The ZLTC (Zhongliangtiechang) profile lies outside the north wall of Taosi Site in Linfen Basin, Shanxi, China. Based on systematic measurement and analysis of grain size, magnetic susceptibility, Rb/Sr ratio and CaCO₃, and combining the optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) ages and the archaeological data, the authors investigate the regional environment change during the Holocene and the relationship between environment and human activities. The results show that, during the early Holocene (10.5 to 9.6 kaBP), the East Asian winter monsoon intensity is weak, and the intensity of weathering and pedogenesis enhances remarkably, thus the climate turns from cool-dry to warm-wet; during the early-middle Holocene (9.6 to 4.9 kaBP), the intensity of weathering and pedogenesis is at its maximum in the profile, thus the climate is warm-wet; during the middle-late Holocene (4.9 to 2.5 kaBP), the intensity of weathering and pedogenesis diminishes gradually, thus the climate turns to warm-dry; during the late Holocene (2.5 kaBP to present), the East Asian winter monsoon intensity is strong, the intensity of weathering and pedogenesis is weak, thus the climate turns to cool-dry. The warm-wet climate correlates well with the development of culture, while the vegetation degradation could be influenced by climate and human activities in cool-dry period.

DDM profile lies outside the south gate (Dingding Gate) of Luoyang City (capital as Sui and Tang Dynasty), Luoyang Basin, Henan, China. Based on measurement and analysis of grain size, major element contents, the authors investigate sedimentary process of the profile and the historical flood events from Tang to North Song Dynasty in Luoyang. Grain size compose, the cumulative probability and frequency distribution curve indicate that there are three flood events in section 4, 6, 7; the major element contents result of SiO₂, Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃ percentage changes reflects the migration of quartz, kaolin, and magnetic minerals and environment changes; the increase of quartz and decrease of kaolin and magnetic minerals in the bottom of section 6 and 7 prove the historical flood events reflected by the result of grain size analysis. Comprehensive analysis shows that there are two large-scale floods in the early and middle Tang Dynasty; there is a more serious sheet flood deposits process in North Song Dynasty. The sedimentary record is very consistent with historical documents.

The Caidangxi profile is in the north of Jianghan Plain, Hubei Province, China. Synthetic analysis of grain size, chemical elements and pollen of sedimentary samples from Caidangxi profile reveal the paleo-environmental changes since 1250 AD of the area. The sediments of the profile dominantly consist of clay silts. The sedimentary characteristics, such as grain size and the sorting coefficient, together with the analysis geomorphic position on which the deposition occurred, may indicate that the sediments were deposited by sheet flood mainly from Han River in a slow hydrodynamic depositional process. The sedimentary characteristics also show some similarities with the loess sediments for that some materials were derived from the loess distributed in this river basin. The grain-size and sorting have a significantly increase in 1500 AD, which might reflect the effect of the intensified flooding process. The climatic history since 1250 AD could be identified four stages by geochemical elements and pollen analysis data. The climate of four stages were respectively “wet and warm”, “cool and dry”, “a little wet and warm” and “a little cool and dry”. The distinct cool and dry climate during around 1500 AD might reflect the response of an evidently lower temperature event of the Little Ice Age. It also might be one of the reasons for the intensified flood process during the same time.

Based on comprehensive analysis of the stratigraphic age, ancient ruins distribution, pollen analysis nearby Sarah Wusu River and archaeological information, ancient literature about this river, combined with field investigation, the authors found that the geomorphology hydrologic situation, vegetation, desertification and human activities have changed a lot on both sides of Sarah Wusu River since the Tang Dynasty. These changes are the results of both downcutting and climate change of Sarah Wusu River. The deep valley of Sarah Wusu River began to form after mid and late Tang Dynasty, and there were few lakes with almost no human activities before that time. The downcutting of Sarah Wusu River formed wetlands environment on it’s both sides in the Song and Yuan Dynasties which was suitable for the lush pastoral economy, resulting in prosperity of human activities. After the Yuan Dynasty, the depth of the river was too deep, causing the deterioration of the hydrological conditions. Along with climate change and human activities, it led to decline of environment and human activities. It was also an important reason for the desertification event in late Ming Dynasty.

FengYG alluvial fan is a large fan that lies to the northwest of Taiyuan basin. It has a widen plan view. Exposures with typical parallel bedding sediments were found at fanhead. It shows that FengYG alluvial fan is mainly formed by upper flow regime sheetflood process. Sheetflood deposits comprise pebble to granule gravel bar deposits with small thickness that extend far on side directions, and between bar deposits with finer grain size. Geomorphic and geologic features of its drainage basin shows that larger accommodation space formed by uplift of Lüliang mountain possibly led to sheetflood deposits on FengYG alluvial fan.

The authors studied the characteristics of element geochemistry, mineral assemblage and microtexture of the white reticulate clay in the Quaternary laterite of the Dongting Basin with some experimental analysis methods, such as chemical analysis, X-ray diffraction analysis, IR and SEM analysis. The genesis of the vermiculate reticulate clay and the rhizomatic reticulate clay in the Quaternary laterite of the Dongting Basin are discussed. The formation of crannies or holes in the soil and the transference of soil elements are absolutely necessary conditions to form the white reticulate clay in laterite. The formation of crannies of the vermiculate reticulate clay results from the stratigraphical pressure and the seasonal fluctuating of the groundwater level. The formation of holes of the rhizomatic reticulate clay results from the decomposition of the botanic roots. The intense eluviation and weathering of soil with groundwater and run-off result in the enhancing of capacity of transference of some elements, such as Si, Al, Fe, Mn. The chemical reactions of the colloid particles in the soil water make those crannies or holes filled by some epigenetic clay minerals and quartz. Then a great deal of white reticulate clay comes into being in the Quaternary laterite of the Dongting Basin.

The Dongfang Plaza cultural site, located in Wangfujing, Beijing, is the first found of late paleolithic relic in Beijing plain. The process of climate change during 26-14ka B.P. will be discussed in this paper, based on the analysis of the sedimentary facies characters and paleo-environment indexes such as clay mineral, chemical element and spore-pollen of the sediment samples collected from the middle-part of the stratigraphic profile (including upper and lower cultural layers) of the Dongfang Plaza cultural site. The landform on which ancient human activity relic located was interfluvial floodplain on Yongding River Alluvial Fan. The result of analysis shows that the climate of the period during which these strata were formed was mainly dry and cold, and the pollen of herbs is predominant. In the later part of this period the temperature and humidity increased a little, especially between the two cultural layers there was a short but clear section of wet and warm climate and a temperate forest steppe landscape existed. So it can be concluded that after the lower cultural stratum was formed, the flood became greater due to the wetter weather and bigger river discharge, and the ancient people were forced to move to other higher places. Later the climate began to dry and human activities appeared here again. In such a way two cultural strata were formed. Cultural sites of dry-cold late Late-Pleistocene have been found in Beijing, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Heilongjiang province and other places, which indicates that the people of late Late-Pleistocene already had the ability to defend the dry-cold weather.

The sedimentary characteristics and facies of the cultural layers in the late Paleolithic period of the late Late-Pleistocene in the Wangfujing Oriental Plaza site were studied based on the comparison and analysis of the typical sedimentation profile of the site and more than 150 stratigraphic data. The paleo-geomorphic surfaces during the periods of 2.2×10⁴ a B.P. were rediscovered. The study suggests that the ancients must have acted in the sandy islands of alluvial fans, which were evolved in relatively steady water flows during the interglacial stage with slightly warming in the last glacial epoch. The cause of the absent of human activities between the upper and lower cultural layers in an interval of about 3.14×10³ a has also been discussed in detail. It is concluded that this was resulted from the strengthening and unstable water flow. The potential former settlements or camping sites of the ancients prior to moving to this area are also discussed. It is suggested that they might came from other higher dissected old alluvial fan platforms evolved at the same period or earlier in the western part of the plain. These results provide evidences for the reconstruction of the geomorphic environment of Beijing plain during the Late Pleistocene and the study of prehistoric human history.

There are many alluvial fans developed along the eastern foot of Helan Mountain. Under the control of climate, mountain features and the Huanghe River, the fans have many different characters comparing with the fans of other region, such as conglomerate with boulders on the surface, big slope and abrupt slope change, salt lake or swamp, sand dunes at the margin of the fans. And also there are many different features among the fans themselves. Dawukou alluvial fan, located at the north end of the study area, has fine sediments, big fan area, flat slope and typical morphology. In front of the middle segment of the mountain, there is Dashuigou alluvial fan with coarse sediment, moderate slope and less fan area. Helankou alluvial fan, at the south segment of the mountainside, consists of coarse sediment, steep slope and moderate fan area. This paper describes the geomorphology, sediments, fan size, fan figure and depositional structure of the fans along the eastern foot of Heln Mountain. In study of the relationship of the fan features and the source basin features we got such relations as: A_f =6.245A_d^1.09h^1.33 and r=10.67A_d^-0.27h^0.39 (A_f: fan area, A_d: source basin area, h: relief, r: fan slope). And we concluded that the main factor affecting the fan area and slope of this region is the relief of Helan mountain.