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Spatiotemporal Patterns and Driving Factors of Vegetation Carbon Sinks at the County Scale in the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle
Research Article | Published: 01 September 2025
Journal of Geo-Energy and Environment Volume 1, Issue 1, 2025: 46-60
Volume 1, Issue 1, Journal of Geo-Energy and Environment
Volume 1, Issue 1, 2025
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Journal of Geo-Energy and Environment, Volume 1, Issue 1, 2025: 46-60

Open Access | Research Article | 01 September 2025
Spatiotemporal Patterns and Driving Factors of Vegetation Carbon Sinks at the County Scale in the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle
by
Wenjing Wang Wenjing Wang 1
Yuanjie Deng Yuanjie Deng 1 *
Hua'e Dang Hua'e Dang 1
Yifeng Hai Yifeng Hai 1
Hang Chen Hang Chen 1
Jincan Chen Jincan Chen 1
Miao Zhang Miao Zhang 1
1 School of Economics, Sichuan University of Science & Engineering, Zigong 643000, China
* Corresponding Author: Yuanjie Deng, [email protected]
DOI: 10.62762/JGEE.2025.856697
Received: 23 August 2025, Accepted: 29 August 2025, Published: 01 September 2025  
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Abstract
To address two critical gaps in vegetation carbon sink (VCS) research---its limited policy relevance at the county scale and the insufficient identification of nonlinear interactive effects within driving mechanisms---this study focuses on the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle (CCEC). Using MODIS NPP data (2002--2022), we examined the spatiotemporal dynamics of VCS through time-series analysis, standard deviational ellipse, and spatial autocorrelation analysis. Crucially, we applied the Geodetector model to quantitatively disentangle the roles of natural and anthropogenic drivers. The results show that: (1) VCS followed a fluctuating upward trajectory, peaking in 2019, but declined sharply in 2006 due to an extreme drought; (2) spatially, a ``three-belt agglomeration'' pattern was identified, with high-value clusters in mountainous areas (Southwestern Sichuan, Southeastern Chongqing, Southeastern Sichuan) and low-value diffusion in plains (Chengdu Plain, Chongqing Valley). The VCS centroid remained consistently located in Anyue County, while spatial clustering gradually weakened; (3) single-factor detection highlighted natural factors---especially elevation (q > 0.76)---as dominant drivers of spatial heterogeneity, whereas interaction detection revealed widespread ``nonlinear enhancement'' between natural and anthropogenic factors. These interactions explained far more variance than individual factors and amplified spatial heterogeneity synergistically. By integrating county-scale analysis with the identification of nonlinear interaction mechanisms, this study provides a scientific foundation for differentiated ecological governance and the precise implementation of China's ``Dual Carbon'' (carbon peaking and carbon neutrality) goals in the CCEC.
Graphical Abstract
Spatiotemporal Patterns and Driving Factors of Vegetation Carbon Sinks at the County Scale in the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle
Keywords
Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle (CCEC)
vegetation carbon sinks (VCS)
county scale
spatiotemporal patterns
geodetector
Data Availability Statement
Data will be made available on request.
Funding
This work was supported by the National Undergraduate Innovation Training Program under Grant 202510622017, and the Sichuan Provincial Undergraduate Innovation Training Program under Grant S202410622069 and Grant S202510622068.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Ethical Approval and Consent to Participate
Not applicable.
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Cite This Article
APA Style
Wang, W., Deng, Y., Dang, H., Hai, Y., Chen, H., Chen, J., & Zhang, M. (2025). Spatiotemporal Patterns and Driving Factors of Vegetation Carbon Sinks at the County Scale in the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle. Journal of Geo-Energy and Environment, 1(1), 46–60. https://doi.org/10.62762/JGEE.2025.856697
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