New study uncovers evolution of China's largest desert

LANZHOU -- A new study by researchers from China's Lanzhou University has provided valuable insights into the formation and evolution of the Taklimakan Desert, the country's largest desert, using first-hand data.

The study revealed that the modern landscape of the central Taklimakan Desert began forming approximately 300,000 years ago, based on an analysis of a 200-meter drill core collected from the center of the desert, according to Wang Xin, a professor at the College of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Lanzhou University.

The Taklimakan Desert is also the world's second-largest shifting desert. A better understanding of its geological evolution is crucial for comprehending the formation of desert landscapes in mid-altitude Asia, noted Wang, who led the team of researchers.

Since 2008, the study team has carried out a research program to drill core samples from multiple deserts, including the Taklimakan Desert, to provide direct in-situ evidence for a better understanding of the evolutionary history of China's major deserts. In the center of the Taklimakan Desert, the drilling depth reached 1,340 meters.

Through first-hand information from these drill cores, the team discovered that the initial formation of the Taklimakan Desert dates back at least 1.8 million years, although a precise age for this early phase remains undetermined.

Wang explained that studying the changes and dynamics of the desert not only enhances people's understanding of how tectonic and climate interactions have shaped desert landscapes on Earth but also provides valuable insights into how desert environments may respond to future climate change trends under global warming.

The relevant research findings have been published in the journal Science Bulletin.