Evaluation of Wind Erosion in Xinjiang Based on Grid Method

Soil wind erosion is the driving force for land degradation, regional environment deterioration, and sandstorms in arid and semiarid regions. To evaluate the degree of wind erosion, a radial primary function network model was developed to carry out the network emulation analysis in Xinjiang, China, in which the grids of 1,000 x 1,000 m has been delimited as the basic research units. The related factors affecting wind erosion were extracted by geographic information system technology. Moreover, its calibration samples were selected from the typical distribution areas of different wind erosion to determine the model parameters. The results show that wind erosion disaster is extremely serious over 50% of the land in Xinjiang, with more than one fourth of the total suffering from more serious wind erosion. The regions with extremely serious wind erosion are distributed throughout east Xinjiang and in south and north Xinjiang. Spatially, wind erosion is roughly high in the southeast but low in the northwest and high in the basins but low in the alpine regions. After comparison and validation with the previously published research results and long-term observations, it is concluded that the research achievements in this study are in accord with the overall distribution pattern of wind erosion in Xinjiang. This method has potential for spatial assessment of wind erosion hazards.