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Arid Land Geography ›› 2025, Vol. 48 ›› Issue (6): 985-994.doi: 10.12118/j.issn.1000-6060.2024.536

• Dynamic Changes of Vegetation • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Response of vegetation changes to meteorological drought in Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang

WU Xiulan1(), CHENG Heqian1, TONG Xinyi1, ZHANG Xu2()   

  1. 1. Xinjiang Climate Center, Urumqi 830002, Xinjiang, China
    2. Urumqi Meteorological Satellite Ground Station, Urumqi 830000, Xinjiang, China
  • Received:2024-09-05 Revised:2024-12-19 Online:2025-06-25 Published:2025-06-18
  • Contact: ZHANG Xu E-mail:wuxiulanxj@163.com;zhangxu_home@163.com

Abstract:

Considering the global climate change trends, understanding the impact of drought on vegetation is crucial for ecological protection and sustainable development. This study analyzes the spatiotemporal variation of vegetation and its response to meteorological drought within the Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang, China during the growing season (April-October) for the period of 2001—2023. Using the meteorological drought composite index (MCI) and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), we examine the trends in vegetation dynamics and drought conditions. The results indicate the following. (1) The NDVI values in Tianshan Mountains exhibited a slow increasing trend overall; however, a decline was observed since 2019. (2) The MCI values fluctuated but generally exhibited a slow decreasing trend, with a significant intensification of drought conditions in Xinjiang’s Tianshan Mountains region since 2020, particularly in summer, when MCI values dropped sharply. (3) A moderate positive correlation between MCI and NDVI suggested that meteorological drought significantly affected vegetation growth. Vegetation coverage exhibited notable seasonal and spatial heterogeneity, while drought severity followed a gradient—mildest in the west, intensifying in the central region, and most severe in the east. (4) The vegetation response to meteorological drought varied across different regions, with the most pronounced impact observed in the Wuqia County in the southwest. The results provide a scientific foundation for understanding climate change in Tianshan Mountains, assessing ecological responses to meteorological drought, and formulating effective drought mitigation strategies.

Key words: vegetation change, meteorological drought, response analysis, Tianshan Mountains