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Effects of changes in vegetation on precipitation in the northern Tianshan Mountains evaluated using multiple time scales

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Abstract

This study used a combination of the wavelet cross-correlation technique and numerical analysis of vegetative feedback to study the role of climate–vegetation feedback from 1981 to 2009 in the northern Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang Province, China. The study area included the Irtysh River, the Bortala and Ili River valleys, the northern slopes of the Tianshan Mountains, and the western Junggar Basin. The feedback effects of changes in vegetation on precipitation appeared to vary in these five regions when different time scales are used to examine them. The most useful time scale was generally found to be 4–6 months. Time lag was another characteristic of this process, and the optimal time lag was 3–4 months. Nevertheless, optimal time scale and time lag did not differ significantly in these five regions. In this way, the correct time scale of the effects of variations in vegetation on precipitation in this cold, arid area was found. This time scale and time lag can be assessed through wavelet cross-correlation analysis. Then numerical analysis can be used to improve the accuracy of the analysis.

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Acknowledgements

The research presented in this paper is funded by the National Science Foundation of China (31260099); Key Technology R & D Program (2014BAC14B02); National Natural Science Foundation of China (41375079); National Key Basic Research Program of China (2013CB430204); and Major National Scientific Research Programs of China (2012CB955902).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Life Science, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832000, Xinjiang, China.

    Qinming Sun & Tong Liu

  2. Teachers College, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832000, Xinjiang, China.

    Zhiquan Han

  3. College of Physical Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225000, Jiangsu, China.

    Yongping Wu

  4. C. XiIEG-UCR International Center for Arid Land Ecology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521-0124, USA.

    Bai-Lian Li

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  1. Qinming Sun
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  2. Tong Liu
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  3. Zhiquan Han
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  4. Yongping Wu
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  5. Bai-Lian Li
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Correspondence to Tong Liu.

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Sun, Q., Liu, T., Han, Z. et al. Effects of changes in vegetation on precipitation in the northern Tianshan Mountains evaluated using multiple time scales. J Earth Syst Sci 125, 507–519 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-016-0679-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-016-0679-9

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