Ma et al. (2026) Spatial patterns and environmental drivers of evapotranspiration across the Chinese Grassland Transect

Identification

• Journal: Journal of Hydrology
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-01-10
• Authors: Lexin Ma, Zhi Chen, Tianxiang Hao, Meng Yang, Quanhong Lin, Weikang Zhang, Lang Han, Zhaogang Liu, Mingyu Sun, Yong Lin, Xianjin Zhu, Shiping Chen, Gang Dong, Yanhong Gao, Yanbin Hao, Shicheng Jiang, Shuli Niu, Peili Shi, Junlei Tan, Yakun Tang, Fawei Zhang, Yangjian Zhang, Liang Zhao, Li Zhou, Guirui Yu Guirui Yu
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2026.134920

Research Groups

• Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences
• College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
• Beijing Yanshan Earth Critical Zone National Research Station, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
• College of Agronomy, Shenyang Agricultural University
• National Institute of Natural Hazards, Ministry of Emergency Management of China
• State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences
• School of Life Science, Shanxi University
• Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences
• School of Life Sciences, Northeast Normal University
• Heihe Remote Sensing Experimental Research Station, Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing of Gansu Province, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences
• Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
• Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University
• Key Laboratory for Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Short Summary

This study investigated the spatial patterns and environmental drivers of evapotranspiration (ET) along the Chinese Grassland Transect (CGT) using eddy covariance and remote sensing data, revealing significantly higher ET in alpine grasslands (AG) compared to temperate grasslands (TG) and distinct adaptation mechanisms to moisture gradients.

Objective

• To analyze the spatial distribution of evapotranspiration (ET) and its dominant driving mechanisms along the Chinese Grassland Transect (CGT), particularly focusing on the moisture gradient variations between alpine and temperate grasslands.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Chinese Grassland Transect (CGT), encompassing Alpine Grasslands (AG) and Temperate Grasslands (TG).
• Temporal Scale: 2003–2020.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Not specified in the provided text.
• Data sources: Observational data from 48 eddy covariance sites; Remote sensing products.

Main Results

• The mean annual evapotranspiration (ET) in Alpine Grasslands (AG) was 454 ± 119 mm, which was significantly higher than in Temperate Grasslands (TG) at 320 ± 115 mm, consistent with their respective Humidity Index (HI).
• The decoupling coefficient (Ω) was significantly higher in AG (0.41 ± 0.11) than in TG (0.23 ± 0.10), suggesting a stronger influence of vapor pressure deficit (VPD) on ET in arid regions (TG).
• Grasslands exhibited different adaptation mechanisms along the moisture gradient: AG showed higher canopy conductance and greater sensitivity to changes in VPD, while TG displayed a lower sensitivity of the transpiration-to-ET ratio to canopy conductance, indicating a more sensitive water-conserving response.

Contributions

• Provides comprehensive insights into the spatial variability of evapotranspiration (ET) across the Chinese Grassland Transect (CGT) and its environmental controls.
• Enhances understanding of grassland ecosystem responses to future climate change by elucidating distinct adaptation mechanisms along moisture gradients.

Funding

• Not specified in the provided text.

Citation

@article{Ma2026Spatial,
  author = {Ma, Lexin and Chen, Zhi and Hao, Tianxiang and Yang, Meng and Lin, Quanhong and Zhang, Weikang and Han, Lang and Liu, Zhaogang and Sun, Mingyu and Lin, Yong and Zhu, Xianjin and Chen, Shiping and Dong, Gang and Gao, Yanhong and Hao, Yanbin and Jiang, Shicheng and Niu, Shuli and Shi, Peili and Tan, Junlei and Tang, Yakun and Zhang, Fawei and Zhang, Yangjian and Zhao, Liang and Zhou, Li and Yu, Guirui Yu Guirui},
  title = {Spatial patterns and environmental drivers of evapotranspiration across the Chinese Grassland Transect},
  journal = {Journal of Hydrology},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1016/j.jhydrol.2026.134920},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2026.134920}
}