Warming effect of desert and its impact on oasis heat resources and agricultural productivity in arid land, China

This paper provides a positive view of the desert, in terms of the warming effect of deserts on oases and the impact of heat resources and agricultural production. We use data from experimental sites in the Manas River Basin in China to characterize these relationships. We note that the warming effect of the desert was found to be significant but gradually reduced with increased distance of the oasis from the desert. The range of warming effect is about 100 km, and the improvement in temperature is about 1.8 °C. Due to this warming effect, the desert serves as the second heat source for the oasis, which represents one important aspect of the ecologic value of the desert. Our results also show the warming effect has a strong spatial impact on agricultural productivity. Crop productivity fell by about 49 kg/ha with every 10 km increase in distance away from the desert. Our results imply that crop suitability must correspond to the warming effect of the desert. More efficient use of heat resources can contribute towards achieving potential productivity.