Development of aeolian desertification in Maqu County of Gansu Province was monitored by using the multi-phase remote sensing data as information resources and with GIS method. Results revealed that desertified land expanded rapidly with an increase of 44 093.8 hm2 during the period of 1975-1990, among which the area of mobile dune, semi-fixed and fixed dune increased by 39.9 hm2, 27 702.7 hm2, and 16 351.2 hm2, respectively. The degree of desertification intensified during 1990-2000, and the total area of desertification land increased by 142.4 hm2, among which the area of mobile dune and semi-fixed dune increased by 200.1 hm2 and 326.6 hm2, respectively, however, the area of fixed dune decreased by 384.3 hm2. The area of desertified land has decreased by 3 226.2 hm2 during 2000-2005. The main reasons responsible for land desertification in Maqu County included temperature increase, over grazing, irrational human activity, and rodents and pests damages.

Download