Figure 1

Seasonal trajectory of WPSH based on monthly means of Iw and Ir averaged over 1982-2010. The first number in the brackets denotes the number of month and the second number the monthly Ii averaged over the study period."

Figure 2

(a) Spatial distribution of vegetation types in the seven eco-regions of NE, IM, NW, NC, SC, TP and SW, representing Northeast China, Inner Mongolia, Northwest China, North China, Southeast China, Tibetan Plateau and Southwest China, respectively; (b) Regional mean yearly NDVI time series for eco-regions"

Figure 3

(a) Spatial distribution of correlation coefficient between yearly Ii and NDVI; (b) Spatial distribution of yearly NDVI anomalies composite for high Ii years; (c) As (b) but for low Ii years. All the anomalies in this research are relative to the average of 1982-2010."

Figure 4

(a) Spatial distribution of yearly NDVI anomalies composite for high Iw years; (b) As (a) but for low Iw years; (c) Spatial distribution of yearly GPP anomalies composite for high Iw years; (d) As (c) but for low Iw years"

Figure 5

(a) The 500 hPa geopotential height and vertically integrated water fluxes anomalies composite for low Iw years; (b) As (a) but composite for high Iw years"

Figure 6

(a) Spatial pattern of yearly precipitation anomalies composite for low Iw years; (b) As (a) but for high Iw years; (c) Spatial pattern of yearly mean temperature anomalies composite for low Iw years; (d) As (c) but for high Iw years; (e) Spatial pattern of correlation coefficient between yearly NDVI and yearly precipitation; (f) As (e) but between yearly NDVI yearly mean temperature. 0.37 represents the threshold for 95% confidence level."

Figure 7

(a) Spatial pattern of correlation coefficient between spring precipitation and spring NDVI; (b) As (a) but for spring temperature; (c) Spatial pattern of correlation coefficient between summer precipitation and summer NDVI; (d) As (c) but for summer temperature; (e) Spatial pattern of correlation coefficient between autumn precipitation and autumn NDVI; (f) As (e) but for autumn temperature"

Figure 8

(a) Comparison of the seasonal mean NDVI, seasonal precipitation and seasonal mean temperature composite for low Iw and high Iw years for IM; (b) as (a) but for NW; (c) as (a) but for NC; and (d) as (a) but for SC"