Abstract
The microclimate of a desert oasis in hyperarid zone of China was monitored using micrometeorological methods and compared with those of areas adjacent to forested land. Differences in ground-level photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) on clear, cloudy and dust storm days and their subtending causes are analysed and discussed. Desert oases serve the ecological functions of altering solar radiation, adjusting near-ground and land surface temperatures, reducing soil temperature differences, lowering wind velocity, and increasing soil and atmospheric humidity. The total solar radiation in the interior of the oasis was roughly half of that outside a forest canopy. During the growing season, air temperatures in Populus euphratica Oliv. (poplar) and Tamarix ramosissima Ledeb. (tamarisk) forests were 1.62 °C and 0.83 °C lower respectively than those in the areas around the forests. Furthermore, the taller the forest cover, the greater the temperature drops; air temperatures in the upper storey were greater than those in the lower storey, i.e., air temperature rose with increasing height. Over the growing season, the relative humidities of the air in the poplar and tamarisk forests were 8.5% and 4.2% higher respectively than those in areas around the forests. Mean wind velocity in poplar-forested lands was 0.33 m s−1, 2.31 m s−1 lower than that in the surrounding area. During dust storm days the PAR was significantly lower than that on cloudy or clear days, when it was high and varied in an irregular manner.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alados I, Olmo F J, 2000. Estimation of photosynthetically active radiation under cloudy conditions. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 102: 39–50.
Britton C M, Dodd J D, 1976. Relationships of photosynthetically active radiation and shortwave irradiance. Agricultural Meteorology, 17: 1–7.
Chang Jie, Pan Xiaodong, Ge Ying, 1999. Features of the micro-climate in the evergreen broad-leaved forest dominated by Quercus glauca. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 19(1): 68–75. (in Chinese)
Chen Hesheng, Kang Yuehu, Feng Jinzhao, 1991. Preliminary study of plant growth and water balance in Shapotou region of Tengger Desert. Journal of Desert Research, 11(2): 1–10. (in Chinese)
Federer C A, 1968. Spatial variation of net radiation, albedo and surface temperature of forests. J. Appl. Meteorol., 7: 789–795.
Feng Jinzhao, Huang Zichen, Zhang Chenglie, 1997. Advance in quantitative research of environmental plant physiology. Journal of Desert Research, 17(1): 89–94.
Fu Xiaofeng, 2000. A study on the oasis coordinating development of economy and environment in arid land. Journal of Desert Research, 20(2): 197–200. (in Chinese)
Garrett H E, 1978. Spatial and temporal variation in carbon dioxide in an oak-hickory forest ravine. For. Sci., 24(2): 180–190.
Hirose T, 1995. Canopy structure and photon flux partitioning among species in herbaceous plant community. Ecol., 76(2): 466–474.
Ji Guoliang, Ma Xiaoyan, Zou Jiling, 1993. Characteristics of the photosynthetically active radiation over Zhangye region. Plateau Meteorology, 12(2): 141–146. (in Chinese)
Kimmins J P, 1977. Forest Ecology (2nd edn.). Prentice Hall, 596.
McCree K J, 1976. A solarmeter for measuring photosynthetically active radiation. Agric. Meteorol., (3): 353–366.
Sinclair T R, Lemon E R, 1974. Penetration of photosynthetically active radiation in corn canopies. Agronomy Journal, 66: 201–205.
Sinclair T R, Knoerr K R, 1982. Distribution of photosynthetically active radiation in the canopy of a loblolly pine plantation. J. Appl. Ecol., 19(suppl.): 183–191.
Sivakumar M V K, Virmani S M, 1984. Crop productivity in relation to interception of photosynthetically active radiation. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 31: 131–141.
Sun Xuefeng, Chen Lingzhi, 1995. A preliminary study on the environment of radiation energy of deciduous broadleaved forest in the warm temperate zone. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 15(3): 278–286. (in Chinese)
Tan Shaoman, Huang Jinlong, 1985. A preliminary study on microclimate in mixed forest of Eucalyptus torelliana. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 5(3): 241–248. (in Chinese)
Yann N V, Agnes B, 2000. PAR extinction in shortgrass ecosystems: effects of clumping, sky conditions and soil albedo. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 105: 21–41.
Ye Duzheng, Chou Jifan, Liu Jiyuan et al., 2000. Origin and control measures of dust storm weather in North China. Acta Geographica Sinica, 55(5): 513–521. (in Chinese)
Zhang Li, Dong Zengchuan, Huang Xiaoling, 2004. Modeling on relation between major plants growth and groundwater depth in arid area. Journal of Desert Research, (1): 110–113. (in Chinese)
Zhang X Z, Zhang Y G, 2000. Measuring and modeling photosynthetically active radiation in Tibet Plateau during April-October. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 102: 207–212.
Zhang Yunlin, Qin Boqiang, 2002. The basic characteristic and climatological calculation of the photosythetically available radiation in Taihu region. Agricultural Meteorology. Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica, 23(1): 118–123. (in Chinese)
Zhang Yiping, Liu Yuhong, Ma Youxin et al., 2002. A preliminary study on microclimate in the process of the different growth phases of tropical forest. Journal of Nanjing Forestry University (Natural Science), 26(1): 83–87. (in Chinese)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Foundation: The Hundred Talent Foundation, No.2003401; Knowledge Innovation Project of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.KZCX3-SW-329
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Feng, Q., Si, J., Zhang, Y. et al. Microclimatic characteristics of the Heihe oasis in the hyperarid zone of China. J GEOGR SCI 16, 34–44 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-006-0104-4
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-006-0104-4