The effect of climate warming and permafrost thaw on desertification in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau

Xue, Xian; Guo, Junming; Han, Bangshuai; Sun, Qingjiang; Liu, Lichao

doi:10.1016/j.geomorph.2009.01.004

Cited by 178 publications

(102 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…The results indicate that C and N loss induced by rodent activities were different, with nutrient loss associated with desertification and wind erosion in temperate grassland or in the alpine meadow ecosystem (Xue et al, 2009). Soil C and N loss can occur in degraded land by (1) reducing vegetative growth and exposing the soil surface to wind and water erosion, and by (2) reducing the return of litter to soil (Nunes et al, 2012).…”

Section: And N Lossmentioning

confidence: 96%

Effects of rodent-induced land degradation on ecosystem carbon fluxes in an alpine meadow in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, China

et al. 2015

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Abstract. The widespread land degradation in an alpine meadow ecosystem would affect ecosystem carbon (C) balance. Biomass, soil chemical properties and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) of six levels of degraded lands (D1-D6, according to the number of rodent holes and coverage) were investigated to examine the effects of rodent-induced land degradation on an alpine meadow ecosystem. Soil organic carbon (SOC), labile soil carbon (LC), total nitrogen (TN) and inorganic nitrogen (N) were obtained by chemical analysis. Soil respiration (R s ), net ecosystem exchange (NEE) and ecosystem respiration (ER) were measured by a Li-Cor 6400XT. Gross ecosystem production (GEP) was the sum of NEE and ER. Aboveground biomass (AGB) was based on a linear regression with coverage and plant height as independent variables. Root biomass (RB) was obtained by using a core method. Soil respiration, ER, GEP and AGB were significantly higher in slightly degraded (D3 and D6, group I) than in severely degraded land (D1, D2, D4 and D5, group II). Positive values of NEE average indicate that the alpine meadow ecosystem is a weak C sink during the growing season. The only significant difference was in ER among different degradation levels. R s , ER and GEP were 38.2, 44.3 and 46.5 % higher in group I than in group II, respectively. Similar difference of ER and GEP between the two groups resulted in an insignificant difference of NEE. Positive correlations of AGB with ER, NEE and GEP, and relatively small AGB and lower CO 2 fluxes in group II, suggest the control of AGB on ecosystem CO 2 fluxes. Correlations of RB with SOC, LC, TN and inorganic N indicate the regulation of RB on soil C and N with increasing number of rodent holes in an alpine meadow ecosystem in the permafrost region of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP).

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Section: And N Lossmentioning

confidence: 96%

Effects of rodent-induced land degradation on ecosystem carbon fluxes in an alpine meadow in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, China

et al. 2015

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“…When permafrost degradation occurs, the soil loses its ability to block the infiltration of water and becomes strongly hydraulically conductive. The increase in the depth of the active layer caused the upper soil layer to become drier; subsequently, these changes inhibit the growth of alpine meadow vegetation, which has shallow root systems [16]. Cheng and Jin also indicated that when permafrost is thawed or warmed to the melting point of water, (open) talik channels can be formed or enlarged and the recharge from surface waters and supra permafrost water will facilitate to deep groundwater, which will result in a decline in surface waters and the supra-permafrost water [31].…”

Section: Relationships Among Climate Change Permafrost Degradation mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…If precipitation cannot balance out the moisture loss, the vegetation retreats and desertification occurs. Permafrost degradation has caused regional desertification in the grazing regions of the QT Plateau since 2000 [15,16]. Studies have also asserted that the alpine cold grassland ecosystems will experience further degradation if the global climate continues to warm and precipitation does not increase significantly.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vegetation Changes along the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Engineering Corridor Since 2000 Induced by Climate Change and Human Activities

2018

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Abstract:The Qinghai-Tibet (QT) Plateau Engineering Corridor is located in the hinterland of the QT Plateau, which is highly sensitive to global climate change. Climate change causes permafrost degradation, which subsequently affects vegetation growth. This study focused on the vegetation dynamics and their relationships with climate change and human activities in the region surrounding the QT Plateau Engineering Corridor. The vegetation changes were inferred by applying trend analysis, the Mann-Kendall trend test and abrupt change analysis. Six key regions, each containing 40 nested quadrats that ranged in size from 500 × 500 m to 20 × 20 km, were selected to determine the spatial scales of the impacts from different factors. Cumulative growing season integrated enhanced vegetation index (CGSIEVI) values were calculated for each of the nested quadrats of different sizes to indicate the overall vegetation state over the entire year at different spatial scales. The impacts from human activities, a sudden increase in precipitation and permafrost degradation were quantified at different spatial scales using the CGSIEVI values and meteorological data based on the double mass curve method. Three conclusions were derived. First, the vegetation displayed a significant increasing trend over 23.6% of the study area. The areas displaying increases were mainly distributed in the Hoh Xil. Of the area where the vegetation displayed a significant decreasing trend, 72.4% was made up of alpine meadows. Second, more vegetation, especially the alpine meadows, has begun to degenerate or experience more rapid degradation since 2007 due to permafrost degradation and overgrazing. Finally, an active layer depth of 3 m to 3.2 m represents a limiting depth for alpine meadows.

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“…All those factors jointly exacerbate the drought problem. In the future, global climate change has a potential to amplify the existing drought situations (Xue et al, 2009).…”

Section: Droughtmentioning

confidence: 99%

On the water hazards in the trans-boundary Kosi River basin

Chen

Deng

et al. 2013

Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci.

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The Kosi River is an important tributary of the Ganges River, which passes through China, Nepal and India. With a basin area of 71 500 km², the Kosi River has the largest elevation drop in the world (from 8848 m of Mt Everest to 60 m of the Ganges Plain) and covers a broad spectrum of climate, soil, vegetation and socioeconomic zones. The basin suffers from multiple water related hazards including glacial lake outburst, debris flow, landslides, flooding, drought, soil erosion and sedimentation. This paper describes the characteristics of water hazards in the basin, based on the literature review and site investigation covering hydrology, meteorology, geology, geomorphology and socio-economics. Glacial lake outbursts are a huge threat to the local population in the region and they usually further trigger landslides and debris flows. Floods are usually a result of interaction between man-made hydraulic structures and the natural environment. Debris flows are widespread and occur in clusters. Droughts tend to last over long periods and affect vast areas. Rapid population increase, the decline of ecosystems and climate change could further exacerbate various hazards in the region. The paper has proposed a set of mitigating strategies and measures. It is an arduous challenge to implement them in practice. More investigations are needed to fill in the knowledge gaps

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The effect of climate warming and permafrost thaw on desertification in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau

Cited by 178 publications

References 22 publications

Effects of rodent-induced land degradation on ecosystem carbon fluxes in an alpine meadow in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, China

Effects of rodent-induced land degradation on ecosystem carbon fluxes in an alpine meadow in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, China

Vegetation Changes along the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Engineering Corridor Since 2000 Induced by Climate Change and Human Activities

On the water hazards in the trans-boundary Kosi River basin

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