The scale analysis on the stability conception of oases in northern Xinjiang

Oasis stability is a concept under certain scaled conditions. It is different that the mechanism of the oasis stability, main driving forces of stability and diagnostic results from the different scales. The particular scales that are chosen and the varying combinations of those scales are the main contributing factors to oasis stability study. This paper reviews the research history of oasis stability, discusses the basic academic standpoints on the stability of the oasis ecosystem, and puts forward the relationship between the oasis stability conception and its related scales. It suggests that: 1) The scales are related to certain preconditions; 2) The stability scales should be classified as: spatial-temporal changes, system organization, society target, and landscape; 3) The mechanisms of the oasis stability and its resulting assessment methods are consequently based on the variation of scales.