Modeled effects of climate change on actual evapotranspiration in different eco-geographical regions in the Tibetan Plateau

• Published in: Journal of geographical sciences Vol. 23; no. 2; pp. 195 - 207
• Main Authors: Yin, Yunhe, Wu, Shaohong, Zhao, Dongsheng, Zheng, Du, Pan, Tao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg SP Science Press 01.04.2013; Springer Nature B.V; Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS, Beijing 100101, China
• Subjects: Asia; Atmospheric water; Bgi / Prodig; China; Climate change; Climate effects; Earth and Environmental Science; Evapotranspiration; Geographical Information Systems/Cartography; Geography; Nature Conservation; Physical Geography; Precipitation; Remote Sensing/Photogrammetry; Water balance; Water demand; 实际蒸散量; 模拟; 气候变化; 气象观测站; 潜在蒸散量; 生态地理区域; 蒸散发; 青藏高原; Tibet; China; Tibetan Plateau; China, People's Rep., Xizang, Tibetan Plateau; Tibetan Plateau; evapotranspiration; LPJ model; climate change; Impact; Plateau; Precipitation; Spatial distribution; Climatic change; Evapotranspiration; Water budget; Model; Ecogeography
• ISSN: 1009-637X; 1861-9568
• DOI: 10.1007/s11442-013-1003-0

From 1981 to 2010, the effects of climate change on evapotranspiration of the alpine ecosystem and the regional difference of effects in the Tibetan Plateau （TP） were studied based on the Lund-Potsdam-Jena dynamic vegetation model and data from 80 meteorological stations. Changes in actual evapotranspiration （AET） and water balance in TP were analyzed. Over the last 30 years, climate change in TP was characterized by significantly increased temperature, slightly increased precipitation, and decreased potential evapotranspiration （PET）, which was significant before 2000. AET exhibited increasing trends in most parts of TP. The difference between precipitation and AET decreased in the southeastern plateau and increased in the northwestern plateau. A decrease in atmospheric water demand will lead to a decreased trend in AET. However, AET in most regions increased because of increased precipitation. Increased precipitation was observed in 86% of the areas with increased AET, whereas decreased precipitation was observed in 73% of the areas with decreased AET.