Spatiotemporal Evolution and Driving Mechanisms of Eco-Environmental Quality in a Typical Inland Lake Basin of the Northeastern Tibetan Plateau: A Case Study of the Qinghai Lake Basin

Zhen Chen, Xiaohong Gao, Zhifeng Liu, Yaohang Sun and Kelong Chen ()
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Zhen Chen: College of Geographical Science, Qinghai Normal University, Xining 810008, China
Xiaohong Gao: College of Geographical Science, Qinghai Normal University, Xining 810008, China
Zhifeng Liu: College of Geographical Science, Qinghai Normal University, Xining 810008, China
Yaohang Sun: MOE Key Laboratory of Western China’s Environmental Systems, College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
Kelong Chen: College of Geographical Science, Qinghai Normal University, Xining 810008, China

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 10, 1-21

Abstract: The Qinghai Lake Basin (QLB), as a key component of the ecological security barrier on the Tibetan Plateau, is crucial for regional sustainable development due to the stability of its alpine agro-pastoral ecosystems. This study aims to systematically analyze the spatiotemporal evolution patterns and underlying driving mechanisms of eco-environmental quality (EEQ) in the QLB from 2001 to 2022. Based on Google Earth Engine (GEE) and long-term MODIS data, we constructed a Remote Sensing Ecological Index (RSEI) model to evaluate the EEQ dynamics. Geodetector (GD) was applied to quantitatively identify key driving factors and their interactions. The findings reveal: (1) The mean RSEI value increased from 0.46 in 2001 to 0.51 in 2022, showing a fluctuating improvement trend with significant transitions toward higher ecological quality grades; (2) spatially, a distinct “high-north-south, low-center” pattern emerged, with excellent-grade areas (4.77%) concentrated in alpine meadows and poor-grade areas (5.10%) mainly in bare rock regions; (3) 47.81% of the region experienced ecological improvement, whereas 16.34% showed degradation, predominantly above 3827 m elevation; and (4) GD analysis indicated natural factors dominated EEQ differentiation, with temperature (q = 0.340) and elevation (q = 0.332) being primary drivers. The interaction between temperature and precipitation (q = 0.593) exerted decisive control on ecological pattern evolution. This study provides an efficient monitoring framework and a spatially explicit governance paradigm for maintaining differentiated management and ecosystem stability in alpine agro-pastoral regions.

Keywords: Qinghai Lake Basin (QLB); Google Earth Engine (GEE); Remote Sensing Ecological Index (RSEI); spatiotemporal evolution; Geodetector (GD); agriculture and animal husbandry (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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