The role of permafrost and soil water in distribution of alpine grassland and its NDVI dynamics on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

• Published in: Global and planetary change Vol. 147; pp. 40 - 53
• Main Authors: Wang, Xiaoyun, Yi, Shuhua, Wu, Qingbai, Yang, Kun, Ding, Yongjian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.12.2016
• Subjects: Alpine grassland; alpine meadows; China; Climate warming; data collection; ecosystems; frozen soils; global warming; Grasslands; grazing; Limiting factor; NDVI change; normalized difference vegetation index; Permafrost; plateaus; Soil temperature; soil texture; soil types; Soil water; soil water content; Steppes; surface temperature; Texture; Trends; Vegetation growth; China; Alpine grassland; Permafrost; Climate warming; NDVI change; Limiting factor

Soil temperature and soil water are two important factors controlling vegetation growth. Climate warming and associated permafrost degradation might change these soil conditions and affect alpine grassland on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. However, our current understanding of the role of soil tempera...