Abstract
Slope aspect has significant effect on the development and distribution of montane forest, especially in arid and semiarid regions. This paper, using SPOT5 images and 1:50,000 DEM, digitally extracts and analyzes the spatial information of montane coniferous forest (mainly Qinghai spruce), and thereby explores how the upper and lower limits and the altitudinal range of coniferous forest vary and how the area of coniferous forest is related with annual insolation with all aspects in the Helan Mountains. The results show that: 1) In the eastern flank, the lower limit of coniferous forest is between 1,600 m and 2,000 m a.s.l., and the upper limit between 2,800 m and 3,000 m a.s.l.; in the western flank, the lower limit of coniferous forest is between 2,000 m and 2,300 m a.s.l., and the upper limit between 2,800 m and 3,100 m a.s.l. 2) The altitudinal ranges of coniferous forest are 806∼1,435 m, 438∼1,140 m for eastern flank and western flank, respectively. 3) The area of coniferous forest takes on a normal distribution with aspect, and it has a close relationship with annual insolation. This distribution model developed in this paper quantitatively reveals the significant effect of slope aspect on the distribution of coniferous forest in arid and semi-arid land.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
