Simulation of vegetation cover in the inland river basin of Hexi based on the theory of ecohydrological optimality

doi:10.11686/cyxb2023402

Abstract

Abstract:

In the process of ecological restoration， the state of vegetation within the ecosystem system is crucial for the sustainability of ecological balance. This study utilizes meteorological and vegetation data during the growing seasons from 2000 to 2020 in the Hexi Inland River Basin as a basis. It applies the Eagleson’s ecological hydrological optimality theory to simulate the optimal vegetation cover （M_eq） under the ecological hydrological balance in the basin. The difference between the vegetation cover recovery threshold and the current vegetation cover represents the potential for vegetation restoration. The results show that： 1） The simulated average multi-year M_eq is consistent with the multi-year growing season average actual vegetation cover M， but the transition is smoother， showing a decreasing trend from southeast to northwest. The multi-year average actual vegetation cover in the basin is 0.163， and the simulated average multi-year optimal vegetation cover is 0.166. 2） The basin’s average restoration potential is 0.003 and the area with vegetation cover still had restoration potential accounted for 62.76%， primarily situated in the northern region of the basin. The average vegetation restoration potential across the three basins follows the order： Shiyang River Basin>Heihe River Basin>Shule River Basin. 3） The potential for vegetation recovery in the Hexi Inland River Basin is closely related to the regional drought index. For the forest， the average potential for vegetation recovery decreases with rising drought degree， while the degree to which shrub vegetation cover exceeds the restoration potential initially worsens and then lessens as the drought index increases.

Key words: ecohydrological optimality, Hexi inland river basin, vegetation cover, vegetation restoration potential

Zi-ao SHEN, Jing WU, Chun-bin LI. Simulation of vegetation cover in the inland river basin of Hexi based on the theory of ecohydrological optimality[J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2024, 33(9): 15-27.

Figures/Tables 10

Fig.1 Overview of the research region

Table 1 Description and source of model parameters

类别Type	名称Name	含义Meaning	来源Source
气象数据 Meteorological data	$m h$	平均降水深度Mean precipitation depth	气象站点数据插值Meteorological station data interpolation
	$m t b$	平均降水间隔时间Mean precipitation interval
	$m t r$	平均降水持续时间Mean precipitation duration
	$m v$	平均降水次数Mean frequency of precipitation
	$r 0$	地表湿度计常数Surface psychrometric constant	宋妮等^［34］ By Song， et al^［34］
植被数据 Vegetation data	$M$	生长季平均实际植被覆盖度Average actual vegetation coverage during the growing season	基于Modis数据计算Calculation based on Modis data
	$β$	叶倾角的余弦值Cosine of leaf angle	张树磊^［23］、苏同宣^［36］ By Zhang^［23］ and Su^［36］
	$h s / h$	树干分数Stem fraction
	$r c / r a$	叶片和空气的阻抗比Impedance ratio of blade to air
	$L t$	叶面积指数Foliage area index

Table 1 Description and source of model parameters

类别Type	名称Name	含义Meaning	来源Source
气象数据 Meteorological data	$m h$	平均降水深度Mean precipitation depth	气象站点数据插值Meteorological station data interpolation
	$m t b$	平均降水间隔时间Mean precipitation interval
	$m t r$	平均降水持续时间Mean precipitation duration
	$m v$	平均降水次数Mean frequency of precipitation
	$r 0$	地表湿度计常数Surface psychrometric constant	宋妮等^［34］ By Song， et al^［34］
植被数据 Vegetation data	$M$	生长季平均实际植被覆盖度Average actual vegetation coverage during the growing season	基于Modis数据计算Calculation based on Modis data
	$β$	叶倾角的余弦值Cosine of leaf angle	张树磊^［23］、苏同宣^［36］ By Zhang^［23］ and Su^［36］
	$h s / h$	树干分数Stem fraction
	$r c / r a$	叶片和空气的阻抗比Impedance ratio of blade to air
	$L t$	叶面积指数Foliage area index

Table 2 Canopy parameters of different vegetation types

植被类型 Vegetation type	M=0		M=1
植被类型 Vegetation type	h_s/h	r_c/r_a	β	$L t$	r_c/r_a
阔叶林Broad-leaved forest	0.5	0.6	0.3	4.7	0.4
草地Grassland	0.0	3.0	0.6	4.1	1.2
农田Cultivated land	0.1	2.1	0.5	3.6	0.9
灌木Shrub	0.2	1.5	0.4	3.6	0.5
针叶林Needle-leaved forest	0.7	0.3	0.5	2.5	1.8

Table 2 Canopy parameters of different vegetation types

植被类型 Vegetation type	M=0		M=1
植被类型 Vegetation type	h_s/h	r_c/r_a	β	$L t$	r_c/r_a
阔叶林Broad-leaved forest	0.5	0.6	0.3	4.7	0.4
草地Grassland	0.0	3.0	0.6	4.1	1.2
农田Cultivated land	0.1	2.1	0.5	3.6	0.9
灌木Shrub	0.2	1.5	0.4	3.6	0.5
针叶林Needle-leaved forest	0.7	0.3	0.5	2.5	1.8

Fig.2 Trends and spatial distribution of vegetation coverage

Fig.3 Spatial distribution of average precipitation characteristics during the growing season

Fig.4 Spatial distribution of mean potential evapotranspiration rate and air temperature during the growing season

Fig.5 Regression analysis and significance test of correlation between multi-year growing season average actual vegetation coverage （M） and simulated average multi-year optimal vegetation coverage （Meq）

Fig.6 Actual and simulated optimal vegetation coverage， vegetation recovery potential， and land cover types in the study area

Table 3 Vegetation cover in different drought degree

干旱等级 Drought degree	平均植被覆盖度Average vegetation coverage	模拟平均植被覆盖度Simulated average vegetation coverage	平均植被恢复潜力Average vegetation restoration potential
第1级Level 1	0.451	0.395	-0.056
第2级Level 2	0.373	0.229	-0.144
第3级Level 3	0.136	0.142	0.006
第4级Level 4	0.107	0.095	-0.012
第5级Level 5	0.078	0.059	-0.019

Fig.7 Recovery potential of different vegetation cover types under different drought levels

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