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Arid Land Geography ›› 2026, Vol. 49 ›› Issue (8): 1545-1559.doi: 10.12118/j.issn.1000-6060.2025.616

• Climatology and Hydrology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Progress on climate change and its impacts in the arid Central Asia: A bibliometric analysis

ZHAI Yongjian1,2(), YAO Junqiang2,3,4(), QIN Yan1   

  1. 1 College of Geography and Remote Sensing Sciences, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830017, Xinjiang, China
    2 Institute of Desert Meteorology, China Meteorological Administration, Urumqi 830002, Xinjiang, China
    3 Field Scientific Experiment Base of Akedala Atmospheric Background, China Meteorological Administration, Fuhai 836499, Xinjiang, China
    4 Key Laboratory of Tree-ring Physical and Chemical Research, China Meteorological Administration, Urumqi 830002, Xinjiang, China
  • Received:2025-10-04 Revised:2025-10-30 Online:2026-08-25 Published:2026-08-21
  • Contact: YAO Junqiang E-mail:17622707206@163.com;yaojq1987@126.com

Abstract:

The arid Central Asia is highly vulnerable to climate change because of scarce water resources, sparse vegetation, and fragile ecosystems. Historic fluctuations in precipitation have transformed lakes and oasis areas, affecting regional development, highlighting the need to understand the characteristics and impacts of climate change on this region. This study adopted bibliometric methods based on literature from the Web of Science Core Collection and CNKI (1985—2024) and applied CiteSpace and VOSviewer to examine publication trends, collaboration networks, research hotspots, and frontiers. Results show that: Research on climate change and its effects on arid Central Asia has evolved from initial exploration to rapid growth and increased sophistication. Domestic studies can be classified into three stages (1985—2002, 2003—2011, 2012—2024), while international studies show two stages (1985—2006, 2007—2024). These efforts focus on institutions of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and universities in Xinjiang and northwestern China although international cooperation remains limited. High-frequency keywords suggest a research focus on temperature and precipitation changes and their effects on water resources, vegetation, and ecosystems, with increasing emphasis on interactions between human activities and climate change. Frontier analysis demonstrates a shift from single-factor trend detection to multisource data, process mechanisms, quantitative attribution, and ecosystem service assessment. Overall, bibliometric analysis helps explain the fragmented research landscape and empirically supports ecological protection and international cooperation in arid Central Asia.

Key words: Central Asia, arid region, climate change, research progress, bibliometrics