VARIATION IN GREEN-UP DATE OF <i>KOBRESIA PYGMAEA</i> ALPINE MEADOW IN QINGHAI-TIBETAN PLATEAU DURING 1961–2016

Abstract

Vegetation phenology in Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) has been proved to be more sensitive to climate change. The previous researches have reported divergent phonological responses of alpine vegetation in QTP from the analyses of remote sensing data, thus the demand for further analysis based on long-term observed vegetation data becomes more urgent. In the lack of long-term remote sensing monitoring data and ground observation data, phenology model simulation can be used as an effective remedy. In this study, we used a phenology model (unified model, UM) to simulate the green-up date for Kobresia pygmaea alpine meadow, and model evaluation shows that the unified model is able to make reasonable estimation for green-up date derived from satellite observations. Based on the phenology model and its parameters, spatial and temporal changes in green-up dates for Kobresia pygmaea alpine meadow in QTP from 1961 to 2016 were simulated, the results indicated that, the variation in green-up date presented an overall insignificant temporal trend with obvious spatial differences; furthermore, complex stage characteristics about the variation in green-up date were also clearly revealed, the period from 1991 to 2005 could be considered as a turning point, before which the trend was mainly in advan1ce and after which the trend was mainly in delay.