Researchers have reconstructed the pattern and mechanism of precipitation variability in northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and arid Central Asia over the last 130,000 years.

Both the northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and arid Central Asia are fragile ecological areas with arid climate and scarce precipitation. The overall study on the driving mechanism of precipitation in both regions is of great significance to better understand the hydrologic cycle and forecast regional climate change.

Relevant available observation data showed that East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) and mid-latitude Westerlies are the main factors influencing the precipitation of northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and arid Central Asia. However, it is still a matter of considerable debate on how the two factors affected both regions in a long timescale.

The research highlighted that the northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has been especially sensitive to EASM intensity variation for the last 130,000 years, while arid Central Asia was subject to the mid-latitude Westerlies.

A paper on the study, which was conducted by a team of researchers led by Professor Li Guoqiang from Lanzhou University, has been published in the journal Quaternary Science Reviews.

According to Li, the findings are expected to provide a unique perspective to the climate forecast in both regions.