Abstract
This study is designed to demonstrate use of free remote sensing data to analyze response of water resources and grassland vegetation to a climate change induced prolonged drought in a sparsely gauged semi-arid region. Water resource changes over Hulun Lake region derived from monthly Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) products were analyzed. The Empirical Orthogonal Functions (EOF) analysis results from both GRACE and TRMM showed decreasing trends in water storage changes and precipitation over 2002 to 2007 and increasing trends after 2007 to 2012. Water storage and precipitation changes on the spatial and temporal scale showed a very consistent pattern. Further analysis proved that water storage changes were mainly caused by precipitation and temperature changes in this region. It is found that a large proportion of grassland vegetation recovered to its normal state after above average rainfall in the following years (2008–2012) and only a small proportion of grassland vegetation (16.5% of the study area) is degraded and failed to recover. These degraded grassland vegetation areas are categorized as ecologically vulnerable to climate change and protective strategies should be designed to prevent its further degradation.
Highlights
Freshwater resources are the lifeblood of our planet
In this study, we focus on the analysis of a combination of available satellite data including Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) terrestrial water storage (TWS), Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM), Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectro-radiometer (MODIS)/LANDSAT, satellite altimetry data (Topex/Poseidon, Jason-1/2) coupled with in situ climate data to assess the water resource variation within a sparsely gauged area—the Hulun lake region and its impact on the eco-environment to provide useful information for future water resource management and eco-environmental protection
This study aims (1) to provide a framework for a remote sensing based integrated assessment of water resource trends; (2) to detect trends in consistently established time series of terrestrial water storage change and precipitation in a spatial distributed manner and (3) to infer the probable causes of water resource variations and its impacts on vegetation in order to contribute towards sustainable eco-environmental management
Summary
Freshwater resources are the lifeblood of our planet. It is fundamental to the biochemistry of all living organisms. The Earth’s ecosystems are linked and maintained by water; it drives plant growth and provides a permanent habitat for many species, including ourselves. Freshwater is a resource under considerable pressure. Its stored potential (surface water, ground water, soil moisture, ice, etc.) is increasingly facing challenges from climate changes as well as anthropogenic activities. That current and future climate change is expected to significantly impact freshwater systems including rivers, streams and lakes, in terms of flow and direction, timing, availability, temperature, and its inhabitants. Understanding the information about water resource change, its driving force and potential impact in the past and future is very important for water resource management and eco-environmental protection
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