Clarifying the paleoelevation changes of Diancang Shan (DCS) is important for comprehending both tectonics and the climatic effects in the transition zone between the high Tibetan Plateau and the lower relief of eastern and southern Asia. Our results show low elevations of DCS between ~ 7.6 and ~ 5.0 Ma, followed by significant uplift of 1000–2000 m between ~ 5.0 and ~ 3.5 Ma. They provide a novel method for reconstructing the paleoelevation of mountains like DCS in orogenic belts.

The simultaneity of rain and heat is an important hypothesis containing the summer and winter precipitation regimes. In this paper, eastern and part of central Asia (EA and CA) with a summer precipitation regime are selected to study the dry/wet status on multiple timescales since the Last Glacial Maximum. We found that although climate difference in EA and CA universally exists, climate linkages in EA and part of CA with a summer precipitation regime can be uncovered.