Oasis microclimate effects under different weather events in arid or hyper arid regions: a case analysis in southern Taklimakan desert and implication for maintaining oasis sustainability

Abstract

The vegetation of desert oasis regulates the regional microclimate in arid or hyper-arid regions. A wide range of studies on the oasis microclimate effects have been conducted under sunny conditions. However, less concern has been focused on microclimatic variations of oasis effects caused by the influences of different types and coverage of vegetation in oasis during other different weather events, especially during catastrophic weather conditions. Based on the measurements from 1 August, 2010 to 30 December, 2014 in the Qira oasis, a hyper arid zone of southern Taklimakan desert, Northwest China, this paper investigates the existences and variabilities of the oasis microclimate effects during dust storm, blown sand, floating dust, and rain events and analyzes the impacts of different types of vegetation (bare desert, sparse desert grassland, desert oasis dense shrub grassland and forests, and oasis crops and fruit trees) on desert oasis microclimates. Moreover, the importance of maintaining the oasis sustainability mirrored by the oasis microclimate effects is highlighted and discussed. Results show that the oasis with abundant vegetation exerts cooling and humidifying effects under four weather events relative to bare desert land. As a result of high wind velocities, the oasis microclimatic effects are weakened during catastrophic weather conditions such as dust storm or blown sand events. The type and coverage of vegetation and the topography as well as weather events jointly impact on the oasis microclimate effects. The findings of this work provide an implication for the conservation and restoration of oasis vegetation to maintain both the oasis microclimate environment and the sustainability of desert oasis.