img

Wechat

Adv search

Journal of Desert Research ›› 2022, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (4): 163-171.DOI: 10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2022.00011

Previous Articles    

Desertification sensitivity assessment in the middle and lower reaches of the Shule River Basin

Yingying Wu1,3(), Zhenting Wang1,2   

  1. 1.a Key Laboratory of Desert and Desertification / Research Station of Gobi Desert Ecology and Environment,Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Lanzhou 730000,China
    2.University of Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing 100049,China
  • Received:2021-10-09 Revised:2022-01-19 Online:2022-07-20 Published:2022-08-29

Abstract:

Land desertification is one of the most serious environmental problems in the Shule River Basin, and its assessment is of great importance to effectively control desertification. This paper aims to calculate environmental sensitivity index based on MEDALUS model by integrating multi-source GIS and remote sensing data. MEDALUS model takes into account four quantitative evaluation indexes of soil, vegetation, climate and management to identify desertification sensitive areas. Upon which, the causes of desertification sensitivity are analyzed. The main influencing factors of desertification sensitivity are determined by coefficient of variation method. The results show that the desertification situation in the middle and lower reaches of the Shule River Basin is severe, 17.70% of the total study area belongs to the extreme sensitivity zone, 54.34% belongs to the high sensitivity zone. The desertification sensitivity is higher in the central parts of study area, lower in the north, which is mainly controlled by management quality index related to human activities. The desertification sensitivity is gradually increased from the inside to the outside of the oasis, and the distribution is roughly layered, indicating that human activities have a significant impact on desertification. It is necessary to strengthen and consolidate the construction of the oasis edge protection system.

Key words: desertification sensitivity, MEDALUS model, coefficient of variation method, the middle and lower reaches of the Shule River Basin

CLC Number: