Temporal and spatial variations of net primary productivity (NPP) and its climate driving effect in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China from 2000 to 2020

Abstract

Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is a "climate change laboratory" for China and the world. Driven by climate change, net primary productivity (NPP) in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has significant variations. Using the data of normalized difference vegetation index, digital elevation, annual precipitation, and annual temperature, we explored the temporal and spatial variation characteristics of NPP and its correlation with climate factors on the Qinghai Tibet Plateau from 2000 to 2020. The results showed that NPP of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau increased significantly from 2000 to 2020, with an increase rate of 1.67 g C·m-2·a-1. The NPP was significantly positively correlated with temperature and precipitation. The climate trend of warming and wetting was an important driving force to promote the significant increase of NPP. The increases of NPP would continue if the climate become warmer and wetter.