Increase In Average Annual Temperature Research Articles

Влияние климатических изменений на развитие сельского хозяйства агроэкологических зон Республики Нигер

Climate change poses a significant threat to the ecosystems and biodiversity of the Niger Republic, especially given the critical role of vegetation cover in maintaining the resilience of local ecosystems. This study analyzed the impact of climate change on vegetation in Niger using geoinformation systems and remote sensing technologies. The main research method was the analysis of satellite data from MODIS, Landsat and Sentinel, as well as the use of climate data from the NASA POWER Data Access Viewer portal. The results showed a significant increase in average annual temperatures and a decrease in precipitation in various climatic zones of the country, which negatively affects the state of vegetation and agriculture. NDVI analysis revealed degradation of vegetation cover in the northern and eastern regions of the country, indicating the need to develop adaptation strategies and sustainable management of natural resources. Keywords: REPUBLIC OF THE NIGER, GEOINFORMATION ANALYSIS, REMOTE SENSING OF THE EARTH, GEOINFORMATION SYSTEMS, VEGETATION COVER, AGRICULTURE, ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATION

Влияние климатических изменений на развитие сельского хозяйства агроэкологических зон Республики Нигер

Climate change poses a significant threat to the ecosystems and biodiversity of the Niger Republic, especially given the critical role of vegetation cover in maintaining the resilience of local ecosystems. This study analyzed the impact of climate change on vegetation in Niger using geoinformation systems and remote sensing technologies. The main research method was the analysis of satellite data from MODIS, Landsat and Sentinel, as well as the use of climate data from the NASA POWER Data Access Viewer portal. The results showed a significant increase in average annual temperatures and a decrease in precipitation in various climatic zones of the country, which negatively affects the state of vegetation and agriculture. NDVI analysis revealed degradation of vegetation cover in the northern and eastern regions of the country, indicating the need to develop adaptation strategies and sustainable management of natural resources. Keywords: REPUBLIC OF THE NIGER, GEOINFORMATION ANALYSIS, REMOTE SENSING OF THE EARTH, GEOINFORMATION SYSTEMS, VEGETATION COVER, AGRICULTURE, ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATION

Влияние климатических изменений на развитие сельского хозяйства агроэкологических зон Республики Нигер

Climate change poses a significant threat to the ecosystems and biodiversity of the Niger Republic, especially given the critical role of vegetation cover in maintaining the resilience of local ecosystems. This study analyzed the impact of climate change on vegetation in Niger using geoinformation systems and remote sensing technologies. The main research method was the analysis of satellite data from MODIS, Landsat and Sentinel, as well as the use of climate data from the NASA POWER Data Access Viewer portal. The results showed a significant increase in average annual temperatures and a decrease in precipitation in various climatic zones of the country, which negatively affects the state of vegetation and agriculture. NDVI analysis revealed degradation of vegetation cover in the northern and eastern regions of the country, indicating the need to develop adaptation strategies and sustainable management of natural resources. Keywords: REPUBLIC OF THE NIGER, GEOINFORMATION ANALYSIS, REMOTE SENSING OF THE EARTH, GEOINFORMATION SYSTEMS, VEGETATION COVER, AGRICULTURE, ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATION

A research on the relationship between landslide area changes and environmental factors in the southern Tibetan plateau

Introduction: Landslides are known to be one of the most frequent types of geological disasters. However, there is not an established method for large-scale, rapid, and high-precision landslide extraction. The quantitative impact of environmental changes on landslide development is also not well understood, which hinders accurate assessments and decision-making in environmental and disaster response. The polar regions, including the Antarctic, the Arctic, and the Tibetan plateau (TP), sensitive to global environmental changes, are significantly affected by global warming. This leads to extensive landslide development, particularly in the southern TP. This research focuses on new landslides in the southern TP, exploring extraction methods and the relationship between landslides and environmental factors.Methods: Utilizing the Google Earth Engine (GEE) and an improved Otsu threshold segmentation algorithm, we processed remote sensing images with 10 m resolution to identify landslide areas. The proposed Normalized Landslide Bare-soil Separation Index (NDLBSI) achieved an 87% pre-extraction accuracy in extracting landslides from Sentinel-2 images from 2019 to 2023. For the pre-extraction results, manual interpretation and correction were carried out, and a model correlating annual landslide changes with environmental factors was established based on least squares multivariate statistical methods.Results: Results show that a significant increase in landslide areas in the southern TP over the past 5 years, correlating with the watershed-wide increase in annual average temperature and vegetation cover, along with a decrease in snow cover area.Discussion: These changes could affect soil and rock moisture, influencing soil stability and landslide occurrence. The study provides valuable insights for large-scale landslide detection and understanding the environmental factors influencing landslides, which is of some significance for landslide hazards early warning.

Fuzzy clustering-based climatic zoning method for building climate responsiveness in Qinba region, China

Accurate climate zoning is crucial for enhancing energy efficiency. This study aims to further subdivide microclimate zones to enhance the precision of climate zoning and subsequently propose climate response strategies for the refined areas. The Qinba region, a climatic transition zone between northern and southern China, serves as the focal point of this study. The research employs a fuzzy clustering method, utilizing integrated weights on seven meteorological indicators spanning 40-year period, to delineate climate zones in the Qinba region. The results indicate that parts of Qinba region can be categorized into three clusters significantly correlated with altitude, which are closely consistent with the distribution of climate data and previous researches. Lower altitude areas experience hot summers and warm winters, while higher altitude regions have warm summers and cold winters with a larger increase in average annual temperature. Furthermore, this research confirms the alignment of climate zones with climate response strategies through investigation of over 30 traditional villages with climatic experience and simulation of three typical cities using climate software. Both sources emphasize the significance of sun shading, ventilation, and solar gain as key strategies applicable across all three zones. The proposed method accurately synthesizes various dimensions of meteorological data and is suitable for small-scale climate zoning. It can provide valuable insights for advancing climate-complex small-area zoning and climate-responsive strategies.

Extreme temperatures and school performance of the poor: Evidence from Mexico

As the risks associated with climate change intensify, understanding its impacts on human capital development is crucial. In this paper, we analyze the causal effects of temperature on the academic performance of students in Mexico, a middle-income country facing significant climate risks and socioeconomic challenges. Using panel data on over 5.5 million students, our results show that a 1 °C increase in annual average temperature leads to a 0.07 and 0.08 standard deviation decrease in Spanish and math test scores, respectively. Moreover, a one standard deviation (0.93 °C) increase in the long-term municipal temperature average is associated with 0.04 and 0.03 standard deviation declines in those scores. The effects are context-dependent - students in historically colder municipalities actually benefit from hotter temperatures, likely due to improved learning conditions in under-insulated schools and homes. However, the detrimental impacts appear consistent across urban, rural, and socioeconomically disadvantaged areas, underscoring the vulnerability of marginalized populations to the academic consequences of climate change. Overall, our findings highlight the urgency of addressing the educational dimensions of the global climate crisis through targeted interventions and adaptive policies, particularly in low-and middle-income countries.

Climate-Affected Australian Tropical Montane Cloud Forest Plants: Metabolomic Profiles, Isolated Phytochemicals, and Bioactivities.

The Australian Wet Tropics World Heritage Area (WTWHA) in northeast Queensland is home to approximately 18 percent of the nation's total vascular plant species. Over the past century, human activity and industrial development have caused global climate changes, posing a severe and irreversible danger to the entire land-based ecosystem, and the WTWHA is no exception. The current average annual temperature of WTWHA in northeast Queensland is 24 °C. However, in the coming years (by 2030), the average annual temperature increase is estimated to be between 0.5 and 1.4 °C compared to the climate observed between 1986 and 2005. Looking further ahead to 2070, the anticipated temperature rise is projected to be between 1.0 and 3.2 °C, with the exact range depending on future emissions. We identified 84 plant species, endemic to tropical montane cloud forests (TMCF) within the WTWHA, which are already experiencing climate change threats. Some of these plants are used in herbal medicines. This study comprehensively reviewed the metabolomics studies conducted on these 84 plant species until now toward understanding their physiological and metabolomics responses to global climate change. This review also discusses the following: (i) recent developments in plant metabolomics studies that can be applied to study and better understand the interactions of wet tropics plants with climatic stress, (ii) medicinal plants and isolated phytochemicals with structural diversity, and (iii) reported biological activities of crude extracts and isolated compounds.

Global Climate Change Analysis based on Shared Socioeconomic Pathway Scenarios and Disaster Damage Analysis Using Hazards-US (HAZUS)

In this study, a global temperature rise by +1.9 to 5.2 ℃ was expected at the end of the 21st century due to greenhouse gas emissions based on a report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and a 1.6 ℃ increase in annual average temperature in Korea over the last 109 years (1912 to 2020) was confirmed. These climate changes have increased heat waves and extreme climate indices worldwide, and natural disasters have increased in Korea due to irregular changes in heat waves and precipitation. In addition, this study on disaster damage estimation was conducted using Hazards-US-Multi-Hazard (HAZUS-MH), a disaster damage assessment platform used in the United States. HAZUS-MH was selected because it is stable and robust for various disaster scenarios as well as specific geographical and climate conditions and is reliable for disaster management and response even though it has difficulty reflecting specific domestic environments. The results showed that seismic damage reduction costs can be significantly decreased through the integration of early warning and preventive measures under the scenario of Pohang earthquake magnitude 5.4. This study provides insight into domestic climate change and disaster management and emphasizes the need for future response and model development. An effective response to climate change is expected to play an important role in ensuring national and regional safety and stability.

On aquatic macrophytes in the ultracontinental climate conditions of the Upper Indigirka River

The first results of the study of aquatic macrophytes of the Upper Indigirka River area are presented. The species composition includes ~84 species (~74 vascular plants and more than 10 cryptogamous macrophytes). 47 water bodies of different age, size and origin (tectonic, glacial, river, thermokarst and artificial) were studied. For each type of water bodies, the main ecological characteristics, features of the species composition and vegetation cover are given. The most common type of water bodies of the territory is thermokarst, and the greatest floristic diversity (54 species of macrophytes) is found here. There are 40 species in tectonic lakes, 37 - in rivers lakes, 35 - in glacial lakes, the lowest diversity was for small artificial waterbodies. For the Oimyakon District, new records of protected species are reported: macroalga Tolypella canadensis, vascular plants Isoetes echinospora, Nuphar pumila, Nymphaea tetragona (common and its rare pink-flowered form) and Subularia aquatica. Possible consequences for aquatic ecosystems while maintaining current trends in climate change (increase in average annual temperature, shift to earlier periods of spring warmth, changes in the amount and distribution of precipitation, depth of seasonal thawing of soils) leading to degradation of permafrost and their impact on the biodiversity of aquatic macrophytes in the region are discussed. The most vulnerable aquatic ecosystems of the Oimyakon Highlands are the mature thermokarst lakes.

Peculiarities of Respiration and Photosynthesis Processes of Plants Belonging to the Genera Catalpa L. and Paulownia L. Used in Landscaping of the City of Vanadzor

Key words: global climate change, biodiversity, greening, introduced species The species composition of biodiversity is negatively affected by global climate change. As a result of global warming, changes in the physiological processes of many plant species occur. Due to global warming, it has been recorded that many introduced plant species are well adaptable in the wild and suitable for cultivation. Presumably plants, belonging to the genera Catalpa L. and Paulownia L. are such species of plants. Given the projections of global warming, the selection of plant species for urban greening should prioritize not only their fast growth rate and adaptability but also an examination of their fundamental physiological processes, specifically focusing on photosynthesis and respiration, within the specific urban environment. Based on the research conducted in the city of Vanadzor in June and August 2023, it has been determined that plants from the genera Catalpa L. and Paulownia L. are among the introduced species utilized for the city's landscaping. Previously, plant species belonging to these genera were not used in landscaping. In all likelihood, the climatic conditions of Vanadzor were unfavorable for growing these plants. Due to the increase in average annual temperature, plants belonging to these two genera were discovered in the green spaces of the city of Vanadzor. In the trees belonging to the genus Catalpa L. in the city of Vanadzor, there was a recorded increase in photosynthetic activity by 1.025 times at the end of the growing season. This is significant because the utilization of this plant type for city greening can help reduce CO2 concentration in the atmosphere. On the other hand, the examination of the basic physiological processes in trees belonging to the genus Paulownia L. indicates a high rate of respiration intensity, resulting in the release of CO2 gas into the atmosphere in these plant species. These findings emphasize the need for a scientific approach to landscaping, taking into account the projected climate changes in the city of Vanadzor.

CLIMATE CHANGES IN THE SEA OF AZOV REGION OVER THE LAST 126 THOUSAND YEARS AND THE PROBLEM OF LOW FLOW

In the last 15 years, in the south of the European part of Russia, including in the Sea of Azov region, there has been a period of low water associated with a decrease of river flow. This leads to a number of negative consequences for the population of the region, agriculture, inland navigation, and transformations of the ecosystems of the Sea of Azov. The article discusses a retrospective analysis of changing of climate and watering of the territory during the Late Pleistocene and Holocene, based both on the results of paleogeographic studies and on archival and historical data. It is shown that changes in environmental parameters, including the amount of precipitation, on which the full flow of the Don river depends, is cyclical. Currently, there is a cycle associated with a significant decrease of the annual precipitation amount and an increase in average annual temperatures.

UNDERSTANDING CLIMATE CHANGE IN ETHIOPIA: IMPACTS AND SOLUTIONS

Climate change poses a global challenge with profound impacts on diverse aspects of the environment and human society. Understanding these impacts is crucial for formulating effective mitigation strategies. As one of the most critical threats to sustainable development, climate change is anticipated to affect the environment, human health, food security, economic activities, natural resources and physical infrastructure. This review focuses on climate change, its consequences and mitigation efforts in Ethiopia. Ethiopia has encountered both climate variability and change, evident in an average annual temperature increase of about 1.3∘C since 1960, with a corresponding rise of 0.28∘C per decade. Spatial and temporal variations in precipitation have also intensified, highlighting the country’s exposure to climate fluctuations. To address these challenges, the Ethiopian government has implemented various policies, strategies and programs aimed at enhancing adaptive capacity and minimizing the impacts of climate variability and change. The Climate-Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) of Ethiopia centers on four pillars: agriculture, forestry, renewable energy and advanced technologies. These pillars form the foundation for Ethiopia’s pursuit of a sustainable green economy. In conclusion, this review delves into the examination of climate change, its repercussions and the ongoing efforts to mitigate its effects in Ethiopia.

Yield structure of safflower under the influence of row width and seeding rate

Purpose. To establish the peculiarities of the productivity formation of different safflower varieties under the influence row width and seeding rate in the Right Bank Forest Steppe of Ukraine. Methods. The research was carried out in typical chernozem at the agronomic research station of the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine in 2021–2022 as a three-factor field experiment. Factor A (variety): ‘Dobrynia’ and ‘Soniachnyi’; factor B (row width): 19, 38, and 57 cm; factor C (seeding rate): 100, 200 and 300 thousand seeds/ha. Results. In the experiment, plant height of the variety ‘Dobrynia’ varied between 100.7 and 114.3 cm and 'Soniachnyi' between 93.5 and 108.9 cm. The number of heads per plant was 15.5–20.6 and 7.0–19.8, 1000-kernel weight 40.6–45.4 g and 38.8–47.7 g, respectively; number of seeds per plant 148–513 and 145–508, seed weight per plant 6.9–22.5 and 6.9–22.7 g/plant. As for plant height, in both varieties, its indicators increased with an increase in the seeding rate for all variants of row widths, reaching maximum values with a row width of 19 cm and a seeding rate of 300,000 seeds/ha. The rest of the biometric parameters, on the contrary, showed a clear regularity to decrease along with an increase in the seeding rate. At the same time, the highest number of heads and the seed weight per plant were in variants with a row width of 38 cm; the highest 1000- kernel weight was for the row width of 57 cm; the highest number of seeds per plant was for the row width of 19 cm. The biological yield of seeds in the experiment ranged from 1.25 to 2.55 t/ha in ‘Dobrynia’ and from 1.21 to 2.52 t/ha in ‘Soniachnyi'. In both varieties, biological yield increased with an increase in the seeding rate, reaching maximum values at a row width of 38 cm. Conclusions. Both studied varieties demonstrated the highest yield for the row width of 38 cm and a seeding rate of 300,000 seeds/ha: 2.55 t/ha ‘Dobrynia’ and 2.52 t/ha ‘Soniachnyi’. Despite the fact that these safflower varieties are recommended for the cultivation in the southern regions, they are quite adaptive for the cultivation in the north of Ukraine as well, taking into account the gradual increase in average annual temperatures and high soil fertility.

Interactions of urbanisation, climate variability, and infectious disease dynamics: insights from the Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu.

Climate change and shifts in land use/land cover (LULC) are critical factors affecting the environmental, societal, and health landscapes, notably influencing the spread of infectious diseases. This study delves into the intricate relationships between climate change, LULC alterations, and the prevalence of vector-borne and waterborne diseases in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, India, between 1985 and 2015. The research utilised Landsat-4, Landsat-5, and Landsat-8 data to generate LULC maps, applying the maximum likelihood algorithm to highlight significant transitions over the years. This study revealed that built-up areas have increased by 67%, primarily at the expense of agricultural land, which was reduced by 51%. Temperature and rainfall data were obtained from APHRODITE Water Resources, and with a statistical analysis of the time series data revealed an annual average temperature increase of 1.8°C and a minor but statistically significant rainfall increase during the study period. Disease data was obtained from multiple national health programmes, revealing an increasing trend in dengue and diarrhoeal diseases over the study period. In particular, dengue cases surged, correlating strongly with the increase in built-up areas and temperature. This research is instrumental for policy decisions in public health, urban planning, and climate change mitigation. Amidst limited research on the interconnections among infectious diseases, climate change, and LULC changes in India, our study serves as a significant precursor for future management strategies in Coimbatore and analogous regions.

The association between ambient temperature and antimicrobial resistance of Klebsiella pneumoniae in China: a difference-in-differences analysis.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) poses a significant global public health threat and is responsible for a high prevalence of infections and mortality. However, knowledge about how ambient temperature influences the AMR of K. pneumoniae is limited in the context of global warming. AMR data of 31 Chinese provinces was collected from the China Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System (CARSS) between 2014 and 2020. Socioeconomic and meteorological data were collected from the China Statistical Yearbook during the same period. A modified difference-in-differences (DID) approach was applied to estimate the association between ambient temperature and third-generation cephalosporin-resistant K. pneumoniae (3GCRKP) and carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae (CRKP). Furthermore, moderating effects of socioeconomic factors were also evaluated. Every 1°C increase in annual average temperature was associated with a 4.7% (relative risk (RR):1.047, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.031-1.082) increase in the detection rate of 3GCRKP, and a 10.7% (RR:1.107, 95% CI: 1.011-1.211) increase in the detection rate of CRKP. The relationships between ambient temperature and 3GCRKP and CRKP were found to be moderated by socioeconomic status (GDP per capita, income per capita, and consumption per capita; the interaction p-values <0.05), where higher economic status was found to strengthen the effects of temperature on the detection rate of 3GCRKP and weaken the effects on the detection rate of CRKP. Ambient temperature was found to be positively associated with AMR of K. pneumoniae, and this association was moderated by socioeconomic status. Policymakers should consider the impact of global warming and high temperatures on the spread of 3GCRKP and CRKP when developing strategies for the containment of AMR.

The Impact of Increasing Forest Loss Areas on the Global Temperature, and Tourism Industry

This paper aims to investigate the relationship between deforestation, climate change, and the tourism industry, and to explore the potential impacts of decreasing forest areas on these phenomena. The background of the study is that deforestation has become a major environmental problem in many parts of the world, with significant consequences for the global climate and natural ecosystems. Climate change, in turn, has a range of impacts on human societies, including changes in weather patterns, rising sea levels, and altered ecosystems.&#x0D; The study found that decreasing forest areas have a significant impact on increasing global temperatures, as forests play a critical role in absorbing and storing carbon dioxide, one of the main greenhouse gases responsible for climate change. As a result, deforestation contributes to the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which contributes to global warming. The study also highlighted the impact of climate change on the tourism industry, which can alter weather patterns and affect the availability of natural attractions.&#x0D; In terms of concrete values, the study provides specific data on the forest area and the annual change in forest area for six countries, including Brazil, Indonesia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Peru, Thailand, and Costa Rica. The study also provides data on the average annual temperature increase from 1990 to 2019 for these countries, as well as international tourist arrivals in 2019.&#x0D; The study further emphasizes the role of sustainable forest management and eco-tourism in mitigating the negative impacts of deforestation on the tourism industry. This includes promoting responsible tourism practices, such as minimizing environmental impacts, supporting local communities, and conserving natural resources. Overall, the study provides valuable insights into the complex relationship between forest conservation, climate change, and the tourism industry, and highlights the importance of sustainable practices for the long-term viability of both the natural environment and the tourism sector.

Farmers’ perceptions of climate variability and adaptation strategies in the rural areas of Dire Dawa administration, eastern Ethiopia

Climate variability has significant impact on agricultural production especially in low-income countries where agriculture largely relies on rainfall, but only a few studies explored this issue at local scale. Therefore, this study was conducted to characterize local climate and assess farmers' perceptions and adaptation strategies to climate variability in the rural areas of Dire Dawa administration. Historical rainfall and temperature data (1987–2017) were obtained from National Meteorological Agency (NMA) of Ethiopia, while data of farmers' perceptions and adaptation strategies were collected from a total of 120 household heads through survey questionnaire, key informant interviews and focus group discussions. The results revealed that the area received an average annual rainfall of 568.3 mm with main rainy season (kiremt) contributing 70.7% to annual rainfall. The earliest and latest onset dates of kiremt season were 15th of April and 2nd of August, respectively. The amount of annual and kiremt rainfall totals showed low and medium variability with a coefficient variability (CV) of 18.3% and 27.7%, respectively, whereas short rainy season (belg) rainfall had high variability with a CV of 43.9%. Climate variability perception analysis showed that an overwhelming majority of the respondents (90%) perceived a decrease in the annual rainfall and 91.7% detected an increase in annual average temperature in the study area. Farmers of the study area were well aware of the changes in rainfall and temperature and thus employed a range of adaptation practices. Soil and water conservation practices (100%), off-farm income diversification (63%), planting drought-tolerant varieties (50%) and changing of planting date (45%) were the main adaptation strategies employed in the study area to avert the negative effects of climate variability. The findings imply that the area has been experiencing palpable changes in climate variables during the study period against which farmers exercised multiple adaptation strategies. However, farmers in the area are still face hardship as a result of climate variability which necessitates improving farmers’ resilience through innovative mechanisms and better extension services.

The influence of climate warming on flowering phenology in relation to historical annual and seasonal temperatures and plant functional traits.

Climate warming has the potential to influence plant flowering phenology which in turn can have broader ecological consequences. Herbarium collections offer a source of historical plant data that makes possible the ability to document and better understand how warming climate can influence long-term shifts in flowering phenology. We examined the influence of annual, winter, and spring temperatures on the flowering phenology of herbarium specimens for 36 species collected from 1884-2015. We then compared the response to warming between native and non-native, woody and herbaceous, dry and fleshy fruit, and spring vs summer blooming species. Across all species, plants flowered 2.26 days earlier per 1°C increase in annual average temperatures and 2.93 days earlier per 1°C increase in spring onset average temperatures. Winter temperatures did not significantly influence flowering phenology. The relationship of temperature and flowering phenology was not significantly different between native and non-native species. Woody species flowered earlier than herbaceous species only in response to increasing annual temperatures. There was no difference in the phenological response between species with dry fruits and those fleshy fruits for any of the temperature periods. Spring blooming species exhibited a significantly greater phenological response to warming yearly average temperatures than summer blooming species. Although herbarium specimens can reveal climate change impacts on phenology, it is also evident that the phenological responses to warming vary greatly among species due to differences in functional traits such as those considered here, as well as other factors.

Soil C:N:P stoichiometry and its influencing factors in forest ecosystems in southern China

IntroductionSoil carbon and nutrient contents and their stoichiometric characteristics play a vital role in indicating plant growth and element balance, which can be used to indicate nutrient limitation. However, it has been less studied about their driving factors within forest soils at the regional scale in southern China.MethodsIn this study, soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) were analyzed in the topsoil (0–10 cm) at 345 sampling plots representing different forest types in Guangxi Province.ResultsThe results showed that the mean contents of C, N, and P were 29.80, 2.46, and 0.51 g/kg, respectively, and soil C:N, C:P, and N:P were 13.95, 69.60, and 5.53 respectively. The ratios also showed remarkable correlations with each other. C, N, and P contents and their ratios presented significant differences among different soil and vegetation types. C, N, and P concentrations increased with the increase of elevation and latitude, and decrease with the increase of average annual temperature (MAT). Conversely, C:N showed an opposite trend. C, N, and N:P were also increased with increasing average annual precipitation (MAP). Collectively, soil type, vegetation type, geographical, and climatic factors explained 43.46, 64.02, 68.61, 32.93, 39.64, and 37.87% of the variance in C, N, P, C:N, C:P, and N:P, respectively. For Soil C, both latitude and MAP had strong influences. Soil type was the largest explanation for soil N and P contents. Latitude and longitude were the key factors determining the soil stoichiometric ratios.DiscussionOverall, soil type, geographical and climatic factors were the most vital explanation variables for soil nutrients and their stoichiometric ratios. These results could help improve our understanding of soil stoichiometry within forest ecosystems in southern China.

Shifting climate zones and expanding tropical and arid climate regions across Kenya (1980–2020)

Human-induced climate change significantly alters the spatiotemporal characteristics of climate zones, which drives agricultural land use and ecosystem change. However, the detectability of shifting climate zones and the rate and time of the changes has yet to be adequately addressed at the regional-to-local scale. We mapped and analyzed changes to temperature and precipitation across Kenya during the past four decades, and linked those changes to shifts in the geographic distribution and arrangement of climate zones at regional scales. We observed an approximate 1 °C increase in average annual temperature over the 40-year period. A total of 76,346 km2 shifted from cooler to hotter zones, while 1298 km2 shifted from hotter to cooler zones. Tropical climate regions expanded from 91 to 93%, with over 13,000 km2 shifting from alpine and temperate to tropical regions. Average annual precipitation demonstrated little or no trend, but substantial spatial changes were observed. A total of 136,129 km2 shifted from wetter to drier zones, while 23,317 km2 shifted from drier to wetter zones. Arid climate regions expanded from 72 to 81%, a roughly 50,000 km2 shift from humid and semi-humid-to-semi-arid to arid regions. Overall, there was a 207,557 km2 shift in temperature and precipitation zones. As the climate zones predominately shift toward hotter and drier conditions, climatic diversity will decline, and in turn, ecosystem diversity and the ecosystem goods and services to society will decline. The changes also have broader global implications in terms of their contribution to global drylands as well as influencing earth system cycles. Overall, such information can better inform the Kenyan National Climate Change Response Strategy and be used to reach the UN Sustainable Development Goals.