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Identifying spatial patterns of synchronization between NDVI and climatic determinants using joint recurrence plots

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Abstract

Ten-day series of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) derived from multi-temporal satellite imagery (1998–2008) was employed as a surrogate for the surface vegetation cover to investigate synchronization of the climatic determinants and its spatial patterns in China. The results, both of the spatiotemporal patterns of joint probability of recurrence (JPR) index and lag time of maximal JPR, clearly suggest that the synchronous relationships of NDVI–climate are site specific and spatially heterogeneous. Higher JPR values of NDVI–temperature are found in Northern China, indicating stronger synchronization in these areas, while higher JPR values of NDVI–precipitation are found in semi-arid and semi-humid regions, which suggest that the moisture factor has a significant influence on NDVI in these areas. Whether lagged or advanced relationship, the phase difference of NDVI–temperature is smaller in Southern China, while is bigger in Northern China. In contrast, the phase difference of NDVI–precipitation is smaller in the semi-arid and sub-humid areas, which means that precipitation has a significant and immediate influence on vegetation in these areas. Overall, the JPR values for NDVI–temperature are higher than those for NDVI–precipitation, suggest that the synchronization between NDVI and temperature is stronger than that between NDVI and precipitation in most areas of China. The results indicate that joint recurrence quantification analysis is a good candidate method for identifying the synchronization between NDVI and climatic determinants.

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Acknowledgments

Joint recurrence quantification analysis was done using the cross recurrence toolbox developed by Dr. Norbert Marwan at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. The authors gratefully acknowledge his help in providing access to this toolbox. Financial support was provided by National Key Research Development Plan (grant no. 2010CB951704) and National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 40771001 and No. 40971052.

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  1. Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes Ministry of Education, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China

    Shuangcheng Li, Zhiqiang Zhao, Yang Wang & Yanglin Wang

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  1. Shuangcheng Li
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  2. Zhiqiang Zhao
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  4. Yanglin Wang
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Correspondence to Shuangcheng Li.

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Li, S., Zhao, Z., Wang, Y. et al. Identifying spatial patterns of synchronization between NDVI and climatic determinants using joint recurrence plots. Environ Earth Sci 64, 851–859 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-011-0909-z

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