Monitoring desertification processes in Mongolian Plateau using MODIS tasseled cap transformation and TGSI time series

Most remote sensing studies assess the desertification using vegetation monitoring method. But it has the insufficient precision of vegetation monitoring for the limited vegetation cover of the desertification region. Therefore, it offers an alternative approach for the desertification research to assess sand dune and sandy land change using remote sensing in the desertification region. In this study, the indices derived from the well-known tasseled cap transformation(TCT), tasseled cap angle(TCA),disturbance index(DI), process indicator(PI), and topsoil grain size index(TGSI) were integrated to monitor and assess the desertification at the thirteen study sites including sand dunes and sandy lands distributed in the Mongolian Plateau(MP) from 2000 to 2015. A decision tree was used to classify the desertification on a regional scale. The average overall accuracy of 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015 desertification classification was higher than 90%. Results from this study indicated that integration of the advantages of TCA, DI and TGSI could better assess the desertification. During the last 16 years, Badain Jaran Desert, Tengger Desert, and Ulan Buh Desert showed a relative stabilization. Otindag Sandy Land and the deserts of Khar Nuur, Ereen Nuur, Tsagan Nuur, Khongoryn Els, Hobq, and Mu Us showed a slow increasing of desertification, whereas Bayan Gobi, Horqin and Hulun Buir sandy lands showed a slow decreasing of desertification. Compared with the other 11 sites, the fine sand dunes occupied the majority of the Tengger Desert, and the coarse sandy land occupied the majority of the Horqin Sandy Land. Our findings on a three or four years' periodical fluctuated changes in the desertification may possibly reflect changing precipitation and soil moisture in the MP. Further work to link the TCA, DI,TGSI, and PI values with the desertification characteristics is recommended to set the thresholds and improve the assessment accuracy with field investigation.     

Spatio-temporal variation of soil moisture in a fixed dune at the southern edge of the Gurbantunggut Desert in Xinjiang,China

Soil moisture is critical for vegetation growth in deserts. However, detailed dataregarding the soil moisture distribution in space and time in the Gurbantunggut Desert have not yet been reported. In this study, we conducted a series ofinsitu observation experiments in a fixed sand dune at the southern edge of the GurbantunggutDesert from February 2014 to October 2016, to explore the spatio-temporal variation of soil moisture content, investigate the impact of Haloxylonammodendron (C. A. Mey.) Bungeon soil moisture content in its root zone, and examine the factors influencing the soil moisture spatial pattern. One-way analysis of variance,least significant difference testsand correlation analysis were used to analyze the data. The results revealed that the soil moisture content exhibited annual periodicity and the temporal variation of soil moisture content throughout a year could be divided into three periods, namely, a moisture-gaining period, a moisture-losing period and a moisture-stable period.According to the temporal and spatial variability, the 0-400 cm soil profile could be divided into two layers: an active layer with moderate variability and a stable layer with weak variability.The temporal variability was larger than the spatial variability in the active layer,and the mean profile soil moisture content at different slope positions displayed the trend of decreasing with increasing relative heightand mainly followed the order of interdunearea>westand east slopes>slope top.The mean profile soil moisture content in the root zone of dead H. ammodendronindividuals was significantly higher than that in the root zones of adult and young individuals, while the soil moisture content in the root zone of adult individuals was slightly higher than that in the root zone of young individuals with no significant difference.The spatial pattern of soil moisture was attributable to the combined effects of snowfall, vegetation and soil texture, whereas the effects of rainfall and evaporation were not significant. The findings may offer a foundation for the management of sandy soil moisture and vegetation restoration in arid areas.     

Influence of salinity and moisture on the threshold shear velocity of saline sand in the Qarhan Desert,Qaidam Basin of China: A wind tunnel experiment

Determination of the threshold shear velocity is essential for predicting sand transport, dust release and desertification. In this study, a wind tunnel experiment was conducted to evaluate the influence of salinity and moisture on the threshold shear velocity of saline sand. Saline sand samples (mean particle size of 164.50-186.08 μm and the total silt, clay and salt content of 0.80%-8.25%) were collected from three saline sand dunes (one barchan dune and two linear dunes) in the Qarhan Desert, Qaidam Basin of China. Original saline sand samples were placed in two experimental trays for wet and dry processing to simulate deliquescence and desiccation, respectively. Surface moisture content ranging from 0.30% to 1.90% was generated by the steam method so that the saline sand can absorb water in a saturated water vapor environment. The motion of sand particles was determined by the observers with a solid laser. The laser sheet (0.80 cm thick), which was emitted by the solid laser, horizontally covered the sand surface and was bound to the sand. Results show that the cohesion of saline sand results from a combination of salt and water. The threshold shear velocity increases exponentially with the increase in crust thickness for the linear sand dunes. There is a positive linear correlation between the original moisture content and relative threshold shear velocity. The threshold shear velocity of dewatered sand is greater than that of wet sand with the same original moisture content. Our results will provide valuable information about the sand transport of highly saline soil in the desert.     

吉林省西部复合农林业综合配套技术研究

通过对吉林省西部平原沙丘区地貌类型进行分类，提出了“容器覆土越冬法”等沙丘改造综合配套措施和5种复合农林业经营模式；筛选出适宜本省西部半干旱风沙区耐干旱耐瘠薄树种长白松、欧洲白榆、甘肃沙枣等6个品种，开展了生长发育、形态、生物量对干旱循环胁迫等适应性研究；应用地理信息系统解决了以县为单位的复合农林业系统分类、分区及调控技术，指出了前郭县复合农林业经营方向。     

不同破坏方式对固定沙丘植被的影响

通过对吉林省前郭县乌兰图嘎林场固定沙丘植被试验区采取限制放牧与过度放牧的对比调查，结果得出，控制放牧有利于固定沙丘植被的恢复，可有效地提高草牧场植被的多样性和异质性；而过度放牧通常是吉林省西部草牧场退化的最重要原因。     

荒漠绿洲边缘区泡泡刺灌丛土壤种子库研究

通过研究黑河中游荒漠绿洲边缘区泡泡刺灌丛的土壤种子库特征,结果表明,无论5月,还是9月,迎风坡和背风坡的土壤种子平均数量,都受到水平距离和土壤深度的显著影响。水平方向上,种子密度从灌丛下面到灌丛间地逐渐减少,而且大部分种子分布在灌丛下面,几乎没有种子分布在灌丛间地。垂直方向上,在0~10 cm范围内,5月份种子数量随着土壤深度的增加而增加。5~10 cm种子数量最多,然后随着土壤深度的增加而降低。5~10 cm迎风坡和背风坡的种子密度分别为4 292粒/m2和28 119粒/m2,显著大于其他深度的种子密度,占总种子数量的82.4%左右。9月份,无论迎风坡和背风坡,种子数量随着土壤深度增加而降低,大约有84%的种子集中在0~5 cm,很少有种子存在于10~20 cm土层。     

临策铁路防沙明洞对新月形沙丘沙物质粒度特征的影响分异

本文通过临策铁路防沙明洞影响区内外新月形沙丘各部位粒度特征参数的对比研究,探明了防沙明洞对新月形沙丘粒度特征的影响分异规律。研究表明:(1)防沙明洞改变了影响区内新月形沙丘的自然风场结构,地表沙物质呈现粗粒化、粒径均匀程度提高、粒径分布集中的特点。(2)防沙明洞上风向沙丘各个部位沙物质粗粒化程度均高于下风向沙丘,上风向沙丘迎风坡、下风向沙丘背风坡粒度变化最显著。(3)防沙明洞上风向沙丘运动状态受冬季风控制,风蚀作用强于堆积作用,而下风向沙丘运动状态受夏季风控制,堆积作用强于风蚀作用。     

塔克拉玛干沙漠腹地高大复杂纵向沙垄区简单横向沙丘形态特征的空间变异

为了探讨小尺度风沙地貌形态的空间变异过程,对塔克拉玛干沙漠腹地高大复杂纵向沙垄横断面上简单横向沙丘形态特征进行了研究。沙丘形态野外测量采用RTK(real-tim e k inem atic)技术,并通过南方测绘软件(South Survey)量算形态特征参数。结果表明:简单横向沙丘形态特征参数及其相互关系具有空间变异性。在8个地貌部位之间,沙丘形态特征参数(不包括迎风坡度)存在显著性差异,主要体现在:垄顶、沙垄背风坡、其他地貌部位(包括垄间地和沙垄迎风坡)三者之间的差异。地貌部位、输沙风强度以及沙丘活动强度是驱动沙丘形态空间变异的因素。沙丘高度与翼展度余弦有负对数关系,发育指数与高度、迎风坡度成负线性相关,这些相关性的显著程度在垄顶、背风坡较高,在垄间和迎风坡较低。     

Morphology and formation mechanism of sand shadow dunes on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

The formation and development of dunes depend on wind-blown sand movement which is affected by the characteristics of sand material, topography, wind regimes and other factors. In this paper, we investigated two sand shadow dune groups in Shigatse and Za’gya Zangbo of Tibet and an individual dune in Da Qaidam of Qinghai, and analyzed their topographies and morphologies, and the physical characteristics of the sand, wind regime and sand transport. Formed under harsh conditions behind hills, these mature sand shadow dunes are hundreds of meters long, have significant ridges and crescent dunes downwind, and have a hill pass on one or both sides. Wind tunnel experiments revealed that the hill gap and wind velocity are important factors in the formation of these dunes. Sand shadow dunes formed only when the gap spacing is two-thirds of the hill height. When wind velocities are 20 m/s, the sand body is divided into two parts. The hill pass allows the transport of sand by wind, creating a "narrow-pipe effect", which causes the transported material to gradually accumulate in the center of the shadow zone. We observed that the following are needed for sand shadow dunes to form:(1) strong winds, sufficient sand, suitable obstacles and a dry climate;(2) one or both sides of the obstacle forming the shadow zone must have a hill pass; and(3) the windward side of the obstacle must have a wide, flat area, providing adequate spacing for wind flow and transport of material and the leeward side must have a sufficiently broad, flat area to allow the release of the transported material. Research results on these newly discovered dunes on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau could contribute to the understanding of dune geomorphology.     

Changes of forest fire regime and landscape pattern under different harvesting modes in a boreal forest of Northeast China

Forest management such as timber harvesting shapes fire regimes and landscape patterns, and these patterns often differ significantly from those under natural disturbances. Our objective was to examine the effects of timber harvesting modes on fire regimes and landscape patterns in a boreal forest of Northeast China. We used a spatially explicit landscape model, LANDIS, to simulate the changes of forest landscape in the Huzhong forest region of the Great Khingan Mountains under no-cutting, clear-cutting, gradual-cutting and selective-cutting modes. Results showed that:(1) the fine fuel loadings generally decreased while the coarse fuel loadings increased with the increase of timber harvesting intensity;(2) the potential burn area significantly varied among different cutting modes, but the potential fire frequency had no obvious difference. Moreover, timber harvesting generally increased the potential fire risk;(3) clear-cutting mode significantly decreased the mean patch size and the aggregation of larch forests and increased the mean patch size and the aggregation of white birch forests. Therefore, clear-cutting mode should be abandoned, and selective-cutting mode be recommended for the sustainable forest management in the Great Khingan Mountains.