Stability study of oasis ecosystems in arid land areas of western China

An oasis is a type of landscape that is only present in arid regions due to the arid climate, landform, and hydrological pattern. It is important to study the stability of oasis to keep sustainable development of regional economy. The stability of oasis is affected by many factors. Human activity is one of major factors. Those non-human factors like salinization in the oasis and desertification in surrounding areas are also critical. Both salinization and desertification are related to water, energy transformations and interactions among different ecosystems. The stability of oasis is influenced by the distribution and utilization of water resources, interactions between ecosystems and climate. Adjustment in the groundwater table may help to prevent the secondary land salinization. It is important to limit salinization and desertification for the stability of oasis.