Spatiotemporal Evolution and Influencing Factors of Soil Wind Erosion in Northern China

ABSTRACT Northern China represents a critical region for soil wind erosion research due to its high susceptibility and ecological vulnerability. This study employs a parameter‐optimized RWEQ model, incorporating freeze–thaw dynamics and refined land‐use coefficients along with data from 171 meteorological stations, to comprehensively analyze the spatiotemporal dynamics and driving mechanisms of soil wind erosion across approximately 5.4 million square kilometers in northern China from 1980 to 2023. The results show that the average annual wind erosion rate in northern China decreased from 4864.48 t·km −2 ·a −1 in 1980 to 3117.32 t·km −2 ·a −1 in 2023, representing a total reduction of 36.0%. Moderate and severe erosion gradually transitioned to slight and mild levels, indicating an overall improving trend. Temporally, the evolution exhibited four distinct phases: a rapid decline (1980–1990), with a total erosion reduction of 25.5% and an average annual reduction of 674.23 million tons; a decelerated decline (1990–2010), during which erosion further decreased by 32.5% relative to 1990 levels, with an average annual reduction of 319.68 million tons; a stagnation phase (2010–2020), characterized by a minimal reduction of only 4.8% compared to 2010, with an average annual reduction of 6.385 million tons; and a significant rebound (2020–2023), marked by a 27.9% increase in total erosion and an average annual increase of 1230.34 million tons. Spatially, erosion intensity markedly decreased in the Northeast Plain and North China Plain, while high‐risk areas persisted in western regions such as the Tarim Basin and Inner Mongolia Plateau, underscoring the substantial contribution of western deserts to wind erosion. Factor detection identified potential evapotranspiration ( q = 0.55–0.65) and soil sand content ( q > 0.3) as the primary driving factors, with NDVI and silt content also exhibiting substantial explanatory power ( q > 0.25). The interaction between vegetation and climatic factors, such as NDVI and precipitation, shifted from nonlinear enhancement to bilinear enhancement, reflecting a progressive saturation of vegetation's inhibitory effect on erosion as canopy cover increased. After 2010, the saturation of vegetation‐related erosion control, coupled with intensified anthropogenic pressure, contributed to the stagnation and subsequent rebound in regional erosion levels. This study emphasizes the urgency of implementing differentiated vegetation restoration and soil improvement techniques in key regions, providing a scientific basis for optimizing wind erosion prevention and ecological restoration strategies in arid and semi‐arid areas.