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Volume 44 Issue 3
Jun.  2025
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Article Navigation >  CARSOLOGICA SINICA  > 2025  >  44(3): 645-656, 668
QIN Zhengfeng, XU Qi, JIA Min, BI Xueli, YANG Xiangpeng. Mapping and characteristic analysis of karst areas along the Belt and Road[J]. CARSOLOGICA SINICA, 2025, 44(3): 645-656, 668. doi: 10.11932/karst20250311
Citation: QIN Zhengfeng, XU Qi, JIA Min, BI Xueli, YANG Xiangpeng. Mapping and characteristic analysis of karst areas along the Belt and Road[J]. CARSOLOGICA SINICA, 2025, 44(3): 645-656, 668. doi: 10.11932/karst20250311
shu

Mapping and characteristic analysis of karst areas along the Belt and Road

doi: 10.11932/karst20250311
  • 1.

    Institute of Karst Geology, CAGS /Key Laboratory of Karst Dynamics, MNR & GAZR/ International Research Centre on Karst under the Auspices of UNESCO, Guilin , Guangxi 541004, China

  • 2.

    Pingguo Guangxi, Karst Ecosystem, National Observation and Research Station, Pingguo, Guangxi 531406, China

  • 3.

    Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, China

  • Received Date: 2024-02-15
  • Accepted Date: 2025-04-02
  • Rev Recd Date: 2025-03-25
    • Available Online: 2025-09-03
    Abstract
  • The region along the Belt and Road is a critical global hub for energy production and supply, containing 55% of the world’s oil reserves and 76% of its natural gas reserves. Carbonate rock oil and gas reservoirs hold an extremely important position in global hydrocarbon resources. Statistics show that carbonate reservoirs account for approximately 70% of the world’s total oil and gas resources, 50% of proven recoverable reserves, and 60% of global production. By the end of 2013, there were 53 UNESCO World Heritage Sites featuring karst landscapes worldwide, including 42 designated as World Natural Heritage Sites. The stunning karst landscapes and unique cave formations have become major tourist attractions, while the abundant karst water resources and carbonate rock oil and gas reserves support human survival and development. The karst regions along the Belt and Road encompass over 50% of the global karst areas, which coincide with intensive human activities. In the context of global change, these regions face prominent environmental challenges, including karst drought, rocky desertification, water pollution, and severe geological hazards such as collapses and depression waterlogging, posing substantial threats to regional eco-environmental security.Supported by a project of the China Geological Survey, this study employed MODIS Reprojection Tool (MRT) and the Environment for Visualizing Images (ENVI) software to conduct remote sensing interpretation of collected datasets, including annual precipitation, mean temperature, evaporation, elevation data, and satellite imagery. A specialized map of the karst geological environment along the Belt and Road was compiled, which laid a foundation for further classification of key types of karst belt along the route and serving the International Karst Science Program. By integrating remote sensing images, geological maps, literature, and other data, and combining with field verification, this study has compared the karst characteristics of plateaus, large slopes, plains, and coastal areas within their geological and climatic contexts. The main conclusions are as follows.(1) Karst distribution areas along the Belt and Road span about 12.3 million km2, representing over half of the global karst coverage. Among the countries along the Belt and Road, China, Russia, and Kazakhstan have the largest karst areas, ranking as the top three in terms of karst coverage.(2) The characteristics of karst distribution under different elevations, temperatures, rainfall levels, and evaporation rates along the Belt and Road are quantitatively analyzed. Karst areas located between 0 m and 1,000 m in elevation account for 74% of the total karst area, whereas those above 3,500 m represent only 8%. Karst areas with surface temperatures above 9 ℃ comprise 65.3%, while those below 9 ℃ account for 34.7%. Regarding annual rainfall, karst areas receiving 0 mm to 210 mm constitute 31% of the total area, those receiving 210 mm to 540 mm account for 32%, 540 mm to 840 mm cover 18%, and areas with annual rainfall exceeding 840 mm represent 19%. Additionally, karst areas with evaporation rates below 205 mm account for 51.4% of the total.(3) A comparative analysis of karst development conditions and controlling factors in Ethiopia, Croatia, Turkey, Iran, Thailand, and South China reveals that the lithology and tectonics of soluble rocks serve as intrinsic drivers of karst development, establishing the fundamental framework for karst processes. Meanwhile, climate acts as an extrinsic driving force, with both factors jointly shaping the development of karst landforms. Taking the karst in South China as an example, this study analyzes the influence of tectonic uplift on the differentiation of karst landforms. Distinct vertical hydrological profiles and erosion-dissolution base levels have been formed during different geological periods. To adapt to changes in these base levels, karst geomorphological zones have been developed at varying elevations. Moreover, the significant disparities in elevation also induce variations in climate, hydrology, and tectonic conditions, which in turn cause geomorphological differentiation in karst landforms. Meanwhile, China’s Qinghai-Xizang Plateau on the first terrain ladder is characterized by high altitude, low temperatures, and scarce rainfall. The development of modern karst is limited in this region, exhibiting only micro-karst formations on rock surfaces. In contrast, Southwest China (Yunnan, Sichuan, and Chongqing), located on the second terrain ladder, experiences abundant rainfall and steep slopes. This area undergoes intense fluvial downcutting, forming canyons and peak-cluster valleys. Meanwhile, Guangxi (China), Thailand, and other Indochina Peninsula plains lie on the third terrain ladder. These areas are characterized by a hot, humid climate and low-elevation terrains near sea level, exhibiting vigorous surface and subsurface karstification and developing classic karst landforms such as peak-cluster valleys, peak-forest plains, and isolated-peak plains.

     

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