Abstract
In a context of climate change, precipitation patterns show substantial disturbances and the occurrence of precipitation anomalies has tended to increase in the Huang-Huai-Hai River Basin. These anomalies are likely influencing vegetation dynamics and ecosystem stability. This paper aims to have a comprehensive understanding of vegetation growth response towards the precipitation pattern in the Huang-Huai-Hai River Basin. The study used NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) data and mapped precipitation datasets from 1982 to 2011. NDVI and precipitation show a similar spatial distribution: they decrease from the southeast coast to the northwest inland. Regions with sparse vegetation are mainly distributed in arid and semi-arid areas or densely-populated areas. Vegetation coverage and the regular precipitation pattern show a positive correlation (61.6% of the whole region), while the correlation between vegetation coverage and precipitation anomalies is negative (62.7% for rainless days and 60.3% for rainstorm days). The clustering result shows that abundant vegetation is mainly situated in high precipitation or low anomaly areas. On the contrary, the degraded regions are mainly distributed in low precipitation or high anomaly areas. However, some special regions, mainly located in the Three North Shelterbelt Program region, the Tibetan Plateau, and other regions along the rivers, present improved vegetation cover when precipitation decreases or extreme events occur.
Highlights
Vegetation, one of the ecological system roots, connects the atmosphere, soil, and water
The Huang-Huai-Hai River Basin is located at 95° 53′–122° 60′ E, 32° 10′–43° N between several remarkable geological formations, such as the Tibetan Plateau, Inner Mongolia Plateau, Loess
The moisture brought about by rainstorms can nourish vegetation, but the rainstorm erosivity is disastrous to vegetation. To make it clear what influences rainstorms have on vegetation, we have explored the spatial distribution of the rainstorm days (Figure 2d)
Summary
Vegetation, one of the ecological system roots, connects the atmosphere, soil, and water. Vegetation plays a significant role in soil and water conservation, climate regulation, and ecosystem stability, as well as the global ecological system [1]. To understand the vegetation dynamic changes on the world is necessary. The most effective method to obtain large-area vegetation cover data, has been widely used, such as, Myneni et al have used it to explored the plant growth in the Northern High Latitutes [2]. Liu et al have used multi-temporal remote sensing image to analysis the landscape spatial patterns in east part of Beijing [3].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
