关键词: 库姆塔格沙漠, 综合科学考察, 干旱地区, 环境变化, 地层剖面, 羽毛状沙丘

Abstract: Kumtag desert in the south margin of Lop-Nur area of Tarim basin is bound by Altun Mountains in south and Aqik Valley in north, and reaches eastward Donghuang city of Gansu, covering an area of 2.29×104 km2. Kumtag desert is the sixth biggest desert in China. In investigation we found that there are many types of sand dunes, including the unique plumed dunes in the world. Kumtag desert are characterized by the quick mobility of sand dunes, the complicated dune-covered-landform, the extremely arid climate conditions and the sequential exposed strata which contain large numbers of information of memorizing the formation and evolution of Kumtag desert, climate change and the vicissitude of ancient drainage system of Shulehe River. To conduct integrated investigation is very significant to study the formation and evolution of Kumtag desert, the vicissitude of ancient drainage system of Shulehe River and the relationship with the shrink of Lop-Nur. It is also helpful to understand the response mechanism of climate and environmental changes in Northwest China to strong uplift of Qinghai-Xizang Plateau and global change. In addition, it has the realistic significance to study the blown sand activities and blown sand hazard of Kumtag desert, to find out the distribution and habit of wild animals and plants, and to protect the natural and cultural heritage of Donghuang and the bio-diversity in arid desert ecosystem.

Key words: Kumtag desert, integrated scientific investigation, arid region, stratum section, environmental change, plumed dune