Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 5.3 Simulated effects of afforestation on the monthly average precipitation in Jiangxi
Province (measured in millimeters)
Month
DB
DN
EB
EN
Mean
Std.
Mean
Std.
Mean
Std.
Mean
Std.
Jan
-0.16
5.01
-0.18
4.96
-0.06
5.09
-0.01
4.92
Feb
-1.03
10.98
-0.89
11.85
0.03
10.60
0.25
10.65
Mar
-0.57
10.43
-0.86
11.87
0.07
10.79
0.20
9.93
Apr
-2.39
21.93
-1.77
20.83
0.20
22.28
1.44
22.67
May
-5.10
43.83
-4.01
41.78
0.34
48.23
-0.99
46.52
Jun
-10.63
61.72
-6.37
55.74
-1.20
57.79
-0.34
55.14
Jul
-11.50
59.29
-10.42
61.17
-0.89
61.26
-2.95
60.15
Aug
-8.63
42.27
-4.86
42.42
-1.29
40.29
-1.89
42.31
Sep
-6.79
39.63
-3.48
39.87
0.11
40.48
0.06
38.69
Oct
-0.29
9.19
-0.29
8.96
0.09
8.74
0.23
9.01
Nov
-0.25
1.40
-0.21
1.35
0.03
1.30
0.07
1.32
Dec
-0.03
1.77
-0.08
1.72
-0.03
1.77
0.02
1.69
under the scenarios of DB and DN. By contrast, there are slight effects of the
evergreen forest expansion on the monthly average precipitation under the sce-
narios of EB and EN (Table
5.3
).The monthly average precipitation will decrease
most in August under the scenario of EB, with a decrement of 1.29 mm, while it
will decrease by no more than 3 mm under the scenario of EN. Overall, there are
no significant variations for the monthly average temperature change among the
scenarios of DB, DN, EB, and EN.
Above all, the effects of annual average temperature show a decreasing order:
EB [ EN [ DN [ DB. By comparison, the expansion of deciduous needleleaf
forests under the scenario of DB shows evident cooling effects. In addition, the
cooling effects mainly happen in the southern part of Jiangxi Province and the
effects of annual average precipitation of the evergreen forests are larger than the
deciduous forests.
5.1.3 Concluding Remarks on Afforestation in Jiangxi
Province
This study analyzes the impacts of afforestation on the regional climate at different
temporal scales under four designed scenarios in Jiangxi Province. The main
conclusions are follows:
(i)
The deciduous forest expansion plays a positive role in decreasing the
annual average temperature, while the evergreen forest expansion makes the
annual average temperature increase. On the whole, the effects of the nee-
dleleaf forest expansion on the annual average temperature are not as sig-
nificant as that of the broadleaf forest. The expansion of deciduous forests
