Morphological characteristics and evolution pattern of the Datong earth forest based on UAV oblique photogrammetry

doi:10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2026.00072

Journal of Desert Research ›› 2026, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (4): 228-237.DOI: 10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2026.00072

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Morphological characteristics and evolution pattern of the Datong earth forest based on UAV oblique photogrammetry

Boyu Su¹(), Ping Zhang¹, Hao Li²^,³, Xiaolei Liang²^,³, Jiyan Li¹^,³()

^1.School of Geographical Sciences /, Taiyuan Normal University，Jinzhong 030619，Shanxi，China
^2.School of Economics and Management /, Taiyuan Normal University，Jinzhong 030619，Shanxi，China
^3.Shanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Surface Processes and Resource Ecological Security in Fenhe River Basin, Taiyuan Normal University，Jinzhong 030619，Shanxi，China

Received:2026-01-13 Revised:2026-05-07 Online:2026-07-20 Published:2026-08-27
Contact: Jiyan Li

Abstract

Abstract:

The earth forest landform is a unique landscape formed through fluvial erosion of semi-consolidated or unconsolidated fluvial-lacustrine sediments， is primarily distributed in arid and semi-arid regions. The present study focuses on the formation mechanisms and evolutionary processes of the Datong earth forest， aiming to systematically elucidate the intrinsic relationships among its morphological characteristics， evolution stages， and variations in gully parameters. Based on high-resolution imagery data acquired by UAV-based oblique photogrammetry， combined with morphological classification and hydrological analysis， this research investigates the patterns of gully system parameters （length， width， depth， and longitudinal gradient） across different gully orders and their roles in shaping the earth forest landscape. The results indicate that：（1） The earth forest in the study area can be classified into six types， i.e. columnar， tower-like， conical， wall-like， residual pillars， and remnant mounds；（2） The length， width， and depth of gullies increase significantly with gully orders， while the longitudinal gradient shows a systematic decreasing trend. The characteristics of cross-sections and longitudinal profiles suggest a shift in dominant fluvial erosion processes from vertical incision and headward erosion to lateral erosion；（3） Accordingly， a four-stage evolutionary pattern is proposed for Datong earth forest， encompassing juvenile， youthful， mature， and old stages. Each stage is characterized by distinct dominant erosion processes， morphological features， and spatial structures. The Datong earth forest is currently still in its mature stage of evolution， presenting the most spectacular landscapes. Through the analysis of morphological characteristics and evolution processes of the earth forest， this study establishes an evolutionary model for the Datong earth forest， which can provide a theoretical basis and technical support for the conservation and sustainable tourism development of this landform in the region.

Key words: Datong Basin, earth forest, morphological characteristics, development model, fluvial erosion

CLC Number:

P931.3

Boyu Su, Ping Zhang, Hao Li, Xiaolei Liang, Jiyan Li. Morphological characteristics and evolution pattern of the Datong earth forest based on UAV oblique photogrammetry[J]. Journal of Desert Research, 2026, 46(4): 228-237.

Figures/Tables 7

References 49

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类型	高/m	顶面面积/m²	底面面积/m²	顶面、底面面积比	体积/m³
柱状	4.24~6.53	3.45~10.51	3.93~12.56	0.74~0.89	15.80~68.68
塔状	4.95~6.33	0.56~2.63	3.63~9.87	0.15~0.27	10.63~26.52
锥状	3.67~4.69	0.23~0.56	3.20~6.24	0.06~0.09	3.73~18.89
墙状	4.50~7.36	47.21~220.39	52.21~245.89	0.82~0.93	229.03~1 796.40
残柱	1.90~3.24	0.56~1.89	2.12~3.69	0.29~0.54	3.49~9.48
残丘	1.12~1.73	/	2.56~3.79	/	2.24~3.43

类型	高/m	顶面面积/m²	底面面积/m²	顶面、底面面积比	体积/m³
柱状	4.24~6.53	3.45~10.51	3.93~12.56	0.74~0.89	15.80~68.68
塔状	4.95~6.33	0.56~2.63	3.63~9.87	0.15~0.27	10.63~26.52
锥状	3.67~4.69	0.23~0.56	3.20~6.24	0.06~0.09	3.73~18.89
墙状	4.50~7.36	47.21~220.39	52.21~245.89	0.82~0.93	229.03~1 796.40
残柱	1.90~3.24	0.56~1.89	2.12~3.69	0.29~0.54	3.49~9.48
残丘	1.12~1.73	/	2.56~3.79	/	2.24~3.43

沟谷等级	形态参数	最大值	最小值	平均值
1	长度/m	78.91	4.53	25.92
	深度/m	5.89	0.62	4.05
	宽度/m	8.62	2.29	5.91
	纵比降/%	32.36	10.30	18.36
2	长度/m	105.20	11.00	44.08
	深度/m	7.09	1.25	4.76
	宽度/m	15.69	2.72	8.08
	纵比降/%	24.94	8.13	13.05
3	长度/m	144.70	15.55	71.97
	深度/m	9.19	2.35	5.23
	宽度/m	24.08	6.24	13.67
	纵比降/%	18.11	3.37	9.03
4	长度/m	387.95	76.91	182.61
	深度/m	9.47	3.94	6.32
	宽度/m	41.30	7.64	24.64
	纵比降/%	7.15	1.41	3.86

沟谷等级	形态参数	最大值	最小值	平均值
1	长度/m	78.91	4.53	25.92
	深度/m	5.89	0.62	4.05
	宽度/m	8.62	2.29	5.91
	纵比降/%	32.36	10.30	18.36
2	长度/m	105.20	11.00	44.08
	深度/m	7.09	1.25	4.76
	宽度/m	15.69	2.72	8.08
	纵比降/%	24.94	8.13	13.05
3	长度/m	144.70	15.55	71.97
	深度/m	9.19	2.35	5.23
	宽度/m	24.08	6.24	13.67
	纵比降/%	18.11	3.37	9.03
4	长度/m	387.95	76.91	182.61
	深度/m	9.47	3.94	6.32
	宽度/m	41.30	7.64	24.64
	纵比降/%	7.15	1.41	3.86

Morphological characteristics and evolution pattern of the Datong earth forest based on UAV oblique photogrammetry

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