Objective This study aims to analyze hydrological cycle patterns under different climatic and vegetation conditions and evaluate vegetation water carrying capacity in arid and semi-arid regions using an ecohydrological model. Methods Eagleson′s ecohydrological model was applied to analyze vegetation water carrying capacity and growing-season water budget under different climatic zones and land use types in the study area. Results 1) Eagleson′s model showed good applicability in simulating vegetation water carrying capacity in the study area, with a coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.85. 2) Current vegetation coverage and vegetation water carrying capacity showed obvious regional differences. Fractional vegetation coverages (FVC) values in five core ecological functional zones-water conservation and management area in the Bashang Plateau and hilly mountainous area of northern North China, desertification control area in the Ordos Plateau, desertification control area in the Hunshandake-Horqin sandy land, degraded desert grassland control area in the Ulanqab Plateau, and degraded grassland control area in the Xilin Gol Plateau-Ujimqin Basin-were 0.54, 0.28, 0.36, 0.20, and 0.31, respectively. 3) In the water conservation and management area of the Bashang Plateau and hilly mountainous areas of northern North China, 49.83% of the land area still has potential for increased FVC, whereas the degraded grassland control area in the Xilin Gol Plateau-Ujimqin Basin, vegetation in 82.04% of the land area has reached the upper limit of water carrying capacity. Across the entire region, vegetation interception and transpiration during the growing season accounted for nearly 90% of precipitation, whereas bare-soil evaporation accounted for less than 10%. Vegetation transpiration increased with increasing FVC. Water budget patterns differed markedly among different vegetation types. Conclusion Eagleson′s model shows good performance and can be used to predict vegetation water carrying capacity in arid and semi-arid regions. Vegetation water carrying capacity shows obvious spatial differentiation, and the potential for increasing FVC varies significantly among regions. Shrublands and grasslands show better climatic adaptability in vegetation-hydrology coupling. Climatic differentiation is the fundamental factor driving spatial differentiation of vegetation-hydrology coupling effects. The results provide theoretical reference and data support for determining FVC in ecological restoration.
利用Python编程环境及CDO(climate data operators)工具集对ERA5数据进行处理,提取生长季总降水量、生长季暴雨次数、单次暴雨强度、降水持续时间、降水间隔时间、裸土潜在蒸发率等关键气象因子。生长季为连续5 d日平均气温>5 ℃的日期。模型模拟非生长季降水、融雪和蒸发等水分循环过程得出,非生长季降水对次年生长季初始土壤含水量的补充。
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