Abstract:

The historical sequence of dust events in Dunhuang， Northwest China， over the past two thousand years was constructed based on 143 historical documents records that distribute in 83 years. We established the relationships between the probability and intensity of dust events in different regions along the dust transport path of acient Sili Road in the Hexi Corridor. The sequence was then compared with the findings derived from several climate proxy indicators， including tree rings， ice cores， and other relevant proxies in neighboring regions. We also examized the temporal and spatial correlations of strong dust events with changes of climate factors. The results show that the periods characterized by strong and frequent dust events in Dunhuang were predominantly recorded in four phases： 280-351 AD， 1440-1550 AD， 1720-1840 AD， and 1900-1952 AD. These periods align closely with the dusty periods associated with drought and cold climate conditions， as evidenced by natural climatic proxies from the surrounding areas. The availability of documentary records that reflect dust weather is notably limited prior to the 2nd century， between 7th to 14th centuries， as well as the 16th to 17th centuries. To address the gaps in these blank periods， it is imperative to conduct thorough investigations in the dating of extant historical records， and enhance domestical and international collaboration to provide a more comprehensive exploration of the significance inherent in plundered overseas materials. This will yield more data that support the investigation of the climatic history not only in Dunhuang but also in many other regions of Northwest China.

Key words: dust event, sand-dust storm, historical document, Hexi Corridor, Dunhuang