Temporal and Spatial Change in Vegetation and Its Interaction with Climate Change in Argentina from 1982 to 2015

Abstract

Studying vegetation change and its interaction with climate change is essential for regional ecological protection. Previous studies have demonstrated the impact of climate change on regional vegetation in South America; however, studies addressing the fragile ecological environment in Argentina are limited. Therefore, we assessed the vegetation dynamics and their climatic feedback in five administrative regions of Argentina, using correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis methods. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index 3rd generation (NDVI3g) from Global Inventory Monitoring and Modeling Studies (GIMMS) and climatic data from the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) Land Data Assimilation System (FLDAS) were processed. The NDVI of the 1982–2015 period in Argentina showed a downward trend, varying from −1.75 to 0.69/decade. The NDVI in Northeast Argentina (NEA), Northwest Argentina (NWA), Pampas, and Patagonia significantly decreased. Precipitation was negatively correlated with the NDVI in western Patagonia, whereas temperature and solar radiation were positively correlated with the NDVI. Extreme precipitation and drought were essential causes of vegetation loss in Patagonia. The temperature (73.09%), precipitation (64.02%), and solar radiation (73.27%) in Pampas, Cuyo, NEA, and NWA were positively correlated with the NDVI. However, deforestation and farming and pastoral activities have caused vegetation destruction in Pampas, NEA, and NWA. Environmental protection policies and deforestation regulations should be introduced to protect the ecological environment. The results of this study clarify the reasons for the vegetation change in Argentina and provide a theoretical reference for dealing with climate change.