Integrated physical regionalization of stony deserts in China
Stony deserts are widely distributed in the arid and extremely arid regions in China.However,an integrated physical regionalization of these stony deserts has not been carried out.Based on a comprehensive analysis of the relationship between the characteristics and formation mechanism of stony deserts,the main features of stony deserts can be summarized as follows:land surface is covered with gravels;surface layer has porous thin desert crust,below which red brown compact and gypsum layers are found.Vegetation mainly includes arid and extremely arid shrubs and semi-shrubs with low coverage.Stony deserts only exist in arid and extremely arid regions with aridity index greater than 4.Based on the regional differentiation of characteristics and formation conditions of stony deserts,this study selected indicators reflecting aridity and temperature,regional geology and geomorphology,and formation conditions and types of surface materials to classify the stony deserts into three first-level regions (temperate arid and extremely arid region,warm temperate arid and extremely arid region,and arid and extremely arid region in northern Tibetan Plateau);nine second-level regions (according to regional geological and topographical features),and 19 third-level regions (based on regional formation conditions and types of surface materials).Further division can be made based on regional differentiation of soils and vegetation.
stony desertarid and extremely arid regionintegrated physical regionalization