Numerical Simulation of the Impact of Land Use/Cover Change on Land Surface Process in China from 2001 to 2010

Based on MODerate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) land cover data, this study simulated the effects of real land use/cover change (LUCC) from 2001 to 2010 on land surface energy balance and water cycle process using Community Land Model (CLM). The results showed the following: 1) The most dramatic changes in China were located in the transition zones of arid/semiarid areas and semiarid/semi-humid areas, and the areas in southern China during 2001–2010. The barren land decreased by 0.92%, grassland decreased by 0.01%, cropland increased by 0.77%, and forest increased by 2.86%, indicating increased vegetation coverage on the whole. 2) In the case of land use/cover in 2001 and 2010, LUCC increased sensible heat in most parts of China. Canopy transpiration and canopy evaporation latent heat fluxes increased, while ground evaporation heat flux decreased. 3) LUCC decreased the surface runoff in most parts of China. Soil moisture decreased in eastern northwest, North China, and northeast regions but increased in other regions. Soil moisture changed significantly only in the transition zone of arid/semiarid areas. 4) After the barren land turned into grassland in typical transition zone, sensible heat and latent heat increased by 1.11 W m⁻² and 0.14 W m⁻², respectively. Canopy transpiration and canopy evaporation increased by 0.039 and 0.009 mm d⁻¹, respectively. Meanwhile, soil moisture decreased by 0.01 m³ m⁻³ on average. Because the root absorbed more deep soil water to meet the significantly increased canopy transpiration, soil moisture decreased more with increased soil depth. The changes in energy fluxes and water cycle are similar to the above process when the grassland turned into shrubland.