Arid cycle in the Gobi desert (to the 90th anniversary of the arid geographical cycle theory)

Abstract

The paper presents an attempt to explain the structure and evolution of mountain and plain relief of the Gobi desert, Mongolia, on the basis of the arid cycle theory (as developed by W.M. Davis). The stages of primary tectonic topography transformation by exogenic processes appear to be helpful in the understanding of the geomorphological evolution. A greater difficulty presents correlation between stages of progressive evolution from mountains towards peneplain and repeated neotectonic manifestations which disturb normal process. Various stages belonging to different cycles are pronounced in the Gobi relief. The Davis concept helps to reconstruct most fully the arid topography evolution.