Dynamic spatial datasets of ecological carbon pools and carbon sources and sinks in arid regions of western China under the impact of climate change from 1980 to 2014
Arid region is known for its terrestrial ecosystems highly sensitive to climate change. The dynamics of ecosystem carbon pools most intuitively reflect regional carbon source/sink characteristics. Studies on the estimation and dynamics of organic carbon pools in arid region ecosystems have important scientific implications for carbon cycle studies at both regional and global scales. The approximate spatial range of the study area is 30°N-50°N and 70°E-110°E, covering Xinjiang, northwest Gansu, and southwest Inner Mongolia of China. This paper collects the distributional data of carbon stocks in China's arid regions from 1980 to 2014 (spatial resolution: 50km), obtained from the arid ecosystem model (AEM) based on three sets of meteorological data - MERRA, ERA-Interim, and CFSR. The data obtained are then validated against data from existing literature. This datasets can be used as survey data to understand the changes of carbon stocks in the arid regions of China, providing basic data support for regional ecosystem studies. It also serves national needs in the construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt and has important practical significance for socioeconomic stability and sustainable development.