The Progress and Prospects of Nebkhas in Arid Areas

Nebkhas is a common relief type in arid and semi-arid areas, which plays an important role in the stablization of ecological environment in these areas. This paper reviews the following aspects, including formation and succession, spatial distribution, shape characteristics, surface airflow characteristics and balance between erosion and deposition, ecological and physiological characteristics of vegetation. It also focuses on its response to precipitation and underground water, soil properties as well as the protection measures. We found that there had been limited studies on nebkhas, in which succession periods were not differentiated, shape characteristics, surface airflow, soil and vegetation dynamics in different succession periods were not fully understood. So it is difficult to explain succession dynamics of nebkhas and its affecting factors.