An Improved Model for Evaluating Ecosystem Service Values Using Land Use/Cover and Vegetation Parameters

It is crucial to maintain the balance of economic development and ecosystem protection. The value of ecosystem services is an indicator to help people understand the importance of ecosystem protection. Traditional models estimate ecosystem service values only according to land use/cover data while ignoring vegetation status differences in the same land use/cover. This study uses the normalized difference vegetation index(NDVI), the leaf area index(LAI),and net primary productivity(NPP) as vegetation status data to describe the differences in the same land use/cover type. The principal component analysis(PCA) approach is used to reduce the correlations among the three types of vegetation status data. Then, the calculated vegetation status index after PCA is input into the estimation model. The case study in China shows that the improved model has two major advantages. First, it can clearly distinguish the differences in ecosystem service values even for the same land use/cover type. Second, it can clearly describe the transitional zones between different land use/cover types through continuous changes in ecosystem service values. This improved model can provide a more detailed description of the distribution characteristics of ecosystem service values in China and help policymakers balance economic development and ecosystem protection.

Performances of six reanalysis profile products in the atmospheric correction of passive microwave data for estimating land surface temperature under cloudy-sky conditions

Passive microwave(PMW)observations from the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2 provide a way to obtain cloudy land surface temperatures(LSTs).However,atmospheric corrections must be performed on cloudy LSTs due to the cloud effect at higher frequencies.In this paper,six reanalyzed profiles,including the fifth-generation European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasts Reanalysis(ERA5),Interim Reanalysis(ERA-Interim),Japanese 55-year Reanalysis Data(JRA-55),Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Application V2(MERRA2),National Centers for Environmental Prediction(NCEP)/Final Operational Global Analysis(FNL),and NCEP/Global Forecasting System(GFS),were compared with 2829 radiosonde profiles derived from the University of Wyoming.Then,their performances in correcting the atmospheric effects of LSTs at cloudy skies were investigated.Results showed that the ERA5 had the best accuracy in revealing the actual atmospheric conditions,and the RMSEs of transmittance,downward radiance,and upward radiance were about 0.007,2.01,and 1.89 K,respectively.The RMSEs between the estimated LSTs and referenced LSTs varied from 3.15 K of the ERA5 to 6.12 K of the NCEP/FNL,indicating the ERA5 can be recommended for the atmospheric correction of PMW-based LST retrievals.Additionally,transmittance accuracy plays an essential role in impacting the LST retrievals in any weather.