The Response of Vegetation Dynamics to Climate in Xinjiang from 1991 to 2018

Abstract

Vegetation change is one of the most prominent features of terrestrial ecosystems responding to climate change. Further exploration of vegetation characteristics in this context is essential for accurately understanding and predicting ecosystem processes. Xinjiang, an arid region, is highly sensitive to slight climate changes, which can significantly affect vegetation dynamics. Therefore, determining the relationship between climate and vegetation is of paramount importance. Based on this, this study focused on Xinjiang, selecting remote sensing data (including NDVI, LAI, and GPP) as evaluating indices, and the spatiotemporal characteristics of vegetation response to climate from 1991 to 2018 were analyzed using synchronized meteorological data, examining the relationship between vegetation and climate. The results indicated that NDVI, LAI, and GPP all increased during the period, with slopes of 0.52, 0.14 m2/m2, and 1.19 g C m−2 yr−1, showing significant spatial heterogeneity in distribution. The net vegetation area increased by more than 20,000 km2, with cropland experiencing the largest increase. Vegetation in northern Xinjiang showed a more significant positive response to increased precipitation and temperature, while vegetation in southern Xinjiang responded more complexly and exhibited negative correlations with climatic factors. The results emphasized the varied responses of vegetation to climate variables, with temperature having a more complex effect on vegetation change, while precipitation showed more distinct differences between the various vegetation indices. These findings provide important insights into the ecological sustainability of Xinjiang under warming and humidification.