Publications

Wang, C; Cui, AX; Ji, RK; Huang, SZ; Li, PF; Chen, NC; Shao, ZF (2025). Spatiotemporal Responses of Global Vegetation Growth to Terrestrial Water Storage. REMOTE SENSING, 17(10), 1701.

Abstract
Global vegetation growth is dynamically influenced and regulated by hydrological processes. Understanding vegetation responses to terrestrial water storage (TWS) dynamics is crucial for predicting ecosystem resilience and guiding water resource management under climate change. This study investigated global vegetation responses to a terrestrial water storage anomaly (TWSA) using NDVI and TWSA datasets from January 2004 to December 2023. We proposed a Pearson-ACF time lag analysis method that combined dynamic windowing and enhanced accuracy to capture spatial correlations and temporal lag effects in vegetation responses to TWS changes. The results showed the following: (1) Positive NDVI-TWSA correlations were prominent in low-latitude tropical regions, whereas negative responses occurred mainly north of 30 degrees N and in South American rainforest, covering 38.96% of the global vegetated land. (2) Response patterns varied by vegetation type: shrubland, grassland, and cropland exhibited short lags (1-4 months), while tree cover, herbaceous wetland, mangroves, and moss and lichen typically presented delayed responses (8-9 months). (3) Significant bidirectional Granger causality was identified in 16.39% of vegetated regions, mainly in eastern Asia, central North America, and central South America. These findings underscored the vital role of vegetation in the global water cycle, providing support for vegetation prediction, water resource planning, and adaptive water management in water-scarce regions.

DOI:
10.3390/rs17101701

ISSN:
2072-4292