temporal change of driving factors during the course of land desertification in arid region of North China: the case of Minqin County

Taking the key research area in the arid region of North China--Minqin County--as a case, this paper analyzes the main factors impacting land desertification. Based on factor analysis method and the collection of data in the last 50 years, this paper researches the spatial changes of driving factors during the course of land desertification in Minqin, Gansu Province. The results of factor analysis indicate that the driving force of human factor on land desertification accounted for 56.33% in 1956-2004 and for 66.19% in 1981-2004, the driving force of nature factor on land desertification accounted for 11.29% in 1956-2004 and 8.11% in 1981-2004, and the synthesis of driving forces of human and natural factors accounted for 11.19% in 1956-2004 and for 14.88% in 1981-2004. This indicated that human driving force on land desertification was increasing in Minqin County gradually.