Terrain Composite Index and Its Application in Terrain Gradient Effect Analysis of Land Use Change:A Case Study of Taihang Hilly Areas

Land use/cover change(LUCC)gains more and more attention because of its great impacts on climate,hydrological processes,biodiversity and ecological processes.The relationship between terrain variables and land use has become an important part of land use/cover change.This study established a terrain composite index based on the terrain niche index and transformation of aspect,and analyzed its application in terrain gradient effect analysis of land use change in Taihang hilly areas from 1980 to 2015.The main results were summarized as follows.First,the spatial distribution of land use types had close relationships with terrain gradient.Secondly,the cropland,cultivated land and water body were distributed on the area of low terrain gradient;the grassland was mainly distributed on the area of medium terrain gradient,while forest land mainly covered the medium and high terrain gradient.According to the types of land use change,it was found that the primary type was the stable type,which accounted for 84.17% of the whole study area.Therefore,terrain factors,including elevation,slope and aspect strongly influenced the structure and spatial distribution of land use types in hilly areas.This study has provided some alternatives for the dynamic optimal allocation of land use and the construction of eco-environment in Taihang hilly areas.