Sediment transportation processes rely on a large variety of influencing factors, ranging from tectonic and humans to sediment availability and climate. In the lake Donggi Cona catchment on the north-eastern Tibetan Plateau a complete sediment cascade from the high mountains to the lake has been studied.

A large alluvial fan in the centre of the catchment is influenced by nearly all processes of the high-mountain sediment cascade. The alluvial fan is build-up of Pleistocene gravels which originate from glaciated areas in the Anyemaqen Shan. The surface is presently modified by fluvial, permafrost and periglacial processes. Aeolian landforms of different size are partly covering the surface; most of them are actually degrading.
On the lower side fluctuating lake levels of the Donggi Cona had a profound influence on sedimentation and erosion processes. This setting leads to a complex pattern of short distance sediment transport and deposition.
The different archives have been analysed in order to decipher the climatic influence in the region, thereby focusing on the sediment availability and sediment distribution. Comparison of dunes on and next to the fan gives insight in local variations in the factors influencing sediment transport. While the dunes on the sides of the fan are generally large in size and have age ranging back into the late Pleistocene, aeolian landforms on fan are much smaller. Their formation has been dated to the late Holocene, and is largely influenced by sediment availability from varying lake levels of Donggi Cona. However, present day human influence by local nomads leads to a profound reorganisation of landforms. While the aeolian cover on the fan is eroded, dunes on the slopes gain material in form of sand.