Extreme Climate Event and Its Impact on Landscape Resilience in Gobi Region of Mongolia
The <i>dzud</i>, a specific type of climate disaster in Mongolia, is responsible for serious environmental and economic damage. It is characterized by heavy snowfall and severe winter conditions, causing mass livestock deaths that occur through the following spring. These events substant...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2020-09-01
|
| Series: | Remote Sensing |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/12/18/2881 |
| _version_ | 1797554521312854016 |
|---|---|
| author | Oyudari Vova Martin Kappas Tsolmon Renchin Steven R. Fassnacht |
| author_facet | Oyudari Vova Martin Kappas Tsolmon Renchin Steven R. Fassnacht |
| author_sort | Oyudari Vova |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The <i>dzud</i>, a specific type of climate disaster in Mongolia, is responsible for serious environmental and economic damage. It is characterized by heavy snowfall and severe winter conditions, causing mass livestock deaths that occur through the following spring. These events substantially limit socioeconomic development in Mongolia. In this research, we conducted an analysis of several <i>dzud</i> events (2000, 2001, 2002, and 2010) to understand the spatial and temporal variability of vegetation conditions in the Gobi region of Mongolia. The present paper also establishes how these extreme climatic events affect vegetation cover and local grazing conditions using the seasonal aridity index (<sub>a</sub>AI<sub>Z</sub>), time-series Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), and livestock data. We also correlated <sub>a</sub>AI<sub>Z</sub>, NDVI, and seasonal precipitation in the varied ecosystems of the study area. The results illustrate that under certain <i>dzud</i> conditions, rapid regeneration of vegetation can occur. A thick snow layer acting as a water reservoir combined with high livestock losses can lead to an increase of the maximum August NDVI. The Gobi steppe areas showed the highest degree of vulnerability to climate, with a drastic decline of grassland in humid areas. Another result is that snowy winters can cause a 10 to 20-day early peak in NDVI and a following increase in vegetation growth. During a drought year with dry winter conditions, the vegetation growth phase begins later due to water deficiency, which leads to weaker vegetation growth. Livestock loss and the reduction of grazing pressure play a crucial role in vegetation recovery after extreme climatic events in Mongolia. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:33:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e156bcf47c204232812866cf6a6cc125 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-4292 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:33:21Z |
| publishDate | 2020-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Remote Sensing |
| spelling | doaj.art-e156bcf47c204232812866cf6a6cc1252023-11-20T12:43:46ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922020-09-011218288110.3390/rs12182881Extreme Climate Event and Its Impact on Landscape Resilience in Gobi Region of MongoliaOyudari Vova0Martin Kappas1Tsolmon Renchin2Steven R. Fassnacht3Cartography, GIS and Remote Sensing Department, Institute of Geography, University of Göttingen, 37007 Göttingen, GermanyCartography, GIS and Remote Sensing Department, Institute of Geography, University of Göttingen, 37007 Göttingen, GermanyDepartment of Physics, National University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar 14200, MongoliaCartography, GIS and Remote Sensing Department, Institute of Geography, University of Göttingen, 37007 Göttingen, GermanyThe <i>dzud</i>, a specific type of climate disaster in Mongolia, is responsible for serious environmental and economic damage. It is characterized by heavy snowfall and severe winter conditions, causing mass livestock deaths that occur through the following spring. These events substantially limit socioeconomic development in Mongolia. In this research, we conducted an analysis of several <i>dzud</i> events (2000, 2001, 2002, and 2010) to understand the spatial and temporal variability of vegetation conditions in the Gobi region of Mongolia. The present paper also establishes how these extreme climatic events affect vegetation cover and local grazing conditions using the seasonal aridity index (<sub>a</sub>AI<sub>Z</sub>), time-series Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), and livestock data. We also correlated <sub>a</sub>AI<sub>Z</sub>, NDVI, and seasonal precipitation in the varied ecosystems of the study area. The results illustrate that under certain <i>dzud</i> conditions, rapid regeneration of vegetation can occur. A thick snow layer acting as a water reservoir combined with high livestock losses can lead to an increase of the maximum August NDVI. The Gobi steppe areas showed the highest degree of vulnerability to climate, with a drastic decline of grassland in humid areas. Another result is that snowy winters can cause a 10 to 20-day early peak in NDVI and a following increase in vegetation growth. During a drought year with dry winter conditions, the vegetation growth phase begins later due to water deficiency, which leads to weaker vegetation growth. Livestock loss and the reduction of grazing pressure play a crucial role in vegetation recovery after extreme climatic events in Mongolia.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/12/18/2881<i>dzud</i> typesvegetationaridity indexdroughtlivestock mortality |
| spellingShingle | Oyudari Vova Martin Kappas Tsolmon Renchin Steven R. Fassnacht Extreme Climate Event and Its Impact on Landscape Resilience in Gobi Region of Mongolia Remote Sensing <i>dzud</i> types vegetation aridity index drought livestock mortality |
| title | Extreme Climate Event and Its Impact on Landscape Resilience in Gobi Region of Mongolia |
| title_full | Extreme Climate Event and Its Impact on Landscape Resilience in Gobi Region of Mongolia |
| title_fullStr | Extreme Climate Event and Its Impact on Landscape Resilience in Gobi Region of Mongolia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Extreme Climate Event and Its Impact on Landscape Resilience in Gobi Region of Mongolia |
| title_short | Extreme Climate Event and Its Impact on Landscape Resilience in Gobi Region of Mongolia |
| title_sort | extreme climate event and its impact on landscape resilience in gobi region of mongolia |
| topic | <i>dzud</i> types vegetation aridity index drought livestock mortality |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/12/18/2881 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT oyudarivova extremeclimateeventanditsimpactonlandscaperesilienceingobiregionofmongolia AT martinkappas extremeclimateeventanditsimpactonlandscaperesilienceingobiregionofmongolia AT tsolmonrenchin extremeclimateeventanditsimpactonlandscaperesilienceingobiregionofmongolia AT stevenrfassnacht extremeclimateeventanditsimpactonlandscaperesilienceingobiregionofmongolia |