Dynamic evolution of reticulate dunes in the Hobq Desert from 1980 to 2024

The study of reticulate dunes (RD) is of great significance in revealing the mechanism of aeolian landscape evolution, combating desertification and informing optimal ecological restoration strategies. By interpreting the 6-phase Landsat series images of the Hobq Desert from 1980 to 2024, we obtained nearly 44-yr RD evolution map, analyzed its spatial-temporal dynamics, type transformation, migration law, and explored the factors influencing the evolution of RD. The results show that the RD are mainly distributed in the northwestern part of the Hobq Desert, the main part of the desert between Heilaigou and Hantaichuan. During the last 44 yrs, the area of RD in the Hobq Desert has decreased by 87.42 km 2 , and the main changes are barchan dunes and dune chains (BDC) and composite dunes (CD), with the transformed areas of 163.25 km 2 and 45.02 km 2 , respectively. The RD are generally moving in the direction of ESE–E, which is in line with the dominant wind direction of the area (WNW–W), with the average annual movement speed of 2.34 m/a, and are in the relative stable evolutionary process. The dynamic evolution of the RD is the result of the combined effects of regional climate change and socioeconomic factors. Random forest model analysis shows that the cumulative contribution rate of socioeconomic factors is as high as 94.04%, which has a significant impact on desert evolution. The study provides a scientific basis for a deeper understanding of the surface evolution of the Hobq Desert.