Response of Carbon and Water Use Efficiency to Climate Change and Human Activities in Central Asia

Lin Xiong, Jinjie Wang, Jianli Ding (), Zipeng Zhang, Shaofeng Qin and Ruimei Wang
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Lin Xiong: College of Geography and Remote Sensing Sciences, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830017, China
Jinjie Wang: College of Geography and Remote Sensing Sciences, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830017, China
Jianli Ding: Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830017, China
Zipeng Zhang: College of Geography and Remote Sensing Sciences, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830017, China
Shaofeng Qin: College of Geography and Remote Sensing Sciences, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830017, China
Ruimei Wang: College of Geography and Remote Sensing Sciences, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830017, China

Land, 2024, vol. 13, issue 12, 1-18

Abstract: Carbon use efficiency (CUE) and water use efficiency (WUE) are key metrics for quantifying the coupling between terrestrial ecosystem carbon and water cycles. The impacts of intensifying climate change and human activities on carbon and water fluxes in Central Asian vegetation remain unclear. In this study, the CUE and WUE in Central Asia from 2001 to 2022 were accurately estimated with the help of the Google Earth Engine (GEE) data platform; the Theil–Sen median slope estimation combined with the Manna–Kendall significance test and partial derivative analysis were used to investigate the CUE and WUE trends and their responses to climate change and human activities. CUE and WUE show overall declining trends with significant spatial variability. Among meteorological factors, vapor pressure deficit and temperature show the strongest correlation with CUE, while precipitation and temperature are most correlated with WUE. Compared to human activities, climate change has a greater impact on CUE and WUE, mainly exerting a negative influence. Human activities are the main drivers in regions with developed agriculture, such as oases, farmlands, and areas near rivers and lakes. This study provides scientific references for the optimization of water and soil resources and the integrated regional environmental management in Central Asia.

Keywords: carbon use efficiency; water use efficiency; Central Asia; Google Earth Engine (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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