Identifying Determinants of Spatiotemporal Disparities in Ecological Quality of Mongolian Plateau

Zhengtong Wang; Yongze Song; Zehua Zhang; Gang Lin; Peng Luo; Xueyuan Zhang; Zhengyuan Chai

doi:10.3390/rs16183385

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Identifying Determinants of Spatiotemporal Disparities in Ecological Quality of Mongolian Plateau

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Identifying Determinants of Spatiotemporal Disparities in Ecological Quality of Mongolian Plateau

Zhengtong Wang, Yongze Song, Zehua Zhang, Gang Lin, Peng Luo, Xueyuan Zhang and Zhengyuan Chai

Remote sensing (Basel, Switzerland), Vol.16(18), p.3385

09/01/2024

DOI: 10.3390/rs16183385

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Abstract

Vegetation quality is crucial for maintaining ecological health, and remote sensing techniques offer precise assessments of vegetation's environmental quality. Although existing indicators and remote sensing approaches provide extensive spatial coverage, challenges remain in effectively integrating diverse indicators for a comprehensive evaluation. This study introduces a comprehensive ecological quality index (EQI) to assess vegetation quality on the Mongolian Plateau from 2001 to 2020 and to identify the determinants of EQI variations over space and time. We developed the EQI using remotely sensed normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data and the net primary productivity (NPP). Our analysis revealed distinct spatial patterns, with high ecological quality concentrated in northern Mongolia and eastern Inner Mongolia. Temporal fluctuations, indicative of ecological shifts, were primarily observed in eastern Mongolia and specific zones of Inner Mongolia. We employed a Geographically Optimal Zones-based Heterogeneity (GOZH) model to analyze the spatial scales and interactions influencing EQI patterns. This study found that precipitation, with an Omega value of 0.770, was the dominant factor affecting the EQI, particularly at spatial scales of 40-50 km. The GOZH model provided deeper insights into the spatial determinants of the EQI compared with previous models, highlighting the importance of climatic variables and their interactions in driving ecological quality. This research enhanced our understanding of vegetation quality dynamics and established a foundation for ecosystem conservation and informed management strategies, emphasizing the critical role of climate, especially precipitation, in shaping ecological landscapes.

Environmental Sciences

Environmental Sciences & Ecology

Geology

Geosciences, Multidisciplinary

Imaging Science & Photographic Technology

Life Sciences & Biomedicine

Physical Sciences

Remote Sensing

Science & Technology

Technology

Details

Title: Subtitle: Identifying Determinants of Spatiotemporal Disparities in Ecological Quality of Mongolian Plateau
Creators: Zhengtong Wang - China University of Geosciences (Beijing)
Yongze Song - Curtin University
Zehua Zhang - Curtin University
Gang Lin - Curtin University
Peng Luo - Technical University of Munich
Xueyuan Zhang - Curtin University
Zhengyuan Chai - Curtin University
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Remote sensing (Basel, Switzerland), Vol.16(18), p.3385
DOI: 10.3390/rs16183385
ISSN: 2072-4292
eISSN: 2072-4292
Publisher: Mdpi
Number of pages: 22
Language: English
Date published: 09/01/2024
Academic Unit: School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability
Record Identifier: 9985219849302771

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