Study Reveals the Growth Rate of Natural Vegetation Determines the Greening in the Northern Hemisphere

Natural vegetation, as an important component of terrestrial ecosystems, plays a significant role in the greening process in the mid-high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere. The significant increase in vegetation growth rate occurs in June and October, which is the main reason for the natural vegetation greening phenomenon, according to a study published in Ecological Indicators on Nov. 7.

This study was carried out by a team of researchers led by CHEN Yaning at the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography of the Chinese Academy of Science.

Vegetation growth rate is closely related to preseason temperature and precipitation. The study revealed that the impact of pre-season temperature and precipitation on vegetation growth rate varies greatly in different regions. The significant increase in temperature in October was the main factor that slowed the rate of vegetation senescence. Preseason temperature controlled the fluctuation in the growth rate from 50°N to 70°N. Preseason precipitation had a greater impact in southeastern North America and western Asia.

The results can provide new perspective for systematically elucidating the mechanism of vegetation greening in future.

Article link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2023.111025

Contact

LIU Jie

Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Phone: 0991-7885505

E-mail: liujie@ms.xjb.ac.cn