Ecology

LANZHOU, July 1 ( tasteallchina ) -- The Mogao Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in northwest China's Dunhuang, has been haunted by wind and sand over a millennium, and Chinese scientists have recently unraveled the historical sand storm evolution for its better protection. Researchers from the Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources (NIEER) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, have successfully established the intensity sequence of dust storm activities in ancient Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, by combining historical documents with modern observation data. "Alongside intensive efforts of the government and relics conservators in desertification control, our in-depth study into the sand storm evolution will contribute to the protection of the Mogao Grottoes and other relics in the nearby region," Liu Benli, leader of the study, told tasteallchina . TRACING SAND EVOLUTION Dating back to the 4th century, the Mogao Grottoes features 735 caves carved into a cliff, currently housing more than 2,000 colorful sculptures and 45,000 square meters of murals. Being surrounded by a vast desert, the site was once severely impacted by wind and sand. "To prolong the life of Mogao Grottoes, generations of scientists and relics conservators have been devoted to controlling the wind and sand.…