Study On The Causes For Deterioration And Environmental Regionalization Of Earthen Heritage Sites In Northern China

The earthen heritage sites are the immobile remains created by human beings in history. Their retention time and soundness are closely related to the local environment. The sites are being destroyed as a result of climatic change and human activities. Recently insufficient efforts have been made to study the environment of earthen sites, while external environment is likely to contribute significantly in deterioration of sites. The article presents the natural environment of earthen heritage sites.First of all, the paper defines "the heritage sites" and studies distribution of sites in China, and then puts forth classification system of the causes of deterioration. To provide an object for outdoor study, the research analyses the distribution of deterioration; and their preservation in natural environment.(1) The paper summarizes concepts of sites and classifies them according to time, space and characters. Taking the case of heritage sites, the paper studies the characteristics of distribution on the basis of climate zones, ground and river system, seismic belt, and administrative regionalization.(2) Through investigating the state key ancient sites in Northern China, the article puts forward classification system of the causes of deterioration and divides deterioration into eight types: sandstorm erosion, rainfall erosion, drought shrinkage, freeze-thaw cycle, water chemical-evaporation weathering, earthquake, biological weathering, and human activities. And the present lists approaches to exercise environmental protection and environmental control.(3) The article provides an object for outdoor study, and employs overlays to analyze the distribution of deterioration of outdoor, and their preservation under natural environment in ARG-GIS environment, for Shanxi, Shenxi, Ningxia, Gansu Province. This research conducts exploration to technical system of earthen heritage sites protection.