To　explore　the　factors　controlling　the　spatiotemporal　variability　of　dust　magnetic　susceptibility　(SUS)　across　tectonically　stable　(Chinese　Loess　Plateau,　CLP)　and　tectonically　active　(eastern　Tibetan　Plateau,　ETP)　regions,　the　SUS　and　grain-size　records　of　the　Jingyuan　and　Lantian　loess‒paleosol　deposits　from　the　CLP,　and　Lixian　lacustrine　sediments　from　the　ETP,　were　analyzed.　The　results　show　that,　spatially,　SUS　decreases　substantially　from　SE　to　NW　in　the　CLP,　and　from　the　CLP　to　the　ETP;　and　temporally,　SUS　increases　significantly　both　in　the　CLP　and　the　ETP　during　warm　periods.　The　former　is　consistent　with　pedogenic　contributions　previously　proposed,　while　the　later　responds　to　the　enhanced　seismic　activities　and　foehn　effect　during　warm　period.　The　correlation　analysis　shows　that　the　strongest　positive　correlation　between　SUS　and　2–10　μm　fractions　in　the　CLP　indicates　a　substantial　contribution　of　fine　particles　to　magnetic　minerals,　which　has　been　underestimated　in　the　earlier　studies.　The　strongest　positive　correlation　between　SUS　and　coarse‒grained　fractions　in　ETP　reveals　that　SUS　is　mainly　controlled　by　frequent　release　of　magnetic　minerals　from　bedrock　caused　by　tectonic　activities.　These　results　reflect　different　controlling　factors　of　SUS　changes　under　different　tectonic　backgrounds.　Therefore,　the　correlation　analysis　between　SUS　and　grain‒size　fractions　can　be　used　as　a　simple　and　effective　method　to　sensitively　reveal　regional　tectonic　activity,　and　effectively　trace　the　Earth　surface　processes　including　material　supply,　transport　dynamics,　and　sedimentology.　©　2023　Elsevier　Ltd　and　INQUA