Time-scale effects in human-nature interactions, regionally and globally

doi:10.1007/s11442-023-2143-5

Abstract

Abstract:

Spatial-temporal scales effects are general among human-nature interactions. However, the laws and mechanisms of the interaction between humans and the environment at different spatial-temporal scales remain to be identified. The Hexi Corridor in Northwest China is located in the eastern section of the Silk Road and is one of the world’s first long-distance cultural exchange centers. Here we present a comprehensive dataset of the Hexi Corridor, including changes in environments, population, wars, famines, settlements, and ancient oases from the Neolithic to the historic period. Results show that humans adapt to climate change on the millennium scale by choosing corresponding production methods. Environmental change, civilization evolution, and dynasty replacement interrelate on the decadal and centennial scales. Social crises are closely linked to extreme weather events on the interannual scale. On the basis of these results, we find similar time scale effects in the world’s major ancient civilizations. We do so by analyzing their processes of civilization evolution.

Key words: spatial-temporal scales, human-nature interactions, Hexi Corridor, ancient civilizations, regionally and globally

LI Yu, GAO Mingjun, ZHANG Zhansen, ZHANG Yuxin, PENG Simin. Time-scale effects in human-nature interactions, regionally and globally[J].Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2023, 33(8): 1569-1586.

Figures/Tables 16

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Figure S1

Figure S2

Figure S3

Figure S4

Table S1

The locations, elevations, proxies used and proxy indication of sampling sites in the Hexi Corridor. H1-H11 indicate the proxy of the decadal and centennial scale, M1-M14 indicate the proxy of the millennium scale.

Number	Material	Site name	Lat (°N)		Long (°E)	Elevation (m)	Proxies used		Proxy indication		References
H1	Tree ring	Delingha	37.5		97.1	3193-4175	Tree-ring width, ¹⁸O		Temperature, Precipitation		Shao et al., 2004; Shao et al., 2006; Yang et al., 2014
H2		Dulan	36.5		98.1	3617-4040	Tree-ring width, ¹⁸O		Temperature, Precipitation		Yang et al., 2000; Yang et al., 2014
H3		Haiyagou	38.5		99.9	2863-3517	Tree-ring width, ¹⁸O		Precipitation		Yang et al., 2000
H4		Zhamashi	38.2		99.1	3300-3574	Tree-ring width, ¹⁸O		Precipitation		Kang et al., 2002
H5		Wulan	37		98.6	3700	Tree-ring width, ¹⁸O		Temperature, Precipitation		Shao et al., 2004; Shao et al., 2006; Yang et al., 2014; Zhu et al., 2008
H6		Heihe	38.4		100	3325	Tree-ring width, ¹⁸O		Runoff		Kang et al., 2002
H7		Qilian	38.4		99.9	3400-3500	Tree-ring width, ¹⁸O		Temperature		Liu et al., 2004
H8	Lake	Juyan Lake	42.1		102.1	894	Carbonate content		Moisture		Qu et al., 2000
H9	Lake	Sugan Lake	38.9		93.9	2800-3200	¹³C, ¹⁸O		Temperature, Moisture		Qiang et al., 2004
H10		Qinghai Lake		37.1	100.4	3196		Redness	Moisture	Ji et al., 2005
M1		Qinghai Lake		36.5	99.6	3196		TOC	Moisture	Li and Liu, 2014
M2		Hala Lake		38.4	97.4	4078		¹⁸O	Temperature, Moisture	Yan and Wünnemann, 2014
M3		Zhuye Lake		39.05	103.7	1309		C/N	Temperature, Moisture	Li et al., 2014
M4		Gahai Lake		37.1	97.5	3428-3472		Carbonate content, ¹³C, ¹⁸O	Temperature, Moisture	Chen et al., 2010
M5		Huahai Lake		40	97.5	1200		Carbonate content,TOC	Temperature, Moisture	Wang, 2006
M7		Mingze Lake		40.3	96.3	1289		TOC, C/N, ¹³C	Temperature, Moisture	Wang, 2016
M8		YanchiLake		39.8	99.3	1200		TOC, pollen, grain-size	Temperature, Moisture	Li et al., 2013
M9		Hurleg Lake		37.3	96.9	2817		Carbonate content	Moisture	Zhao et al., 2007
M10		Juyan Lake		41.9	101.9	892		TOC	Moisture	Liu et al., 2012
M11		Sugan Lake		39.1	93.7	2795		¹³C	Temperature, Moisture	Qiang et al., 2002
M12	Loess	Biandukou		38.2	102.9	2844		TOC	Moisture	Wu et al., 2000
M13		Haxi		37.5	102.4	2450		Carbonate content	Moisture	Wu et al., 1998
M14		Huangyang River		37.4	102.6	2447		TOC	Moisture	Li and Morrill, 2015
H11	Ice core	Dunde		38.1	96.4	5325		¹⁸O	Temperature	Thompson et al., 2006
M15	Ice core	Dunde		38.1	96.4	5325		¹⁸O	Temperature	Shi et al., 1992

Table S1

Table S2

Table S3

Table S4

Ancient citys in the Hexi Corridor (Ma, 1992)

Number	Dynasty	Site name	Lat (°N)	Long (°E)	Number	Dynasty	Site name	Lat (°N)	Long (°E)
1	Han	Cangsong	102.83	37.38	42	Tang	Liancheng	103.24	38.80
2		Zhangye	102.66	37.61	43		Zhagucheng	101.71	38.33
3		Luci	102.94	37.91	44		Gaigucheng	101.50	38.27
4		Xuanwei	102.96	38.59	45		Nangucheng	100.32	39.07
5		Gucheng	103.17	38.75	46		Luotuocheng	99.54	39.35
6		Wuwei	103.44	38.80	47		Minghaicheng	99.36	39.51
7		Sanjiaocheng	103.40	39.00	48		Xusanwangucehng	99.24	39.41
8		Luanniaocheng	101.46	38.12	49		Yangtigucheng	99.18	39.17
9		Lixuancheng	101.98	38.19	50		Shuangtacheng	96.15	40.64
10		Fanhecheng	101.74	38.32	51		Pochengzi	95.65	40.48
11		Rilegucheng	101.52	38.43	52		Chengwancheng	94.94	40.42
12		Xianticheng	101.18	38.78	53		Yangguan	93.72	40.06
13		Yonggucheng	100.94	38.41	54		Shibaocehng	95.83	39.95
14		Biegucheng	100.39	39.15	55		Dangcheng	94.51	39.62
15		Biaoshicheng	99.36	39.44	56		Shuangjingbao	98.88	39.85
16		Leguan	99.04	39.51	57	Qing	Taerwan	97.92	39.84
17		Lufu	98.59	39.76	58		Hongquanbao	97.77	39.75
18		Huishui	99.13	39.92	59		Yingerbao	98.05	39.79
19		Dawancheng	99.78	40.35	60		Shiguanery	97.94	39.97
20		Jinguan	99.95	40.52	61		Shuangjingzi	97.86	39.92
21		Shanmacheng	98.61	39.76	62		Shiwozhuangzi	98.14	40.02
22		Yumen	97.84	39.95	63		Yemawan	98.26	40.02
23		Pochengzi	97.88	40.41	64		Duancheng	98.32	39.96
24		Qianqi	97.21	40.35	65		Jiuquancheng	98.35	39.84
25		Chitou	97.06	40.42	66		Liangshankoubao	98.47	39.90
26		Bangecheng	96.57	40.44	67		Xiagucehng	98.56	39.87
27		Mingan	96.73	40.26	68		Yancibao	99.23	39.81
28		Yuanquan	96.08	40.44	69		Zijincheng	98.81	39.65
29		Guangzhi	95.64	40.31	70		Hexibao	99.39	39.82
30		Tianshuijingcheng	95.25	40.30	71		Shuangjingzi	99.35	39.78
31		Liugongcheng	95.31	40.38	72		Hongsipobao	99.43	39.74
32		Xiaogu	95.20	40.43	73		Xiaqiaoerwan	99.30	39.71
33		Daijiaduncheng	94.70	40.33	74		Zhenyibao	99.47	39.83
34		Hechang	94.10	40.45	75		Luocheng	99.50	39.76
35		Yangguan	94.22	39.97	76		Yanzhibao	99.58	39.67
36		Shouchang	94.00	39.87	77		Zhenjiangbao	99.52	39.67
37		Yumenguan	94.03	40.32	78		Heiquanbao	99.54	39.63
38		Cangsong	102.83	37.38	79		Shiba	99.62	39.63
39	Tang	Shenniao	102.36	37.92	80		Baba	99.63	39.59
40		Xiutu	102.69	38.15	81		Yongfengbao	99.54	39.57
41		Shacheng	102.63	38.25	82		Andingbao	99.66	39.54
83	Qing	Lesanbao	99.72	39.47	96	Qing	Xibaying	102.24	37.94
84		Shangqiaoerwan	99.78	39.83	97		Nanbaying	102.45	37.80
85		Xiamenchengbao	101.41	38.52	98		Daheyi	102.82	37.81
86		Fengchengbao	101.30	38.58	99		Gaogoubao	102.93	37.90
87		Xinhebao	101.21	38.65	100		Huoxingbao	102.83	38.32
88		Shandanwei	101.13	38.73	101		Yezhuwanbao	102.87	38.40
89		Majiabao	101.02	38.89	102		Changningbao	102.79	38.45
90		Yongchangcheng	101.98	38.29	103		Heishanbao	102.93	38.56
91		Hexibao	102.06	38.46	104		Hongyabao	102.90	38.50
92		Yonganbao	102.00	38.17	105		Liuba	103.34	38.65
94		Qingshanbao	102.27	38.13	106		Hongshabao	103.30	38.87
95		Huaianyi	102.53	37.92

Table S4

Table S5

Table S6

Years of Disasters in the Hexi Corridor (AD) (Feng, 1982; Li, 1996; Yu et al., 2011; Shun et al., 2016)

Disaster
2	26	53	61	62	108	109
109	110	115	122	122	122	138
142	142	143	144	180	181	183
235	249	270	270	285	300	301
304	304	320	345	350	351	352
354	361	362	365	366	369	369
371	384	387	393	397	398	399
399	401	401	402	402	405	405
408	410	414	417	419	429	433
449	451	479	479	480	481	485
496	496	501	503	503	504	504
505	507	507	507	508	508	509
510	520	531	618	618	627	629
650	676	678	682	720	726	726
785	786	786	821	939	941	942
942	943	962	965	968	993	994
996	1006	1008	1009	1015	1017	1018
1025	1027	1041	1042	1074	1076	1110
1117	1143	1176	1176	1177	1223	1226
1226	1260	1260	1262	1262	1286	1288
1288	1289	1290	1290	1293	1293	1294
1295	1297	1298	1299	1300	1303	1308
1308	1311	1313	1313	1316	1319	1319
1319	1322	1323	1324	1325	1326	1328
1330	1330	1332	1332	1371	1406	1418
1425	1426	1427	1433	1436	1439	1441
1447	1448	1450	1452	1453	1453	1455
1457	1457	1458	1459	1459	1460	1468
1468	1468	1470	1477	1478	1479	1482
1483	1483	1484	1484	1485	1485	1486
1487	1489	1490	1494	1495	1495	1503
1504	1504	1505	1506	1506	1506	1507
1508	1509	1511	1514	1516	1517	1517
1517	1520	1521	1521	1527	1527	1528
1529	1531	1532	1534	1534	1535	1538
1539	1539	1544	1545	1546	1547	1548
1550	1551	1551	1553	1553	1554	1556
1557	1557	1557	1558	1559	1560	1561
1562	1563	1564	1564	1565	1566	1568
1587	1588	1588	1602	1604	1604	1608
1608	1609	1609	1616	1618	1634	1638
1640	1640	1641	1647	1649	1649	1649
1655	1665	1665	1666	1666	1667	1668
1671	1684	1684	1685	1686	1686	1686
1690	1692	1695	1697	1700	1702	1702
1708	1708	1708	1709	1712	1712	1713
1718	1722	1727	1728	1728	1728	1729
1730	1731	1732	1733	1734	1735	1735
1738	1738	1739	1739	1740	1740	1741
1742	1744	1744	1745	1745	1745	1746
1746	1749	1749	1749	1750	1750	1752
1752	1753	1753	1753	1753	1754	1756
1756	1757	1757	1757	1757	1757	1758
1758	1759	1759	1760	1762	1762	1762
1762	1763	1763	1764	1764	1764	1764
1764	1765	1765	1765	1765	1766	1766
1767	1767	1767	1768	1768	1768	1771
1771	1772	1772	1772	1773	1773	1774
1774	1774	1774	1774	1775	1775	1775
1776	1776	1776	1776	1777	1778	1778
1778	1779	1779	1779	1780	1780	1780
1781	1783	1784	1785	1785	1785	1787
1787	1790	1792	1795	1797	1798	1799
1800	1800	1801	1801	1803	1803	1805
1809	1810	1810	1810	1811	1812	1812
1814	1817	1818	1818	1820	1820	1821
1821	1821	1821	1822	1823	1824	1824
1824	1824	1826	1826	1826	1826	1826
1827	1827	1829	1829	1831	1831	1831
1833	1833	1834	1836	1836	1837	1837
1838	1838	1839	1841	1841	1841	1844
1844	1844	1845	1847	1847	1847	1847
1847	1848	1849	1849	1850	1851	1852
1852	1856	1857	1858	1860	1860	1861
1862	1863	1864	1865	1866	1867	1868
1868	1869	1870	1872	1873	1874	1874
1877	1877	1877	1878	1879	1879	1880
1881	1882	1882	1883	1884	1884	1884
1884	1885	1885	1885	1886	1886	1886
1887	1887	1888	1889	1890	1891	1892
1893	1894	1894	1895	1895	1896	1896
1898	1899	1899	1900

Table S6

Table S7

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Number	Cultural style	Age (cal a BP)	Subsistence	Productivity level
C₁	Yangshao	5600-4600	Agriculture	Neolithic
C₂	Majiayao	4800-4000	Agriculture	Neolithic
C₃	Qijia	4000-3600	Agriculture and Animal husbandry	Bronze and stone
C₄	Siba	3700-3300	Agriculture and Animal husbandry	Bronze
C₅	Dongjiatai	3200-3000	Animal husbandry	Bronze
C₆	Xindian	3000-2100	Animal husbandry	Bronze
C₇	Shanma	2900-2100	Animal husbandry	Bronze
C₈	Shajing	2700-2100	Animal husbandry	Iron

Number	Dynasty	Age (yr)	Number	Dynasty	Age (yr)
D₁	Han Dynasty	-121-220	D₆	Uighurs-Guiyijun	851-1036
D₂	Wei and Jin dynasties	220-316	D₇	Xixia	1036-1227
D₃	Five liang and Northern Dynasty	316-581	D₈	Yuan Dynasty	1227-1368
D₄	Sui and Tang dynasties	581-755	D₉	Ming Dynasty	1368-1644
D₅	Tubo	755-851	D₁₀	Qing Dynasty	1644-1911

Number	Site name	Lat (°N)	Long (°E)	Elevation (m)	Proxies used	Proxy indication	Civilization	References
1	Lago Umayo	-15.44	-70.1	3880	¹⁸O	Temperature	Tiwanaku	Baker et al., 2009
2	Belize Blue Hole	-17.5	-87.5	-125	¹⁸O	Temperature	Maya	Gischler et al., 2008
3	Faiyum Oasis	29.43933	30.3977778	250	Ca²⁺	Temperature, moisture	Egypt	Marks et al., 2018
4	Qishan section	34.45	107.65	687	Magnetic susceptibility	Temperature, moisture	Xia	Pang et al., 2001
5	Gulf of Oman	23.4457	58.7454	-2732	Carbonate content	Temperature, moisture	Akkadian	Cullen et al., 2000
6	Indus delta	23.5812	66.7159	-316	¹⁸O	Temperature, moisture	Harappan	Staubwasser et al., 2003
7	Alpi Apuane karst	45	10	300	¹³C	Temperature, moisture	Europe	Drysdale et al., 2006