Vegetation, fire, and climate history during the last 18 500 cal a BP in south-western Yunnan Province, China

ABSTRACT High‐resolution pollen and charcoal records from Qinghai Lake in south‐western China are presented. The records reveal variations in vegetation, fire and climate history since 18 500 cal a BP. The results show that seven significant vegetation changes are recorded, which are responses to climate changes and/or fire events. Frequent and intensive fires occurred during the periods 17 900–15 000, 13 000–11 500 and 4280–980 cal a BP, corresponding to relatively dry climatic conditions. Combined with the climatic record from Tiancai Lake, the regional climatic changes since 18 500 cal a BP in western Yunnan Province are reconstructed. Namely, the Heinrich Event 1, the Bølling–Allerød warm period and the Younger Dryas event during the last deglaciation are ubiquitous in western Yunnan Province. The start of the Holocene is recorded at 11 500 cal a BP. The Holocene climatic optimum occurred between 8450 and 4280 cal a BP. After 4280 cal a BP, the climate deteriorated, accompanied by evidence for human impact. Based on this study, we consider that vegetation and climatic changes since 18 500 cal a BP in south‐western Yunnan Province are primarily driven by September and average summer solar insolation, with some associated influence from regional sea‐surface temperature and sea‐level rise.