Effects of increasing aerosol optical depth on the gross primary productivity in China during 2000–2014. (January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Jing; Ding, Juhua; Zhang, Jiang; Yuan, Minshu; Li, Peng; Xiao, Zhongyong; Peng, Changhui; Chen, Huai; Wang, Meng; Zhu, Qiuan
• Is Part Of: Ecological indicators. Volume 108(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-01
• Subjects: MODIS -- Air pollution -- Solar radiation -- Diffuse radiation -- Diffuse fraction -- Canopy architecture; Environmental monitoring -- Periodicals; Environmental management -- Periodicals; Environmental impact analysis -- Periodicals; Environmental risk assessment -- Periodicals; Sustainable development -- Periodicals; 333.71405
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2019.105761
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1470-160X

Abstract

Highlights: The aerosol optical depth has increased in urbanized and industrialized areas of China. The increased AOD enhanced diffuse radiation which has positive impacts on the GPP of forests. The diffuse radiative effects are stronger in forests with complex canopy structure than in grasslands. Abstract: The aerosol optical depth (AOD) has been shown to influence the gross primary productivity (GPP) in terrestrial ecosystems by increasing the diffuse fraction, which could expend radiation scattering and improve the light-use efficiency of shade leaves. Previous studies have suggested that variations in aerosols are the main cause of changes in solar radiation over China. In this study, we analyzed the spatial and temporal trends of the AOD and GPP, which were extracted from Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) products and radiation (total solar radiation and diffuse radiation) and diffuse fraction data obtained from meteorological stations in China from 2000 to 2014. The correlations among these variables were investigated according to three vegetation types. The results showed that the AOD increased by approximately 11.4% between 2001 and 2014. The diffuse radiation and GPP increased by 6.7% and 8.9% in the same period, respectively. The spatial patterns of the AOD were found to be similar to that of the diffuse radiation over China. The results showed a significantly positive correlation between the AOD and GPP for forests (p < 0.05, r = 0.572), but a negative effect of the AOD on the GPP for grasslands. The results could be attributed to the complex and closed canopy architecture of forests relative to grasslands, and the different responses of the canopy structures of forests and grasslands to the changes of diffuse radiation.