The Ecological Cumulative Effects Of Qinghai-Tibet Railway Based On Remote Sensing And Geographic Information System

The Tibetan Plateau area where Qinghai-Tibet railway across is the most vulnerable area of the ecological environment, the construction and operation of the railway led to cut, isolate, hinder or disturbance the ecological environment, which also have a negative impact on the landscape pattern, vegetation productivity, soil, water environment, migration of plant and animal, and the quality of habitat area inevitably, and accelerate the development of local resources, tourism, industrialization and urbanization. The direct impact of these synergies and railway construction cause cumulative changes in ecological conditions along the area commonly. The cumulative impact of the construction and operation of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway along the area directly reflected in the cumulative changes in the type of ecosystem, ecological function and landscape pattern. Indirect or synergistic cumulative impact is mainly the cumulative impact of the areas along the socio-economic development of the ecosystem in time and space, its impact goes far beyond the scope of the plateau itself.In this study, dividing the area along the railway into0-lkm,l-5km,5-10km affected zone and10-20km reference area of climate change by using remote sensing and GIS technology, referencing the ecological cumulative effect of research methods, using the ecosystem services, landscape ecology and road ecology knowledge. Studying the cumulative impact of the Qinghai-Tibet railway construction and operation on the ecosystem along the railway area by building Eco-function deviation cumulative index(FCI), Landscape disturbance cumulative index(CLDI), Vegetation degradation cumulative index(VCI), Ecological blocking cumulative index(LCI) and Regional ecological cumulative effect index(ECEI). The main results of the paper are as follows:(1)Lhasa to Golmud,0-lkm area ecosystem’s FCI, CLDI, VCI, LCI, ECEI are positive and greater than the index of10-20reference area, indicates that the construction and operation of the railway affected the0-1km area along the railway’s ecological service function, landscape pattern, vegetation cover and ecological flow, however landscape pattern and ecological flow is affected mostly. The FCI, CLDI, VCI, LCI and ECEI of Lhasa to Tanggula is higher than Tanggula to Golmud’s obviously by comparing the differences between the index of direct impact area and reference area, indicates that the cumulative effect of Lhasa to Tanggula is greater than Tanggula to Golmud mainly on farmland and grassland ecosystems.(2)The1-5km and5-10km area’s FCI, CLDI, VCI, LCI and ECEI of Lhasa to Tanggula minus the relevant index of10-20km reference area which is obviously higher than Tanggula to Golmud, indicates that the cumulative impact on Lhasa to Tanggula caused by the construction and operation of railway is significantly greater than Tanggula to Golmud, whose main reason is the higher economic development and the higher vegetation cover of Lhasa to Tanggula.(3)The farmland ecosystem’s FCI, CLDI, VCI, LCI and ECEI in1-5km area are positive indicates that the urban expansion of Lhasa and Golmud affected by the construction of railway occupied the farmland ecosystem. In addition, the FCI, CLDI, LCI, ECEI in1-5km area of desert ecosystem and river wetland ecosystem are is positive and the FCI, CLDI and ECEI in5-10km of desert ecosystem is still positive which are all greater than the relevant index of10-20reference area, indicates that the acceleration of socio-economic activities and the urban expansion led to negative impact on the farmland ecological system, desert ecosystem and river wetland ecological system in1-5km and5-10km area, and farmland ecosystem affected mainly occupied by urban expansion in Lhasa and Golmud which is affected mostly.