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Human activities rather than climate change dominate the growth of carbon fluxes in the Hexi Corridor oasis area, China

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Abstract

Carbon fluxes are essential indicators assessing vegetation carbon cycle functions. However, the extent and mechanisms by which climate change and human activities influence the spatiotemporal dynamics of carbon fluxes in arid oasis and non-oasis area remains unclear. Here, we assessed and predicted the future effects of climate change and human activities on carbon fluxes in the Hexi Corridor. The results showed that the annual average gross primary productivity (GPP), net ecosystem productivity (NEP), and ecosystem respiration (Reco) in the Hexi Corridor oasis increased by 263.91 g C·m−2·yr−1, 118.45 g C·m−2·yr−1 and 122.46 g C·m−2·yr−1, respectively, due to the expansion of the oasis area by 3424.84 km2 caused by human activities from 2000 to 2022. Both oasis and non-oasis arid ecosystems in the Hexi Corridor acted as carbon sinks. Compared to the non-oasis area, the carbon fluxes contributions of oasis area increased, ranging from 10.21% to 13.99% for GPP, 8.50% to 11.68% for NEP, and 13.34% to 17.13% for Reco. The contribution of the carbon flux from the oasis expansion area to the total carbon flux change in the Hexi Corridor was 30.96% (7.09 Tg C yr−1) for GPP, 29.57% (3.39 Tg C yr−1) for NEP and 32.40% (3.58 Tg C yr−1) for Reco. The changes in carbon fluxes in the oasis area were mainly attributed to human activities (oasis expansion) and temperature, whereas non-oasis area was mainly due to climate factors. Moreover, the future increasing trends were observed for GPP (64.99%), NEP (66.29%) and Reco (82.08%) in the Hexi Corridor. This study provides new insights into the regulatory mechanisms of carbon cycle in the arid oasis and non-oasis area.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science and Frozen Soil Engineering, Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing of Gansu Province, Heihe Remote Sensing Experimental Research Station, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, CAS, Lanzhou, 730000, China

    Xuqiang Zhou, Xufeng Wang, Zhiguo Ren, Yang Zhang & Junlei Tan

  2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Xuqiang Zhou

  3. Department of Geography, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan

    Zain Nawaz

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  1. Xuqiang Zhou
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  2. Xufeng Wang
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  3. Zhiguo Ren
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  5. Junlei Tan
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Correspondence to Xufeng Wang.

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Foundation: The Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholars of Gansu Province, No.22JR5RA046; Key Research Program of Gansu Province, No.23ZDKA0004; The Joint Funds of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No.U22A202690; Interdisciplinary Youth Team Project from the Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science and Frozen Soil Engineering, No.CSFSE-ZQ-2408; The Youth Innovation Promotion Association CAS to X.W., No.2020422

Author: Zhou Xuqiang (1995–), PhD Candidate, specialized in carbon flux simulation.

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Zhou, X., Wang, X., Ren, Z. et al. Human activities rather than climate change dominate the growth of carbon fluxes in the Hexi Corridor oasis area, China. J. Geogr. Sci. 35, 252–272 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-025-2321-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-025-2321-8

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