Identification of natural and anthropogenic sources and the effects of climatic fluctuations and land use changes on dust emissions variations in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

•The natural and anthropogenic dust sources of the QTP were identified.•The contribution of natural and anthropogenic dust sources to the total dust emission over the QTP were determined.•The effects of climatic fluctuations and land use changes on the dust emission of the QTP were estimated.•Transformation of anthropogenic disturbances to ecosystems were discussed.