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Trends in potential evapotranspiration from 1960 to 2013 for a desertification‐prone region of China
Author(s) -
Shan Nan,
Shi Zhongjie,
Yang Xiaohui,
Zhang Xiao,
Guo Hao,
Zhang Bo,
Zhang Zhiyong
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
international journal of climatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.58
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-0088
pISSN - 0899-8418
DOI - 10.1002/joc.4566
Subject(s) - desertification , evapotranspiration , arid , aridity index , environmental science , climate change , climatology , vegetation (pathology) , physical geography , china , normalized difference vegetation index , geography , ecology , geology , medicine , pathology , biology , archaeology
Evapotranspiration is a sensitive parameter for assessing climate change. It controls energy and mass exchange and is a descriptor of drought in arid‐ and semi‐arid regions. Using the Mann– Kendall ( M–K ) test, Sen's slope estimator, and the stepwise regression, temporal, and spatial variations in potential evapotranspiration ( ET 0 ) and its dominant factors were analysed. The analysis was based on data from 173 meteorological stations in a desertification‐prone region of China over the period from 1960 to 2013. The annual ET 0 decreased prior to 1990s and increased thereafter. The majority of stations had a decreasing ET 0 trend, especially in summer, in which the average slope of all stations was −2.43 mm decade −1 . Analysis of determining factors showed that a decrease in wind speed was the primary factor associated with decreasing ET 0 . The trend magnitude of ET 0 increased from −2.25 mm decade −1 to −7.43 mm decade −1 as wind speed increased, then decreased to −3.00 mm decade −1 . Decreasing ET 0 and increasing P in the western region led to decrease in the aridity index, suggesting a wetter climate and reduced desertification. Increasing aridity index in the eastern region reduced the vegetation cover and facilitated desertification processes, which might be a disadvantage for ecological reconstruction and desertification control. Better understanding of the response of ET 0 to regional climate change may facilitate efficient use of limited water resources and establish management strategies that can combat desertification and maintain ecological security in a desertification‐prone region.