Spatiotemporal changes in the Aeolian desertification of Hulunbuir Grassland and its driving factors in China during 1980-2015

Aeolian desertification is one of the most serious environmental issues negatively impacting society. Assessing the spatiotemporal changes in desertification and determining its driving factors are crucial to preventing and controlling desertification. In this study, Landsat remote sensing images from 1980 to 2015 are used to extract the information of aeolian desertified land (ADL) in the Hulunbuir Grassland. We analyse the spatiotemporal dynamic changes in desertification using an intensity analysis, the gravity centre change model, and GIS spatial analysis and discuss the driving factors of these changes. The results show that the ADL area in the Hulunbuir Grassland increased during both 1980-2000 and 2000-2015. The ADL is mainly distributed in the central and western Hulunbuir Grassland. The gravity centres were distributed from west to east in the order of light, moderate, extremely severe, and severe ADL. ADL area and intensity changes were the highest during 1990-2000. The gain intensity of all ADL levels was active during 1980-2015. Excluding the severe ADL from 1980 to 1990 and the extremely severe ADL from 1990 to 2000, the loss intensity of other ADL levels was active. All ADL levels transformed to one level lower after 2000. The increasing annual average temperature, population, farmland area, and number of livestock promoted aeolian desertification during 1980-2000. Environmental protection policies and climate change contributed to the reversal of ADL during 2000-2015. In summary, Hulunbuir Grassland desertification has been controlled to a certain degree and has improved. The development and reversal of ADL were affected by the combined effects of climate change and human activities in the Hulunbuir Grassland. The results can provide meaningful information for the prevention and control of aeolian desertification in the Hulunbuir Grassland.