Ecological benefits of artificial vegetation restoration on local climate condition in abandoned mining area

The abandoned mining area in Hami, Xinjiang, suffers from severe ecological degradation, necessitating urgent vegetation restoration to improve local climate conditions. This study examines the ecological benefits of artificial re-vegetation conducted by our team since 2021. Using the Hybrid Single-...

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Main Authors: Aishajiang Aili, Zhang Yuguang, Lin Tao, Xu Hailiang, Fabiola Bakayisire, Abdul Waheed, Zhang Qin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:Ecological Indicators
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X24014213
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author Aishajiang Aili
Zhang Yuguang
Lin Tao
Xu Hailiang
Fabiola Bakayisire
Abdul Waheed
Zhang Qin
author_facet Aishajiang Aili
Zhang Yuguang
Lin Tao
Xu Hailiang
Fabiola Bakayisire
Abdul Waheed
Zhang Qin
author_sort Aishajiang Aili
collection DOAJ
description The abandoned mining area in Hami, Xinjiang, suffers from severe ecological degradation, necessitating urgent vegetation restoration to improve local climate conditions. This study examines the ecological benefits of artificial re-vegetation conducted by our team since 2021. Using the Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory model (HYSPLIT) backward trajectory model and Global Data Assimilation System (GDAS) meteorological data, the long-range movement paths of air masses reaching the study area were identified. Simultaneously, on-site monitoring of meteorological factors (air temperature and humidity) was conducted to compare differences between the control point (non-vegetated area) and the artificially vegetated area. Additionally, wind speeds were monitored on both the windward and leeward sides of the vegetation restoration area for 66 days. Wind directions perpendicular to vegetation, to assess windbreak efficiency. The results indicated that the HYSPLIT model and the K-means clustering technique classified air masses’ long-range transportation into three categories: NW, N, and ES clusters. This classification illustrated the impact of regional climatic systems on local conditions. It showed cooler and more humid air masses from the northwest contributing significantly to local climate improvements. In the restored areas, high vegetation coverage and height significantly reduced air temperature by up to 1.5 °C and increased humidity by 2.7 % compared to the control area. Windbreak efficiency was notably enhanced, with wind speeds at 0.5 to 1 m heights on the leeward side reduced by approximately 1.2–1.7 m/s. This study underscores the critical role of artificial vegetation restoration in mitigating mining activities’ adverse effects, improving local climatic conditions, and promoting sustainable ecological rehabilitation in arid regions. The findings provide valuable insights for future ecological restoration projects and sustainable environmental management in similar degraded landscapes.
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spelling doaj-art-cdbdb0dd4dcb4842ac2f7ac0018e54c92024-12-16T05:35:43ZengElsevierEcological Indicators1470-160X2024-12-01169112964Ecological benefits of artificial vegetation restoration on local climate condition in abandoned mining areaAishajiang Aili0Zhang Yuguang1Lin Tao2Xu Hailiang3Fabiola Bakayisire4Abdul Waheed5Zhang Qin6State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China; Desert-oasis Ecological Monitoring and Restoration Engineering Innovation Center, Ministry of Natural Resources, China, Urumqi 830002, ChinaState Investment and Development Corporation, Hami Energy Development Co., LTD, Hami 839000, ChinaDesert-oasis Ecological Monitoring and Restoration Engineering Innovation Center, Ministry of Natural Resources, China, Urumqi 830002, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China; Desert-oasis Ecological Monitoring and Restoration Engineering Innovation Center, Ministry of Natural Resources, China, Urumqi 830002, China; Corresponding authors at: State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China.State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China; Corresponding authors at: State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China.State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China; Desert-oasis Ecological Monitoring and Restoration Engineering Innovation Center, Ministry of Natural Resources, China, Urumqi 830002, ChinaThe abandoned mining area in Hami, Xinjiang, suffers from severe ecological degradation, necessitating urgent vegetation restoration to improve local climate conditions. This study examines the ecological benefits of artificial re-vegetation conducted by our team since 2021. Using the Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory model (HYSPLIT) backward trajectory model and Global Data Assimilation System (GDAS) meteorological data, the long-range movement paths of air masses reaching the study area were identified. Simultaneously, on-site monitoring of meteorological factors (air temperature and humidity) was conducted to compare differences between the control point (non-vegetated area) and the artificially vegetated area. Additionally, wind speeds were monitored on both the windward and leeward sides of the vegetation restoration area for 66 days. Wind directions perpendicular to vegetation, to assess windbreak efficiency. The results indicated that the HYSPLIT model and the K-means clustering technique classified air masses’ long-range transportation into three categories: NW, N, and ES clusters. This classification illustrated the impact of regional climatic systems on local conditions. It showed cooler and more humid air masses from the northwest contributing significantly to local climate improvements. In the restored areas, high vegetation coverage and height significantly reduced air temperature by up to 1.5 °C and increased humidity by 2.7 % compared to the control area. Windbreak efficiency was notably enhanced, with wind speeds at 0.5 to 1 m heights on the leeward side reduced by approximately 1.2–1.7 m/s. This study underscores the critical role of artificial vegetation restoration in mitigating mining activities’ adverse effects, improving local climatic conditions, and promoting sustainable ecological rehabilitation in arid regions. The findings provide valuable insights for future ecological restoration projects and sustainable environmental management in similar degraded landscapes.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X24014213Artificial restorationDamaged mining areaLocal climateEcological benefitsArid area
spellingShingle Aishajiang Aili
Zhang Yuguang
Lin Tao
Xu Hailiang
Fabiola Bakayisire
Abdul Waheed
Zhang Qin
Ecological benefits of artificial vegetation restoration on local climate condition in abandoned mining area
Ecological Indicators
Artificial restoration
Damaged mining area
Local climate
Ecological benefits
Arid area
title Ecological benefits of artificial vegetation restoration on local climate condition in abandoned mining area
title_full Ecological benefits of artificial vegetation restoration on local climate condition in abandoned mining area
title_fullStr Ecological benefits of artificial vegetation restoration on local climate condition in abandoned mining area
title_full_unstemmed Ecological benefits of artificial vegetation restoration on local climate condition in abandoned mining area
title_short Ecological benefits of artificial vegetation restoration on local climate condition in abandoned mining area
title_sort ecological benefits of artificial vegetation restoration on local climate condition in abandoned mining area
topic Artificial restoration
Damaged mining area
Local climate
Ecological benefits
Arid area
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X24014213
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