Assessing the relative role of climate change and human activities in desertification of North China from 1981 to 2010

doi:10.1007/s11707-018-0706-z

Front. Earth Sci.

2019, Vol. 13

Issue (1) : 43-54 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11707-018-0706-z

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Assessing the relative role of climate change and human activities in desertification of North China from 1981 to 2010

Duanyang XU¹(

), Alin SONG², Dajing LI¹, Xue DING³, Ziyu WANG⁴

¹. Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
². Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
³. College of Resources and Environment, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
⁴. College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China

Download: PDF(1578 KB) HTML
Export: BibTeX | EndNote | Reference Manager | ProCite | RefWorks

Abstract

Desertification is a severe environmental problem induced by both climate change and human activities. This study assessed the relative contribution of climate change, human activities, and different climatic and anthropogenic factors in desertification reversion and expansion of North China from 1981 to 2010. The results showed that the desertification of North China had changed significantly over the past 30 years; desertification reversion and expansion covered an area of 750,464 km², and the spatial distribution of these regions exhibited considerable heterogeneity. For desertification reversion, climate change and human activity accounted for 22.6% and 26%, respectively of total reverted land. Wind speed reduction and the improvement of hydrothermal conditions were the most important climatic factors for desertification reversion in the arid region of Northwest China (ARNC) and the Three-River Headwaters region (TRHR), and the reduction in grassland use intensity was the most important anthropogenic factor related to desertification reversion in Inner Mongolia and regions along the Great Wall (IMGW). For desertification expansion, the relative role of climate change was more obvious, which was mainly attributed to the continuous reduction in precipitation in eastern IMGW, and the increase in grassland use intensity was the main factor underlying regional human-induced desertification expansion.

Keywords desertification climate change human activity relative role North China

Corresponding Author(s): Duanyang XU

Just Accepted Date: 13 June 2018 Online First Date: 01 August 2018 Issue Date: 25 January 2019

Cite this article:

Duanyang XU,Alin SONG,Dajing LI, et al. Assessing the relative role of climate change and human activities in desertification of North China from 1981 to 2010[J]. Front. Earth Sci., 2019, 13(1): 43-54.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fesci/EN/10.1007/s11707-018-0706-z
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fesci/EN/Y2019/V13/I1/43

Fig.1 The location of study area.

Tab.1 Scenario analysis table for assessing the relative role of climate change and human activities in desertification reversion and expansion

Fig.2 The sketch map for assessing the impacts of climatic factors.

Tab.2 Transfer matrix of desertification grades between 1981 and 2010

Tab.3 Desertification dynamics from 1981 to 2010 in north China

Fig.3 The relative roles of climate change and human activities in desertification reversion and expansion of North China from 1981 to 2010 (Reversion/Expansion_C/H/CH mean climate change, human activities and both of them induced desertification reversion and expansion).

Fig.4 The impacts of different climatic factors on desertification reversion of North China from 1981 to 2010.

Fig.5 The impacts of different anthropogenic factors on desertification expansion of North China from 1981 to 2010.

Tab.4 Relative role of land use pattern (LUP) and intensity (LUI) in human-induced desertification reversion and expansion

Fig.6 The linear trend of aridity/humidity index of desertified land of North China from 1981 to 2010.

1	NChen, X P Wang (2016). Driver-system state interaction in regime shifts: a model study of desertification in drylands. Ecol Modell, 339: 1–6 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2016.08.006
2	YChen, H Tang (2005). Desertification in north China: background, anthropogenic impacts and failures in combating it. Land Degrad Dev, 16(4): 367–376 https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.667
3	JEvans, R Geerken (2004). Discrimination between climate and human-induced dryland degradation. J Arid Environ, 57(4): 535–554 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-1963(03)00121-6
4	FAO, UNEP, UNESCO (1979). A provisional methodology for soil degradation assessment. Rome: FAO, 84pp
5	QFeng, H Ma, XJiang, XWang, S Cao (2015). What has caused desertification in China? Sci Rep, 5(1): 15998 https://doi.org/10.1038/srep15998
6	C BField, J T Randerson, C M Malmstrom (1995). Global net primary production- combining ecology and remote-sensing. Remote Sens Environ, 51(1): 74–88 https://doi.org/10.1016/0034-4257(94)00066-V
7	X DGe, K K Dong, A E Luloff, L Y Wang, J Xiao (2016). Impact of land use intensity on sandy desertification: an evidence from Horqin Sandy Land, China. Ecol Indic, 61: 346–358 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2015.09.035
8	RGeerken, M Ilaiwi (2004). Assessment of rangeland degradation and development of a strategy for rehabilitation. Remote Sens Environ, 90(4): 490–504 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2004.01.015
9	H MHao, Z Y Ren (2009). Land use/land cover change (LUCC) and eco-environment response to LUCC in farming-pastoral zone, China. Agric Sci China, 8(1): 91–97 https://doi.org/10.1016/S1671-2927(09)60013-4
10	A MHolm, S W Cridland, M L Roderick (2003). The use of time-integrated NOAA NDVI data and rainfall to assess landscape degradation in the arid shrubland of Western Australia. Remote Sens Environ, 85(2): 145–158 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0034-4257(02)00199-2
11	LHuang, T Xiao, Z PZhao, C YSun, J YLiu, Q QShao, J WFan, J BWang (2013). Effects of grassland restoration programs on ecosystems in arid and semiarid China. J Environ Manage, 117: 268–275 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2012.12.040
12	QLi, C L Zhang, Y P Shen, W R Jia, J Li (2016). Quantitative assessment of the relative roles of climate change and human activities in desertification processes on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau based on net primary productivity. Catena, 147: 789–796 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2016.09.005
13	SLi, Y Zheng, PLuo, XWang, H Li, PLin (2007). Desertification in western Hainan Island, China (1959 to 2003). Land Degrad Dev, 18(5): 473–485 https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.787
14	FLiu, H Q Zhang, Y W Qin, J W Dong, E Q Xu, Y Yang, G LZhang, X MXiao (2016). Semi-natural areas of Tarim Basin in northwest China: Linkage to desertification. Sci Total Environ, 573: 178–188 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.07.180
15	D BLobell, G P Asner, J I Ortiz-Monasterio, T L Benning (2003). Remote sensing of regional crop production in the Yaqui Valley, Mexico: estimates and uncertainties. Agric Ecosyst Environ, 94(2): 205–220 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-8809(02)00021-X
16	G XMa, M J Shi, X T Zhao, T Wang (2008). Monetary accounting of economic loss of sandy desertification in North China. J Desert Res, 28(4): 627–633 (in Chinese)
17	Y HMa, S Y Fan, L H Zhou, Z H Dong, K C Zhang, J M Feng (2007). The temporal change of driving factors during the course of land desertification in arid region of North China: the case of Minqin County. Environ Geol, 51(6): 999–1008 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-006-0369-z
18	D P CPeters, K MHavstad (2006). Nonlinear dynamics in arid and semi-arid systems: interactions among drivers and processes across scales. J Arid Environ, 65(2): 196–206 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2005.05.010
19	S DPrince (2002). Spatial and temporal scales for detection of desertification. In: Reynolds J F, Stafford Smith D M, eds. Global Desertification: Do Humans Cause Deserts? Berlin: Dahlem University Press
20	S DPrince, I Becker-Reshef, KRishmawi (2009). Detection and mapping of long-term land degradation using local net production scaling: application to Zimbabwe. Remote Sens Environ, 113(5): 1046–1057 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2009.01.016
21	S DPrince, E B De Colstoun, L L Kravitz (1998). Evidence from rain-use efficiencies does not indicate extensive Sahelian desertification. Glob Change Biol, 4(4): 359–374 https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2486.1998.00158.x
22	S DPrince, K J Wessels, C J Tucker, S E Nicholson (2007). Desertification in the Sahel: a reinterpretation of a reinterpretation. Glob Change Biol, 13(7): 1308–1313 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2486.2007.01356.x
23	M V KSivakumar (2007). Interactions between climate and desertification. Agric Meteorol, 142(2‒4): 143–155 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2006.03.025
24	State Forestry Administration of China (2011). The 4th public report of the desertification and sandy desertification in China
25	State Forestry Administration of China (2015). The 5th public report of the desertification and sandy desertification in China
26	Y LSun, Y L Yang, L Zhang, Z LWang (2015). The relative roles of climate variations and human activities in vegetation change in North China. Phys Chem Earth, 87‒88: 67–78 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pce.2015.09.017
27	M HTan, X B Li (2015). Does the Green Great Wall effectively decrease dust storm intensity in China? A study based on NOAA NDVI and weather station data. Land Use Policy, 43: 42–47 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2014.10.017
28	Z STang, H An, Z PShangguan (2015). The impact of desertification on carbon and nitrogen storage in the desert steppe ecosystem. Ecol Eng, 84: 92–99 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2015.07.023
29	F LTao, M Yokozawa, ZZhang, Y LXu, YHayashi (2005). Remote sensing of crop production in China by production efficiency models: models comparisons, estimates and uncertainties. Ecol Modell, 183(4): 385–396 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2004.08.023
30	X WTong, K L Wang, Y M Yue, M Brandt, B Liu, C HZhang, C JLiao, RFensholt (2017). Quantifying the effectiveness of ecological restoration projects on long-term vegetation dynamics in the karst regions of Southwest China. Int J Appl Earth Obs, 54: 105–113 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jag.2016.09.013
31	UNCCD (United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification) (1994). United Nations convention to combat desertification in countries experiencing serious drought and/or desertification, particularly in Africa. A/AC, 241/27, Paris
32	Q MVu, Q B Le, P L G Vlek (2014). Hotspots of human-induced biomass productivity decline and their social-ecological types toward supporting national policy and local studies on combating land degradation. Global Planet Change, 121: 64–77 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2014.07.007
33	FWang, X B Pan, D F Wang, C Y Shen, Q Lu (2013). Combating desertification in China: past, present and future. Land Use Policy, 31: 311–313 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2012.07.010
34	TWang (2004). Study on sandy desertification in China-3. Key regions for studying and combating sandy desertification. J Desert Res, 24(1): 1–9 (in Chinese)
35	TWang (2014). Aeolian desertification and its control in Northern China. Int Soil Water Conserv Res, 2(4): 34–41 doi:10.1016/S2095-6339(15)30056-3
36	TWang, W Wu, XXue, Q WSun, G TChen (2004). Study of spatial distribution of sandy desertification in North China in recent 10 years. Sci China Earth Sci, 47(13): 78–88 https://doi.org/10.1360/04zd0009
37	X MWang, F H Chen, Z B Dong (2006). The relative role of climatic and human factors in desertification in semiarid China. Glob Environ Change, 16(1): 48–57 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2005.06.006
38	X MWang, T Hua, L LLang, W YMa (2017). Spatial differences of aeolian desertification responses to climate in arid Asia. Global Planet Change, 148: 22–28 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2016.11.008
39	X MWang, L L Lang, P Yan, G TWang, HLi, W Y Ma, T Hua (2016). Aeolian processes and their effect on sandy desertification of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau: a wind tunnel experiment. Soil Tillage Res, 158: 67–75 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2015.12.004
40	X MWang, C X Zhang, E Hasi, Z BDong (2010). Has the Three Norths Forest Shelterbelt Program solved the desertification and dust storm problems in arid and semiarid China? J Arid Environ, 74(1): 13–22 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2009.08.001
41	K JWessels, S D Prince, P E Frost, D van Zyl (2004). Assessing the effects of human-induced land degradation in the former homelands of northern South Africa with a 1 km AVHRR NDVI time-series. Remote Sens Environ, 91(1): 47–67 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2004.02.005
42	K JWessels, S D Prince, J Malherbe, JSmall, P EFrost, DVanZyl (2007). Can human-induced land degradation be distinguished from the effects of rainfall variability? A case study in South Africa. J Arid Environ, 68(2): 271–297 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2006.05.015
43	K JWessels, S D Prince, I Reshef (2008). Mapping land degradation by comparison of vegetation production to spatially derived estimates of potential production. J Arid Environ, 72(10): 1940–1949 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2008.05.011
44	S HWu, Y H Yin, D Zheng, Q YYang (2005). Aridity/humidity status of land surface in China during the last three decades. Sci China Ser D Earth Sci, 48(9): 1510–1518 https://doi.org/10.1360/04yd0009
45	Z TWu, J J Wu, J H Liu, B He, T JLei, Q FWang (2013). Increasing terrestrial vegetation activity of ecological restoration program in the Beijing-Tianjin Sand Source Region of China. Ecol Eng, 52: 37–50 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2012.12.040
46	X HXie, S L Liang, Y J Yao, K Jia, S SMeng, JLi (2015). Detection and attribution of changes in hydrological cycle over the Three-North region of China: climate change versus afforestation effect. Agric Meteorol, 203: 74–87 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2015.01.003
47	D YXu, X W Kang, Z L Liu, D F Zhuang, J J Pan (2009). Assessing the relative role of climate change and human activities in sandy desertification of Ordos region, China. Sci China Earth Sci, 52(6): 855–868 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-009-0079-y
48	D YXu, C L Li, X Song, H YRe (2014). The dynamics of desertification in the farming-pastoral region of North China over the past 10 years and their relationship to climate change and human activity. Catena, 123: 11–22 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2014.07.004
49	D YXu, A L Song, H F Tong, H Y Ren, Y F Hu, Q Q Shao (2016). A spatial system dynamic model for regional desertification simulation — A case study of Ordos, China. Environ Model Softw, 83: 179–192 doi:10.1016/j.envsoft.2016.05.017
50	W ZYan, S Hua (2011). A strategy study on the environmental production of the energy and chemical industry base in northern Shaanxi. Energy Procedia, 5: 969–973 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2011.03.171
51	G LZhang, J W Dong, X M Xiao, Z M Hu, S Sheldon (2012). Effectiveness of ecological restoration projects in Horqin Sandy Land, China based on SPOT-VGT NDVI data. Ecol Eng, 38(1): 20–29 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2011.09.005
52	YZhang, C B Zhang, Z Q Wang, Y Z Chen, C C Gang, R An, J LLi (2016). Vegetation dynamics and its driving forces from climate change and human activities in the Three-River Source Region, China from 1982 to 2012. Sci Total Environ, 563–564: 210–220 doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.03.223
53	G SZhou, X S Zhang (1995). A natural vegetation NPP model. Acta Phytoecol Sin, 19(3): 193–200 (in Chinese)
54	G SZhou, X S Zhang (1996). Study on NPP of natural vegetation in China under global climate change. Acta Phytoecol Sin, 20(1): 11–19 (in Chinese)
55	G SZhou, Y R Zheng, S Q Chen, T X Luo (1998). NPP model of natural vegetation and its application in China. Sci Silva Sin, 34(5): 1–11 (in Chinese)
56	WZhou, C C Gang, F C Zhou, J L Li, X G Dong, C Z Zhao (2015). Quantitative assessment of the individual contribution of climate and human factors to desertification in northwest China using net primary productivity as an indicator. Ecol Indic, 48: 560–569 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2014.08.043

[1]	Fangyan ZHU, Heng WANG, Mingshi LI, Jiaojiao DIAO, Wenjuan SHEN, Yali ZHANG, Hongji WU. Characterizing the effects of climate change on short-term post-disturbance forest recovery in southern China from Landsat time-series observations (1988–2016)[J]. Front. Earth Sci., 2020, 14(4): 816-827.
[2]	Marwa Gamal Mohamed ALI, Mahmoud Mohamed IBRAHIM, Ahmed El BAROUDY, Michael FULLEN, El-Said Hamad OMAR, Zheli DING, Ahmed Mohammed Saad KHEIR. Climate change impact and adaptation on wheat yield, water use and water use efficiency at North Nile Delta[J]. Front. Earth Sci., 2020, 14(3): 522-536.
[3]	Sukh TUMENJARGAL, Steven R. FASSNACHT, Niah B.H. VENABLE, Alison P. KINGSTON, Maria E. FERNÁNDEZ-GIMÉNEZ, Batjav BATBUYAN, Melinda J. LAITURI, Martin KAPPAS, G. ADYABADAM. Variability and change of climate extremes from indigenous herder knowledge and at meteorological stations across central Mongolia[J]. Front. Earth Sci., 2020, 14(2): 286-297.
[4]	Soheila SAFARYAN, Mohsen TAVAKOLI, Noredin ROSTAMI, Haidar EBRAHIMI. Evaluation of climate change effects on extreme flows in a catchment of western Iran[J]. Front. Earth Sci., 2019, 13(3): 523-534.
[5]	Kun JIA, Jingcan LIU, Yixuan TU, Qiangzi LI, Zhiwei SUN, Xiangqin WEI, Yunjun YAO, Xiaotong ZHANG. Land use and land cover classification using Chinese GF-2 multispectral data in a region of the North China Plain[J]. Front. Earth Sci., 2019, 13(2): 327-335.
[6]	Zhuang LI, Bin CHEN. Lithotectonic elements of Archean basement on the Liaodong Peninsula and its vicinity, North China Craton, China[J]. Front. Earth Sci., 2019, 13(1): 209-228.
[7]	Jincui WANG, Yongsheng ZHAO, Jichao SUN, Ying ZHANG, Chunyan LIU. The distribution and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in shallow groundwater from an alluvial-diluvial fan of the Hutuo River in North China[J]. Front. Earth Sci., 2019, 13(1): 33-42.
[8]	Hongyan WANG, Qiangzi LI, Xin DU, Longcai ZHAO. Quantitative extraction of the bedrock exposure rate based on unmanned aerial vehicle data and Landsat-8 OLI image in a karst environment[J]. Front. Earth Sci., 2018, 12(3): 481-490.
[9]	Chunlan LI, Jun WANG, Richa HU, Shan YIN, Yuhai BAO, Yuwei LI. ICESat/GLAS-derived changes in the water level of Hulun Lake, Inner Mongolia, from 2003 to 2009[J]. Front. Earth Sci., 2018, 12(2): 420-430.
[10]	Duanyang XU, Alin SONG, Xiao SONG. Assessing the effect of desertification controlling projects and policies in northern Shaanxi Province, China by integrating remote sensing and farmer investigation data[J]. Front. Earth Sci., 2017, 11(4): 689-701.
[11]	N.B.H. VENABLE. Hydroclimatological data and analyses from a headwaters region of Mongolia as boundary objects in interdisciplinary climate change research[J]. Front. Earth Sci., 2017, 11(3): 457-468.
[12]	Qing TIAN, Qing WANG, Yalong LIU. Geomorphic change in Dingzi Bay, East China since the 1950s: impacts of human activity and fluvial input[J]. Front. Earth Sci., 2017, 11(2): 385-396.
[13]	Xin JIA,Shuangwen YI,Yonggang SUN,Shuangye WU,Harry F. LEE,Lin WANG,Huayu LU. Spatial and temporal variations in prehistoric human settlement and their influencing factors on the south bank of the Xar Moron River, Northeastern China[J]. Front. Earth Sci., 2017, 11(1): 137-147.
[14]	Le Wang,Shenglian Guo,Xingjun Hong,Dedi Liu,Lihua Xiong. Projected hydrologic regime changes in the Poyang Lake Basin due to climate change[J]. Front. Earth Sci., 2017, 11(1): 95-113.
[15]	Weiwei SUN,Enlou ZHANG,Ji SHEN,Rong CHEN,Enfeng LIU. Black carbon record of the wildfire history of western Sichuan Province in China over the last 12.8 ka[J]. Front. Earth Sci., 2016, 10(4): 634-643.

Viewed

Full text

Abstract

Cited

Shared

Discussed