过去2000年气候环境变化是目前全球变化研究的重点内容之一，其主要原因为该时段是过去长尺度全球变化与现代器测时期气候环境研究的接轨点，也是人类对自然影响最深刻的时段。过去2000年存在中世纪暖期（MWP）、小冰期（LIA）以及20世纪以来的全球变暖三个明显的时段。研究中世纪暖期（MWP）与小冰期（LIA）两段时期的气候环境特征及形成原因，有助于识别人类活动对气候环境的影响及预估未来气候变化。
位于新疆的封闭浅水湖——艾比湖对气候变化具有敏感响应。中国科学院新疆生态与地理研究所马龙博士通过对时间跨度为1500年的湖泊沉积物中碳酸盐碳（δ13Ccarb）、氧同位素（δ18Ocarb）以及有机质碳同位素（δ13Corg）等环境代用指标的分析，对中世纪暖期（MWP）与小冰期（LIA）的区域环境变化特征及其机理进行了研究。结果表明：碳酸盐氧同位素（δ18Ocarb）反映了流域降水/蒸发比值以及湖泊水位的波动，碳同位素（δ13Ccarb）的变化与湖泊水体pH值有关；而有机质碳同位素（δ13Corg）主要反映了流域降水量的变化。整体上来看，艾比湖地区具有中世纪暖期干燥，小冰期湿润的气候变化特征。最后，马龙博士通过艾比湖湖泊沉积物环境代用指标与西伯利亚高压指数等数据的综合对比，认为艾比湖地区小冰期（~ AD 1400-1750）湿润的气候特征，某种程度上与该时期内西伯利亚高压的增强有关。
研究论文以“The Medieval Warm Period and the Little Ice Age from a sediment record of Lake Ebinur, northwest China”为题发表在《北风》（Boreas）杂志上。（生物谷Bioon.com）
DOI:10.1111/j.1502-3885.2010.00200.x
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PMID:
The Medieval Warm Period and the Little Ice Age from a sediment record of Lake Ebinur, northwest China
LONG, MA; JINGLU, WU; HONG, YU; HAIAO, ZENG; ABUDUWAILI, JILILI
Lake Ebinur, Xinjiang, northwest China, is a closed‐asin, shallow lake that responds rapidly to changes in the ratio of precipitation to evaporation (P/E). A sediment record spanning the last 1500 years was obtained from the lake. We used δ18O and δ13C in bulk carbonate, and δ13C of organic matter in the lake sediments to infer environmental changes in the Ebinur region during the Medieval Warm Period (MWP) and the Little Ice Age (LIA). Decreased δ18O values of carbonate largely reflect an enhanced P/E ratio within the basin and a higher lake level. Bulk carbonates with higher δ13C values are deposited during periods when lake‐water pH is high, while lower δ13C values reflect a lower pH in the water column. δ13C in organic matter is associated with the amount of precipitation. The results indicate that the Ebinur region experienced a dry MWP and a wet LIA, although the MWP and LIA were warm and cold periods, respectively, as expected. Furthermore, the MWP and LIA were hydrologically complex and cannot be characterized as uniformly wet or dry. Peak wet periods are recorded in the sediment core around AD 1000, 1400 and 1700, and a dry event also occurred in the period of temperature change within the LIA (cold to warm around AD 1500). A comparison of the Lake Ebinur data with proxy records for the strength of the Siberian High and climate proxy indicators suggests that precipitation in the Ebinur region was a consequence, in part, of an enhanced Siberian High during the LIA.
