Arid Zone Research ›› 2023, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (11): 1833-1844.doi: 10.13866/j.azr.2023.11.13

• Ecology and Environment • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Analysis of spatial and temporal patterns and drivers of local regional NEP in the Loess Plateau from 2000 to 2020

PEI Hongze(),ZHAO Yachao,ZHANG Tinglong()   

  1. College of Resources and Environment, Northwest A & F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
  • Received:2023-06-30 Revised:2023-08-03 Online:2023-11-15 Published:2023-12-01

Abstract:

The Loess Plateau is an important ecological barrier in China. In the context of global change, the carbon balance of the region is of great concern. In this study, based on MOD17A3HGF data, we analyzed the carbon source/sink characteristics of the local area of the Loess Plateau from 2000 to 2020 using the geostatistical model of soil respiration (GSMSR) model, trend analysis, difference analysis, and Geodetector, to reveal the spatial and temporal patterns of the region’s net ecosystem productivity (NEP) and its driving factors from 2000 to 2020. Meanwhile, the study area was divided longitudinally into three subregions, west, center, and east, to compare the variability of drivers within different regions. The results showed that: (1) 49.69% of the localized area of the Loess Plateau shifted from a carbon source to a carbon sink within 21 years. NEP fluctuated upward with time, and was higher in the southeast than in the northwest, with a multi-year average of 12 g C·m-2·a-1· (2) Moisture condition was the main natural factor affecting the spatial distribution of NEP, while land use type was the main anthropogenic factor influencing the spatial distribution of NEP. In addition, the influence of the interaction between different factors on NEP was generally greater than that of single factors. The effects of interactions between different factors on NEP were generally greater than those of individual factors. (3) The factors driving NEP in the three subregions of west, central, and east have clear spatial differentiation characteristics, the central and western regions are more affected by climate, with precipitation, humidity, and other moisture conditions as the main ones. The eastern region is affected by a combination of factors such as topography, climate, and human activities, and anthropogenic interference, represented by land use type, is the strongest among these factors. This knowledge can serve as a basis for effective carbon management strategies and ecosystem conservation efforts in the region.

Key words: trend analysis, Geodetector, net ecosystem productivity, spatial and temporal patterns, Loess Plateau