Arid Zone Research ›› 2022, Vol. 39 ›› Issue (2): 584-593.doi: 10.13866/j.azr.2022.02.25

• Ecology and Environment • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Contribution of climatic change and human activities to changes in net primary productivity in the Loess Plateau

YANG Dan1(),WANG Xiaofeng2,3()   

  1. 1. School of Earth Science and Resources, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710064, Shaanxi, China
    2. School of Land Engineering, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710064, Shaanxi, China
    3. Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Land Reclamation Engineering, Xi’an 710064, Shaanxi, China
  • Received:2021-10-15 Revised:2021-11-15 Online:2022-03-15 Published:2022-03-30
  • Contact: Xiaofeng WANG E-mail:271652621@qq.com;wangxf@chd.edu.cn

Abstract:

In this study, we used the CASA model to produce a net primary productivity (NPP) dataset for the Loess Plateau from 2000 to 2018. Based on correlation and residual analyses, we quantified the relative contribution of climate change and human activities to NPP, with a goal of providing a scientific basis for the formulation of local ecological protection strategies and improving watershed ecological security. The distribution pattern of NPP in the Loess Plateau from 2000 to 2018 was high in the southeast and low in the northwest. The portion of NPP that followed an increasing trend was mainly distributed in the core area of the Grain for Green Program, accounting for 86.86% of the total NPP, whereas the portion of the NPP that followed a decreasing trend was distributed in the northwestern arid zone, accounting for 13.14% of the total NPP. The contribution rates of climate change and human activities to NPP were 48.78% and 51.22%, respectively. Climate change plays an important role in vegetation change in sparsely populated and underdeveloped areas, whereas human activities play an important role in vegetation change in areas with large populations and better economic development. The Loess Plateau, an arid and semi-arid region, has a more sensitive vegetation response to climate change. With the increasing frequency of human activities, climate and human activities jointly determine the vegetation changes. This study contributes to the understanding of the effects of climate change and human activities on the dynamic changes of vegetation. It provides a scientific basis for vegetation restoration and high-quality development of the Loess Plateau.

Key words: climatic change, human activities, residuals analysis, Loess Plateau