The influence of surface cover change on solar radiation absorption in China

Under the context of climate change, the energy exchange mechanisms between terrestrial ecosystems and the atmosphere are highly complex. This study investigates the impact of land cover changes on solar radiation using China's land cover data and surface solar radiation absorption data. We analyze the data changes over two adjacent periods and integrate additional factors to explore the impacts of surface cover changes on solar radiation. The results indicate that: (1) Although grassland and bare land are the land categories with the largest area share, their radiation absorption capacity is significantly lower than that of water body and forests. (2) During 2001 -2020, 84.94% of land remains unchanged, but the expansion of the forested land and the reduction of the bare land in the changed areas have a significant impact on the radiation absorption, which suggests that the policy should focus on the restoration of the forested land of the arid area, bare land on the edge of the city, and greening, so as to minimize the intervention cost and maximize the benefits of climate moderation. This study provides a key theoretical basis for constructing a comprehensive evaluation model of "land-climate-ecology" synergy by revealing the multi-process coupling mechanism and cascading response relationship of solar radiation absorption by land cover change.