Summary Preface One Preface Two Foreword Part Ⅰ Overview of Deserts and Aeolian Desertification in China Chapter 1 Introduction 1.1 Progress in desert research in China 1.1.1 An overview of desert research history in China 1.1.2 Progress in desert research of China 1.2 Aeolian desertification research and its progress in China 1.2.1 Initial research into aeolian desertification in China 1.2.2 Progress in aeolian desertification research over the past ten years 1.3 Development trend in the researches of deserts and aeolian desertification in China 1.3.1 Development trend of desert research 1.3.2 Development trend of aeolian desertification research References Chapter 2 Outline on Natural and Socio-economical Features of Deserts and Aeolian Desertified Regions 2.1 Climate 2.1.1 Arid climate evolution in sandy regions 2.1.2 Basic characteristics of the climate in sandy areas in China 2.1.3 Climate zonation of sandy areas in China 2.2 Geomorphology 2.2.1 Regionally controlled geomorphology units 2.2.2 Aeolian geomorphology in sandy areas 2.3 Hydrology 2.3.1 Runoff features in desert regions 2.3.2 Hydrology of rivers and lakes in desert regions 2.3.3 Flood and drought hazards 2.3.4 Groundwater basins 2.3.5 Hydrological regionalization in desert regions 2.4 Soil 2.4.1 Sandy Entisols 2.4.2 Other Sandy Entisols 2.5 Vegetation 2.5.1 Flora 2.5.2 Vegetation types and their distribution 2.6 Social and economic situations References Chapter 3 Classification and Distribution of Deserts and Aeolian Desertified Lands in China 3.1 Classification and distribution of deserts in China 3.1.1 A history of the concept of deserts in China 3.1.2 Classifications of deserts 3.1.3 Distributions of deserts in China 3.2 General characteristics of Chinese deserts 3.2.1 Arid climate and low precipitation 3.2.2 Abundant heat resources and high temperature difference 3.2.3 Frequent blown sand activities 3.2.4 Sparse and low vegetation,and few kinds of animals 3.2.5 Huge sandy sediments 3.2.6 Shifting dunes moving along the dominant wind direction 3.2.7 Little runoff,abundant underground water 3.2.8 Soil formation in the initial stage 3.3 Types and characteristics of aeolian desertification in China 3.3.1 Aeolian desertification and aeolian desertified land 3.3.2 Types of aeolian desertification and aeolian desertified land 3.4 Rules and characteristics of aeolian desertified land distribution in China 3.4.1 Spatial distributions 3.4.2 Temporal trends of aeolian desertification References Chapter 4 Natural Resources in Desert Regions 4.1 Climatic resources 4.1.1 Concept and characteristics 4.1.2 Evaluation of climatic resources in desert regions 4.1.3 Climatic disaster and the exploitation and usage of climatic resource 4.2 Water resources 4.2.1 Water resources in inland desert regions of northwest China 4.2.2 Water resources in the eastern desert regions 4.3 Land resources 4.3.1 Types and distribution characteristics of land resources 4.3.2 Evaluation of quantity and quality of land resources 4.4 Vegetation in the deserts and aeolian desertified lands 4.4.1 Pasture plants and forage crops 4.4.2 Edible plants 4.4.3 Medicinal plants 4.4.4 Other economic plants 4.5 Animal resources 4.5.1 Big and middle size animals 4.5.2 Rodent animals 4.5.3 Bird resources 4.5.4 Reptile and amphibious animals 4.6 Mineral resources 4.6.1 Coal 4.6.2 Oil and natural gas resources 4.6.3 Salt mines 4.7 Tourism resources 4.7.1 Unique phenomena in desert 4.7.2 Natural scenic spots 4.7.3 Other scenic spots References Part Ⅱ Evolution of Deserts and Aeolian Desertification in China Chapter 5 Evolution of Deserts 5.1 Formation conditions for deserts 5.1.1 Formation and evolution of dry climate in China 5.1.2 Origin of sand materials in deserts 5.2 The formation and development of deserts 5.2.1 Occurrence of aeolian sand deposits and the formation of deserts 5.2.2 Desert evolution 5.3 Sedimentary records of desert areas in China 5.3.1 The spatial and temporal characteristics of deposits in desert regions of China 5.3.2 Examples of desert evolution records in desert regions of China since the early to mid-Pleistoceneresearch about stratigraphic sequences and ages of the Yulin and Aqiang Sections 5.3.3 The high-resolution records of desert evolution in China since the late Pleistocene―the research of strata and their ages in the Salawusu River basin since 150 ka BP 5.3.4 Preliminary study on oasis deposits at the southern edge of the Tarim Basin since 13 kaBPan example from the Yutian-Hotan Oasis 5.3.5 The formation and evolution process and genetic information recorded in desert deposits in China 5.4 Aeolian desertification in the historical period 5.4.1 Adjacent area of the Taklimakan Desert 5.4.2 The Hexi Corridor and the Alxa area 5.4.3 The northern part of the Ulan Buh Desert 5.4.4 The Mu Us Sandy Land 5.4.5 The Horqin Sandy Land References Chapter 6 Blown Sand Physics and Formation of Aeolian Landforms 6.1 Laws of blown sand movement 6.1.1 Characteristics of near-surface air stream 6.1.2 Sand movement modes and their structure 6.1.3 Determination and calculation of sand transport rate 6.2 The role of sand movement in the formation of aeolian landforms 6.2.1 Wind erosion processes 6.2.2 Wind deposition 6.3 Main dynamic types and characteristics of aeolian landforms 6.3.1 Dynamic types and main characteristics of wind erosion landforms 6.3.2 Main dynamic types and characteristics of wind deposition landforms References Chapter 7 The Causes and Processes of Aeolian Desertification 7. 1 Natural factors leading to the formation of aeolian desertification 7.1.1 Analysis on the natural background of aeolian desertification 7.1.2 The influence of climatic variations in recent years on aeolian desertification in arid and semiarid regions in northern China 7.2 Human activities and aeolian desertification 7.2.1 Rapid increase of population pressure 7.2.2 Unreasonable land development activities 7.2.3 Irrational use of water resources 7.2.4 Indirect influence of human activities on aeolian desertification 7.3 Aeolian desertification development processes 7.3.1 Pattern changes of landform features and landscape types 7.3.2 Biological processes of aeolian desertification 7.3.3 Artificial development and reversal processes of aeolian desertification References Chapter 8 Formation and Damages of Dust Storms 8.1 Dust rainand dust storms in the historical period of China 8.1.1 Dust rainevents in the historical period of China 8.1.2 Dust storm events in historical period of northwest China 8.2 Characteristics and damages of dust storms in China 8.2.1 Characteristics of dust storms in China 8.2.2 Damages of dust storms in China 8.3 Meteorological and topographical conditions for the formation of dust storms 8.3.1 Meteorological conditions 8.3.2 Topographic conditions 8.4 Influence of anthropogenic factors on the formation of dust storms 8.4.1 Effects of disturbed ground surface 8.4.2 Contribution of disturbed dust sources to the atmospheric dust load 8.4.3 Man-made dust materials 8.5 Status and development trend of dust storms in China 8.5.1 Status of dust storms in northern China 8.5.2 Development trend and control measures of dust storms in China References Chapter 9 Aeolian Desertification Monitoring and Assessment 9.1 Indicator systems for monitoring aeolian desertification by remote sensing 9.2 Aeolian desertification monitoring methods based on 3S techniques 9.2.1 Technical principles 9.2.2 Aeolian desertification monitoring methods based on 3S techniques 9.3 Some results of aeolian desertification monitoring over the past 50 years 9.3.1 Monitoring and assessment of modern aeolian desertification 9.3.2 Monitoring and evaluation of aeolian desertification in typical regions 9.4 Model of aeolian desertification assessment 9.4.1 Outline of the assessment model 9.4.2 Model of aeolian desertification assessment 9.4.3 Discriminant analysis model of aeolian desertification 9.4.4 Prediction model of aeolian desertification 9.4.5 Evaluation models of aeolian desertified land References Part Ⅲ Case Study of Deserts and Aeolian Desertification in China Chapter 10 Sandy Land and Aeolian Desertified Land in Steppe Zones 10.1 Hulun Buir Sandy Land 10.1.1 General situation 10.1.2 Impacts of geological structure and paleoclimate on the Hulun Buir Sandy Land 10.1.3 The development process of aeolian desertification in the Hulun Buir Grassland 10.2 Songnen Sandy Land 10.2.1 General situation 10.2.2 Status of aeolian desertified land 10.2.3 Natural factors of aeolian desertification 10.2.4 Human factors of aeolian desertification 10.2.5 The damage from aeolian desertification 10.2.6 Combating aeolian desertification 10.3 Horqin Sandy Land 10.3.1 The distribution of the Horqin Sandy Land 10.3.2 Natural conditions in the Horqin Sandy Land 10.3.3 The process of aeolian desertification in the Horqin Sandy Land 10.4 Onqin Daga Sandy Land 10.4.1 General situation 10.4.2 Sedimentary record 10.4.3 Formation age and evolution process 10.4.4 Factors affecting the formation of the sandy land 10.4.5 Modern wind erosion and aeolian desertification in reclaimed districts at the southern margin of the steppe 10.5 Mu Us Sandy Land 10.5.1 Ecological and geographic conditions 10.5.2 Socio-economic conditions 10.5.3 Developmental process and combating aeolian desertification References Chapter 11 Deserts and Aeolian Desertified Land in Desert Steppe 11.1 Ulan Buh Desert 11.1.1 Eco-geographical conditions 11.1.2 Social and economic conditions 11.1.3 Evolution of aeolian desertification 11.2 Hobq Desert 11.2.1 Natural conditions 11.2.2 Social and economic conditions 11.2.3 Sand damage of the Hobq Desert 11.3 Tengger Desert 11.3.1 Natural conditions and distribution patterns of the Desert 11.3.2 Formation and changes of the Tengger Desert 11.3.3 Modern development and trends 11.4 Badain Jaran Desert 11.4.1 General situation 11.4.2 Dune types and characteristics 11.4.3 Landforms 11.4.4 Developmental history of the Badain Jaran Desert 11.5 Aeolian desertification in the Hexi Corridor 11.5.1 Main characteristics of aeolian desertification 11.5.2 Resource exploitation and oasis aeolian desertification References Chapter 12 Deserts and Aeolian Desertified Lands in the Arid Regions 12.1 Gurbantünggüt Desert 12.1.1 Summary 12.1.2 The past of the Gurbantünggüt Desert environment 12.1.3 Present desert 12.1.4 The future changing trend of the desert environment 12.2 Taklimakan Desert 12.2.1 General description 12.2.2 The formation and evolution of the desert 12.2.3 Modality types and evolution of blown-sand physiognomy 12.2.4 The processes and causes of aeolian desertification 12.2.5 Natural resources and the evaluation in the Tarim Basin 12.3 Kumtag Desert 12.3.1 Regional physical geographic features 12.3.2 The source and formation of desert sand 12.3.3 The basic characters of blown sand physiognomy 12.3.4 Reconstruction and utilization References Chapter 13 Deserts and Aeolian Desertification in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau 13.1 Aeolian desertification in the Gonghe Basin of Qinghai Province 13.1.1 Location and distribution of aeolian desertified land 13.1.2 Natural environment of aeolian desertification 13.1.3 Material source of aeolian desertification 13.1.4 Desert evolution and environmental changes 13.2 Desert in the Qinghai Lake basin 13.2.1 Distribution and types of sand dunes in the eastern shore desert of the Qinghai Lake 13.2.2 Distribution and types of sand dunes in the western shore desert of the Qinghai Lake 13.2.3 Sand source and changes of the desert 13.2.4 Desert evolution 13.3 Desert in the Qaidam Basin 13.3.1 Aeolian sand landforms 13.3.2 Material sources 13.3.3 Modern aeolian sand deposition 13.3.4 Desert evolution 13.4 Aeolian dune development and environmental changes in the adjoining region of Puruogangriice sheet,North Tibetan Plateau 13.4.1 Introduction 13.4.2 Development of aeolian dune 13.4.3 Formation mechanism of large crescent dunes 13.4.4 Characteristics of deposit grains 13.4.5 Formational mechanism of large barchan dunes 13.4.6 Environmental changes recorded from aeolian dune profiles 13.4.7 Conclusions 13.5 Aeolian desertification in theYarlung Zangbo River and its Two Tributariesregion in Tibet 13.5.1 Status of aeolian desertification 13.5.2 Causes of aeolian desertification References Chapter 14 Gobi Desert 14.1 Features and types of gobi deserts 14.2 Distribution,types and features of gobi desert in different regions 14.2.1 Gobi desert on the Alxa Plateau 14.2.2 Gobi deserts in eastern Xinjiang 14.2.3 Gobi deserts in the northern Hexi Corridor 14.2.4 Gobi desert in the Junggar Basin 14.2.5 Gobi deserts in the Tarim Basin 14.2.6 Gobi deserts in the Qaidam Basin 14.3 Reclamation and use of gobi deserts References Chapter 15 Special Types of Sandy Lands and Aeolian Desertification 15.1 Sandy Lands on the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain 15.1.1 Natural conditions for the formation of the sandy land in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain 15.1.2 Formation causes and characteristics of sandy land 15.2 Coastal Sandy Lands 15.2.1 The blown sand on the west shore of the Liaodong Bay 15.2.2 Blown sand in the sandy coast of the Shandong Peninsula 15.2.3 Coastal sandy lands around the Zhoushan Islands in Zhejiang Province 15.2.4 Coastal dunes in Fujian Province 15.2.5 Coastal aeolian sandy lands in Taiwan Province 15.2.6 Coastal sandy lands in Guangdong Province 15.2.7 Coastal sands in Hainan Province 15.3 Sandy lands in the dry-hot valleys in southwest China References Part Ⅳ Control of Deserts and Aeolian Desertification Chapter 16 Strategy of Aeolian Desertification Control 16.1 Principles and approaches to control aeolian desertification 16.1.1 Fundamental principles of aeolian desertification control 16.1.2 Approaches to control aeolian desertification 16.2 Strategies and measures to combat aeolian desertification 16.2.1 Strategies to combat aeolian desertification 16.2.2 Measures to combat aeolian desertification 16.3 Rehabilitation patterns of aeolian desertified lands in different climatic zones 16.3.1 Rehabilitation pattern of aeolian desertification in semi-arid regions 16.3.2 Rehabilitation pattern of aeolian desertified land in arid regions 16.4 Measures to control aeolian desertification 16.4.1 Vegetative method 16.4.2 Checkerboard sand barriers 16.4.3 Upright sand fences 16.4.4 Combination of different measures 16.4.5 Chemical dune stabilization References Chapter 17 Blown Sand Hazards and Their Control Measures 17.1 Causes of blown sand hazards and their basic features 17.1.1 Causes of the formation of blown sand hazards 17.1.2 Basic characteristics of blown sand hazards 17.2 Quantitative evaluations of blown sand hazards 17.2.1 Evaluation of danger degree of aeolian desertification hazards 17.2.2 Quantitative evaluation of wind erosion 17.2.3 Evaluation of deflation and accumulation quantity of blown sand in a region 17.2.4 Evaluation of blown sand hazards to traffic roads 17.2.5 Evaluation of direct economic loss caused by blown sand hazards 17.3 Basic approaches to control blown sand hazards 17.3.1 Basic principles of controlling blown sand hazards 17.3.2 Basic approaches for controlling blown sand hazards 17.3.3 Degradation of grassland in western China and prevention of blown sand harm 17.4 Combating and preventing blown sand hazards along railway and highway in sand region of China 17.4.1 Preventing and combating blown sand hazards along railway in shifting dunes region(taking protection system in Shapotou Section of the Baotou– Lanzhou Railway as a typical case) 17.4.2 Preventing and combating blown sand hazards along railway in Gobi region(taking protection system in Yumen Section of the Lanzhou– Xinjiang Railway as an example) 17.4.3 Preventing and combating blown sand hazards along highway in extremely arid sand region(taking sand-defending engineering along the Tarim Desert Highway as an example) 17.5 Combating and preventing wind-blown sand hazards in farmland 17.5.1 Types of wind-blown sand hazards and its present status 17.5.2 Combating measures of wind-blown sand hazards 17.5.3 Successful cases 17.6 Controlling wind-blown sand hazards on grasslands 17.6.1 Lightening the grazing intensity and adopting rational grazing system to restore grassland vegetation 17.6.2 Enclosing grassland,planting trees and restoring vegetation 17.6.3 Protection of grassland vegetation and control of new sand sources 17.7 Monitoring and forecast of blown sand hazards References Chapter 18 Regionalization of Aeolian Desertification Control in China 18.1 Regionalization of aeolian desertification control in China 18.1.1 Regionalization principles 18.1.2 Regionalization for aeolian desertified land rehabilitation 18.2 Blown sandy land development and rehabilitation in the sub-humid Huang-Huai-Hai Plain 18.2.1 Principles of combating aeolian desertification 18.2.2 Design of aeolian desertification control schemes 18.3 Agro-pastoral zone of eastern Inner Mongolia 18.3.1 Demarcation of the agro-pastoral zone 18.3.2 The economic characteristics,land use and protection of agro-pastoral zones 18.4 Semi-arid agro-pastoral zones in Shanxi,Shaanxi and Inner Mongolia 18.4.1 Background 18.4.2 Problems of land aeolian desertification 18.4.3 Researches on aeolian desertification control 18.4.4 Control districts 18.4.5 Aeolian desertification control 18.5 Aeolian desertification control of oases in arid desert zones 18.5.1 Characteristics of the desert oasis eco-system 18.5.2 Oasification and aeolian desertification 18.5.3 Protection and construction of a desert-oasis eco-environment 18.6 Pastoral area of the Tibetan Plateau 18.6.1 Background 18.6.2 Aeolian desertification in Tibet 18.6.3 Regionalization of aeolian desertification control in Tibet 18.6.4 Aeolian desertification control in Tibet References Afterward