Study on the Ecological Effect of Acoustic Rain Enhancement: A Case Study of the Experimental Area of the Yellow River Source Where Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Are Intertwined

Guoxin Chen, Jinzhao Wang, Zunfang Liu, Suonam Kealdrup Tysa, Qiong Li () and Tiejian Li
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Guoxin Chen: State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
Jinzhao Wang: School of Civil Engineering and Water Resources, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
Zunfang Liu: School of Civil Engineering and Water Resources, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
Suonam Kealdrup Tysa: State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
Qiong Li: School of Geological Engineering, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
Tiejian Li: State Key Laboratory of Hydroscience and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 10, 1-18

Abstract: The quantitative assessment of acoustic rain enhancement technology is highly significant for improving the ecological environment. A scientific and accurate evaluation of its operational effects provides an important basis for continued government and public support and investment in artificial weather modification activities. To effectively analyze the effects of acoustic rain enhancement on the vegetation of grassland ecosystems in arid and semi-arid areas and to clarify its mechanism, this study constructed eight vegetation indices based on Sentinel-2 satellite data. A comprehensive assessment of the changes in vegetation within the grassland ecosystem of the experimental zone was conducted by analyzing spatiotemporal distribution patterns, double-ratio analysis, and difference value comparisons. The results showed that (1) following the acoustic rain enhancement experiment, vegetation growth improved significantly. The mean values of all eight vegetation indices increased more substantially than before the experiment, with kNDVI showing the most notable gain. The proportion of the zone with kNDVI values greater than 0.417 increased from 52.62% to 71.59%, representing a relative increase of 36.05%. (2) The rain enhancement experiment significantly raised the values of eight vegetation indices: kNDVI increased by 0.042 (18.68%), ARVI by 0.043 (18.67%), and the remaining indices also increased to varying degrees (9.51–12.34%). (3) Vegetation improvement was more pronounced in areas closer to the acoustic rain enhancement site. Under consistent climate conditions, vegetation growth in the experimental zone showed significant enhancement. This study demonstrates that acoustic rain enhancement technology can mitigate drought and low rainfall, improve grassland ecosystem services, and provide a valuable foundation for ecological restoration and aerial water resource utilization in arid and semi-arid regions.

Keywords: acoustic rain enhancement; effectiveness evaluation; vegetation indices; spatial and temporal analysis; Sentinel-2 (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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