Abstract
This chapter describes the spatial distribution of aeolian desertification and its temporal change in northern China and Mongolia using remote sensing images and the aeolian desertification index. In northern China, aeolian desertification mainly occurs in semiarid and subhumid agropastoral ecotones, arid and semiarid pure pastoral regions, and arid oases in inland river basins. The area of aeolian desertification in northern China rapidly increased from 13.7 × 104 km2 in the 1950s to 38.6 × 104 km2 in 2000 and then slowly decreased to 37.6 × 104 km2 in the 2010s. Human activities are the main driving forces of aeolian desertification and its restoration in northern China. Aeolian sands cover approximately 2% of the total territory of Mongolia and are distributed through aeolian processes. In terms of aeolian desertification, the latest studies indicate that approximately 68% of degraded lands are caused by wind erosion, i.e., deflation, transportation, and accumulation of sand. Aeolian desertification is mainly linked to the rapid decline in vegetation cover, decreases in surface roughness, and increases in the aridity of the climate.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Baasan T (2003) Mongol ornii els (Sands of Mongolia). Ministry of Environment, Ulaanbaatar
Baasan T, Dash D, Enkhtaivan D et al (1992) Huurai, ganduu nutgiin tsuljiltiin sudalgaanii ur dun (Results of desertification research in drylands of Mongolia). In: Dayan delhiin uurchlult – gobi tsul olon ulsiin baga hurliin huraangui, Ulaanbaatar, 22 July 1992
Berkey CP, Morris FK (1927) Geology of Mongolia, reconnaissance report based on the investigations of the years 1922–1926. American Museum of Natural History, New York
Devyatkin EV (1970) Geologiya Kainozoya Zapadnoi Mongolii (Cainozoic geology in Western Mongolia). In: Geology of Mesozoic and Cainozoic era in Western Mongolia, vol. 2. Moscow, p 44
Devyatkin EV (1981) Kainozoi Vnutrennei Azii (stratigrafiya, geohronologiya, korrelyatsiya) (Cainozoic in Inner Asia (stratigraphy, geochronology and correlation)). Nauka, Moscow
Devyatkin EV, Malaeva EM, Murzaeva VE et al (1978) Pluvialinie pleistocenovie basseini Kotlovini Bolishih Ozer Zapadnoi Mongolii (Pluvial Pleistocene baisns in Great lake depressions of Western Mongolia). Izvestiya AN SSSR Ser Geography 5:89–99
Devyatkin EV, Malaeva EM, Murzaeva VE (1989) Hirgis-Nurskaya, Hara-Us-Nurskaya I Hara-Nurskya vpadini (Depressions of Khyargas, Khar-Us and Khar Lakes). In: SSMGE: Late Cainozoic of Mongolia, vol. 47. Moscow, p 106
Dgebuadze YY (ed) (2013) Limnology and paleolimnology of Mongolia. Russia-Mongolian Complex Biological Expedition, Moscow
Fedorovich BA (1950) Proishojdenie i razvitie peschanih tolsh pustin Azii (Formation and development of sands in Asian deserts). In: SSMGE: Materiali po chetvertichnomu period SSSR, vol. 2. Moscow, p 221
Khudulmur S, Tsogtbaatar J (eds) (2013) Desertification atlas of Mongolia. Admon, Ulaanbaatar
Kuznetsov NT, Murzaev EM (1963) Nablyudeniya na ozerah Djungarii (Monitoring of lakes in Dzungaria). Lectures in memory of L.S. Berg, Moscow-Leningrad
Mandakh N (2017) Mongol ornii tsuljilt, gazriin doroitol (Desertification and land degradation in Mongolia). In: Environment of Mongolia, vol 1. Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Ulaanbaatar
Mandakh N, Tsogtbaatar J, Dash D et al (2016) Spatial assessment of soil wind erosion using WEQ approach in Mongolia. J Geogr Sci 26(4):473–483
Marinov NA (1957) Stratigraphiya Mongoliskoi Narodnoi Respubliki (Stratigraphy of Peoples Republic of Mongolia). Nauka, Moscow
Marinov S (1970) Novie materiali o drevnem oledenenii Mongolii (New data on ancient glaciation in Mongolia). In: Geology of Mesozoic and Cainozoic era in Western Mongolia, vol. 2. Moscow, p 170
Murzaev EM (1952) Mongoliskaya Narodnaya Respublika (Peoples Republic of Mongolia). Nauka, Moscow
Nikolaeva TV, Shuvalov VF (1967) Novie Dannie o pleistocenovom oledenenii Hangaya I Gobiiskogo Altaya (New data on Pleistocene glaciation in Hangai and Gobi-Altai mountains). Vestnik LGU 6:34–39
Obruchev VA (1947) Vpadini Tsenralinoi Azii I nauchnie sokrovisha, ojidayushie izucheniya (Depressions of Central Asia and scientific treasures for research). Izvestiya AN SSSR, Seriya Geol 5:56–68
Selivanov EI (1972) Neotektonika I geomorphologiya Mongoliskoi Narodnoi Respubliki (eotectonics and geomorphology of Peoples Republic of Mongolia). Nauka, Moscow
Sinitsyn VM (1959) Tsentralinaya Aziya (Central Aisa). Nauka, Moscow
Wang T (2002) Progress in desertification research of China. In: Integration and regional research to combat desertification. Proceedings of the 16th Global Environment, Tsukuba, Japan, pp. 47–57
Wang T (2004) Progress in sandy desertification research in China. J Geogr Sci 14(4):387–400
Wang T (2011) Deserts and aeolian desertification in China. ELSEVIER in Amsterdam and Science Press in Beijing
Wang T (2014) Aeolian desertification and its control in Northern China. Int Soil Water Conservat Res 2(4):34–41
Wang T, Wu W, Xue X et al (2003) Analysis of the evolution trends of desertification in Northern China. J Desert Res 23(3):230–235 (in Chinese with English abstract)
Wang T, Wu W, Xue X et al (2004a) Study of spatial distribution of sandy desertification in North China in recent 10 years. Sci China (D) 47:78–88
Wang T, Wu W, Xue X et al (2004b) Spatial-temporal changes of sandy desertified land during last 5 decades in northern China. Acta Geograph Sin 59(2):203–212 (in Chinese with English abstract)
Wang T, Xue X, Luo YQ et al (2008) Human causes of aeolian desertification in Northern China. Sciences in cold and arid regions, initial Issue: 1–13
Zhong D (2003) Modern desert evolution in China. SinoMaps Press, Beijing (in Chinese)
Zhu ZD (1989) Advance in desert research in China. J Desert Res 9(1):1–13 (in Chinese with English abstract)
Zhu ZD (1999) Spatial distribution of land desertification in China. In: Sand desert, sandy desertification, desertification and control in China. China Environmental Science Press, Beijing (in Chinese)
Zhu ZD, Chen GT (1994) Sandy desertification in China. Science Press, Beijing (in Chinese)
Zhu ZD, Liu S (1981) Desertification processes and its control regionalization in North China. China Forestry Publishing House, Beijing (in Chinese)
Zhu ZD, Chen ZP, Wu Z et al (1981a) Study of aeolian sand landforms in Taklimakan Desert. Science Press, Beijing (in Chinese)
Zhu ZD, Wu Z, Liu S (1981b) Sand deserts in China. Science Press, Beijing (in Chinese)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2022 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Wang, T., Nyamtseren, M. (2022). Spatial Distribution and Temporal Dynamics of Aeolian Desertification. In: Wang, T., Tsunekawa, A., Xue, X., Kurosaki, Y. (eds) Combating Aeolian Desertification in Northeast Asia. Ecological Research Monographs. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-9028-0_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-9028-0_3
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-16-9027-3
Online ISBN: 978-981-16-9028-0
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)