Climate changes affecting regional landscape patterns at Xanadu

Abstract

To study the effects of climate change on landscape patterns at sites in Xanadu, wavelet transformation and remote sensing were used to analyze the climate change rules from 1981-2010 for landscape pattern dynamics in three different periods: 1990, 2000, and 2010. Results showed that the annual temperature had a rising tendency over the nearly 30 years with an interannual variation of 0.065a-1 years. Zone temperature changes alternated between a low frequency of 30 years and high frequency of 10 years. Annual precipitation declined slightly with interannual variation of 0.07mma-1 . The low frequency of 25 years experienced drought; whereas, the low frequency of 10 years alternated between wet and dry. Dominance of the grass landscape declined on this site. Structural landscape changes included a decrease in grasslands, water areas, wetlands, and swamps; while farmland, woodland, residential places, and sandy areas increased. For instance, sandy areas increased 9.55 km2 in nearly 20 years. Over this 30 year period, climate change was not the dominant factor that changed the landscape pattern; climate change associated with sandy and grassland areas were greatest. As regional development and relevant eco-engineering being the main factors contributing to reduce stability of these landscape sites. ［Ch, 4 fig. 3 tab. 19 ref.］