The sandy deserts and the gobi of China

Abstract

Sandy deserts are widely distributed in northern and northwestern China, along with numerous gobi plains. (The term'gobi' is a Mongolian word that denotes all the deserts and semi-deserts in the Mongolian Plateau. In China, the word'gobi' is used to describe deserts and semi-deserts paved with gravel or rock debris, while'shamo' is restricted to sandy deserts.) These deserts occupy a total area of about 1,095,000 km2, of which about 637,000 km2 are sandy desert and 458,000 km2 are gobi. They account for 11.5% of the total land area of China. Although some of these lands are rich in resources, natural hazards such as drought and aeolian erosion frequently occur. This chapter is a study of the origin and evolution of the sandy deserts and the gobi in China, providing a basis for more detailed study.