Articles | Volume 22, issue 17
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-4433-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-4433-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
08 Sep 2025
Research article |
| 08 Sep 2025
| 08 Sep 2025
Variations in vegetation evapotranspiration affect water yield in high-altitude areas
Yinying Jiao
College of Geography and Environment Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
Shiyang River Ecological Environment Observation Station, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
Key Laboratory of Resource Environment and Sustainable Development of Oasis, Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
College of Geography and Environment Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
Shiyang River Ecological Environment Observation Station, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
Key Laboratory of Resource Environment and Sustainable Development of Oasis, Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
Dongdong Qiu
School of Atmospheric Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210000, Jiangsu, China
Siyu Lu
College of Geography and Environment Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
Shiyang River Ecological Environment Observation Station, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
Key Laboratory of Resource Environment and Sustainable Development of Oasis, Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
Gaojia Meng
College of Geography and Environment Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
Shiyang River Ecological Environment Observation Station, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
Key Laboratory of Resource Environment and Sustainable Development of Oasis, Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
Rui Li
College of Geography and Environment Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
Shiyang River Ecological Environment Observation Station, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
Key Laboratory of Resource Environment and Sustainable Development of Oasis, Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
Qinqin Wang
College of Geography and Environment Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
Shiyang River Ecological Environment Observation Station, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
Key Laboratory of Resource Environment and Sustainable Development of Oasis, Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
Longhu Chen
College of Geography and Environment Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
Shiyang River Ecological Environment Observation Station, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
Key Laboratory of Resource Environment and Sustainable Development of Oasis, Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
Wentong Li
College of Geography and Environment Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
Shiyang River Ecological Environment Observation Station, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
Key Laboratory of Resource Environment and Sustainable Development of Oasis, Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
Related authors
Yinying Jiao, Guofeng Zhu, Yuxin Miao, Yani Gun, Jiangwei Yang, and Qinqin Wang
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2410, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2410, 2025
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Hydrology and Earth System Sciences (HESS).
Short summary
Short summary
This finding constitutes a major breakthrough in our understanding of land–atmosphere interactions in complex environments, advancing climate dynamics theory while also carrying profound implications for climate science—particularly in understanding and predicting vegetation-mediated extreme weather events—and providing essential insights for improving climate models and devising sustainable management strategies for arid regions.
Jiangwei Yang, Liyuan Sang, Guofeng Zhu, Rui Li, Siyu Lu, QInqin Wang, Yinying Jiao, Xiaoyu Qi, Zhijie Zheng, Wenmin Li, Yuxin Miao, and Yani Gun
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2024-277, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2024-277, 2024
Manuscript not accepted for further review
Short summary
Short summary
Recent dramatic increase in dam construction on rivers has changed the water cycle pattern in arid areas. Understanding the impact of dams on these processes is a key challenge in the hydrological field. Studies show that the dam destroys the natural hydrological connectivity of rivers and increases the retention time of surface waters. Studies revealed these changes using isotope kinetic analysis, further confirming the profound effect of dams on water circulation in inland river basins.
Qinqin Wang, Yuanxiao Xu, Guofeng Zhu, Siyu Lu, Dongdong Qiu, Yinying Jiao, Longhu Chen, Gaojia Meng, Rui Li, Xiaoyu Qi, Wenmin Li, Ling Zhao, Yuhao Wang, Enwei Huang, and Wentong Li
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2047, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2047, 2024
Preprint archived
Short summary
Short summary
We studied the impact of agricultural activities and ecological restoration on soil organic carbon in the terraced areas of the Loess Plateau. This research is of significance for agricultural management and ecological restoration in the terraced areas of the Loess Plateau, and contributes to the formulation of rational policies for carbon sequestration in terraced farmland.
Enwei Huang, Guofeng Zhu, Yuhao Wang, Gaojia Meng, Ling Zhao, Xuan Zhang, Xiaoyu Qi, Qinqin Wang, Yinying Jiao, Jiawei Liu, Siyu Lu, Longhu Chen, and Rui Li
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1008, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1008, 2024
Preprint archived
Short summary
Short summary
(1) the distribution of snow across the Qilian Mountains mainly splits between the central and western areas; (2) the area covered by snow in the Qilian Mountains is growing, but the depth of the snow is on a decline (3) most of the region is witnessing an earlier start of snow onset date (SOD), a longer snow-covered days (SCD), and an earlier snow end date (SED).
Longhu Chen, Qinqin Wang, Guofeng Zhu, Xinrui Lin, Dongdong Qiu, Yinying Jiao, Siyu Lu, Rui Li, Gaojia Meng, and Yuhao Wang
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 16, 1543–1557, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-16-1543-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-16-1543-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
We have compiled data regarding stable precipitation isotopes from 842 sampling points throughout the Eurasian continent since 1961, accumulating a total of 51 753 data records. The collected data have undergone pre-processing and statistical analysis. We also analysed the spatiotemporal distribution of stable precipitation isotopes across the Eurasian continent and their interrelationships with meteorological elements.
Gaojia Meng, Guofeng Zhu, Yinying Jiao, Dongdong Qiu, Yuhao Wang, Siyu Lu, Rui Li, Jiawei Liu, Longhu Chen, Qinqin Wang, Enwei Huang, and Wentong Li
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2024-76, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2024-76, 2024
Revised manuscript accepted for HESS
Short summary
Short summary
Shiyang River Basin is a typical inland river basin in the arid zone, and through the study, it was found that its soil salinization area has a general trend of increasing, and the degree of salinization gradually increases. External water transfers have alleviated water shortage and salinization to a certain extent, but soil salinization has already occurred in its periphery.
Rui Li, Guofeng Zhu, Siyu Lu, Liyuan Sang, Gaojia Meng, Longhu Chen, Yinying Jiao, and Qinqin Wang
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 4437–4452, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-4437-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-4437-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
In semi-arid regions, the problem of water shortages is becoming more and more serious with the acceleration of urbanization. Based on isotope data and hydrometeorological data, we analysed the impact of urbanization on the water cycle of the basin. The results showed that urbanization sped up the process of rainfall runoff. The MRT got shorter from upstream to downstream, and the landscape dams that were built during urbanization made the river evaporate even more.
Xinrui Lin, Guofeng Zhu, Dongdong Qiu, Longhu Chen, Dehong Si, Linlin Ye, Siyu Lu, Yinying Jiao, Jiawei Liu, Rui Li, Qinqin Wang, Jiangwei Yang, and Wenhao Zhang
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-2058, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-2058, 2023
Preprint archived
Short summary
Short summary
This article examines the impacts of high-temperature events on precipitation isotopes. The results show that stable precipitation isotopes are more enriched under the influence of high-temperature events than in the same month of previous years. High temperatures and atmospheric circulation patterns lead to abnormal variations in precipitation isotopes in high-temperature months. This research is instructive for disentangling the influence of high-temperature events on water cycle processes.
Siyu Lu, Guofeng Zhu, Rui Li, Yinying Jiao, Gaojia Meng, Dongdong Qiu, Yuwei Liu, Lei Wang, Xinrui Lin, Yuanxiao Xu, Qinqin Wang, and Longhu Chen
Biogeosciences Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-2023-1, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-2023-1, 2023
Manuscript not accepted for further review
Short summary
Short summary
The study shows that precipitation and soil water are the most important sources for forest trees in the mountainous areas, and that agricultural vegetation in the middle and lower oasis areas mainly absorbs soil water recharged by irrigation. The desert area forms vegetation in the ecological water transfer area, and the vegetation mainly absorbs soil water, lake water and groundwater formed by ecological water transfer.
Yinying Jiao, Guofeng Zhu, Dongdong Qiu, Yuwei Liu, Lei Wang, Siyu Lu, Gaojia Meng, Xinrui Lin, Rui Li, Qinqin Wang, Longhu Chen, and Niu Sun
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2022-375, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2022-375, 2023
Revised manuscript not accepted
Short summary
Short summary
Qilian Mountains are an important ecological security barrier and a priority area for biodiversity conservation in central Asia. We quantified the evapotranspiration processes in the forest belts of the Qilian Mountains as well as their contribution to runoff yield and concentration based on precipitation, soil water, and plant water samples and experimental data. We draw a conclusion that the forest zone does not yield flows in the eastern part of the Qilian Mountains.
Yinying Jiao, Guofeng Zhu, Yuxin Miao, Yani Gun, Jiangwei Yang, and Qinqin Wang
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2410, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2410, 2025
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Hydrology and Earth System Sciences (HESS).
Short summary
Short summary
This finding constitutes a major breakthrough in our understanding of land–atmosphere interactions in complex environments, advancing climate dynamics theory while also carrying profound implications for climate science—particularly in understanding and predicting vegetation-mediated extreme weather events—and providing essential insights for improving climate models and devising sustainable management strategies for arid regions.
Rui Li, Guofeng Zhu, Longhu Chen, Xiaoyu Qi, Siyu Lu, Gaojia Meng, Yuhao Wang, Wenmin Li, Zhijie Zheng, Jiangwei Yang, and Yani Gun
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 17, 2135–2145, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-17-2135-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-17-2135-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
The study of hydrogen and oxygen stable isotopes in surface water is vital for understanding the global water cycle and its response to climate change. Analysing data from 22 389 global sampling stations over 67 years, we uncover spatial and temporal variations in isotopes, showing depletion from the Equator to the poles and from coastal to inland areas. These variations, influenced by geographic, topographic and meteorological factors, reveal the water cycle's heterogeneity.
Jiangwei Yang, Liyuan Sang, Guofeng Zhu, Rui Li, Siyu Lu, QInqin Wang, Yinying Jiao, Xiaoyu Qi, Zhijie Zheng, Wenmin Li, Yuxin Miao, and Yani Gun
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2024-277, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2024-277, 2024
Manuscript not accepted for further review
Short summary
Short summary
Recent dramatic increase in dam construction on rivers has changed the water cycle pattern in arid areas. Understanding the impact of dams on these processes is a key challenge in the hydrological field. Studies show that the dam destroys the natural hydrological connectivity of rivers and increases the retention time of surface waters. Studies revealed these changes using isotope kinetic analysis, further confirming the profound effect of dams on water circulation in inland river basins.
Longhu Chen, Qinqin Wang, Guofeng Zhu, Rui Li, Siyu Lu, Xinrui Lin, Dongdong Qiu, Gaojia Meng, Yinying Jiao, Yuhao Wang, Jing Liu, Yutong He, and Yanan Li
Earth Syst. Sci. Data Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2024-171, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2024-171, 2024
Preprint withdrawn
Short summary
Short summary
This study provides a dataset of hydrogen and oxygen stable isotopes from 2,059 sites worldwide, showing variations in global precipitation isotopes since 1961. The dataset offers insights into climate variability and water resource management.
Qinqin Wang, Yuanxiao Xu, Guofeng Zhu, Siyu Lu, Dongdong Qiu, Yinying Jiao, Longhu Chen, Gaojia Meng, Rui Li, Xiaoyu Qi, Wenmin Li, Ling Zhao, Yuhao Wang, Enwei Huang, and Wentong Li
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2047, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2047, 2024
Preprint archived
Short summary
Short summary
We studied the impact of agricultural activities and ecological restoration on soil organic carbon in the terraced areas of the Loess Plateau. This research is of significance for agricultural management and ecological restoration in the terraced areas of the Loess Plateau, and contributes to the formulation of rational policies for carbon sequestration in terraced farmland.
Enwei Huang, Guofeng Zhu, Yuhao Wang, Gaojia Meng, Ling Zhao, Xuan Zhang, Xiaoyu Qi, Qinqin Wang, Yinying Jiao, Jiawei Liu, Siyu Lu, Longhu Chen, and Rui Li
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1008, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1008, 2024
Preprint archived
Short summary
Short summary
(1) the distribution of snow across the Qilian Mountains mainly splits between the central and western areas; (2) the area covered by snow in the Qilian Mountains is growing, but the depth of the snow is on a decline (3) most of the region is witnessing an earlier start of snow onset date (SOD), a longer snow-covered days (SCD), and an earlier snow end date (SED).
Longhu Chen, Qinqin Wang, Guofeng Zhu, Xinrui Lin, Dongdong Qiu, Yinying Jiao, Siyu Lu, Rui Li, Gaojia Meng, and Yuhao Wang
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 16, 1543–1557, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-16-1543-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-16-1543-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
We have compiled data regarding stable precipitation isotopes from 842 sampling points throughout the Eurasian continent since 1961, accumulating a total of 51 753 data records. The collected data have undergone pre-processing and statistical analysis. We also analysed the spatiotemporal distribution of stable precipitation isotopes across the Eurasian continent and their interrelationships with meteorological elements.
Gaojia Meng, Guofeng Zhu, Yinying Jiao, Dongdong Qiu, Yuhao Wang, Siyu Lu, Rui Li, Jiawei Liu, Longhu Chen, Qinqin Wang, Enwei Huang, and Wentong Li
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2024-76, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2024-76, 2024
Revised manuscript accepted for HESS
Short summary
Short summary
Shiyang River Basin is a typical inland river basin in the arid zone, and through the study, it was found that its soil salinization area has a general trend of increasing, and the degree of salinization gradually increases. External water transfers have alleviated water shortage and salinization to a certain extent, but soil salinization has already occurred in its periphery.
Rui Li, Guofeng Zhu, Siyu Lu, Liyuan Sang, Gaojia Meng, Longhu Chen, Yinying Jiao, and Qinqin Wang
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 4437–4452, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-4437-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-4437-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
In semi-arid regions, the problem of water shortages is becoming more and more serious with the acceleration of urbanization. Based on isotope data and hydrometeorological data, we analysed the impact of urbanization on the water cycle of the basin. The results showed that urbanization sped up the process of rainfall runoff. The MRT got shorter from upstream to downstream, and the landscape dams that were built during urbanization made the river evaporate even more.
Xinrui Lin, Guofeng Zhu, Dongdong Qiu, Longhu Chen, Dehong Si, Linlin Ye, Siyu Lu, Yinying Jiao, Jiawei Liu, Rui Li, Qinqin Wang, Jiangwei Yang, and Wenhao Zhang
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-2058, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-2058, 2023
Preprint archived
Short summary
Short summary
This article examines the impacts of high-temperature events on precipitation isotopes. The results show that stable precipitation isotopes are more enriched under the influence of high-temperature events than in the same month of previous years. High temperatures and atmospheric circulation patterns lead to abnormal variations in precipitation isotopes in high-temperature months. This research is instructive for disentangling the influence of high-temperature events on water cycle processes.
Siyu Lu, Guofeng Zhu, Rui Li, Yinying Jiao, Gaojia Meng, Dongdong Qiu, Yuwei Liu, Lei Wang, Xinrui Lin, Yuanxiao Xu, Qinqin Wang, and Longhu Chen
Biogeosciences Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-2023-1, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-2023-1, 2023
Manuscript not accepted for further review
Short summary
Short summary
The study shows that precipitation and soil water are the most important sources for forest trees in the mountainous areas, and that agricultural vegetation in the middle and lower oasis areas mainly absorbs soil water recharged by irrigation. The desert area forms vegetation in the ecological water transfer area, and the vegetation mainly absorbs soil water, lake water and groundwater formed by ecological water transfer.
Yinying Jiao, Guofeng Zhu, Dongdong Qiu, Yuwei Liu, Lei Wang, Siyu Lu, Gaojia Meng, Xinrui Lin, Rui Li, Qinqin Wang, Longhu Chen, and Niu Sun
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2022-375, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2022-375, 2023
Revised manuscript not accepted
Short summary
Short summary
Qilian Mountains are an important ecological security barrier and a priority area for biodiversity conservation in central Asia. We quantified the evapotranspiration processes in the forest belts of the Qilian Mountains as well as their contribution to runoff yield and concentration based on precipitation, soil water, and plant water samples and experimental data. We draw a conclusion that the forest zone does not yield flows in the eastern part of the Qilian Mountains.
Guofeng Zhu, Yuwei Liu, Peiji Shi, Wenxiong Jia, Junju Zhou, Yuanfeng Liu, Xinggang Ma, Hanxiong Pan, Yu Zhang, Zhiyuan Zhang, Zhigang Sun, Leilei Yong, and Kailiang Zhao
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 14, 3773–3789, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-3773-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-3773-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
From 2015 to 2020, we studied the Shiyang River basin, which has the highest utilization rate of water resources and the most prominent contradiction of water use, as a typical demonstration basin to establish and improve the isotope hydrology observation system, including river source region, oasis region, reservoir channel system region, oasis farmland region, ecological engineering construction region, and salinization process region.
Guofeng Zhu, Leilei Yong, Xi Zhao, Yuwei Liu, Zhuanxia Zhang, Yuanxiao Xu, Zhigang Sun, Liyuan Sang, and Lei Wang
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 3771–3784, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-3771-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-3771-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
In arid areas, the processes of water storage have not been fully understood in different vegetation zones in mountainous areas. This study monitored the stable isotopes in the precipitation and soil water of the Xiying River Basin. In the four vegetation zones, soil water evaporation intensities were mountain grassland > deciduous forest > coniferous forest > alpine meadow, and soil water storage capacity was alpine meadow > deciduous forest > coniferous forest > mountain grassland.
Guofeng Zhu, Zhigang Sun, Yuanxiao Xu, Yuwei Liu, Zhuanxia Zhang, Liyuan Sang, and Lei Wang
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2022-75, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2022-75, 2022
Revised manuscript not accepted
Short summary
Short summary
We analyzed the stable isotopic composition of surface water and estimated its evaporative loss in the Shiyang River Basin. The characteristics of stable isotopes in surface water show a gradual enrichment from mountainous areas to deserts, and the evaporation loss of surface water also shows a gradually increasing trend from upstream to downstream. The study of evaporative losses in the river-lake continuum contributes to the sustainable use of water resources.
Yuwei Liu, Guofeng Zhu, Zhuanxia Zhang, Zhigang Sun, Leilei Yong, Liyuan Sang, Lei Wang, and Kailiang Zhao
Biogeosciences, 19, 877–889, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-877-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-877-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We took the water cycle process of soil–plant–atmospheric precipitation as the research objective. In the water cycle of soil–plant–atmospheric precipitation, precipitation plays the main controlling role. The main source of replenishment for alpine meadow plants is precipitation and alpine meltwater; the main source of replenishment for forest plants is soil water; and the plants in the arid foothills mainly use groundwater.
Guofeng Zhu, Yuwei Liu, Peiji Shi, Wenxiong Jia, Junju Zhou, Yuanfeng Liu, Xinggang Ma, Hanxiong Pan, Yu Zhang, Zhiyuan Zhang, Zhigang Sun, Leilei Yong, and Kailiang Zhao
Earth Syst. Sci. Data Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2021-79, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2021-79, 2021
Revised manuscript not accepted
Short summary
Short summary
We have established a stable water isotope monitoring network in the Shiyang River Basin. The monitoring station with six observation systems: river source area, oasis area, reservoir canal system area, oasis farmland area, ecological restoration area and salinized area.The data set includes the stable water isotopes of different water bodies and the meteorological and hydrological data in the Shiyang River Basin. So far, the data have been obtained for five consecutive years.
Cited articles
An, Q., Liu, L., Wang, L., Yang, K., Cheng, Y., Liu, J., and Huang, G.: Contribution of moisture recycling to water availability in China, Water Resour. Res., 61, e2024WR038054, https://doi.org/10.1029/2024wr038054, 2025.
Aron, P. G., Poulsen, C. J., Fiorella, R. P., Matheny, A. M., and Veverica, T. J.: An isotopic approach to partition evapotranspiration in a mixed deciduous forest, Ecohydrology, 13, e2229, https://doi.org/10.1002/eco.2229, 2020.
Ault, T. R.: On the essentials of drought in a changing climate, Science, 368, 256–260, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaz5492, 2020.
Brubaker, K. L., Entekhabi, D., and Eagleson, P. S.: Estimation of continental precipitation recycling, J. Climate, 6, 1077–1089, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0442(1993)006<1077:EOCPR>2.0.CO;2, 1993.
Celik, S. K., Madenoglu, S., and Turker, U.: Partitioning evapotranspiration of winter wheat based on oxygen isotope approach under different irrigation regimes, Irrig. Drain., 71, 882–896, https://doi.org/10.1002/ird.2701, 2022.
Cheng, T. F., Chen, D., Wang, B., Ou, T., and Lu, M.: Human-induced warming accelerates local evapotranspiration and precipitation recycling over the Tibetan Plateau, Commun. Earth Environ., 5, 388, https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01563-9, 2024.
Craig, H. and Gordon, L. I.: Deuterium and oxygen 18 variations in the ocean and the marine atmosphere, in: Proc. Stable Isotopes in Oceanographic Studies and Paleotemperatures, Spoleto, Italy, edited by: Tongiogi, E., V. Lishi e F., Pisa, Italy, 9–130, 1965.
Cui, J., Lian, X., Huntingford, C., Gimeno, L., Wang, T., Ding, J., He, M., Xu, H., Chen, A., Gentine, P., and Piao, S.: Global water availability boosted by vegetation-driven changes in atmospheric moisture transport, Nat. Geosci., 15, 982–988, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-022-01061-7, 2022.
Dansgaard, W.: Stable isotopes in precipitation, Tellus, 16, 436–468, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2153-3490.1964.tb00181.x, 1964.
Eisenhauer, N. and Weigelt, A.: Ecosystem effects of environmental extremes, Science, 374, 1442–1443, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abn1406, 2021.
Farquhar, G. D., Cernusak, L. A., and Barnes, B.: Heavy water franctionation during transpiration, Plant Physiol., 143, 11–18, https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.106.093278, 2007.
Gibson, J. J. and Reid, R.: Stable isotope fingerprint of open-water evaporation losses and effective drainage area fluctuations in a subarctic shield watershed, J. Hydrol., 381, 142–150, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2009.11.036, 2009.
Gibson, J. J. and Reid, R.: Water balance along a chain of tundra lakes: A 20-year isotopic perspective, J. Hydrol., 519, 2148–2164, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2014.10.011, 2014.
Good, S. P., Soderberg, K., Wang, L., and Caylor, K. K.: Uncertainties in the assessment of the isotopic composition of surface fluxes: A direct comparison of techniques using laser-based water vapor isotope analyzers, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 117, D15301, https://doi.org/10.1029/2011jd017168, 2012.
Han, J., Tian, L., Cai, Z., Ren, W., Liu, W., Li, J., and Tai, J.: Season-specific evapotranspiration partitioning using dual water isotopes in a Pinus yunnanensis ecosystem, southwest China, J. Hydrol., 608, 127672, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2022.127672, 2022.
Hao, L., Sun, G., Huang, X., Tang, R., Jin, K., Lai, Y., Chen, D., Zhang, Y., Zhou, D., Yang, Z.-L., Wang, L., Dong, G., and Li, W.: Urbanization alters atmospheric dryness through land evapotranspiration, npj Clim. Atmos. Sci., 6, 149, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-023-00479-z, 2023.
He, Z., Zhao, W., Liu, H., and Tang, Z.: Effect of forest on annual water yield in the mountains of an arid inland river basin: a case study in the Pailugou catchment on northwestern China's Qilian Mountains, Hydrol. Process., 26, 613–621, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.8162, 2011.
Hernández-Pérez, E., Levresse, G., Carrera-Hernández, J., and García-Martínez, R.: Short term evaporation estimation in a natural semiarid environment: New perspective of the Craig – Gordon isotopic model, J. Hydrol., 587, 124926, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2020.124926, 2020.
Horita, J. and Wesolowski, D. J.: Liquid-vapor fractionation of oxygen and hydrogen isotopes of water from the freezing to the critical temperature, Geochim. Cosmochim. Ac., 58, 3425–3437, https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(94)90096-5, 1994.
Hu, W.-F., Yao, J.-Q., He, Q., and Yang, Q.: Spatial and temporal variability of water vapor content during 1961–2011 in Tianshan Mountains, China, J. Mt. Sci., 12, 571–581, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-014-3364-y, 2015.
Keeling, C. D.: The concentration and isotopic abundances of atmospheric carbon dioxide in rural areas, Geochim. Cosmochim. Ac., 13, 322–334, https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(58)90033-4, 1958.
Kong, Y., Pang, Z., and Froehlich, K.: Quantifying recycled moisture fraction in precipitation of an arid region using deuterium excess, Tellus B, 65, 19251, https://doi.org/10.3402/tellusb.v65i0.19251, 2013.
Kool, D., Agam, N., Lazarovitch, N., Heitman, J. L., Sauer, T. J., and Ben-Gal, A.: A review of approaches for evapotranspiration partitioning, J. Adv. Res., 184, 56–70, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2013.09.003, 2014.
Li, X. and Zhang, G.: Research on Precipitable Water and Precipitation Conversion Efficiency around Tianshan Mountain Area, J. Desert Res., 23, 509–513, 2003.
Li, Z., Feng, Q., Wang, Q. J., Song, Y., Li, H., and Li, Y.: The influence from the shrinking cryosphere and strengthening evopotranspiration on hydrologic process in a cold basin, Qilian Mountains, Glob. Planet. Change, 144, 119–128, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2016.06.017, 2016.
Li, Z., Ciais, P., Wright, J. S., Wang, Y., Liu, S., Wang, J., Li, L. Z. X., Lu, H., Huang, X., Zhu, L., Goll, D. S., and Li, W.: Increased precipitation over land due to climate feedback of large-scale bioenergy cultivation, Nat. Commun., 14, 4096, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-39803-9, 2023.
Liu, Z., Wang, N., Cuo, L., and Liang, L.: Characteristics and attribution of spatiotemporal changes in Qilian Mountains' runoff over the past six decades, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 128, e2023JD039176, https://doi.org/10.1029/2023jd039176, 2023.
Makarieva, A. M., Nefiodov, A. V., Nobre, A. D., Baudena, M., Bardi, U., Sheil, D., Saleska, S. R., Molina, R. D., and Rammig, A.: The role of ecosystem transpiration in creating alternate moisture regimes by influencing atmospheric moisture convergence, Glob. Change Biol., 29, 2536–2556, https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.16644, 2023.
Mehmood, S., Ashfaq, M., Kapnick, S., Gosh, S., Abid, M. A., Kucharski, F., Batibeniz, F., Saha, A., Evans, K., and Hsu, H.-H.: Dominant controls of cold-season precipitation variability over the high mountains of Asia, npj Clim. Atmos. Sci., 5, 65, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-022-00282-2, 2022.
Peng, T., Liu, K., Wang, C., and Chuang, K.: A water isotope approach to assessing moisture recycling in the island-based precipitation of Taiwan: A case study in the western Pacific, Water Resour. Res., 47, W08507, https://doi.org/10.1029/2010wr009890, 2011.
Phillips, D. L. and Gregg, J. W.: Uncertainty in source partitioning using stable isotopes, Oecologia, 127, 171–179, https://doi.org/10.1007/s004420000578, 2001.
Qin, Y., Lei, H., Yang, D., Gao, B., Wang, Y., Cong, Z., and Fan, W.: Long-term change in the depth of seasonally frozen ground and its ecohydrological impacts in the Qilian Mountains, northeastern Tibetan Plateau, J. Hydrol., 542, 204–221, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2016.09.008, 2016.
Quan, Q., He, N., Zhang, R., Wang, J., Luo, Y., Ma, F., Pan, J., Wang, R., Liu, C., Zhang, J., Wang, Y., Song, B.,Li, Z., Zhou, Q., Yu, G., and Niu, S.: Plant height as an indicator for alpine carbon sequestration and ecosystem response to warming. Nat. Plants, 10, 890–900, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-024-01705-z, 2024.
Raz-Yaseef, N., Rotenberg, E., and Yakir, D.: Effects of spatial variations in soil evaporation caused by tree shading on water flux partitioning in a semi-arid pine forest, Agr. Forest Meteorol., 150, 454–462, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2010.01.010, 2010.
Sang, L., Zhu, G., Xu, Y., Sun, Z., Zhang, Z., and Tong, H.: Effects of agricultural Large-And Medium-Sized reservoirs on hydrologic processes in the arid Shiyang River basin, northwest China, Water Resour. Res., 59, e2022WR033519, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022wr033519, 2023.
Skrzypek, G., Mydłowski, A., Dogramaci, S., Hedley, P., Gibson, J. J., and Grierson, P. F.: Estimation of evaporative loss based on the stable isotope composition of water using Hydrocalculator, J. Hydrol., 523, 781–789, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2015.02.010, 2015.
Stein, A. F., Draxler, R. R., Rolph, G. D., Stunder, B. J. B., Cohen, M. D., and Ngan, F.: NOAA's HYSPLIT Atmospheric Transport and Dispersion Modeling system, B. Am. Meteorol. Soc., 96, 2059–2077, https://doi.org/10.1175/bams-d-14-00110.1, 2015.
Sun, X., Wilcox, B. P., and Zou, C. B.: Evapotranspiration partitioning in dryland ecosystems: A global meta-analysis of in situ studies, J. Hydrol., 576, 123–136, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2019.06.022, 2019.
Tague, C. L., Moritz, M., and Hanan, E.: The changing water cycle: The eco-hydrologic impacts of forest density reduction in Mediterranean (seasonally dry) regions, Wiley Interdiscip. Rev. Water, 6, e1350, https://doi.org/10.1002/wat2.1350, 2019.
Teo, H. C., Raghavan, S. V., He, X., Zeng, Z., Cheng, Y., Luo, X., Lechner, A., Ashfold, M. J., Lamba, A., Sreekar, R., Zheng, Q., Chen, A., and Koh, L. P.: Large-scale reforestation can increase water yield and reduce drought risk for water-insecure regions in the Asia-Pacific, Glob. Change Biol., 28, 6385–6403, https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.16404, 2022.
Wang, P., Yamanaka, T., Li, X.-Y., and Wei, Z.: Partitioning evapotranspiration in a temperate grassland ecosystem: Numerical modeling with isotopic tracers, Agric. For. Meteorol., 208, 16–31, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2015.04.006, 2015.
Wang, S., Zhang, M., Che, Y., Chen, F., and Qiang, F.: Contribution of recycled moisture to precipitation in oases of arid central Asia: A stable isotope approach, Water Resour. Res., 52, 3246–3257, https://doi.org/10.1002/2015wr018135, 2016.
Wang, S., Wang, L., Zhang, M., Shi, Y., Hughes, C. E., Crawford, J., Zhou, J., and Qu, D.: Quantifying moisture recycling of a leeward oasis in arid central Asia using a Bayesian isotopic mixing model, J. Hydrol., 613, 128459, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2022.128459, 2022.
Wei, Z., Lee, X., Wen, X., and Xiao, W.: Evapotranspiration partitioning for three agro-ecosystems with contrasting moisture conditions: a comparison of an isotope method and a two-source model calculation, Agric. For. Meteorol., 252, 296–310, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2018.01.019, 2018.
Wyatt, C. J. W., O'Donnell, F. C., and Springer, A. E.: Semi-Arid aquifer responses to forest restoration treatments and climate change, Ground Water, 53, 207–216, https://doi.org/10.1111/gwat.12184, 2014.
Yang, Y., Chen, R., Song, Y., Han, C., Liu, J., and Liu, Z.: Sensitivity of potential evapotranspiration to meteorological factors and their elevational gradients in the Qilian Mountains, northwestern China, J. Hydrol., 568, 147–159, 2019.
Yao, Y., Liu, S., and Shang, K.: Daily MODIS-based Land Surface Evapotranspiration Dataset of 2019 in Qilian Mountain Area (ETHi-merge V1.0), National Tibetan Plateau/Third Pole Environment Data Center [data set], https://doi.org/10.11888/Meteoro.tpdc.270407, 2020.
Yepez, E. A., Huxman, T. E., Ignace, D. D., English, N. B., Weltzin, J. F., Castellanos, A. E., and Williams, D. G.: Dynamics of transpiration and evaporation following a moisture pulse in semiarid grassland: A chamber-based isotope method for partitioning flux components, Agr. Forest Meteorol., 132, 359–376, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2005.09.006, 2005.
Zhang, Z., Zhu, G., Pan, H., Sun, Z., Sang, L., and Liu, Y.: Quantifying recycled moisture in precipitation in Qilian Mountains, Sustainability, 13, 12943, https://doi.org/10.3390/su132312943, 2021.
Zhao, C., Zhang, R., and Wang, Y.: Qilian Mountains integrated observatory network: Cold and Arid Research Network of Lanzhou University (an observation system of meteorological elements gradient of Dayekou Station, 2018), National Tibetan Plateau/Third Pole Environment Data Center [data set], https://doi.org/10.11888/Geogra.tpdc.270169, 2019.
Zhao, C., Zhang, R., and Wang, Y.: Cold and Arid Research Network of Lanzhou university (an observation system of Meteorological elements gradient of Dayekou Station, 2019), National Tibetan Plateau/Third Pole Environment Data Center [data set], https://doi.org/10.11888/Meteoro.tpdc.270799, 2020.
Zhao, C., Zhang, R., and Zhao, C.: Cold and Arid Research Network of Lanzhou university (an observation system of Meteorological elements gradient of Sidalong Station, 2020), National Tibetan Plateau/Third Pole Environment Data Center [data set], https://doi.org/10.11888/Meteoro.tpdc.271378, 2021.
Zhao, C., Zhang, R., and Zhao, C.: Cold and Arid Research Network of Lanzhou university (an observation system of Meteorological elements gradient of Sidalong Station, 2021), National Tibetan Plateau/Third Pole Environment Data Center [data set], https://doi.org/10.11888/Atmos.tpdc.272365, 2022.
Zhu, G., Liu, Y., Shi, P., Jia, W., Zhou, J., Liu, Y., Ma, X., Pan, H., Zhang, Y., Zhang, Z., Sun, Z., Yong, L., and Zhao, K.: Stable water isotope monitoring network of different water bodies in Shiyang River basin, a typical arid river in China, Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 14, 3773–3789, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-3773-2022, 2022a.
Zhu, G., Wang, L., Liu, Y., Bhat, M.A., Qiu, D., Zhao, K., Sang, L., Lin, X., and Ye, L.: Snow-melt water: An important water source for Picea crassifolia in Qilian Mountains, J. Hydrol., 613, 128441, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2022.128441, 2022b.
Short summary
This study shows that transpiration is the key reason behind the high-altitude forest zone's limited runoff generation. Furthermore, within the altitude range of 2500–3200 m, an increase in recirculated water vapour was observed alongside an increase in precipitation, suggesting a direct positive correlation between these two factors.
This study shows that transpiration is the key reason behind the high-altitude forest zone's...
Altmetrics
Final-revised paper
Preprint