THERMAL STRUCTURE OF A MEGADIVERSE ANDEAN MOUNTAIN ECOSYSTEM IN SOUTHERN ECUADOR AND ITS REGIONALIZATION
Peters T, Rollenbeck R, Göttlicher D, Nauss T, Homeier J, Bendix J (2009)
Publication Language: English
Publication Type: Journal article, Original article
Publication year: 2009
Journal
Book Volume: 63
Pages Range: 321-335
Journal Issue: 4
DOI: 10.3112/erdkunde.2009.04.03
Abstract
The thermal structure of a megadiverse mountain ecosystem in southern Ecuador is examined on the basis of
temperature measurements inside the natural mountain forest and at open-sites along an altitudinal gradient from 1600 to
3200 m. The main methodological aim of the current study is to develop an air temperature regionalization tool to provide
spatial datasets on average monthly mean, minimum and maximum temperature by using observation data. The maps, based
on data of the period 1999–2007, are needed by ecological projects working on various plots where no climate station data
are available. The temperature maps are generated by combining a straightforward detrending technique with a Digital Elevation
Model and a satellite-based land cover classification which also provides the relative forest cover per pixel. The topical
aim of the study is to investigate the thermal structure of both manifestations of our ecosystem (pastures and natural vegetation)
with special considerations to the ecosystem temperature regulation service by converting natural forest into pasture.
The results reveal a clear thermal differentiation over the year, partly triggered by the change of synoptic weather situation
but also by land cover effects. Thermal amplitudes are particularly low during the main rainy season when cloudiness and air
humidity are high, but markedly pronounced in the relative dry season when daily irradiance and outgoing nocturnal radiation
cause distinct differences between the land cover units. Particularly the lower pasture areas gained by slash and burn of
the natural forest exhibit the most extreme thermal conditions while the atmosphere inside the mountain forest is slightly
cooler due to the regulating effects of the dense vegetation. Thus, clearing the forest clearly reduces the thermal regulation
function (regulating ecosystem services) of the ecosystem which might become problematic under future global warming.
Authors with CRIS profile
Involved external institutions
Philipps-Universität Marburg
Germany (DE)
Universidad Nacional de Loja (UNL)
Ecuador (EC)
Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
Germany (DE)
Germany (DE)
Universidad Nacional de Loja (UNL)
Ecuador (EC)
Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
Germany (DE)
How to cite
APA:
Peters, T., Rollenbeck, R., Göttlicher, D., Nauss, T., Homeier, J., & Bendix, J. (2009). THERMAL STRUCTURE OF A MEGADIVERSE ANDEAN MOUNTAIN ECOSYSTEM IN SOUTHERN ECUADOR AND ITS REGIONALIZATION. Erdkunde, 63(4), 321-335. https://doi.org/10.3112/erdkunde.2009.04.03
MLA:
Peters, Thorsten, et al. "THERMAL STRUCTURE OF A MEGADIVERSE ANDEAN MOUNTAIN ECOSYSTEM IN SOUTHERN ECUADOR AND ITS REGIONALIZATION." Erdkunde 63.4 (2009): 321-335.
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