Climate sensitivity of the start of the growing season in spring and the end of the growing season in autumn for vegetation in Inner Mongolia

doi:10.11686/cyxb2022274

Abstract

Abstract:

The start of growing season （SOS） in spring and the end of growing season （EOS） in autumn are regarded as two important phenological indicators of vegetation growth. However， the sensitivity of these indicators to changes in climate， especially temperature， as well as their differences remain unclear. In this study， MODIS NDVI and meteorological data from 2001 to 2019 were used to calculate the SOS in spring and the EOS in autumn of vegetation in Inner Mongolia at meteorological station- and pixel-scales. In these analyses， the numbers of growing degree-days （GDD） and cooling degree-days （CDD； i.e. DD with mean temperature below the base temperature） were used as temperature indicators that affect the SOS and EOS. These analyses revealed spatial patterns of SOS and EOS and their sensitivity to climate change. It was found that， from 2001 to 2019， the SOS for vegetation in Inner Mongolia usually occurred around d 110-135 （where Jan 1^st=d 1）， and was progressively earlier with time （2.6 d·10 a^-1）. The EOS usually occurred around d 260-280， and showed a weak trend towards later occurrence （0.7 d·10 a^-1）. In 68.1% of the study area the SOS was advanced by GDD accumulation in the period immediately prior and similarly in 56% of the study area EOS was advanced by CDD accumulation in the period immediately prior. Both SOS and EOS were sensitive to precipitation， and the response was mainly positive （i.e. a delay of SOS or EOS）. The results at the meteorological station-scale were basically consistent with those at the pixel-scale. At the meteorological station-scale， the temperature sensitivity of 65% stations was greater at the EOS than at the SOS， and the precipitation sensitivity of 94% stations was greater at the SOS than at the EOS. In the context of climate change， the results of studies on sensitivity are useful for devising sustainable ecosystem management strategies， and have important reference value for phenological simulations and ecosystem climate assessments.

Key words: Inner Mongolia, start of growing season, end of growing season, growing degree-days, cooling degree-days, sensitivity

Kai-feng WANG, Gang BAO, Zhi-hui YUAN, Si-qin TONG, Zhi-gang YE, Xiao-jun HUANG, Yu-hai BAO. Climate sensitivity of the start of the growing season in spring and the end of the growing season in autumn for vegetation in Inner Mongolia[J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2023, 32(4): 30-41.

Figures/Tables 10

Fig.1 Location of the study area and distribution of meteorological stations

Fig.2 Spatial distribution of unchanged and changed area of land cover types in the Inner Mongolia from 2001 to 2019

Fig.3 Illustration of NDVI smoothing and the cumulative NDVI based Logistic curve model

Fig.4 Spatial distribution of annual mean start of growing season （SOS） and end of growing season （EOS） and variation trend of SOS and EOS in Inner Mongolia during 2001 to 2019

Fig.5 Temporal variation trend of annual mean SOS （a） and EOS （b） in Inner Mongolia during 2001 to 2019

Fig.6 Spatial distribution of sensitivity of meteorological factors during SOS and EOS in Inner Mongolia during 2001 to 2019

Table 1 Sensitivity of different vegetation types to meteorological factors during SOS and EOS in Inner Mongolia during 2001 to 2019

植被类型 Vegetation types	返青期敏感性Sensitivity of SOS		枯黄期敏感性Sensitivity of EOS
植被类型 Vegetation types	温度Temperature （d·℃^-1）	降水Precipitation （d·mm^-1）	温度Temperature （d·℃^-1）	降水Precipitation （d·mm^-1）
林地Woodland	-0.042	0.204	-0.007	-0.032
灌丛Bushwood	0.017	0.308	0.045	0.105
草地Grassland	-0.018	0.163	-0.006	0.055
农田Cropland	-0.011	0.046	-0.007	0.003
稀疏植被Sparse vegetation	0.003	0.003	0.003	0.039

Fig.7 Comparison of temperature sensitivity and precipitation sensitivity during SOS and EOS of Inner Mongolia meteorological stations during 2001 to 2019

Fig.8 Spatial distribution of temperature sensitivity （a） and precipitation sensitivity （b） during SOS and EOS in Inner Mongolia meteorological stations during 2001 to 2019

Fig.9 Comparison of multi-year mean GDD and CDD in Inner Mongolia meteorological stations during 2001 to 2019

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