IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v20y2023i4p3608-d1072407.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Spatio-Temporal Development of Vegetation Carbon Sinks and Sources in the Arid Region of Northwest China

Author

Listed:
  • Qifei Zhang

    (School of Geographical Sciences, Shanxi Normal University, Taiyuan 030031, China
    State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
    Research Center of Ecology and Environment in the Middle Reaches of the Yellow River, Shanxi Normal University, Taiyuan 030031, China)

  • Yaning Chen

    (State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China)

  • Zhi Li

    (State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China)

  • Congjian Sun

    (School of Geographical Sciences, Shanxi Normal University, Taiyuan 030031, China
    State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
    Research Center of Ecology and Environment in the Middle Reaches of the Yellow River, Shanxi Normal University, Taiyuan 030031, China)

  • Yanyun Xiang

    (School of Public Administration, Shanxi University of Finance and Economics, Taiyuan 030006, China)

  • Zhihui Liu

    (School of Geographical Sciences, Shanxi Normal University, Taiyuan 030031, China)

Abstract

Drylands, which account for 41% of Earth’s land surface and are home to more than two billion people, play an important role in the global carbon balance. This study analyzes the spatio-temporal patterns of vegetation carbon sinks and sources in the arid region of northwest China (NWC), using the net ecosystem production (NEP) through the Carnegie–Ames–Stanford approach (CASA). It quantitatively evaluates regional ecological security over a 20-year period (2000–2020) via a remote sensing ecological index (RSEI) and other ecological indexes, such as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), fraction of vegetation cover (FVC), net primary productivity (NPP), and land use. The results show that the annual average carbon capacity of vegetation in NWC changed from carbon sources to carbon sinks, and the vegetation NEP increased at a rate of 1.98 gC m −2 yr −1 from 2000 to 2020. Spatially, the annual NEP in northern Xinjiang (NXJ), southern Xinjiang (SXJ) and Hexi Corridor (HX) increased at even faster rates of 2.11, 2.22, and 1.98 gC m −2 yr −1 , respectively. Obvious geographically heterogeneous distributions and changes occurred in vegetation carbon sinks and carbon sources. Some 65.78% of the vegetation areas in NWC were carbon sources during 2000–2020, which were concentrated in the plains, and SXJ, the majority carbon sink areas are located in the mountains. The vegetation NEP in the plains exhibited a positive trend (1.21 gC m −2 yr −1 ) during 2000–2020, but this speed has slowed since 2010. The vegetation NEP in the mountain exhibited only intermittent changes (2.55 gC m −2 yr −1 ) during 2000–2020; it exhibited a negative trend during 2000–2010, but this trend has reversed strongly since 2010. The entire ecological security of NWC was enhanced during the study period. Specifically, the RSEI increased from 0.34 to 0.49, the NDVI increased by 0.03 (17.65%), the FVC expanded by 19.56%, and the NPP increased by 27.44%. Recent positive trends in NDVI, FVC and NPP have enhanced the capacity of vegetation carbon sinks, and improved the eco-environment of NWC. The scientific outcomes of this study are of great importance for maintaining ecological stability and sustainable economic development along China’s Silk Road Economic Belt.

Suggested Citation

  • Qifei Zhang & Yaning Chen & Zhi Li & Congjian Sun & Yanyun Xiang & Zhihui Liu, 2023. "Spatio-Temporal Development of Vegetation Carbon Sinks and Sources in the Arid Region of Northwest China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-23, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:4:p:3608-:d:1072407
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/4/3608/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/4/3608/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jianping Huang & Haipeng Yu & Xiaodan Guan & Guoyin Wang & Ruixia Guo, 2016. "Accelerated dryland expansion under climate change," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 6(2), pages 166-171, February.
    2. Ph. Ciais & M. Reichstein & N. Viovy & A. Granier & J. Ogée & V. Allard & M. Aubinet & N. Buchmann & Chr. Bernhofer & A. Carrara & F. Chevallier & N. De Noblet & A. D. Friend & P. Friedlingstein & T. , 2005. "Europe-wide reduction in primary productivity caused by the heat and drought in 2003," Nature, Nature, vol. 437(7058), pages 529-533, September.
    3. Rui Tang & Bin He & Hans W. Chen & Deliang Chen & Yaning Chen & Yongshuo H. Fu & Wenping Yuan & Baofu Li & Zhi Li & Lanlan Guo & Xingming Hao & Liying Sun & Huiming Liu & Cheng Sun & Yang Yang, 2022. "Increasing terrestrial ecosystem carbon release in response to autumn cooling and warming," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 12(4), pages 380-385, April.
    4. Yong Zhang & Chengbang An & Luyu Liu & Yanzhen Zhang & Chao Lu & Wensheng Zhang, 2021. "High Mountains Becoming Wetter While Deserts Getting Drier in Xinjiang, China since the 1980s," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-14, October.
    5. Qifei Zhang & Congjian Sun & Yaning Chen & Wei Chen & Yanyun Xiang & Jiao Li & Yuting Liu, 2022. "Recent Oasis Dynamics and Ecological Security in the Tarim River Basin, Central Asia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-21, March.
    6. Peter A. Raymond & Jens Hartmann & Ronny Lauerwald & Sebastian Sobek & Cory McDonald & Mark Hoover & David Butman & Robert Striegl & Emilio Mayorga & Christoph Humborg & Pirkko Kortelainen & Hans Dürr, 2013. "Global carbon dioxide emissions from inland waters," Nature, Nature, vol. 503(7476), pages 355-359, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Wen Chen & Jinjie Wang & Jianli Ding & Xiangyu Ge & Lijing Han & Shaofeng Qin, 2023. "Detecting Long-Term Series Eco-Environmental Quality Changes and Driving Factors Using the Remote Sensing Ecological Index with Salinity Adaptability (RSEI SI ): A Case Study in the Tarim River Basin,," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-23, June.
    2. Linghui Guo & Yuanyuan Luo & Yao Li & Tianping Wang & Jiangbo Gao & Hebing Zhang & Youfeng Zou & Shaohong Wu, 2023. "Spatiotemporal Changes and the Prediction of Drought Characteristics in a Major Grain-Producing Area of China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-19, November.
    3. Qifei Zhang & Congjian Sun & Yaning Chen & Wei Chen & Yanyun Xiang & Jiao Li & Yuting Liu, 2022. "Recent Oasis Dynamics and Ecological Security in the Tarim River Basin, Central Asia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-21, March.
    4. Finger, Robert, 2010. "Evidence of slowing yield growth - The example of Swiss cereal yields," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(2), pages 175-182, April.
    5. Martina Bozzola & Robert Finger, 2021. "Stability of risk attitude, agricultural policies and production shocks: evidence from Italy," European Review of Agricultural Economics, Oxford University Press and the European Agricultural and Applied Economics Publications Foundation, vol. 48(3), pages 477-501.
    6. Nicolás Ruiz, Néstor & Suárez Alonso, María Luisa & Vidal-Abarca, María Rosario, 2021. "Contributions of dry rivers to human well-being: A global review for future research," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 50(C).
    7. Chen, Qi & Qu, Zhaoming & Ma, Guohua & Wang, Wenjing & Dai, Jiaying & Zhang, Min & Wei, Zhanbo & Liu, Zhiguang, 2022. "Humic acid modulates growth, photosynthesis, hormone and osmolytes system of maize under drought conditions," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 263(C).
    8. Bohn, Friedrich J. & Frank, Karin & Huth, Andreas, 2014. "Of climate and its resulting tree growth: Simulating the productivity of temperate forests," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 278(C), pages 9-17.
    9. Ma, Shuai & Wang, Liang-Jie & Chu, Lei & Jiang, Jiang, 2023. "Determination of ecological restoration patterns based on water security and food security in arid regions," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 278(C).
    10. Milan Daus & Katharina Koberger & Kaan Koca & Felix Beckers & Jorge Encinas Fernández & Barbara Weisbrod & Daniel Dietrich & Sabine Ulrike Gerbersdorf & Rüdiger Glaser & Stefan Haun & Hilmar Hofmann &, 2021. "Interdisciplinary Reservoir Management—A Tool for Sustainable Water Resources Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-21, April.
    11. Abid, Nabila & Ahmad, Fayyaz & Aftab, Junaid & Razzaq, Asif, 2023. "A blessing or a burden? Assessing the impact of Climate Change Mitigation efforts in Europe using Quantile Regression Models," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 178(C).
    12. Khalifa, Sherin & Henning, Christian H. C. A., 2020. "Climate change and civil conflict in SSA and MENA: The same phenomena, but different mechanisms?," Working Papers of Agricultural Policy WP2020-03, University of Kiel, Department of Agricultural Economics, Chair of Agricultural Policy.
    13. Lenka Lackóová & Tatiana Kaletová & Klaudia Halászová, 2023. "Are Drought and Wind Force Driving Factors of Wind Erosion Climatic Erosivity in a Changing Climate? A Case Study in a Landlocked Country in Central Europe," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-18, March.
    14. Zhang, Yuliang & Wu, Zhiyong & Singh, Vijay P. & Lin, Qingxia & Ning, Shaowei & Zhou, Yuliang & Jin, Juliang & Zhou, Rongxing & Ma, Qiang, 2023. "Agricultural drought characteristics in a typical plain region considering irrigation, crop growth, and water demand impacts," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    15. Iris Vogeler & Christof Kluß & Tammo Peters & Friedhelm Taube, 2023. "How Much Complexity Is Required for Modelling Grassland Production at Regional Scales?," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-18, January.
    16. Weijia Liang & Quan Quan & Bohua Wu & Shuhong Mo, 2023. "Response of Vegetation Dynamics in the Three-North Region of China to Climate and Human Activities from 1982 to 2018," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-17, February.
    17. Yongmei Hou & Xiaolong Liu & Guilin Han & Li Bai & Jun Li & Yusi Wang, 2022. "The Impacts of Nitrogen Pollution and Urbanization on the Carbon Dioxide Emission from Sewage-Draining River Networks," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-15, August.
    18. Jannik Martens & Birgit Wild & Igor Semiletov & Oleg V. Dudarev & Örjan Gustafsson, 2022. "Circum-Arctic release of terrestrial carbon varies between regions and sources," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    19. Jiping Sheng & Xiaoge Gao & Yongqi Sun, 2024. "Sustainability of the Food Industry: Ecological Efficiency and Influencing Mechanism of Carbon Emissions Trading Policy in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-25, March.
    20. Alexander E. Cagle & Alona Armstrong & Giles Exley & Steven M. Grodsky & Jordan Macknick & John Sherwin & Rebecca R. Hernandez, 2020. "The Land Sparing, Water Surface Use Efficiency, and Water Surface Transformation of Floating Photovoltaic Solar Energy Installations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-22, October.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:4:p:3608-:d:1072407. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.