Characteristics of Soil Temperature, Humidity, and Salinity on Bird Island within Qinghai Lake Basin, China

Zhirong Chen, Deyong Yu, Guangchao Cao, Kelong Chen, Jianxin Fu, Yuanxi Ma and Xinye Wang
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Zhirong Chen: College of Geographical Science, Qinghai Normal University, Xining 810008, China
Deyong Yu: College of Geographical Science, Qinghai Normal University, Xining 810008, China
Guangchao Cao: College of Geographical Science, Qinghai Normal University, Xining 810008, China
Kelong Chen: College of Geographical Science, Qinghai Normal University, Xining 810008, China
Jianxin Fu: Institute of Urban and Regional Development, Taiyuan Normal University, Jinzhong 030619, China
Yuanxi Ma: College of Geographical Science, Qinghai Normal University, Xining 810008, China
Xinye Wang: College of Geographical Science, Qinghai Normal University, Xining 810008, China

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 15, 1-18

Abstract: The temperature, moisture, and salt content of soil in alpine regions are sensitive to changes in climatic factors and are important indicators of ecosystem functions. In this study, we collected soil moisture, temperature and electrical conductivity data at different depths at a sampling site on Bird Island in Qinghai Lake during winter using a continuous soil temperature, moisture and salt content monitoring system and analyzed their variations and influential factors. The variation in soil moisture showed an obvious ‘V-shaped’ pattern from 00:00 to 23:00 and an upward trend with soil layer depth. From 00:00 to 23:00, the overall soil temperature data fitted a ‘unimodal’ curve and showed a clear and continuous upward trend with soil layer depth at a rate of 0.684 ( p < 0.001). Soil electrical conductivity data also exhibited a distinct ‘V-shaped’ pattern from 00:00 to 23:00 and a continuous increase with increasing soil depth. The correlation between soil temperature, moisture, and conductivity and the spatial distribution of five climate factors indicated that climate factors accounted for 53.6% of the changes in soil temperature, moisture, and salinity. Climate factors showed a significant positive correlation with soil temperature, moisture, and conductivity ( p < 0.001), and air temperature was the most important factor influencing soil temperature and soil moisture changes, whereas wind direction was the most important factor influencing soil conductivity. (Wind direction and wind speed affect soil evapotranspiration, and then affect soil moisture and solute transport process). The results of this preliminary study reveal the characteristics associated with soil temperature, moisture, and salinity changes in winter within the wetlands of Bird Island on Qinghai Lake in the context of climate change, and they can be used as valuable reference data in further studies investigating associated changes in ecosystem functions.

Keywords: wetlands; alpine ecosystems; soil moisture; soil temperature; soil conductivity; soil depth (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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