Research on Temporal and Spatial Variation Characteristics of Vegetation Cover in Qilian Mountains from 1982 to 2006

Based on GIMMS NDVI data of Qilian Mountains region during 1982-2006, using the maximum synthesis, mean method, slope analysis and correlation analysis, the spatial and temporal changes of vegetation cover and its correlations with climatic factors were studied in Qilian Mountains. The results showed that: ①Vegetation NDVI of Qilian Mountains increases from west to east in general, showing the distribution pattern of much more vegetation in east regions than in west regions; ②Vegetation NDVI of Qilian Mountains has generally increased in the past twenty five years, but there are obvious spatial differences, especially vegetation NDVI of middle and east regions increase obviously; ③There have been obvious differences on spatial variation of seasonal NDVI in the past twenty five years in Qilian Mountains, and the increased area of vegetation NDVI is the largest in summer, followed by autumn, spring, but the most reduced area of vegetation NDVI is in winter. The regions of increased vegetation NDVI concentrate on southern mountain of Qinghai Province and in Buha River Basin, while the regions of reduced vegetation NDVI concentrate on Wushaoling, Lenglongling and Daban mountain in each season; ④The correlations between monthly average vegetation NDVI and temperature and precipitation are very significant, which indicates that temperature and precipitation are the main factors affecting the change of vegetation NDVI in Qilian Mountains, but intensive human activities are also important factors affecting the change of vegetation NDVI in some areas.