A study on tectonic geomorphology and landscape ecological pattern in the Kangsu area, Wuqia, Xinjiang

Abstract

The Kangsu area is located in the basin-mountain coupling zone formed by the alluvial action of the West Kunlun Mountains and the Southwestern Tianshan Mountains. Its tectonic landforms show significant characteristics of mountain-plain distribution pattern. Our study aims to explore the causes of the tectonic landforms and the evolution rules. Based on "3S" technology, we carried out a tectonic geomorphic mapping to classify the landscape ecological types and study the impact of tectonic geomorphology on the landscape ecological patten in this region. We then sorted out five landscape classes using vertical mountain-plain tectonic landforms as an indicator and six landscape types using land-use type and vegetation cover as indicators. Then we further classified the study area into twenty-three landscapes according to natural ecosystems (snow mountains, grasslands, rivers) and artificial ecosystems (farmlands, towns, industrial mines). Our findings show that the overall Kangsu area forms a basin-mountain-plain inlaid tectonic landscape ecological pattern with rivers as corridors and five landscapes, namely mountains, plains, towns, industrial mines, farmlands, as patches. The tectonic movements caused by the uplift of mountains and plateaus as well as the continuous erosion of the Kizilsu River and the Kangsu River directly affect the evolution of the landscape and ecological pattern of the Wuqia-Heiziwei-Mayikake area.

Keywords

• tectonic landform
• landscape class
• landscape type
• landscape ecological pattern
• xinjiang