Keywords: 
• lacustrine varve /
• identification methods /
• distribution /
• varve chronology /
• paleoclimate and paleoenvironment.

Abstract: As one of the high-resolution geological records with seasonal to inter-annual time scales, the lacustrine varves play an essential role in paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental research. In this review, we summarized the formation and preservation of the lacustrine varve, their identification and classification, varve chronology, as well as their implications for paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental changes. Our findings reveal that 1) the formation and preservation of the lacustrine varve are influenced by seasonal paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental changes, and are mainly distributed in high-latitude areas of the Northern Hemisphere; 2) the geophysical, geochemical, and geobiological features, or cross-validation of other radiometric dating methods are necessary to verify the annual nature of the varve; 3) the lacustrine varve can be used to establish accurate or floating geochronologies; and 4) lacustrine varve has been also used to reconstruct paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental changes, but research on the lacustrine varve is unevenly distributed, with a temporal focus mainly on the Quaternary and a spatial focus mainly on Europe and the Americas. Based on current progresses and problems of the lacustrine varve research, we proposed the following prospects: 1) strengthen modern sediment monitoring and optimize the identification criteria; 2) systematically construct and improve the research system of the lacustrine varve with multiple research approaches; and 3) dig deep into the deep-time lacustrine varve, and focus on frontier scientific issues such as annual and inter-annual paleoclimate change.