Abstract:

We analyzed the spatial-temporal variations of vegetation, climate factors and their correlations using GIMMS NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index) dataset and monthly temperature, precipitation data from 67 standard meteorological observatories across Heilongjiang province during the period from 1981 to 2003. Results showed that vegetation became slightly flourishing in this region over 23 years, but the change was not a significant. The annual NDVI had a positive correlation with temperature, but a significant negative correlation with precipitation. The precipitation was the dominant factor affecting the vegetation dynamics in Heilongjiang Province. In most parts of Western and Northern Heilongjiang, vegetation tend to increasing, and there was a positive correlation with temperature, but a negative correlation with precipitation. In most parts of Eastern and Central, vegetation activities had a slightly weaken and the correlations with temperature and precipitation were obviously heterogeneous with majority positive. By time lag correlation analysis, we found that vegetation showed a better correlation with the cumulative precipitation of current month and last two months, but a better correlation with current monthly temperature.

Key words: NDVI, climate change, vegetation dynamics, spatial patterns