Spatiotemporal Change of Aeolian Desertification Land Distribution in Northern China from 2001 to 2015

Land desertification is one of the world's most important global ecological environment problems and sensitive to global climate change. In this study, Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Gaofen-1 (GF-1) data were used to obtain aeolian desertification land distribution in Northern China. Aeolian desertification land distribution from 2001 to 2015 was used to analyze the spatiotemporal change in this area. Results show that aeolian desertification situation of 70 counties is expanded with low slope values and 250 counties is reversed. Aeolian desertification situation in most areas is improved in recent 15 years. Gravity center of the aeolian desertification has a trend to move towards the direction of the high latitude and low longitude. It moves towards north about 0.06A degrees and west about 2.2A degrees from 2001 to 2015. The main distribution area is between 90-100A degrees E, 30- 40A degrees N and altitude which less than 2000 m in desert and steppe climate zone. Aeolian desertification is worsening in recent 5 years around rivers and lakes. In recent years, the government has made great efforts to strengthen ecological construction with positive effect, but we still need to pay more attention to environment deterioration of rivers, lakes and the nearby areas in the future.