From the Past to the Future: Unveiling the Impact of Extreme Climate on Vegetation Dynamics in Northern China Through Historical Trends and Future Projections

Yuxuan Zhang, Xiaojun Yao (), Juan Zhang and Qin Ma
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Yuxuan Zhang: College of Geography and Environmental Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Xiaojun Yao: College of Geography and Environmental Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Juan Zhang: College of Geography and Environmental Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Qin Ma: College of Geography and Environmental Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 7, 1-28

Abstract: Over the past few decades, occurrences of extreme climatic events have escalated significantly, with severe repercussions for global ecosystems and socio-economics. northern China (NC), characterized by its complex topography and diverse climatic conditions, represents a typical ecologically vulnerable region where vegetation is highly sensitive to climate change. Therefore, monitoring vegetation dynamics and analyzing the influence of extreme climatic events on vegetation are crucial for ecological conservation efforts in NC. Based on extreme climate indicators and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), this study employed trend analysis, Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition, all subsets regression analysis, and random forest to quantitatively investigate the spatiotemporal variations in historical and projected future NDVI trends in NC, as well as their responses to extreme climatic conditions. The results indicate that from 1982 to 2018, the NDVI in NC generally exhibited a recovery trend, with an average growth rate of 0.003/a and a short-term variation cycle of approximately 3 years. Vegetation restoration across most areas was primarily driven by short-term high temperatures and long-term precipitation patterns. Future projections under different emission scenarios (SSP245 and SSP585) suggest that extreme climate change will continue to follow historical trends. However, increased radiative forcing is expected to constrain both the rate of vegetation growth and its spatial expansion. These findings provide a scientific basis for mitigating the impacts of climate anomalies and improving ecological quality in NC.

Keywords: extreme climate; NDVI; multiple timescales; CMIP6 models; northern China (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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