Monitoring NPP changes in Changbai Mountain area, China with MODIS images

Net primary production (NPP) is the net carbon stored as new plant material in an ecosystem which supplies humans with various foods, fuels, fibres and construction materials. Accurately revealing the spatial patterns and temporal dynamics of NPP of terrestrial ecosystems is essential for understanding the carbon cycle of the terrestrial biosphere. Changbai Mountain area is the most important natural landscape remaining in China´s temperate/boreal climate. The temporal and spatial features of vegetation productivity were analyzed from 2001 to 2006 based on the MOD17A3 data. Results showed that NPP of vegetation during past six years ranged from 300 to 450gC/ (m²· a), the average NPP was 404.94gC/ (m²· a). Annual NPP vegetation was on ascending trend during past six years. The impacts of land use/cover and climate changes on NPP were also discussed. Results will provide basic information on forest reservation and ecological security assessment in this mountain area.