中文摘要：

中国第四纪冰川的研究已经走过了一个多世纪的历史，经历了初创阶段、以研究东部为主的争论阶段和以研究西部为主的创新阶段3个发展时期，建立了中国第四纪冰期系列，深入地认识了冰川的发生、发展和演化规律，在此基础上否定了长久以来的“中国东部第四纪古冰川”和“青藏高原统一大冰盖”两大争论问题。中国第四纪冰期最早可能起源于早更新世的希夏邦马冰期，有确切年代学证据的最早冰期为望昆冰期（0．7～0．5Ma），随后还有中梁赣冰期、倒数第二次冰期、末次冰期和全新世冰进，共6次主要冰川作用期。中国第四纪冰期启动时间远晚于极地和高纬地区；冰期系列也与极地和高纬地区不同步，尤其是存在大量MIS3阶段冰川前进的证据。中国第四纪冰川的发育强烈地依赖于山地的海拔高度，是构造抬升一冰期气候耦合作用的结果，其中影响最大的为“昆仑～黄河运动”和“共和运动”，前者使青藏高原整体抬升到3000m的临界高度以上，导致青藏高原全面开始发育冰川；后者则直接导致了MIS3b阶段冰进以及青藏高原东缘山地冰期的启动。

英文摘要：

Studies in Quaternary glaciations in China were started in the early 1900s and experienced three research stages ： （ 1 ） initial observation stage, （2） controversy stage focusing on ＂Quaternary glaciers in Eastern China＂, and （3） innovation stage focusing on modern glaciers and Quaternary glaciations in Western China. The studies and debates significantly improved the understanding of the sequences and chronology of Quaternary glaciations and their formation, development and evolution mechanisms. In particular, most studies rejected the long-time argument of ＂Quaternary glaciers in Eastern China＂ and the hypothesis that a ＂unified ice-sheet on the Tibetan Plateau＂ had ever existed. Based on relative dating and geomorphic/geological evidence, the onset of Quaternary glaciations in China started from the Shishapangma Glaciation in the late stage of Early Pleistocene. However,no absolute ages are available for this glaciation. Currently, the Wangkun Glaciation （0.7 - 0.5Ma） in the Middle Pleistocene dated by ESR and paleo-magnetism is widely accepted as the earliest glaciation in China. After the Wangkun Glaciation, several major glacial advances were identified, including the Zhonglianggan Glaciation, the Guxiang Glaciation （Penultimate Glaciation）,the Dali Glaciation （Last Glacial）and Glacial advances in Holocene. In total, six major glaciations were identified in China. The onset of Quaternary glaciations in China is significantly younger than and does not synchronize with that of polar and high-latitude regions. In particular, the local Last Glacial Maximum （LGM）in most mountainous regions in China happened during MIS 3b, significantly older than the Last Glacial Maximum of MIS 2 in polar and high- latitude regions. The onset and development of Quaternary glaciations in China are bighly dependent on the elevations of various mountainous regions, reflecting the influences of both tectonic uplift and climate change, whereas the glaciations in polar and high-latitude regi