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Sand deserts during glacial maximum and climatic optimum

Abstract

THE past 20,000 yr have witnessed tremendous climatic changes, a glacial maximum at about 18,000 yr BP and a climatic optimum centred on about 6,000 yr BP, both of which mark extreme situations for the Quaternary. This paper attempts to show that active sand dunes were extensive 18,000 yr ago. Conversely, it seems that sand dunes were generally dormant 6,000 yr ago. Thus the former textbook concept1,2 of an arid climatic optimum and a pluvially active glacial maximum is reversed.

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SARNTHEIN, M. Sand deserts during glacial maximum and climatic optimum. Nature 272, 43–46 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1038/272043a0

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