Responses of Vegetation Phenology to Urbanisation and Natural Factors along an Urban-Rural Gradient: A Case Study of an Urban Agglomeration on the Northern Slope of the Tianshan Mountains

Gulbakram Ahmed, Mei Zan (), Pariha Helili and Alimujiang Kasimu
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Gulbakram Ahmed: Department of Geography and Tourism, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi 830054, China
Mei Zan: Department of Geography and Tourism, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi 830054, China
Pariha Helili: Department of Geography and Tourism, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi 830054, China
Alimujiang Kasimu: Department of Geography and Tourism, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi 830054, China

Land, 2023, vol. 12, issue 5, 1-18

Abstract: Understanding the responses of vegetation phenology to natural and human disturbances is essential for better understanding ecosystems. In this study, Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer data and products were used together with other relevant data to analyse vegetation phenological responses to urbanisation and natural factors in the major urban agglomerations of the Urumqi-Changji, Shihezi-Manasi, and Wusu-Kuidun-Dushanzi regions on the Urban Agglomeration on the Northern Slope of the Tianshan Mountains (UANSTM). Vegetation phenology distributed along an urban-rural gradient showed distinct variability, with start of growing season (SOS), end of growing season (EOS), and growing season length (GSL) occurring earlier, later, and longer, respectively, in urban areas than those in suburban and rural areas. In the Urumqi-Changji region, the earliest SOS, the later EOS, and the longest GSL occurred. Surface urban heat island intensity (SUHII) was most pronounced in the Urumqi-Changji region, with a heat island intensity of 1.77–3.34 °C. Vegetation phenology was influenced by both urbanisation and natural factors, whose contributions were 44.2% to EOS and 61.8% to SOS, respectively. The results of this study emphasise the importance of quantifying the vegetation phenological responses to human disturbances, including climate change, along the urban-rural gradient on the UANSTM.

Keywords: urban agglomeration on the northern slope of the Tianshan Mountains; vegetation phenology; urbanisation; natural factors; common impact (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jlands:v:12:y:2023:i:5:p:1108-:d:1152927

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