Alpine vegetation responses to snow phenology in the Chinese Tianshan mountainous region

Investigating the interrelation between snow and vegetation is essential to explain the response of alpine ecosystems to climate change. Based on the MOD10A1 daily cloud-free snow product and MOD13A1 NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index) data, this study analysed the spatial and temporal patterns of snow phenology including snow onset date, snow end date, snow cover days, and vegetation phenology including the start of growing season, the end of growing season and the length of growing season in the Chinese Tianshan Mountainous Region (CTMR) from 2002 to 2018, and then investigated the snow phenological effects on the vegetation phenology among different ecogeographic zones and diverse vegetation types. The results indicated that snow onset date was earlier at higher elevations and later at lower elevations, while snow end date showed opposite spatial distribution characteristics. The end of growing season occurred later on the northwest slope of the CTMR and the Yili Valley. The earliest end of growing season was in the middle part of the CTMR. A long growing season was mainly distributed along the northern slope and the Yili Valley, while a short growing season was concentrated in the middle part of the CTMR. The response of vegetation phenology to changes in snow phenology varied among vegetation types and ecogeographic zones. The effect of snow phenology on vegetation phenology was more significant in IID5 (Yili Valley) than in the other ecogeographic zones. A negative correlation was observed between the start of growing season and snow end date in nearly 54.78% of the study area, while a positive correlation was observed between the start of growing season and the snow end date in 66.85% of the study area. The sensitivity of vegetation phenology to changes in snow cover varied among different vegetation types. Snow onset date had the greatest effect on the start of growing season in the four vegetation cover types (alpine meadows, alpine steppes, shrubs, and alpine sparse vegetation), whereas the snow cover days had the least impact. Snow end date had the greatest impact on the end of growing season in the alpine steppes and shrub areas. The study results are helpful for understanding the vegetation dynamics under ongoing climate change, and can benefit vegetation management and pasture development in the CTMR.

Automated summary

Understanding the relationship between snow and vegetation in alpine ecosystems is crucial for studying the effects of climate change. This study analyzed the patterns of snow and vegetation phenology in the Chinese Tianshan Mountainous Region from 2002 to 2018, and found significant effects of snow phenology on vegetation phenology in different ecogeographic zones and vegetation types. The results provide insights into vegetation dynamics under climate change and can inform vegetation management and pasture development in the region.