Changes of vegetation greenness and its response to drought-wet variation on the Qingzang Plateau

doi:10.17521/cjpe.2021.0500

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims The Qingzang Plateau is highly sensitive to global climate change. The unique natural conditions lead to extremely vulnerable vegetation and its ecosystem, making this region ideal for analyzing responses of vegetation to climate change. However, different types of vegetation may have different responses to seasonal variability. This study explores and analyzes vegetation changes on the Qingzang Plateau and the response characteristics of different vegetation types to moisture variations (i.e., dry and wet conditions) during the growing season.
Methods The standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) and the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) were used here as indicators of dry humidity and vegetation greenness, respectively. Sen’s slope estimation, BFAST model and correlation analyses were used to quantify the spatiotemporal variability of vegetation greenness and its response to drought-wet variations on the Qingzang Plateau from 2000 to 2018.
Important findings Results show that vegetation greenness on the Qingzang Plateau generally increased over the time period analyzed. Additionally, the rate of spatial variation reveals striking regional differences. The breaks of vegetation greenness occurred in most regions during 2012-2015, after which there was general upward trend after the breaks, the various trend is most apparent in northern Qingzang Plateau. Positive correlations between NDVI and multi-time scale SPEI were observed in most regions during the growing season, and gradually increased in the middle and latter part of the growing season. The responses of each vegetation type to SPEI also showed a distinct periodicity during the year. Meadow and steppe areas were more sensitive to multi-time scale SPEI than forest and shrub areas, and this response differed significantly during different stages of the growing season and for different time scales of SPEI.

Key words: Qingzang Plateau, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI), vegetation type, response

ZHU Yu-Ying, ZHANG Hua-Min, DING Ming-Jun, YU Zi-Ping. Changes of vegetation greenness and its response to drought-wet variation on the Qingzang Plateau[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2023, 47(1): 51-64.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.17521/cjpe.2021.0500

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2023/V47/I1/51

Figures/Tables 11

Fig. 1 Spatial distribution of ecosystem zones and stations on the Qingzang Plateau. IB1, Golog-Nagqu high-cold shrub-meadow zone; IC1, southern Qinghai high-cold meadow steppe zone; IC2, Qiangtang high-cold steppe zone; ID1, Kunlun high-cold desert zone; IIAB1, Western Sichuan-eastern Xizang montane coniferous forest zone; IIC1, Southern Xizang montane shrub-steppe zone; IIC2, Eastern Qinghai-Qilian montane steppe zone; IID1, Ngari montane desert-steppe and desert zone; IID2, Qaidam montane desert zone; IID3, Northern slopes of Kunlun montane desert zone; OA1, Southern slopes of Himalaya montane evergreen broadleaved forest zone. Ecosystem zones were referred from Zheng (2008).

Fig. 2 Temporal change of vegetation greenness on the Qingzang Plateau from 2000 to 2018. NDVI, normalized difference vegetation index.

Fig. 3 Spatial distribution of rate of change on vegetation greenness of the Qingzang Plateau from 2000 to 2018.

Fig. 4 Break years of vegetation greenness on the Qingzang Plateau from 2000 to 2018. Ecosystem zones see Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 Break types of vegetation greenness on the Qingzang Plateau from 2000 to 2018. 1, Increase with negative break; 2, decrease with positive break; 3, increase to decrease; 4, decrease to increase. Ecosystem zones see Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 Change rate of vegetation greenness on the Qingzang Plateau from 2000 to 2018 before and after breaks. A, C, Before breaks. B, D, After breaks. Ecosystem zones see Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 Proportion of each change rate of vegetation greenness on the Qingzang Plateau from 2000 to 2018. A, Before breaks. B, After the breaks.

Fig. 8 Correlation between normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) on the Qingzang Plateau during growing seasons of 2000 to 2018. SPEI01, SPEI02, SPEI03, SPEI06, SPEI09, SPEI12, SPEI18 and SPEI24 represents the drought severity in cumulative time period of 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 months, respectively.

Fig. 9 The maximum correlation coefficient between normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) from 2000 to 2018 on the Qingzang Plateau. Ecosystem zones see Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 Time scales of standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) when the maximum correlation coefficient of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and SPEI appeared from 2000 to 2018 on the Qingzang Plateau. Ecosystem zones see Fig. 1.

Fig. 11 Spatial distribution of interannual drought-wet variation on the Qingzang Plateau from 2000 to 2018. Ecosystem zones see Fig. 1.

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