Vegetation response to precipitation anomalies under different climatic and biogeographical conditions in China

Understanding precipitation-vegetation interaction is of great importance to implementing adaptation and mitigation measures for terrestrial ecosystems. Many studies have explored the spatial pattern of precipitation-vegetation correlation along the precipitation amount gradient. While the impacts of other precipitation characteristics remain poorly understood. Here, we provided a comprehensive investigation of spatiotemporal patterns of vegetation response to precipitation anomalies in China, using satellite-derived vegetation index and multi-source climate datasets for the years 1982–2015. Subsequently, we attempted to examine in detail what specific factors, climatic or biogeographic, are responsible for spatiotemporal patterns of precipitation-vegetation relationship. Results show that vegetation in Inner Mongolia Plateau is strongly affected by precipitation anomalies. Vegetation has a 1–2 month lag response to precipitation anomalies and is significantly correlated with 2–6 month cumulative precipitation anomalies. Seasonal differences of vegetation response are also remarkable. Moreover, the largest NDVI-precipitation correlation appears in areas with 150–500 mm of mean annual precipitation, 0.075–0.275 of fraction of precipitation days, and 19–23 of precipitation concentration index. More locally, the spatial distribution of NDVI-precipitation correlations is closely related to the vegetation type and elevation. The results can provide technical basis and beneficial reference to water resource and ecological management strategies in China for associated policymakers and stakeholders.