Spatial-Temporal Changes of Carbon Source/Sink in Terrestrial Vegetation Ecosystem and Response to Meteorological Factors in Yangtze River Delta Region (China)

Chen Zou, Hu Li (), Donghua Chen (), Jingwei Fan, Zhihong Liu, Xuelian Xu, Jiani Li and Zuo Wang
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Chen Zou: College of Geography and Tourism, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China
Hu Li: College of Geography and Tourism, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China
Donghua Chen: College of Geography and Tourism, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China
Jingwei Fan: College of Computer and Information Engineering, Chuzhou University, Chuzhou 239000, China
Zhihong Liu: College of Computer and Information Engineering, Chuzhou University, Chuzhou 239000, China
Xuelian Xu: College of Computer and Information Engineering, Chuzhou University, Chuzhou 239000, China
Jiani Li: College of Landscape Architecture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Zuo Wang: College of Geography and Tourism, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 16, 1-17

Abstract: As an important part and the core link of a terrestrial ecosystem, terrestrial vegetation is the main means for human to regulate climate and mitigate the increase in atmospheric CO 2 concentration. The Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region is an urban agglomeration with the strongest comprehensive strength among developing countries (China). In the context of global climate change, a rapid, comprehensive, and detailed understanding of the spatio-temporal characteristics and variation tendency of the net ecosystem productivity ( NEP ) of vegetation and its response to climate during the rapid development of the YRD region is important for protecting ecological land, strengthening land management, and optimizing urban planning. The monthly mean temperature and rainfall data from 63 meteorological stations, the MODIS net primary productivity product, and a land cover product in the YRD region were used to estimate the NEP from 2000 to 2019 based on the soil respiration model, and the correlation between NEP and meteorological factors (such as temperature and rainfall) was analyzed. The results showed that: (1) From 2000 to 2019, the carbon sink area was much larger than the carbon source area in terrestrial vegetation in the Yangtze River Delta, the mean NEP of the vegetation ecosystem in the past 20 years was 253.2 g C·m −2 ·a −1 , and the spatial distribution presented a trend that was higher in the south and lower in the north, higher in the east and lower in the west, and that gradually increased from northwest to southeast; moreover, the NEP of mountain areas was generally higher than that of river courses and urban surroundings. The interannual fluctuation of NEP was small, but presented a slightly increasing trend, and the interannual variation of NEP was significantly correlated with the maximum NEP in this region. (2) The carbon sink capacity of different vegetation cover types was (from strong to weak): forestlands > grasslands > wetlands ≈ croplands. (3) The area with the NEP change rate ( θ slope ) > 0 accounted for 69.0%; however, there was certain spatial difference, the proportions of the areas with θ slope < 0 were (from large to small) 14.50% (Zhejiang Province, China), 9.10% (Anhui Province, China), 6.65% (Jiangsu Province, China), and 0.79% (Shanghai, China). In terms of the individual changes of these provinces and municipalities, Shanghai > Zhejiang Province > Jiangsu Province ≈ Anhui Province. (4) There was a correlation between NEP and the annual mean temperature and annual precipitation in some regions.

Keywords: net ecosystem productivity; remote sensing; Yangtze River Delta region (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 references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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