Long time-series spatiotemporal variations of NPP and water use efficiency in the lower Heihe River Basin with serious water scarcity

It is of great significance to analyze the long time-series spatiotemporal dynamics of water use efficiency (WUE) to formulating appropriate management measures in response to the growing water scarcity in arid and semi-arid regions. This study analyzed the long time-series variations of WUE in the Lower Heihe River Basin, a typical arid and semi-arid region in China. The net primary productivity (NPP) was first estimated with the C-fix model, then WUE during 2001–2010 was calculated with the NPP and evapotranspiration (ET) data, and the accumulative WUE was further calculated. The results showed that the annual NPP and WUE in the study area ranged from zero to 448.70 gC/(m² a) and from zero to 2.20 gC kg⁻¹ H₂O, respectively, both of which showed an overall increasing trend during 2001–2010. Besides, the spatial pattern of WUE kept overall unchanged during 2001–2010, but with remarkable change in some part of the study area. In addition, the accumulative WUE of the whole study area showed a first sharply decreasing and then gradually increasing trend, but there was still some scope to improve the WUE, and it is necessary to carry out some more specific policies to further improve the water allocation and WUE within the Lower Heihe River Basin. Although with some uncertainties, these results still can provide valuable reference information for improving the water resource management and ecological conservation to guarantee provision of essential ecosystem services in arid and semi-arid regions.     

Evapotranspiration from a wet temperate grassland and its sensitivity to microenvironmental variables

The eddy covariance and energy balance method was employed to determine evapotranspiration (LE) over a wet temperate C3–C4 co‐existing grassland in Japan. After sensible heat flux (H) was estimated via the eddy covariance technique, LE was calculated as the residual of the energy budget with calibration against the direct measurements of LE by a lysimeter. Daily mean LE varied from 0·8 to 10·5 MJ d⁻¹, with a peak at 16·5 MJ d⁻¹ in late July to early August. Day‐to‐day and seasonal variability in LE was affected appreciably by net radiation (R_n), atmospheric vapour pressure deficit (VPD), canopy surface conductance (g_c) and leaf area index (LAI). Before the canopy closure, LE responded to LAI in a linear manner. However, LE decreased with increasing LAI later in summer. Daytime variation in the decoupling coefficient (Ω) demonstrates that the canopy decoupled from the atmosphere in the morning and LE was primarily driven by the available energy, while in the afternoon the canopy partially coupled to the atmosphere so that LE was sensitive to VPD and g_c. Throughout the whole measurement period, Ω was generally larger than 0·5, suggesting that the available energy contributes more to LE than VPD. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of water stress on ecosystem photosynthesis and respiration of a Leymus chinensis steppe in Inner Mongolia

Many studies on global climate have forecast major changes in the amounts and spatial patterns of precipitation that may significantly affect temperate grasslands in arid and semi-arid regions. As a part of ChinaFLUX, eddy covariance flux measurements were made at a semi-arid Leymus chinensis steppe in Inner Mongolia, China during 2003–2004 to quantify the response of carbon exchange to environmental changes. Results showed that gross ecosystem production (F _GEP) and ecosystem respiration (R _eco) of the steppe were significantly depressed by water stress due to lack of precipitation during the growing season. Temperature was the dominant factor affecting F _GEP and R _eco in 2003, whereas soil moisture imposed a significant influence on both R _eco and F _GEP in 2004. Under wet conditions, R _eco showed an exponentially increasing trend with temperature (Q ₁₀ = 2.0), but an apparent reduction in the value of R _eco and its temperature sensitivity were observed during the periods of water stress (Q ₁₀=1.6). Both heat and water stress can cause decrease in F _GEP. The seasonality of ecosystem carbon exchange was strongly correlated with the variation of precipitation. With less precipitation in 2003, the steppe sequestrated carbon in June and July, and went into a senescence in early August due to water stress. As compared to 2003, the severe drought during the spring of 2004 delayed the growth of the steppe until late June, and the steppe became a CO₂ sink from early July until mid-September, with ample precipitation in August. The semi-arid steppe released a total of 9.7 g C·m⁻² from May 16 to the end of September 2003, whereas the net carbon budget during the same period in 2004 was close to zero. Long-term measurements over various grasslands are needed to quantify carbon balance in temperate grasslands.

     

Grading Woodland Soil Water Productivity and Soil Bioavailability in the Semi‐Arid Loess Plateau of China

In the semi‐arid region of the Loess Plateau in China, a portable photosynthesis system (Li‐6400) and a portable steady porometer (Li‐1600) were used to study the quantitative relation between the soil water content (SWC) and trees' physiological parameters including net photosynthesis rate (P_n), carboxylation efficiency (CE), transpiration rate (T_r), water use efficiency of leaf (WUE_L), stomatic conductivity (G_s), stomatal resistance (R_s), intercellular CO₂ (C_i), and stomatal limitation (L_s). These are criteria for grading and evaluating soil water productivity and availability in forests of Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) and Oriental Arborvitae (Platycladus orientalis). The results indicated: To the photosynthesis of Locust and Arborvitae, the SWC of less than 4.5 and 4.0% (relative water content (RWC) 21.5 and 19.0%) belong to “non‐productivity and non‐efficiency water”; the SWC of 4.5–10.0% (RWC 21.5–47.5%) and 4.0–8.5% (RWC 19.0–40.5%) belong to “low productivity and low efficiency water”; the SWC of 10.0–13.5% (RWC 47.5–64.0%) and 8.5–11.0% (RWC 40.5–52.0%) belong to “middle productivity and high efficiency water”; the SWC of 13.5–17.0% (RWC 64.0–81.0%) and 11.0–16.0% (RWC 52.0–76.0%) belong to “high productivity and middle efficiency water”; the SWC of 17.0–19.0% (RWC 81.0–90.5%) and 16.0–19.0% (RWC 76.0–90.5%) belong to “middle productivity and low efficiency water”; the SWC of more than 19.0% (RWC 90.5%) belongs to “low productivity and low efficiency water”. The SWC of about 13.5 and 11.0% (RWC 64.0 and 52.0%) are called “high productivity and high efficiency water”, which provides the further evidence for Locust and Arborvitae to get both higher productivity (P_n and CE) and the highest WUE_L and adaptation to the local environment, respectively.     

Drip irrigation enhances shallow groundwater contribution to crop water consumption in an arid area

Shallow groundwater plays a key role in agro‐hydrological processes of arid areas. Groundwater often supplies a necessary part of the water requirement of crops and surrounding native vegetation, such as groundwater‐dependent ecosystems. However, the impact of water‐saving irrigation on cropland water balance, such as the contribution of shallow groundwater to field evapotranspiration, requires further investigation. Increased understanding of quantitative evaluation of field‐scale water productivity under different irrigation methods aids policy and decision‐making. In this study, high‐resolution water table depth and soil water content in field maize were monitored under conditions of flood irrigation (FI) and drip irrigation (DI), respectively. Groundwater evapotranspiration (ET_g) was estimated by the combination of the water table fluctuation method and an empirical groundwater–soil–atmosphere continuum model. The results indicate that daily ET_g at different growth stages varies under the two irrigation methods. Between two consecutive irrigation events of the FI site, daily ET_g rate increases from zero to greater than that of the DI site. Maize under DI steadily consumes more groundwater than FI, accounting for 16.4% and 14.5% of ET_a, respectively. Overall, FI recharges groundwater, whereas DI extracts water from shallow groundwater. The yield under DI increases compared with that under FI, with less ET_a (526 mm) compared with FI (578 mm), and irrigation water productivity improves from 3.51 kg m^?3 (FI) to 4.58 kg m^?3 (DI) through reducing deep drainage and soil evaporation by DI. These results highlight the critical role of irrigation method and groundwater on crop water consumption and productivity. This study provides important information to aid the development of agricultural irrigation schemes in arid areas with shallow groundwater.     

Quantitative effects of changes in agricultural irrigation on potential evaporation

Evaporation is a key element to the basin's water cycle. Agricultural irrigation has resulted in a significant variation of regional potential evaporation (E_pen). The spatiotemporal variation of E_pen and influencing factors in natural, agricultural, and desert areas in different developmental stages of irrigation in Heihe River Basin (HRB) from 1970 to 2017 were comparatively analysed in this study. This work focused on the correction effect of irrigation on the variation of E_pen. Agricultural water consumption in HRB significantly varied around 1998 due to agricultural development and water policy. Under the influence of irrigation, annual variations of E_pen in agricultural, natural, and desert areas were significantly different. From 1970 to 1998, the annual trend slope of E_pen in natural area only reduced by 1 mm decade⁻¹, while that in agricultural area significantly decreased by 39 mm decade⁻¹. After the implementation of water-saving irrigation, E_pen in natural and agricultural areas increased by 11 and 54 mm decade⁻¹, respectively, from 1998 to 2017. In contrast with natural and agricultural areas, E_pen in desert area decreased by 80 mm decade⁻¹ from 1970 to 1998 and continuously decreased by 41 mm decade⁻¹ from 1998 to 2017. However, the regulatory effect of irrigation on E_pen in desert area started to manifest due to the expansion of cultivated land area from 2010 to 2017. Irrigation had a significant regulatory effect on the variation of E_pen in HRB. The regulatory effect was mainly reflected on the aerodynamic term (E_aero). Results indicated that the main meteorological factors influencing E_pen in each region were wind speed, which is 2 m above the surface (U₂), and water vapour deficit (VPD).     

Validation and calibration of solar radiation equations for estimating daily reference evapotranspiration at cool semi-arid and arid locations

ABSTRACT

In this work, the applicability of 12 solar radiation (R_S) estimation models and their impacts on daily reference evapotranspiration (ET_o) estimates using the Penman‐Monteith FAO-56 (PMF-56) method were tested under cool arid and semi-arid conditions in Iran. The results indicated that the average increase in accuracy of the ET_o estimates by the calibrated R_S models, quantified by the decrease in RMSE, was 2.8% and 6.4% for semi-arid and arid climates, respectively. Mean daily deviations in the estimated ET_o by the calibrated R_S equations in semi-arid climates varied from ?0.283?mm/d^-1 for the Glover‐McCulloch model to 0.080?mm/d for the El-Sebaii model, with an average of ?0.109?mm/d^-1, and in arid climates, they ranged from ?0.522?mm/d^-1 for the Samani model to 0.668?mm/d for the El-Sebaii model, with an average of 0.125?mm/d^-1.

Editor D. Koutsyiannis; Associate editor Not assigned     

Spatio-temporal variability of surface soil water content and its influencing factors in a desert area,China

Abstract

Knowledge of the variability of soil water content (SWC) in space and time plays a key role in hydrological and climatic modelling. However, limited attention has been given to arid regions. The focus of this study was to investigate the spatio-temporal variability of surface soil (0–6 cm) water content and to identify its controlling factors in a region of the Gobi Desert (40 km²). The standard deviation of SWC decreased logarithmically as mean water content decreased, and the coefficient of variation of SWC exhibited a convex upward pattern. The spatial variability of SWC also increased with the size of the investigated area. The spatial dependence of SWC changed over time, with stronger patterns of spatial organization in drier and wetter conditions of soil wetness and stochastic patterns in moderate soil water conditions. The dominant factors regulating the variability of SWC changed from combinations of soil and topographical properties (bulk density, clay content and relative elevation) in wet conditions to combinations of soil and vegetation properties (bulk density, clay content and shrub coverage) in dry conditions. This study has important implications for the assessment of soil quality and the sustainability of land management in arid regions.     

Simulation of site-scale water fluxes in desert and natural oasis ecosystems of the arid region in Northwest China

The study of water fluxes is important to better understand hydrological cycles in arid regions. Data-driven machine learning models have been recently applied to water flux simulation. Previous studies have built site-scale simulation models of water fluxes for individual sites separately, requiring a large amount of data from each site and significant computation time. For arid areas, there is no consensus as to the optimal model and variable selection method to simulate water fluxes. Using data from seven flux observation sites in the arid region of Northwest China, this study compared the performance of random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), back propagation neural network (BPNN), and multiple linear regression (MLR) models in simulating water fluxes. Additionally, the study investigated inter-annual and seasonal variation in water fluxes and the dominant drivers of this variation at different sites. A universal simulation model for water flux was built using the RF approach and key variables as determined by MLR, incorporating data from all sites. Model performance of the SVM algorithm (R² = 0.25–0.90) was slightly worse than that of the RF algorithm (R² = 0.41–0.91); the BPNN algorithm performed poorly in most cases (R² = 0.15–0.88). Similarly, the MLR results were limited and unreliable (R² = 0.00–0.66). Using the universal RF model, annual water fluxes were found to be much higher than the precipitation received at each site, and natural oases showed higher fluxes than desert ecosystems. Water fluxes were highest during the growing season (May–September) and lowest during the non-growing season (October–April). Furthermore, the dominant drivers of water flux variation were various among different sites, but the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), soil moisture and soil temperature were important at most sites. This study provides useful insights for simulating water fluxes in desert and oasis ecosystems, understanding patterns of variation and the underlying mechanisms. Besides, these results can make a contribution as the decision-making basis to the water management in desert and oasis ecosystems.     

Gully and soil and water conservation structure densities in semi‐arid northern Ethiopia over the last 80 years

Gullies have been a common phenomenon in semi‐arid northern Ethiopia for the last centuries. However, soil and water conservation (SWC) structures have been implemented for a long time to curb soil erosion. Though, like most of the affected areas worldwide, density and distribution of gullies and SWC structures, their causes and interrelations are poorly understood. The aims of this study were to develop a technique for mapping these densities of gullies and SWC structures, to explain their spatial distribution and to analyze changes over the period 1935–2014. Aerial photographs from 1935 to 1936 and Google Earth images from 2014 of the 5142 km² Geba catchment were used. Transect lines were established to count gullies and SWC structures in order to calculate densities. On average, a gully density of 1.14 km km^?2 was measured in 1935–1936 of which the larger portion (75%) were vegetated, indicating they were not very active. Over 80 years, gully density has significantly increased to 1.59 km km^?2 with less vegetation growing in their channel, but 66% of these gullies were treated with check dams. There was c. 3 km km^?2 of indigenous SWC structures (daget or lynchets) in 1935–1936 whereas a high density (20 km km^?2) of introduced SWC structures (mainly stone bunds and terraces) were observed in 2014. The density of gullies is positively correlated with slope gradient and shrubland cover and negatively with cropland cover, whereas the density of SWC structures significantly increased with increasing cropland cover. Density maps of gullies and SWC structures indicate sensitive areas to gully formation and priority areas for the implementation of SWC structures in Geba catchment. The obtained results illustrate the feasibility of the methods applied to map the density of gullies and SWC structures in mountainous areas. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Modeling of terracette‐hillslope soil moisture as a function of aspect,slope and vegetation in a semi‐arid environment

In the semi‐arid western United States, water availability plays a defining role in land use. Soil moisture, vegetation, and microtopography are key variables in the hydrologic function of these ecosystems. Previous research has not addressed the influence of site‐specific aspect, vegetation, or slope gradient on terracette soil moisture patterns in semi‐arid rangelands. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to: (1) assess the influence of terracette site aspect, vegetation cover, and slope on soil moisture; (2) conceptualize conditions at the hillslope scale given terracette morphology; and (3) estimate the extent of terracettes at a regional scale. The Simultaneous Heat and Water (SHAW) model was used to simulate soil water dynamics of terracettes given variations in site conditions. These results were coupled with time‐of‐flight laser scans to quantify terracette bench and riser percent‐area, and statewide assessments of terracette extent using digital orthoimagery and a geographical information system (GIS). Modeling results indicated site aspect had minimal influence (±0.005 m³ m^?3) on terracette soil moisture. Vegetation, represented as leaf area index (LAI), had the single‐most influential effect on terracette volumetric water content (θ _v) demonstrated by an inverse relationship of LAI to mean terracette hillslope θ _v; and slope increases of ≥15% on northern azimuths increased mean θ _v which contrasted with southern azimuths for similar slope increases. Laser scanning results indicated bench width and riser length could be estimated from mean site slope (R ² = 0.82 risers and R ² = 0.93 benches). Aerial orthoimagery/GIS assessments estimated >159 000 ha of terracettes throughout the State of Idaho, with >41 000 ha (~26%) occurring on lands managed as grazing allotments. These findings provide an increased understanding of rangeland hydrologic processes as influenced by cattle density, vegetation, and terracettes which can aide land managers in their selection and application of best management practices on these lands. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evidence of field-scale shifts in transpiration dynamics following bark beetle infestation: Stomatal conductance responses

Amplified eruptive outbreaks of bark beetles as a consequence of climate change can cause tree mortality that significantly affects terrestrial water and carbon fluxes. However, the lack of field-scale observations of underlying physiological mechanisms currently hampers the expression of such ecosystem disturbances in predictive modelling. Based on a unique flux tower dataset from a subalpine forest located in the Rocky Mountains, mechanisms of stomatal response to an extensive bark beetle outbreak were investigated using various models and parametrizations. The datasets cover a decade, including the periods of pre-infestation, infestation, and post-infestation. Field measurements showed considerable decreases in evapotranspiration (ET), transpiration (T), and leaf area index (LAI) during the two-year infestation period compared to the pre-infestation period. Model interpretations of observed water and carbon fluxes indicated that the overall reductions in T were not solely due to decreased LAI, but also to changes in physiological behaviours. The summer season's canopy-scale stomatal conductance was significantly reduced during the infestation period, from 0.0018 to 0.0011 m s⁻¹. One primary reason for the observed variations is likely that the bark beetle infestation hampers the water transport in the xylem. The damage of xylem has important implications for water use efficiency (WUE), which also significantly influences the parameterization of stomatal conductance. When using stomatal conductance models to forecast ecosystem dynamics, it is crucial to recalibrate the model's parameters to ensure the accurate depiction of stomatal dynamics during various infestation periods. The neglect of the temporal variability of canopy-scale stomatal conductance under ecosystem disturbances (e.g., bark beetle infestations) in current earth system models, therefore, requires specific attention in assessments of large-scale water and carbon balances.     

Evaporation of perennial semi‐arid woodland in southeastern Australia is adapted for irregular but common dry periods

Measurements of water vapour flux from semi‐arid perennial woodland (mallee) were made for 3 years using eddy covariance instrumentation. There have been no previous long‐term, detailed measures of water use in this ecosystem. Latent energy flux (LE) on a half hourly basis was the measure of the combined soil and plant evaporation, ‘evapotranspiration’ (E_LE) of the site. Aggregation over 3 years of the site measured rain (1136 mm) and the estimated evaporation (794 mm) suggests that 342 mm or 30% of rain had moved into or past the root zone of the vegetation. Above average rainfall during 2011 and the first quarter of 2012 (633 mm, 15 months) would likely have been the period during which significant groundwater recharge occurred. At times immediately after rainfall, E_LE rates were the same or exceeded estimates of potential E calculated from a suitably parameterized Penman–Monteith (E_PMo) equation. Apparent free water E from plant interception and soil evaporation was about 2.3 mm and lasted for 1.3 days following rainfall in summer, while in autumn, E was 5.1 mm that lasted over 5.4 days. The leaf area index (LAI) needed to adjust a wind function calibrated Penman equation (E_PMe) to match the E_LE values could be back calculated to generate seasonal change in LAI from 0.12 to 0.46 and compared well with normalized difference vegetation index; r = 0.38 and p = 0.0213* and LAI calculated from digital cover photography. The apparently conservative response of perennial vegetation evaporation to available water in these semi‐arid environments reinforces the conclusion that these ecosystems use this mechanism to survive the reasonably common dry periods. Plant response to soil water availability is primarily through gradual changes in leaf area. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A comparison between simulated and measured CO2 and water flux in a subtropical coniferous forest

Using data from eddy covariance measurements in a subtropical coniferous forest, a test and evaluation have been made for the model of Carbon Exchange in the Vegetation-Soil-Atmosphere (CEVSA) that simulates energy transfers and water, carbon and nitrogen cycles based on ecophysiological processes. In the present study, improvement was made in the model in calculating LAI, carbon allocation among plant organs, litter fall, decomposition and evapotranspiration. The simulated seasonal variations in carbon and water vapor flux were consistent with the measurements. The model explained 90% and 86% of the measured variations in evapotranspiration and soil water content. However, the modeled evapotranspiration and soil water content were lower than the measured systematically, because the model assumed that water was lost as runoff if it was beyond the soil saturation water content, but the soil at the flux site with abundant rainfall is often above water saturated. The improved model reproduced 79% and 88% of the measured variations in gross primary production (GPP) and ecosystem respiration (R _e), but only 31% of the variations in measured net ecosystem exchange (NEP) despite the fact that the modeled annual NEP was close to the observation. The modeled NEP was generally lower in winter and higher in summer than the observations. The simulated responses of photosynthesis and respiration to water vapor deficit at high temperatures were different from measurements. The results suggested that the improved model underestimated ecosystem photosynthesis and respiration in extremely condition. The present study shows that CEVSA can simulate the seasonal pattern and magnitude of CO₂ and water vapor fluxes, but further improvement in simulating photosynthesis and respiration at extreme temperatures and water deficit is required.

     

Ecosystem water use efficiency in an irrigated cropland in the North China Plain

The eddy covariance technique and the cuvette method were used to investigate water use efficiency in an irrigated winter wheat (Triticum asetivum L.)/summer maize (Zea mays L.) rotation system in the North China Plain. The results show that ecosystem water use efficiency (WUE_e) changed diurnally and seasonally. Daily maximal WUE_e appeared in the morning. WUE_e generally peaked in late April in wheat field and in late July/early August in maize field. From 2003 to 2006, seasonal mean WUE_e was 6.7–7.4 mg CO₂ g⁻¹ H₂O for wheat and 8.4–12.1 mg CO₂ g⁻¹ H₂O for maize. WUE_e was much lower than canopy water use efficiency (WUE_c) under small leaf area index (LAI) but very close to WUE_c under large LAI. With the increase in LAI, WUE_e enlarged rapidly under low LAI but slowly when LAI was higher than one. WUE_e was greater on the cloudy days than on the sunny days. Under the same solar radiation, WUE_e was higher in the morning than in the afternoon. The ratio of internal to ambient CO₂ partial pressure (C_i/C_a) decreased significantly with the increase in photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) when PAR was lower than the critical values (around 500 and 1000 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ for wheat and maize, respectively). Beyond critical PAR, C_i/C_a was approximately constant at 0.69 for wheat and 0.42 for maize. Therefore, when LAI and solar radiation was large enough, WUE_e has negative correlation with vapor pressure deficit in both of irrigated wheat and maize fields.     

Soil NO3− storage from oasis development in deserts: Implications for the prevention and control of groundwater pollution

The sources and storage of soil NO₃⁻ in the western Tengger Desert, Northwest China, were explored using water chemistry analysis and stable isotope techniques. In line with the expansion and development of oases, part of the desert has been transformed into cultivated land and artificial forest land. The mean soil NO₃⁻ contents found in areas of cultivated land and artificial forest were 123.06 mg kg⁻¹ and 1.26 mg kg⁻¹, far higher and slightly lower than the background desert soil values, respectively. The δ¹⁵N-NO₃⁻ and δ¹⁸O-NO₃⁻ values in cultivated soils ranged from 1.00 to 11.81 ‰, and from −1.85 to 8.99 ‰, respectively, and the mean mNO₃⁻/Cl⁻ value in cultivated soils was 2.3. These figures would appear to demonstrate that the rapid increase in the nitrate content in soils is principally due to the use of nitrogen fertilizer. Such increases in soil NO₃⁻ storage is likely to promote the leaching of nitrogen into the groundwater where coarsely textured soils exist, the pollution of water sources used for irrigation water, and extreme precipitation events. The δ¹⁵N-NO₃⁻ and δ¹⁸O-NO₃⁻ values in groundwater ranged from 3.72 to 6.54 ‰, and from −0.19 to 12.06 ‰, respectively, mainly reflecting the nitrification of soil nitrogen. These values appeared similar to those measured in the soil water in adjacent areas of cultivated land and vegetated desert, indicating that the groundwater has been affected by both natural and artificial NO₃⁻. Artificial afforestation of desert regions would therefore seem to be a useful way of reducing the threat posed by anthropogenic sources to the circulation of NO₃⁻-N within arid regions, as well as promoting wind sheltering and sand fixation. This study explored the NO₃⁻ storage and groundwater quality responses to oasis development in arid areas in an attempt to provide effective information for local agricultural organizations and agricultural nitrogen management models.     

Effect of water stress on ecosystem photosynthesis and respiration of a <Emphasis Type="Italic">Leymus chinensis</Emphasis> steppe in Inner Mongolia

Many studies on global climate have forecast major changes in the amounts and spatial patterns of precipitation that may significantly affect temperate grasslands in arid and semi-arid regions. As a part of ChinaFLUX, eddy covariance flux measurements were made at a semi-arid Leymus chinensis steppe in Inner Mongolia, China during 2003–2004 to quantify the response of carbon exchange to environmental changes. Results showed that gross ecosystem production (F _GEP) and ecosystem respiration (R _eco) of the steppe were significantly depressed by water stress due to lack of precipitation during the growing season. Temperature was the dominant factor affecting F _GEP and R _eco in 2003, whereas soil moisture imposed a significant influence on both R _eco and F _GEP in 2004. Under wet conditions, R _eco showed an exponentially increasing trend with temperature (Q ₁₀ = 2.0), but an apparent reduction in the value of R _eco and its temperature sensitivity were observed during the periods of water stress (Q ₁₀=1.6). Both heat and water stress can cause decrease in F _GEP. The seasonality of ecosystem carbon exchange was strongly correlated with the variation of precipitation. With less precipitation in 2003, the steppe sequestrated carbon in June and July, and went into a senescence in early August due to water stress. As compared to 2003, the severe drought during the spring of 2004 delayed the growth of the steppe until late June, and the steppe became a CO₂ sink from early July until mid-September, with ample precipitation in August. The semi-arid steppe released a total of 9.7 g C·m^?2 from May 16 to the end of September 2003, whereas the net carbon budget during the same period in 2004 was close to zero. Long-term measurements over various grasslands are needed to quantify carbon balance in temperate grasslands.     

Assessment of reference evapotranspiration across an arid urban environment having poor data monitoring system

Estimation of reference evapotranspiration (ET₀) in urban areas is challenging but essential in arid urban climates. To evaluate ET₀ in an urban environment and non-urban areas, air temperature and relative humidity were measured at five different sites across the arid city of Isfahan, Iran, over 4 years. Wind speed and sunshine hours were obtained from an urban surrounding weather station over the same period and used to estimate ET₀. Calculated ET₀ was compared with satellite-based ET₀ retrieved from the MOD16A2 PET product. Although MODIS PET was strongly correlated with the Valiantzas equation, it overestimated ET₀ and showed average accuracy (r = 0.93–0.94, RMSE = 1.18–1.28 mm/day, MBE = 0.73–0.84 mm/day). The highest ET₀ differences between an urban green space and a non-urban area were 1.1 and 0.87 mm/day, which were estimated by ground measurements and MODIS PET, respectively. The sensitivity of ET₀ to wind speed and sunshine hours indicated a significant effect on cumulative ET₀ at urban sites compared to the non-urban site, which has a considerable impact on the amount of irrigation required in those areas. Although MODIS PET requires improvement to accurately reflect field level microclimate conditions affecting ET₀, it is beneficial to hydrological applications and water resource managers especially in areas where data is limited. In addition, our results indicated that using limited data methods or meteorological data from regional weather stations, leads to incorrect estimation of ET₀ in urban areas. Therefore, decision-makers and urban planners should consider the importance of precisely estimating ET₀ to optimize management of urban green space irrigation, especially in arid and semi-arid climates such as the city of Isfahan.     

A comparative overview of weathering intensity and HCO3 flux in the world's major rivers with emphasis on the Changjiang,Huanghe, Zhujiang (Pearl) and Mississippi Rivers

In this paper, general relationships of riverine bicarbonate concentrations and fluxes as a function of drainage basin mineral content and runoff are examined using a database of the 25 largest rivers in the world. Specific HCO₃⁻ flux normalized to unit basin area, which peaks in the mid latitudes, was found to be strongly correlated with the carbonate mineral content of river basins, while river HCO₃⁻ concentration was related to the balance of precipitation and evaporation. Within this global context, the weathering patterns of CO₂ in a few large rivers (Changjiang, Huanghe, Pearl, and Mississippi rivers) were examined in further detail. The Zhujiang (Pearl River), especially its largest branch (Xijiang), was characterized by the highest specific weathering rate among all the world's large rivers due to an exceptionally high carbonate mineral content (over 80%) in its drainage basin and its warm and wet environment. It has a moderate level of HCO₃⁻ concentration, however, due to dilution by relatively high precipitation in the watershed. In stark contrast, the Huanghe (Yellow River) has one of the lowest specific weathering rates because of low carbonate mineral content and a dry climate. However, it has a high HCO₃⁻ concentration due largely to the concentrating effects of high evaporative water loss, as a result of arid weather and the agricultural use of water through irrigation systems, as well as carbonate-containing surficial deposits (i.e., loess). The strong correlation between specific HCO₃⁻ fluxes and discharge in all four rivers with different discharge seasonality suggests that higher precipitation in drainage basins promotes higher weathering rates.