Interannual variability and correlation of vegetation cover and precipitation in Eastern China

Abstract

Based on the SPOT/VEGETATION Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data and daily precipitation data of 357 meteorological stations, the spatial and temporal variability of vegetation cover, measured by NDVI, and precipitation as well as their relationships are investigated in Eastern China, which is portioned into three subregions (regions I, II, and III), for the period 1998–2010. The results show that high NDVI values appear mainly in Northeastern China and in August while high precipitation (PRETOT) occurs in Southeastern China and in July (June for Southern China). Extreme precipitation days (RD95p) and amount (EPRETOT) coincide well with PRETOT. Extreme precipitation intensity (RINTEN) has a similar spatial variability to PRETOT but with a smaller seasonal variation than PRETOT. Growing season NDVI is positively correlated with PRETOT in 11.7 % of the study area (mostly in arid to subhumid regions of Northern China), where precipitation is a limiting factor for vegetation growth. In contrast, a negative correlation between growing season NDVI and PRETOT is found in 4.8 % of the study area, mostly in areas around the Yangtze River and deep Northeastern China. No significant correlations between these two variables are found for the other regions because vegetation response to precipitation is affected by other factors such as temperature, radiation, and human disturbance. On a monthly scale, there is a positive correlation between NDVI and PRETOT in May (for region II) and September (all subregions except region I). NDVI variations lag 1 month behind PRETOT in June (for region I) and October. Correlations between NDVI and RD95p, EPRETOT are similar to that with PRETOT, but the relationships between NDVI and RINTEN are relatively weaker than with PRETOT. This study provides the technical basis for agriculture development and ecological construction in Eastern China.