Land Desertification Research Articles

Characteristics of Spatial and Temporal Evolution of Land Desertification in Typical Areas of the Horqin Sandy Land in the Past 35 Years and the Driving Mechanism of the Study

Characteristics of Spatial and Temporal Evolution of Land Desertification in Typical Areas of the Horqin Sandy Land in the Past 35 Years and the Driving Mechanism of the Study

Central Asia's desertification challenge: Recent trends and drives explored with google earth engine

Achieving land degradation neutrality (LDN) is considered critical to achieving sustainable development goals. However, further research and an improved large-scale desertification assessment framework are needed. We constructed a comprehensive land desertification status index (LDSI) to assess desertification and its driving mechanisms in Central Asia from 2001 to 2020. Our spatial distance models and principal component analysis were verified by combined field data. The results indicate that desertification levels in Central Asia fluctuated, decreasing from south to north and increasing from west to east. The extent of increased desertification (45.75%) and recovery (45.65%) were nearly equivalent. According to optimal parameters-based geographical detectors, climate factors are the main contributors to desertification, the most significant being reference evapotranspiration. We also found regional differences in the driving mechanisms of desertification. Based on Theil–Sen, Mann–Kendall, and Hurst tests, future desertification intensification of 9.69% is possible, with hotspots mainly in northwestern Central Asia, while 9.73% restoration may occur in other areas. The findings have relevance for achieving LDN. Policymakers should monitor the impact of global climate change and develop recovery measures based on comprehensive consideration of local climate, soil, and terrain conditions.

Meteorological effects on particulate matter PM10, PM2.5 concentrations with diurnal and seasonal variations in cities neighboring desert lands

Meteorological effects on particulate matter PM10, PM2.5 concentrations with diurnal and seasonal variations in cities neighboring desert lands

Analysis of spatial and temporal changes in vegetation cover and its drivers in the Aksu River Basin, China

Exploring vegetation dynamics in arid areas and their responses to different natural and anthropogenic factors is critical for understanding ecosystems. Based on the monthly MOD13Q1 (250 m) remote sensing data from 2000 to 2019, this study analyzed spatio-temporal changes in vegetation cover in the Aksu River Basin and predicted future change trends using one-dimensional linear regression, the Mann–Kendall test, and the Hurst index. Quantitative assessment of the magnitude of anthropogenic and natural drivers was performed using the Geodetector model. Eleven natural and anthropogenic factors were quantified and analyzed within five time periods. The influence of the driving factors on the changes in the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) in each period was calculated and analyzed. Four main results were found. (1) The overall vegetation cover in the region significantly grew from 2000 to 2019. The vegetation cover changes were dominated by expected future improvements, with a Hurst index average of 0.45. (2) Land use type, soil moisture, surface temperature, and potential vapor dispersion were the main drivers of NDVI changes, with annual average q-values above 0.2. (3) The driving effect of two-factor interactions was significantly greater than that of single factors, especially land use type interacts with other factors to a greater extent on vegetation cover. (4) The magnitude of the interaction between soil moisture and potential vapor dispersion and the magnitude of the interaction between anthropogenic factors and other factors showed an obvious increasing trend. Current soil moisture and human activities had a positive influence on the growth of vegetation in the area. The findings of this study are important for ecological monitoring and security as well as land desertification control.

Spatial-temporal Evolution and Driving Factors of Desertification Based on Computer Interpretation in Tarim River Basin

The Tarim River Basin is an important life hinge in Xinjiang, which plays a vital role in maintaining ecological stability. In recent years, it is faced with challenges such as the expansion of sandy land, the decrease of precipitation and sand-dust storm, which lead to the aggravation of desertification and the contradiction between man and land. This study used remote sensing images from 2000 to 2020 to analyze desertification trends through automatic interpretation by computer, combined with NDVI(Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) and FVC(Fractional Vegetation Cover) indicators. The results showed that the total area of desertification land decreased, but the area of serious desertification land increased. Precipitation, Sunshine, wind speed, air temperature, cultivated land area change, urbanization and other factors affect desertification, of which cultivated land area change, temperature change and precipitation change are the most important factors. Policies focused on preventing wind erosion have been inadequate as the economy has developed and conflicts between people and land have intensified.

Coping with Environmental Crisis: Ecological Responsibility and Contemporary Practice in Marx's Happiness View

With the acceleration of the process of globalization and the rapid development of industrialization, human society is facing serious environmental crises, such as climate change, biodiversity loss, land desertification and other problems become increasingly prominent. In this context, the Marxist concept of happiness highlights its importance in dealing with the environmental crisis. Starting from the basic idea of Marx's happiness view, the harmonious development of man and nature is an important condition for realizing human happiness. How Marx regards the relationship between man and nature as the fundamental basis for realizing human happiness and emphasizes the importance of environmental protection and ecological balance. The contemporary practice of Marxist happiness concept in promoting green development, strengthening environmental laws and policies, raising public environmental awareness and strengthening international cooperation.

Analysis of Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Land Desertification in Qilian Mountain National Park Based on Google Earth Engine

Notwithstanding the overall improvement in the ecological condition of the Qilian Mountains, there are localized occurrences of grassland degradation, desertification, and salinization. Moreover, timely and accurate acquisition of desertification information is a fundamental prerequisite for effective monitoring and prevention of desertification. Leveraging the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform in conjunction with machine learning techniques, this study aims to identify and extract the spatiotemporal dynamics of desertification in the Qilian Mountain National Park (QMNP) and its surroundings (QMNPs) spanning from 1988 to 2023. Results show that based on the random forest algorithm, the multi-index inversion methodology achieves a commendable overall accuracy of 91.9% in desertification extraction. From 1988 to 2023, the gravity center of light desertification shifts southeastward, while centers characterized by moderate, severe, and extremely severe desertification display a westward retreat with fluctuations. The area of sandy land shows an expansion trend in the medium term, but after 2018, desertification in QMNPs reversed. As of 2023, the sandy land area measured 16,897.35 km2, accounting for 18.29% of the total area of QMNPs. The insights garnered from this study provide a valuable reference for regional desertification prevention and control in the future.

Non-invasive geophysical methods for monitoring the shallow aquifer based on time-lapse electrical resistivity tomography, magnetic resonance sounding, and spontaneous potential methods

The Ningdong coalfield has played a pivotal role in advancing local economic development and meeting national energy. Nevertheless, mining operations have engendered ecological challenges encompassing subterranean water depletion, land desertification, and ground subsidence, primarily stemming from the disruption of coal seam roof strata. Consequently, the local ecosystem has incurred substantial harm. Water-preserved coal mining presently constitutes the pivotal technology in mitigating this problem. The primary challenge of this technique lies in identifying critical aquifer layers and understanding the heights of water-conducting fracture zones. To obtain a precise comprehension of the seepage patterns within the upper coal seam aquifer during mining, delineate the extent of water-conducting fracture zones, non-invasive geophysical techniques such as time-lapse electrical resistivity tomography (TL-ERT), magnetic resonance sounding (MRS), and spontaneous potential (SP) have been employed to monitor alterations within the shallow coalfield’s aquifer throughout the mining process in the Ningdong coalfield. By conducting meticulous examinations of fluctuations in resistivity, moisture content, and self-potential within the superjacent strata during coal seam extraction, the predominant underground water infiltration strata were ascertained, concurrently enabling the estimation of the development elevation of water-conducting fracture zones. This outcome furnishes a geophysical underpinning for endeavors concerning local water-preserved coal mining and ecological rehabilitation.

The secret of nabkha development–From the inspective of surface wind erosion and sand accumulation

Nabkhas can effectively reduce wind speed and intercept sand, slowing down the rate of land desertification and playing an important role in the stability of the oasis ecosystem and the conservation of biodiversity. The purpose of this study is to explore the evolutionary mechanism of nabkha development and wind erosion and sand accumulation of different nabkhas during nabkha development in the oasis region. Five typical nabkhas (Nitraria tangutorum, Haloxylon ammodendron, Krascheninnikovia ceratoides, Kalidium foliatum and Artemisia desertorum nabkhas) were selected. Morphological indicators and surface wind erosion and sand accumulation during nabkha development were investigated. Our results confirmed that from the nascent stage to the stable stage, the length, width and height of five nabkhas showed a significant correlation. As nabkha develops, the different parts of nabkha were mainly sand accumulation occurred first on the apex part, then on the windward slope and finally on the leeward slope. When the lateral area of the nabkha was close to the semi-ellipsoidal shape, the nabkha reach the stable stage. The sand accumulation height of Nitraria tangutorum nabkhas is the highest. Haloxylon ammodendron nabkha is able to intercept sand sources from multiple directions due to the pike-shaped branching structure. Kalidium foliatum nabkhas have a high sand accumulation height in the pre-developmental stage. Krascheninnikovia ceratoides and Artemisia desertorum nabkhas are morphologically irregular with limited sand accumulation height. The results indicate that the surface wind erosion and sand accumulation changes during the development of nabkhas were mainly related to the interaction between vegetation growth and nabkha formation.

Extended EDAS Analysis for Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Based on Distributed Generation (DG) Technologies System

Recently, there has been a growing interest in distributed generation (DG) technologies, driven by various factors such as fuel price uncertainties, environmental constraints, and increasing power consumption along with transmission capacity shortages, in modern power systems. DG, which involves utilizing clean and renewable energy sources for power generation within the distribution system, has gained significant attention globally. Many developing countries, including Libya, are considering the adoption of DG technologies as part of their energy system expansion plans. Libya, located in North Africa and characterized by vast desert lands, has abundant solar radiation, making solar energy a promising and sustainable source of power. However, despite this energy potential, the southern part of Libya faces frequent power outages. In order to effectively maintain service quality, it is essential to conduct quantitative evaluation of wireless sensor networks. the evaluation of wireless sensor networks involves addressing the multiple attribute group decision-making (MAGDM) problem. To tackle the challenges of MAGDM, an extension of the classical EDAS (Evaluation based on Distance from Average Solution) method is proposed in this paper. The proposed method incorporates interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy sets (IVIFSs), which provide a more flexible and comprehensive representation of uncertainty, to handle the complexities of MAGDM. The paper begins with a brief review of essential concepts related to IVIFSs. Then, the weights of attributes are determined using the CRITIC method. Subsequently, the IVIF-EDAS method is established by integrating the EDAS method with IVIFSs, and all the calculation procedures are described.

A Kingdom of Possibility

A Kingdom of Possibility

Urban planning impact on summer human thermal comfort in Doha, Qatar

Urbanization entails extensive construction and substantial land use alterations, converting natural areas into residential, commercial, mixed-use and industrial. These alterations disrupt the land surface energy, impacting the land surface temperatures (LSTs). Elevated LSTs affect the thermal comfort of urban residents exerting pressure on the environment and ecosystems. This study investigates the repercussions of elevated LST on human thermal comfort, focusing on Doha municipality in Qatar for 2002–2003, 2013, and 2022, with a specific focus on summer temperatures. Utilizing remote sensing and Geographical Information Systems (GIS), we conducted an in-depth investigation, employing Landsat data along and GIS tools to create land use maps and LST pattern maps and establish a correlation between land use and LST. The findings reveal a notable increase in the built-up area of Doha municipality, predominantly at the expense of desert land and water bodies. The LST increases consistently by 0.65 °C annually, shifting human thermal comfort from "moderate" to "heat stress" from 2002 to 2013 and 2023 in all neighborhoods of Doha. Our comparison of LST between different urban areas indicates lower temperatures near water bodies and suburban developments and higher temperatures in downtown areas. Suburban developments exhibit a favourable impact in desert areas compared to compact developments. Our methodology of combining LST from remote sensing data with thermal comfort indices for more comprehensive and accurate estimation of outdoor thermal comfort can be applied in various geographies.

Influencing Factors and Evaluation of Groundwater Ecological Function in Arid/Semiarid Regions of China: A Review

In arid and semi-arid areas, due to drought climate and shortage of water resources, groundwater is crucial for natural ecological protection and economic development. It serves a dual role as a resource function and an ecological function. However, with the continuous improvement of the exploitation and utilization of groundwater by human activities during rapid economic development, the phenomenon of groundwater overexploitation is becoming more and more serious, which has destroyed the natural balance of groundwater recharge and discharge. As a result, natural vegetation has lost the maintenance of the ecological function of groundwater, and a series of ecological and environmental problems have occurred, such as natural vegetation degradation, land desertification, sandstorms, and so on. In recent years, scholars have carried out research on groundwater resource management and optimization of water resource allocation, trying to solve the problem of water balance in arid regions. However, there is still a lack of comprehensive understanding and systematization regarding influencing factors and degeneration mechanisms related to groundwater’s ecological function. By summarizing and analyzing the previous research results, this paper summarizes the influencing factors, evaluation methods, existing problems and future directions of groundwater ecological function research in China to provide a reference for rational exploitation and utilization of groundwater and ecological protection. This paper is divided into four main contents. The first part introduces the definition of groundwater ecological function (GEF); the second part summarizes the research status of influencing factors of GEF, including the groundwater table depth, vegetation root system and lithologic structure of vadose zone, etc.; the third part analyzes the evaluation of groundwater ecological function; the fourth part discusses the existing problems in the study of groundwater ecological functions, and based on the above research the evaluation framework of GEF is proposed with the Shiyang River basin as a case study; and finally, it highlights the future research directions about GEF.

Land surface temperature responses to land use dynamics in urban areas of Doha, Qatar

Rapid urbanization primarily converts naturally vegetated areas and pervious surfaces into impervious built-up areas, significantly transforming microclimates and ecological dynamics. The impervious surfaces, marked by their higher thermal conductivity, disrupt surface energy balance and accumulate solar heat, subsequently elevating the land surface temperatures (LSTs). This study investigates the impact of land use and land cover changes on summer and winter LSTs in Doha and Al Dayeen municipalities of Qatar, spanning from the years 2000 to 2023, using remote sensing techniques and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The analysis of land use and land cover changes reveals a remarkable 343.16 % increase in the built-up area from 2000 to 2023, at the expense of previously existing desert lands and water bodies. While Qatar's desert land has high land surface temperature, substituting such areas with built-up exhibits a notable rise in temperatures. Additionally, land reclamation also results in elevated LSTs. The LST data derived from remote sensing sources demonstrates an upward trend for summer and a contrasting trend for winter. Specifically, the mean summer LST increases by 7.64 °C (0.34 °C annually), and the mean winter LST decreases by 4.87 °C (0.22 °C annually). Notably, built-up areas and desert lands consistently recorded the highest mean LST in both seasons in all observed years. A strong correlation was observed between summer and winter LST with land use and land cover patterns using Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), Normalized Difference Built-up index (NDBI) and Normalized Difference Barrenness Index (NDBal). The results imply the negative influence of climate change and the urgent need for urban planning mitigation measures to counteract the adverse effects of increasing LSTs, particularly in summer months, to ensure the human well-being and resilience of the urban environments.

Biogeomorphological niche of a landform: Machine learning approaches reveal controls on the geographical distribution of Nitraria tangutorum nebkhas

AbstractNebkhas are distinctive biogeomorphological landforms prevalent in global drylands and coastal environments. They play a crucial role in supporting local biodiversity and preventing land desertification and often serve as an indicator of local environmental change. Despite their significance, the environmental factors that affect their geographical distribution and how they respond to climate change have not been fully explored. This study represents a novel application of machine learning models to quantifying the biogeomorphological niche of Nitraria nebkhas in northern China and simulating their geographical distribution under future climate change conditions. Findings underscore that climatic variables influence the growth of formative shrub species on nebkhas, whereas climate, soil and geomorphological conditions, along with their spatial configuration, determine the probability of nebkha occurrence. Predictions under medium and high greenhouse gas emission scenarios indicate a northward shift in the potential distribution of nebkhas in northern China by the end of the century, accompanied by a decrease in the south due to rising temperatures. Given the potential impact of nebkha field degradation on biodiversity and soil hydrological conditions, adaptive land use strategies should be designed to protect nebkhas and mitigate the impact of climate change. Our study not only provides valuable insights for informing policy‐making and conservation initiatives but also serves as an example for quantifying the niche of biogeomorphological landforms and simulating their dynamics by integrating machine learning approaches into empirical geomorphological studies.

Spatiotemporal Changes of Center Pivot Irrigation Farmland in the Mu Us Region and Its Impact on the Surrounding Vegetation Growth

Accurately understanding the distribution and changing trends of Center Pivot Irrigation (CPI) farmland in the Mu Us region and exploring the impact of CPI farmland construction on sandy land vegetation growth hold significant importance for local sustainable development. By using Landsat images to extract CPI farmland information and applying buffer zone analysis to explore the impact of CPI farmland construction on the surrounding vegetation growth, the results revealed the following key findings: (1) The number and area of CPI farmland units showed a continuous growth trend from 2008 to 2022. Spatially, Etoke Front Banner was the focal point of the CPI farmland unit construction, gradually expanding outward. In terms of scale, small-scale CPI farmland units (0–0.2 km2) dominated, while large-scale CPI farmland units (>0.4 km2) were primarily distributed in Yulin City (Mu Us). (2) The growth rate of CPI farmland units in Yulin City gradually slowed down, while that in Ordos City (Mu Us) continued to exhibit a high growth trend. Affected by water-resource pressure and policies, CPI farmland units in Ordos City may continue to increase in the future, while they may stop growing or even show a downward trend in Yulin City. (3) CPI farmland mainly came from the conversion of cultivated land, but over time, more and more grassland was reclaimed as CPI farmland. The absence of cover planting after crop harvesting and the lack of shelterbelt construction may exacerbate land desertification in the region. (4) Within the typical region, CPI farmland unit construction promoted vegetation growth within the CPI units and the 500 m buffer zone but had an inhibitory effect on vegetation growth within the 500–3000 m buffer zone and no significant effect on vegetation growth within the 3000–5000 m buffer zone. (5) The decrease in groundwater reserves caused by CPI farmland unit construction was the primary reason for inhibiting the vegetation growth within the 500–3000 m buffer zone of CPI farmland units in the Mu Us region. This study can provide a scientific basis for the sustainable development of CPI farmland in semi-arid areas.

Analysis of Causes and Effects of Land Desertification in Outer Mongolia

Analysis of Causes and Effects of Land Desertification in Outer Mongolia

Semantic Web-Based Structural Equation Modeling and Mediating Effects Are Used to Investigate Key Factors

Land desertification is the key contradiction restricting the sustainable development of Chinese society. Farmers and herders' behavior in desert management is particularly important for the smooth development of the desertification control project. Although farmers and herders express willingness, they do not engage in desert management behavior. The research through random sampling survey analyzes survey data from 572 farmers and herders in the Kubuqi Desert region of Inner Mongolia using structural equation modeling and mediation analysis, based on the TPB. The aim is to understand the paradoxical willingness and behavior of farmers and herders to participate in desert management. The study found that farmers and herders' willingness to participate is a crucial factor that influences their behavior. The authors suggest cultivating a sense of ecological responsibility and strengthening ecological education to guide the behavior of farmers and herders towards more sustainable practices.

Land Use Land Cover Change Detection and Future Forecasting in Ningxia, China: A Random Forest and ANN-Based Approach for Sustainable Development

The accurate tracking and prediction of Land Use Land Change monitoring and prediction precision or accuracy are urgent for technological development and practical ecology management. This objective is pursued by understanding of the changing patterns of LULC temporally and spatially in Ningxia, China, a semi-arid region experiencing desertification and over-rapid urbanization. Therefore, one of the main objectives of this work is prediction for the future trends within this field of research. This research utilized the MODIS data taken from the satellite Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer through remote sensing and advanced machine learning algorithms. During 2003 to 2023, the random forest classifier was used to monitor the LULC change in Ningxia, passing to different stage and increasingly affluent cities. These surveys predict the possible scenarios, including the rapid increase in desertification, urbanization side and erosion of the areas for agriculture, forestry and water-covered. A merging approach based on cellular automata and artificial neural network employed with the purpose of typing the future condition of land use and land cover. This approach relies on calibration to study future operations that remain unaffected by peoples’ choice. The calibrated version could be done to become tightly related to the spatial variables that heavily shift in time. The altered model achieved a great accuracy of 85% similarly the maximum value of 0.96 for the Kappa coefficient, which indicates the discovery of the ANN. Deserts and town are a few of the surfaces that have grown under science. As a result, wild animals’ facilities and natural flora have deteriorated, lowering agricultural output. (1) According to the transition probability matrix, this could be as high as 28% from agricultural land to desert. (2) One of the findings from spatial analytical trend analysis that I mentioned above, is also detected in terms of a distinct rise accumulation just for the desert category with respect to all other LULC types combined. (3) Thus, further increases in desert and artificial land might be coupled with urbanization (e. g.) to climate change.

The problem of land desertification - as one of the main challenges to modern humanity

The problem of land desertification - as one of the main challenges to modern humanity