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Spatial and Temporal Changes and Driving Factors of Desertification in the Source Region of the Yellow River, China

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Spatial and Temporal Changes and Driving Factors of Desertification in the Source Region of the Yellow River, China p-ISSN: 0972-6268 Nature Environment and Pollution Technology (Print copies up to 2016) Vol. 19 No. 4 pp. 1435-1442 2020 An International Quarterly Scientific Journal e-ISSN: 2395-3454 Original Research Paper Originalhttps://doi.org/10.46488/NEPT.2020.v19i04.009 Research Paper Open Access Journal Spatial and Temporal Changes and Driving Factors of Desertification in the Source Region of the Yellow River, China Q. G. Liu*† and Y. F. Huang** *Department of Tourism and Geography, Hefei University, Hefei 230601, China ** Department of Biology Food and Environment, Hefei University, Hefei 230601, China †Corresponding author: Q. G. Liu; [email protected] ABSTRACT Nat. Env. & Poll. Tech. Website: www.neptjournal.com The source region of the Yellow River, located in the north-eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, is an important water conservation region and ecological barrier of the Yellow River. In this paper, based Received: 03-12-2019 Revised: 21-01-2020 on remote sensing technology, multi-period Landsat remote sensing images in the source region were Accepted: 01-03-2020 taken as the main information source. With the assistance of field investigation, we monitored the spatial and temporal changes of desertification in the source region from 2000 to 2019. The results Key Words: show that the area of desertification in the source region has accounted for 9.36% of the total area, of Yellow river which the light desertification land is the major portion. The desertification is mainly distributed between Desertification the southern margin of Madoi Valley basin and the northern margin of Heihe Valley basin, and is Spatial and temporal distributed on the river valleys, lakesides, ancient rivers and piedmont proluvial fan, showing the form changes of patches, sheets and belts. The growth rate of desertification in the source region was 87.47% from Remote sensing 2000 to 2010. With a high growth rate, the process of desertification was represented by the rapid spread of desertification. From 2010 to 2019, the growth rate of desertification was 37.32%, which was relatively slow. But the moderate desertification land maintained a straight linear growth trend, showing an increasing trend of desertification degree. Through the analysis of the driving factors of desertification in the source region of the Yellow River, this paper argues that the special geographical location, climatic factors, rodent damages and human activities are the main causes of desertification. INTRODUCTION At present, the research on desertification is relatively weak in the source region of the Yellow River, which has affected Desertification is one of the major ecological and envi- the governance of desertification and the reconstruction of ronmental problems facing China. The source region of the eco-environment in alpine regions. Monitoring and assessment Yellow River is located in the northeast of the Qinghai-Tibet of desertification is an important way to scientifically and ef- Plateau, which is the transition zone from the Qinghai-Tibet fectively prevent desertification. Remote sensing with a wide Plateau to the Loess Plateau. It is an important water con- range of observations, a large amount of information, a fast servation region and ecological barrier of the Yellow River, update of data and high accuracy (Kang & Liu 2014, Ma et al. and also a sensitive area of climate changes. Due to the harsh 2016), has been widely used in the monitoring and assessment natural conditions and fragile ecological environment, and of desertification. Based on RS image processing technology, the impact of global climate changes and human activities, this paper used Landsat TM/ETM+ remote sensing images since the 1980s, many ecological and environmental problems from 2000 to 2019, analysed the spatial and temporal changes have emerged in the source region of the Yellow River, such of desertification in the source region of Yellow River since as desertification, grassland degradation, glacial recession, 2000, explored the driving factors of desertification. Base on permafrost melting, and the flow interruption of the Yellow the analysis of the development trend of desertification, this River. The overall eco-environment in the source region of the paper provides a relevant scientific and theoretical basis for Yellow River is deteriorating, and desertification is the most the restoration of desertification and eco-environment man- serious ecological and environmental problems. A series of agement in the source region of the Yellow River. ecological and environmental problems dominated by land de- sertification, have seriously affected the sustainable economic STUDY AREA development and social stability of the source region and had a certain impact on the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow The source region of the Yellow River generally refers to the River (Cheng 1998, Zeng et al. 2003, Wang et al. 2004). river basin above Duoshixia (Institute of Geography, CAS climate changes. Due to the harsh natural conditions and fragile ecological environment, and the impact of global climate changes and human activities, since the 1980s, many ecological and environmental problems have emerged in the source region of the Yellow River, such as desertification, grassland degradation, glacial recession, permafrost melting, and the flow interruption of the Yellow River. The overall eco-environment in the source region of the Yellow River is deteriorating, and desertification is the most serious ecological and environmental problems. A series of ecological and environmental problems dominated by land desertification, have seriously affected the sustainable economic development and social stability of the source region and had a certain impact on the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River (Cheng 1998, Zeng et al. 2003, Wang et al. 2004). At present, the research on desertification is relatively weak in the source region of the Yellow River, which has affected the governance of desertification and the reconstruction of eco-environment in alpine regions. Monitoring and assessment of desertification is an important way to scientifically and effectively prevent desertification. Remote sensing with a wide range of observations, a large amount of information, a fast update of data and high accuracy (Kang & Liu 2014, Ma et al. 2016), has been widely used in the monitoring and assessment of desertification. Based on RS image processing technology, this paper used Landsat TM/ETM+ remote sensing images from 2000 to 2019, analysed the spatial and temporal changes of desertification in the source region of Yellow River since 2000, explored the driving factors of desertification. Base on the analysis of the development trend of desertification, this paper provides a relevant scientific and theoretical basis for the restoration of 1436 Q. G. Liu and Y. F. Huang desertification and eco-environment management in the source region of the Yellow River. Fig. 1: Geographic location of the study area in China. Fig. 1: Geographic location of the study area in China. 1990). To more completely study the desertification in the (Wang et al. 1998), through field investigation and laboratory source region of the Yellow River, our study focused on the analysis, and combined with the changes of vegetation, soil river basin aboveSTUDY Tehetu AREA Township. The study area is located and other factors, the desertification land in the source region between 33°42’~35°20’The source Nregion and of 95°52’~99°29’ the Yellow River generally E, with refers an area to the riverof basin the aboveYellow Duoshixia River (Institute can be of divided Geography into, CAS light 1990). desertification approximately 3.7×104 km2 (Fig. 1). The source region of land (LDL), moderate desertification land (MDL), severe To more completely study the desertification in the source region of the Yellow River, our study focused on the river basin above the Yellow River is bounded by Kariqiong Mountain in the desertification land (SDL) and extremely desertification4 land Tehetu Township. The study area is located between 33°42'~35°20' N and 95°52'~99°29' E, with an area approximately 3.7×10 west, Bayan Har Mountain2 in the south, Buqing Mountain in (EDL). All types of desertification were mainly distinguished the north and Amnekm (Fig. Machin 1). The Mountainsource region inof thethe Yellow east. RiverIt belongs is bounded byby Kariqiong the degree Mountain of inland the west,degradation. Bayan Har Mountain in the south, Buqing Mountain in the north and Amne Machin Mountain in the east. It belongs to Qinghai Province, includes most parts to Qinghai Province, includes most parts of Madoi County LDL: the area of quicksand is under 5%, and there is almost and a part of Darlag County and Maqen County in Golog no wind-sand flow. The vegetation coverage is over 30%, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, as well as includes a part mainly distributed in fixed coppice sandbags and sporadic of Qumarleb County and Chindu County in Yushu Tibetan grassland. Most of the surface remains in the state of native Autonomous Prefecture. grassland. There is a small amount of wind erosion and wind The source region of the Yellow River is high in the deposition, and the surface appears spot-like quicksand, northwest and low in the southeast, and the elevation of most which is equivalent to fixed sand. areas is 4,100-4,600m. The central area is relatively open, MDL: the area of quicksand is 5-25%, and the wind-sand flow with numerous lakes and marshes, surrounded by icebergs is not obvious. Semi-fixed sand and semi-naked gravel are and snow-capped peaks. The landform shows the character- distributed in patches. The vegetation coverage is 20-30%, istics of inter-distribution of low mountains, wide valleys and there are some sporadic sand dunes. Grassland has been and lake basins. The source region is a typical continental significantly degraded, and the important constructive species alpine climate, characterized by cold and dry weather, the of native vegetation has taken a secondary position, while sharp difference in temperature, much wind and snow, and the sandy vegetation has become the main species.
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