Analyzing vegetation dynamics and climate variability in the western Caspian ecosystem using MODIS NDVI time series data

Dastigerdi, Morteza ; Nadi, Mehdi ; Mashhadi, Bahareh Shamgani ; Serrano-Notivoli, Roberto (Universidad de Zaragoza)

Resumen: This study focuses on analyzing the spatio-temporal trends in vegetative activity and climatic variables in Guilan Province of Iran, from 2001 to 2020. The Mann-Kendall test was employed to assess vegetation and climatic trends. The results demonstrate pronounced decline in vegetative activity below the 500 m.a.s.l., around the densely populated regions through the coastlines and in southeastern of Anzali wetland. Also, a notable increase was observed in highlands and between 174 and 1,280 m.a.s.l. The result reveals a definite trend of rising minimum and maximum temperatures, alongside a notable decline in precipitation in 45% of the study. The correlation between vegetative activity and climatic variables demonstrates that higher temperatures are closely associated with increased vegetation growth, while rainfall has a significant negative impact. However, the impacts of climatic variables in the southern parts contradicts the overall pattern of study area. The homogeneity test of the annual NDVI data revealed a significant decrease in NDVI between 2008 and 2012 in areas that underwent significant vegetation destruction. Recent increase in vegetation activity can be attributed to rising temperatures, however, human activities, including land use changes, the degradation of wetlands, are having a detrimental impact on vegetative activity in Guilan province.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1016/j.geogeo.2026.100491

Año: 2026

Publicado en: Geosystems and geoenvironment (2026), 100491 [21 pp.]
ISSN:

Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MICINN/RYC2021-034330-I

Tipo y forma: Artículo (PrePrint)

Área (Departamento): Área Geografía Física (Dpto. Geograf. Ordenac.Territ.)