Abstract: In order to identify the spatiotemporal variations of NDVI in terrestrial ecosystem in Yangtze River Basin and its response to hydrothermal condition, we analyzed the interannual changes of NDVI, accumulated temperature, precipitation and their correlations in the Yangtze River Basin based on the MODIS NDVI, temperature and precipitation data in 2000-2015 using time series analysis techniques. Results revealed that: (1) The NDVI displayed a significant increasing trend in the Yangtze River Basin in recent 16 years. The growth rates of NDVI in farmland, forest, water and wetland ecosystem were larger than those of others. (2) Precipitation increased slightly in the whole basin with evident spatial heterogeneity. Accumulated temperature above 10 ℃significantly increased and generally presented increasing trend in spatial scale. (3) Due to differences in climate and ecosystem patterns, the correlation between NDVI and precipitation and accumulated temperature above 10 ℃varied in different zones. In general,precipitation is not a restrictive factor for vegetation growth in the Yangtze River Basin. The correlation between NDVI and precipitation is not significant. But for forest, grassland and desert ecosystems, NDVI and accumulated temperature present a more significant positive correlation, indicating that heat condition is a restrictive factor of vegetation growth in the Yangtze River Basin.

Key words: terrestrial ecosystem, NDVI, spatio-temporal change characteristics, hydrothermal condition, Yangtze River Basin