Global map of interannual response of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) for air temperature, precipitation, and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR)

Precipitation, air temperature, and radiation are the most dominant meteorological factor for the vegetation distribution and its interannual change. For example, lack of precipitation precludes vegetation in desert in mid-latitude, while lack of temperature constrains the vegetation in high-latitude tundra zones. The cloud cover disturbs the potential photosynthetic activity of the vegetation by reducing the Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR; (0.4 - 0.7 μm)) from the sun. This vegetation-atmosphere relationship was examined by using satellite-derived Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data and meteorological data. The interannual correlation coefficients between NDVI and temperature; NDVI and precipitation; and NDVI and PAR from 1986 to 1995 are globally mapped.