Taklimakan Research Articles

Water-use characteristics of Populus euphratica trees in response to flood and groundwater depth in desert oasis

Populus euphratica, as the dominant species in arid desert area, plays an important role in maintaining the stability of desert ecosystem. However, P. euphratica water-use characteristics at different sizes and the effects of flooding and groundwater depth on water use remain unclear. In this study, the hydrogen and oxygen isotope compositions of xylem water, soil water, and floods were measured and coupled with the MixSIAR model to investigate the water-use patterns of P. euphratica at different sizes, flood periods (before, during, and after floods), and groundwater depths in the Taklimakan Desert hinterland. The carbon isotope composition of P. euphratica leaves was determined to investigate the water-use efficiency (WUE) of P. euphratica. The water-use patterns of P. euphratica at different sizes were consistent because of its reproductive mode (aswxual root tiller reproduction). P. euphratica showed a greater degree of ecological plasticity during different flood periods. Before the flood, the main water sources for P. euphratica were deep-soil-layer (140–220 cm) and near-groundwater-layer (220–300 cm). During the flood, it could absorb the flood directly, reducing water absorption from deep-soil-layer and near-groundwater-layer. After the flood, it resumed water absorption from deep-soil-layer and near-groundwater-layer. P. euphratica water absorption patterns differed at different groundwater depths. In the shallow and middle groundwater depth sample plots, the water sources were the deep-soil and near-groundwater layers, and the population of P. euphratica grew well. In the deep sample plot, water absorption was mainly near the groundwater layer, and the P. euphratica population showed a decreasing trend, further explaining the degradation of P. euphratica in terms of water-use patterns. WUE is related to the growth stage of P. euphratica and the water conditions of the living environment; the more mature the P. euphratica, the more deficit the water conditions, and the higher the WUE. This study provides a basis for maintaining the stability of P. euphratica forests in arid deserts and for water allocation.

Pattern of water use by Tamarix ramosissima seedlings in floodplains under varied groundwater depths in the hinterland of the Taklimakan Desert

The water use of Tamarix ramosissima Ledeb. seedlings after flooding were analyzed both to explore the maintenance mechanism and pattern of natural regeneration of riparian forest, which will provide a scientific basis for restoration of desert riparian forest and ecosystem stability in the lower reaches of inland rivers of arid regions. This study area was located in the hinterland of the Taklimakan Desert in Xinjiang, China. Tamarix ramosissima seedlings growing on different groundwater depths at the river floodplain were used as the study system. The rooting depths of T. ramosissima seedlings with different basal stem diameters were ascertained by the root excavation method. The water source for the T. ramosissima seedlings was clarified using hydrogen and oxygen stable isotope methods, and the water use efficiency of T. ramosissima seedlings was investigated by stable carbon isotope (δ13C) analysis. As the basal stem diameter classes of the T. ramosissima seedlings increased, their root depths increased. As the groundwater depth increased, the seedlings changed from primarily utilizing deep soil water to utilizing shallow soil water. In the three sample sites, the average depth of water uptake of the seedlings with basal stem diameters of 0–5 mm was 110.5, 44.1 and 39.1 cm, respectively, and that of seedlings with basal stem diameters of 5–11 mm was 83.8, 73.6 and 37.7 cm, respectively. As groundwater depth increased, the average water uptake depth of the seedlings gradually became shallower. There was no significant difference in the δ13C values of leaves under different groundwater depths, indicating that the seedlings were not subjected to water stress. Thus, surface water played a greater role than groundwater in T. ramosissima seedling water utilization. Therefore, when analyzing ecological water conveyance patterns, attention should be paid to T. ramosissima located in areas with deep groundwater. Shallow-rooted seedlings with small basal stem diameters face an increased risk of wilting if they do not receive timely recharges of surface water. Data AvailabilityAll data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article.

Population structure and selection signal analysis of indigenous sheep from the southern edge of the Taklamakan Desert

Analyzing the genetic diversity and selection characteristics of sheep (Ovis aries) holds significant value in understanding their environmental adaptability, enhancing breeding efficiency, and achieving effective conservation and rational utilization of genetic resources. In this study, we utilized Illumina Ovine SNP 50 K BeadChip data from four indigenous sheep breeds from the southern margin of the Taklamakan Desert (Duolang sheep: n = 36, Hetian sheep: n = 74, Kunlun sheep: n = 27, Qira black sheep: n = 178) and three foreign meat sheep breeds (Poll Dorset sheep: n = 105, Suffolk sheep: n = 153, Texel sheep: n = 150) to investigate the population structure, genetic diversity, and genomic signals of positive selection within the indigenous sheep. According to the Principal component analysis (PCA), the Neighbor-Joining tree (NJ tree), and Admixture, we revealed distinct clustering patterns of these seven sheep breeds based on their geographical distribution. Then used Cross Population Extended Haplotype Homozygosity (XP-EHH), Fixation Index (FST), and Integrated Haplotype Score (iHS), we identified a collective set of 32 overlapping genes under positive selection across four indigenous sheep breeds. These genes are associated with wool follicle development and wool traits, desert environmental adaptability, disease resistance, reproduction, and high-altitude adaptability. This study reveals the population structure and genomic selection characteristics in the extreme desert environments of native sheep breeds from the southern edge of the Taklimakan Desert, providing new insights into the conservation and sustainable use of indigenous sheep genetic resources in extreme environments. Additionally, these findings offer valuable genetic resources for sheep and other mammals to adapt to global climate change.

Distribution Characteristics of Atmospheric Microplastics in Typical Desert Agricultural Regions.

We examined the distribution characteristics of atmospheric microplastics in typical desert agricultural regions, with a focus on the agricultural areas surrounding the Taklamakan Desert, Xinjiang, China. We collected samples of total suspended particulate matter (TSP), atmospheric deposition, and atmospheric dust using both active and passive collection methods. The chemical composition, particle size, shape, and color of atmospheric microplastics were examined using a stereomicroscope and a Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer to analyze their characteristics. The results showed that the primary chemical compositions of microplastics included polypropylene (PP), polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polymethylmethacrylate, and cellophane. Particle sizes were mainly within the range of 0 to 1000 μm. Fibrous microplastics constituted the majority of the TSP and atmospheric deposition, whereas film-like microplastics constituted the largest proportion of atmospheric dustfall. The deposition flux of atmospheric microplastics in the first quarter was measured at 103.21 ± 22.12 particles/m2/day, which was lower than that observed in conventional agricultural areas. The abundance of microplastics in atmospheric dustfall was found to be 1.36 particles/g. The proportion of PP microplastics in atmospheric dustfall can be as high as 35%. Through a comparison of microplastic content in TSP during dust storms and under normal weather conditions, it was found that dust storms can lead to an increase in the abundance of microplastics within the atmospheric TSP. The present study provides a scientific basis for understanding the distribution of atmospheric microplastics in typical desert agricultural regions. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:1982-1995. © 2024 SETAC.

Unveiling soil animal community dynamics beneath dominant shrub species in natural desert environment: Implications for ecosystem management and conservation

The Taklimakan Desert, known for extreme aridity and unique ecological challenges, maintains a delicate life balance beneath its harsh surface. This study investigates intricate dynamics of soil animal communities within this desert ecosystem, with a particular focus on vertical profile variations beneath four dominant shrub species (AS-Alhagi sparsifolia, KC-Karelinia caspia, TR- Tamarix ramosissima, CC- Calligonum caput-medusae). Utilizing comprehensive soil sampling and metagenomics techniques, we reveal the diversity and distribution patterns of soil animal communities from the soil surface down to deeper layers (0–100 cm). Our research outcomes have unveiled that Nematoda and Arthropoda emerge as the most predominant classes of soil animals across all studied shrubs. Specifically, Nematoda exhibited notably high abundance in the KC area, while Arthropoda thrived predominantly in the TR region. We also observed a linear decrease in Nematoda populations as soil depth increased, consistent among all shrub species. Moreover, the highest Shannon diversity within soil animal communities was recorded in the KC area, underscoring a trend of declining alpha diversity in the AS region and an increase in other shrub areas as soil depth increased. Notably, the zones dominated by CC and TR displayed the highest levels of beta diversity. Our correlation analysis of soil animals and environmental factors has pinpointed soil water content, available phosphorus, and available potassium as the most influential drivers of variations in the top-classified soil animal communities. This study provides insights into soil animals in deserts, supporting future research to preserve these fragile deserts and enhance our understanding of life below the surface in challenging ecosystems.

Impacts of submesoscale motions on similarity relationships based on nocturnal observations in the Taklimakan Desert

Impacts of submesoscale motions on similarity relationships based on nocturnal observations in the Taklimakan Desert

A dataset of monthly litter recovery from the desert grassland in Southern Tarim Basin during 2010–2020

The Cele National Field Science Observation and Research Station of Desert Grassland Ecosystem of Xinjiang of Chinese Academy of Science (Hereinafter referred to as "Cele Station"), is located on the southern margin of the Tarim Basin bordered to the south by the Kunlun Mountains and to the north by the largest desert in China, the Taklimakan Desert. As a result of simple vegetation community and slow accumulation of soil organic matter, litter serves as an important source of nutrients in this area. Based on the long-term observations of desert plant communities at Cele station, we gathered monthly dynamic data of litter recovery in the desert grassland from Southern Tarim Basin from 2010 to 2020. Based on plant organs (branches, leaves, and fruits), the monthly dynamic data of litter recovery at the observation sites and plots were sorted out, and the annual changes of community and soil nutrients were recorded. Data were compiled in strict accordance with CERN bio-observation specifications. The data has undergone review and quality control by the quality control personnel of the station and sub-center. The results would provide basic data for further study of litter dynamics in the desert grassland from Southern Tarim Basin, and theoretical support for better understanding and assessing nutrient cycling in hyper–arid desert ecosystems.

Soil microbial community dynamics in response to Tamarix ramosissima afforestation in desert lands: Metagenomic insights

AbstractUnderstanding the influence of afforestation on soil microorganisms, the major drivers of soil processes, is essential for maintaining soil health and sustainability. However, in a desert‐oasis ecotone, variations in the microbial community along shrub afforestation years remain unclear. We conducted a metagenomic analysis to study the temporal changes in microbial community structure in 0–100 cm soil following 3‐, 7‐, and 10‐year afforestation of Tamarix ramosissima Ledeb. on the southern edge of the Taklimakan Desert. Compared to the unreclaimed desert land, in 3‐year or 7‐year stands, soil organic carbon (SOC), nitrate nitrogen, available phosphorus and potassium (AK) contents significantly increased on average by 60%, 852%, 72%, and 299%, respectively. Soil archaeal and bacterial community composition were significantly affected by afforestation; their α‐diversity increased on average by 5.9% and 11.1%, respectively, after afforestation, showing a unimodal pattern along afforestation years. In contrast, fungal α‐diversity and community composition did not show significant variation over the afforestation period. The influence of AK outweighed that of SOC and other nutrients on soil microbial community composition. These findings suggest that T. ramosissima afforestation in the desert‐oasis ecotone has significant impacts on the community composition and α‐diversity of archaea and bacteria, but not fungi, by modifying soil physicochemical properties. This research provides valuable implications for soil management and microbial processes related to the afforestation of salt‐secreting shrubs.

Compound events of heatwave and dust storm in the Taklamakan Desert

Compound events of heatwave and dust storm in the Taklamakan Desert

Recent wetting trend over Taklamakan and Gobi Desert dominated by internal variability

The Taklamakan and Gobi Desert (TGD) region has experienced a pronounced increase in summer precipitation, including high-impact extreme events, over recent decades. Despite identifying large-scale circulation changes as a key driver of the wetting trend, understanding the relative contributions of internal variability and external forcings remains limited. Here, we approach this problem by using a hierarchy of numerical simulations, complemented by diverse statistical analysis tools. Our results offer strong evidence that the atmospheric internal variations primarily drive this observed trend. Specifically, recent changes in the North Atlantic Oscillation have redirected the storm track, leading to increased extratropical storms entering TGD and subsequently more precipitation. A clustering analysis further demonstrates that these linkages predominantly operate at the synoptic scale, with larger contributions from large precipitation events. Our analysis highlights the crucial role of internal variability, in addition to anthropogenic forcing, when seeking a comprehensive understanding of future precipitation trends in TGD.

Optimal sand transport roadbed geometry structure of Taklamakan Desert highway

In order to obtain the optimal geometric structure for sand transport in desert roads, this study fully utilizes the natural sand transport capacity of the desert roads, aiming to reduce occurrences of road damage due to sand burial. The research integrates Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) with optimization analysis theory. Various typical geometric structures of desert highway roadbed were modeled using the Design Exploration module in CFD. Optimization analysis methods were employed to model and compute the sediment transport optimization design on both the roadbed and road surface. Then, the initial sample points are obtained by using the Design of Experiments (DOE), and the response surface is established by using the Kriging model to obtain the change trend of the input parameters and the objective function. Finally, the cross-section parameters of the sediment transport subgrade corresponding to different inflow conditions are obtained. The results show that the sediment transport performance of embankment, cutting and semi-filled uphill subgrade is negatively correlated with the height of subgrade. The relationship between slope gradient and sediment transport performance of subgrade depends on the height of subgrade and the type of subgrade section. For embankment and cutting, when the subgrade height is less than 0.5 m, the sediment transport performance of the subgrade is positively correlated with the subgrade slope; however, when the subgrade height exceeds 0.5 m, the sediment transport performance is negatively correlated with the subgrade slope. For the semi-filled uphill flow subgrade, the sediment transport performance of the subgrade is negatively correlated with the subgrade slope. Comprehensive analysis shows that semi-filled and excavated downhill subgrade has the best sand transport performance, embankment subgrade has the second highest sand transport capacity, then cutting subgrades, while semi-filled and excavated uphill subgrade has the worst sand transport performance. The research conclusions provide valuable scientific guidance for the design of sand control embankment structures tailored to local conditions for desert highways. This is of significant importance for enhancing the sediment transport capacity of desert highways and prolonging their service life.

Physical Mechanisms of Deep Convective Boundary Layer Leading to Dust Emission in the Taklimakan Desert

AbstractDeserts play an important role in the climate system, which is closely associated with the emission and transport of dust aerosols. Based on the intensive observation experiment in the Taklimakan Desert, the potential physical processes between the deep convective boundary layer (CBL) and dust emission are revealed in this study. Deep CBL enables the formation of clouds in the late afternoon, leading to significant cooling of surface. Large‐scale buoyant coherent structures thereby transform into the mechanical coherent structures confined near the surface. The responses promote the earlier occurrence of low‐level jet (LLJ) than in cloudless conditions, which allows the downward transport of LLJ momentum and substantially increases surface wind. Therefore, dust emission is initiated by strong wind at dusk and lasts for several hours. The results are useful to predict dust emissions and improve our understanding of distinctive boundary‐layer processes in desert regions.

Sand Supply Affects Wind Erosion Efficiency and Sand Transport on Sand-Cemented Body Mulch Bed

Sand-cemented bodies (SCBs) are naturally distributed in some interdune corridors in the central Taklimakan Desert, northwest China. In this study, field-collected SCB particles were used as the experimental material, and wind tunnel experiments were conducted with different sand supplies, wind velocities, and SCB coverages to evaluate SCB wind erosion efficiency and vertical mass flux. The results showed that wind erosion efficiency decreased as SCB coverage increased. When the SCB coverage was above 40%, sand deposition processes occurred only under saturated sand flow, while sand transport remained unaffected by increases in SCB coverage under unsaturated sand flow. Under saturated flow, the highest concentrations of transported sand were found at 0–6 cm above the surface, and the main sand bed process was deposition. The sand bed process changed from aeolian erosion to deposition with increasing SCB coverage and tended to remain stable until the SCB coverage exceeded 40%. By contrast, under unsaturated sand flow, the sand bed process was primarily aeolian erosion, and the highest concentrations of transported sand were found at 0–4 cm above the surface. At high SCB coverage levels (more than 40%), a general balance between aeolian erosion and deposition processes was reached. In summary, increasing SCB coverage had a significant impact on surface wind erosion processes. Thus, SCBs can be used as a novel sand retention material.

Dust storms from the Taklamakan Desert significantly darken snow surface on surrounding mountains

Abstract. The Taklamakan Desert (TD) is a major source of mineral dust emissions into the atmosphere. These dust particles have the ability to darken the surface of snow on the surrounding high mountains after deposition, significantly impacting the regional radiation balance. However, previous field measurements have been unable to capture the effects of severe dust storms accurately, and their representation on regional scales has been inadequate. In this study, we propose a modified remote-sensing approach that combines data from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite and simulations from the Snow, Ice, and Aerosol Radiative (SNICAR) model. This approach allows us to detect and analyze the substantial snow darkening resulting from dust storm deposition. We focus on three typical dust events originating from the Taklamakan Desert and observe significant snow darkening over an area of ∼ 2160, ∼ 610, and ∼ 640 km2 in the Tien Shan, Kunlun, and Qilian mountains, respectively. Our findings reveal that the impact of dust storms extends beyond the local high mountains, reaching mountains located approximately 1000 km away from the source. Furthermore, we observe that dust storms not only darken the snowpack during the spring but also in the summer and autumn seasons, leading to increased absorption of solar radiation. Specifically, the snow albedo reduction (radiative forcing) triggered by severe dust deposition is up to 0.028–0.079 (11–31.5 W m−2), 0.088–0.136 (31–49 W m−2), and 0.092–0.153 (22–38 W m−2) across the Tien Shan, Kunlun, and Qilian mountains, respectively. This further contributes to the aging of the snow, as evidenced by the growth of snow grain size. Comparatively, the impact of persistent but relatively slow dust deposition over several months during non-event periods is significantly lower than that of individual dust events. This highlights the necessity of giving more attention to the influence of extreme events on the regional radiation balance. This study provides a deeper understanding of how a single dust event can affect the extensive snowpack and demonstrates the potential of employing satellite remote sensing to monitor large-scale snow darkening.

Observation and study of consecutive dust storms in the Taklimakan desert from March 16 to 27, 2022, using reanalysis models and lidar

A series of severe dust storms hit the Taklimakan desert between March 16 and 27, 2022, significantly deteriorating air quality throughout China. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the vertical structure of aerosols during these dust storms, as well as their causes and impacts on China's regional and city-scale air quality, utilizing data from reanalysis models, coherent Doppler wind lidar, and air quality monitoring stations. During dust storms, intense wind layers increase dust emissions, resulting in reduced lidar detection ranges and signal strengths. In addition, lower temperatures prevail due to sunlight absorption and scattering. Moreover, high-speed winds at high altitudes increase dust particles that serve as cloud condensation nuclei, leading to increased humidity, decreased temperature, and precipitation. The Taklimakan desert's trough serves as a wind convergence zone, which promotes favorable conditions for the initiation of dust storms. Due to the steep pressure gradients, strong winds enter the Taklimakan desert through the gap between its mountains in the east, coming from northern Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia via the Hexi corridor, which facilitates the lifting and transport of dust aerosols. Dust is transported long distances from the Taklimakan desert to the eastern coasts, impacting numerous cities along the way. The emissions from these dust storms swept across most Chinese provinces. Even though each dust storm was over in the Taklimakan desert, its effects on China's air quality continued for several days. The coarse PM concentrations (PM10–2.5) in Hotan, Kashgar, Aksu, Korla, Hami, Xining, Yinchuan, Taiyuan, and Beijing spiked to levels around 14, 36, 11, 6, 7, 12, 11, 12, and 6 times higher than their 2022 averages, respectively. This study provides valuable insights into the causes and effects of the Taklimakan desert dust storms, helping authorities develop effective mitigation plans.

Analysis of Height of the Stable Boundary Layer in Summer and Its Influencing Factors in the Taklamakan Desert Hinterland

Analysis of Height of the Stable Boundary Layer in Summer and Its Influencing Factors in the Taklamakan Desert Hinterland

Morphological and sedimentary characteristics of raked linear dunes in the southeastern Taklimakan Desert, China

Raked linear dunes were rarely reported, except in the Kumtagh Desert, leaving little known about the dynamic process. However, numerous raked linear dunes have formed in the Kat Kum dunefield of the southeastern Taklimakan Desert, which provides a new case to study the morphodynamics of these dunes. We conducted a comprehensive analysis on the dune morphometry, wind regime, sedimentary characteristics, and sand availability of these dunes. We found that grain size variation is an essential factor affecting the formation of raked linear dunes in addition to wind regime and limited sand availability. These dunes in the Kat Kum present small scale and easily reshaped with fast migration rate compared with these in the Kumtagh Desert, and distributed in areas with low sand cover. The primary ridge extended obliquely to the resultant drift direction, whereas the subsidiary ridge extend is nearly parallel to this direction. The grain size of the primary ridge is noticeably coarser than that of the subsidiary ridge. These dunes seem to have evolved from barchans. Under a north-northeast wind, barchans reshaped to asymmetrical barchans by extending their southeast limbs and eroding their northwest limbs, causing the ridge to be oblique to the resultant drift direction. The strong east-northeast wind erodes and reshapes the primary ridge, transporting fine sand to the northwest and resulting in the formation of proto-subsidiary ridges. With the elongation and lateral movement of primary ridge, a continuous subsidiary ridge with regular dune spacing forms on the northwest flank.

Uranium Isotope Constraints on the Pre‐Deposition Time of Asian Dust to the North Pacific Ocean: Implications for Provenance and Iron Supply

AbstractAsian dust delivers highly reactive iron (FeHR) to the Pacific Ocean, affecting marine biogeochemical cycles and Earth's climate. Tracing the source of dust deposited in the Pacific is vital for assessing global nutrient cycles but poses challenges. This work applies the (234U/238U) activity ratio to determine the pre‐deposition time and provenance of dust in North Pacific Ocean sediments (Ocean Drilling Program site 1209B). Results indicate a consistent dust pre‐deposition time (134 ± 10 ka) over the past 300,000 years, except during Marine Isotope Stage 7 when volcanic ash input shortened it to 31 ± 19 ka. Comparing the dust pre‐deposition times to those of the potential source deserts, we identify the dust transported to the North Pacific Ocean was primarily from the Taklamakan Desert, which contains higher FeHR content than other deserts. This finding enhances our understanding of soluble Fe supplied to the oceans, especially in dust circulation models.

Air pollution and diabetes mellitus: Association and validation in a desert area in China.

Despite the growing evidence pointing to the detrimental effects of air pollution on diabetes mellitus (DM), the relationship remains poorly explored, especially in desert-adjacent areas characterized by high aridity and pollution. We conducted a cross-sectional study with health examination data from over 2.9 million adults in two regions situated in the southern part of the Taklamakan Desert, China. We assessed three-year average concentrations (2018-2020) of particulate matter (PM1, PM2.5, and PM10), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and sulfur dioxide (SO2) through a space-time extra-trees model. After adjusting for various covariates, we employed generalized linear mixed models to evaluate the association between exposure to air pollutants and DM. The odds ratios for DM associated with a 10 µg/m3 increase in PM1, PM2.5, PM10, CO, and NO2 were 1.898 (95% CI: 1.741, 2.070), 1.07 (95% CI: 1.053, 1.086), 1.013 (95% CI: 1.008, 1.018), 1.009 (95% CI: 1.007, 1.011), and 1.337 (95% CI: 1.234, 1.449), respectively. Notably, men, individuals aged ≥50 years, those with lower educational attainment, nonsmokers, and those not engaging in physical exercise displayed more susceptible to the adverse effects of air pollution. Multiple sensitivity analyses confirmed the stability of these findings. Our study provides robust evidence of a correlation between prolonged exposure to air pollution and the prevalence of DM among individuals living in the desert-adjacent areas. This research contributes to the expanding knowledge on the relationship between air pollution exposure and DM prevalence in desert-adjacent areas.

Radiocarbon-Refined Archaeological Chronology and the History of Human Activity in the Southern Tarim Basin

Famous for Taklimakan, the world’s second largest sandy desert, the Tarim Basin in Xinjiang has long attracted researchers from various fields to investigate its paleoenvironment and antiquity. The southern part of this basin is an ideal region in which to investigate the interactions between humans and the environment due to its fragile habitat and prosperous ancient civilizations. However, the lack of direct radiocarbon dating data has caused the chronologies of some of the archaeological sites to be debatable, which hinders our ability to reconstruct historical patterns of human activity and further understand, in a coherent manner, their interaction with the environment. This study reports 25 new radiocarbon dates acquired from ten undated archaeological sites in the southern Taklimakan Desert in order to refine their chronologies. Based on this, a radiocarbon dataset was established to reveal the trajectory of human activity with the support of Bayesian chronological modeling. The results indicate a two-millennium continuous flourishing of the local society since the beginning of the first millennium BCE, as well as a peak of human activity during the Tang Dynasty (618–907 CE). The distinct trajectory of human activity in the southern Tarim Basin revealed by this study provides a solid foundation for further assessments of human–environment interaction in the Tarim Basin and along the Silk Road.