Weakening greenhouse gas sink of intermittent river under human activities for the Inner Mongolia grassland region in China

Study region: This study was conducted in the Tabu River Basin, located within the Yinshanbeilu Grassland in central Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. Study focus: The Tabu River's runoff is significantly affected by human activities. This study investigated the spatiotemporal dynamics o...

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Main Authors: Xinyu Liu, Huifang He, Weijie Han, Wentao Liang, Zhenqi Yang, Jianying Guo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581825002204
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author Xinyu Liu
Huifang He
Weijie Han
Wentao Liang
Zhenqi Yang
Jianying Guo
author_facet Xinyu Liu
Huifang He
Weijie Han
Wentao Liang
Zhenqi Yang
Jianying Guo
author_sort Xinyu Liu
collection DOAJ
description Study region: This study was conducted in the Tabu River Basin, located within the Yinshanbeilu Grassland in central Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. Study focus: The Tabu River's runoff is significantly affected by human activities. This study investigated the spatiotemporal dynamics of the CO2 flux under varying runoff conditions, identified the key drivers of CO2 emissions, and assessed the influence of human activities on these emissions within the watershed. New hydrological insights for the region: Our findings revealed a significant decline in runoff in the Tabu River Basin since 2010, primarily driven by human activities. Following river drying, riverbed ecosystem respiration (ER) increased, whereas riparian wetlands exhibited a marked decrease in ER. Furthermore, net ecosystem exchange (NEE) results indicated a shift from a carbon sink to a carbon source in the riparian wetlands during periods of river drying. Soil moisture content (SMC), above-ground biomass (Bios), and soil bulk density (ρb) emerged as critical factors regulating CO2 emissions. These findings highlight the necessity for continuous, long-term monitoring of intermittent rivers and in-situ greenhouse gas flux measurements under diverse hydrological conditions. To enhance the resilience of riverine ecosystems and sustain their carbon sequestration potential, future management of the Tabu River Basin should focus on optimizing irrigation strategies and adapting reservoir management practices. Such interventions will enable efficient allocation and sustainable utilization of water resources.
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spelling doaj-art-7f0fe2d079cf4fc0b0dfd3fa42da0efe2025-08-20T03:13:04ZengElsevierJournal of Hydrology: Regional Studies2214-58182025-06-015910239510.1016/j.ejrh.2025.102395Weakening greenhouse gas sink of intermittent river under human activities for the Inner Mongolia grassland region in ChinaXinyu Liu0Huifang He1Weijie Han2Wentao Liang3Zhenqi Yang4Jianying Guo5Yinshanbeilu Grassland Eco-Hydrology National Observation and Research Station, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China; Institute of Water Resources for Pastoral Area Ministry of Water Resources, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia Autonomous 010020, China; Correspondence to: Institute of Water Resources for Pastoral Area Ministry of Water Resources, #128 University East Street, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia Autonomous 010020, China.Yinshanbeilu Grassland Eco-Hydrology National Observation and Research Station, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China; Institute of Water Resources for Pastoral Area Ministry of Water Resources, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia Autonomous 010020, ChinaYinshanbeilu Grassland Eco-Hydrology National Observation and Research Station, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China; Institute of Water Resources for Pastoral Area Ministry of Water Resources, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia Autonomous 010020, ChinaYinshanbeilu Grassland Eco-Hydrology National Observation and Research Station, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China; Institute of Water Resources for Pastoral Area Ministry of Water Resources, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia Autonomous 010020, ChinaYinshanbeilu Grassland Eco-Hydrology National Observation and Research Station, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China; Institute of Water Resources for Pastoral Area Ministry of Water Resources, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia Autonomous 010020, ChinaYinshanbeilu Grassland Eco-Hydrology National Observation and Research Station, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China; Institute of Water Resources for Pastoral Area Ministry of Water Resources, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia Autonomous 010020, ChinaStudy region: This study was conducted in the Tabu River Basin, located within the Yinshanbeilu Grassland in central Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. Study focus: The Tabu River's runoff is significantly affected by human activities. This study investigated the spatiotemporal dynamics of the CO2 flux under varying runoff conditions, identified the key drivers of CO2 emissions, and assessed the influence of human activities on these emissions within the watershed. New hydrological insights for the region: Our findings revealed a significant decline in runoff in the Tabu River Basin since 2010, primarily driven by human activities. Following river drying, riverbed ecosystem respiration (ER) increased, whereas riparian wetlands exhibited a marked decrease in ER. Furthermore, net ecosystem exchange (NEE) results indicated a shift from a carbon sink to a carbon source in the riparian wetlands during periods of river drying. Soil moisture content (SMC), above-ground biomass (Bios), and soil bulk density (ρb) emerged as critical factors regulating CO2 emissions. These findings highlight the necessity for continuous, long-term monitoring of intermittent rivers and in-situ greenhouse gas flux measurements under diverse hydrological conditions. To enhance the resilience of riverine ecosystems and sustain their carbon sequestration potential, future management of the Tabu River Basin should focus on optimizing irrigation strategies and adapting reservoir management practices. Such interventions will enable efficient allocation and sustainable utilization of water resources.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581825002204Intermittent riverEcosystem respirationNet ecosystem exchangeSpatiotemporal variationsImpact factorsTabu river
spellingShingle Xinyu Liu
Huifang He
Weijie Han
Wentao Liang
Zhenqi Yang
Jianying Guo
Weakening greenhouse gas sink of intermittent river under human activities for the Inner Mongolia grassland region in China
Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies
Intermittent river
Ecosystem respiration
Net ecosystem exchange
Spatiotemporal variations
Impact factors
Tabu river
title Weakening greenhouse gas sink of intermittent river under human activities for the Inner Mongolia grassland region in China
title_full Weakening greenhouse gas sink of intermittent river under human activities for the Inner Mongolia grassland region in China
title_fullStr Weakening greenhouse gas sink of intermittent river under human activities for the Inner Mongolia grassland region in China
title_full_unstemmed Weakening greenhouse gas sink of intermittent river under human activities for the Inner Mongolia grassland region in China
title_short Weakening greenhouse gas sink of intermittent river under human activities for the Inner Mongolia grassland region in China
title_sort weakening greenhouse gas sink of intermittent river under human activities for the inner mongolia grassland region in china
topic Intermittent river
Ecosystem respiration
Net ecosystem exchange
Spatiotemporal variations
Impact factors
Tabu river
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581825002204
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AT weijiehan weakeninggreenhousegassinkofintermittentriverunderhumanactivitiesfortheinnermongoliagrasslandregioninchina
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AT zhenqiyang weakeninggreenhousegassinkofintermittentriverunderhumanactivitiesfortheinnermongoliagrasslandregioninchina
AT jianyingguo weakeninggreenhousegassinkofintermittentriverunderhumanactivitiesfortheinnermongoliagrasslandregioninchina