Last glacial maximum (LGM) Paleoclimatic dynamics in arid Central Iran: Evidence from the Taft sand ramp Geoproxies

초록

This study reconstructs Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) paleoclimatic conditions in arid central Iran using sedimentological, geomorphological, and chronological evidence from the Taft Sand Ramp, a rare and well-preserved Quaternary archive. Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dating indicates rapid aeolian sand accumulation (∼13 m thick) between 30 and 22 ka, coinciding with the LGM, overlying lacustrine marl deposited around ∼65 ka under warmer and wetter conditions. The ∼30 kyr hiatus between marl deposition and aeolian sedimentation reflects a major climatic transition from humid to cold–arid conditions. Sedimentological characteristics indicate short-distance ('500 m) wind transport from the exposed paleolake and riverbed, with interbedded alluvial layers recording episodic climatic variability during deposition. The study highlights the Taft Sand Ramp as a key geoproxy for LGM wind regimes, sediment dynamics, and moisture variability in central Iran, a region where high-resolution Quaternary records are scarce. © 2026 Elsevier B.V.

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