Temporal and spatial trends in NDVI of vegetation in water level fluctuation zone and drivers along an altitude gradient in the Yarlung Zangbo River Basin

doi:10.17520/biods.2023432

Abstract

Abstract:

Aim: The important question of how riparian vegetation adapts to climatic and river hydrological changes is gaining global attention. Yet, the impact of snow and frequency of water level fluctuation on vegetation in the water level fluctuation zones remains underexplored. This study focuses on the response of the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) of riparian vegetation to climatic and hydrological changes in the basin of Yarlung Zangbo River, with an emphasis on understanding the impacts of snow and water level fluctuations in alpine fluctuation zones.

Method: This study employed Theil-Sen Median trend analysis and Mann-Kendall test to evaluate spatiotemporal vegetation trends utilizing NDVI as a key indicator from 1990 to 2022 in the Yarlung Zangbo River Basin, focusing on both the water level fluctuation zone and the adjacent 1-5 km buffer zones. A generalized linear model was used to quantify influencing factors including temperature, precipitation, snow water equivalent, and frequency of water level fluctuation.

Results: The spatial distribution of riparian vegetation’s NDVI demonstrated lower values in the northwest and higher in the southeast. Temporally, a notable fluctuating upward trend in NDVI was observed, reaching its peak in 2002 (0.16) and its bottom in 2022 (0.06). The annual NDVI progression revealed a consistent increase at mid-to-high altitudes, contrasting with the downstream areas’ sustained and irregular declines. Altitudinal analysis indicated that the decrease in NDVI varied in both the water level fluctuation and buffer zones, but was especially prominent between 1,500-3,000 m. The frequency of water level fluctuations stood out as the primary determinant for riparian NDVI, while temperature predominantly influenced the buffer zone’s NDVI. Additionally, the role of snow water equivalent in explaining NDVI became increasingly significant with elevation.

Conclusion: Vegetation in the water level fluctuation zone is influenced by various climatic and environmental factors, with water level fluctuations being pivotal. The importance of snow intensifies with increasing altitude, underscoring its significance in the spatial-temporal vegetation distribution.

Key words: water level fluctuation zone, frequency of water level fluctuation, snow water equivalent, elevation, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI)

Yao Zhang, Junyao Sun, Wei Li. Temporal and spatial trends in NDVI of vegetation in water level fluctuation zone and drivers along an altitude gradient in the Yarlung Zangbo River Basin[J]. Biodiv Sci, 2024, 32(5): 23432.

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URL: https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/10.17520/biods.2023432

https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/Y2024/V32/I5/23432

Figures/Tables 11

Fig. 1 Geographical location of the Yarlung Zangbo River Basin

Fig. 2 Schematic diagram of water level fluctuation zone and 1-5 km buffer zones in the Yarlung Zangbo River Basin. (a) 4,500- 6,000 m; (b) 3,000-4,500 m; (c) 1,500-4,500 m; (d) 0-1,500 m.

Table 1 Vegetation and climate characteristics of different altitude zone in the Yarlung Zangbo River Basin

海拔区 Altitude zone	主要植被类型 Main vegetation type	气候类型 Type of climate	特点 Characteristics
0-1,500 m	亚热带落叶阔叶林 Subtropical deciduous broad-leaved forest	亚热带湿润气候 Humid subtropical climate	干湿季分明, 多云雾 Dry and wet seasons are distinct, often with cloudy and foggy conditions
1,500-3,000 m	亚热带山地针叶林 Subtropical montane coniferous forests	亚热带湿润气候 Humid subtropical climate	干湿季分明 Dry and wet seasons are distinct
3,000-4,500 m	亚热带针叶林、亚热带落叶阔叶灌丛 Subtropical coniferous forest, subtropical deciduous broad-leaved shrub	温带草原气候 Temperate steppe climate	干湿季分明, 受积雪影响 Distinct dry and wet seasons, influenced by snow accumulation
4,500-6,000 m	嵩草、杂类草干旱草甸 Tarragon, miscellaneous grasses arid meadows	温带草原气候 Temperate steppe climate	光照充足, 辐射强度大, 干湿季节明显, 受积雪影响 Abundant sunlight, high radiation intensity, distinct dry and wet seasons, influenced by snow accumulation
6,000-7,500 m	嵩草、杂类草干旱草甸、高山稀疏植被 Tarragon, miscellaneous grasses arid meadows, alpine sparse vegetation	温带草原气候 Temperate steppe climate	长时间积雪, 广泛分布冰川、多年冻土 Prolonged snowpack, widespread glaciers, permafrost

Fig. 3 Distribution of mean normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) in the water level fluctuation zone and 1-5 km buffer zones of the Yarlung Zangbo River Basin from 1990 to 2022. (a) 4,500-6,000 m; (b) 3,000-4,500 m; (c) 1,500-4,500 m; (d) 0-1,500 m.

Fig. 4 Temporal trends of the annual mean normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) in the water level fluctuation zone and 1-5 km buffer zones of the Yarlung Zangbo River Basin

Fig. 5 Distribution of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) of annual mean change trend test in the water level fluctuation zone and 1-5 km buffer zones of the Yarlung Zangbo River Basin. (a) 4,500-6,000 m; (b) 3,000-4,500 m; (c) 1,500-4,500 m; (d) 0-1,500 m.

Fig. 6 Percentage of area coverage for normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) change trends in the water level fluctuation zone and 1-5 km buffer zones of the Yarlung Zangbo River Basin

Fig. 7 Persistence analysis of the future trend of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) changes in the water level fluctuation zone and 1-5 km buffer zones of the Yarlung Zangbo River Basin. (a) 4,500-6,000 m; (b) 3,000-4,500 m; (c) 1,500-4,500 m; (d) 0-1,500 m.

Fig. 8 Percentage of degradation trend in normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) changes in the water level fluctuation zone and 1-5 km buffer zones of the Yarlung Zangbo River Basin. The figure only displays the percentage of area exhibiting a decreasing or anti-decreasing trend. There are no areas exhibiting decreasing or anti-decreasing trends within the 1-3 km buffer zones of 6,000-7,500 m.

Fig. 9 Relative importance of temperature (T), precipitation (P), snow water equivalent (S), and frequency of water level fluctuation (W) on normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). (a) 4,500-6,000 m; (b) 3,000-4,500 m; (c) 1,500-4,500 m; (d) 0-1,500 m.

Fig. 10 Relative importance of temperature, precipitation, snow water equivalent, and frequency of water level fluctuation related to normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). Due to the small amount of NDVI data within an altitude range of 6,500-7,000 m, no generalized linear model was successfully constructed for NDVI in the water level fluctuation zone and 1-3 km buffer zones within an altitude range of 6,500 to 7,000 m.

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