Detecting Long-Term Series Eco-Environmental Quality Changes and Driving Factors Using the Remote Sensing Ecological Index with Salinity Adaptability (RSEI SI ): A Case Study in the Tarim River Basin, China

Wen Chen, Jinjie Wang, Jianli Ding (), Xiangyu Ge, Lijing Han and Shaofeng Qin
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Wen Chen: College of Geographical and Remote Science, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830017, China
Jinjie Wang: College of Geographical and Remote Science, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830017, China
Jianli Ding: College of Geographical and Remote Science, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830017, China
Xiangyu Ge: College of Geographical and Remote Science, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830017, China
Lijing Han: College of Geographical and Remote Science, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830017, China
Shaofeng Qin: College of Geographical and Remote Science, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830017, China

Land, 2023, vol. 12, issue 7, 1-23

Abstract: Ecological challenges resulting from soil salinization in the Tarim River Basin (TRB), exacerbated by climate change and human activities, have emphasized the need for a quick and accurate assessment of regional ecological environmental quality (EEQ) and driving mechanisms. To address this issue, this study has developed a remote-sensing ecological index with salinity adaptability (RSEI SI ) for EEQ assessment in the Tarim River Basin by integrating the comprehensive salinity index (CSI) into the remote-sensing ecological index (RSEI). The RSEI SI enhances the sensitivity of soil salinity and characterizes the surface features of arid regions, thus expanding the applicability. Then, we used time-series analysis methods and a geodetector to quantify the spatial temporal trends and driving factors of EEQ in the TRB from 2000 to 2022. The results show that the RSEI SI with salinity adaptation effectively monitors the EEQ of the TRB. The EEQ of the TRB displayed the situation of oasis expansion, desert deterioration, and glacier melting, and the multiyear average EEQ grades were dominated by medium and poor grades in desert and saline areas, while medium, good, and excellent grades were concentrated in oasis and mountainous areas. Looking at the trend of change in conjunction with land-use types, the EEQ of the TRB showed a mild degradation trend mainly in unused land, followed by a mild improvement trend in cropland and grassland. The Hurst index indicated that the EEQ of most areas of the TRB will improve in the future. Soil type, land use, precipitation, and temperature were considered to be key factors affecting the EEQ across the TRB, and changes in the EEQ were found to be the interaction of multiple factors. This study may provide innovative concepts and methodologies, scientific and technological support for ecological management, and green development models in the northwest arid zone.

Keywords: Tarim River Basin; eco-environmental quality; modified remote-sensing ecological index; temporal information entropy; spatial-temporal change mechanisms (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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