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Updated: Jan 22, 2026

Field Measurement of Effective Leaf Area Index using Optical Device in Vegetation Canopy
Published on: July 29, 2021
Divergent changes in the elevational gradient of vegetation activities over the last 30 years
Mengdi Gao1, Shilong Piao2,3, Anping Chen4
1Sino- French Institute for Earth System Science, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, 100871, Beijing, China.
Abstract:
The reported progressive change of vegetation activity along elevational gradients has important aesthetic and conservation values. With climate change, cooler locations are suggested to warm faster than warmer ones, raising concerns of a more homogenized landscape along the elevation. Here, we use global satellite data to investigate the spatio-temporal dynamics of the elevational gradient (EG) in vegetation greenness (NDVImax3), spring (SOS) and autumn phenology (EOS) during 1982-2015. Although we find clear geographical patterns of the EG in NDVImax3 and SOS, there are no prevalent trends of vegetation homogenization or phenology synchronization along elevational gradients. Possible mechanisms, including spatially heterogeneous temperature lapse rate changes, different vegetation sensitivities to climate change, and human disturbances, may play diverse roles across different regions. Our finding of mixed EG trends and no general rules controlling EG dynamics poses challenges for mitigating possible adverse impacts of climate change on mountainous biological diversity and ecosystem services.
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