Only a few studies of Quaternary glaciation have been conducted in the central Kunlun Mountains, hindering a full understanding of Late Pleistocene and Holocene climatic changes on the Tibetan Plateau. This study presents 30 new Be surface exposure ages from five moraine crests, two moraine platforms and two glaciofluvial terraces on the northwestern slopes of the Ulugh Muztagh in the central Kunlun Mountains. The moraine ages indicate that an old glacial advance occurred no later than ∼87.10 ka, an extensive glacial advance at ∼35.61 ka and Holocene advances at ∼7.61 ka, ∼1.65 ka, ∼0.69 ka, and ∼ 0.36 ka. Two glaciofluvial terraces were tentatively determined to have been deposited at ∼24.87 ka and ∼ 17.35 ka, possibly implying the occurrence of limited global Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and Heinrich Stadial 1 glacial advances. After combining these findings with geomorphic evidence, it was inferred that glacial coverage was more extensive during MIS 3 than the global LGM, indicating that the timing of the LGM in the Ulugh Muztagh was asynchronous with that of the monsoon-dominated Tibetan Plateau. Reference to other palaeoclimatic archives suggested that glacial advances since MIS 3 were most likely driven by a combination of cool to cold temperatures and a relatively humid climate. The limited global LGM advance was attributed to increased aridity.

中文翻译：

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昆仑山中部兀鲁穆士塔格的晚第四纪冰川历史

目前对昆仑山中部第四纪冰川作用的研究较少，阻碍了对青藏高原晚更新世和全新世气候变化的全面认识。这项研究提出了来自昆仑山脉中部兀鲁穆士塔格西北坡的五个冰碛峰、两个冰碛台和两个冰川河流阶地的 30 个新的铍表面暴露年龄。冰碛年龄表明，古冰川推进不晚于~87.10ka，广泛的冰川推进发生在~35.61ka，全新世进展发生在~7.61ka、~1.65ka、~0.69ka和~0.36ka。初步确定两个冰川河流阶地沉积于~24.87ka和~17.35ka，可能意味着全球末次盛冰期（LGM）和Heinrich Stadial 1冰川推进的发生有限。将这些发现与地貌证据相结合后，推断 MIS 3 期间的冰川覆盖范围比全球末次盛冰期更广泛，这表明兀鲁穆士塔格地区末次盛冰期的时间与季风主导的青藏高原的时间不同步。参考其他古气候档案表明，自 MIS 3 以来的冰川进展很可能是由凉爽到寒冷的气温和相对潮湿的气候共同驱动的。全球末次盛冰期进展有限是由于干旱加剧。