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Characteristics of the Photosynthetically Active Radiation in the Alpine Wetland, Qinghai lake watershed

GAO Liming1,2, ZHANG Lele1,2, CHEN Kelong2,3, MAO Yahui1,2   

  1. (1. School of Life Science and Geography, Qinghai Normal University, Xining, 810008, China; 2. Qinghai Province Key Laboratory of Phyical Geography and Environmental Process, Xining, 810008, China; 3. Science and Technology Department, Qinghai Normal University, Xining, 810008, China)
  • Received:2017-04-21 Revised:2017-06-01 Online:2018-01-15 Published:2018-02-06

Abstract: Photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) is an important parameter in the process of ecosystem. However, there are few reports on the changes of PAR in alpine wetland. Based on the radiation data from the Xiaobohu and Wayanshan wetland meteorological stations in the Qinghai Lake basin, this paper analyzed the characteristics of PAR variation in the alpine wetland. The results showed that the annual total global radiation (Q) and PAR in the Xiaobohu are 6711.6 MJ?m-2 and 2888.3 MJ?m-2 respectively, but 5963.4 MJ?m-2 and 2527.5 MJ?m-2 respectively in the Wayanshan station. The values of Q and PAR in the Wayanshan station are significantly smaller than that in the Xiaobohu station. Both of the Q and PAR values in the two sites had obvious diurnal and seasonal variation, the maximum value of Q and PAR occurred in the afternoon around 13:00. In one year, the maximum Q and PAR value appeared in June, and the minimum value in December. The average annual photosynthetically active radiation coefficient (ηPAR) in the Xiaobohu and Wayanshan were 0.43 and 0.44 respectively. The ηPAR also exist obvious seasonal variation characteristics in the both sites, the maximum value appeared in July, and the main reason was the water vapor content was largest during this periods in the Qinghai Lake basin. Finally, in order to estimate the PAR value in the whole Qinghai Lake basin, a statistical model was constructed based on the clearness index (Kt) and total solar radiation (Q) data in the Wayanshan station. The model was also verified in the Xiaobohu station, the results showed that the model can meet the requirements for estimating the PAR under different weather conditions in the Qinghai Lake basin.

Key words: global radiation, photosynthetically active radiation, alpine wetland, Qinghai Lake basin