Dynamics of Summer Moistening and Biophysical Parameters of Arid Pastures in the European Part of Russia in 2000–2014

Abstract

The dynamics of moistening indices and biophysical parameters (MODIS data) of arid pastures is examined for the southeast of the European part of Russia in five-year periods over 2000–2014. It was found that the dynamics was heterogeneous both in the temporal and spatial dimensions. The maximal moisture decrease was noted in 2005–2009 in dry-steppe and semidesert pastures. During 2010–2014, the moisture levels continued to decrease, though less intensively compared to the previous five-year period. The dynamics of biophysical parameters is determined by changes in moistening and the degradation of pastures due to overgrazing. The period of 2005–2009 was noted for reduced NDVI, deterioration of the vegetation condi-tions (VCI), and the growth of albedo and surface temperature in dry-steppe and partly semidesert pastures. The following period was marked by a shift of maximal changes in biophysical parameters to the Kalmyk Republic and the right-bank of Astrakhan oblast. This resulted in the appearance of preconditions for new anthropogenic desertification in the territory of Kalmyk Republic, which was detected by the desertification indicator.