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Journal of Desert Research ›› 2023, Vol. 43 ›› Issue (5): 204-213.DOI: 10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2023.000112

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The effects of desertification control on the patterns of vegetation in arid and semi-arid regions of northern China

Junhao Liu1,3(), Haisheng Zhou1,3, Qun Guo1,2,4()   

  1. 1.Key Lab of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing 100101,China
    2.National Ecosystem Science Data Center, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing 100101,China
    3.School of Geography,South China Normal University,Guangzhou 510631,China
    4.College of Resources and Environment,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing 100190,China
  • Received:2023-06-22 Revised:2023-08-23 Online:2023-09-20 Published:2023-09-27
  • Contact: Qun Guo

Abstract:

China, especially the arid and semi-arid regions of northern China, is one of the leading contributors in global greening, and ecological projects has been thought as the main causal factors. As a key desertification-combating actions, the impacts of desertification control on vegetation temporal dynamics have not been fully clarified. This study analyzed the differences of temporal dynamics of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and its influencing factors between desertification vegetation and its adjacent zonal vegetation in arid regions of northern China. The results showed that: (1) Desertification in the study region initially expanded, peaked in 2000, and then reversed, implying desertification control worked after 2000. (2) During 1982-2021, NDVI in 44.5% of the study area significantly increased, while 5.8% of the study area experienced a notable reduction, suggesting a generally greening. The greening primarily occurred in the Hetao Plains, Horqin Sandy Land, Kubuqi, Mu Us Sandy Land, Southern Xinjiang, Junggar Basin and the Tianshan Mountains. More area in desertified areas (45.7%) showed remarkable increase than their adjacent zonal vegetation (41.7%). (3) Notably, the increasing rate after 2000 (0.0055 a-1) markedly greater than that of pre-2000 (0.0036 a-1). Moreover, larger increasing rate was found in desertified areas after 2000 but in adjacent zonal vegetation before 2000. (4) Precipitation and specific humidity were the dominant factors in both the desertification and their adjacent zonal vegetation, with wind speed exerting a more significant influence in some natural units. The correlation coefficient of NDVI with moisture was lower in desertified areas compared with their adjacent zonal vegetation, whereas wind speed exhibited a stronger correlation. Our results will provide a scientific foundation to evaluate desertification control effectiveness in the past and improve related measures in the future.

Key words: arid zone of northern China, desertification control, greening, temporal variation

CLC Number: