Evaluating the Effects of Climate Change and Human Activities on the Seasonal Trends and Spatial Heterogeneity of Soil Moisture

Abstract

Soil moisture (SM), as a crucial variable in the soil–vegetation–atmosphere continuum, plays an important role in the terrestrial water cycle. Analyzing SM’s variation and driver factors is crucial to maintaining ecosystem diversity on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) and ensuring food security as well as water supply balance in developing countries. Gradual wetting of the soil has been detected and attributed to precipitation in this area. However, there is still a gap in understanding the potential mechanisms. It is unclear whether the greening, glacier melting, and different vegetation degradation caused by asymmetrical climate change and intensified human activities have significantly affected the balance of SM. Here, to test the hypothesis that heterogeneous SM caused by precipitation was subject to temperatures and anthropogenic constraints, GLDAS-2.1 (Global Land Data Assimilation System-2.1) SM products combined with the statistical downscaling and Geographic detectors were applied. The results revealed that: (1) Seasonal SM gradually increased (p 3/(m3 10a), respectively. Our research provides a scientific basis for improving hydrological models and developing vegetation restoration strategies for long-term adaptation to TP-changing environments.

Keywords

• GLDAS-2.1 SM products
• statistical downscaling
• geographic detectors
• climate change
• human activities
• the Tibetan Plateau