Asian dust-storm activity dominated by Chinese dynasty changes since 2000 BP

Fahu Chen (), Shengqian Chen, Xu Zhang, Jianhui Chen, Xin Wang, Evan J. Gowan, Mingrui Qiang, Guanghui Dong, Zongli Wang, Yuecong Li, Qinghai Xu, Yangyang Xu, John P. Smol and Jianbao Liu ()
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Fahu Chen: Lanzhou University
Shengqian Chen: Lanzhou University
Xu Zhang: Lanzhou University
Jianhui Chen: Lanzhou University
Xin Wang: Lanzhou University
Evan J. Gowan: Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
Mingrui Qiang: Lanzhou University
Guanghui Dong: Lanzhou University
Zongli Wang: Lanzhou University
Yuecong Li: Hebei Normal University
Qinghai Xu: Hebei Normal University
Yangyang Xu: Texas A&M University
John P. Smol: Queen’s University
Jianbao Liu: Lanzhou University

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract The Asian monsoon (AM) played an important role in the dynastic history of China, yet it remains unknown whether AM-mediated shifts in Chinese societies affect earth surface processes to the point of exceeding natural variability. Here, we present a dust storm intensity record dating back to the first unified dynasty of China (the Qin Dynasty, 221–207 B.C.E.). Marked increases in dust storm activity coincided with unified dynasties with large populations during strong AM periods. By contrast, reduced dust storm activity corresponded to decreased population sizes and periods of civil unrest, which was co-eval with a weakened AM. The strengthened AM may have facilitated the development of Chinese civilizations, destabilizing the topsoil and thereby increasing the dust storm frequency. Beginning at least 2000 years ago, human activities might have started to overtake natural climatic variability as the dominant controls of dust storm activity in eastern China.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-14765-4

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