Spatial and Temporal changes in the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index and its Response to Climate Change in Shaanxi Province, China

Abstract

Vegetation largely reflects climatic changes. Monitoring of the dynamic changes of vegetation and its response to climate change plays an important role in our understanding of ecological changes in Shaanxi Province. Based on the GIMMS NDVI and air temperature and precipitation data of Shaanxi Province from 1982 to 2015, changes in the NDVI were. The NDVI in Shaanxi Province showed a significant linear increase from 1982 to 2015. Affected by a warming climate, increased precipitation, and the implementation of the “Grain for Green” project, the NDVI in northern Shaanxi showed a significant increase, while affected by climate warming and drying as well as human activities in central Shaanxi, it significantly decreased. This study provides a scientific basis for the adjustment of environmental protection policies in Shaanxi Province.