Original Articles

The Paleoclimatic Evolution and its Relation to Man’s Activities in Southern Xinjiang, Since about 12.0 ka BP

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  • Department of Resource & Environment and Information Science, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830046, China

Received date: 2000-09-01

  Revised date: 2000-10-01

  Online published: 2000-12-25

Abstract

Based on a synthetic study on variety of geologic records in southern Xinjiang, Characteristics of palaeoclimatic evolution in southern Xinjiang are basically identical to those revealed by other geological records in Xinjiang. Palaeoclimatic changes presented apparent Westlies Style model: during cold periods, relative humidity increased and lake water level rose; but in warm periods, the dry regime aggravated. The history of paleoclimatic changes is reconstructed preliminary in this paper and indicates that it has been experienced 5 relative warm(or hot) dry periods and 4 relative cold (or cool) humid periods. The warming peaks occurred at about 11 500~11 000 a、9 400 a、7 500~7 000 a、6 500~6 000 a、3 000 a、2 000 a and after 1 000 a BP, the cold peaks at 11 000~10 000 a、8 800 a、5 000~4 500 a、3 300 a and 1 500 a BP. The only relatively warm humid phase during 7 000~5 000 a BP may be deduced from the Megathermal Maximum, resulting from the strengthened summer southeastern monsoon force. The most interesting comparison shows that the above mentioned warm dry periods since about 4 0 ka BP basically coincide well with the periods of the phases of ancient cities abandoned in southern Xinjiang and also with the rise and decline of the ancient Silk Road. The quasi correlation between the changes of climate and the type and content of man land relationship implys that the natural evolution of climate and environment perhaps played a very important role in affecting man land relationship in arid area.

Cite this article

ZHONG Wei, XIONG Hei gang, SHU Qiang . The Paleoclimatic Evolution and its Relation to Man’s Activities in Southern Xinjiang, Since about 12.0 ka BP[J]. PROGRESS IN GEOGRAPHY, 2000 , 19(4) : 307 -316 . DOI: 10.11820/dlkxjz.2000.04.003

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