IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i18p13881-d1242605.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Ecological Environment Quality Assessment of Arid Areas Based on Improved Remote Sensing Ecological Index—A Case Study of the Loess Plateau

Author

Listed:
  • Ming Shi

    (Institute of Intelligent Machines, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China
    College of Geomatics, Xi’an University of Science and Technology, Xi’an 710054, China
    Hefei Institutes of Collaborative Research and Innovation for Intelligent Agriculture, Hefei 231131, China)

  • Fei Lin

    (Institute of Intelligent Machines, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China
    Hefei Institutes of Collaborative Research and Innovation for Intelligent Agriculture, Hefei 231131, China)

  • Xia Jing

    (College of Geomatics, Xi’an University of Science and Technology, Xi’an 710054, China)

  • Bingyu Li

    (College of Geomatics, Xi’an University of Science and Technology, Xi’an 710054, China)

  • Yang Shi

    (Institute of Intelligent Machines, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China
    Hefei Institutes of Collaborative Research and Innovation for Intelligent Agriculture, Hefei 231131, China)

  • Yimin Hu

    (Institute of Intelligent Machines, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China
    Hefei Institutes of Collaborative Research and Innovation for Intelligent Agriculture, Hefei 231131, China)

Abstract

Ecosystems in arid and semi-arid areas are delicate and prone to different erosive effects. Monitoring and evaluating the environmental ecological condition in such areas contribute to the governance and restoration of the ecosystem. Remote sensing ecological indices (RSEIs) are widely used as a method for environmental monitoring and have been extensively applied in various regions. This study selects the arid and semi-arid Loess Plateau as the research area, in response to existing research on ecological monitoring that predominantly uses vegetation indices as monitoring indicators for greenness factors. A fluorescence remote sensing ecological index (SRSEI) is constructed by using monthly synthesized sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence data during the vegetation growth period as a new component for greenness and combining it with MODIS product data. The study generates the RSEI and SRSEI for the research area spanning from 2001 to 2021. The study compares and analyzes the differences between the two indices and explores the evolution patterns of the ecosystem quality in the Loess Plateau over a 21-year period. The results indicate consistent and positively correlated linear fitting trend changes in the RSEI and SRSEI for the research area between 2001 and 2021. The newly constructed ecological index exhibits a higher correlation with rainfall data, and it shows a more significant decrease in magnitude during drought occurrences, indicating a faster and stronger response of the new index to drought in the research area. The largest proportions are found in the research area’s regions with both substantial and minor improvements, pointing to an upward tendency in the Loess Plateau’s ecosystem development. The newly constructed environmental index can effectively evaluate the quality of the ecosystem in the research area.

Suggested Citation

  • Ming Shi & Fei Lin & Xia Jing & Bingyu Li & Yang Shi & Yimin Hu, 2023. "Ecological Environment Quality Assessment of Arid Areas Based on Improved Remote Sensing Ecological Index—A Case Study of the Loess Plateau," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-25, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:18:p:13881-:d:1242605
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/18/13881/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/18/13881/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Haidong Yu & Juanjuan Zhao, 2020. "The Impact of Environmental Conditions on Urban Eco-Sustainable Total Factor Productivity: A Case Study of 21 Cities in Guangdong Province, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-21, February.
    2. Na Chen & Gang Cheng & Jie Yang & Huan Ding & Shi He, 2023. "Evaluation of Urban Ecological Environment Quality Based on Improved RSEI and Driving Factors Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-18, May.
    3. Kaizheng Xiang & Anzhou Zhao & Haixin Liu & Xiangrui Zhang & Anbing Zhang & Xinle Tian & Zihan Jin, 2022. "Spatiotemporal Evolution and Coupling Pattern Analysis of Urbanization and Ecological Environmental Quality of the Chinese Loess Plateau," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-19, June.
    4. Jiayu Xia & Duyuzheng Ren & Xuhui Wang & Bo Xu & Xingyao Zhong & Yajiang Fan, 2023. "Ecosystem Quality Assessment and Ecological Restoration in Fragile Zone of Loess Plateau: A Case Study of Suide County, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-32, May.
    5. Yuanjie Deng & Lei Jia & Yajun Guo & Hua Li & Shunbo Yao & Liqi Chu & Weinan Lu & Mengyang Hou & Binbin Mo & Yameng Wang & Haiyu Yang & Tongyue Zhang, 2022. "Evaluation of the Ecological Effects of Ecological Restoration Programs: A Case Study of the Sloping Land Conversion Program on the Loess Plateau, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-20, June.
    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. Hui Li & Haitao Jing & Geding Yan & Huanchao Guo & Wenfei Luan, 2023. "Long-Term Ecological Environment Quality Evaluation and Its Driving Mechanism in Luoyang City," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-19, August.
    2. Jorge Quijada-Alarcón & Roberto Rodríguez-Rodríguez & Nicoletta González-Cancelas & Gabriel Bethancourt-Lasso, 2023. "Spatial Analysis of Territorial Connectivity and Accessibility in the Province of Coclé in Panama," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-21, July.
    3. Junjie Cao & Yao Zhang & Taoyuan Wei & Hui Sun, 2021. "Temporal–Spatial Evolution and Influencing Factors of Coordinated Development of the Population, Resources, Economy and Environment (PREE) System: Evidence from 31 Provinces in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-22, December.
    4. Halkos, George & Bampatsou, Christina, 2022. "Measuring environmental efficiency in relation to socio-economic factors: A two stage analysis," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 876-884.
    5. Huan Tang & Jiawei Fang & Ruijie Xie & Xiuli Ji & Dayong Li & Jing Yuan, 2022. "Impact of Land Cover Change on a Typical Mining Region and Its Ecological Environment Quality Evaluation Using Remote Sensing Based Ecological Index (RSEI)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-22, October.
    6. Yiting Su & Jing Li & Dongchuan Wang & Jiabao Yue & Xingguang Yan, 2022. "Spatio-Temporal Synergy between Urban Built-Up Areas and Poverty Transformation in Tibet," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-22, July.
    7. Zedong Yang & Hui Sun & Weipeng Yuan & Xuechao Xia, 2022. "The Spatial Pattern of the Prefecture-Level Carbon Emissions and Its Spatial Mismatch in China with the Level of Economic Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-20, August.
    8. Ming Chang & Shuying Meng & Zifan Zhang & Ruiguo Wang & Chao Yin & Yuxia Zhao & Yi Zhou, 2023. "Analysis of Eco-Environmental Quality and Driving Forces in Opencast Coal Mining Area Based on GWANN Model: A Case Study in Shengli Coalfield, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-20, July.
    9. Xun Zhang & Zhaoliang Gao & Yonghong Li & Guanfan Sun & Yunfeng Cen & Yongcai Lou & Yihang Yao & Wenbo Liu, 2023. "Eco-Environment Quality Response to Climate Change and Human Activities on the Loess Plateau, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-23, September.
    10. Guangfan Sun & Changwei Guo & Junchen Ye & Chaoran Ji & Nuo Xu & Hanqi Li, 2022. "How ESG Contribute to the High-Quality Development of State-Owned Enterprise in China: A Multi-Stage fsQCA Method," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-18, November.
    11. Sishi Wang & Xin Tan & Fenglei Fan, 2023. "Changes in Impervious Surfaces in Lhasa City, a Historical City on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-16, March.

    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:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:18:p:13881-:d:1242605. 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.