Satellite-Based Monitoring of Decadal Soil
Salinization and Climate Effects in
a Semi-arid Region of China |
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| Authors: | WANG Hesong and JIA Gensuo |
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| Institution: | Key Laboratory of Regional Climate-Environment Research for East Asia,
Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029;Key Laboratory of Regional Climate-Environment Research for East Asia,
Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029 |
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| Abstract: | Soil salinization is a common phenomenon that affects both the environment
and the socio-economy in arid and semi-arid regions; it is also an important
aspect of land cover change. In this study, we integrated multi-sensor remote
sensing data with a field survey to analyze processes of soil salinization
in a semi-arid area in China from 1979 to 2009. Generally, the area of
salt-affected soils increased by 0.28% per year with remarkable
acceleration from 1999 to 2009 (0.42% increase per year). In contrast,
the area of surface water bodies showed a decreasing trend (-0.08% per
year) in the same period. Decreases in precipitation and increases in
aridity due to annual (especially summer) warming provided a favorable
condition for soil salinization. The relatively flat terrain favored
waterlogging at the surface, and continuous drought facilitated upward
movement of soil water and accumulation of surface saline and calcium.
Meanwhile, land-use practices also played a crucial role in accelerating
soil salinization. The conversion to cropland from natural vegetation
greatly increased the demand for groundwater irrigation and aggravated the
process of soil salinization. Furthermore, there are potential feedbacks of
soil salinization to regional climate. The salinization of soils can limit
the efficiency of plant water use as well as photosynthesis; therefore, it
reduces the amount of carbon sequestrated by terrestrial ecosystem. Soil
salinization also reduces the absorbed solar radiation by increasing land
surface albedo. Such conversions of land cover significantly change the
energy and water balance between land and atmosphere. |
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| Keywords: | soil salinization land cover change remote sensing semi-arid China land--atmosphere interactions |
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