Seasonal dynamic pattern analysis on global FPAR derived from AVHRR GIMMS NDVI

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to develop Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) Global Inventory Modelling and Mapping Studies (GIMMS) Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI; AVHRR GIMMS NDVI for short) based fraction of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (FPAR) from 1982 to 2006 and focus on their seasonal and spatial patterns analysis. The available relationship between FPAR and NDVI was used to calculate FPAR values from 1982 to 2006 and validated by Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) FPAR product. Then, the seasonal dynamic patterns were analysed, as well as the driving force of climatic factors. Results showed that there was an agreement between FPAR values from this study and those of the MODIS product in seasonal dynamic, and the spatial patterns of FPAR vary with vegetation type distribution and seasonal cycles. The time series of average FPAR revealed a strong seasonal variation, regular periodic variations from January 1982 to December 2006, and opposite patterns between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Evergreen vegetation FPAR values were close to 0.7. A clear single-peak curve was observed between 30°N and 80°N – an area covered by deciduous vegetation. In the Southern Hemisphere, the time series fluctuations of FPAR averaged by 0.7° latitude zones were not clear compared to those in the Northern Hemisphere. A significant positive correlation (P<0.01) was observed between the seasonal variation of temperature and precipitation and FPAR over most other global meteorological sites.