Vapor pressure deficit (VPD) downscaling based on multi-source remote sensing, in-situ observation, and machine learning in China

Study region: China. Study focus: This research aims to address the limitations of existing VPD reanalysis data, which are characterized by coarse spatial resolution and insufficient accuracy validation. Using ERA5-Land, TerraClimate, GLDAS time series data, and additional predictors such as vegetat...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mi Wang, Zhuowei Hu, Xiangping Liu, Wenxing Hou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-02-01
Series:Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581825000163
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832591788778455040
author Mi Wang
Zhuowei Hu
Xiangping Liu
Wenxing Hou
author_facet Mi Wang
Zhuowei Hu
Xiangping Liu
Wenxing Hou
author_sort Mi Wang
collection DOAJ
description Study region: China. Study focus: This research aims to address the limitations of existing VPD reanalysis data, which are characterized by coarse spatial resolution and insufficient accuracy validation. Using ERA5-Land, TerraClimate, GLDAS time series data, and additional predictors such as vegetation indices, land cover types, terrain, and surface temperature, the study developed a random forest (RF) model to estimate VPD (named RF-VPD). Two independent experiments, station-to-station and year-to-year, were conducted to evaluate the models accuracy against in-situ data. New hydrological insights for the region: Machine learning-based downscaling methods offer a potential solution to enhance the accuracy of VPD spatiotemporal distribution. In this study, we utilized ERA5-Land, TerraClimate, and GLDAS time series, vegetation indices, land cover types, terrain, and surface temperature data as predictors to estimate VPD using three machine learning models, named RF-VPD. VPD station data were computed based on meteorological data from 2481 meteorological stations in China, and two independent experiments (station-to-station and year-to-year) were employed to evaluate the estimation accuracy of RF-VPD using this data as a reference. Additionally, the station-to-station statistics of the VPD reanalysis data and the consistency between the RF-VPD and in-situ VPD data were examined. Overall, the random forest model performed the best in predicting VPD (R²=0.98, NSE=0.98, MAE=0.04, RMSE=0.06, RSR=0.13, and KGE=0.98). The high accuracy demonstrated in year-to-year and station-to-station experiments, coupled with the strong consistency between RF-VPD data and in-situ observations, underscores the robustness and applicability of RF-VPD models in capturing spatiotemporal patterns. Furthermore, our study demonstrates the dynamic impact of hydrothermal transfer processes and meteorological factors on RF-VPD products. The high-resolution RF-VPD product derived from this method has significant potential for practical applications, including drought monitoring, agricultural productivity assessments, fire risk evaluations, and water resource management. Furthermore, the developed RF-VPD model can be a valuable complement to existing VPD datasets, offering higher accuracy and resolution. By improving the prediction of VPD dynamics, this research provides important tools for climate change adaptation, ecosystem monitoring, and sustainable resource management.
format Article
id doaj-art-b034d24887124206a778638294847040
institution Kabale University
issn 2214-5818
language English
publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies
spelling doaj-art-b034d24887124206a7786382948470402025-01-22T05:42:23ZengElsevierJournal of Hydrology: Regional Studies2214-58182025-02-0157102192Vapor pressure deficit (VPD) downscaling based on multi-source remote sensing, in-situ observation, and machine learning in ChinaMi Wang0Zhuowei Hu1Xiangping Liu2Wenxing Hou3College of Resources Environment and Tourism, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, ChinaCorresponding author.; College of Resources Environment and Tourism, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, ChinaCollege of Resources Environment and Tourism, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, ChinaCollege of Resources Environment and Tourism, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, ChinaStudy region: China. Study focus: This research aims to address the limitations of existing VPD reanalysis data, which are characterized by coarse spatial resolution and insufficient accuracy validation. Using ERA5-Land, TerraClimate, GLDAS time series data, and additional predictors such as vegetation indices, land cover types, terrain, and surface temperature, the study developed a random forest (RF) model to estimate VPD (named RF-VPD). Two independent experiments, station-to-station and year-to-year, were conducted to evaluate the models accuracy against in-situ data. New hydrological insights for the region: Machine learning-based downscaling methods offer a potential solution to enhance the accuracy of VPD spatiotemporal distribution. In this study, we utilized ERA5-Land, TerraClimate, and GLDAS time series, vegetation indices, land cover types, terrain, and surface temperature data as predictors to estimate VPD using three machine learning models, named RF-VPD. VPD station data were computed based on meteorological data from 2481 meteorological stations in China, and two independent experiments (station-to-station and year-to-year) were employed to evaluate the estimation accuracy of RF-VPD using this data as a reference. Additionally, the station-to-station statistics of the VPD reanalysis data and the consistency between the RF-VPD and in-situ VPD data were examined. Overall, the random forest model performed the best in predicting VPD (R²=0.98, NSE=0.98, MAE=0.04, RMSE=0.06, RSR=0.13, and KGE=0.98). The high accuracy demonstrated in year-to-year and station-to-station experiments, coupled with the strong consistency between RF-VPD data and in-situ observations, underscores the robustness and applicability of RF-VPD models in capturing spatiotemporal patterns. Furthermore, our study demonstrates the dynamic impact of hydrothermal transfer processes and meteorological factors on RF-VPD products. The high-resolution RF-VPD product derived from this method has significant potential for practical applications, including drought monitoring, agricultural productivity assessments, fire risk evaluations, and water resource management. Furthermore, the developed RF-VPD model can be a valuable complement to existing VPD datasets, offering higher accuracy and resolution. By improving the prediction of VPD dynamics, this research provides important tools for climate change adaptation, ecosystem monitoring, and sustainable resource management.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581825000163Random forest modelDownscalingMulti-source remote sensing dataVPD
spellingShingle Mi Wang
Zhuowei Hu
Xiangping Liu
Wenxing Hou
Vapor pressure deficit (VPD) downscaling based on multi-source remote sensing, in-situ observation, and machine learning in China
Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies
Random forest model
Downscaling
Multi-source remote sensing data
VPD
title Vapor pressure deficit (VPD) downscaling based on multi-source remote sensing, in-situ observation, and machine learning in China
title_full Vapor pressure deficit (VPD) downscaling based on multi-source remote sensing, in-situ observation, and machine learning in China
title_fullStr Vapor pressure deficit (VPD) downscaling based on multi-source remote sensing, in-situ observation, and machine learning in China
title_full_unstemmed Vapor pressure deficit (VPD) downscaling based on multi-source remote sensing, in-situ observation, and machine learning in China
title_short Vapor pressure deficit (VPD) downscaling based on multi-source remote sensing, in-situ observation, and machine learning in China
title_sort vapor pressure deficit vpd downscaling based on multi source remote sensing in situ observation and machine learning in china
topic Random forest model
Downscaling
Multi-source remote sensing data
VPD
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581825000163
work_keys_str_mv AT miwang vaporpressuredeficitvpddownscalingbasedonmultisourceremotesensinginsituobservationandmachinelearninginchina
AT zhuoweihu vaporpressuredeficitvpddownscalingbasedonmultisourceremotesensinginsituobservationandmachinelearninginchina
AT xiangpingliu vaporpressuredeficitvpddownscalingbasedonmultisourceremotesensinginsituobservationandmachinelearninginchina
AT wenxinghou vaporpressuredeficitvpddownscalingbasedonmultisourceremotesensinginsituobservationandmachinelearninginchina