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Analysis of institutional authors

Sanz, ECorresponding AuthorDiaz-Ambrona, CghAuthorTarquis, AmAuthor

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December 19, 2024
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Joint multiscale dynamics in soil-vegetation-atmosphere systems: Multifractal cross-correlation analysis of arid and semiarid rangelands

Publicated to: Vadose Zone Journal. 24 (1): - 2025-01-01 24(1), DOI: 10.1002/vzj2.20374

Authors:

Sanz, E; Almeida-Ñaulay, AF; Díaz-Ambrona, CGH; Mínguez, SZ; Tarquis, AM
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Affiliations

Univ Politecn Madrid, AgSyst, ETSI Agron Alimentaria & Biosistemas - Author
Univ Politecn Madrid, Dept Ingn Agroforestal, ETSI Agron Alimentaria & Biosistemas - Author
Univ Politecn Madrid, Grp Sistemas Complejos - Author
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Abstract

Understanding the dynamics of the soil-vegetation-atmosphere (SVA) system, particularly in arid and semiarid regions, remains challenging due to its intricate and interdependent nature. This system creates problems for rangeland administration, such as insurance and risk management. This paper focuses on the complex interactions within the SVA system, particularly on rangeland ecosystems in Spain's semiarid and arid regions. By employing multifractal detrended cross-correlation analysis (MFCCA), we explore the joint behavior of key variables, including precipitation (PCP), evapotranspiration (ETP), aridity index (Arid. I.), soil water availability (SWA), biomass (Bio), and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). Analyzing a 20-year data series from Madrid and Almeria provinces, we reveal distinct patterns in the studied variables' persistence, multifractality, and asymmetry. Notably, the differences in the generalized Hurst exponents (hxy${{{\mathrm{h}}}_{xy}}$(q)) between Madrid and Almeria for SWA with NDVI, SWA with Bio, and NDVI with Bio underscore distinct interactions in these regions. Moreover, multifractal analyses unveil differences in the complexity of joint variables' behaviors in the two regions. Almeria exhibits higher multifractality across variables, indicating more complex and variable environmental interactions, likely due to its more arid conditions. These findings suggest that Almeria has more sensitivity to changes, requiring adaptive management strategies, while in Madrid, water availability and related variables play a more dominant role in driving vegetation dynamics. These findings shed light through MFCCA on the nuanced dynamics of rangeland ecosystems in semiarid and arid regions, emphasizing the importance of considering complexity-based approaches to understand the intricate interplay among key variables in the SVA system. We show multifractal detrended cross-correlation analysis as a tool to describe joint and complex dynamics. Differences are found in the ecological interaction between arid and semiarid rangelands. Cross-correlated and average univariate analyses provide differences in multifractal parameters. Almeria shows higher multifractality, indicating more complex and variable environmental interactions. Soil water availability patterns influence normalized difference vegetation index and biomass dynamics more in Madrid than in Almeria. Ecosystems are highly interacting systems, where some changes can produce surprising outcomes (complex systems). This study explores the relationships among various ecological components of rangelands in Madrid and Almeria (Spain) to aid rangeland managers. Using multifractal analysis, which studies the behavior of time series, we compare the behavior and the influence of different environmental factors like precipitation or biomass. Our findings show that Almeria, with its more arid conditions, has more complex and variable environmental interactions and is more sensitive to small changes. While in Madrid, soil water availability has a stronger influence on vegetation growth. These insights suggest that rangeland management strategies should be tailored to the specific conditions of each region to improve sustainability and productivity. Almeria should prioritize enhancing soil water retention and in Madrid, managers should focus on monitoring larger scale climatic events.
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Keywords

CarbonChinaDetrended fluctuation analysisPatternsPulses

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Vadose Zone Journal due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency Scopus (SJR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2025, it was in position , thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Soil Science.

Independientemente del impacto esperado determinado por el canal de difusión, es importante destacar el impacto real observado de la propia aportación.

Según las diferentes agencias de indexación, el número de citas acumuladas por esta publicación hasta la fecha 2025-12-20:

  • WoS: 2
  • Scopus: 3
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Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-12-20:

  • The use, from an academic perspective evidenced by the Altmetric agency indicator referring to aggregations made by the personal bibliographic manager Mendeley, gives us a total of: 8.
  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 8 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

  • The Total Score from Altmetric: 1.
  • The number of mentions on the social network X (formerly Twitter): 1 (Altmetric).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.
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Leadership analysis of institutional authors

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (SANZ SANCHO, ERNESTO) and Last Author (TARQUIS ALFONSO, ANA MARIA).

the author responsible for correspondence tasks has been SANZ SANCHO, ERNESTO.

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