Quaternary geological evolution of the South China Sea: Response to the global tropical climate and environmental changes

This Virtual Special Issue (VSI) is jointly published in Global and Planetary Change and Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, and comprises 34 studies dedicated to advancing our knowledge of the Quaternary geological evolution of the South China Sea, and its response to global tropical climate and environmental changes. The contributions are synthesized into seven thematic areas: (1) high-resolution palaeoclimate reconstruction and marine dynamic processes; (2) responses and adaptations of coral reef systems; (3) carbon cycling and biogeochemical processes; (4) sediment source-to-sink processes and palaeoenvironmental evolution; (5) extreme climate and geological events; (6) technological and methodological innovations; and (7) comparative studies from the Bay of Bengal and the eastern Indian Ocean. Employing a diverse array of geological archives (including corals, giant clams, sedimentary cores, and cold-seep carbonates), the studies within this VSI reconstruct past changes in sea surface temperature, hydrology, ocean circulation, and ecosystem dynamics across multiple Quaternary to Recent timescales. Collectively, they provide critical benchmarks for distinguishing natural variability from anthropogenic impacts, reveal key climate feedback mechanisms, present new data for validating climate models, and assess future risks related to sea-level rise, ocean acidification, and extreme events. This VSI highlights the South China Sea as an invaluable natural laboratory and underscores the pivotal role of palaeo-records for informing our projections of future change in tropical marginal seas and beyond.