Meltwater‐Driven Water‐Level Fluctuations of Bosten Lake in Arid China Over the Past 2,000 Years

Abstract

Abstract Changes in water storage of the large freshwater lakes in Arid Central Asia (ACA) have significant implications for the regional social and ecological systems. Here we present a lake‐level record of the past 2,000 years from Bosten Lake, a large freshwater body in the region, using the sedimentary Cladoceran microfossil. The results suggest that a lower lake level and a higher salinity occurred during the cold, high‐precipitation periods of 280–450 AD and 1570–1850 AD, and that a higher lake level and a lower salinity occurred during the warm, low‐precipitation period of 450–1570 AD. The findings show that on the centennial timescale, the water‐level fluctuations of Bosten Lake were modulated mainly by temperature‐driven meltwater input. In addition, the shortage of freshwater during the cold period may have contributed to the collapse of the ancient cities and the depression of the trade along the Silk Road.