Climate and scale are critical for illustrating the links between carbon and water services across Qinghai-Tibet plateau

Abstract

Carbon storage (CS) and water yield (WY) are crucial for the ecological sustainability of ecosystem services (ESs). While the relationship between these services has been debated globally and regionally, climate change has limited our understanding of their relationship and the factors affecting them, particularly in high-altitude regions. We used multi-source data and remote sensing models to determine annual CS and WY in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) from 2000 to 2018 with high spatial accuracy. The results show that the highest values of these services are concentrated in the southern and eastern QTP where forests are prevalent. CS and WY increased significantly in the south, with mean annual temperatures (MAT) positively affecting CS, but MAT negatively impacts CS in the northern plateau. The relationship between CS and MAT was stronger than that of CS and mean annual precipitation (MAP), which was a major driver of WY. Although the relationship between CS and WY increased in the plateau over 18 years, it was found to be dependent on spatial scale. This study highlights the importance of considering climate change and the scale effect when examining the changes in carbon and water services in the promotion of ecological sustainability.