Influence of different geographical factors on carbon sink functions in the Pearl River Delta

Abstract

Abstract This study analyzed carbon fixation across different land use types in the Pearl River Delta to identify the influence of different geographical factors on carbon fixation ability. The methodology was based on interpreting land use data from TM imagery, MODIS13Q1 data, and climate data, using the improved CASA and GeogDetector models. The results show that: (1) From 2000 to 2013, the total carbon sink increased slightly, from 15.58 × 106 t to 17.52 × 106 t, being spatially low at the center and increasing outwards; (2) Proxy variables (topography and landform characteristics), influencing urbanization, significantly affect the carbon sink function of the Pearl River Delta region. The proportion of urban and other construction land showed increasing effect on the regional carbon sink each year. However, the spatial structure of land in the study area changed from complex to simple, with enhanced stability; consequently, the influence of landscape characteristics (landscape dominance and landscape perimeter area fractal dimension) on the regional carbon sink gradually decreased; (3) The influence of the same factors differed with different land use types. Slope and altitude were found to have the greatest influence on the carbon sink of cultivated land, while landscape perimeter area fractal dimension more significantly affected the forest carbon sink.