Declining Snow Resources Since 2000 in Arid Northwest China Based on Integrated Remote Sensing Indicators
Snow cover variations significantly affect the stability of regional water supply and terrestrial ecosystems in arid northwest China. This study comprehensively evaluates snow resource changes since 2000 by integrating multisource remote sensing datasets and analyzing four key indicators: snow cover...
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Remote Sensing |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/10/1697 |
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| author | Siyu Bai Wei Zhang An’an Chen Luyuan Jiang Xuejiao Wu Yixue Huo |
| author_facet | Siyu Bai Wei Zhang An’an Chen Luyuan Jiang Xuejiao Wu Yixue Huo |
| author_sort | Siyu Bai |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Snow cover variations significantly affect the stability of regional water supply and terrestrial ecosystems in arid northwest China. This study comprehensively evaluates snow resource changes since 2000 by integrating multisource remote sensing datasets and analyzing four key indicators: snow cover area (SCA), snow phenology (SP), snow depth (SD), and snow water equivalent (SWE). The results reveal a slight downtrend in SCA over the past two decades, with an annual decline rate of 7.13 × 10<sup>3</sup> km<sup>2</sup>. The maximum SCA (1.28 × 10<sup>6</sup> km<sup>2</sup>) occurred in 2010, while the minimum (7.25 × 10<sup>5</sup> km<sup>2</sup>) was recorded in 2014. Spatially, SCA peaked in December in the north and January in the south, with high-altitude subregions (Ili River Basin (IRB), Tarim River Region (TRR), North Kunlun Mountains (NKM), and Qaidam Basin (QDB)) maintaining stable summer snow cover due to low temperatures and high precipitation. Analysis of snow phenology indicates a significant shortening of snow cover duration (SCD), with 62.40% of the study area showing a declining trend, primarily driven by earlier snowmelt. Both SD and SWE exhibited widespread declines, affecting 75.09% and 84.85% of the study area, respectively. The most pronounced SD reductions occurred in TRR (94.44%), while SWE losses were particularly severe in North Tianshan Mountains (NTM, 94.61%). The total snow mass in northwest China was estimated at 108.95 million tons, with northern Xinjiang accounting for 66.24 million tons (60.8%), followed by southern Xinjiang (37.44 million tons) and the Hexi Inland Region (5.27 million tons). Consistency analysis revealed coherent declines across all indicators in 55.56% of the study area. Significant SD and SCD reductions occurred in TRR and Tuha Basin (THB), while SWE declines were widespread in NTM and IRB, driven by rising temperatures and decreased snowfall. The findings underscore the urgent need for adaptive strategies to address emerging challenges for water security and ecological stability in the region. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a90ec7f7babc4ec9b957e8b14555fd71 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2072-4292 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
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| series | Remote Sensing |
| spelling | doaj-art-a90ec7f7babc4ec9b957e8b14555fd712025-08-20T02:34:01ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922025-05-011710169710.3390/rs17101697Declining Snow Resources Since 2000 in Arid Northwest China Based on Integrated Remote Sensing IndicatorsSiyu Bai0Wei Zhang1An’an Chen2Luyuan Jiang3Xuejiao Wu4Yixue Huo5Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Earth Surface System and Environmental Carrying Capacity, Xi’an 710127, ChinaKoktokay Snow Station, Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science and Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, ChinaShaanxi Key Laboratory of Earth Surface System and Environmental Carrying Capacity, Xi’an 710127, ChinaThe First Topographic Surveying Brigade of Ministry of Natural Resource of P.R.C., Xi’an 710054, ChinaShaanxi Key Laboratory of Earth Surface System and Environmental Carrying Capacity, Xi’an 710127, ChinaShaanxi Key Laboratory of Earth Surface System and Environmental Carrying Capacity, Xi’an 710127, ChinaSnow cover variations significantly affect the stability of regional water supply and terrestrial ecosystems in arid northwest China. This study comprehensively evaluates snow resource changes since 2000 by integrating multisource remote sensing datasets and analyzing four key indicators: snow cover area (SCA), snow phenology (SP), snow depth (SD), and snow water equivalent (SWE). The results reveal a slight downtrend in SCA over the past two decades, with an annual decline rate of 7.13 × 10<sup>3</sup> km<sup>2</sup>. The maximum SCA (1.28 × 10<sup>6</sup> km<sup>2</sup>) occurred in 2010, while the minimum (7.25 × 10<sup>5</sup> km<sup>2</sup>) was recorded in 2014. Spatially, SCA peaked in December in the north and January in the south, with high-altitude subregions (Ili River Basin (IRB), Tarim River Region (TRR), North Kunlun Mountains (NKM), and Qaidam Basin (QDB)) maintaining stable summer snow cover due to low temperatures and high precipitation. Analysis of snow phenology indicates a significant shortening of snow cover duration (SCD), with 62.40% of the study area showing a declining trend, primarily driven by earlier snowmelt. Both SD and SWE exhibited widespread declines, affecting 75.09% and 84.85% of the study area, respectively. The most pronounced SD reductions occurred in TRR (94.44%), while SWE losses were particularly severe in North Tianshan Mountains (NTM, 94.61%). The total snow mass in northwest China was estimated at 108.95 million tons, with northern Xinjiang accounting for 66.24 million tons (60.8%), followed by southern Xinjiang (37.44 million tons) and the Hexi Inland Region (5.27 million tons). Consistency analysis revealed coherent declines across all indicators in 55.56% of the study area. Significant SD and SCD reductions occurred in TRR and Tuha Basin (THB), while SWE declines were widespread in NTM and IRB, driven by rising temperatures and decreased snowfall. The findings underscore the urgent need for adaptive strategies to address emerging challenges for water security and ecological stability in the region.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/10/1697arid northwest Chinasnow covermulti-indicator evaluationmultisource remote sensing |
| spellingShingle | Siyu Bai Wei Zhang An’an Chen Luyuan Jiang Xuejiao Wu Yixue Huo Declining Snow Resources Since 2000 in Arid Northwest China Based on Integrated Remote Sensing Indicators Remote Sensing arid northwest China snow cover multi-indicator evaluation multisource remote sensing |
| title | Declining Snow Resources Since 2000 in Arid Northwest China Based on Integrated Remote Sensing Indicators |
| title_full | Declining Snow Resources Since 2000 in Arid Northwest China Based on Integrated Remote Sensing Indicators |
| title_fullStr | Declining Snow Resources Since 2000 in Arid Northwest China Based on Integrated Remote Sensing Indicators |
| title_full_unstemmed | Declining Snow Resources Since 2000 in Arid Northwest China Based on Integrated Remote Sensing Indicators |
| title_short | Declining Snow Resources Since 2000 in Arid Northwest China Based on Integrated Remote Sensing Indicators |
| title_sort | declining snow resources since 2000 in arid northwest china based on integrated remote sensing indicators |
| topic | arid northwest China snow cover multi-indicator evaluation multisource remote sensing |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/10/1697 |
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