Abstract Landscape responses to degradation caused by aridification bring the landscape system into a new equilibrium state. The system transformation may entail irreversible changes to its constituting parameters. This paper analyses the impact of aridification on landscape degradation processes in the sand-covered landscapes of the Hungarian Danube-Tisza Interfluve region at the regional, landscape, and local site scales. Changes in groundwater level (well data), lake surface area (Modified Normalized Difference Water Index) and vegetation cover (Enhanced Vegetation Index) were analysed over time periods of 12–60 years. Significant regional variation in decreasing groundwater levels is observed and limits the regional applicability of this indicator. Applying the lake surface area parameter from remote sensing data demonstrated greater utility, identifying several local lakes in the landscapes which have dried out. Analysis of the vegetation response indicated minor changes over the 2000–2014 time period and did not indicate a landscape system change. Landscape degradation as a result of changes in groundwater, vegetation, land cover and land use is clearly identified exclusively in local lake areas, but at the landscape scale, changes in the water balance are found in phases of system stability and transformation. Thresholds are identified to support policy and management towards landscape degradation neutrality.

中文翻译：

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干旱引起的不同空间尺度景观退化

摘要景观对干旱化引起的退化的响应使景观系统进入新的平衡状态。系统转换可能需要对其组成参数进行不可逆的更改。本文分析了干旱对匈牙利多瑙河-蒂萨河沟壑区被沙覆盖的景观在区域，景观和当地规模上的影响。分析了12至60年间的地下水位（井数据），湖泊表面积（标准归一化水指数）和植被覆盖度（增强植被指数）的变化。观察到地下水位下降的显着区域差异，并限制了该指标的区域适用性。应用来自遥感数据的湖泊表面积参数显示出更大的实用性，确定景观中已干out的几个当地湖泊。对植被反应的分析表明，在2000–2014年期间发生了细微变化，没有表明景观系统发生了变化。地下水，植被，土地覆盖和土地利用的变化导致的景观退化仅在当地湖泊地区得到明确识别，但是在景观尺度上，水平衡的变化存在于系统稳定和转化阶段。确定阈值以支持针对景观退化中立的政策和管理。植被，土地覆盖和土地利用仅在当地湖泊地区得到明确标识，但在景观尺度上，在系统稳定和转换阶段发现了水平衡的变化。确定阈值以支持针对景观退化中立的政策和管理。植被，土地覆盖和土地利用仅在当地湖泊地区明确确定，但在景观规模上，在系统稳定和转化阶段发现了水平衡的变化。确定阈值以支持针对景观退化中立的政策和管理。