The Institute of Global Environmental Change of Xi'an Jiaotong University (IGEC-XJTU) was established in 2010. It is dedicated to researching multi-scale climate evolution and interdecadal climate change, as well as hydrological, ecological, and geological processes and their effects. The institute provides theoretical and technical support for national and regional medium-to-long-term climate change predictions, ecological protection, and high-quality development strategies.

The institute has 24 faculty members, including one national-level talent, three national-level young talents, and six university-level young top talents. It has published over 700 SCI papers, including more than 100 papers in high-impact journals such as Nature, Science, PNAS, Nature Communications, and Science Advances. The institute's research has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including:

· Top Ten Scientific Advances in Chinese Universities

· Special Prize for Outstanding Scientific Research Achievements of Shaanxi Universities

· Second Prize of Shaanxi Natural Science Award

· Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation in Shaanxi Province

· First Prize of Shaanxi Ecological Science and Technology Award

· Top Ten Research Advances in Chinese Geographical Sciences

The institute has undertaken more than 60 projects, including:

· Key projects of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)

· Basic research center projects

· International cooperation key projects

· General NSFC projects

· Key sub-projects of major R&D programs

· Provincial and ministerial-level projects

It has six high-level research laboratories:

1. Chronology and Environmental Indicators Testing and Analysis Laboratory

2. Speleothem and Environmental Change Laboratory

3. Tree Ring and Environmental Change Laboratory

4. Ecosystem and Hydrological System Simulation Laboratory

5. Watershed Hydrological Cycle and Ecological Effects Laboratory

6. Climate Numerical Simulation Laboratory

These laboratories support global environmental change research platforms, focusing on cutting-edge fundamental scientific questions.

 

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Main Research Areas

1. Multi-Scale Climate Evolution and Interdecadal Climate Change

This research relies on the Isotope Laboratory, established in 2010, which is a world-class research facility specializing in uranium-series (U-series) chronology and global climate change studies. The lab is equipped for:

· U-series dating (dilution U-Th and laser/dilution U-Pb methods)

· Stable carbon and oxygen isotope measurements

· Trace element analysis

· Fluid inclusion experiments

· Organic chemistry experiments

Under the leadership of Professor Hai Cheng, a national leading scientist, the isotope lab has systematically developed high-precision U-series (U-Th, U-Pb) dating techniques. Key achievements include:

· The first acquisition of speleothem Δ'17O records, integrating this novel index with δ18O to establish an internationally leading carbonate triple oxygen isotope measurement platform.

· The advancement of fluid inclusion paleotemperature measurement techniques and the construction of a laser-trace element testing platform.

· The establishment of global climate change chronological benchmarks and reference sequences.

These contributions have positioned speleothem records as the fourth major pillar of paleoclimate research, alongside marine, ice core, and loess records, securing China's leadership in this field.

Over the past decade, the team has published over 500 SCI papers, including more than 90 in top-tier journals (Nature, Science, PNAS, Nature Communications, Science Advances). The research has received numerous accolades, including:

· Top Ten Scientific Advances in Chinese Universities

· Second Prize of Shaanxi Natural Science Award

· Outstanding Achievement Award in Higher Education of Shaanxi Province

· First Prize of Shaanxi Ecological Science and Technology Award

· Top Ten Research Advances in Chinese Geographical Sciences

Professor Hai Cheng has been recognized as a Highly Cited Scientist globally for ten consecutive years (2014–2024).

The team has undertaken over 30 major projects, including:

· NSFC key projects

· Basic research center projects

· International cooperation key projects

· General NSFC projects

· Provincial and ministerial projects

The institute has also trained two national young talents and five top young scholars at Xi'an Jiaotong University.

 

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2. Tree Rings and Environmental Change Research

This research focuses on analyzing tree ring width, density, and stable carbon-oxygen isotopes to study climate, hydrology, and ecological changes in key global regions. The objective is to understand evolution patterns, driving mechanisms, and impacts, as well as to conduct ancient tree conservation and plant physiological ecology studies.

The research team has:

· Published over 80 papers in journals like Nature Communications and Science Bulletin.

· Undertaken over 10 national projects.

 

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3. Coupling of Water, Sediment, and Carbon in Ecosystems

In response to national strategies on ecological protection and carbon neutrality, the institute studies:

· Spatial and temporal variations in watershed hydrology and sediment transport

· Large-scale ecosystem carbon cycle evolution

· Mechanisms and regulation of watershed water-sediment-carbon coupling

In recent years, the team has led:

· National Key R&D Programs

· NSFC projects

· Strategic research projects of the Chinese Academy of Sciences

· Shaanxi key industrial chain projects

· National Soil Census Projects

With over 100 publications in high-impact journals such as Nature Communications, Global Change Biology, and Engineering, the team's research has earned:

· Special Prize for Outstanding Scientific Research in Shaanxi Universities

· First Prize of Shaanxi Ecological Science and Technology Award

· Recognition as a leading scientific innovation team in Shaanxi Province.

 

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4. Watershed Hydrological Cycle and Ecological Effects

Research focuses on:

1. Mechanisms and modeling of surface water-groundwater interactions.

2. Simulation and prediction of climate change impacts on the watershed hydrological cycle (flow flux, storage, and pathways).

3. Interactions between groundwater and permafrost in alpine regions.

4. Sustainable groundwater resource management, ecological protection, and disaster mitigation strategies.

The team has published over 40 papers in Science, Geophysical Research Letters, and Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres. Highlights include:

· GRL cover article

· AGU “Highlight” paper

· Professor Yingying Yao won the NSFC Outstanding Young Scientist Award and was selected for the Xi'an Jiaotong University Top Young Talent Program (A-level).

 

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5. Climate Numerical Simulation

Research involves:

· Simulating past millennium-scale climate change mechanisms in China

· Using machine learning and numerical weather prediction to develop wind power forecasting systems

The team has:

· Published over 10 SCI papers.

· Led two NSFC projects and participated in four major projects, including NSFC key projects and China’s National Basic Research Program (973 Program).

 

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Development Vision

The Institute of Global Environmental Change aims to:

· Support Xi'an Jiaotong University’s "Westward Expansion, National Service, World-Class" development strategy.

· Leverage the university’s comprehensive strength in science and engineering.

· Establish a world-class research institute in global environmental change.

· Cultivate a high-level scientific research team in climate change and ecological environment studies.

· Provide scientific support for Earth sciences and national strategies, including:

o Addressing global climate change challenges

o Ecological protection of the Yellow River Basin

o High-quality sustainable development

The institute is committed to advancing China’s ecological and environmental sustainability.