Scientists Unveil Drivers Behind 18,000 Years of Lake Changes in Mid-Latitude Asia

Scientists Unveil Drivers Behind 18,000 Years of Lake Changes in Mid-Latitude Asia

Scientists from Lanzhou University have revealed new insights into the drivers of hydrological changes in lake systems across mid-latitude Asia. By investigating Ebinur Lake in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the research team reconstructed the lake’s evolution over the past 18,000 years, shedding light on how climate factors and human activities influence lake dynamics.

Led by Professor Li Guoqiang from the College of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Lanzhou University, the team applied advanced single-grain K-feldspar dating methods to analyze sediment samples from Ebinur Lake. The lake, situated at the terminus of rivers originating from the glaciated Tianshan Mountains and flowing into the arid Junggar Basin, serves as an ideal natural laboratory for studying Holocene climate evolution in the region.

According to Professor Li, understanding the mechanisms driving hydrological changes in arid regions is crucial for predicting future shifts in fragile desert-lake ecosystems. The study found that glacier meltwater, combined with variations in Westerlies and East Asian summer monsoon precipitation, is responsible for asynchronous lake evolution trends across mid-latitude Asia.

While natural climate change plays a significant role in altering lake water levels, Li emphasized that human activities also have a notable impact. The findings provide valuable references for predicting and managing future lake water fluctuations, which have implications for regional water resources, ecological sustainability, and socio-economic development.

The research has been published in the GSA Bulletin, contributing to the global understanding of hydrological responses to climate variability.

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