亚洲内陆气候干旱化过程和青藏高原隆升及其环境效应备受学术界关注，但导致新近纪柴达木盆地气候干旱化和植被由森林向草原转变的驱动机制尚无定论。无机代用指标可为环境气候变化提供连续变化曲线，但缺乏定量数据的输入，古植物学的最新发展为定量重建古气候参数、古海拔提供了条件和机遇。本项目拟以柴达木盆地东北部德令哈地区新发现的中新世植物化石为材料，通过形态学和解剖学研究，恢复研究区的古植被面貌；运用亲缘种和叶相方法定量重建古气候参数；碳同位素和气孔参数结合，利用最新模型精确恢复古大气CO2浓度；并以叶相求得的热焓值和气孔指数分别计算化石点的古海拔。最后综合分析全球气候变化、新构造运动与区域气候植被间的相互耦合关系，探究柴达木盆地新近纪以来气候植被演变的驱动机制。

The process of aridification in internal Asia and The uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau associated with its environmental effects had received much attention from academic communities, but to date, it is controversial when talk about the driving forces underlying the Neogene gradual aridification and vegetational evolution from forests to steppe in the Qaidam Basin. Inorganic proxies could trace continuous climatic changes, but they fail to input quantitative data. The latest development of paleobotany qualified us to quantitatively reconstruct paleoclimatic parameters and paleoelevation. This proposal aims to investigate recovered Miocene plant fossils from Delingha region in the Northeast Qaidam Basin. Paleovegetation will be investigated based on morphology and anatomy of plant fossils. Paleoclimatic data will be reconstructed using the methodology of Nearest Living Relatives (NLR) and leaf physiognomy. Paleo-CO2 level will be modeling estimated by combination of cuticle stomatal parameters and carbon isotopic value. Paleoelevation will be calculated from enthalpy obtained from leaf physiognomy or stomatal indexes. Finally, the coupled interaction among global climatic changes, neotectonics and the evolution of regional climate and vegetation will be integrated into consideration, and further help to argue the forces that driving the Neogene climatic and vegetational evolution in the Qaidam Basin.