In order to study the distribution and evolution features of saline soil, the correlations between the groundwater depth, salinity and salinization of soil are examined through analyzing the hydrometeorological data and distribution maps of saline soil, groundwater depth and salinity in 1957 and 2005. The results show that the area of salinization has generally decreased. The area of salinization decreases with the increasing groundwater depth, and the dynamic evolution characteristics appeared between the groundwater depth and area of salinization. The area of heavy salinization is greatest when the groundwater salinity is > 5 g/L, the area of moderate salinization is greatest when the groundwater salinity is between 2-5 g/L, the area of light salinization is greatest when the groundwater salinity is 1-2 g/L and the area of non-salinization is greatest when the groundwater salinity is <1 g/L. The area of heavy salinization was characterized with groundwater depth <2.5 m and salinity >1.8 g/L. The area of non-salinization was characterized with groundwater depth >4.0 m and salinity 0.2-1.5 g/L.
Ground fissure hazards frequently emerge in Hebei Plain, which damage roads, dams, buildings and farmland. The paper reviews and analyses current state of knowledge and research into ground fissure and geological environment in Hebei Plain. It is shown that the level of research and investigation is in some aspects insufficient. Knowledge is lacking in the use of corresponding geological concept models for specific ground fissures, three-dimensional numerical simulations of ground fissures caused by pumping through soil with pre-existing fractures, numerical simulations of ground fissures caused by dislocation in intersection faults, and the failure criterion and the constitutive relationship of rock and soil. Furthermore, we put forward geological concept models for ground fissure formation following the dislocation of a buried intersection fault, over-exploitation of groundwater and its compound origin mechanisms in order to provide scientific evidence for the quantitative analysis.