View article

A preliminary Early–Late Permian mid-latitude continental climatic record in NW China was interpreted mainly from sedimentary climate indicators and type and stacking pattern of depositional systems and cycles in a 1178-m fluvial–lacustrine section. Depositional systems analysis delineated five types of primary fluvial and lacustrine depositional cycles, which were grouped into three (high, intermediate, and low) orders. Semi-arid, subhumid, and humid climate types in terms of relative precipitation/evaporation ratio were interpreted and climate variability was identified at sub-cycle and high, intermediate, and low-order cycle scales. Early Kungurian climate fluctuated between subhumid to humid and middle–late Kungurian climate shifted gradually from subhumid/semi-arid to semi-arid. Roadian climate fluctuated widely from humid to semi-arid with strong precipitation seasonality at sub-cycle and high-order cycle …