Deserts and Aeolian Desertification in China

This Book provides a comprehensive summary of the research on deserts and Aeolian desertification and their rehabilitation practices in China over the past 50 years. This volume is composed of four part. Part I presents the distribution and characteristics of deserts and Aeolian desertification in China, as well as their physiographical conditions and socio-economic status. Part II discusses in detail the origin and evolution of deserts and Aeolian desertification in China; reveals the physical, biological, and human impact processes of Aeolian desertification; establishes the evaluation model and indicator system for monitoring Aeolian desertification; and predicts the developmental trend of Aeolian desertification. Part III gives a detailed description of the deserts, sandy lands and Aeolian desertified lands in different zones in China. Part IV discusses the main problems confronting China’s desert regions, puts forward strategies and optimization models for rehabilitating deserts and Aeolian desertification in China, and summarizes the danger of blown sand movement to people’s lives and infrastructure as well as engineering measures to prevent and control the wind erosion and desertification.

The book scientifically reveals the origins and mechanisms of deserts and Aeolian desertification in China, effectively proves that deserts are the outcome of nature while Aeolian desertification is a product of irrational human activities, clarifies the prolonged divergence of views on deserts and Aeolian desertification, and solves some important theoretic questions concerning Aeolian desertification control. Using this basis, as well as through summarizing China’s practices and experiences in combating deserts and Aeolian desertification over the past 50 years, this book puts forward strategies to combat Aeolian desertification, basic principles and patterns for the rehabilitation of deserts and Aeolian desertified lands, as well as patterns for development of deserts and the control of desertification in different climatic zones in China. Furthermore, fundamental technical systems to combat Aeolian desertification are established.

Part I: Overview of Deserts and Aeolian Desertification in China|
Chapter 1 Introduction
1.1 Progress in desert research in China
1.2. Aeolian desertification research and its progress in China
1.3 Development trend in the researches of deserts and Aeolian desertification in China
Chapter 2 Outline on Natural and Socio-economical Features of Deserts and Aeolian Desertified Regions
2.1 Climate
2.2 Geomorphology
2.3 Hydrology
2.4 Soil
2.5 Vegetation
2.6 Social and Economic Situations
2.7. References

Chapter 3 Classification and Distribution of Deserts and Aeolian Desertified Lands in China
3.1 Classification and distribution of deserts in China
3.2 General characteristics of Chinese deserts
3.3 Types and characteristics of Aeolian desertification in China
3.4 Rules and characteristics of Aeolian desertified land distribution in China
3.5 References

Chapter 4 Natural Resources in Desert Regions
4.1 Climatic resources
4.2 Water resources
4.3 Land resources
4.4 Vegetation in the deserts and Aeolian desertified lands
4.5 Animal resources
4.6 Mineral resources
4.7 Tourism resources
4.8 References

Part II: Evolution of Deserts and Aeolian Desertification in China

Chapter 5 Evolution of Deserts
5.1 Formation conditions for deserts
5.2 The formation and development of deserts
5.3 Sedimentary records of desert areas in China
5.4 Aeolian desertification in the historical period
References

Chapter 6 Blown Sand Physics and Formation of Aeolian Landforms
6.1 Laws of blown sand movement
6.2 The role of sand movement in the formation of Aeolian landforms
6.3 Main dynamic types and characteristics of Aeolian landforms
References

Chapter 7 The Causes and Processes of Aeolian Desertification
7.1 Natural factors leading to the formation of Aeolian desertification
7.2 Human activities and Aeolian desertification
7.3 Aeolian desertification development processes
References

Chapter 8 Formation and Damages of Dust Storms
8.1 “Dust rain” and dust storms in the historical period of China
8.2 Characteristics and damages of dust storms in China
8.3 Meteorological and topographical conditions for the formation of dust storms
8.4 Influence of anthropogenic factors on the formation of dust storms
8.5 Status and development trend of dust storms in China
References

Chapter 9 Aeolian Desertification Monitoring and Assessment
9.1 Indicator systems for monitoring Aeolian desertification by remote sensing
9.2 Aeolian Desertification Monitoring methods based on 3S techniques
9.3 Some results of Aeolian desertification monitoring over the past 50 years
9.4 Model of Aeolian desertification assessment
References

Part III: Case Study of Deserts and Aeolian Desertification in China

Chapter 10 Sandy Land and Aeolian Desertified Land in Steppe Zones
10.1 Hulun Buir Sandy Land
10.2 Songnen Sandy Land
10.3 Horqin Sandy Land
10.4 Onqin Daga Sandy Land
10.5 Mu Us Sandy Land
References

Chapter 11 Deserts and Aeolian Desertified Land in Desert Steppe
11.1 Ulan Buh Desert
11.2 Hobq Desert
11.3 Tengger Desert
11.4 Badain Jaran Desert
11.5 Aeolian desertification in the Hexi Corrido
References

Chapter 12 Deserts and Aeolian Desertified Lands in the Arid Regions
12.1 Gurbantunggut Desert
12.2 Taklimakan Desert
12.3 Kumtag Desert
References

Chapter 13 Deserts and Aeolian Desertification in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
13.1 Aeolian desertification in the Gonghe Basin of Qinghai Province
13.2 Desert in the Qinghai Lake basin
13.3 Desert in the Qaidam Basin
13.4 Aeolian dune development and environmental changes in the adjoining region of Puruogangriice sheet, North Tibetan Plateau
13.5 Aeolian desertification in the “Yarlung Zangbo River and its Two Tributaries” region in Tibet
References

Chapter 14 Gobi Desert
14.1 Features and types of gobi deserts
14.2 Distribution, types and features of gobi desert in different regions
14.3 Reclamation and use of gobi deserts
References

Chapter 15 Special Types of Sandy Lands and Aeolian Desertification
15.1 Sandy Lands on the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain
15.2 Coastal Sandy Lands
15.3 Sandy lands in the dry-hot valleys in southwest China
References

Part IV: Control of Deserts and Aeolian desertification

Chapter 16 Strategy of Aeolian Desertification Control
16.1 Principles and approaches to control Aeolian desertification
16.2 Strategies and measures to combat Aeolian desertification
16.3 Rehabilitation patterns of Aeolian desertified lands in different climatic zones
16.4 Measures to control Aeolian desertification
References

Chapter 17 Blown Sand Hazards and Their Control Measures
17.1 Causes of blown sand hazards and their basic features
17.2 Quantitative evaluations of blown sand hazards
17.3 Basic approaches to control blown sand hazards
17.4 Combating and Preventing blown sand hazards along railway and highway in sand region of China
17.5 Combating and preventing wind-blown sand hazards in farmland
17. 6 Controlling wind-blown sand hazards on grasslands
17.7 Monitoring and forecast of blown sand hazards
References

Chapter 18 Regionalization of Aeolian Desertification Control in China
18.1 Regionalization of Aeolian desertification control in China
18.2 Blown sandy land development and rehabilitation in the sub-humid Huang-Huai-Hai Plain
18.3 Agro-pastoral zone o eastern Inner Mongolia
18.4 Semi-arid agro-pastoral zones in Shanxi, Shaanxi and Inner Mongolia
18.5 Aeolian desertification control of oases in arid desert zones
18.6 Pastoral area of the Tibetan Plateau
References