutionary history of the Indian summer monsoon and associated weathering process in the Himalayan system since 37 ka were reconstructed. Clay minerals and Th La elements indicate a mixture of sediments originating from the Ganges-Brahmaputra (G-B) Rivers, Indo-Burman ranges/Irrawaddy River and Godavari-Krishna (G-K) Rivers. The Th La quantitative reconstruction revealed that sediment supply from the G-B Rivers was reduced during a series of millennial-scale cold climate events (i.e., Younger Dryas and Heinrich Events) and the Last Glacial Maximum. By removing the control of sea-level factors on the percentage of clay minerals in the sediments, we suggests that the marked decrease in the illite chemistry index and the increase in the (illite+chlorite)/smectite ratio during cold climate periods reflect enhanced physical weathering and weakened chemical weathering in the Himalayan system. Comparing the contribution from the G-B Rivers and the sedimentation rates in different regions of the BoB, it was inferred that the sediments of the G-B Rivers were mostly deposited in the upper and middle Bengal Fan. During the Holocene, the Active Channel played a crucial role in delivering sediments from the G-B Rivers to the lower Bengal Fan. The decreased chemical index of alteration (CIA) and increased K₂O/TiO₂ ratio indicated the weakening of the Indian summer monsoon. At that moment, the Himalayan system was involved in cold climatic conditions accompanied by glacial extension, which led to enhanced physical weathering and increased sediment contributions from the highlands. • Core sediments are originated from the G-B Rivers, Indo-Burman ranges/Irrawaddy River and G-K Rivers. • Sediment supply from the G-B Rivers was reduced during a series of millennial-scale cold climate events. • During cold climate periods, physical weathering enhanced and chemical weathering weakened in the Himalayan system. • Sediment of G-B Rivers was mainly stored in the upper and middle BoB over the past 37 ka. • The Active Channel played a crucial role in Holocene delivering sediment from the G-B Rivers to the lower Bengal Fan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Submarine fan sediments are essential archives for understanding the interaction between continental weathering and climate change, but decoding multiple geological and environmental factors in such highly dynamic sedimentary environments is challenging. Here we present a high-resolution magnetic mineral record spanning the past ∼40 ka from the central Bengal Fan. Comprehensive rock magnetic and electron microscopic analyses are conducted to understand the origins of different magnetic mineral components in response to sedimentary and paleoclimate processes. Detrital magnetite and titanomagnetite are the dominant magnetic minerals in Bengal Fan sediments, whose abundance and grain size are primarily controlled by eustatic sea-level change. Increased Himalaya terrestrial input during Heinrich events is documented during sea-level low stand, but magnetic mineral variations and climate events are decoupled due to enhanced Indian hemipelagic sediment input since the last deglaciation sea-level rise. In addition, we identify an enriched biogenic magnetite layer near the Fe-redox boundary in the studied Bengal Fan sediment core, possibly related to relatively mild post-depositional diagenesis. Massive detrital inputs in the submarine fan sediments dilute the contribution of biogenic magnetite to the bulk magnetic record. Our results contribute to an integrated source-to-sink understanding of magnetic mineral components in continental margin submarine fans, which helps to construct multi-proxy Quaternary paleoclimate and paleogeography records in typical submarine fan deposits. • Direct recognition of detrital/biogenic magnetic minerals in Bengal Fan sediments. • Sea-level controls variations of detrital magnetic mineral component. • Stadial terrestrial input was enhanced during sea-level low stand. • Increased hemipelagic sediments at sea-level high stand reduce climate sensitivity. • Thriving biogenic magnetite near diagenetic Fe-redox boundary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on sedimentary research at the subaqueous Changjiang (Yangtze River) delta, based on five high-resolution seismic profiles and seven borehole cores with accurate AMS 14 C datings. Three distinct seismic units were identified from the seismic profiles according to seismic reflection characteristics, and five sedimentary facies were recognized from borehole cores. These facies constituted a fining upward sedimentary sequence in relation to postglacial sea-level transgression. Three sequence surfaces (sequence boundary (SB), transgressive surface (TS), and maximum flooding surface (MFS)) demarcate the boundaries between early transgressive system tract (E-TST), late transgressive system tract (L-TST), early highstand system tract (E-HST) and late highstand system tract (L-HST), which constitute the sixth order sequence. These system tracts were developed coevally with postglacial sea-level rise. E-TST (~ 19–12 ka BP) corresponds to an incised-valley infilling in the early stages of postglacial transgression whereas L-TST (~ 12–7.5 ka BP) was formed during the last stage of postglacial transgression. The progradational structure of L-TST reflected in seismic profiles is possibly related to the intensification of the East Asian summer monsoon. E-HST (~ 7.5–2 ka BP) was deposited in response to the highstand after maximum postglacial transgression was reached, while L-HST (~ 2 ka BP–present) was initiated by accelerated progradation of the Changjiang delta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]