Desertification

__Natural processes influencing desertification__
 * Unindirectional Winds - Wind that moves in only one direction during the windy seasons, causing sand dunes to move in that one direction.
 * Slumping - Similar to a snow avalanche, if the slope of a sand dune is on more than 34 degrees of an angle, gravity pulls the loose sand down and small avalanches occur.
 * Saltation - Sand particles skip along the ground knocking into other sand particles causing them to dislodge resulting in a sand storm which in strong winds can move 10's of metres.
 * Planting trees along desert highways creates a natural barrier, blocking the high majority of sediments from being deposited along the roadways.
 * Global warming accelerates the desertification process due to increased evaporation rates.
 * Sand avalanches move sand dunes forward, causing deserts to expand in size.

periodical climate variations from humid to dry and windy, as well as seasonal change in coastal climates, promote regional desertification. in the Mu Us sandy land region, the climate changed Periodically from drier to wetter over te last 40 years, i.e wetter in the 1960s, drier in the 1970s, wetter in the 1980s and drier in the 1990s. in coastal areas of the yellow and Bohai seas a dry climate combined with strong winds in winter and spring has caused seasonal desertification

Human processes influencing desertification Population increase and associated human activity in regions with arid or dry sub humid climates puts pressure on natural ecosystems. Exploitation of natural resources including natural vegetation, land and water resources can cause soil erosion which can lead to desertification in some regions.
 * Overdrafting (extraction) of groundwater leaves the land dry and unsustainable, more prone to desertification.
 * Planting trees along desert highways creates a natural barrier, blocking the high majority of sediments from being deposited along the roadways.
 * Policies that can lead to unsustainable management of resources and lack of infastructure both significantly contribute to land degradation.
 * Livestock grazing on steppe (vast grassland with no trees) are consuming the grass and also constantly compounding the ground to create fine material, which will become eroded and increase chance of desertification.
 * Inappropriate irrigation practices, which cause increased soil salinity leading to increased desertification.

Desertification of Arid Lands Link. (Website includes place of desertification, characteristics and magnitude of desertification.) []

Desertification link. (Website includes impacts of desertification, pressure causing desertification ..) []

Desertification link. (Website includes the consequences of desertification, combating and Australia's response to desertification..) []