Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 7.22 Effects of future
grassland degradation on
average monthly precipitation
during two decades
(measured in millimeters) in
Mongolia
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4
3
2
1
0
123456789 0 1 2
-1
-2
-3
-4
2010-2020
2040-2050
7.4.3 Concluding Remarks on Grassland Degradation
in Mongolia
This study analyzed the impacts of the grassland degradation on annual and
monthly average temperature and precipitation climate change with the WRF
model at the national levels in Mongolia.
Despite the spatial resolution of the data and simulation duration, the data are
still reliable in assessing the impacts of the grassland degradation on the climate
change. The results indicate that grassland degradation has an obvious effect on the
regional temperature and precipitation in the next 40 years in Mongolia. Annual
average temperature and precipitation change significantly from April to
September, the maximum change appears in July. The difference between the
simulation test and control test is regarded as the impacts of grassland degradation
in Mongolia. The results show that the annual average temperature changes
obviously in the northwest, southeast, and middle-east of Mongolia, approximately
-0.1-0.4 C, and about 70 % areas of Mongolia have experienced an increment in
the annual average temperature with 0.1-0.3 C. Besides, annual average pre-
cipitation change in Mongolia has also obviously regional and seasonal charac-
teristics. Overall, there has been a falling trend of average annual precipitation
change in most regions of Mongolia. The most significant changes occur in July
and August, with 30-50 mm. Furthermore, the difference between the simulated
test and control test showed that in July and August the monthly average tem-
perature increase most obviously by 0.06-0.075 C from 2010 to 2050. In winter
the temperature rise is relatively slow, about 0.02-0.03 C. The most significant
change of monthly average precipitation appears in April and September, the
change value is 2-5 mm.
In this study, we only consider the impact of grassland degradation on tem-
peratures and precipitation, without reporting the energy balance, circulation,
monsoon, and other climate factors. More importantly, there are still some other
issues that need to be resolved in the further studies. Firstly, the climate effect
could be caused by some other factors except for grassland degeneration, such as
