Ecological Indicators (Dec 2022)
Characterizing the climate-phenology-hydrology associations in a subtropical forested watershed, central Taiwan
Abstract
Upstream forested watersheds supply critical ecosystem services through providing clean freshwater and maintaining stable hydrological conditions. Responses of vegetation phenology to climatic variations have vital implications for hydrological regimes that are region-specific, but the associations of climate-phenology-hydrology have rarely been examined especially in tropical/subtropical regions. In this study, we utilized 46-year (1975–2020) hydroclimate records in forested watershed at central Taiwan, and showed that precipitation and streamflow anomalies and incidences of meteorological and hydrological droughts are becoming prominent after 2001. We further investigated the effects of monthly temperature and precipitation on vegetation growth using monthly EVI (enhanced vegetation index) of a watershed derived from MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer), and explored the effects of seasonal precipitation on the variations of vegetation phenological and subsequent watershed streamflow between 2001 and 2020. The EVI and temperature showed a linear relationship without time-lag effect (R2 = 0.50, p < 0.001), whereas EVI and precipitation exhibited a log-linear relationship with 2-month lag (R2 = 0.40, p < 0.001), indicating the accumulation of rainfall during relatively dry period was crucial for vegetation growth. Structural equation modeling revealed that earlier start of growing season (SOS) caused by relatively high spring rainfall (February-March) led to longer growing season (LOS) and higher P-Q deficit (precipitation minus runoff) during the growing season. Nevertheless, the large amount of precipitation during growing season has no effect on the end of growing season (EOS), LOS and P-Q deficit. Neither EOS has influence on LOS and P-Q deficit. Understanding the vegetation responses to climatic variations is required for future hydrologic regime projections, especially under changing climate.
