Dynamic Coupling Between Intensified Physical Erosion and Asian Dust Activity Under Late Cenozoic Global Cooling.

Distinguishing the independent contributions of tectonic denudation and climate‐driven erosion on the production and supply of clastic materials of Chinese eolian deposits is important in understanding the dynamic links between global climate changes, tectonics, and Asian dust emission. Here, multi‐proxy rock magnetic records of detrital fractions of Chinese eolian deposits since ∼6 Ma, combined with further comparison with dust accumulation rates and geochemical data, suggest that limited production and supply of clastic materials of Chinese eolian deposits were observed between 5.6 and 4.4 Ma in a warmer climate, and thereafter an increasing trend is evident during a cooler world. We propose that intense physical erosion under cooler conditions caused increasing production of fresh detrital components, exerting dominant influences on the sediment supply to Asian eolian deposits. This study provides direct evidence of dynamic coupling between intensified physical erosion and Asian dust activity under late Cenozoic global cooling. Plain Language Summary: The dust cycle is an important component of the Earth's climate system. Glacial erosion and tectonic denudation are usually regarded as two principal factors controlling the production and supply of clastic materials of Asian eolian deposits. To date, however, the dynamic coupling between intensified glacial erosion and tectonic denudation and Asian dust activity remains challenging and has rarely been reported. Multi‐proxy lithogenic magnetic records, combined with a synthesis of published dust accumulation rates and geochemical data, demonstrate that temporal variations in the production and supply of lithogenic materials of Chinese eolian deposits over the past 6 Ma appear to be closely coupled to the global temperature and climate state. Intense glacial erosion and frost‐weathering processes during late Cenozoic global cooling led to increased production and supply of fresh detrital material from the high mountains. The significant role of global cooling in the production and release of Asian dust materials is underscored. The cryospheric control on Asian dust activity challenges previously dominant views that dryland dynamics alone exerted primary influences on atmospheric dust formation. Key Points: The production and supply of clastic materials of eolian deposits were limited during 5.6–4.4 Ma and increased toward a cooler worldIntense glacial erosion and frost‐shattering processes in a cold climate caused increasing production and supply of clastic materialsA dynamic coupling exists between intensified physical erosion and Asian dust activity under late Cenozoic global cooling conditions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]