Our understanding of desertification on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) is limited. This study aims to fill the knowledge gap by examining desertification and the underlying climatic factors between 1971–2015 on the TP using a dynamic vegetation model and observation‐based gridded climate data. Four factors including precipitation, days with above the threshold wind, simulated vegetation fractional plant coverage and soil moisture (SM) in 0–40 cm depth are employed for the spatiotemporal desertification analyses. Simulated plant functional types and SM are evaluated against the observations. By referencing the existing desertification maps in 1977, 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2015, the thresholds of the four factors are determined, and the temporally continuous annual areas of four types of desertification are reconstructed. The Qaidam Basin and Ngari Desert are successfully identified by the above approach. The reduction of total desertification since 2000 is also consistent with national desertification surveys. Climate variation exerts the dominant control on desertification on the TP where population density is low, of which precipitation is the most important climate factor. Moderate but consecutive drought events correspond to the greatest desertification. During 1971–2015, the average total desertification area is 418,329 km²; among the four types of desertification, moderate desertification occupies the largest area (253,088 km²), followed by light desertification (105,583 km²) and extremely severe desertification (30,019 km²); severe desertification has the least coverage (17,597 km²). This approach can also be applied in the other regions given sufficient meteorological and ecological data.

中文翻译：

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从气候角度看，1971年至2015年间影响青藏高原的荒漠化

我们对青藏高原（TP）的荒漠化了解有限。这项研究旨在通过使用动态植被模型和基于观测的网格气候数据，研究1971-2015年TP上的荒漠化和潜在的气候因素，以填补知识空白。时空荒漠化分析采用了四个因素，包括降水，风阈以上的天数，模拟植被分数覆盖率和0–40 cm深度的土壤湿度（SM）。根据观察结果评估模拟的植物功能类型和SM。通过参考1977年，1990年，2000年，2010年和2015年的现有荒漠化地图，确定这四个因素的阈值，并重建了四种荒漠化的时间连续年面积。通过上述方法成功地确定了柴达木盆地和纳里沙漠。自2000年以来减少的总荒漠化也与国家荒漠化调查一致。气候变化对人口密度低的TP的荒漠化起主要控制作用，其中降水是最重要的气候因素。中度但连续的干旱事件对应于最大的荒漠化。1971–2015年，平均总沙漠化面积为418,329公里 中度但连续的干旱事件对应于最大的荒漠化。1971–2015年，平均总沙漠化面积为418,329公里 中度但连续的干旱事件对应于最大的荒漠化。1971–2015年，平均总沙漠化面积为418,329公里² ; 在四种荒漠化类型中，中度荒漠化面积最大（253,088 km ²），其次是轻度荒漠化（105,583 km ²）和极度严重的荒漠化（30,019 km ²）；严重的荒漠化覆盖面最小（17,597 km ²）。如果有足够的气象和生态数据，这种方法也可以应用于其他地区。