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Zhibao Dong
School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an, China

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Original paper
Published: 30 July 2021 in Arabian Journal of Geosciences
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The vertical mass flux profile for wind-blown sand is an important research topic in aeolian physics. It is generally believed that the relationship between sand transport rate and height can be expressed as an exponential function or a power function. However, the accuracy of these models is questionable, and the influence of the focal height on the vertical flux profile is ignored. The Langmuir equation has been widely used to describe the adsorption process of different solid–liquid systems and is one of the most commonly used adsorption isotherm equations. In this study, the Langmuir equation was applied to simulate the vertical flux profile and tested with field observations from the Badain Jaran Desert and the previous three case studies. The simulation effect of the Langmuir equation is better than the exponential function and the power function, and it is applicable for different wind regimes and underlying surfaces. Each coefficient in the proposed equation has an exact physical meaning. This equation can be improved into an extended form (the LangmuirEXT equation) to describe the changing trend of the sand transport rate in the near-bed layer more accurately. The results of this research will provide support for the design of sand control measures and the mitigation of sand disasters.

ACS Style

Huanyu Shi; Zhibao Dong; Nan Xiao; Qinni Huang. Applicability of the Langmuir equation to simulate the vertical mass flux profile. Arabian Journal of Geosciences 2021, 14, 1 -12.

AMA Style

Huanyu Shi, Zhibao Dong, Nan Xiao, Qinni Huang. Applicability of the Langmuir equation to simulate the vertical mass flux profile. Arabian Journal of Geosciences. 2021; 14 (16):1-12.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Huanyu Shi; Zhibao Dong; Nan Xiao; Qinni Huang. 2021. "Applicability of the Langmuir equation to simulate the vertical mass flux profile." Arabian Journal of Geosciences 14, no. 16: 1-12.

Journal article
Published: 28 October 2020 in Forests
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Climate change poses a considerable threat to the forest-steppe ecotone in arid mountain areas. However, it remains unclear how the forest-steppe ecotone responds to climate change due to the limitation of the traditional pollen assemblages, which greatly limits the understanding of the history of the forest-steppe ecotone. Here, we examined the Tien Mountains, the largest mountain system in the world’s arid regions, as a case study to explore the migration of the forest-steppe ecotone using the pollen taxa diversity, by combining modern vegetation surveys, topsoil pollen and two fossil pollen sequences—in the mid-elevation forest belt (Sayram Lake) and in the low-elevation desert belt (Aibi Lake). We found that the forest-steppe migration followed Holocene climate change. Specifically, the forest belt where Picea schrenkiana Fisch. & C.A.Mey. dominates has a very low pollen taxa diversity, characterized by high richness and low evenness, which plays a key role in mountainous diversity. By detecting the diversity change of the deposition sites, we found that in coping with the warm and wet middle Holocene, the forest belt expanded and widened as the observed diversities around the two lakes were very low, thus the forest-steppe ecotone moved downward accordingly. During the early and late Holocene, the forest belt and the forest-steppe ecotone moved upward under a warm and dry climate, and downward under a cold and wet climate, as there was a reduced forest belt effect on, or contribution to, the sites, and the observed diversities were high. Moisture loss may pose the greatest threat to the narrow forest-steppe ecotone, considering the climatic niche space and the limited living space for humidity-sensitive taxa. This study highlights that temperature and moisture co-influence the forest belt change, which further determines the position migration of the forest-steppe ecotone.

ACS Style

Ying Cheng; Hongyan Liu; Hongya Wang; Qian Hao; Yue Han; Keqin Duan; Zhibao Dong. Climate-Driven Holocene Migration of Forest-Steppe Ecotone in the Tien Mountains. Forests 2020, 11, 1139 .

AMA Style

Ying Cheng, Hongyan Liu, Hongya Wang, Qian Hao, Yue Han, Keqin Duan, Zhibao Dong. Climate-Driven Holocene Migration of Forest-Steppe Ecotone in the Tien Mountains. Forests. 2020; 11 (11):1139.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ying Cheng; Hongyan Liu; Hongya Wang; Qian Hao; Yue Han; Keqin Duan; Zhibao Dong. 2020. "Climate-Driven Holocene Migration of Forest-Steppe Ecotone in the Tien Mountains." Forests 11, no. 11: 1139.

Journal article
Published: 27 October 2020 in Journal of Cleaner Production
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Wind resource assessment has important economic and ecological implications. Many developing countries in arid and semiarid areas are caught in a dilemma between the development of wind energy and the threat of sandy desertification. Sand-driving winds are momentous for both generating wind energy and aeolian research. The estimation for the probability of sand-driving winds has been rarely studied. The ability of the two-parameter Weibull distribution to estimate high wind velocities is questioned and parameters appear to have no practical significance. Drift potential (DP) is a way of evaluating potential sand transport volume by sand-driving winds, but the relationship between DP and the wind energy of sand-driving winds has been rarely studied. In this paper, a function was constructed from the expressions of DP and the two-parameter Weibull probability distribution to improve the estimation of sand-driving winds. This is simple and applicable to arid and semiarid areas worldwide. The mean wind velocity and the mean wind power density at a height of 10 m around the Badain Jaran Sand Sea in China, are in the range between 2.64 and 4.79 m·s−1, and 27.61–165.61 W·m−2, respectively. The mean wind power density of sand-driving winds accounted for half or more of the total mean wind power density. The relationship among DP, the wind power density of sand-driving winds and the probability of sand-driving winds, was proved theoretically. Gentle winds and strong winds are distinguished by the drift wind velocity at which potential sand transport activities (potential lost wind power density) reach their maximum. The scale parameter dominates the mean and median wind velocity, and represents the effect of convection. The shape parameter characterizes the atmospheric stability. These results provide a basis for the wind energy development, improve the understanding of aeolian activities, and have implications for sand control engineering.

ACS Style

Nan Xiao; Zhibao Dong; Shun Xiao; Jiaqi Wang; Zhengyao Liu; Sarina; Yu Tuo; Chunming Zhu; Miaoyan Feng. An improved approach to estimate sand-driving winds. Journal of Cleaner Production 2020, 285, 124820 .

AMA Style

Nan Xiao, Zhibao Dong, Shun Xiao, Jiaqi Wang, Zhengyao Liu, Sarina, Yu Tuo, Chunming Zhu, Miaoyan Feng. An improved approach to estimate sand-driving winds. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2020; 285 ():124820.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Nan Xiao; Zhibao Dong; Shun Xiao; Jiaqi Wang; Zhengyao Liu; Sarina; Yu Tuo; Chunming Zhu; Miaoyan Feng. 2020. "An improved approach to estimate sand-driving winds." Journal of Cleaner Production 285, no. : 124820.

Journal article
Published: 15 October 2020 in CATENA
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Some of the surface on Earth, Mars, Venus, and Titan is covered by ripples, dunes, and other features formed by sand-driving winds. Many developing countries in arid and semiarid areas are caught in a dilemma between the threat of sandy desertification and the development of wind energy. The estimation for the probability of sand-driving winds has been rarely studied. The ability of two-parameter Weibull probability distribution to estimate sand-driving winds is questioned. Sand transport rate is used only for the evaluation of short-term aeolian activities. Drift potential (DP) is an accessible way of evaluating potential sand transport volume by sand-driving winds. However, the relationship among annual sand transport volume, DP and wind energy has been rarely studied. Sand-driving winds can be divided into gentle winds and strong winds, but it is hard to distinguish them and to quantify their effects on aeolian geomorphology. A function was constructed from expressions of sand transport rate and the two-parameter Weibull probability distribution to improve the estimation of sand-driving winds. On this basis, annual sand transport volume was accurately evaluated by sand-driving winds. This is applicable to arid and semiarid areas worldwide. The relationship among annual sand transport volume, DP and wind energy was analyzed from the perspective of dimensional analysis. Gentle winds and strong winds are distinguished by transport wind velocity at which aeolian activities on a sandy underlying surface reach the erosion–deposition balance, and which corresponds to annual maximum sand transport rate. On a sandy underlying surface strong winds control deposition, while gentle winds dominate wind erosion. The transport wind velocity is nearly constant, weakly related to the probability distribution of sand-driving winds. These results provide a basis for an improved understanding of aeolian activities as an important planetary surface process, sand control engineering, and wind energy development.

ACS Style

Nan Xiao; Zhibao Dong; Jiaqi Wang; Zhengyao Liu; Yu Tuo; Miaoyan Feng; Chunming Zhu. An improved model to estimate annual sand transport rate by sand-driving winds. CATENA 2020, 197, 104945 .

AMA Style

Nan Xiao, Zhibao Dong, Jiaqi Wang, Zhengyao Liu, Yu Tuo, Miaoyan Feng, Chunming Zhu. An improved model to estimate annual sand transport rate by sand-driving winds. CATENA. 2020; 197 ():104945.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Nan Xiao; Zhibao Dong; Jiaqi Wang; Zhengyao Liu; Yu Tuo; Miaoyan Feng; Chunming Zhu. 2020. "An improved model to estimate annual sand transport rate by sand-driving winds." CATENA 197, no. : 104945.

Journal article
Published: 31 July 2020 in Science of The Total Environment
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Patchiness of grassland results in important effects on ecohydrological processes in arid and semiarid areas; however, the influences on subsurface water flow and soil water distribution remain poorly understood, particularly during vegetation succession on slopes. This study examined these effects by comparing the water flow behaviors and preferential infiltration between vegetation patches (VP) and interspace patches (IP) in three sites at different states of vegetation succession (grass, subshrub and shrub) in abandoned farmland of the Loess Plateau, China. Dye tracer infiltration showed that patchiness of vegetation increased spatial variations of soil water and preferential infiltration by increasing the densities of fine root length and fine root volume in the soil profile. Moreover, the more abundant and intricate roots following a lateral direction beneath VP likely contributed to lateral flow and infiltration variability. However, differences between VP and IP were not significant because considerable living fine roots and decayed roots of IP also provided preferential flow pathways. Our finding indicated that IP could compete with VP for access to soil water resources, which potentially increased hillslope-scale infiltration and reduced surface runoff and erosion risk. Under the different states of vegetation succession, subshrub patches showed significantly greater preferential infiltration volume (28.53 mm) and contribution of preferential infiltration to total infiltration (60.58%) than grass and shrub patches. Vegetation patch size made positive effects on improving preferential flow and water movement. Greater preferential flow in subshrub patches played a positive role in soil water storage and replenishment. Therefore, natural restoration of a slope area with small heterogeneity in preferential flow can be successfully applied in the Loess Plateau, particularly during the subshrub succession state.

ACS Style

Rui Wang; Zhibao Dong; Zhengchao Zhou; Ning Wang; Zhijing Xue; Liguo Cao. Effect of vegetation patchiness on the subsurface water distribution in abandoned farmland of the Loess Plateau, China. Science of The Total Environment 2020, 746, 141416 .

AMA Style

Rui Wang, Zhibao Dong, Zhengchao Zhou, Ning Wang, Zhijing Xue, Liguo Cao. Effect of vegetation patchiness on the subsurface water distribution in abandoned farmland of the Loess Plateau, China. Science of The Total Environment. 2020; 746 ():141416.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Rui Wang; Zhibao Dong; Zhengchao Zhou; Ning Wang; Zhijing Xue; Liguo Cao. 2020. "Effect of vegetation patchiness on the subsurface water distribution in abandoned farmland of the Loess Plateau, China." Science of The Total Environment 746, no. : 141416.

Article
Published: 14 July 2020 in Chinese Geographical Science
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Frozen ground degradation under a warming climate profoundly influences the growth of alpine vegetation in the source region of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. This study investigated spatiotemporal variations in the frozen ground distribution, the active layer thickness (ALT) of permafrost (PF) soil and the soil freeze depth (SFD) in seasonally frozen soil from 1980 to 2018 using the temperature at the top of permafrost (TTOP) model and Stefan equation. We compared the effects of these variations on vegetation growth among different frozen ground types and vegetation types in the source region of the Yellow River (SRYR). The results showed that approximately half of the PF area (20.37% of the SRYR) was projected to degrade into seasonally frozen ground (SFG) during the past four decades; furthermore, the areal average ALT increased by 3.47 cm/yr, and the areal average SFD decreased by 0.93 cm/yr from 1980 to 2018. Accordingly, the growing season Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) presented an increasing trend of 0.002/10yr, and the increase rate and proportion of areas with NDVI increase were largest in the transition zone where PF degraded to SFG (the PF to SFG zone). A correlation analysis indicated that variations in ALT and SFD in the SRYR were significantly correlated with increases of NDVI in the growing season. However, a rapid decrease in SFD (< −1.4 cm/10yr) could have reduced the soil moisture and, thus, decreased the NDVI. The NDVI for most vegetation types exhibited a significant positive correlation with ALT and a negative correlation with SFD. However, the steppe NDVI exhibited a significant negative correlation with the SFD in the PF to SFG zone but a positive correlation in the SFG zone, which was mainly limited by water condition because of different change rates of the SFD.

ACS Style

Rui Wang; Zhibao Dong; Zhengchao Zhou. Different Responses of Vegetation to Frozen Ground Degradation in the Source Region of the Yellow River from 1980 to 2018. Chinese Geographical Science 2020, 30, 557 -571.

AMA Style

Rui Wang, Zhibao Dong, Zhengchao Zhou. Different Responses of Vegetation to Frozen Ground Degradation in the Source Region of the Yellow River from 1980 to 2018. Chinese Geographical Science. 2020; 30 (4):557-571.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Rui Wang; Zhibao Dong; Zhengchao Zhou. 2020. "Different Responses of Vegetation to Frozen Ground Degradation in the Source Region of the Yellow River from 1980 to 2018." Chinese Geographical Science 30, no. 4: 557-571.

Journal article
Published: 27 June 2020 in Forest Ecology and Management
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Although the planting and the desertification control of Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica have long been explored, effect of the plantation density is still unclear, on the southwestern edge of the Mu Us Dunefield in northern China. This study investigated the soil moisture at five mineral soil depth from 2017 to 2018, and analyzed the effects of the trees on the soil moisture balance in plantations with different densities and ages. We found that the plantations changed water movement and storage in the aeolian sandy soil. Both stand age and density significantly affected the soil water content, but the effect of plantation age was greater than that of density. The soil water content decreased with increasing age, the thickness of the surface dry layer increased, and soil drying increased significantly. In the 4-year-old forests, soil moisture was adequate, and seasonal rainfall could partially compensate for the soil water deficit. In the 9-year-old forests, the water deficit was a serious concern at high tree densities, and seasonal rainfall did not compensate completely for the soil water deficit at densities greater than 400 trees ha−1, so the soil remained relatively dry at the end of the rainy season, even after more than 640 mm of rainfall. The 15- and 30-year-old forests experienced serious drought due to their drying effect on the soil. Overall, the trees promoted soil water loss, thereby creating a serious imbalance between the water supply and demand in this desert environment. High-density planting accelerated the deterioration of the water environment (i.e., soil drying) and threatened the future survival of the trees and other plants. Thus, ecological managers must reduce tree planting and test the effectiveness of reducing the density to 333 trees ha−1 during the young stage.

ACS Style

Weige Nan; Fei Ta; Xiaoqiang Meng; Zhibao Dong; Nan Xiao. Effects of age and density of Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica on soil moisture in the semiarid Mu Us Dunefield, northern China. Forest Ecology and Management 2020, 473, 118313 .

AMA Style

Weige Nan, Fei Ta, Xiaoqiang Meng, Zhibao Dong, Nan Xiao. Effects of age and density of Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica on soil moisture in the semiarid Mu Us Dunefield, northern China. Forest Ecology and Management. 2020; 473 ():118313.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Weige Nan; Fei Ta; Xiaoqiang Meng; Zhibao Dong; Nan Xiao. 2020. "Effects of age and density of Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica on soil moisture in the semiarid Mu Us Dunefield, northern China." Forest Ecology and Management 473, no. : 118313.

Journal article
Published: 17 June 2020 in Geomorphology
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Interdune areas are an important part of dune systems, as they affect dune evolution and sand sea development. However, there has been little work on the provenance of interdune sediments. Our lack of knowledge of these sediments prevents a more complete understanding of sand sea formation and evolution. In the present study, we focused on the provenance of interdune sediments in the Kumtagh Sand Sea based on their granular, mineral and geochemical characteristics, then further identified the spatial scope of the contribution of these sources to the interdune sediments and the associated transport mechanisms. Although sediment supply analysis suggested that the interdune sand may derive from the Altyn Tagh Mountains, Beishan Mountains, and Sanlongsha dune field, the provenance signature based on the K/Rb and K/Ba ratios revealed that the ultimate sources were the Altyn Tagh Mountains (in the south) and the Beishan Mountains (in the north). By plotting the identified provenance results on a map of the sand sea, we found that the spatial scopes of contributions from these sources were separated at around 40°N. However, the existence of a fluvial load (EM1) and of reworked coarse particles (EM3) in the northern sand sea demonstrated that the interdune sands in this region were partly derived from the Altyn Tagh Mountains in the south. Consequently, by combining our results with the transport agents condition, we concluded that the Altyn Tagh Mountains supplied sediments to interdune areas by fluvial transport throughout the sand sea, but that sediment in the northern sand sea was subsequently reworked and mixed with windblown sand originated from the Beishan Mountains.

ACS Style

Aimin Liang; Zhibao Dong; Zhizhu Su; Jianjun Qu; Zhengcai Zhang; Guangqiang Qian; Bo Wu; Junliang Gao; Zhuanling Yang; Caixia Zhang. Provenance and transport process for interdune sands in the Kumtagh Sand Sea, Northwest China. Geomorphology 2020, 367, 107310 .

AMA Style

Aimin Liang, Zhibao Dong, Zhizhu Su, Jianjun Qu, Zhengcai Zhang, Guangqiang Qian, Bo Wu, Junliang Gao, Zhuanling Yang, Caixia Zhang. Provenance and transport process for interdune sands in the Kumtagh Sand Sea, Northwest China. Geomorphology. 2020; 367 ():107310.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Aimin Liang; Zhibao Dong; Zhizhu Su; Jianjun Qu; Zhengcai Zhang; Guangqiang Qian; Bo Wu; Junliang Gao; Zhuanling Yang; Caixia Zhang. 2020. "Provenance and transport process for interdune sands in the Kumtagh Sand Sea, Northwest China." Geomorphology 367, no. : 107310.

Journal article
Published: 08 May 2020 in Aeolian Research
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The identification of sediment transport processes is essential in understanding the accumulation and development of sand seas. However, only limited effort has been made to extract macroscale sediment transport information in aeolian science. In this study, we investigated grain-size variation to gain insight into large-scale sediment transport processes in the Kumtagh Sand Sea. Results suggest that grain-size variation is correlated to fluvial-aeolian interaction. In the central sand sea region, due to intermixed fluvial-aeolian controls, the downwind trend of grain size was significant except for the area surrounding the channel belt; but the grain-size trend in a downstream direction was not obvious. In the northeastern sand sea region, dune sand became progressively finer along a downwind direction, but sorting remained consistent. This phenomenon is ascribed to the fact that sand from upwind areas is mixed with local interdune sand. By combining evidence from dune patterns, grain sizes and mineral composition differences, we determined that sediment transport processes in the Kumtagh Sand Sea can be summarized as follows: Fluvial system transport sediments from the Altyn-Tagh Mountains to the sand sea, after which prevailing northerly winds subsequently rework these sediments and deliver them to downwind areas; meanwhile, sand from upwind areas is mixed with local sand in the northeastern sand sea region. Our findings provide insight into modern sand sea formation under the control of fluvial-aeolian interactions, while potentially offering further implications that can be used to explore paleogeographic process based on these modern processes.

ACS Style

Aimin Liang; Zhibao Dong; Jianjun Qu; Zhizhu Su; Bo Wu; Zhengcai Zhang; Guangqiang Qian; Junliang Gao; Yingjun Pang; Zhuanling Yang. Using spatial variations of grain size to reveal sediment transport in the Kumtagh Sand Sea, Northwest China. Aeolian Research 2020, 46, 100599 .

AMA Style

Aimin Liang, Zhibao Dong, Jianjun Qu, Zhizhu Su, Bo Wu, Zhengcai Zhang, Guangqiang Qian, Junliang Gao, Yingjun Pang, Zhuanling Yang. Using spatial variations of grain size to reveal sediment transport in the Kumtagh Sand Sea, Northwest China. Aeolian Research. 2020; 46 ():100599.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Aimin Liang; Zhibao Dong; Jianjun Qu; Zhizhu Su; Bo Wu; Zhengcai Zhang; Guangqiang Qian; Junliang Gao; Yingjun Pang; Zhuanling Yang. 2020. "Using spatial variations of grain size to reveal sediment transport in the Kumtagh Sand Sea, Northwest China." Aeolian Research 46, no. : 100599.

Journal article
Published: 06 December 2019 in Land
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The restoration of vegetation in abandoned farmlands is an effective approach to control soil erosion on the Chinese Loess Plateau. However, few studies have investigated the effect of natural restoration age on the infiltration patterns and preferential flow in soil layers. This study examined the effect of the temporal variations in the degree of preferential flow and their contribution on the total infiltration in abandoned farmlands restored with different vegetation communities. In total, four sites were investigated, namely site AF3, AF12, AF18 and AF25 of restoration age of 3, 12, 18 and 25 years, respectively. A traditional dye tracer experiment was adopted to visualize the water flow behavior in the four sites. A semi-variance analysis was conducted to interpret the spatial variability of the soil water induced by infiltration. The results showed that both the soil properties and the root systems improved with the increased natural restoration ages combined with the effect of the plant species. The degree of preferential flow from the lowest to the highest occurred in AF3, AF12, AF18 and AF25, which was mainly affected by the development of root systems. Also, the abundant lateral root and steeper slope may have caused the presence of lateral flow in AF18 and AF25. Meanwhile, the spatial variability of the soil water in the infiltration patterns through vertical soil profiles increased from AF3 to AF25. Compared to AF3, the infiltration volume through preferential pathways in AF12, AF18 and AF25 increased by 1.73 times, 1.94 times and 4.09 times, respectively. Therefore, the preferential flow was improved in abandoned farmland in the presence of natural vegetation restoration that can increase water storage in the deep soil layer and reduce surface runoff and erosion.

ACS Style

Rui Wang; Zhibao Dong; Zhengchao Zhou; Peipei Wang. Temporal Variation in Preferential Water Flow during Natural Vegetation Restoration on Abandoned Farmland in the Loess Plateau of China. Land 2019, 8, 186 .

AMA Style

Rui Wang, Zhibao Dong, Zhengchao Zhou, Peipei Wang. Temporal Variation in Preferential Water Flow during Natural Vegetation Restoration on Abandoned Farmland in the Loess Plateau of China. Land. 2019; 8 (12):186.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Rui Wang; Zhibao Dong; Zhengchao Zhou; Peipei Wang. 2019. "Temporal Variation in Preferential Water Flow during Natural Vegetation Restoration on Abandoned Farmland in the Loess Plateau of China." Land 8, no. 12: 186.

Journal article
Published: 26 November 2019 in Chinese Science Bulletin
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Aeolian process is the most active and extensive contemporary geomorphological process on the Mars, bearing rich information on surface processes, environment and evolution history. High-resolution remote sensing images covering the whole planet are interpreted and processed by GIS software to analyze the morphological characteristics of the Martian dunes on global basis, and discuss their aeolian geomorphological implications. A tentative dune classification scheme is proposed for the Mars. Dunes types on the Mars mainly include sand sheet, dome dune, barchan, barchanoid ridge, transverse ridge, linear ridges, seif dune, raked linear dune, nail dune, square dune network, ladder-like dune network, scaled dune network, honeycomb dune network, star dune, and obstacle dune. It is suggested that the Mars shares similar dune types with the Earth to a large extent, but is dominated by simple dune types. Complex and compound dunes are rarely seen on the Mars so that the cumulative probability curves of dune morphological parameters are characterized by a single section. Barchans, barchanoid ridges and transverse ridges are the most popular, but linear dunes that account for about 50% on the Earth only have 10% on the Mars. The simplicity of dune geomorphology on the Mars is also manifested by the small patches of the dune fields the Martian dune-fields. The Martian dunes are generally smaller on the Mars, in contradiction with theoretical inferences that the scale of dunes increases the ratio of particle/air density. The morphological parameters of the Martian dunes are well correlated, similar to the Earth dunes, but the correlationship is different, implying the similar formation mechanism but different development conditions. It is also suggested that the Martian analogues of terrestrial aeolian landforms, such as those found on the Tibetan Plateau, are good examples to study the Martian aeolian geomorphology. The simplicity of dune geomorphology on the Mars probably suggests that dunes on the Mars are developed with insufficient sediment availability and short development history. Inactive recent exogenic processes are probably responsible for insufficient sediment availability on the Mars. Insufficient sediment availability would be an interesting topic for future research, which may have extensive earth science significances.

ACS Style

Chao Li; Zhibao Dong; Ping Lü; Jie Zhao; Shuyi Fu; Miaoyan Feng; Chunming Zhu. A morphological insight into the Martian dune geomorphology. Chinese Science Bulletin 2019, 65, 80 -90.

AMA Style

Chao Li, Zhibao Dong, Ping Lü, Jie Zhao, Shuyi Fu, Miaoyan Feng, Chunming Zhu. A morphological insight into the Martian dune geomorphology. Chinese Science Bulletin. 2019; 65 (1):80-90.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Chao Li; Zhibao Dong; Ping Lü; Jie Zhao; Shuyi Fu; Miaoyan Feng; Chunming Zhu. 2019. "A morphological insight into the Martian dune geomorphology." Chinese Science Bulletin 65, no. 1: 80-90.

Journal article
Published: 23 November 2019 in Global Ecology and Conservation
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ACS Style

Weige Nan; Shengquan Liu; Shujun Yang; Zhibao Dong; Junhuai Yang; Weikang Shi. Changes of Sabina vulgaris growth and of soil moisture in natural stands and plantations in semi-arid northern China. Global Ecology and Conservation 2019, 21, 1 .

AMA Style

Weige Nan, Shengquan Liu, Shujun Yang, Zhibao Dong, Junhuai Yang, Weikang Shi. Changes of Sabina vulgaris growth and of soil moisture in natural stands and plantations in semi-arid northern China. Global Ecology and Conservation. 2019; 21 ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Weige Nan; Shengquan Liu; Shujun Yang; Zhibao Dong; Junhuai Yang; Weikang Shi. 2019. "Changes of Sabina vulgaris growth and of soil moisture in natural stands and plantations in semi-arid northern China." Global Ecology and Conservation 21, no. : 1.

Journal article
Published: 04 October 2019 in Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment
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To better understand the effects of fertilizer on soil methane (CH4) diffusion and consumption in semi- arid region, we investigated the subsurface CH4 concentrations at seven depths in the mineral soil and analysed the CH4 fluxes between soil horizons at the Changwu Agro-Ecological Station on China’s Loess Plateau. The results showed that dryland soil was a weak net CH4 sink. The CH4 concentration and diffusion decreased with increasing depth to a depth of 50 cm, and then remained low from 50 to 100 cm. Much of the soil CH4 diffusion and transformation occurred in the top 20 cm, but maximum CH4 production occurred at a depth of 7 cm, and maximum CH4 consumption occurred at a depth of 15 cm. Soil moisture could significantly inhibit gas diffusion and accelerate the biochemical transformation of CH4. In high-yield production system, the application of nitrogen fertilizer promoted CH4 diffusion, especially in the surface soil, but did not affect the transformation of CH4; thus, organic matter promoted CH4 diffusion and stimulated CH4 transformation, especially for CH4 consumption at a depth of 15 cm. Overall, the integrated application of manure and nitrogen fertilizer can not only have optimum yield, but also successfully play a very low risk of CH4 emission.

ACS Style

Weige Nan; Shiqing Li; Zhibao Dong; Pengwei Yao. CH4 fluxes and diffusion within soil profiles subjected to different fertilizer regimes on China’s Loess Plateau. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 2019, 287, 106679 .

AMA Style

Weige Nan, Shiqing Li, Zhibao Dong, Pengwei Yao. CH4 fluxes and diffusion within soil profiles subjected to different fertilizer regimes on China’s Loess Plateau. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment. 2019; 287 ():106679.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Weige Nan; Shiqing Li; Zhibao Dong; Pengwei Yao. 2019. "CH4 fluxes and diffusion within soil profiles subjected to different fertilizer regimes on China’s Loess Plateau." Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 287, no. : 106679.

Original paper
Published: 19 March 2019 in Theoretical and Applied Climatology
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The characteristics of eolian sand activity are greatly influenced by the wind regime, and wind regimes have been changing around the world in response to climate change. This has also been true in the desert area of northwestern China since 1965, and these changes have changed the region’s landforms, sandstorm frequency, and desertification. In this study, we analyzed the temporal and spatial variation of the region’s near-surface wind field since 1965. We found an average annual wind speed during this period of 1.7 m s−1, with a decreasing trend from 1965 to 2000 and an increasing trend from 2000 to 2015. The maximum rate of decrease occurred in the spring and in the eastern Taklimakan Desert. The variation of the average wind speed depended on the frequency of winds strong enough to entrain sand (with a wind speed > 6 m s−1). We also found that variations of the drift potential were primarily controlled by three prevailing wind groups (winds from the northwest, north, and northeast), but showed complex changes between seasons and regions. The wind direction in the Taklimakan Desert is characterized by two characteristics of branch and steering, the branch line is swinging in the direction of the east and the west (81.5° E~84° E). The changes in wind speed were mainly caused by a decreased frequency of strong winds, precipitation, and urban development. However, the variation of wind speed had less impact on the desert environment than the variation of wind direction.

ACS Style

Zhengyao Liu; Zhibao Dong; Zhengcai Zhang; Xujia Cui; Nan Xiao. Spatial and temporal variation of the near-surface wind regimes in the Taklimakan Desert, Northwest China. Theoretical and Applied Climatology 2019, 138, 433 -447.

AMA Style

Zhengyao Liu, Zhibao Dong, Zhengcai Zhang, Xujia Cui, Nan Xiao. Spatial and temporal variation of the near-surface wind regimes in the Taklimakan Desert, Northwest China. Theoretical and Applied Climatology. 2019; 138 (1-2):433-447.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Zhengyao Liu; Zhibao Dong; Zhengcai Zhang; Xujia Cui; Nan Xiao. 2019. "Spatial and temporal variation of the near-surface wind regimes in the Taklimakan Desert, Northwest China." Theoretical and Applied Climatology 138, no. 1-2: 433-447.

Journal article
Published: 24 January 2019 in Sustainability
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Transportation infrastructure dramatically affects ecological processes. However, the environmental assessment process does not often consider how transportation impacts biodiversity, especially in ecologically fragile areas. The aim of this study was to assess the impacts of the Yulin–Jingbian expressway on vegetative diversity and to discuss the reason for the differences in soil-moisture distribution and vegetation diversity along the expressway. Samples were collected from 60 quadrats, along 6 transects. The α diversity indices and soil-moisture content calculated for each layer were used to represent habitat heterogeneity within a quadrat. A total of 49 species representing 39 genera and 16 families were recorded. Perennial herbs (42.9%) and annual herbs (36.7%) were the dominant life form. Species richness, diversity, and evenness indices of the vegetation varied with the distance between sampling points along the expressway. The vegetation with high diversity and evenness were near the expressway and areas with low diversity were farther from the expressway. The soil-moisture content in the 0–20 cm soil layer was a driving factor for the α diversity indices, and soil-moisture content below 20 cm played an inhibitory role on the α diversity indices. The greatest impact of the expressway on vegetation diversity was its effect on surface runoff and the distribution of plant root systems in the top layer of soil.

ACS Style

Hao Chen; Zhibao Dong; Shaopeng Song; Chao Li; Xujia Cui. Characteristics of the Soil and Vegetation along the Yulin–Jingbian Desert Expressway in China. Sustainability 2019, 11, 606 .

AMA Style

Hao Chen, Zhibao Dong, Shaopeng Song, Chao Li, Xujia Cui. Characteristics of the Soil and Vegetation along the Yulin–Jingbian Desert Expressway in China. Sustainability. 2019; 11 (3):606.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Hao Chen; Zhibao Dong; Shaopeng Song; Chao Li; Xujia Cui. 2019. "Characteristics of the Soil and Vegetation along the Yulin–Jingbian Desert Expressway in China." Sustainability 11, no. 3: 606.

Journal article
Published: 28 August 2018 in Geomorphology
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This paper identifies a terrestrial analog for linear dune fields in the Chasma Boreale, located in the north polar region of Mars, and analyzes it to explain linear dune formation. The straight indurated linear dunes are elongated downwind of dome dunes and barchans under a unimodal wind regime, providing a novel research opportunity for geomorphologists to investigate the coexistence of transverse and longitudinal dunes and the effect of sediment induration on dune morphology. The linear dunes around the Chaerhan salt lake in the Qaidam Basin are good analogs for the Chasma Boreale linear dunes because of the similarities in dune morphology and evolution process. Further, the effects of the indurating agents (salt and ice) on the formation of the linear dunes are similar in both locations. In this paper, we have contrasted and analyzed their dune patterns, the influence of cohesive sediment, and wind regimes in the two areas. The formation process and underlying mechanisms that create the linear dunes are analyzed through geomorphological evidence and dune flow simulation experiments. The results show that there is a remarkable morphological resemblance between the two areas. Cohesive sediments, especially the interbedded frozen laminae on Mars, increase dune stability, and thus allow the formation of linear dunes under a small divergence-angle in a bidirectional wind regime. The proto-linear dune facilitates the deposition of sediment along the major axis of the dune, and the lateral wind maintains and promotes the development of linear dunes. We also discuss how cohesive sediment influences dune morphology and leads to a transition from barchans to linear dunes, and we examine the feedback between dune form and airflow. The different effects of sediment induration on dune morphology make the determination of aeolian patterns less certain, which has implications for the development of climate models of Mars and Titan.

ACS Style

Chao Li; Zhibao Dong; Guoxiang Chen; Junhuai Yang; Xujia Cui; Jiyan Li. Qaidam Basin as an analog for linear dune formation in Chasma Boreale, Mars: A comparative analysis. Geomorphology 2018, 322, 29 -40.

AMA Style

Chao Li, Zhibao Dong, Guoxiang Chen, Junhuai Yang, Xujia Cui, Jiyan Li. Qaidam Basin as an analog for linear dune formation in Chasma Boreale, Mars: A comparative analysis. Geomorphology. 2018; 322 ():29-40.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Chao Li; Zhibao Dong; Guoxiang Chen; Junhuai Yang; Xujia Cui; Jiyan Li. 2018. "Qaidam Basin as an analog for linear dune formation in Chasma Boreale, Mars: A comparative analysis." Geomorphology 322, no. : 29-40.

Journal article
Published: 06 June 2018 in Geosciences
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Crescent-shaped barchan dunes often display an asymmetric shape, with one limb longer than the other. As shown in previous studies, asymmetric bimodal winds constitute one major cause of barchan asymmetry, but the heterogeneous conditions of sand availability or flux, as well as topographic influences, may be also important. Understanding the morphology and dynamics of asymmetric barchans may have an impact in a broad range of areas, particularly as these dunes may serve as a proxy for planetary wind regimes and soil conditions in extraterrestrial environments. However, in addition to the existing theories and numerical models that explain barchan asymmetry, direct measurements of migration rates and morphologic changes of real asymmetric barchans over a time span of several years would be beneficial. Therefore, here we report such measurements, which we have acquired by investigating asymmetric barchans in the Hexi Corridor, northwest of China. We have found that dune interactions and asymmetric influx conditions are the most important causes of barchan asymmetry in this field. Particle size distributions in the Hexi Corridor display strong variations over different parts of the asymmetric barchans, as well as over different dunes, with gravel particles being incorporated from the substrate as the dunes migrate. Our observations have shown that upwind sediment sources are important for dune formation in the Hexi Corridor, and that interdune interactions affect dune shape in different ways, depending on their offset. The asymmetric barchans in the Hexi Corridor are active, with an average migration rate (MR) between 8 and 53 m year−1, in spite of the different asymmetric shapes. Our data for dune migration rates can be described well by a scaling of MR = A/(W + W0), where W is the barchan cross-wind width, A ≈ 2835 m2 s−1, and W0 ≈ 44 m. A similar scaling fits very well the migration rate as a function of dune along-wind width L, (i.e., MR = B/(L + L0), with B ≈ 1722 m2 s−1 and L0 ≈ 13 m). Linear relations are also found between both dune widths and the average limb and windward side lengths, thus indicating that the morphometric relations that are predicted from models for steady-state, symmetric crescent-shaped dunes can be applied to different transitional morphologies of interacting, asymmetric barchans.

ACS Style

Zhengcai Zhang; Zhibao Dong; Guangyin Hu; Eric J. R. Parteli. Migration and Morphology of Asymmetric Barchans in the Central Hexi Corridor of Northwest China. Geosciences 2018, 8, 204 .

AMA Style

Zhengcai Zhang, Zhibao Dong, Guangyin Hu, Eric J. R. Parteli. Migration and Morphology of Asymmetric Barchans in the Central Hexi Corridor of Northwest China. Geosciences. 2018; 8 (6):204.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Zhengcai Zhang; Zhibao Dong; Guangyin Hu; Eric J. R. Parteli. 2018. "Migration and Morphology of Asymmetric Barchans in the Central Hexi Corridor of Northwest China." Geosciences 8, no. 6: 204.

Journal article
Published: 29 July 2016 in Remote Sensing
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Aeolian desertification is a kind of land degradation that is characterized by aeolian activity, resulting from the responses of land ecosystems to climate change and anthropogenic disturbances. The source areas of the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers are typical regions of China’s Tibetan Plateau affected by aeolian desertification. We assessed the vulnerability of these areas to aeolian desertification by combining remote sensing with geographical information system technologies. We developed an assessment model with eight indicators, whose weights were determined by the analytical hierarchy process. Employing this model, we analyzed the spatial distribution of vulnerability to aeolian desertification and its changes from 2000 to 2010, and discuss the implications. Overall, low-vulnerability land was the most widespread, accounting for 64%, 62%, and 71% of the total study area in 2000, 2005, and 2010, respectively. The degree of vulnerability showed regional differences. In the source areas of the Yangtze River, land with high or very high vulnerability accounted for 17.4% of this sub-region in 2010, versus 2.6% in the source areas of the Yellow River. In the Zoige Basin, almost all of the land had very low to low vulnerability. To understand the change in vulnerability to aeolian desertification, we calculated an integrated vulnerability index (IVI). This analysis indicated that the vulnerability to aeolian desertification increased from 2000 to 2005 (IVI increased from 2.1709 to 2.2463), and decreased from 2005 to 2010 (IVI decreased from 2.2463 to 2.0057). Increasing regional temperatures appear to be primarily responsible for the change in vulnerability to aeolian desertification throughout the region. The effects of other factors (climatic variation and human activities) differed among the various sub-regions. The implementation of the ecological restoration project has achieved a noticeable effect since 2005. Our results provide empirical support for effort to protect the ecology of this ecologically fragile region.

ACS Style

Xiaobin Ren; Zhibao Dong; Guangyin Hu; Donghai Zhang; Qing Li. A GIS-Based Assessment of Vulnerability to Aeolian Desertification in the Source Areas of the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers. Remote Sensing 2016, 8, 626 .

AMA Style

Xiaobin Ren, Zhibao Dong, Guangyin Hu, Donghai Zhang, Qing Li. A GIS-Based Assessment of Vulnerability to Aeolian Desertification in the Source Areas of the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers. Remote Sensing. 2016; 8 (8):626.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Xiaobin Ren; Zhibao Dong; Guangyin Hu; Donghai Zhang; Qing Li. 2016. "A GIS-Based Assessment of Vulnerability to Aeolian Desertification in the Source Areas of the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers." Remote Sensing 8, no. 8: 626.