摘要
Suitable climatic,geological and geomorphologic conditions for tropical karst landforms,such as cone and tower karst hills,are illustrated and the relationship of spatial distribution of cone and tower karst hills with those conditions in the karst areas of Southwest China.Aiming at the problem of scientific systems on the standing nomenclature of "karst desertification division",some modification suggestions for the nomenclature are putted forward: the karst areas in southwest China are divided into two regions: the cone and tower karst region and the non-cone and tower karst region.According to the karst morphology,the cone and tower karst region is further divided into three subregions: the Peak-Cluster Depression region of shallow dish type;the Peak-Cluster Depression region of funnel type;and the peak forest plain region.Those subregions are correspondent to the karst plateau region,the Peak-Cluster Depression region and the peak forest plain region,respectively.According to the regional landforms,the non-cone and tower karst region is further divided into five subregions: the plateau basin valley region;plateau gorge valley region;the plateau and mid-low mountain trough valley region;the high-mid plateau region;and the mid-low mountain region,respectively.