Synergistic effects of vegetation greening and irrigation on summer climate in the Sichuan Basin, China

Study region: Sichuan Basin, Southwestern China Study Focus: Intensive irrigation activity and vegetation greening have occurred in recent decades around the Sichuan Basin. This study investigated their effects and underlying mechanisms on the summer climate using WRF dynamic downscaling simulations...

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Main Authors: Tao Yang, Xi Chen, Rafiq Hamdi, Lanhai Li, Fengqi Cui, Qiang Zou, Congxi Fang, Philippe De Maeyer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-10-01
Series:Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581825004379
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author Tao Yang
Xi Chen
Rafiq Hamdi
Lanhai Li
Fengqi Cui
Qiang Zou
Congxi Fang
Philippe De Maeyer
author_facet Tao Yang
Xi Chen
Rafiq Hamdi
Lanhai Li
Fengqi Cui
Qiang Zou
Congxi Fang
Philippe De Maeyer
author_sort Tao Yang
collection DOAJ
description Study region: Sichuan Basin, Southwestern China Study Focus: Intensive irrigation activity and vegetation greening have occurred in recent decades around the Sichuan Basin. This study investigated their effects and underlying mechanisms on the summer climate using WRF dynamic downscaling simulations from 2001 to 2020, incorporating real-time satellite vegetation data. New hydrogeological insights from the region: Results showed a significant expansion (p < 0.01) of summer Leaf Area Index (3.59 %/decade) and Fractional Vegetation Coverage (0.36 m²/m²/decade). Vegetation greening, irrigation, and their interaction significantly increased (p < 0.01) relative humidity (RH) by 0.460 %, 0.452 %, and 0.912 %, respectively, and produced notable cooling effects (p < 0.01) on daily mean temperature (T2avg) of −0.110°C, −0.085°C, and −0.195°C. Despite increased RH and enhanced moisture flux, no significant change in summer precipitation was simulated. Vegetation greening increased evapotranspiration, producing localized cooling, particularly in the western plains. Irrigation enhanced soil moisture, latent heat, and evapotranspiration (1.640 mm, p < 0.05), which reduced sensible heat and yielded widespread cooling across the basin. Their combined effects led to net cooling in the central basin, while albedo-induced warming was observed around the northern and southwestern edges, particularly in daily maximum temperature (T2max). Increased humidity elevated extreme wet-bulb temperatures in the western plains, whereas extreme Humidex values declined noticeably in the southwestern regions.
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spelling doaj-art-e10b046b3ec04c1d84d90e403451609f2025-08-20T03:51:09ZengElsevierJournal of Hydrology: Regional Studies2214-58182025-10-016110261210.1016/j.ejrh.2025.102612Synergistic effects of vegetation greening and irrigation on summer climate in the Sichuan Basin, ChinaTao Yang0Xi Chen1Rafiq Hamdi2Lanhai Li3Fengqi Cui4Qiang Zou5Congxi Fang6Philippe De Maeyer7Key Laboratory of Mountain Hazards and Surface Process, Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, ChinaCollege of Geoinformatics, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China; Corresponding authors.State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China; Meteorological and Climatological Research Department, Royal Meteorological Institute, Brussels 1180, BelgiumCollege of Geoinformatics, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China; State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering, Shandong Jiaotong University, Jinan 250357, ChinaKey Laboratory of Mountain Hazards and Surface Process, Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China; Corresponding authors.Key Laboratory of Mountain Hazards and Surface Process, Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, ChinaDepartment of Geography, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, BelgiumStudy region: Sichuan Basin, Southwestern China Study Focus: Intensive irrigation activity and vegetation greening have occurred in recent decades around the Sichuan Basin. This study investigated their effects and underlying mechanisms on the summer climate using WRF dynamic downscaling simulations from 2001 to 2020, incorporating real-time satellite vegetation data. New hydrogeological insights from the region: Results showed a significant expansion (p < 0.01) of summer Leaf Area Index (3.59 %/decade) and Fractional Vegetation Coverage (0.36 m²/m²/decade). Vegetation greening, irrigation, and their interaction significantly increased (p < 0.01) relative humidity (RH) by 0.460 %, 0.452 %, and 0.912 %, respectively, and produced notable cooling effects (p < 0.01) on daily mean temperature (T2avg) of −0.110°C, −0.085°C, and −0.195°C. Despite increased RH and enhanced moisture flux, no significant change in summer precipitation was simulated. Vegetation greening increased evapotranspiration, producing localized cooling, particularly in the western plains. Irrigation enhanced soil moisture, latent heat, and evapotranspiration (1.640 mm, p < 0.05), which reduced sensible heat and yielded widespread cooling across the basin. Their combined effects led to net cooling in the central basin, while albedo-induced warming was observed around the northern and southwestern edges, particularly in daily maximum temperature (T2max). Increased humidity elevated extreme wet-bulb temperatures in the western plains, whereas extreme Humidex values declined noticeably in the southwestern regions.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581825004379Vegetation greeningIrrigationLand-atmospheric interactionWRFSichuan Basin
spellingShingle Tao Yang
Xi Chen
Rafiq Hamdi
Lanhai Li
Fengqi Cui
Qiang Zou
Congxi Fang
Philippe De Maeyer
Synergistic effects of vegetation greening and irrigation on summer climate in the Sichuan Basin, China
Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies
Vegetation greening
Irrigation
Land-atmospheric interaction
WRF
Sichuan Basin
title Synergistic effects of vegetation greening and irrigation on summer climate in the Sichuan Basin, China
title_full Synergistic effects of vegetation greening and irrigation on summer climate in the Sichuan Basin, China
title_fullStr Synergistic effects of vegetation greening and irrigation on summer climate in the Sichuan Basin, China
title_full_unstemmed Synergistic effects of vegetation greening and irrigation on summer climate in the Sichuan Basin, China
title_short Synergistic effects of vegetation greening and irrigation on summer climate in the Sichuan Basin, China
title_sort synergistic effects of vegetation greening and irrigation on summer climate in the sichuan basin china
topic Vegetation greening
Irrigation
Land-atmospheric interaction
WRF
Sichuan Basin
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581825004379
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