Introduction to Deserts and Desertified Regions in China - Combating Desertification in Asia, Africa and the Middle East - page 8

Tabl e 1. 1 Major deserts and sandy lands in China

Potential
evaporation
(mm)

Area (Km 2 )

Name Annual rainfall (mm)

Taklamakan Sandy Desert 337;600 10-50 2,100-3,400

Guerban-Tonggute Sandy Desert 48;800 70-150 1,700-2,200

Kumutage Sandy Desert 22;800 < 10 2,800-3,000

Qaidam (Chadamupendi) Desert 34;900 E50-170; W10-25 2,000-3,000

Badanjilin Sandy Desert 44;300 40-80 3,400-3,700

Tenggeli Sandy Desert 42;700 116-148 3,000-3,600

Wulanbuhe Sandy Desert 9;900 100-145 2,400-2,900

Kubuqi Sandy Desert 16;100 150-400 2,100-2,700

Keerqin Sandy Land 42;300 300-450 1,700-2,400

Hunshandake Sandy Land 21;400 E350-400; W100-200 2,000-2,700

Maowusu Sandy Land 32;100 E400-440; W250-320 2,100-2,600

Hulunbeier Sandy Land 7;200 280-400 1,400-1,900

Source: Zhang Fengchun, 2006, personal communication

Fig. 1.3 Yardangs are a type of desert landscape that is shaped by wind and water. This set is from
the Qaidam (Chadamupendi) Desert (Photo V. Squires)

3.2 Types and Distribution of China's Deserts

According to their composition, the desert is divided into gravel desert, sandy desert,
stone desert, salt desert and argillaceous desert etc. (Table 1.1 ,Fig. 1.3 ). The gravel
desert (Gobi) is almost covered entirely by gravel and broken stones. The surface
configuration of stone desert is composed of bare rock and usually formed in the
mountain and piedmont belts of arid area and the surface character is bare rock and
scree accumulation on the hillside.
During heavy rainfall events, the weathering gravel is moved to piedmont and
forms a large scale of pluvial fan. The sandy desert by contrast has the whole surface
covered by large aeolian sand.