NDVIdynamics and driving climatic factors in the Protected Zones for Ecological Functions in China

doi:10.17521/cjpe.2020.0096

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims This study demonstrates the consistencies and discrepancies of correlations between climate factors and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) in the Protected Zones for Ecological Functions (EFPZs) in China, which provide useful information for monitoring in subsequent studies of vegetation dynamics.
Methods Based on the MODISNDVI data and the grid data for monthly precipitation and air temperatures from 2000 to 2015, the dynamics of NDVI and correlations with climatic factors were examined across 46 EFPZs at two spatial scales, by individual EFPZs and the pixels, using linear tendency and partial correlation methods. In accordance to the analyses, the EFPZs were categorized into different types of climatic influences.
Important findings The overall NDVI across the EFPZs showed an increasing trend, with the average linear slope of 0.045·a^-1. Pixel scale analysis showed that NDVIincreased significantly in the central regions and the northeast of China. Partial correlation coefficients between NDVI and precipitation in the EFPZs varied between -0.30 to 0.72, and were positive for 32 in the EFPZs. Partial correlation between NDVI and air temperature ranged from -0.36 to 0.92, with positive correlations in 39 in the EFPZs. In 50.6% of the pixels, NDVIwas positively correlated with precipitation, mainly in northeast and northwest China. In 64.6% of the pixels,NDVI was positively correlated with air temperatures, mainly in the northeastern and the northern edge of the Qingzang Plateau. Strong temperature-precipitation driving is the main type of climatic influences on NDVI changes across the EFPZs, accounting for 38.7% of the total, with temperature driving type being secondary, accounting for 27.3%; non-climatic driving type accounts for 17.6%. Our results show the NDVI in the EFPZs are significantly correlated with climatic factors concerning precipitation and air temperatures, and that NDVI dynamics in 82.4% of the areas are driven by climate factors. Studying the changes in NDVI and the responses of NDVI to climate factors is very important for understanding the dynamics of vegetation in the EFPZs under climate warming.

Key words: the Protected Zones for Ecological Functions (EFPZs), normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), climatic factor, partial correlation analysis, climate driving type zone

XU Guang-Lai, LI Ai-Juan, XU Xiao-Hua, YANG Xian-Cheng, YANG Qiang-Qiang. NDVIdynamics and driving climatic factors in the Protected Zones for Ecological Functions in China[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2021, 45(3): 213-223.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.17521/cjpe.2020.0096

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2021/V45/I3/213

Figures/Tables 10

Fig. 1 Map of the Protected Zones for Ecological Functions in China. Ecological function zones of windbreak and sand fixation type: 1, Tarim River basin; 2, Altun desert grassland; 3, Horqin Sandy Land; 4, sandy land of the northern foot of Yinshan Mountain and Onqin Daga; 5, Heihe River basin ecological function protection area; 6, Mu Us sandy land. Ecological function zones of flood regulation and storage: 7, Songnen Plain wetland; 8, Sanjiang Plain wetland; 9, Dongting Lake area; 10, Poyang Lake area; 11, flood storage area along Huaihe River; 12, water source area of east route of south-north water transfer project. Ecological functional zones of water conservation: 13, Tianshan Mountain; 14, Da Hinggan Mountains; 15, Changbai Mountain; 16, Northwest Yunnan; 17, Source regions of Pearl River (located in Yunnan); 18, central mountain area of Hainan Island; 19, water conservation of the upper reaches of Xin?an River; 20, Altai Mountain; 21, source of Yarlung Zangbo River; 22, source regions of Huaihe River; 23, source regions of Yangtze River; 24, source regions of Yellow River; 25, Zoigê-Maqu; 26, Qinling Mountain; 27, water source area of the middle route of south-north water transfer project; 28, source regions of west Liaohe River; 29, water conservation of Beijing and Tianjin; 30, Nanling Mountain; 31, source regions of Dongjiang of Jiangxi Province. Ecological function zones of soil and water conservation: 32, Taihang Mountain; 33, Three Gorges Reservoir area; 34, Dongchuan of Yunnan province; 35, Southwest Karst; 36, Dabie Mountain; 37, Loess Plateau. Ecological function zones of species resources: 38, west section of Ili and Tianshan Mountain; 39, Liaohe Delta wetland; 40, Limestone in Southwest Guangxi; 41, Xishuangbanna; 42, Wuling Mountain; 43, Yellow River Delta wetland; 44, south of Hengduan Mountain; 45, Southeast Xizang mountain; 46, Minshan and Qionglai Mountain.

Table 1 Zoning rules for drivers of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) changes

NDVI变化驱动因子 NDVIchanges driving factor	NDVI变化驱动类型 NDVIchange driving type	准则 Rule
NDVI变化驱动因子 NDVIchanges driving factor	NDVI变化驱动类型 NDVIchange driving type	r_NDVI_-P,T	r_NDVI_-T,P	r_NDVI_-PT
气候因子 Climate factor	气温降水强驱动型 [T+P]⁺ Strong temperature-precipitation driving type	\|t\| > t_0.01	\|t\| > t_0.01	F > F_0.01
	降水驱动型 P Precipitation driving type		\|t\| > t_0.01	F>F_0.01
	气温驱动型 T Temperature driving type	\|t\| > t_0.01		F>F_0.01
	气温降水弱驱动型 [T+P]^- Weak temperature-precipitation driving type	\|t\| ≤ t_0.01	\|t\| ≤ t_0.01	F>F_0.01
非气候因子 Non-climate factor	非气候因子驱动型 NC Non-climatic driving type			F≤F_0.01

Fig. 2 Rates of changes in precipitation and temperatures in Protected Zones for Ecological Functions (EFPZs) in China. See Fig. 1 for the numbering of EFPZs.

Fig. 3 Changes of climatic factors in Protected Zones for Ecological Functions (EFPZs) in China. A, Precipitation. B, Air temperature. See Fig. 1 for the numbering of EFPZs.

Fig. 4 Rate of changes in annual cumulative normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) in Protected Zones for Ecological Functions (EFPZs) in China. See Fig. 1 for the numbering of EFPZs.

Fig. 5 Annual change in normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) at pixel scale in Protected Zones for Ecological Functions (EFPZs) in China. A, Change rate (·a-1). B, Significance level. See Fig. 1 for the numbering of EFPZs.

Fig. 6 Partial correlation coefficients of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) with precipitation (NDVI-P,T) and air temperature (NDVI-T,P) in Protected Zones for Ecological Functions (EFPZs) in China. See Fig. 1 for numbering of EFPZs.

Fig. 7 Spatial pattern of partial correlations between normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and climate factors at pixel scale in Protected Zones for Ecological Functions (EFPZs) in China. A, Precipitation. B, Air temperature. See Fig. 1 for numbering of EFPZs.

Fig. 8 Zoning of driving types in normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) changes at pixel scale. A, Multiple correlations between NDVI and climatic factors in Protected Zones for Ecological Functions (EFPZs) in China. B, Driving type zone. See Fig. 1 for numbering of EFPZs. See Table 1 for driving type of climatic influences on NDVI changes.

Fig. 9 Zoning of climatic driving types in normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) in Protected Zones for Ecological Functions (EFPZs) in China. See Fig. 1 for numbering of EFPZs. See Table 1 for driving type of climatic influences on NDVI changes.

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