Amplitude and velocity of the shifts in the Chinese terrestrial surface regions from 1960 to 2011

A terrestrial surface is characterized by a set of elements such as landform, climate, water, and soil and vegetation. The interaction of such elements forms a series of systematic regions on a terrestrial surface with a geographical zonation distribution; this is known as a terrestrial pattern. Realization of the internal relationship between the terrestrial elements and knowledge of their interaction and pattern formation would be helpful to further understand the physical geographical processes and the state of sustainable resource use and environmental protection planning.