Long-Term Biogeochemical Changes in China's Anthropogenic Landscapes

University Of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore MD

Investigators

Abstract

00-7561 Ellis Long-term Biogeochemical Changes in China's Anthropogenic Landscapes This study will measure long-term changes in the biogeochemistry of carbon, ni-trogen and phosphorus (C, N, P) across the densely populated agricultural village landscapes of China. The pre-industrial (~1930) and current state of five 5 x 5 km landscape scenes representative of China's agricultural regions will be measured by combining high-resolution satellite imagery, World War II aerial photography and precision land surveys with material sampling, household surveys, elder interviews and historical resources. Current and pre-industrial measurements will then be compared to examine the relative impacts of changes in landscape structure, popu-lation density, agricultural practices, and fuel combustion in driving long-term changes in C, N and P storage and flux across each site. Integration of field meas-urements with regional and remotely sensed data will improve the accuracy of global biogeochemical change estimates across one of the most rapidly developing areas of the world, demonstrating field and statistical tools for the study of anthro-pogenic ecosystems.