Correlation analysis between vegetation coverage and climate drought conditions in North China during 2001–2013

• Published in: Journal of geographical sciences Vol. 27; no. 2; pp. 143 - 160
• Main Authors: Gong, Zhaoning, Zhao, Shuyi, Gu, Jinzhi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Science Press 01-02-2017; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Climate change; Climatic conditions; Correlation analysis; Drought; Drought index; Earth and Environmental Science; Environmental effects; Environmental impact; Geographical Information Systems/Cartography; Geography; Mountains; Nature Conservation; Physical Geography; Remote Sensing/Photogrammetry; Suburban areas; Vegetation; 华北地区; 地区气候; 干旱指数; 干旱条件; 植被覆盖度; 植被覆盖率; 生态环境; 相关性分析; Beijing China; Henan China; China; Hebei China; North China; correlation analysis; vegetation coverage; ecoregion; PDSI
• ISSN: 1009-637X; 1861-9568
• DOI: 10.1007/s11442-017-1369-5

Climate change is one of the most important factors that affect vegetation distribution in North China. Among all climatic factors, drought is considered to have the most significant effect on the environment. Based on previous studies, the climate drought index can be used to assess the evolutionary trend of the ecological environment under various arid climatic conditions. It is necessary for us to further explore the relationship between vegetation coverage（index） and climate drought conditions. Therefore, in this study, based on MODIS-NDVI products and meteorological observation data, the Palmer Drought Severity Index（PDSI） and vegetation coverage in North China were first calculated. Then, the interannual variations of PDSI and vegetation coverage during 2001–2013 were analyzed using a Theil-Sen slope estimator. Finally, an ecoregion perspective of the correlation between them was discussed. The experimental results demonstrated that the PDSI index and vegetation coverage value varied over different ecoregions. During the period 2001–2013, vegetation coverage increased in the southern and northern mountains of North China, while it showed a decreasing trend in the Beijing-Tianjin-Tangshan City Circle area and suburban agricultural zone located in Hebei Province and Henan Province）. Over 13 years, the climate of the northeastern part of North China became more humid, while in the southern part of North China, it tended to be dry. According to the correlation analysis results, 73.37% of North China showed a positive correlation between the vegetation coverage and climate drought index. A negative correlation was observed mainly in urban and suburban areas of Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei Province, and Henan Province. In most parts of North China, drought conditions in summer and autumn had a strong influence on vegetation coverage.